Andean and Altiplano Experience Tour

Upon arrival in Lima, we will transfer you to your hotel.

In the Afternoon City tour; Colonial Lima.

Lima’s historic center and Larco Museum

Lima, known originally as the City of Kings, was founded by the Spanish in 1535, just two years after Francisco Pizarro’s conquistadores arrived in Peru. The capital and largest city in Peru, Lima is home to around nine million people. This sprawling metropolis has grown around the colonial-era heart of the city, which the Spanish established on a grid system around the spacious main square, or Plaza Mayor.

After being picked up from your hotel, you will be escorted by your guide on a tour of the city’s main attractions. These include the historic buildings arranged around the main square and located in nearby streets: the presidential palace, built on the site originally occupied by the house Francisco Pizarro built for himself in the 16th century; Lima’s cathedral, first completed in 1649 and renovated many times since, most recently in 1940; and the 17th century San Francisco church, renowned for its fine library of antiquarian books and its captivating catacombs. From Lima’s historic center, it takes around 30 minutes to reach the modern shopping, residential and financial districts of Miraflores and San Isidro.  

Larco Museum: Often described as Lima’s finest museum, the Larco Museum was established in 1926 by a renowned collector of Pre-Inca art and artifacts from Peru’s coastal regions. The museum’s unrivaled collection of pottery and precious metal objects representing thousands of years of Peruvian history is housed in an elegant 18th century mansion, built over the foundations of a Pre-Inca temple. The museum is surrounded by beautiful gardens, making it a peaceful oasis evoking a bygone age, in the heart of a bustling modern city.

Visiting time: 4 hours

Altitude:

• Lima, 161 meters / 528 feet.

Early morning transfer from the hotel to the airport for the 80-minute flight to Cusco.

Transfer from airport to hotel. Free morning to acclimatize.

Cusco has been inhabited since pre-Inca times by a succession of cultures. The Quechua-speaking Inca ethnic group came to prominence in the early 15th century and began its imperial expansionist phase under the great Inca leader Pachacutec, around 1438. As the Inca empire expanded, their capital was enlarged to reflect their growing might. Great temples and palaces were erected, and the vestiges of these magnificent edifices can be seen to this day, as they form the basis for the splendid colonial-era structures built by the Spanish from the third decade of the 16th century onwards. Cusco offers endless attractions, the architecture of the historic center of the city, with its Spanish colonial mansions and churches built over the remains of imposing Inca structures.

Cusco walking city tour The city tour on foot includes the colonial-era cathedral, the Inca Temple of the Sun, or Qoricancha, and the San Blas neighborhood. This half-day guided tour enables visitors to learn more about many of the most important attractions in Cusco.

We will walk-through streets lined with Inca walls on our way to the San Blas neighborhood, famous today, as it was in Inca times, for its skilled craftsmen.

We visit the Cathedral, which was built between 1560 and 1654 on the site of the palace of the Inca Wiracocha. It is a magnificent example of European art made by the indigenous population. Its main altar is completely covered in silver, and the church contains many fine paintings from the Cusco School of religious art.

From the Cathedral we move on to Qoricancha, the Inca Temple of the Sun, where we will be able to see some of the finest remaining examples of Inca stonemasonry.

Finally, we visit the Cusco’s San Pedro produce market. Local vendors here sell foodstuffs that vary from fresh and tasty produce (think fruit, vegetables, and cereals), medicinal herbs or even supplements, some of which are said to have magical effects. The market, is a lively and animated place, is worth visiting for atmosphere alone. Bargain with vendors for the best price, rub shoulders with the locals and enjoy just a little taster of what life is really like in Cusco.

Explore Cusco’s Sacred Valley of the Incas, beginning in the city of Cusco, exploring magnificent archeological sites on the way to Pisaq.

The Sacsayhuaman Archaeological Park. Sacsayhuaman is an extraordinary archaeological site set on the hill to the north of the city of Cusco, overlooking the main square. This is a complete tour including the great plaza and its adjacent three massive terrace walls.

The stones used in the construction of these terraces are among the largest used in any building in pre-Hispanic America and display a precision that is unmatched in the Americas. The stones are so closely fitted that a single piece of paper will not fit between many of the stones. This precision, combined with the rounded corners of the blocks, the variety of their interlocking shapes, and the way the walls lean inward, is thought to have helped the ruins survive the devastating earthquakes that have shaken Cusco in the past. The largest of the three walls is about 400 meters in length. These ramparts are about 6 meters tall and estimated volume of stone employed at the site is over 6000 cubic meters. Estimates for the weight of the largest limestone block vary from 128 tons to around 200 tons.

From here, you will continue through this picturesque landscape in the hills above the imperial city to the Inca temple of Qenqo (“zigzag,” in Quechua), a limestone outcrop carved into a subterranean altar associated with worship of the Inca earth goddess, or Pachamama, we will also visit the Inca fortified complex known as Puca Pucara (“red fort,” in Quechua) and the water shrine of Tambomachay.

Leaving the Cusco valley behind, after crossing the mountains, our bus will take us to the Sacred Valley of the Incas, the road descends to the traditional artisan center of Awanacancha, a tourist complex where we will learn about the Andean Camelids; the Llamas and Alpacas, in addition, native people will show us their techniques of weaving and dyeing of traditional textiles. Next, we continue along the paved road to the picturesque town of Pisac

Pisac (Pisaq in quechua language), on the banks of the sacred Urubamba River.

Every Sunday, Thursday and Tuesday, the sleepy town of Pisac comes alive when indigenous Quechua communities from the surrounding highlands come to Pisac to sell their produce and stock up on supplies for the week.

The Pisaq typical market of souvenirs (that is performed in a daily basis) is one of the most famous markets in the Cusco region. A large section of the market is dedicated to tourist-oriented souvenir stalls where you can find weavings, alpaca products, ponchos, ceramics, jewelry, hats, Andean instruments and a complete range of other gifts and souvenirs to take home with you. The handcraft market is open every day from 9 am to 4.30 pm and is a good place to pick up some gifts all in the one place.

After an excellent lunch we will visit the Pisaq ruins

The Pisaq archaeological site stand high above the Sacred Valley of the Incas, the ruins are separated along the ridge into four groups: Pisaqa, Intihuatana, Q’allaqasa, and Kanchiracay and extensive agricultural terracing, with the beautiful Urubamba River far below.

The Intihuatana a volcanic outcrop carved into a “hitching post” for the Sun is the focus of the complex, the angles of its base suggest that it served some astronomical function the religious complex includes a number of baths for rituals and temples. The Inca constructed agricultural terraces on the steep hillside, which are still in use today. They created the terraces by hauling richer topsoil by hand from the lower lands. The terraces enabled the production of surplus food, more than would normally be possible at altitudes as high as 14,000 feet.

Near the sunset we head to our hotel located in Urubamba, the most picturesque area of the valley.

Driving distance: 60 kilometers / 37.2 miles

Visiting time: 9 hours

Altitude:

• Cusco 3,400 meters / 11155 feet.
• Mercado de Pisaq 2,972 meters / 9,750 feet.
• Archeological sites of Pisaq 3,310 / 10,859 feet, to 3,450 meters / 11,614 feet.
• Urubamba 2,871 meters / 9,419 feet.

Early in the morning we will take you to Chinchero.

Chinchero is a typical village, located on the patchwork of Andean crops which is the plain of Chinchero, at an altitude of 3,762 meters / 12,342 feet. The native Indian market is open on Sundays, when local people wearing the traditional dress of their respective communities, often unchanged since the 17th century, come from outlying villages to trade their goods. Aside from Sunday there is a daily market traders offer handcrafts, including textiles and jewelry, alpaca products, ponchos, ceramics, etc.

The village is also an important archaeological site. One side of the main square is bordered by a massive stone Inca wall featuring a series of niches, and beyond the village several outlying constructions and the remains of Inca terracing can also be visited. The Inca remains of Chinchero are attributed to the reign of Inca Tupac Yupanqui, the son of Pachacuteq, who may have used the village as a kind of country retreat.

From Chinchero, we will continue our drive to Moray. Here, the Incas built concentric agricultural terraces, forming a 150-meter-deep amphitheater, with each level reproducing the temperatures found in various parts of the Inca empire, enabling the Incas to develop new crop strains and increase yields.

From Moray, it is a short drive to the village of Maras where we will have lunch in a local restaurant where we will enjoy a traditional food, before going to visit the salt mines.

The salt pans of Maras have been exploited since pre-Inca times. This series pools constructed to evaporate the salt water produced by a subterranean stream offer visitors a uniquely photogenic sight, with their flat, white surfaces contrasting with the surrounding green, vertical scenery. Our guide will explain how these ancient salt pans remain important to the local economy.

Return to hotel in the Sacred Valley

Driving distance: 92.5 kilometers / 57.47 miles

Visiting time: 9 hours

Altitude:

• Urubamba 2,871 meters / 9,419 feet.
• Chinchero 3,762 meters / 12,343 feet
• Moray 3,509 meters / 11,512 feet
• Maras 3,385 meters / 11,106 feet
• Maras salt pans 3,014 meters / 9,888 feet
• Ollantaytambo 2,792 meters / 9,160

Traveling by train from the Sacred Valley of the Incas to the ruins of the Inca city of Machu Picchu is an experience no visitor to Peru should miss. After leaving behind the Sacred Valley, your train will follow the course of the Urubamba River as it carves a narrow gorge between cliffs that are crowned with dense tropical cloud forests, filled with endemic flora and fauna and home to many Inca archaeological sites.

Visit Machu Picchu, the most iconic travel destination in South America!!!

We will take a bus from Aguas Calientes to Machu Picchu (30 minutes). Located at the top of a steep, forested hill overlooking the Urubamba River, Machu Picchu was hidden by thick cloud forest vegetation for centuries until the American explorer Hiram Bingham began to clear the site after its rediscovery in 1911.

Today the city has been extensively restored, creating an unforgettable sight for visitors like you who arrive from all over the world. Our experienced and knowledgeable guide will escort you as you visit the temples and palaces of Machu Picchu and explore its residential and agricultural areas.

Other options (not included in the tour, but we can organize if you want)

include scaling the mountain known as Huayna Picchu or visiting the Temple of the Moon or Machu Picchu Mountain (subject to advance booking), before taking a short bus ride back to the small town of Aguas Calientes for the return trip to Cusco.

You will travel by train to Ollantaytambo or Poroy station, where our private vehicle will be waiting to take you the rest of the way to Cusco. Upon arrival in Cusco, you will be met at the station and escorted to your hotel.

Trip by Train:

Ollantaytambo Train station – Aguas Calientes -: 55 km. / 34 miles (1 hour 40 minutes)

Aguas Calientes – Ollantaytambo – Cusco 112 kilometres / 69 miles

Visiting time: All day, 12-13 hours

Altitude:

• Aguas Calientes: 2,070 meters / 6,791 feet.
• Machu Picchu: 2,460 meters / 8,071 feet.

Private bus to Puno, including visits.

During the journey you will have the following stops to visit the most important attractions on the route:

Andahuaylillas

The village of Andahuaylillas, located in the fertile river valley of the Vilcanota. The village is famous for its unique church with its beautifully decorated interior adorned with paintings and murals of great artistic value, as well as fine woodcarvings, the church has been called the Sistine Chapel of the Americas.

The interior of the Church of San Pedro of Andahuaylillas is covered with Baroque art and many decorations. It has numerous and beautiful paintings of the “Escuela Cusqueña” or “Academy of Cusco.” There also is the mural by Luis de Riaño representing the path to glory and the path to hell. He was also said to be the artist of the low borders of the wall and an important oil painting of the archangel San Miguel. The main altar is decorated in gold leaf from the Amazon region. The Baroque work of art is carved out of cedar with leaves of gold, above it the walls and ceiling are decorated with murals of geometric designs and golden decorations. The total effect is crowned by a portrait of the Immaculate Conception attributed to the grand master painter Murillo.

Raqchi: the Temple of Wiracocha

The most prominent structure at Raqchi is the Temple of Wiracocha, the creator god of Inca mythology. It is an enormous rectangular two-story roofed structure measuring 92 meters by 25.5 meters. This structure consists of a central adobe wall some 18 to 20 meters in height with an andesite stone base. Windows and doors allow passage. It is flanked on each side by a row of eleven columns. The bases of the walls and the columns are made from classic imperial Inca stonework, with the upper sections fashioned from mud brick.

Prior to its destruction by the Spaniards, the temple had what is believed to be the largest single roof in the Inca Empire, with the central wall forming its apex, from which the roof stretched some 25 meters (82 feet) in both directions, where it rested on the great columns. The enormous proportions of the temple and its prominent location have led to it being known as the Temple of Wiracocha, in honor of the creator god of Inca religious beliefs. We continue to Puno with some stops to take scenic pictures.

Later we continue the trip to La Raya mountain pass, the highest point on the route Cusco to Puno (4,338 meters), a cold and remote, this important place is located in the Vilcanota mountain range in South-East Peru.

Continue to Puno located in southeast Peru on the shores of Lake Titicaca, the highest navigable lake in the world. Over 190 km / 118 miles long and 64 km / 40 miles wide, the lake reaches a maximum depth of almost 300 meters / 984 feet Its waters contain many fish and its severe surroundings and the magnificent mountains of the Cordillera Real lend it a mysterious atmosphere. The region’s climate is cold and dry, with a four-month rainy season.

Puno was the center of the altiplano’s early civilizations, home to the oldest urban center of the Pucara civilization, which produced monumental architecture and excellent pottery. It was this culture which was the first to domesticate plants and animals in the area, leading to the eventual rise of the Tiahuanaco civilization.

Driving distance: 387 kilometers / 240 miles

Travelling and visiting time: 9-10 hours

Altitude:

• Cusco 3,400 meters / 11155 feet.
• Andahuaylillas 3,122 meters / 10,243 feet.
• Raqchi: the Temple of Wiracocha 3460 meters / 11,352 feet.
• La Raya Pass 4,338 meters / 14,232 feet.
• Puno 3,870 meters / 12,697 feet.

Our trip begins with a transfer to the port of Puno for the three-and-a-half-hour boat trip to Taquile. On our way to the island, we will visit the artificial floating islands of the Uros

Visit on route: The Floating Uros Islands

It is said that the Uros people, who inhabit the artificial totora reed islands on Lake Titicaca, are the descendants of the oldest race on earth. However, truly little is actually known about them. Their most characteristic tradition is their use of the aquatic totora reed, which they use to build their houses, boats, and the very islands on which they live, which are made from thick layers of reed which are replaced periodically.

The Uros are fishers, and they use totora reed boats for their work and to travel between the several islands which they occupy.

Taquile Island

This is one of the most fascinating islands on Lake Titicaca. Taquile is forty-five kilometers from Puno and measures just 7 km by 1 km. Almost all of its slopes are covered with Inca agricultural terraces, all of which are still in use. The island’s scenery is marvelous, the blue of the lake and the sky contrast with the white peaks of the Cordillera Real in the distance.

The Taquile islanders still use their traditional form of dress, which they make themselves, and they still speak Quechua as their first language. Together with their neighbors on Amantani they are the only Quechua speakers on Lake Titicaca, where the pre-Inca Aymara language dominates – a fact which has helped them to retain their cultural identity to this day. On Taquile we will have a chance to meet the islanders and buy some of their famous weavings and knitwear before returning to Puno, where we will arrive around sunset.

Altitude:

• Uros floating Islands 3,810 meters / 12,500 feet
• Taquile Island 3,950 meters / 12,959 feet.

In the morning, transfer to Juliaca airport, en route visit Sillustani.

Sillustani is an archaeological burial complex with tombs dating from both the Inca and pre-Inca periods. They are high, stone tower-like constructions built to house the remains of the Quechua and Colla nobility.

The site is situated on a raised area on the shores of Lake Umayo. Sillustani is also an excellent place for bird watching, with species like the Andean gull, black goose, Andean coot, and the Puna ibis. Guinea pigs can also be seen living wild among the ruins.

Flight to Lima.

Travel distance:

• Puno – Sillustani: 33 kilometers, 45 minutes.
• Sillustani – Juliaca: 33 kilometers, 45 minutes.

Travelers with a US, UK, Canadian, Australian or New Zealand passport do not need a visa to enter Peru for tourism or business for up to 90 days. For those traveling on another passport, information on visa requirements for Peru is available at http://www.projectvisa.com/visainformation/Peru

We recommend that visitors to Peru travel on a passport valid for at least six months after the scheduled end of their trip.

No vaccinations are mandatory for entering Peru. However, most international travelers choose to vaccinate themselves against hepatitis A, typhoid fever and tetanus. If you are planning to travel to the Amazon basin, you should consider malaria prophylaxis and yellow fever vaccination. Check with your physician or local clinic before traveling.

After we have confirmed your booking you will need to pay a deposit, the amount of which will depend on the tour you book and the size of your party. The remaining balance must be paid at our office in Cusco at least 2 days prior to the scheduled departure date, before 19:30. Payment should be made in US dollars or local currency. When we confirm your booking, we will send you more details about how to complete payment.

Weather in Peru varies according to the geographic region you are traveling in, and also altitude. In the Andean highlands (Cusco, Arequipa and Lake Titicaca), where UV levels are high, daytime temperatures peak at between 15 to 21 Celsius (60 and 70 Fahrenheit), while nighttime temperatures range from 1.1 to 5.5 Celsius (30 to 42 Fahrenheit). During the dry season (from April to October), the weather tends to be clear and sunny. The rainiest months are January and February. In the Amazon basin the hottest and most humid months occur during the wet season (from December to April), with the rainiest months being January and February, although of course it can rain at any time in tropical and subtropical forests. Peru’s desert coast is warm all year round, although Lima and the surrounding coastal belt are usually overcast outside the summer months (January to March). There is almost no rainfall in Lima, but humidity is high. Machu Picchu is situated at around 2400 meters (7875 feet) above sea level in an area of subtropical cloud forest. Daytime temperatures range from 26 to 29 Celsius (80 to 85 Fahrenheit). There is the chance of rain at any time of year. The driest months are May to September.

Yes, if your itinerary includes transfers or you have asked us to pick you up, our staff will be at the airport to meet you and transfer you to your hotel. We can also provide airport transfers at the end of your itinerary.

At Andean Adventures Peru, we work with experienced local guides, all of whom have graduated in tourism after a 5-year course at a Peruvian university. All our guides speak English and Spanish and are knowledgeable, patient and informative. Guides in other major languages are also available upon request.

ATMs are available at most of the destinations included in our itineraries, providing both US dollars and local Peruvian currency. The most secure ATMs are those located in banks, hotels, restaurants or stores.

The best way to deal with high altitude is by allowing the body time to adapt. We recommend at least one day at altitude with minimal activity, to allow the organism to begin to adjust. During your first days at altitude, your metabolism will be working hard to produce more red blood cells and carry the limited oxygen available around your body more efficiently. Be sure to eat lightly during your first few days at altitude, drink plenty of water and avoid alcohol.

Cash is easy to exchange for local currency, and at popular tourism destinations US dollars are readily accepted. If you plan to use cards, inform your bank before departure that you will be using your cards overseas. Current exchange rates can be checked at https://www.oanda.com/currency/converter/

Our guides are trained to assist travelers in the event of acute mountain sickness. They can provide an emergency oxygen bottle and first aid kit; however, travelers should carry their own personal medication, such as treatment for headaches or stomach ailments.

Refund are available up to a certain date, after which only a percentage of the amount paid can be refunded. Please ask us for our booking conditions at time of booking.