Arequipa – Puno – Cusco – Puerto Maldonado – Lima 16 Days

Day 1: Arrival in Lima.

To beging your incredible journey, our friendly representative will be waiting for you at the airport exit in Arequipa holding and orange sign marked “Sam Travel”. (send your flight details) After a warm welcome, you will be transported to your reserved hotel in our private van. Your guide will give you a quick run down about what to expect/prepare for in the following morning, and will happily answer any questions you may have or assist you if needed.

• 4* Accomodatios: Casa Andina Premium, Costa del Sol Ramada, Novotel
• Meals: None

Day 2: Lima City Tour: Ancient, Colonial and Modern – Flight to Arequipa.

After breakfast, you are picked up at your hotel by your private guide and driver to begin your tour in Lima’s historic city center.

Visit the Main Square and the Cathedral, where Conquistador Francisco Pizarro is entombed. Tour the Convent and Church of San Francisco, which hold the oldest collection of colonial art in the Americas, with an exquisitely carved chorus, a library of ancient manuscripts, and the Sacristy with paintings by Zurbarán and Rivera.

The grand courtyard of the main cloister is decorated floor-to-ceiling in blue and white Sevillian tiles, depicting scenes from the bible that dates back to the 16th Century. Moroccan-style arches lead us to the Catacombs, a subterranean crypt from the colonial period, where the bones of 25 thousand colonial-era Lima residents are entombed.

Then tours of the Huaca Pucllana, a pre-Inca adobe pyramid in the heart of the seaside district of Miraflores; Parque del Amor (Park of Love), and other attrations in the Miraflores district. Lunch.
Excursion to the Larco Museum, with its magnificent collection of Moche portrait vessels, erotic pottery and gold, silver and stone artifacts and textiles from Peru’s pre-Columbian civilizations. In the afternoon we will head to the Airport for our flight to Arequipa.

• 4* Accomodatios: Casa Andina Premium, Costa del Sol Ramada, Novotel
• Meals: None

Day 3: Arequipa City Tour

Day 3 begins with your tour guide picking you up from your hotel. Your day beging with a tour of beautiful Arequipa. This historic town is surrounded by spectacular mountains, including the volcano El Misti. A fascinating feature of the city is its many beautiful buildings made of a light-colored volcanic rock called sillar.

The City Tour is the best way to see the beauty of Arequipa. The tour offers a glimpse of the cathedral of Arequipa and the convent of Santa Catalina, famous since the 16th century for its narrow streets and unique styles. Currently, 450 nuns call ther convent their home.
We will aslo visit the museum Santuarios Andinos and the beautiful and famous “Ice maiden”

• 4* Accomodatios: Casa Andina Premium, Costa del Sol Wyndham Arequipa
• Meals: None

Day 4: Arequipa Chivay.

Our tour will start between 7:30am and 8:15am, and depart by bus towards the Colca Canyon. We’ll have stops in Pampa Cañahuas and Aguada Blanca National Reserve, which is home to herds of vicuñas, llamas and alpacas, and migratory birds (flamingoes, seagulls Andean, wild ducks, etc.) So, you can stop to get that all-important selfie with an Alpaca! We also stop on The Viewpoint of the Andes, which is the highest part of the road, from where we appreciate much of the Western Cordillera. We will arrive to Chivay at 1:30 p.m. and after lunch, we will settle in our lodging in Chivay.

In the afternoon, we’ll visit the hot spring La Calera of Colca Canyon to relax in the warm outdoor pool surrounded with beautiful sights of huge mountains. Then, back to Chivay for dinner in a restaurant of your choice followed by a cozy night in your hotel.

• 4* Accommodations: Aranwa, Casan Andina.
• Meals: None

Day 5: Chivay – Colca Canyon – Cruz Del Condor – Chivay – Puno.

After breakfast, we’ll depart to the “Condor’s Cross”, or natural viewpoint: “Cruz del Condor” around 6:00am. There we’ll hopefully see the world famous Andean condor birds soaring majestically above us as they effortlessly glide on thermal drifts. We will take you to different viewpoints of the canyon, to allow you to explore it and appreciate its sheer size. This incredible canyon is the second deepest in the world!

Then we will return to Chivay, making stops in some typical villages such as: Pinchollo, Maca and Yanque to explore some beautiful colonial churches. We will make one last stop in Chivay for a buffet lunch. (not included)

We will be departing to Puno at 1pm. Along the way stopping at Patapampa, and Lagunillas viewpoint Situated on the half way between Puno and Arequipa. There are several beautiful small lagoons called “Lagunillas”, where it is possible to see Andean Flamingos, others Andean birds and trout farms fishing on their artisan boats. Here stop to enjoy a snack while enjoying the spectacular views and peaceful atmosphere. We will make arrival to Puno around 7pm, and then give you transport to your hotel.

• 3* Accommodations: Casa Andina Classic Puno or Tierra Viva Puno
• 4* Accommodations: Casa Andina Private Collection or Sonesta Puno
• Meals: None

Day 6: Puno – Uros Islands – Taquile Island – Puno

After having breakfast in your hotel, the tour leader will pick you up to take you to the port of Puno. There, you will embark on a 30-minute boat ride until arriving at the impressive floating islands. You will be welcomed by the extremely friendly locals, who will show you the island and the products they weave. Then, we will have a two-hour boat ride to arrive at Taquile Island. The inhabitants still live according to their ancestral traditions and dress with gorgeous colored traditional ropes. They are also famous for the magnificent weavings which are traditionally made by men, not women. You will have some time to learn about ancestral farming techniques and try to use a few Inca tools. We will have lunch in a traditional restaurant, (included) where you can try delicious local dishes. Then, we take the boat back to Puno and drive to your hotel for the end of the tour.

• Meals included: Breakfast – Lunch
• 3* Accommodations: Casa Andina Classic Puno or Tierra Viva Puno
• 4* Accommodations: Casa Andina Private Collection or Sonesta Puno

Day 7: Puno – Tour To Cusco.

We pick you up at your hotel at 6:30am to take you to the bus station. We will first visit La Raya, the border between the regions of Cusco and Puno, where the most traditional animals of Peru can be seen: llamas and alpacas. In Pucara, we will visit a museum where it is possible to see some pre-Inca remains. Then, we stop at the Racchi Inca ruins, which used to be a religious and resting place for Inca travelers. During the trip, you will stop to visit famous Inca ruins, museums, and the Andahuaylillas Church, which is considered to be the Sistine Chapel of South America because of its amazing frescos. Finally, by 5:30 pm we arrive in Cusco.

• 4* Accommodation: Costa del Sol Ramada, Casa Andina Private Collection or Novotel Hotels
• Meals included: Lunch.

Day 8: Cusco City Tour – Sacsayhuaman – Nearby Ruins – Cathedral

Sleep in and enjoy a lazy morning. We will pick you upat 10am at your hotel and we will start our visit of the Imperial City of Cusco. A living example of the mix of Andean and Spanish cultures, this city will for sure be one of the highlights of your trip. We journey to the Santo Domingo Convent built over the Koricancha, as well as the ancient Inca Palace, and the main worship center of the Sun God. You will have plenty of time to enjoy these beautiful sights and capture their berauty with your cameras. Then we will visit and recieve a tour of the Cathedral of Cusco. After the tour, we proceed to visit the archaeological site of Sacsayhuaman with its military Inca architecture, which dominates the city.

Finally, we go to the archaeological sites of Qenqo, Puca Pucará, and Tambomachay, located in the north east of the city. After a busy day filled with rich history, we take you back to your hotel.

• 4* Accommodation: Costa del Sol Ramada, Casa Andina Private Collection or Novotel Hotels
• Meals: None

Day 9: Sacred Valley Tour + Atv

We start this beautiful day at 7:00am, your guide will pick you up at your Cusco hotel in our private van. Our route to the Sacred Valley of the Incas leads us towards the town of Pisac. We stop first at the Mirador of Taray to enjoy an expansive view of the Urubamba valley and its traditional farming villages. You will see how little the agriculture in the Sacred Valley has changed in the past five hundred years.

Onward, we drive to the archeological site of Pisac, where you visit an impressive Inca cemetery with more than 2,000 tombs. There, we admire the carefully engineered farming terraces carved into the mountain, explore the Inca tunnel and the religious area of this important citadel. Then, we head down to the colorful market of Pisac, spend about 20 minutes visiting/shopping and then drive to Urubamba for lunch. (included)
On our way to an ATV camp, your guide covers the correct use of the ATVs so we are ready to get going on our way to the Salt Mines. There we explore the incredible salt mines of Maras. A natural spring at the top of the valley discharges a small stream of water heavily laden with salt, which is diverted into saltpans and evaporated to produce a very high quality pink salt just as the Incas have done for centuries.

Back to our ATVs, we are on our way to the archaeological site of Moray which is an agricultural laboratory from the Inca time, where they created various micro-climates for growing food. After our guided tour of this incredibly unique site, we return to our ATVs and make our way through the Maras Moray area back to the ATV camp. There we leave them behind and are on our way to Ollantaytambo, our last stop.
We drive to Ollantaytambo where we take time to explore the Inca village that has remained intact since Inca times and the massive Inca Ruins with our tour guide. We explore the massive architecture of the Sun Temple at the top of the considerable terraces. Our guide explains the importance and significance of this impressive site for the Incas during the beginning of the Spanish conquest.

After our tour of Ollantaytambo ends, we drive you back to Cusco arriving around 6:30pm.

• 3* Accommodation: Pakaritampu Hotel or El Alberge
• There are no 4* hotels in Ollantaytambo
• Meals included: Breakfast at your hotel – Lunch

Day 10: Ollantaytambo – Km104 – WiÑAy Wayna – Sun Gate – Machu Picchu

We start this exciting day early; your guide will leave the hotel with you at 5:30am. When you arrive at the train station, your guide will give you your lunch to add to your daypack. Your train departs Ollantaytambo at 6:10am and you will have just over an hour on the train to enjoy the scenery before arriving to your trek start point. 

Your guide will get off the train with you at the famous Km104, where your hike begins! (2,000m/6,560 ft. above sea level) After crossing the Urubamba river on a picturesque foot bridge, you will be required to show your passport at the checkpoint and get to visit your first Inca archeological site! The first hour and a half are a gentle trek upward, with several shelters along the way to pause for a bit, to get out of the sun, or rain, depending on the season. Along the way, you will stop at several outlooks where you have an expansive view of the Urubamba River. You will also pass through several microclimates, including a cloud forest, so be ready for damp or even rain at any season of the year. The next hour and a half are a slightly steeper uphill trek with a beautiful waterfall as your reward at the end of the trail!

As you walk below the waterfall, be sure to gaze up at the spectacular Wiñay Wayna as you pass! (2,600m/8,500ft above sea level) These amazing Inca ruins have a fascinating history and some parts are still hidden by the dense jungle. Close to Machu Picchu, we are hiking through lush sub-tropical jungle. Your guide will tell you all about the ruins, plus the incredible flora and fauna of this microclimate and answer any questions you have before the short 5 minute walk to your lunch spot.

You will have lunch at the Wiñay Wayna campground, which is the last campground for those hiking the
Classic Inca Trail. Take your time enjoying your hearty, gourmet lunch and admire the tropical flowers around the campground. Be sure to notify us of any food allergies or dietary restrictions when you book!

After lunch, we continue our mostly flat hike to the Sun Gate. Our last trek before the gate is a set of steep stairs carved directly into the bedrock by the Inca known as the “Monkey Stairs”. As you walk through the Sun Gate and turn the corner, you will experience your first breathtaking view of Machu Picchu Citadel, so take some time to savor the moment and take plenty of photos. The last hour down from the Sun Gate provide many opportunities to take more photos of Machu Picchu from this unique vantage point. There are also a couple more important Inca sites between the Sun Gate and Machu Picchu, so make sure to go slowly, enjoy your time walking in the footsteps of the Inca on the Inca Trail and ask your guide questions about these historical places on the last bit of your hike to Machu Picchu.

Once you reach Machu Picchu, you will have time to take more photos from the viewing platforms above the site, the famous one being the “House of the Guardians” where you can take the famous postcard pictures of Machu Picchu.  You will arrive in the afternoon, as the archeological area starts to empty of tourists, which gives you the opportunity to take beautiful photos in the afternoon light with fewer people in your shots. Take your time to enjoy this magical experience before you take the bus down to Aguas Calientes to check into your hotel. Your will have a delicious dinner, then have time to walk around this picturesque little town, visit the hot springs or just go to your hotel to rest after such an exciting day.

• Meals included: Breakfast at your hotel, picnic lunch and dinner in Aguas Calientes
• 4* Accommodation:  El Mapi or Tierra Viva Machu Picchu (superior room)
• Difficulty: Moderate.

You will leave an overnight bag at the Ollantaytambo train station to be sent by train directly to Aguas Calientes.

Day 11: Aguas Calientes – Machu Picchu – Cusco

This is the day you’ve been waiting for! After an early breakfast at your hotel, you’ll take one of the first buses up to Machu Picchu so that you can be there to witness the sunrise. It is a truly extraordinary sight and not something you’ll want to miss! Your guide will give you a guided tour of Machu Picchu, which takes about two hours. You will see many of the most important parts of Machu Picchu Citadel, and learn the history and significance of each building.
After your tour, those who have booked in advance for an extra hike up Huayna Picchu will have time to enjoy those views on their own. 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 Expedition train will take you back to Ollantaytambo at 2:55pm 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. You can also see Wiñay Wayna from the train, if you look up high on the steep canyon wall! Back at Ollantaytambo, your driver will meet you at the exit from the train station to take you back to your hotel in Cusco in our private vehicle. You can expect to arrive at your hotel by 7:00pm.

• Meals included: Breakfast at your hotel
• 4* Accommodation: Costa del Sol Ramada, Casa Andina Private Collection or Novotel Hotels

***IMPORTANT:

• You can upgrade to the Vistadome Train for the same times, 2:55pm or 3:20pm, 4:22pm, or 4:43pm. The cost is $67 USD.
• Early trains can be organized by requested and it has to be done by booking time.
• The Huayna Picchu Mountain Hike depends on availability and let us know about it at booking time.

Day 12: Rainbow Mountain.

Your amazing Rainbow Mountain Trek Adventure begins with pick up from your hotel at 4am! We set out on our drive for 3 hours through the South Valley, on our way to the trailhead at Llacto (4,638m/15,216 ft). The drive is dark and gives you plenty of time to rest or nap before reaching our beautiful destination.

The herds of alpacas and llamas near your breakfast place will entertain you in the early morning. Enjoy a delicious and hearty breakfast, then get back in the van for the last drive to the trailhead. We start on our hike following a lovely stream, with views of the Ausangate Mountain and glaciers. This is a great place to interact with the local people, who are still keeping traditional Quechua culture alive. Learn about their traditional clothes and the significance of the different hats worn by the men. Ask your guide to teach you a few words of Quechua!

After hiking up for about 1.5 hours, we finally reach our destination: the Rainbow Mountain! (5,020m /16,466ft). After admiring the unique beauty of this colorful landscape, you will have time to explore the area. You can take pictures or just soak up the view. We recommend the short hike up the neighboring mount to get a better view of the vibrant colors and a better angle for your photos. We will spend approximately 30 minutes at the top. Afterwards, we hike across to the Red Valley for 45 to enjoy the rich red Valley and Mountains. Finally we walk back the same trail we hiked up back down to the the trail head, where our driver will be awaiting us. We drive back down the mountain to a buffet lunch where we can reflect and share photos.

We will embark on the 3-hour drive back to Cusco and drop you off at your Cusco hotel, arriving around 5:00pm.

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

• 4* Accommodation: Costa del Sol Ramada, Casa Andina Private Collection or Novotel Hotels
• Meals: Breakfast – Lunch.

Day 13: Cusco – Flight To Puerto Maldonado

Arrive in Puerto Maldonado, capital of Madre de Dios, then have the rest of the day to walk around the town at your leisure. Explore the buzzing city and its beautiful gardens with rare flora and fauna that can be found nowhere else in the world.

• 3* Accommodation: 
• Meals: None

Day 14: Sandoval Lake Full Day Tour

We will pick you up from your hotel and will head to the Capitania Port in Puerto Maldonado. There, we board a motorboat and navigate down the Madre de Dios River watching animals such as turtles, caimans, lizards, andf cute river otters playing around on its shores. After about half an hour, we get to a checkpoint of the Sandoval Lake Reserve.

We pass a check and start walking for 5 km to reach Sandoval Lake where we hop in a canoe to bring us to the Sandoval Lake. There, we accommodate ourselves and after lunch we return to cruising the lake to see its typical inhabitants – giant river otters, black caimans, and prehistoric birds such as shansho, herons, cormorants, kingfisher, etc. For dinner, we return to the lodge and later get back in the lake to undertake an evening caiman observation due to the nocturnal nature of the animals. Our professional naturalist tour guide shows and explains to us all about these spectacular animals. Afterwards, we get ready for a return way boarding a canoe again to voyage over the Sandoval Lake followed by a walk to the checkpoint. From there we float the Madre de Dios River by a motorboat towards Puerto Maldonado where we spend the night.

• 3* Accommodation: 
• Meals: Lunch

Day 15: Thank you – Departure from Puerto Maldonado

It is time to say goodbye to your new friends and tour guide. You will take the journey back to the city to the airport for your national flight to Lima.

• 4* Accommodation: Costa del Sol Ramada or Casa Andina Private Collection
• Meals: None