If you like history and archeology it’s the trip for you !! Peru crossed from north to south, an itinerary made by travelers for travelers. Discovering the Moche, the Chimu, the Inca along a path that will lead you to discover all the wonderful biodiversities of Peru: the deserts, the peaceful coasts, the magical Andes and its plateaus, Cusco and Machu Picchu, Lake Titicaca , Chan Chan and the Museum of the Lord of Sipan.
This type of trip also includes some visits to community and local communities to really get on tiptoe in the spirit of this country, like real travelers …
International flight. You meet one of our staff members at the airport. Airport pick-up and transfer to hotel.
Transfer to Lima airport to take the flight to Cusco. Airport pick-up and transfer to the hotel where we get time to rest so our bodies can adjust to the altitude. Free afternoon, we recommend resting and eating light. Night at the hotel.
After breakfast, we walk through the city center with our guide and reach San Pedro market, where we feel the typical Andean flavors, aromas and colors. We get back to the city center to visit Qoricancha or sun temple, the most important temple of the Inca Empire. Then, using private transportation, we visit Sacsayhuaman fortress and Qenqo, a temple dedicated to the snake God who is the creator of life in Andean cosmology. During our walk, we stop in a textile workshop and meet alpacas, lamas and vicuñas. We continue up to Pisac, famous for its colorful handcraft market and its archeological site with great walls, palaces and towers, all made of huge stone blocs. Night in the Sacred Valley.
Today, with our tour guide and by private transport, we explore the mythical “Sacred Valley of the Incas” to discover one of the most beautiful and magical places in Peru. We visit Moray, ancient and wonderful biological lab of the Incas; Maras, impressive salt ponds embedded in a beautiful landscape, which have been in operation for over 1000 years; and Ollantaytambo, the only Inca town that is still inhabited today and is an extraordinary model of urban planning. In the afternoon we ride the train to Aguas Calientes to begin our Machu Picchu adventure. Night at the hotel.
At dawn we embark on a dream. We take the bus from Aguas Calientes to Machu Picchu and enter the “lost city.” For the more adventurous there is also the possibility to climb to the top of Huayna Picchu or visit the Machu Picchu Mountain or the Huchuy Picchu. In the afternoon we take the train back to Ollantaytambo or Poroy, and then the bus to make our way back to Cusco. Night at the hotel.
At 6am, we get picked up to start our trip to the alternative Rainbow Mountain of Palccoyo, located approximately 100 km away from Cusco.
After a 4-hour journey by private transport, we reach the starting point of our gentle hike, which goes from 4700m to 4900m.
We walk for about an hour and a half in the surroundings of the rainbow mountain. On our way back, we have lunch in a family restaurant located in Cusipata. Return to Cusco expected around 18.00. Night at the hotel.
Note> if you wish so, you can visit Vinicunca instead of Palccoyo. It is the most famous rainbow mountain. But it is also much more touristy. Besides, the hike to Vinicunca is more strenuous (from 4600 to 5100 m). Between them, we recommend you Palccoyo because it is more “intimate”.
Free day to walk around the beautiful city of Cusco. Some must-see places we recommend: MAP (Museum of Pre-Columbian Art); San Francisco Convent; and the quaint neighborhood of San Blas. In the evening we go on a cultural and alternative walking tour. Strolling under the stars through the historic city center, we discover a less-known side of Cusco: myths, legends, tales, ghosts and saints. A unique experience to see the real Cusco, Peru’s iconic city. Night at the hotel.
We get picked up at 06:15 from the hotel and begin our journey towards the city of Puno. The comfortable touristic bus (including heating, air conditioning, chemical bathroom, DVD, on board service, and buffet lunch in Sicuani) will make several stops during the journey: Andahuaylillas, Rajchi, and Pukara. Pick-up from the bus station in Puno. Night at the hotel.
After breakfast, we head to the port and embark on a boat to Uros floating islands, located north of Puno’s bay. Then we reach Amantani island where we have lunch and spend the afternoon discovering the island. Dinner and night with a local family.
After breakfast we go towards Taquile, the biggest island of the Lake Titicaca. We disembark on the northern side and walk till the main part of the island. Lunch in Taquile. We get back to Puno in the afternoon (estimated arrival at 18:00). Night in Puno.
Transfer to the airport in the morning, flight Juliaca – Lima. Free day in Lima with our driver at your disposal. You can spend the day visiting the city, its museums or if you are a food lover and fond of seafood, book a table in a typical restaurant in Barranco, Chorillos or Miraflores. Transfer to the bus station in the afternoon and bus to Trujillo (9 hours in a first quality bus counting with heating, air conditioning, Chemicals toilet, DVD and onboard assistance).
It’s possible to change the bus for a domestic flight, at an extra cost.
Pick-up from the bus station and transfer to the hotel in Trujillo. Today we discover Trujillo and its colonial houses, as well as the ancient Moche culture. We visit the Archeological Museum, the beautiful churches and the colonial houses of the city center. Then we visit the Sun and Moon “Huaca” located 8km away from town: a Moche commercial center with polychrome walls. Night in Trujillo.
After the breakfast we visit Chan Chan, capital city of ancient Chimu kingdom, and the biggest adobe town of pre-Columbian America. Its walls are decorated with animals embossed, as well as other geometrical figures and mythological beings. In the afternoon we get to Dragon “Huaca”, also known as rainbow “Huaca” and the archeological site of “El Briujo”, another amazing example of Moche culture. In the afternoon we visit Huanchaco and get back to Trujillo. Night at the hotel.
Today we go to Lambayeque up to Chiclayo (a 3-hour trip) to visit the Museum of the Royal Tombs of Señor de Sipán, one of the most beautiful museums in Latin America and a true jewel for those who are history and archeology enthusiasts. Return during the afternoon. Night in Trujillo.
Transfer to the bus station. Trip Trujillo – Lima (9 hours in a first quality bus counting with heating, air conditioning, Chemicals toilet, DVD and onboard assistance).
It’s possible to change the bus for a domestic flight, at an extra cost.
Transfer to the airport and international flight.
If your flight departs at night, we recommend you spend the day on our City Tour, where we take you to discover an authentic Lima.
City to city transfers in comfortable tourist buses: restroom on board, heating, air conditioning, and reclining seats.
If your international flight arrives in Lima in the morning, please note that the room is available from 3 pm. You can then leave your luggage in the hotel luggage storage for free, but you cannot enter the room before the check-in time. In this case we recommend to include a room available from the moment of your arrival, with an extra cost.
PeruEtico does not directly organize the group tours described in the program. We work with selected local and professional agencies.
Qoricancha: it is closed on Sunday; if the city tour of Cusco coincides with this day of the week, you can visit the archaeological site yourself during the free day.
Machu Picchu: travelers are limited to a 20lt/5kg backpack; the rest of your luggage is to be left in custody at the hotel in Cusco or Urubamba.
Palccoyo: we reach 4900 meters above sea level so you will feel the altitude. We recommend you walk slowly. This tour is only for fit people. During the rainy season (from December to March), it is not always possible to visit Palccoyo due to bad weather. If necessary, this tour will be replaced by an excursion to the Huatanay Valley (south of Cusco), including Tipón, Piñipampa Pikillaqta.
Housing in Amantani is very basic. Rooms are cozy and there are enough thick blankets to keep you warm. Bathrooms are located outside the house.
As from the arrival in Peru, the passenger is responsible for any additional costs caused by a variation in the program (net cost plus agency rights).
Through the stay and experience in Amantani, and the visit to the Maras salt ponds, you are directly helping and supporting the local families and their projects.
Any of our employees, from guides to local communities, receive a fair salary and remuneration for the work done, above the average in Peru.
Peruetico is committed to reducing the environmental impact and the use of plastic and paper during your travels.
Only by chance we discover this fantastic tour operator that has its headquarters in Peru but is an Italian team who live there: the best recipe! Let’s go chronologically: firstly, the price. I travel an average of 4 times a year on the five continents and I have a bit of experience. I had the same identical tour quoted with the same identical services from three Italian tour operators and the same tour bought in Italy would have cost me more than double !!! Second point: availability, Gianni welcomed us with open arms, a friendly Italian who came to the hotel to do a briefing of over three hours and explain all the details of the trip, after which he gave us his phone number where we could reach him 24/7 during the whole trip and so when we needed to modify the tour, well we called him at 5 am and at 7am he called us back telling us he had the new tickets and he had also arranged the bus transfer! In any case, during the whole trip we were in contact two/three times a day to be sure that everything was as planned. Third point: professionalism of the guides, the first was even a university professor of history and botany (Marina) who explained everything about the Inca civilization and the flora and fauna of Peru, the second (David) was no less knowing all the secrets of Machu Picchu made us take a really nice and interesting tour, the third excellent guide and the fourth (in Lima) was even an Italian woman who told us everything about Lima and Peru, telling us about the country’s economic and social policy and events. Fourth point: organization, really impeccable and punctual, the buses and guides always on time for the tours, excellent transfers and the tour proposed by the organizers themselves and then changed according to our needs. A truly competent and good tour operator. Really recommended!
