Call +51 984 103 757 | info@pachatusantrek.com
11 days
Cusco - Arequipa - Puno
Starting in Cusco with a city tour, to a visit to the Sacred Valley and then experiancing Machu Pichu. Next, we go to Arequipa and the Colca Canyon for a cultural tour over three days. Finally we hop over to Puno to enjoy Lake Titicaca for the final days.
Peru is home to several ancient cultures, ranging from the Norte Chico civilization in the 32nd century BC, the oldest civilization in the Americas, to the Inca Empire, the largest and most sophisticated state in pre-Columbian America.
This tour takes you through the differing cultures that the country has to offer. We start with a cultural tour of Cusco, learning about all the history that it has to offer. Visiting the Sacred Valley and Machu Picchu we will cover all of the main areas in order to have the full experience. After Cusco has been completed, we head over to the area of Arequipa where we will have detailed tours and a broad understanding of the city. From Arequipa we will go a short distance to the amazing Colca Canyon, where we will spend a couple of days. Finally, we hop over to Puno to enjoy the beautiful Lake Titicaca by boat and spending a night on the floating village.
Your adventure step by step
We will meet you upon your arrival at Cusco airport by one of our representative, who will explain to you the Cusco Cultural itinerary for the following days and deliver all of the trip documents.
Transportation from the airport to the Cusco Hotel
Duration of this drive: 20 minutes approximately
When we arrive at your hotel we will help you check in and answer any questions that you have for the following days whilst in Cusco. We can also show you the points of interests and recommend restaurants and local points of interest within the area for you to utilize and enjoy.
This day will be at your leisure to rest and relax for a better acclimatization. You can feel free to walk around the city or use any of the entrance tickets that we have provided you with to see any of the main sites.
Breakfast will be included at the hotel in the morning. This morning will be yours to relax and enjoy the city and your hotels facilities at your own free will.
At 13:30 hrs, we will meet you at the door of the Cathedral, in the main Plaza, to start the group guided city tour. Our representative will explain to you how to get the Main Plaza from your hotel. You can also take advantage and have lunch there before the tour.
This tour includes the visits to the Main Plaza, where the Cathedral is located. This Cathedral is impressive because of its paintings from the Cusco school.
Next you will visit the Temple of the Sun, known as the Qorikancha, this enclosure was one of the most important buildings in the time of the Incas, its walls were covered with gold plates and it was built in honor of the Sun God (Inti).
Lastly you will visit the four ruins surrounding the city of Cusco; Q´enqo, Pukapukara, Tambomachay and Sacsayhuaman, the latter being one of the best architectural works of the Tawantinsuyo (Inca empire).
The tour will usually finish at the main plaza, or if you wish you can stop at Centro Qosqo de Arte Nativo, where there is a folk show. Ask your guide about this for more information.
Return to hotel, overnight.
At 7:00 hrs, we will pick you up from the hotel and we will walk a short distance to the meeting point.
You will go to the Sacred Valley of the Inkas, visiting the complex of Pisac on the way, located 33 km/ 20 miles from the city of Cuzco. Pisac is one of the most important archaeological sites in the Sacred Valley, as it was during Inka times, the city was built in the form of an animal; Pisac means partridge, and it has the same shape. There are agricultural terraces built by the Inkas which are still used today
With military, religious and agricultural constructions, the site would have had at least a triple function.
After visiting the typical and famous Pisac market, you will enjoy the lunch in a local authentic restaurant.
Then you will continue your journey to Ollantaytambo (2792 masl / 9160 ft). Ollantaytambo was an important fortress, due to its great surrounding walls, it was actually used as a storage city, strategically located in the Sacred Valley.
It is a living Inka town, and its narrow stone streets make it an attractive and relaxing place.
It is a living Inka town, and its narrow stone streets make it an attractive and relaxing place.
In the afternoon you will take the train to Aguas Calientes, where you will spend the night.
Upon your arrival at Aguas Calientes train station, you will be met by the hotel staff. They will then escort you to your hotel.
At 19:00 hrs, Sonia, the tour guide for Machu Picchu will go to the hotel and give you a briefing and arrange the time for the tour to Machu Picchu next day.
You will arrange all the details with the guide (meeting time, point)
Today after breakfast, you will go to the bus station where you will take the bus to the archaeological complex of Machu Picchu, knows as the “Lost City of the Inkas” where you will visit its principal plazas and temples.
The tour of Machu Picchu will allow you to understand the high level of development the Andean civilization achieved through the Inkas.
As a supremely religious site, Machu Picchu demonstrates the superior knowledge achieved in both astronomy and astrology. This knowledge was gained by measuring dry and rainy seasons through the solstices, and was indispensable for the development of agriculture.
Your tour will be a detailed tour lasting the duration of the morning. Once the tour has concluded, you will have the opportunity to explore Machu Picchu on your own.
After the tour, you will enjoy lunch in Aguas Calientes.
In the afternoon, you will take the train back to Poroy (Cusco’s closest station)
We will meet upon arrival at Poroy that evening, our driver will be waiting for you to drive back to the hotel in Cusco.
Duration of this driving: 20 minutes approximately
Breakfast will be served in your Cusco hotel. Today will be yours to enjoy the city of Cusco and acclimatize efficiently. You will have all of the necessary tickets from the first day at your disposal to use today. Therefore, you can go to any of the sites or ruins with your tickets and walk around on your own.
Please ask a member of our team if you would like recommendations on places to go, eat or drink for this day and we will be more than happy to advise.
That evening we will meet you at your hotel ready for the night bus to Arequipa. We will be ready with the driver and a representative from our team. From here, we will all drive to the touristic bus station in Cusco and help you bard the correct bus to Arequipa.
Upon arrival in Arequipa, you will be met at the bus station with a driver with your name on a sign. They will take you directly to your Arequipa hotel for this night and help you to check in.
Once you have checked into your hotel you can spend the remainder of the morning relaxing and recovering from the bus journey.
At 2pm your city tour of Arequipa will begin. Your guide will come to your hotel and pick you up to begin the tour. A detailed tour lasting the duration of the afternoon will be given. All tickets of entrance will be provided.
After your city tour of Arequipa has concluded, you will be taken back to your hotel where you will spend the night.
After breakfast, you will be picked up by your driver and driven to the Colca Canyon. Once you arrive at the Colca Canyon you will begin your two day tour. Seeing all of the main sites you will have an English speaking guide who will explain all of the different places in detail.
All entrance tickets will be provided to you.
Lunch will be served and included at a local restaurant in the Colca Canyon.
After lunch will be served to you, you will continue to the tour through the Colca Canyon.
Once the tour has come to an end you will be dropped at your hotel where you will spend one night.
This morning you will be picked up by the same guide from the previous day. You will then all continue with the second day of the Colca Canyon tour. Again, all of your entrance tickets will be provided throughout the day. At midday you will enjoy lunch at another local restaurant in the Canyon.
After lunch you will be transferred to the Chivay where you will board the bus that will take you to Puno.
Duration of this drive: 6 hours approximately
Upon arrival in Puno, one of our representatives will meet you at the bus stop and transfer you to your hotel for the night.
After breakfast, at approximately 6.30am, the bus will pick you up and drive to the port, where you will board the boat to the Uros Islands, the famous floating Islands of Lake Titicaca.
You will stay around 45 minutes, in which time you can observe the way of life of the people living there.
Then you will continue by boat to Taquile, arriving at the port on the north of the island, from where you will begin a walk of around one hour to the highest point on the Island.
You will visit the main square and the market. The main attraction of Taquile Island is that the people continue in the life style established by the Incas.
You will enjoy of lunch in a local restaurant.
After lunch you will continue the tour and you will finish on one of the floating islands where you will spend one night.
This morning you will wake up on one of the floating islands and enjoy breakfast with the locals whilst enjoying the amazing scenery.
After breakfast, you will board the boat once more and continue the tour. Stopping at midday for lunch.
Once you have eaten, the tour will continue for a while longer. Soon after the boat will dock and you will be transferred to your hotel in Puno where you will spend the night.
In the morning you will have breakfast at the hotel. After, the morning will be yours to enjoy and relax.
2 hours before your flight, we will pick you up and take you to Juliaca airport in Puno.
Once we arrive at the airport we will help you to check in and make sure that you get onto your flight safely.
Services not included
.webp)
.webp)
.webp)
.webp)
.webp)
.webp)
.webp)
We recommend that you bring
PLEASE NOTE
USEFUL INFORMATION
Rates for not resident in Peru
Foreigners who are not resident in Peru are exonerated from paying the 18% extra on hotel rates, and must present their Immigration card (given to them upon entrance to Peru) for this. If they do not, the hotel has every right to charge them the aforementioned percentage on top of the published rate.
Group services
Shared service tours can vary depending on the wishes of the group and organization with the service provider. Please check the differences between our shared and private service tours.
Dry temperature (from April to October)
Average of maximum temperature of 25 ºC and minimum of 5ºC
In the months of June and August the temperature could be 0ºC (32 ºF), this the season known as freeze
The climate conditions are:
Freeze mornings, at noon it could be warmer, cold afternoons and windy and very cold nights
Rainy season (from November to March)
Maximum temperatures average of 20 ºC and minimum of 10ºC
The weather conditions are:
Rain at any moment, the weather changes very often. It could be warm in the mornings and windy in the afternoon.
Currency
It is possible to pay with all the credit cards (the majority of commercial places accept them); you can also use soles, dollars or Euros.
It is easy to Exchange dollars to national currency in a very trustable and safe way through banks or exchange houses or at your same hotel
Please remember that when you are traveling in Peru, you have to carry bills of low denomination for extra expenses, tips, taxis, purchases, etc
Safety
The tourist areas are safe, but it is always recommendable to have some care with your personal effects. We suggest you to leave your value stuff at the safety box at the hotel.
It is recommendable to walk in a safety way inside the city
Once you need a taxi service, please call to an authorized agency, you can ask for this at the hotel front desk.
Altitude sickness
The city of Cusco is located at 3400 meters (11155 feet), this is why it is easy to feel headache, fatigue, short breath. We suggest you to drink coca tea (a millenary plant with medicinal effects. This is a sacred plant in the Andean World.
If you have heart problems please ask to your doctor before your trip to Cusco.
In case of any emergency with this altitude sickness we have a specialized medical stuff.
IMPORTANT ENVIRONMENTAL NOTE
Pachatusantrek is committed to following the principles of ecotourism in our operations, and request the understanding and cooperation of trekkers, especially by not contaminating the waters and in the adequate disposal of non-biodegradable waste. We must also respect the customs and traditions of the local people.
This 7-day adventure takes in ruins along historic trails, over high Andean passes, through cloud forest and remote indigenous towns.
Pachatusantrek’s tour begins in Uyuni and covers all of the ground around the Bolivian Salt Pans over three full days.
Choquequirao situated in the spur of the mountain range of Salkantay surrounded by many Apus of Yamana, Ampay, Chokecarpu, Pumasiyo & Panta
The Inka trail used by Manco Inka II and his army, in their escape from Spanish, passes by these 2 magnificent archaeological sites in the Vilcabamba
