Uncover the Magical Andes

• In the morning you’ll be transferred to the airport for your flight to Arequipa, often called the “White City” due to its many buildings constructed of sillar, a white volcanic rock. Upon arrival, you’ll be greeted at the airport by one of our representatives who will take you to your confirmed Arequipa hotel to settle in.
• Next, you’ll meet your guide at your hotel for your Arequipa city tour. During the tour, you’ll visit San Ignacio Chapel, the Plaza de Armas, a neoclassical Cathedral, and the Santa Catalina Monastery, a beautiful colonial convent that once housed 500 nuns. The tour will end at one of two famous miradores (lookout points), where you can appreciate views of the city framed by nearby Misti Volcano. Spend the evening as you wish. We recommend sampling the delicious local cuisine, which has brought well-earned fame to Arequipa.

• Start the day with a nurturing breakfast before setting off on a scenic drive to the Colca Canyon. This drive will take you through the stunning high altitude landscapes of Salidas y Aguada Blanca National Reserve. Keep your eyes open for wild vicuñas (smaller cousins of the llama) and viscachas (small animals that resemble rabbits). At the highest point of your journey, you’ll reach Patapampa Pass, located at a 15,300 feet (4,820 meters) above sea level. On the descent, you’ll begin to see pre-Inca agricultural terraces and awe-inspiring volcanoes in the distance.
• Once in the town of Chivay, you’ll visit the main square and stop for lunch (not included). After lunch, ride to the Calera Hot Springs, renowned for the therapeutic effects of its thermal waters. You can either take a dip in the natural baths or just take in the stunning scenery. Later, you’ll be taken to your Colca Canyon hotel, where you can continue to relax amidst the pastoral beauty of this incomparable Andean landscape.

• Early this morning, you’ll meet your guide and will drive to the Mirador Cruz del Condor, one of the best viewpoints over the canyon and home to the famed giant Andean condors. The road leads past picturesque villages and pre-Inca ruins dominated by the Ampato and Hualca glaciers, both visible in the distance.
• After lunch in Chivay, you will start your journey to Puno, between 5 and 6 hours from Colca Canyon by car with spectacular views on the way. Puno is at a higher altitude than Arequipa, and if you haven’t already sufficiently acclimatized, it is a good idea to take it easy upon arrival. Many of our recommended hotels are located along the lakeshore, so you will be able to take tranquil Lake Titicaca views as you rest and relax.

• Be sure to fuel up this morning, as this full-day experience will last around 9 hours. Your Lake Titicaca tour will take you to two of the lake’s most fascinating islands. First, the floating Uros islands are composed of about 32 islands constructed of many layers of totora reeds. While visiting the islands, you’ll be given the chance to learn about local customs, explore the reed homes, and ride on reed boats.
• This exciting tour continues to Taquile Island, located about 30 miles by boat from Puno. During the boat ride, you’ll be able to enjoy amazing views of Lake Titicaca, perched at 12,500 feet in elevation, and of the surrounding peninsulas. You will visit the most important sites of the island and embark on a rigorous hike to a jaw-dropping viewpoint. Next, you’ll have time to enjoy a local lunch (not included), before your return by boat to Puno. You’ll arrive back in Puno in the early evening and will have time to relax in your hotel at your leisure.

* Note: Visiting Taquile requires a strenuous climb up 500 steps to the main part of the island. Elevation ranges from around 12,000 ft at the lakeshore up to 13,000+ ft at the highest point. Please take care with the high altitude.

• After breakfast in your Puno hotel, you will be transferred to the bus terminal for your journey to Cusco. The ride lasts between 9 and 10 hours and you will travel on a comfortable tourist bus that includes a stop for lunch, as well as guided visits to several ruins and tourist sites along the way.
• You will arrive in Cusco in the early evening and a Peru for Less representative will meet you at the bus station and accompany you to your hotel. You will have the remainder of the evening to spend at your leisure, resting at your hotel or enjoying the Cusco nightlife.

• Spend the morning at your leisure. This is a good time to explore some of Cusco’s less-visited attractions including the famous San Pedro Market, the bohemian neighborhood of San Blas, or one of Cusco’s many fine museums.
• In the afternoon, an expert guide will take you to some of the world’s best archeological sites, including the beautiful Cusco Cathedral, the sacred Temple of the Sun or Qoricancha, and the spectacular Sacsayhuaman fortress. In the late afternoon, you’ll return to your Cusco hotel. Spend the evening at your leisure enjoying the local cuisine, music, and the splendor of Cusco at night.

• Explore the beautiful Peruvian countryside with a full-day tour of the magical Sacred Valley, home to several royal estates of Incan emperors. First, you will visit the town of Pisac, famous for its bustling indigenous market and for the beautiful Incan ruins on the hillside overlooking the city. Following your visit to Pisac, you will stop for lunch (not included) at a buffet restaurant offering a variety of Peruvian and international food near the town of Urubamba, named after the sacred river that flows through the region.
• Next, you will visit the spectacular fortress of Ollantaytambo. These magnificent Incan ruins that were part of the royal estate of the Incan emperor Pachacuti. Later, you will be taken to your comfortable hotel in the Sacred Valley. If you’ve selected a hotel in Ollantaytambo, you can continue exploring the traditional Incan town at your leisure.

• After breakfast at your Sacred Valley hotel, you will take a train to Machu Picchu, the hidden Inca citadel. This hour-and-a-half to two-hour train journey is one of the most scenic in the world, winding through mountain, river valleys, high jungle and mystical cloud forests. Upon arrival in Aguas Calientes, the town at the base of Machu Picchu, you will be met at the train station and accompanied to the bus station for a 20-minute ride up to the citadel.
• Next, you will meet your expert, English-speaking guide for a tour of the most important sites in Machu Picchu, including the Intihuatana (Sun Stone), the Sun Temple, and the Room of 3 Windows. Plus you’ll be able to marvel at lush mountains that mystically conceal the ruins. In the late afternoon, you will take a comfortable train back to Cusco and then be transferred to your Cusco hotel for the evening.

Optional: If you would like to spend more time at Machu Picchu, this package can be customized to include an overnight stay in Aguas Calientes, which will allow you to make a second visit to the enigmatic citadel. On this second day, a Huayna Picchu and/or Machu Picchu Mountain hike can be added to your itinerary, to get a bird’s eye view of the ruins.

• After breakfast at your hotel, one of our representatives will meet you at your hotel and take you to the airport for your journey home or on to your next destination.
• Alternatively, choose one of our other exciting Cusco tours or Sacred Valley excursions, or browse our full range of Peru travel destinations to extend your Peru vacation.