ANDES MISTERY (MDA010)

This complete program runs through the main attractions of Peru, we offer you the best experiences where you would watch the Andean Condor in his natural habitat in one of the world's deepest canyons, the Colca Canyon, then sail around the highest lake in the world and visit one of the new 7 wonders: Machu Picchu and Cusco, during these days, you will have a great experience visiting our best touristic places.

Itinerary description

Day 1: Arequipa (2,325 meters above sea level) City Tour.

Airport reception and assistance; transfer to your hotel; free morning to get acclimatized to the altitude.
We will do our City Tour in the afternoon visiting the Main Square, the Cathedral, the Compañía's Church and Cloister, the temple and San Francisco Square, and the Santa Catalina Convent, which is undoubtedly a monument that recalls the old Arequipa in the XVII century that housed Dominican nuns from aristocratic families. This convent is one of the most beautiful in Peru and a veritable town in the heart of the city.
Overnight at hotel in Arequipa

Day 2: Arequipa - Colca Canyon.

Your guide will pick you up in the morning to continue on the route to the Colca Canyon. We will cross Pampas Cañahuas, located at about 4,000 meters above sea level, where we will be able to see some vicuñas. After that, we will stop at the Volcano Look-Out (4 900 meters), where, at over 4,000 meters we will be able to appreciate the snow-capped Ampato (6 309 meters), Coropuna  (6,425 meters), Misti (5,597 meters), and Sabancaya (5,798 meters). We will go down into the quaint town of Chivay (3,650 meters).
You will have the possibility to enjoy the thermal baths at La Calera at the end of the day. Then, you will spend the night at a hotel in the Colca Canyon.

Day 3: Visit to the Colca Canyon (3,600 meters) - Arequipa

On the way we will admire the small town of Yanque. We will head towards to the fabulous Condor's Cross Look-Out Point (3,800 meters in height). Twelve hundred meters further down, we will observe the Colca River with its incredible curves. We will be at the look-out point between 8 and 9 in the morning waiting for the condors to fly above on ascending warm air currents. It is a unique, marvelous, almost supernatural moment. Further on we will discover a great landscape completely modeled by cultivated terraces. Finally, we will go back to Arequipa and spend the night in a hotel there.

Day 4: Arequipa - Cusco - Free Day

Breakfast at your hotel.  Private airport transfer to the airport, to take the flight to the city of Cusco
Assistance upon your arrival in Cusco and we will transfer you to your hotel.
The city of Cusco is considered a must for those visiting South America due to its antiquity and importance. It still preserves many of the old Inca and colonial houses and temples. The main Pre-Columbian city connecting the vast South American territory started here.
In order to enjoy your trip better, it is recommended to have a free day to rest and to be acclimatized to the altitude.
Overnight at hotel in Cusco

Day 5: Cusco City Tour and guided visit to Saqsayhuaman

In the afternoon we will begin our excursion to the city of Cusco visiting the Temple of the Sun or Koricancha, the most sacred religious center in the whole Inca Empire. Then we will visit Cusco's Cathedral, an impressive colonial building housing precious paintings from the Cusco School. Then we will board the bus that will take us to the outskirts of Cusco to the site of one of the most impressive Inca edifications: Saqsayhuaman. Its cyclopean stones fit so perfectly that sometimes not even a needle can be placed between them. The location of Saqsayhuaman gives it the characteristics of a look-out point for the whole Imperial City. Later on we will visit the archeological sites of Qenqo, Puca Pucara and Tambomachay.
Return to the hotel
Overnight at hotel in Cusco

Day 6: Sacred Valley - Cusco

Breakfast at your hotel. You will have a full-day excursion to the Sacred Valley of the Incas visiting the town of Pisac, a colonial and Creole looking town and its Indian market where handicrafts, textiles and jewelry maybe obtained.
Lunch at Urubamba.
Transfer to the town of Ollantaytambo where we will visit the archeological site with the same name. During the days of the Tahuantinsuyo Empire it was an agricultural, administrative, social, religious, and military complex. Its walls and buildings maintain traces of Inca wisdom that can be easily appreciated by any visitor.
On the way back we will visit the town of Chinchero with its colonial church built on Inca walls. Women who come from Andean communities to offer their handmade textiles can be seen at the main square.
Return to the hotel.
Private transportation will wait for you in the evening to take you to one of the most prestigious restaurants in Cusco.
Overnight at hotel in Cusco

Day 7: Cusco - Machu Picchu - Cusco

Transfer from your hotel to the train station. This day we will visit one of the new wonders of the world: the Inca city of Machu Picchu. The train follows the Vilcanota River and the sacred valley that keeps on narrowing. The vegetation changes rapidly and the weather soon turns tropical. Once we arrive to the town of Aguas Calientes, we will board a bus to the citadel of Machu Picchu. The citadel was discovered to the world by the North American Hiram Bingham at the beginning of the 20th Century and it is still a mystery for the archeological world. What could this place have been exactly?
We will visit the agricultural, religious and urban sectors, as well as the Temple of the Sun, the Condor's Temple and the Intiwatana.
Bus down to the town of Machupicchu and return to Cusco by train.
Reception at the train station and transfer to hotel.
Overnight at hotel in Cusco

Day 8: Route Cusco - Puno

Transfer from your hotel to the bus terminal. We will board the tourist bus that will take us to the high plateau city of Puno. A Spanish-English bilingual guide will come along explaining the various attractions along the way. In the town of Andahuaylillas we will discover a colonial church called America's Sistine Chapel due to its frescos on walls and ceiling. Viracocha's Inca Temple in the town of Raqchi will be another stop-over.
We will cross the La Raya Mountain pass (4,336 meters), the highest point in our journey
Assistance upon your arrival in Puno and we will transfer you to your hotel.

Day 9: Excursion to Titicaca Lake: Taquile Island.

Transfer from hotel to Puno's harbor.
We will go towards the island of Taquile where the locals wear their typical attires and maintain their ancestral costumes. They have opened up to tourism to share their culture and traditions.  Taquile has a false Mediterranean air, but Bolivia's formidable Cordillera Real reminds us that we are still in the middle of the Andes.  Then the boat will take us to the Uro's floating islands, thus called because they are built of totora reeds, a typical plant in Titicaca Lake. After that, we will meet Uro's population and finally, we will return to Puno's harbor. You will overnight at a hotel in Puno.

Day 10: Transfer out

Breakfast at hotel
Assistance and transfer to bus terminal or airport.

• This proposal has been designed to show you the best sites in Peru and Cusco. Nevertheless, for those travelers who wish to add, change or remove details to their program, please, check our options or create your own program.

• Your creativity and our experience will offer you a more personalized journey

Price includes

• The program and visits and excursions mentioned in the program.
• Transportation for the excursions.
• Entrance fees to tourist sites and museum during the excursions in Arequipa, Cusco and  Puno mentioned in the program
• Tourist transportation from Cusco to Puno
• Private transfer to airport / train stations / bus terminal / hotel.
• The bus between Machu Picchu and the train station.
• Train tickets roundtrip to visit Machu Picchu
• 09 Overnight at Standard, Superior or De luxe hotels
• Meals as follows: 09 breakfasts / 02 lunches / 01 box lunch / 01 dinner
• Local guides.