Peru Travel 11 Days / 10 Nights

Overview

If you are thinking to visit Perú, you must be considered the deservedly-hyped New World Wonder, Machu Picchu, the ancient Citadel and the exuberant Amazon. Experience an unbeatable mixture of wild, pristine nature and authentic historic reminders during this lovely tour of the Peruvian Andes and the Jungle.

• Enter the wildlife haven of Titicaca Lake.
• Take in the elegant Inca architecture of Cuzco.
• Delve into Aymara culture and Quechuan folklore in the lakeside town of Puno.
• Discover the ancient archaeological sites strewn about Cuzco’s surrounding hillsides.
• Share lunch with Sacred Valley locals during a community visit.
• Watch the countryside change weaving through the Urubamba Valley by rail.
• Hike through the mysterious cloud forest, leading you to the Ancient Machu Picchu Citadel, and appreciate its beauty and elegance.
• Dip yourself into the pristine Amazon Jungle and see macaws, monkeys and other lovely animals.
• Visit Awanacancha “Living Museum” and come up close with the lovely alpacas, llamas, guanacos, and the ever-elusive vicuña.

Detailed Itinerary:

Day 1: Arrival in Lima – Transfer to the Hotel

Upon arrival at the Lima airport, you will be greeted by our company representative. After a transfer to your confirmed Lima hotel and assistance with the check in, you’ll be provided with everything needed in preparation for your upcoming journey.

Use this arrival day to rejuvenate yourself by resting or enjoying hotel spa services. If arriving early to Lima, take a scenic walk to Parque del Amor (Love Park) in Miraflores for views of Lima’s gorgeous coastline or dine in at one of the many gourmet restaurants throughout the city.

• Overnight in Lima.

Day 2: Modern and Colonial Lima City Tour.

After breakfast, approximately 10:00AM, we will explore Lima’s historic center with a local guided. In this opportunity, you’ll get to know the attractions with more historical and cultural value within the center of the city, such as: Parque de Exposición, Plaza Grau, Paseo de los Heroes Navales, Plaza San Martín, the Main Square, Palacio del Gobierno, and the Cathedral of Lima.

The Historic Center of Lima was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1991 since it comprises over 600 historical monuments from the Colonial era. After our visit, we’ll continue to the Miraflores district to have a panoramic view from the outside of Huaca Pucllana, one of the 54 “Huacas” found in Lima and a well-preserved Pre-Inca sanctuary inside the city.

After a morning of exploring and getting to know the history of Lima, you’ll have the rest of the day off to explore and continue to enjoy the city.

• Overnight in Lima.
• Entrance Ticket: Included.

Day 3: Transfer Lima Airport – Cusco – Qoricancha – Sacsayhuaman – Puca Pucara – Tambomachay.

We transfer to Lima’s airport early in the morning for the flight to Cusco. On arrival we transfer you to your selected hotel. We recommend you take the rest of the morning to acclimatize to the altitude and have a light lunch in or near the hotel.

At 12:30 p.m., we will meet you at your hotel lobby to begin your tour. From here, you will head to Cusco’s Plaza de Armas, where you will visit the famous cathedral. Following, you will continue on foot through an ancient Inca-built street from the Plaza de Armas to the Q’oricancha, the Temple of the Sun. At the Q’oricancha you will be able to compare and contrast the building methods of the Incan culture and Catholicism. This was the key spiritual center of the Incas, which leads to all four quarters of the Inca Empire. There is also a bronze, high altar to be seen.

From Q’oricancha, your group will walk down Avenida El Sol, where you will take your bus 25 minutes outside of the city. You will be taken to the majestic Inca site, Sacsayhuaman, with its enigmatic, 200 ton monoliths, you will be able to hear from your guide and then, explore on your own.

From Sacsayhuaman, you will take a five minute bus ride to the Q’enqo Inca site to see its fascinating Incan altars. Following, you will take another five minute drive to Puca Pucara, a small, circular Inca site. The final stop on our tour is Tambomachay, a water temple with impressive water fountains, thought to be used by the Inca for bathing. We’ll then drive back down to Cusco where the tour ends in the main square, unless you are taking a private tour, in which case, we will return you to your hotel.

*Optional Buffet Dinner with Folkloric Show: Adding $39 per person.

• Overnight in Cusco.
• Meals Included: None.
• Entrance Tickets: Included.

Day 4: Sacred Valley Tour: Pisac Ruins – Urubamba – Ollantaytambo – Aguas Calientes.

Begin your journey through the Inca heartland with a full day Sacred Valley tour. The Sacred Valley of the Incas, just outside of Cusco, is a gorgeous sprawling span of green farms, lofty terraced mountains along with numerous quaint towns unmoved by time. The Sacred Valley is the center of lively festivals and the best handicrafts in Peru.

Our first stop is the artisanal capital of Peru, the small village of Pisac; It’s famous for its craft market in the main plaza, busiest on Sundays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays, where local natives come to sell their colorful woven cloth, alpaca wool ponchos and fashions, reproductions of ancient jewelry, engraved gourds and much, much more. Pisac is the best stop in Peru for mementos of your trip to bring home to family and friends and then drive to Urubamba for lunch.

After a delicious lunch in Urubamba, we’ll travel Ollantaytambo, the only Inca town that remains inhabited. This traditional town is a wonderful example of pre-Colombian architecture. Here we will explore the expansive ruins overlooking the town and discuss their history and traditional beliefs of the people of the Sacred Valley.

Later in the afternoon in Ollantaytambo we’ll catch the train to Aguas Calientes to get ready to explore Machu Picchu early the next morning.

• Overnight in Aguas Calientes.
• Meal Include: Breakfast and Buffet Lunch.
• Entrance Ticket: Included.

Day 5: Aguas Calientes – Machu Picchu – Aguas calientes – Ollantaytambo – Cusco.

After an early breakfast at your hotel, take one of the first busses up to Machu Picchu so that you can be there to witness the sunrise. It is a truly extraordinary site and not something you’ll want to miss! The guide will give you a tour of about two hours. See many of the most important parts of Machu Picchu Citadel.  You will also learn about how Machu Picchu is divided into three sectors: agricultural, residential and religious.

When you have had your fill of the exceptional views of Machu Picchu, you will take the bus back down to Aguas Calientes for lunch (not included). Depending on your train departure time, you may also have time for some shopping, sightseeing or a visit to the museum or hot springs. 

The train will take you back to Ollantaytambo at 2:30pm or 3:20pm, following the spectacular Urubamba River. Close to Aguas Calientes, the canyon is narrow and the river has many beautiful sections of whitewater. See the site of Wiñay Wayna from the train, if you look up the steep canyon wall! After 2 hours we will arrive at Ollantaytambo. From here we will take a bus to the city of Cusco and we will leave you at your hotel.

Note: Machu Picchu Inca site is different from Machu Picchu Mountain. When most people refer to Machu Picchu, they are referring to the archeological site. Machu Picchu Mountain requires a separate permit to climb. Please notify us if you are interested and we can book this for you. It must be done in advance and is a part of your entry into the site.

• Overnight in Cusco.
• Meals Include: Breakfast.
• Entrance Tickets: Included.

Day 6: Free Day Cusco.

Today you have a free day in Cusco. Visit the Inca ruins or stroll through the Plaza de Armas. You can also stroll through the artists’ quarter of San Blas or enjoy a beautiful view from the Mirador San Cristobal. 

• Overnight in Cusco.
• Meals Include: Breakfast.
• Entrance Tickets: Not Included.

Day 7: LLactoc – Rainbow Mountain – Llactoc – Cusco.

Our staff will pick you up from your hotel at 4:30am, and then continue in our private van for 2 hours towards the town of Cusipata (3310 meters above sea level), where it will be the first stop for breakfast (rustic restaurant).

After tasting our breakfast we return to the transport, which will take you along a path, passing through several small towns in the heart of the Andes mountain range, the transport will take 1 hour to reach Llactoc (3,887 meters above sea level), this is the starting place after the walk, you will be accompanied by our tour guide, who will give you a prior talk about the walk and we will give you a walking stick.

We will begin to walk along a flat path (Andean plain), with few non-steep climbs, the height will make each step a little difficult, however it will be comforting to be surrounded by nature crossing the Andes. This first phase of the walk is 1 hour. On the way you will see the Apachetas, which are small towers built stone upon stone.

After a total hike of 1.5 hours, we finally reached our destination: Rainbow Mountain! (5,020 m /16,466 ft) After admiring the unique beauty, you will have time to explore the area. You can take pictures or just enjoy the view. We will be at the top for approximately 30 minutes.

After appreciating the rainbow mountain we descend again along the same path for 1 hour. Then, we will take our transportation to Cusipata where we will enjoy our lunch. Afterwards we have a 2-hour trip back to Cusco and we will drop you off at your hotel in Cusco, arriving around 5:00 p.m.

****There is the option to rent a horse from local people right at the starting point of the hike!

• Overnight in Cusco.
• Meals Include: Breakfast and Lunch.
• Entrance Tickets: Included.

Day 8: Cusco – Maras – Moray – Salt Mines – Cusco

After enjoying breakfast at the hotel, our guide and driver will pick you up at about 9:00 am and we’ll head out on a colorful journey through amazing scenery and typical Andean towns that surround Cusco. Our first stop will be Maras. From Maras, we can appreciate the Cordillera Vilcanota and the snowy summits of El Chicon and Veronica.

 Today this quaint village is an attractive mix of pre-Hispanic, colonial and republican period Peruvian architecture. Our morning continues at the archaeological complex of Moray, located 7 miles southwest of Maras, are a set of enormous terraces that overlap concentrically in a giant hole. These beautiful terraces served the Inca Empire as an agricultural laboratory, a “prototype greenhouse.”  Finally, we’ll visit the salt pans located northwest of the town of Maras. 

The salt pans are made up of about 2,000 small pools with an average area of ​​about 5 m². These fascinating pools have been in use since Inca and colonial times and are still used today by surrounding villagers. After our visit, we’ll return to Cusco and let you off at your hotel.

• Overnight in Cusco.
• Meals Include: Breakfast.
• Entrance Tickets: Included

Day 9: Welcome To Puerto Maldonado – Monkey Island – Caiman Spotting.

At the appropriate time, you’ll be taken to the airport to board your flight for the Peruvian jungle town of Puerto Maldonado – gateway to the Peruvian Amazon.

Upon arrival, the staff will welcome you and take you to the nearby office to pack your bag for the jungle stay (a small duffel bag will be provided). Your luggage will be stored in a secure place while you are exploring the jungle.

We will then travel to the port where we will board our motorboat for our journey along the warm, calm waters of the Tambopata River. Travel time is about 1 hour and 45 minutes to reach our lodge.  A picnic lunch box will be provided to enjoy onboard. 

This area is the least populated territory in Peru, with its lush tropical rainforest. Of course, it’s more than a rainforest – it’s a complex ecosystem, with a dazzling array of flora and fauna. You’ll observe life in the jungle, its thrilling landscapes and the fascinating wildlife that call it home.

When you arrive at the lodge you will be provided with useful information to enhance your stay.  Accommodation at your lodge is simple but comfortable, designed to enjoy the ambience of the jungle.  Rooms have private bathrooms (cold water).  You will then have free time to settle in and perhaps take a short walk to watch the sunset.  

After dinner, you’ll search for caiman. We’ll return to the river with flashlights in search of the red reflection of caiman eyes lurking along the riverbank. With any luck, we’ll see some nocturnal animals as well. It’s a magical experience to witness them in the wilderness.

Please note that the order and schedule of the activities during your stay may be modified according to weather and the wellbeing of the group. 

• Overnight in the Amazon lodge.
• Meals: Lunch and Dinner.
• Entrance Ticket: Included.

Day 10: Saldoval Lake.

After a great breakfast and distributed to each traveler box lunch and snacks, we’ll take the boat  to get to the control of  Tambopata Reserve Zone, after  1 and half hour walking trhough the rainforest we are approaching  to the famous Sandoval Lake.

Its way by immense ancient trees and entangled vines; we will be able to see multihued flower and fauna including: Giant Otters, birds, coloured butterflies, turtles, and variety of fish. We will spend few hours in canoe on this one of the most beautiful lakes in region. Then we will back to our lodge.

• Overnight in the Amazon Lodge.
• Meals: Breakfast, Box Lunch and Dinner.
• Entrance Ticket: Included.

Day 11: Collpa of Parrots – Flight Puerto Maldonado – Lima – Return Home.

Wake early and take a 40 minute walk to visit the parrot claylick – an exposed area of clay with higher concentrations of salts and other important minerals where masses of parrot species converge to eat. We will then walk back to the lodge and along the way we may see other animals in their natural habitat.

After returning to the lodge for breakfast we will transfer by boat and road back to Puerto Maldonado for our included flight to the beautiful city of Lima and then home. 

There is still time to find the perfect trip in Peru Travel. Contact Cusco Journeys and we will help you to personalized your Peru travel experience.

• Overnight: None
• Meals: Breakfast.
• Entrance Ticket: None

Included:

• Assistance by English speaking staff from the beginning till your return.
• All transfer service In/Out Airport – Hotel – Airport by Private vehicle.
• Activities and tours mentioned in the itinerary.
• Small group tours in some destinations and private service tours at other destinations according to your Peru Travel Itinerary.
• Meals mentioned in the Itinerary.
• 10 hotel night with breakfast.
• Professional licensed guide fluent in English and Spanish.
• Admissions fees for the Lima tour and Amazon experience.
• Full Day Uros Island + Taquile in shared service.
• Route of the sun from Puno to Cusco.
• Cusco City Tour.
• Rainbow mountain Tour.
• Sacred Valley excursion + Lunch.
• Moray and Salt Mines Tour.
• Entrance ticket for Machupicchu.
• Machu Picchu excursion in private service.
• Bus ticket Aguas Calientes – Machu Picchu – Aguas Calientes.
• Train ticket: Ollantaytambo – Aguas Calientes – Cusco (Expedition Class).
• First aid kit and oxygen if is necessary for altitude sickness.
• 24/7 support.

Not Included:

• International flights and visas.
• Domestic flights. 
• Meals and beverages that are not mentioned in the program.
• Alcoholic drinks and airport taxes.
• Entrances to Salt Mines.
• Entrance to the Cathedral (City tour).
• Entrance to Huayna Picchu or Machu Picchu Mountain USD 75.00 (Need to book in advance).
• Train service Puno – Cusco (Can be Upgraded to Luxury Andean Explorer Train).
• Damages which the client causes at the hotels.
• Optional excursions.
• Travel insurance.
• Tip for guide and assistance staff which is optional.

Recommended Things to Take:

We recommend bringing as little as possible but do bring what you need. Don’t worry, if you forget something, you can probably buy it in Lima or Cusco once you arrive. Tourist shops abound and sell a whole range of items from water bottles and first aid kits to hiking gear. You can also rent hiking equipment in Cusco, which can be a good option if you don’t want to travel to Peru with a whole lot of heavy hiking and camping gear.

Peru Tours Packing List:

After spending a lot of time travelling around Peru Tours we have come up with our definitive list of what to pack for a trip to Peru Tours.

• Original passport.
• Worn in hiking boots or walking shoes.
• Light weight rain poncho.
• Down or thermal jacket.
• Toiletries (toilet paper, wet wipes, personal towel).
• Sunscreen SPF 35+ recommended.
• Layerable clothing: t- shirts, heavy shirts and jackets, thermals, hiking pants, shorts.
• Day pack.
• Personal first aid kit with prescriptions.
• Small flashlight or headlamp with extra batteries.
• Warm hat, scarf & gloves.
• Extra zip lock bags of various sizes always come in handy.
• Insect repellent.
• Camera with extra batteries and SD cards.
• Combination locks to protect luggage, useful while traveling & in hotel rooms.
• Sunglasses.
• Travel insurance.
• Blood donor/type card.

Discounts:

• 18 to 25 years old: $25 USD Information required on student card: name of university, student name, photo of student, expiration date etc. A copy of the card is required at booking for government approval for discount.
• Under 18 years old: $25 USD Please send us a copy of your passport at the time of booking.
• Under 11 years old: $30USD  Please send us a copy of your passport at the time of booking.

Optional Extras (Need to Book in Advance):

• Machu Picchu Mountain climbing: USD 75.00 (Need to book in advance)
• Huayna Picchu Mountain climbing: USD 75.00 (Need to book in advance)

By booking or participating in a tour and any related products or services (a “Tour”) with Cusco Journeys, you agree to these Terms & Conditions.

Booking:

1. Your booking is confirmed and a contract exists when the Tour Operator or your travel agent issues a written confirmation after receipt of the applicable deposit amount. Please check your confirmation carefully and report any incorrect or incomplete information to the Tour Operator or authorized agent immediately. Please ensure that names are exactly as stated in the relevant passport.
2. You will pay a deposit which is completely non-refundable in any situation. There are no exceptions.
3. You will be required to show the original passport (not a copy) that you booked with, at the checkpoint to enter the Inca Trail. If you originally booked with an old passport and then renewed your passport, you must also bring your expired passport along with your new, valid passport to permit entry or they will refuse your entrance to the trail.
4. The only acceptable ID to receive a Student Discount is your University Card with a clear expiration date that must be the same year as trek. IDs with expiry dates the following year, even though clearly valid, will not be accepted by the Peruvian government. You must submit a copy of this card at time of booking.

Cancellations:

1. Cancellations: In order to confirm this trip, a deposit of 40% is required per person at time of booking. The balance of the trip price is due 90 days before the departure date. Special holiday payment and cancellation terms may apply. Guests who must cancel their trip for any reason must do so in writing (we do not accept medical notes of any kind) as our out of pocket expenses are non-refundable to us.. Standard cancellations are subject to the following per-person penalties, based on number of days prior to departure:

ONCE BOOKED, DEPOSITS ARE NON-REFUNDABLE. CHART BELOW OUTLINES WHAT FURTHER FEES WILL BE DUE.

Inca Trail Tours:

1. Permits: Permits for the Inca Trail are in your name and can not be transferred to anyone else under any circumstances. Change of dates is also not possible once a permit has been purchased. Permits are non-refundable and non-transferable. The deposit will be forfeited. Please note that this is a regulation of the Peruvian government and not Cusco Journeys (or any agency).
2. In extreme cases when the “Inca Trail to Machu Picchu” is declared closed for safety reasons, Cusco Journeys will replace your trek with an alternative trek.
3. Those who booked PERMITS with a Student ID must bring that ID with them on the trek. If they fail to show this card to the Park Rangers, they will not be allowed entry onto the trail.

Medical Information:

1. You must advise Cusco Journeys of any medical problems or allergies you may have. You need to be in good physical health, and if your health is questionable, then you should consult a doctor. If you are over the age of 70 years old, then you will need to present us with a current good health medical certificate.
2. You are responsible for assessing whether a Tour is suitable for you. You should consult your physician to confirm your fitness for travel and participation in any planned activities. You should seek your physician’s advice on vaccinations and medical precautions. The Tour Operator does not provide medical advice. It is your responsibility to assess the risks and requirements of each aspect of the Tour based on your own unique circumstances, limitations, fitness level and medical requirements.
3. Cusco Journeys reserves the right to deny you permission to travel or participate in any aspect of a Tour at any time and at your own risk and expense where the Tour Operator determines that your physical or mental condition renders you unfit for travel or you represent a danger to yourself or others.
4. Pregnancy is considered a medical condition and must be disclosed to the Tour Operator at the time of booking. The Tour Operator may refuse to carry pregnant women over 24 weeks. The Tour Operator may refuse to carry anyone with certain medical conditions if reasonable accommodation or alternatives cannot be arranged.
5. It is strongly encouraged to purchase Travel Insurance to protect you in case of medical emergency or any tour cancellations.

Tours and Treks:

1. All balances need to be paid in either cash, Western Union, Transfer Bank or PayPal (in full) prior to the briefing which will be held the night before your tour. Visa incurs a 5% service fee and if you need to use another card, it must be through PayPal which incurs a 5.5% service fee.
   You must advise your guide if you wish to leave the group or the camping area for independent walks or sightseeing. If you are experiencing any problems with the services of the guide or tour, please advise the guide in that moment, so that he can resolve any problems.
2. All Adventure Treks include transportation to Cusco. The return train route depends on train availability.
3. If you become ill or injured on the trail and are unable to continue, a porter will be provided to accompany you back to an area with emergency assistance capabilities. Helicopter air lifts and medical assistance are at the expense of the trekker. If you are unable to complete the tour due to illness, we will assist you in meeting your group at Machu Picchu to recommence your tour at that point. There will be no refund of the original payment. However, we will prepare a document to certify illness which can be presented for your travel insurance.
4. Cusco Journeys will take all reasonable care in providing to our clients avoidance of accident, illness, and loss of personal property, and will only employ suitably qualified staff. We accept responsibility for the actions of our own employees. Cusco Journeys cannot, however, be responsible for any action of third parties. You are totally responsible for your own personal property and rented equipment.
5. Cusco Journeys does not take responsibility for unfavorable weather conditions, natural catastrophe, strikes, accidents, illness, injury, loss of personal ítems, etc. It is the client’s responsibility to carry insurance to cover these types of events. We reserve the right to modify or cancel the program due to any of the unforeseen conditions listed above.
6. Cusco Journeys may modify your itinerary where reasonably required in its sole discretion.
7. Group tours might be as large as 16 participants. Groups are open to everyone no matter skill or age. By accepting a Group Tour you acknowledge that others might change the speed and timing of the tour.
8. All tours are done in English.

Delays:

1. Any costs, whether direct or incidental, incurred by the Customer as the result of delays caused by bad weather, trail conditions, river levels, road conditions, transportation delays, sickness, government intervention or other contingencies which are beyond the control of southern explorations will not be reimbursed.

Thank you so much for choosing Cusco Journeys!!!