Your trip to Peru has commenced! A representative will pick you up from the airport at the scheduled time to transfer you to your hotel in Lima. A modern metropolis full of history, travelers can find comfort and cultural activities in the capital city â though youâll want to get plenty of rest as your Peru highlights tour begins the following day.
Enjoy breakfast at your hotel knowing your Cusco city adventure begins today. After a short flight (90 minutes) from Lima to Cusco, youâll have a chance to settle into your hotel before an afternoon of exploration.
Once the capital of the Inca Empire, Cusco is full of architectural gems spanning varying centuries and shifts in power. A private tour will allow you to marvel at Coricancha (âThe Temple of the Sunâ), the most important temple of the Inca Empire, as well as the 15th century stone fortress Sacsayhuaman, ritualistic site Qenqo, and the alleged military ruin Puka Pukara. Weâll also visit the cityâs main square to admire historical artifacts at the Cathedral (which took nearly a century to construct).
After a morning meal, youâll be picked up from your hotel and taken to the traditional town of Chinchero. With a beautiful view of the Sacred Valley, this visit will offer you the chance to meet with artisans and admire their crafts. This town also hosts a beautiful seventeenth-century church, one of the first Catholic buildings in Peru, as well as archaeological remains. Afterwards, weâll go to the nearby Living Museum of Yucay, where traditional Inca techniques of textile and ceramic artistry are put on display and real-life sources of natural fibers, such as llamas and alpacas, can be seen. In Ollantaytambo, weâll carry on with this Peru tourâs spirit of tradition with lunch in a local restaurant, a cozy restaurant inspired by local ingredients and regional dishes. Refueled, weâll climb up the townâs iconic fortress to round out todayâs adventures before heading to our Sacred Valley hotel.
Today weâll encounter the majestic Machu Picchu ruins after breakfast at the hotel. In order to arrive to the renowned archaeological site, weâll take a train ride to Aguas Calientes, a small town filled with handicrafts and markets often referred to as âMachu Picchu Pueblo.â After a short transfer, weâll reach the Machu Picchu ruins, considered a World Heritage Site by UNESCO and one of the New Seven Wonders of the world. Take time to tour the timeless architectural masterpiece and its surrounding attractions, Inti Punku (Sun Gate), Huayna Picchu (according to availability), or the Inca Bridge. Once finished, weâll descend on bus to Aguas Calientes and have lunch at local restaurant before starting our return back to Cusco in the afternoon.
After breakfast, a transportation service will bring you to the bus station so we can continue our tour of Peru highlights, this time heading towards Peru. Along the way, weâll visit Church of Andahuaylillas, often referred to as the âSistine Chapel of the Americas,â Racchi, Wiracocha Temple, (an Inca site with perhaps the highest thatched rooftops), La Raya (at 4,313 m.a.s.l., it is the highest pass on our way to Puno), and last but not least, Pucara, the first known settlement in the highlands, dating back as early as 300 AD. By the end of todayâs journey, weâll reach Puno to spend a restful night before exploring the islands of Lake Titicaca.
Enjoy a morning meal before departing to the floating islands of Uros, man-made islands built from woven reeds. After an hour-long tour for an insiderâs look into the inhabitantsâ lifestyles, we will continue by boat to Taquile Island. Admire the Incan-influenced architecture and indulge in a unique cultural activity before being invited to a delicious, homemade lunch, after which you will return to Puno to prepare for the end to your trip to Peru.
After having breakfast at the hotel, a transportation service takes you to the airport for your return flight to Lima.
Cusco: Once the capital of the Inca Empire, this city is rich in historical sites such as the Coricancha temple, Sacsayhuaman fortress, ceremonial Qenqo and more.
Machu Picchu: Set high in the Andes Mountains, the Inca citadel offers a glance into Peruâs past and an unforgettable view of the area today.
Lake Titicaca: Quite unlike any other place in Peru, the city of Puno is home to Taquile and the floating islands of Uros on the highest navigable lake in the world, Lake Titicaca.
During this exclusive seven-day Peru tour you can explore lands that historic civilizations once ruled as well as many UNESCO World Heritage Sites. When you book a trip to Peru to explore the Legacy of the Inca Empire, youâll have the opportunity to visit beautiful colonial cities, discover impressive ancient sites like the Machu Picchu ruins and the ingenious floating islands of Lake Titicaca. So, come join us as we unearth the Legacy of the Incas and all the Peru highlights, one day at a time
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