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15 Day itinerary in Peru, South America

Cusco : Panorama of an Andean Region

You are a slow travel partisan, this itinerary was made for your. During this 15 days trip you will discover in depth the history, the traditions and the landscapes of the Cusco region. You will visit Cusco, a thousand years old city full of charm which was the ancient capital of the Inca Empire. Y... Read More

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Camille

By Camille

Overview

Physical Difficulty

Average
help_outline

Recommended Age

Everyone

Operated in

English, Spanish, French

GUIDANCE

Tour Guide, Driver

starting point

Lima

trip type

Private

trip attributes

Visit markets

Meet local people

Rural home stays

Indigenous culture

Culture & Arts

Start/End

Night

Highlights

1

Cusco, the navel of the world

2

Lucmabamba valley, immersion with avocado, coffee, honey and passion fruit local producers

3

Palcoyo, the unknown rainbow mountain

4

2 days trek to Waqrapukara fortress

Itinerary

Mid-Range Accommodation ( Double Room ) expand_more

Day 1

place Lima

Reception at the arrival of your international flight at Jorge Chavez airport in Lima and transfer to the hotel. An English representative will greet you at the airport and hand you over your travel documents.

Guide: Included for the day

Accommodation:

  • Mid-Range Accommodation ( Double Room ): 3B Barranco's - Chic and Basic - B&B
Day 2

place Lima

Half day dedicated to the visit of the Peruvian capital. Depart on foot with your guide to reach the Metropolitano station, Lima's public transport that crosses the capital and runs 100% on natural gas. You get off at Jirón de la Unión station, discover the colonial districts of the city center, passing through Plaza San Martin and Plaza de Armas. Visit of the San Francisco Convent and its catacombs. Free afternoon in Lima. In Miraflores, you can go to the craft market on Calle Petit Thouars or take a walk through the Parque de Amor located along the "Malecon" facing the Pacific Ocean ... In Barranco, we advise you to wander the streets around main square, the Bridge of Sighs and along the Malecon, to discover the charming architecture and colorful houses of the bohemian district of the capital. Between designer boutiques, street-arts, street musicians and colonial mansions, you'll find two merging universes in Barranco!

Guide: Included for the day

Meals: Breakfast

Accommodation:

  • Mid-Range Accommodation ( Double Room ): 3B Barranco's - Chic and Basic - B&B
Day 3

place Lima - Cusco

Transfer from your hotel to the Lima airport. Flight to Cusco. Reception at Cusco airport and transfer to the hotel. English speaking assistance from airport to hotel. Departure for a half day dedicated to the discovery of Cuzco's historical downtown. Walk through the picturesque streets and squares of the San Blas neighborhood. Visit the Qoricancha (Temple of the Sun), and the Cathedral which has many paintings and other treasures of goldsmithery, silver and precious stones..

Guide: Included for the day

Meals: Breakfast

Accommodation:

  • Mid-Range Accommodation ( Double Room ): El Retablo Hotel
Day 4

place Cusco

Departure at 7.30am in a private vehicle for an all-day excursion to discover Pisac ant the ruines sorrounding Cusco, cradle of the Inca Empire. The first stop will be at the ruins of Pisac, one of the main Inca sites, where the different areas (administrative, religious, military) are scattered on the mountainside. Also observable are the large terraces that were used for agriculture but also protected from the effects of erosion. Then we will take a walk around the colorful handicraft market before taking to the road again, this time in the direction of Cusco. Discovery of the ruins around Cusco (Sacsayhuaman and Q’enqo). Return to the hotel in Cusco.

Guide: Included for the day

Meals: Breakfast

Accommodation:

  • Mid-Range Accommodation ( Double Room ): El Retablo Hotel
Day 5

place Cusco - Umasbamba - Chinchero - Ollantaytambo

In the morning, departure from your hotel by private vehicle to the typical community of Umasbamba. Welcome by the community and participation to a workshop with Jose Luis and his wife Trinidad. You can choose between a weaving workshop, a walk to the watchtower or participate in agricultural activities. Lunch at Jose Luis and Trinidad´s house. At the beginning of the afternoon, you will start a 2h30 walk on an Inca path along the Piuray lagoon on the way to the village of Chinchero. Along the way, you will enjoy splendid views of the Veronica, Chicon, and Pitusiray Glaciers. Visit of the archaeological site and the church of Chinchero. Notes : - Walking time: 2h - 2h30 - Altitude difference: + 100 meters

Guide: Included for the day

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Accommodation:

  • Mid-Range Accommodation ( Double Room ): El Albergue Restaurant
Day 6

place Ollantaytambo - Huayopata - Lucmabamba

Immerse yourself totally during 3 days in the communities of producers of the valley of Lucmabamba. You will discover all the secrets of the production of coffee, honey and passion fruit. On the way, you will cross beautiful Andean landscapes and go through the mountain pass of Abra Malaga, at 4,316 meters above sea level. At this altitude, you will walk through the endemic shrubby trees called Polylepis. You will then descend to the village of Huayopata, observing a real change of ecosystem. Welcome to the Selva, with its banana trees and its coffee plantations! Arrival in Huayopata, meeting with Julia and walk through their plantations to discover all the local fruits. Lunch at Julia's house. In the early afternoon, we will head by private vehicle to the thermal baths of Colcamayo. Enjoy a relaxing moment on the banks of the Urubamba River, in this complex featuring three pools of different sizes and depths, with temperatures approaching 40 degrees. At the end of the day, you will reach Enrique's house and his family, located in the village of Lucmabamba (2,040 meters above sea level). Dinner and night at Enrique's home.Private room and bathroom with hot water during your stay. Note: For these three days, you will need to bring a small backpack. In the train to Aguas Calientes the luggage limit is 8 kg per person. The rest of your luggage will be kept at your hotel upon in Sacred Valley or Cusco.

Guide: Included for the day

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Accommodation:

  • Mid-Range Accommodation ( Double Room ): Home stay, Enrique's house
Day 7

place Lucmabamba

After a good homemade breakfast, you will take a local taxi to Don Gato and Margot's property, passion fruit producers in Lucmabamba. The NGO Care has been working since 2014 in the region to support local agricultural productivity and contribute to the emancipation and empowerment of women in the region. This is how Don Gato and Margot developed their small local business. They will teach you how to harvest the passion fruit and their sales process. You will also taste several derivatives such jam, ice cream, and even a pisco sour with passion fruit! Then heading to Renée's, honey producer. She too was accompanied by Care, and is now part of an association that brings together 30 women. She will introduce you to the process of making honey and will make you try several kinds of honey and its derivatives. Back to Enrique's house for lunch. In the early afternoon, you will accompany Enrique to pick up coffee beans and learn the different stages of coffee making: depulping, roasting, grinding the beans. Coffee will have no secrets for you! Note: Walk of about 1.5 hours to get to the coffee parcels Free time in late afternoon, dinner and overnight homestay with the family.

Guide: Included for the day

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Accommodation:

  • Mid-Range Accommodation ( Double Room ): Homestay - Enrique's house
Day 8

place Lucmabamba - Llactapata - Aguas Calientes

In the morning, departure for a 12 kilometer hike on an Inca road to the village located at the foot of Machu Picchu. The route crosses a valley with abundant vegetation. You will start with a climb of about 2:30 to the Mirador de Qelloqasa (2,860m), then to the archaeological site of Llactapata, which you will visit with your guide. This place was once used by the Incas as a temple and a resting place. From Llactapata, you will enjoy a splendid view of Machu Picchu. After the visit, you will go down to the Aobamba Valley for about 2 hours until you reach the Hydroelectrica train station. Lunch, then departure by train to Aguas Calientes. Installation at your hotel. Note : - Difference in altitude: + 800 meters / - 1000 meters - Walking time: Between 4:30 and 6 hours depending on your walking pace and breaks.

Guide: Included for the day

Meals: Breakfast

Accommodation:

  • Mid-Range Accommodation ( Double Room ): Tierra Viva Cusco Machu Picchu
Day 9

place Aguas Calientes - Machu Picchu - Ollantaytambo

Direct connection to the shuttle service that will drive you to the citadel of Machu Picchu. Your guide accompanies you on the bus from Aguas Calientes to Machu Picchu. Arrival on the site of Machu Picchu, wonder of the world. Machu Picchu is an ancient Inca city of the fifteenth century in Peru. Abandoned during the collapse of the Inca empire, the sacred city of the Incas, was forgotten for centuries. It is considered as a masterpiece of the architecture of this civilization. It was unveiled by the American archaeologist Hiram Bingham in 1911. In1983, Machu Picchu was declared UNESCO World Heritage List. On July 7, 2007, Machu Picchu was voted one of the New Seven Wonders of the World by the NewOpenWorld Foundation, an unofficial and commercial organization. Finally the site is part of a whole cultural and natural complex known as the "Historic Sanctuary of Machu Picchu". Entrance to Machu Picchu is regulated by a 3-hour slot on the site. We will communicate the entry schedule to the site that we recommend according to your program. After this confirmation, the schedule for entering the site cannot be changed. Note : Possibility to include the ascent of Huayna Picchu or Montaña Machu Picchu (these two climbs are subject to quotas and require early booking) Train to Ollantaytambo.

Guide: Included for the day

Meals: Breakfast

Accommodation:

  • Mid-Range Accommodation ( Double Room ): El Albergue Restaurant
Day 10

place Ollantaytambo - Maras - Moray - Cusco

Departure at 9am in a private vehicle on a day-trip exploring the Sacred Valley. The first stop will be a visit the cultural site of Moray, an ancient Inca agricultural laboratory. Then we head on to the salt flats of Maras – located in the middle of the Cordillera! We will eat lunch in a local family's home with Marlene and other housewives of the Awana Wasi Tocapo association who will then share their secret dying and weaving techniques with us and explain how local artisanal textiles, so famous in the Andes, are made: blankets, pillowcases, table runners…. Transfer to the hotel.

Guide: Included for the day

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Accommodation:

  • Mid-Range Accommodation ( Double Room ): El Retablo Hotel
Day 11

place Cusco

Free day in Cusco, the capital of the Inca Empire. In the morning, you can go to the San Pedro market to discover the many varieties of exotic fruits that you will only find in Peru but also cusqueños breads, local cheeses, as well as Cusquenian florists and craftsmen of all kinds! You can then head to the Plaza de Armas to visit the cathedral of Cusco, surely the most beautiful religious monument in the country. Finally, we recommend you to visit the Qoricancha Temple. This Inca temple (the most precious of the time) was ravaged by the Spanish during the colonization. Its foundations were later reused to build the church of Santo Domingo. At the end of the day, you can go to the Sacsayhuaman archeological site that you will reach through the typical district of San Blas. Or wander around the cobbled streets of the colonial center of Cusco, where magic happens during sunset time. Free time in Cusco is generally appreciated for its walking possibilities in the many small cobbled streets of the city. You can also take advantage of this moment to make your last purchases of souvenirs: clothes, jewelry and decoration, the choices are endless in Cusco!

Meals: Breakfast

Accommodation:

  • Mid-Range Accommodation ( Double Room ): El Retablo Hotel
Day 12

place Palcoyo

This tour offers a wonderful hike to Palccoyo or "new rainbow mountain" through the Cordillera of the same name. This place has gained its fame thanks to the coloring of the sediments of this part of the Andes. A private transport will pick you up at your hotel at 6:30, to take you to Palccoyo, starting point of your hike, where you will arrive around 10:30. After only 1 hour walking, you will discover the mountain Huallatacunca, whose colorful sediments will not fail to amaze you. A meal (picnic) will be served on site and you can enjoy your lunch in a beautiful setting. You will then return walking to Palccoyo and with a private vehicle to Cusco. Expected arrival around 17:30. Notes : - Total Distance3 km - Maximum height:5000 m - Climate: Cold Between - 4 ° C and 11 ° C Rain: November to April

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Accommodation:

  • Mid-Range Accommodation ( Double Room ): El Retablo Hotel
Day 13

place Cusco - Waqrapukara - Cusco

Departure from your hotel at 6am in private vehicule for the 1st day of the trek that will take you to the Waqra Pukara fortress. On the road (about 3 hours), you will cross various Andean villages, including Sangarara where took place one of the battles between the Spanish rebellion organized by Tupac Amaru II, then you leave the asphalt road for about 45 minutes to reach the village of the departure of the trek. In the middle of the morning, departure of the hike (without major difficulty): the well-marked path will allow you to observe the rocky landscapes, while overlooking the Acomayo Valley and the Apurimac river. You will see little by little the silhouette of Waqra Pucara "the fortress with horns", near which your camp will be organized. Night in tent, hot meal for dinner. Notes : - Walking : 4h-5h - Departure of the hike: 3650m above sea level - Maximum height : 4100m above sea level (camp) - Sleeping bag

Guide: Included for the day

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 14

place Waqrapukara - Cusco

After breakfast, you go with your guide to visit the arqueological complex of Waqra Pucara. Built by the pre-Incan Qanchi civilization on natural rock formations, this intriguing fortress was also a place of power for the Incas, overlooking the entire valley. You will start a walk about 3:30 to go down to the end point of the hike, where your cook will be waiting for you with a hot lunch. Back to Cusco in private transport (about 4h). Notes : - Altitude of departure: 4100m (camp) - Altitude at the arrival of the trek: 3 410m - Altitude difference - 690mWalking time: 3h30 - The recommended period for this trek is from April to October (dry season) - Good physical condition is required, but there is no technical difficulty for this trek.

Guide: Included for the day

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Day 15

place Cusco - Lima

Time-off in the morning to relax. Transfer from your hotel to Cusco's airport. Flight with destination to Lima.

Guide: Included for the day

Meals: Breakfast

What’s Included

Accommodation expand_less

  • 3B Barranco's - Chic and Basic - B&B
  • El Retablo Hotel
  • El Albergue Restaurant
  • Home stay, Enrique's house
  • Homestay - Enrique's house
  • Tierra Viva Cusco Machu Picchu

Meals expand_less

  • Breakfast (14)
  • Lunch (7)
  • Dinner (3)

Transport expand_less

  • Airport Transfers
  • Flight from Lima to Cusco
  • Flight from Cusco to Lima
  • Train to Aguas Calientes
  • Train to Ollantaytambo
  • Private vehicules with driver

Activities expand_less

  • Visit of the historical center of Lima
  • Visit of the historical center of Cusco
  • Visit of Inca ruins : Pisac - Sacsayhuaman - Q'enqo
  • Walk along the Piuray lake between Umasbamba and Chinchero
  • Meet the local producers of Lucmabamba valley
  • Visit of Machu Picchu
  • Visit of Inca ruins : Moray - Maras
  • Walk to Palcoyo mountain
  • Trek to Waqrapukara fortress

Extras expand_less

  • Entrance fees mentioned in the program

Not Included expand_less

  • Tips for Guides / Drivers
  • Meals / Drinks
  • International flights and National flights if NOT mentioned in the program.

About Camille

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