Machu Picchu & Perú Experience

• Tour to Colca Canyon and Valley – Night in Chivay or Colca valley

We’ll pick you up from your hotel in the morning to start the trip to the Colca Valley.  Our first stop will be the Cruz del Condor viewpoint, from where you can watch the huge and majestic condor flying, and get a wide picture of the Colca Valley, which features the second deepest canyon in the world (with a depth of more than 2 miles on its deepest side).

Right after, we’ll visit the villages of Pinchollo, Maca, Achoma, and Yanque to finally get to the viewpoints of Antahuilque and Wayrapunko, where you can continue marveling at this mountainous backdrop.

We’ll take you to Chivay, a quaint and beautiful town, where you’ll have lunch. In the afternoon, enjoy your leisure time at the hotel or visit the thermal baths called La Calera, just 2 miles away from town. You can spend this night in Chivay or in Colca Valley.

• Second day of your tour to the valley – Night in Puno

This tour of the valleys continues with us passing by Vizcachani, the Pampas de Toccra, and the crater of the Chucura volcano to reach the Andes viewpoint in Patapampa (15750 feet above sea level) from where you will see the different volcanoes surrounding Arequipa.

After traveling for 4 hours, we’ll make a stop at Patahuasi to enjoy a coca tea. During the journey we’ll pass through the city of Juliaca, known as a commercial hub, and on the way you will be able to enjoy great volcanic landscapes like stone forests and lakes. In the area of Lagunillas, you will be able to see plenty of native wildlife of the Andes, such as alpacas, llamas, vicuñas and a variety of birds, including the abundant Kara-Kara, flamingos, etc.

After enjoying lunch at Colca, we’ll head to the city of Puno, arriving between 4 – 5 pm. Puno sits near the great Titicaca lake, which used to be a sacred place for the Incas, full of natural and artificial islands. The city is also famous for their chullpas; big circular tower-type constructions from the pre-Hispanic period which are visited by many tourists every year.

Enjoy your evening in Puno by walking through the historic downtown and tasting the delicious kancacho (roasted lamb marinated with garlic and olive oil).

• Tour to Uros Islands and Taquile

Continue your itinerary and marvel with Perú traditions! We’ll pick you up from your hotel and drive you to Puno’s lake port where you’ll take a boat to the floating islands of the Uros & Taquile.

Uros is an ancient society that inhabits a series of artificial islands built with totora, a reef that grows in the lake. The islands are built by weaving together totoras in the places where they grow thickest in order to form a natural layer. They build their totora houses over this naturally constructed base

You’ll continue your journey to Taquile Island where you’ll take a 1.5-hour tour to know the history and culture of the city. Unlike other islands in this area, which are inhabited by Aymara-speaking people in the lake, Taquile residents speak Quechua. The island was part of the Inca Empire and vestiges of the ancient culture can be noted in their buildings. Nevertheless, when the Spaniards arrived, they forced its residents to get rid of their typical Incan clothes and culture,  forcing them to wear traditional European farmers’ clothes.

You’ll have time to tour on your own until lunch (you’ll have lunch in a  local family house!), after which we will return to Puno.

• Transfer from your hotel tu Puno airport / Transfer to your hotel in Cuzco

At the appropriate time we’ll drive you from your hotel to Puno airport (Juliaca) to take your flight to Cuzco, the world-famous heart of Inca civilization. Upon arrival at the Cuzco airport, you will be received by your guide and head towards your selected hotel. Along the journey, your guide will be telling you about the attractions and services you can find in the city.

Say Hueque Tips

• What to do on your first day in Cuzco?

Declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1983, this colonial city is currently one of Peru’s most popular destinations. It is an absolute must in your travel itinerary to Perú and to visit Machu Picchu. Cuzco also contains the top examples of Incan architecture, which is based on their multiple uses of rock as the main building material. Enjoy your first evening in town by sipping a traditional pisco sour in a bar near Plaza Mayor. Cuzco is very international all year round, so you can easily meet with people from everywhere around the globe.

• City tour in Cuzco and archeological sites 

Today we’ll pick you up at your hotel to start your Cuzco tour with a visit to the Coricancha, also known as the “Temple of the Sun” the construction of which was ordered by Inca Pachacútec (1438-1471).

This is where the Sun (Inti, in Quechua) was worshipped during the reign of the Inca Empire, and during that time its walls were fully covered with gold sheets and its courtyards were adorned with golden corn and life-sized sculptures of llamas.

We’ll continue on to visit the Cathedral, the most important building in the Main Square (whose construction lasted almost a century) and one of the most splendid Spanish colonial churches in America.

Our next stop will be the Sacsayhuamán fortress, an emblematic Incan piece of work, which protected the Holy City. The Sacsayhuamán complex was constructed with giant megalithic blocks, the transportation and construction of which continue to be a mystery.

This day will end with a visit to some archeological main attractions. You’ll visit Qenqo, located just over 2 miles away from Cuzco City, an archaeological complex mainly used for religious purposes, and where it is believed that agricultural rituals took place.

You will finally visit Qenqo, an archaeological complex mainly used for religious purposes, and the vestiges of Puka Pukara, located 4.5 miles away from Cuzco. Puka Pukara, which means “red fortress”, was an architectural complex presumably used for military purposes.

At the end of this full historical and natural immersion in Cuzco’s heritage, we’ll drive you back to your hotel.

• Full-day tour to Pisac and Ollantaytambo Fortress

Start exploring the Sacred Valley, and visit Pisac, famous for its craft market where you’ll find the most exquisite piece of  jewelry, ceramic and textile craftwork. We’ll continue our trip visiting the archeological site of Pisac to admire the stone terraces built by the Incas, and last, we’ll head to Ollantaytambo to visit its stunning fortress. Admire the remaining towers and walls that used to keep safe the citadele and the royal guests that it used to host.   

• Tour to Machu Picchu, discover the legendary city!

Today begins with a 4-hour train ride to Aguas Calientes (literally, hot water). This town is also known as “Machu Picchu Pueblo” and is the last stop before entering the remains of the most important archaeological site in Peru. Machu Picchu means “Old Mountain” and is considered a World Heritage Site by UNESCO.

You’ll finally reach Machu Picchu (the ancient sanctuary and retreat for the Inca Pachacutec) after a short transfer by bus through the mountains.

Here, when we arrive at the exact destination that is the highlight of your trip, we will have special moments which will most certainly be cherished forever. Enjoy your first impressions of this jaw-dropping place, and breathe the magic in the air.

At the end of the tour you will take a bus back to Aguas Calientes and have lunch at Café Inkaterra in Machu Picchu. Enjoy a leisurely time during the rest of the afternoon and a restful sleep in the town of Aguas Calientes.

Say Hueque Tips

• What places can you in Machu Picchu?

Some of the places you can visit include the Intipunku, or “Sun Gate”, where the sun rises every day through a stone passageway, or the Inca Bridge, an incredible stone building that served as the entrance and exit of the citadel.

• Optional second day visit to Machu Picchu

In the morning we suggest that you return to Machu Picchu and continue exploring some of the many attractions of the citadel.

In this second visit you can climb the Wayna Picchu (subject to space availability), which means “Young Mountain” as opposed to Machu Picchu, the “Old Mountain”. This ascent takes about an hour and its main attraction is the “Temple of the Moon”, a complex of underground structures likely to have been used by the elite.

• Free activities in Aguas Calientes

If you would prefer a different option, take the day to visit the interesting town of Aguas Calientes, its historic Plaza de Armas, and the many local markets nearby.

In these markets you can find various types of local handcrafts, typical food, and even different potions for finding love or keeping good luck on your side.

• Train to Cuzco

In the afternoon you will head to the train station of Aguas Calientes and take the train to Cuzco where you’ll spend the night.

• Transfer from your hotel to Cuzco airport

Today, we’ll pick you up from your hotel at the established time to transfer you to the airport  where you’ll take your flight to Puerto Maldonado.

• Transfer to the local pier – Sail to Inkaterra Hacienda Concepción

Upon arrival we’ll meet at the airport drive you to the local pier. You will navigate by motorized canoe along the Madre de Dios River to Inkaterra Hacienda Concepcion, taking approximately 25 minutes.

Explore the jungle of Puerto Maldonado and meet its endless wildlife, either through its trails or by cruising the Madre de Dios River. Discover the rich biodiversity of the Tambopata National Reserve and observe the Peruvian Amazon from the treetops through an amazing network of suspension bridges.

Enjoy a lunch with organic ingredients and native flavors. Afterwards, take a walk through Concepcion Trails, where you will discover and learn about both the primary and secondary rainforest, and their relevance for the world.

At dusk, navigate by motorized canoe as a part of the Twilight River Excursion. By sailing on the Madre de Dios River, you will learn about its ecosystem, Amazonian creeks, nocturnal animals’ behavior, and the southern constellations. In the evening enjoy a nice dinner in the Casa Grande’s dining room.

• Second day in Hacienda Concepción – Tours in the Amazon

Another day to keep on exploring this amazing destination of your 2-week itinerary to explore Perú. Journey on a long trek through into the Tambopata National Reserve towards lake Sandoval. Here you will understand why the Madre de Dios is called the biodiversity capital of Peru, while learning about the reserve’s conservation efforts and the lake’s formation.

Navigate by dugout canoe across this mirror-like oxbow lake that is home to the endangered giant river otter, the blue and yellow macaw, the red howler monkey, the black caiman, and one of the world’s biggest freshwater scaled fish, the paiche.

You will return to the lodge for lunch. Make sure to gain some serious energy because the Inkaterra canopy walkway & anaconda walk await for you after lunch.

In this visit, you’ll take a 20-minute ride by motorized canoe to the Inkaterra Canopy Walkway Interpretation Center where you will learn about the walkway’s construction and the various conservation projects of ITA-Inkaterra Asociación (NGO).

Ascend one of the two 98-foot towers and cross the 7 hanging bridges that connect the treetops at 91 feet high. Enjoy the breathtaking vistas and get the chance to watch white-throated toucans, woodpeckers, trogons and squirrel monkeys.

After descending, keep on feeling the incredible primary rainforest energy as you traverse along the 650-foot wooden bridge over the swamps.

At night, get ready for another adventure called the Rainforest by Night excursion, where you will explore the Amazon rainforest as it gives way to nocturnal animals who display intriguing behavior patterns, and enhanced senses as an adaptation mechanism. Listen to the sounds of nocturnal nature come to life, and penetrate this hidden world. Return to the lodge and enjoy a nice dinner. 

• Transfer from Hacienda to the airport / Transfer to your hotel in Lima

After a breakfast buffet, you’ll take a ride back to Puerto Maldonado by motorized canoe. Arrive at the butterfly house where you will wait for your flight to Lima, while getting to visit this beautiful butterfly sanctuary and learning about the fascinating transformation of these colorful insects. Upon your arrival in Lima, we’ll transfer you from the airport to your hotel. 

Say Hueque Tips

• How to enjoy the last night of your Perú adventure trip?

Enjoy the last night of this amazing trip by making a toast in any of the multiple thematic bars of Miraflores neighbourhood, or maybe even dancing with some locals in one of the many nightclubs of the city.

• Transfer from your hotel to Lima airport

Last stop of your trip. Today we’ll pick you up from your hotel and drive you to Lima airport. Hope to see you back here soon! We have many more ideas to keep on exploring Peru or other must-see destinations in South America!