From the coast to Machu Picchu, this trip combines the essential stages of Peru. It starts on the coast with the Ballestas Islands and the oasis of Huacachina, without forgetting Nasca and its mysterious lines.
You will continue to visit Arequipa and the Colca Canyon before venturing to Lake Titicaca. You will spend the night with the inhabitants of the Llachón community on the Capachica peninsula, which will give you the opportunity to exchange views on their culture and traditions. Your stay ends in the inescapable region of Cuzco, with its Inca sites, including the majestic citadel of Machu Picchu, still shrouded in mystery.
Includes:
It does not include:
Upon arrival at the Lima airport, you will be met and transferred to your hotel. Afternoon at leisure in the vibrant neighborhoods of the Peruvian capital.
Lima (Sea Level).
INCLUDES
Departure in the morning to Paracas (4 hours by car) by the famous Panamerican Highway along the Pacific coast. Arrival in Paracas and lunch.
Then departure to visit the Paracas National Reserve, visit the Interpretation Center of the Reserve, stop at the Mirador de los Flamencos, the red beach and the Lagunillas creek.
After the visit, check in at your hotel and the rest of the day will be free.
Lima (Sea Level) - Paracas/Ballestas Islands (Sea Level).
INCLUDES
In the morning you will head to the port from where your boat will depart to the Ballestas Islands and discover the richness of the local marine fauna: elephant seals, pelicans, penguins and other seabirds.
After this excursion, departure to visit the orchards and vineyards of El Catador, where pisco (Peru's national alcohol) and wines are produced.
Then, you will go to the Huacachina oasis where you will have lunch and where you will have the possibility to sandboard and buggy in the sand dunes (foresee a supplement).
Then, departure to Nazca (4h by car). Check-in at your hotel and free afternoon.
Paracas/Ballestas Islands (sea level) - Ica/Oasis Huacachina (406 m) - Nazca (588 m).
INCLUDES
In the morning, you can visit the Antonini Museum, the Reiche Museum or fly over the famous "Nazca lines" (additional charge). They were discovered in 1939 by the American scientist Paul Kosok when he flew over the area in search of irrigation canals. They appear as a dense network of zoomorphic and geometric figures that reach 15 to 300 m in length for the figures, and 10 km for certain lines, visible only from the sky.
After lunch, departure by vehicle to Arequipa (10 hours drive).
During this trip, you will have the opportunity to contemplate some of the most beautiful and surprising landscapes of Peru's wild Pacific coast, including immense and unspoiled beaches, rocky coastline and vertiginous cliffs, before reaching an immense fertile valley.
Arrival in the afternoon, welcome and check-in at the hotel.
Nazca (588 m) - Arequipa (2,400 m).
INCLUDES
OPTION
In the morning, you will discover the white city and its colonial center: the Plaza de Armas, the convent of Santa Catalina, a real city within the city with its narrow streets lined with colorful houses.
Return to the hotel and free afternoon to continue discovering the city on your own.
Arequipa (2,400m).
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Early departure to the Colca Canyon, one of the deepest canyons in the world (5-6 hours by car).
You pass at the foot of the Chachani, and cross the national reserve of Salinas and Aguada Blanca, populated by wild vicuñas. The road climbs gradually until it reaches its highest point: the viewpoint of the Volcanoes, at 4,900 meters. From there, the view of Ampato (6400m), Sabancaya (5976m), and Huallca-Huallca (6025m) is impressive. You will then descend to Chivay, where you will have lunch.
In the afternoon, you will climb to Canacota and then descend to the hot springs of La Calera. End of the day at leisure.
Possibility to bathe in the hot springs (a small supplement will be provided).
Arequipa (2,400 m) - Chivay (3,200 m).
INCLUDES
After breakfast, early morning departure to the Cruz del Condor, a viewpoint that offers a magnificent view of the Colca Canyon with the first rays of the sun. Here you can admire the flight of the largest bird in the world: the condor.
You will then walk to the "Salto del Cura", a walk (1h30) that offers splendid views of the canyon.
On the way back to Chivay, you will discover the villages of Yanque, Coporaque, Achoma and Maca, where the way of life of its inhabitants has changed little since Inca times.
Lunch in Chivay and departure to Puno where you will arrive in the afternoon (7h trip).
Chivay (3,200 m)- Mirador de los Volcanes (4,950 m) - Puno (3,825 m).
INCLUDES
After breakfast, departure by vehicle to the Capachica peninsula, to the village of Llachón (about 2 hours by car), a fishing community nestled on the edge of the lake, at an altitude of 3820 meters.
Meeting with the host family. You go for a walk on the heights of the village. You pass by the crops and pastures of this village that seems out of time.
Return to the village for lunch.
In the afternoon, you will discover the craftsmanship of the village families.
Overnight at a local's house.
Puno (3,820 m) - Llachón (3,850 m).
INCLUDES
Early in the morning, you will leave your hosts in Llachón to sail to Taquile, an island widely exploited thanks to the terraced farming system, where the way of life of the inhabitants has preserved its communal organization inherited from Inca times. If the property is private, the work is collective: the 300 inhabitants of the island work one day for themselves and another for the community.
From the heights of the village, their efforts are rewarded with a superb view of the lake, the bay of Puno and Bolivia (Cordillera Real) between the mists of the Altiplano.
At the end of the day, you take the boat back to Puno.
Llachón (3,850 m) - Taquile (3,900 m) - Puno (3,825 m).
INCLUDES
Early departure to Cusco.
We cross the Colla plateau, where we stop at the village of Pukara. It is one of the last places that give testimony of the pre-Inca culture of the same name.
Next, you cross La Raya pass (4360 m), which symbolizes the finish of the Altiplano and the beginning of the Cusco region.
In Sicuani you will enjoy a typical lunch before arriving in Raqchi. Here you will visit the spectacular Inca sanctuary, built by Pachacutec in honor of the Inca god Wiracocha.
You will then continue to the village of Andahuaylillas and its church of San Pedro, known as the "Sistine Chapel" of South America, thanks to its richly painted ceiling.
Arrival in Cusco, welcome and installation at your hotel. Afternoon at leisure.
Puno (3,825 m) - Cusco ( 3350 m).
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Departure for a walking tour of Cusco.
You will start by going to the San Pedro market, where you will discover many local products (fruits, vegetables, handicrafts...).
You will continue with the cathedral, an impressive building with numerous paintings of the Cusco school, as well as real treasures of goldsmith art (visit not included). You will continue your discovery by the monastery of Santo Domingo, ancient temple of the Sun or Koricancha.
Free afternoon.
Cusco ( 3350 m).
INCLUDES
Departure to the Sacred Valley and start in Chinchero, the city of the rainbow known for its ancestral art of making textiles according to the traditional Inca method. Visit its ruins.
Then visit the archaeological site of Moray, an authentic Inca agricultural laboratory that was already used five hundred years ago to test the resistance of certain plant species to altitude. You will then descend to the salt mines of Maras, which date back to pre-Inca times and are still exploited as they were in the past by the inhabitants of the village.
After this visit, you will return to the village of Maras to enjoy lunch with a local family.
You will then head to Ollantaytambo, where you will take the train to Aguas Calientes, a small village located at the foot of the famous Machu Picchu.
Arrival and check-in at the hotel. Afternoon at leisure.
The national train companies ask passengers traveling to Machu Picchu to carry only a small backpack of 10 kg and 157 cm (height + width + length) maximum or a cabin-type suitcase. Your luggage and personal belongings will be left at the hotel in Cusco for the duration of your tour in the Sacred Valley. Please note: large suitcases and travel bags will not be accepted on the train.
Cusco (3,350m) - Chinchero (3,780m) - Moray (3,500m) - Maras (3,300m) - Ollantaytambo (2,800m) - Aguas calientes (2,040m).
INCLUDES
Early in the morning, you will take the ferry to the most famous Inca site in the country: Machu Picchu, "old summit" in Quechua. You will discover this architectural complex built on a narrow ridge lined with cliffs: an impressive spectacle that changes with the progression of the sun. You will then stroll through the narrow streets of the citadel, its neighborhoods, its squares, its royal houses, its agricultural areas, its roads and its observatories.
After the visit, return to Aguas Calientes to take the train to Ollantaytambo. Free afternoon.
Aguas Calientes (2,040 m) - Machu Picchu (2,450 m) - Ollantaytambo (2,800 m).
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OPTION.
HUAYNA PICCHU - 65 USD.
Huayna Picchu is the mountain you see in almost every photo. From its 2700 m it offers a plunging view of the citadel. The climb is quite demanding, it is done by a steep path, it is necessary to be in good physical condition and above all not to be prone to vertigo.
MONTAÑITA - 65 uSD.
Less known and less frequented than the Huayna Picchu, it is perched at almost 3082 m and offers a spectacular view of the Inca city, but also of the surrounding mountains. To get there takes about 2 hours of climbing, mostly steps, the last stretch is quite steep but not as steep as Huayna Picchu
After breakfast, visit the archaeological site of Ollantaytambo under the first rays of the sun.
Then we take the road to go up the Sacred Valley to Pisaq, where we visit the archaeological complex composed of terraces, fountains, observatories and even a necropolis, the largest in the region (about 10,000 people buried). From here, the Incas controlled and dominated the Sacred Valley.
On the way back, we will stop at the traditional handicraft market in the village of Pisaq.
Return to Cusco in the afternoon and rest of the day at leisure.
Ollantaytambo (2750m) - Pisaq (3400m) - Cusco (3350m).
INCLUDES
Transfer to Cuzco airport to take a flight to Lima, the Peruvian capital. Connect with your international flight.
INCLUDES
The schedule of visits may be modified directly on site according to technical requirements and transportation schedules.
MOUNTAINS OF THE 7 COLORS - VININCUNCA OR PALCOYO + ADDITIONAL NIGHT.
Group service: 40 USD / pers.
Private service (min. 4 pers.): 115 USD.
Visit the legendary Cerro Colorado, also known as "Rainbow Mountain" (real name Vinicunca). Departure early in the morning, around 06:00, after 2 hours drive, stop in Cusipata for breakfast. One hour drive separates you from this psychedelic seven-colored mountain located near the majestic Ausangate (6,372 m). Return to Cusco between 5 and 6 pm..
INCLUDED
AMAZON EXTENSION - IN PUERTO MALDONADO
3D/2N = 545 USD/PERS
4D/3N = 625 USD/PERS
You want to discover another characteristic region of Peru before the end of your trip. Take a few days off and discover the Amazon jungle and the region of Puerto Maldonado. Easily accessible by plane, you will enjoy an extraordinary discovery and a relaxing moment at the end of your trip. Choose your program, your accommodation and let yourself be tempted.
Day 1 - Monkey Island:
In the morning you will be driven to the Cusco airport for your flight to Puerto Maldonado. Upon arrival at the airport, you will be met by your guide and begin your discovery of the region with a bus tour of the city. You will then depart for the port where you will embark on the Madre de Dios River. During the navigation, you may have the opportunity to see some turtles or caimans. Once you arrive at the Eco Amazonia Lodge, you will take some time to settle into the bungalows before having lunch.
In the afternoon, accompanied by a specialized guide, you will visit a magical place: Cocha Caiman, a small lake where many black and spectacled caimans live.
Return to the lodge in the late afternoon. On the way you will witness the spectacular sunset, during which you will enjoy the spectacular spectacle of the colorful sky.
Dinner and free night.
IMPORTANT
No luggage can be taken on board the canoes. Please bring a bag with your personal belongings for the nights at the lodge. Bags and belongings not needed should be left at the lodge office in Puerto Maldonado.
Day 2 - Lake Apu Victor :
Early in the morning, after breakfast, you will leave with a guide for a rainforest adventure. After approximately 1 km of walking, you will embark on a canoe to go through a swamp where you can observe macaws, monkeys, toucans, cormorants, sanshos, kingfishers and other birds of this jungle.
You will continue with a walk through the forest to arrive near a small lake where there is a 32-meter viewpoint from which you have an extraordinary view of the forest. You will cross a swampy lake that will allow you to discover a varied ecosystem. It is possible to see otters, caimans, turtles, tapirs, multicolored birds and, if you are lucky, the majestic jaguar. This area is unique for its rich biodiversity, and belongs to the Ecoamazonia reserve.
Return to the lodge for lunch.
In the afternoon, your specialized guide will take you to a unique place in the heart of the Amazon rainforest: Monkey Island. On the way, you will enjoy the beautiful scenery of the area, with its lush vegetation. Upon arrival, you will be able to observe many different species of monkeys such as the maquisapa, the capuchin, the capuchin, the leoncillo... you will also discover many species of birds.
You will enjoy the fabulous spectacle of the sunset and then return to the lodge.
Day 3 - Cocha Perdida or Puerto Maldonado - Lima:
If you choose the 3D/2N option
After breakfast, you will be taken by boat back to Puerto Maldonado airport for your flight to Lima.
If you choose the 4D/3N option
After breakfast, you will depart with a guide for an adventure through the rainforest to Cocha Perdida, which is a refuge ecosystem. Here you will have the opportunity to observe otters, caimans, turtles, tapirs, multicolored plumage birds and jaguars. This area is unique and belongs to the Ecoamazonia Ecological Reserve. Next, you will arrive at the Amazon viewpoint, from where you will be able to appreciate the magical and immense jungle.
After a canoe ride on the lake, you will return to the lodge for lunch.
Afternoon at leisure. Dinner at the lodge.
Group excursions during the 3 days with English or Spanish guides according to availability.
TREASURES OF THE SOUTH ON A GUIDED TOUR.
4 participants Min. - 12 participants max.
Price per Person - Double Room basis - Hotels Category 3
4 pax : 2 150 USD | 6 pax : 1 855 USD | 8 pax : 1 617 USD.
Single room supplement - Cat. Standard : 250 Usd
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