Huaraz, Arequipa, Puno & Cusco

Overview

18 Days/17 Nigths
Altitud: 4750 m / 15,583 ft
Route: Huaraz - Arequipa - Puno - Cusco
Availability: March - November
Difficulty: Moderate
People per Guide: 5

Lima city tour, view of the Huaca Pucllana, built in the IV century A.D. Vistit the central reserve bank of Peru Museum, where you can appreciate a showroom of the ancient cultures of Peru.
Santa Cruz trek a very popular and short trek in to the Cordillera Blanca with spectacular views of the surrounding mountains, lagoons and a demanding ascend to the pass "Punta Union" at an altitude of 4759 m / 15,613 ft.
The Colca Canyon is one of the most impressive and deepest in the world, has many attractions that go beyond the purely geographical. view point of the Condors.
The Uros Islands are floating islands made of reed, situated in Lake Titicaca. The people of the Uros Islands who predate the Incas speak the Aymara.

Inca Trail Peru Inca trails on the mountains, in a scenic road Andean indescribable beauty that runs along the days of this adventure, archaeological sites which can only be reached by it, that's the Inca Trail.
Rainbow Mountain is becoming the main attraction to see after or before Machu Picchu. As you could guess, the mountain is famed for its natural, multi-colored beauty at a staggering 5,200 m.

Travel Program

Itinerary

Day 01: Arrival to Lima
Private pick-up at the Lima Airport. Transfer to hotel in Lima for a nice meal & a good night’s sleep. Overnight Hotel (-/-/-)

Day 02: Lima – Huaraz (Bus)
Private transfer in the morning to the bus station. Take a comfortable first class ride to Huaraz (approximately 8 hour journey). Move into your hotel and relax. Overnight Hotel (B/-/-)

Day 03: Huaraz – Churup Lake 4450 m
This is a very good hike to acclimatize. From Huaraz we go by car to the village of Pitec. On the way we pass several picturesque villages, such as Unchus, Llupa and Pitec At 3850 m. we start our easy hike up to Lake Churup with its blue colors sitting at an altitude of 4450 m. we will spend 40 min there for enjoy and then we come back to Huaraz by the same way. 4 – 5 hours Approx. Overnight Hotel (B/L/-)

Day 04: Huaraz 3100 m – Cashapamapa 2800 m Llamacoral 3760 m
Departure from Huaraz on a private vehicle to Cashapampa and then we started to walk by the Santa Cruz valley until the Llamacorral camp. 3760 m. 4 to 5 hrs aprox. Overnight camp (B/L/D)

Day 05: Llamacoral 3760 m – Taullipampa 4200 m
A quiet walk through the valley of Santa Cruz, where we see two lagoons Chinan Cocha (female lagoon) and Orcon cocha (male lagoon) and then to continue until Taullipampa to 4200 m. 6 to 7 hrs aprox. Overnight Camp (B/L/D).

Day 06: Taullipampa 4200 m – Huaripampa (cachina) 3700 m
We started to walk by a Zig zag path until to view point, where we will see spectacular views as the Nevado Taulliraju, Quitaraju, etc and then descend to camp at 3700m Huari pampa. 7hrs approx Overnight Camp (B/L/D)

Day 07: Huaripampa Camp – Vaqueria – Huaraz
After a good night’s sleep and a delicious breakfast, you will start to walk down to Huaripampa Valley and the village of Vaqueria, where you can experience a more traditional Peruvian way of life. After a brief rest, you will collect your luggage and head by car to Portachuelo, the second mountain pass. You can stop to take more photos of the amazing landscape and continue until to Huaraz. Walking time: 3 hours Aprox. Overnight Camp (B/L/-)

Day 08: Huaraz – Lima
Transfer to the bus station and departing for Lima at 11:00am, arriving to Lima at 7:00pm. And transfer to the Hotel. Overnight Hotel (B/-/-)

Day 09: Lima – Arequipa (Flight)
Private transfer to the Airport. In the morning – Flight to Arequipa (Approx. 1 hour journey) / Move into your hotel and relax. Explore Arequipa city in the Afternoon. Overnight Hotel (B/L/-)

Day 10: Tours to Colca Canyon
We will pick you up from the Arequipa hotels at 4:00 a.m. to follow the Yura route directly to Pampa Cañahuas. We’ll see the National Reserve of Salinas, Vizcachani, and Chucura 4,800 meters above sea level, passing by the volcanic crater and arriving in town of Chivay, 43 km away.
At almost 1:00 pm., we’ll see Cruz del Condor, where we will enjoy our box lunch. Then we’ll return along the same route, visiting the lookout point of Antahuilque, Maca and Yanque. We will arrive in Chivay and return to the city of Arequipa, arriving at your hotel around 5:00 p.m. Overnight Hotel (B/L/-)

Day 11: Arequipa - Puno
Private transfer in the morning to the bus station. Take a comfortable first class ride to Puno (approximately 8 hours journey). Move into your hotel and relax. Overnight Hotel (B/L/-)

Day 12: Tours visit the main Uros Floating Island and Taquile
At 6:30am pick-up from your hotel in Puno, transfer to the port. Then by motor boat (35 feet long with a covered section in case of rain or cold weather, 25 individual seats) we visit the Uros floating Islands. Stepping on them feels very much like a water bed (but it is quite safe). We see the houses, the islands and meet its inhabitants. Uros people are descendents of one of the oldest South American groups. Rides on traditional reed boats can be arranged. In the mornings these islands can be crowded.

We visit two of the 60 islands before continuing on to Taquile Island. After a relaxed navigation of extra 2 1/2 hours when we enjoy the spectacular views offered by Lake Titicaca, we get to Taquile island. There a unique community can be observed. A long path gradually ascending will take us to the village (45 min. hike approx) to visit the communal cooperative where you will find handy craft textiles. Lunch at one of the many local restaurants. The views are magnificent. Then we descent 500 steps down to the main port of the island. at 2:30pm approx. depart back to Puno City (3 hour return journey). At 5.30pm Arrival to Puno then transfer to your hotel in Puno. Duration: 10 hours approx. Distance: 75 kilometers round trip (takes 3 hours, 10 min. OW to Taquile, By Classic Motor Boat = 11 km/hour) Overnight Hotel (B/L/-)

Day 13: Puno - Cusco
Private transfer in the morning to the bus station. Take a comfortable first class ride to Cusco (approximately 7 hours journey). Move into your hotel and relax.Overnight Hotel (B/L/-)

Day 14: Cusco – Wiñaywayna – Machupicchu – Aguas Calientes
Early in the morning, we will pick your hotel for transfer to the train station in Ollantaytambo for about 1 hour and 30 minutes, during the tour you can see the Sacred Valley, farmland, majestic snow; Ollantaymtambo on board the train that will take you to the km. 104 the trip is approximately 1 hour. It is here at Km 104 (2,200 m / 7,217 ft) where we will begin the walk, pass the bridge that is on the Urubamba river or Willkamayuc which translated from Quechua means sacred river, which was very important to them. Upon reaching the checkpoint must show identification documents either passport or Certificate of Alien Registration and National Identity. A 15 minute walk is the archaeological center and Choquesuysuy Chachabamba that are hidden in the semi-tropical forest, after his visit will begin the walk through stands in ascending up to the next place in the way we will observe the sacred valley , waterfalls and different types of orchids semi-tropical forest, after 4 hours of walking we reach aWiñaywayna (2,650 m / 8,694 ft) shows a perfect example of what was farming at the time of the Incas, since along its slopes lie a large number of circular terraces, where the Incas cultivated different agricultural products. The name Wiñaywayna comes from a beautiful orchid that abounds in the area and whose meaning in Spanish “Forever Young” and has more than 20 buildings, one of them the Temple del Arco Iris also called Temple of Fertility, the visit will be 1 hour on average then you will enjoy the box lunch to refuel and continue until reaching Wiñaywayna control.

In this second part of the journey by two hours we walk through an Andean plane, stone staircases and drums (“resting places”) until the Inti Punku – Puerta del Sol (2,720 m / 8,923 ft) in time of the Incas worked as a control input to the citadel of Machu Picchu; from here you have a breathtaking panoramic view of Machu Picchu and the valley that surrounds it, then descend for about 30 minutes to the wonder of the world Machu Picchu (2,490 m / 8,169 ft) and finally take the bus to Aguas Calientes – Machu Picchu People (2,160 m / 7,086 ft) the trip takes 25 minutes, here we spend the night in a hostel. If you are not too tired, you can visit the thermal baths which is 5 minutes from the village the cost is 10 soles. For those who like to dance and have a few drinks in a bar, we inform you that Aguas Calientes has a variety of bars and restaurants including an ATM, in case you wish to withdraw money from the bank. Night Hostel in the towns of Aguas Calientes. Overnight Camp (B/L/D)

Day 15: Aguas Calientes – Machupicchu - Cusco
This day we will wake up very early and after breakfast we board the first bus 5:30 a.m., we will travel 30 minutes reaching Machu Picchu at 6:00 am and appreciate the majestic sunrise. We will have a guided tour of 2 hours and 30 minutes to know the most important places of Machu Picchu tour, you can visit the most amazing places as the Royal Mausoleum, the Temple of the 3 windows, the main temple, the sacred Plaza, the famous Intihuatana where Inca wise tied the sun on the winter solstice in June, steps, squares, fountains, etc. After the tour you have some free time over 04 hours to visit Machu Picchu on its own. At the scheduled time of Machu Picchu desenderemos the village Aguas Calientes to board the train back to Cusco, next time of arrival at Cusco 8:00 PM. Overnight Camp (B/L/D)

Day 16: Tours to Vinicunca (Rainbow Mountain)
We start from Cusco at 2:00 am, we head south (Urcos) asphalted to pitumarca (2:00 hours) following the route we will pass many communities until arriving at hanchipata-Quesuno approximately 1 hour and a half, the place ideal to begin the hike, on the route we will appreciate mountains like Ausangate, puca puncho, lagoons and camelids. The hike lasts approximately 3 hours until Vinicunca (rainbow-colored mountain) the return is easier since it is more descent as 2 and a half hours until Quesunoyi then to Cusco arriving 3.00 pm.Overnight Bus (B/L/-)

Day 17: Arequipa - Lima (Flight)
Private transfer to the Airport. – Flight to Lima (Approx. 1 hour journey) / Move into your hotel and relax. Overnight Hotel (B/L/-)

Day 18: Fligh your country
Fligh your country Overnight --- (B/-/-)

What’s included

Included:

Transfers from airport Lima and Transfer Lima to hotel
Hotel in Lima 3* ,according to the program nights. Double room with breakfast included
Hotel in Huaraz 3*, according to the program nights. Double room with breakfast included
Hotel in Arequipa 3*, according to the program nights. Double room with breakfast included
Hotel in Puno 3*, according to the program nights. Double room with breakfast included
Hotel in Cusco 3*, according to the program nights. Double room with breakfast included
Tickets bus Lima - huaraz - Arequipa - Puno - Cusco
Flight tickets, Lima - Arequipa / Cusco - Lima
All meals during the all trip
Tours to rainbow mountains
Tours to island in Titicaca lake
Tours to colca canyon
Camping equipment including tents, kitchen tent, dining tent,toilet tent,etc
Donkeys and donky driver for santa cruz trek
Profesional guide during all visit
Porters (carry tent and cooking equipemt)
cooks
All entrance fee, Huaraz, Arequipa, and Puno.
Entrance fees to Machu picchu
Bus tickets Aguas Calientes to Machu Picchu
Train ticket (Expedition service) from Aguas Calientes to Ollantaytambo
Private transport from Ollantaytambo to Cusco

Not Included:

International Flights
International Flights
Travel accident and health insurance
City touring Lima
Breakfast on the first morning
Dinner on the last night
Entrance to the hot springs in Chivay
Available for the if you don´t have one with you
Entrance to Huayna Picchu or Machu Pichu Mountain
Toilet tents is not included on Inca trail routes because we use facilities provided by the Ministry of Culture
Horse (in case of emergency, for trekking parts)
Travel luggage and Travel cancellation insurance
Not mentioned food and beverages
Personal Spending
Personal Equipment
Tipping