Peruvian Diversity: Amazon Inca Trail Machu Picchu and Lake Titicaca

One of the most spectacular days of the tour takes us through the Sacred Valley of the Incas that was once an important source of food to Incan people. Sacred Valley is a lush agricultural region that keep supplying the city of Cusco with much of its production. As it lays 600 metres lower than Cusco, its average temperature is 5ºC higher so it has got a very pleasant climate.

The tour shows us around the major archaeological sites placed in Pisaq and Ollantaytambo. At Pisaq, an optional two hour (5 km) trek allows us to fully appreciate this huge antique Incan city nestled high in this Andean range. Later on, we can observe a colorful handicraft market at the modern Pisac Town that is without any doubt a unique place to find perfect souvenirs! Then, we stop in  Urubamba, considered to be the capital of the valley, where we have a buffet lunch offering Andean cuisine (not included in the tour). Afterwards, we continue to the picturesque town of Ollantaytambo, a place that can boast with another large Incan site. Its major ruin is known as the best surviving example of Incan urban planning and engineering! But Ollantaytambo is more than that, it is an alive and breathing Incan town!! We stay overnight here to absorb its atmosphere in its total.
 
Ollantaytambo is strategically situated overlooking the beautiful Urubamba River Valley. We spend the night in this small town before we start Machu Picchu hiking the next morning.

Please note that the first day is an arrival day and no activities are planned, so that you can arrive at any time. When you arrive to the airport at Lima, our Representative waits for you holding a sheet with your name and takes you to your hotel.

The capital of Lima is also known as the "City of the Kings" as it was founded by Francisco Pizarro on the Day of the Three Kings (Epiphany) in 1535. The Plaza de Armas (main square) is a heart of old Lima. There can be found the Cathedral, Governmental Palace and Archbishop´s Palace.

After visiting Machu Picchu, you enjoy a relaxing day, during which you can just laze around the former capital of the Incas, visit its markets, buy some souvenirs, do some optional activities and enjoy its night life as well!

In the morning, we board our comfortable motorboat to explore the Amantani and Taquile islands as well as floating islands of Titicaca Lake. We stop at the islands to view the magic of the lake's scenery and to meet friendly people of its communities.

The lake is located at 3,830 metres above sea level resulting in extreme wheather conditions with very cold nights and strong sunshine during days. The city of Puno situated on its shores is well-known for wealth of its traditional dances, there are up to 100 different varieties, usually performed in street processions celebrating of Catholic feast´s days. Another highlight and a popular optional activity of Puno is a visit of its nearby spectacular Chullpas of Sillustani, tower-like tombs of pre-Incan culture Colla.

Titicaca Lake is the largest lake in the world above 2,000 metres and the highest placed navigable lake in the world! Our first stop on the lake are the floating islands of the Uros people. The Uros began their unusual floating existence centuries ago in an effort to isolate themselves from militant Colla´s and Incan tribes. Unfortunately, Uros´ language got extincted, so nowadays´ Uros people speak Aymara due to intermarriages with Aymara´s speakers. There are about 300 families living on the islands, however, their number has been slowly declining.

The islands are made of layers upon layers of totora reeds that grew in the shallow of the lake. When layers, which are the nearest to water, start to rot, they are replaced with fresh totora layers on the top. Totora is basically used to make everything on the islands, including houses, real boats and small model boats serving as souvenirs. A construction of a real totora boat takes up to 6 months!

After visiting the Uros Floating Islands, we continue towards Amantani Island. There, we land and our Tour Guide shows us around the island with its stunning Titicaca Lake views and friendly inhabitants with their particular folklore. We overnight in familial houses on the island to experience a bit more of the local culture.

The following day, we continue our motorboat ride after breakfast in the familial houses. Our next destination is Taquile Island, famous for its fine handwoven textile and clothing considered as the highest-quality handicraft of Peru. Taquile and its textile art was even recognized by UNESCO in 2005. 

After a visit of this spectacular island and enjoying its amazing Titicaca Lake views, we return to Puno at afternoon hours. There, we transfer you from the Puno´s port to your hotel.

Today, we take a tourist bus that takes us to each important site of the Cusco-Puno route.

First, we need to pass through Southern Valley (also called the Sun Route), where we stop in the village of Andahuaylillas to visit the famous San Pedro Church, which is called the "Sistine Chapel of Americas", to observe the quality of its works of art.  The church was constructed by Jesuits in the edge of the 16th and the 17th centuries. Its architectural structure is typical for small town´s churches while its wide walls are characteristic of colonial buildings. It is made of adobe and its facade is decorated with white painting. Two stoned columns are projected towards its main entrance. Although its architecture is relatively modest, its interior is richly decorated with amazing wall paintings.

After seeing the church, we continue towards the pre-Incan city of Pikillaqta beeing once one of the most impressive regional centers of the culture Wari.  The culture was seated in Ayacucho and its centres were occupied by Incas for many years. Today, Pikillaqta is a national archaeological park of great importance!!
The word Pikillaqta is made up of Quechuan words "piki" = flea and "llaqta" = town, so that  the meaning of the city´s name was the “City of the Fleas”. It does not want to say that fleas lived in the city nor that its inhabitants were lousy. The name was derived from the fact that each inhabitant lived in cramped conditions, in a  very small room. Constructions of Pikillaqta consists of over 200 kanchas (apartments), 504 golgas (storages) and other constructions. The city accommodated a population of approximately 10 thousands of inhabitants.  Some investigators supposed that Pikillacta turned into a city of “mitimaes” during Incan times ("Mitimae" comes from the Quechuan word "mitma" meaning "resettlement". So mitimaes were originally groups of families taken by Incas from their native place to loyal or conquered towns to perform political, cultural, social, and economic functions).

After this guided tour, we continue to Raqchi where we observe the Temple of Wiracocha (Incan god - creator).

Then, we go to La Raya representing the border between Cusco´s region and Puno´s region. This place is well-known for its viewpoint offering splendid views of surrounding Andes.

Our last stop is in the village of Pucara where we visit the Lithic Museum exhibiting artefacts of an pre-Incan culture.

Finally, we reach the city of Puno, where we accommodate ourselves in a hotel.

This 4-day Machu Picchu hiking is physically challenging, but worthwhile!! Its difficulty is within ability of the most reasonably fit. This 44-km (27 mile) trek is often steep including 3 high passes to be crossed, one of which reaches an elevation of 4,200 m (13,776 ft). Temperature at nights may fall below zero so it is important to get ready for that! It also sometimes rains, even during a dry season!

The Inca Trail is the most famous ancient trek of the Incas.  It begans with a morning trip to Km 82 - the initial hiking point. It is very important to not forget your passport with you because it is checked at the entrance as well as you get a stamp of the Inca Trail on it!! Our Porters and Tour Guides are a guarantee that the trip is without any worries, so you enjoy its awesome Incan ruins (Llactapata, Runkuraqay, Sayacmarca, Phuyupatamarka, Wiñay Wayna) and spectacular mountain scenery every day as much as you can!! Early morning of the last day, you climb antique steps to Inti Punku (the Sun Gate) to watch the Sunrise above the long-expected citadel of Machu Picchu.  Then, you enjoy a 2 and half an hour guided visit of the so called "Lost City of the Incas".  Afterwards, you have an opportunity to climb either the peak of Wayna Picchu (45 minutes up and the same time back) or the Machu Picchu Mountain (1.5 hour up) on your own to take some panoramic pictures of Machu Picchu.  At this moment, you can already understand why visiting Machu Picchu is so unbeatable experience.

In the afternoon, you descend to the town of Aguas Calientes to take a train back to Cusco. Arrival in the evening.

Please note: Inca Trail is closed during February due to general maintenance. Also, closures sometimes may occur as a result of inclement weather or other conditions beyond our control. In this case, we may hike the Lares Valley Trek. 

FREE OPTION: Those, who are not able or interested in to do trekking, can get back to Cusco or just stay at the Sacred Valley and spend the following 2 days there. In this case, they reach Aguas Calientes by a tourist train (Expedition Service). They overnight in a hotel there. Next morning, they take a shuttle bus to Machu Picchu where they reunite with that first group consisting of the Inca Trail hikers. 
This option is for no additional cost!!

IMPORTANT: If you decide not to do the trek, you must advice us enough time in advance (usually, a couple of weeks ago) in order to secure your train tickets!! Otherwise, we are not able to guarantee you this option for free !!

If you have any query, please do not hesitate contacting us.

Transfer to the airport of Juliaca (a city near Puno) to take a flight to Lima.

Please note: A return flight to Lima can be arragend upon request! 
 

End of service, or a suitable time to extend your trip.

To do so, please let us know using the contacts below!

Today is a relaxing day, free time to explore around Puno, visit its markets, buy some souvenirs, take some optional activities (for example, a visit of the Chullpas de Sillustani) and enjoy the last night in the city.

• Welcome by our Representative at arrival;
• 2x domestic flight: Lima-Puerto Maldonado-Cusco;
• All airport arrival and departure transfers;
• Accommodation: 3* hotels (8 nights), jungle lodges (2 nights), campsites (3 nights), a local family homestay on Amantani Island (1 night);
• All entrance fees according to the itinerary, an Inca Trail permit including;
• Bilingual local Tour Guides as per itinerary;
• A professional Cook for the Inca Trail;
• Porters to carry food, camping and cooking equipment and 7 kg of each passenger's stuff during the Inca Trail;
• Meals: 14x breakfast, 8x lunch, 6x dinner and 3x afternoon tea during the Lares Valley Trek;
• Camping equipment of the Inca Trail: personal double tents, sleeping foam matts, tables and chairs, a cooking tent with cooking equipment, dining and toilet tents;
• Food for the Inca Trail;
• A sleeping bag (for up to -5°C) for the Inca Trail;
• Tourist land transportation in accordance with the itinerary;
• A shuttle bus down from Machu Picchu to Aguas Calientes Town;
• Tourist train (Expedition) from Aguas Calientes (Machu Picchu) to Ollantaytambo;
• 1x sightseeing tourist bus: Cusco-Puno;
• Motorboat transportation in the Amazon Rainforest and on the Titicaca Lake.

• Pre & post tour accommodation,
• Last flight Juliaca-Puno,
• International flights and airport departure taxes,
• Travel insurance,
• Meals not mentioned,
• Tips and baggage portage to local staff (please note: it is a custom to give tips in Peru, however, it is not obligatory),
• Optional tours,
• Other extras not specified.

Meal budget: Please allow USD 200-250 for meals not included in the package.

Single room: Please note that if you have booked the "Single Room" option for this tour, you receive your own single room for all overnights and a single tent for the Inca Trail.

Local flights: Two local flights are included in the cost of your tour unless noted otherwise. It is very important that we have got your passport details at the time of your booking in order to process all air tickets. Internal flight tickets are issued locally and they will be given to you prior to each flight departure!

• A day in the city of Lima, explore, taste and enjoy the capital of Peru.
• A guided 3 day tour in the jungle located in a part of Peru - Amazon Basin
• Flight to the Cusco City
• Getting to know many asspects Incan culture through a guided tour of Sacred Valley of the Incas.
• Enjoyment of hiking the Inca Trail during a 4 day hike with a professional Tour Guide, a Cook and Porters
• Guided tour of one of the 7 New Wonders of the World - Machu Picchu
• Walk around the Cusco City. The oldest continuous inhabited city in South America.
• Visiting special and important places and sightseeing on along the route to Puno
• Getting to know culture and tradition of the islands of Amantani, Taquile and the floating islands of Titicaca Lake
• Opportunity to overnight in a family homestay during the 2 day Titicaca Lake Tour

Crew: Tierras Vivas Representatives in Lima, Puerto Maldonado, Cusco and Puno and professional local bilingual Tour Guides, a Cook and Porters during the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu.

Accommodation: 3* hotels (8 nights), jungle lodge (2 nights), campsites (3 nights), family homestay (1 night) on the Titicaca Lake Tour.
Meals: 13x breakfast, 8x lunch, 6x dinner, 3x afternoon tea (Please allow 100-150 for meals not included).

Transportation: 2x domestic flights, transportation by private van, motorboat transportation, 1x train (Expedition Class).