COLCA CANYON, CUZCO, MACHU PICCHU, & LAKE TITICACA
Visiting Cuzco, "Machu Picchu with a private guide" & Lake Titicaca, Chivay, The Colca Canyon & Arequipa
INCLUDED:
Hotel accommodations for 9 nights including room taxes and service charges. (4 nights in Cuzco, 1 night in Aguas Calientes/Machu Picchu, 2 nights in Puno, 1 in Chivay (Colca) and 1 in Arequipa). Daily breakfast. Transfers to/from airport, hotels and train stations. City tour is in seat in car basis and the tour to Machu Picchu is private. Entrance fees, train tickets, Cuzco archaeological tax, bus tickets and English speaking tour guide. Boat trip on Lake Titicaca. Tips to airport porters. Local airfare Lima-Cuzco and Arequipa-Lima via Lan Peru or similar.
NOT INCLUDED:
International airfare. ·Meals, unless specified in itinerary. Insurance - Tips to tour guide or bus driver. Any other service not mentioned in itinerary; Airport departure taxes -Lima and Cuzco $4.00 each and upon leaving Peru $30.00. USA departure tax.
Call (888) 825-2779 for more information or to book today! Mention code 12723465
- Tour Operator
- Tara Tours
- Duration
- 11 Days
- Escorted
- Escorted - No
| Day | Destination | Description |
| Day 1 | Depart USA | U.S.A-LIMA : Depart USA for Lima, Peru. (Overnight flight). |
| Day 2 | Cuzco | LIMA-CUZCO : Arrive very early morning in Lima. After going through customs and immigration, you will be met and walked to the domestic flight section of Lima airport for flight to Cuzco. Upon arrival in Cuzco you will be taken to hotel selected. Balance of day to rest and get used to the high altitude. |
| Day 3 | Cuzco | CUZCO : In the afternoon enjoy a half day visit of the magical city of Cuzco as you drive through the main streets with their Inca walls. Visit the Qorikancha (Sun Temple) now referred to as Santo Domingo Church. The curved stonework of the temple is probably unequalled in the world. During the Inka period, the stones were covered with gold. The Cathedral, a real piece of art with hundreds of paintings. Then, visit the archaeological sites that surround Cusco: the Saqsayhuaman Fortress, an amazing site with huge stone constructions. The site has a great cosmic energy - that is why people think it was an astronomic observatory and an Inca oracle. Also visit Q'enqo, a place that was used for worship and ceremonial center and Tambomachay -the Inka Spa. Overnite at hotel selected. (B) |
| Day 4 | Machu Picchu | CUZCO-MACHU PICCHU : Full day excursion by bus & train to the most mysterious and energetic place of the Inka civilization. Early morning transfer to the rail station to board the train to Machu Picchu. The train journey to Machu Picchu is a highlight of any trip to the Andes. The scenery is simply spectacular, and the recently refurbished Vistadome Trains with their panoramic windows allow you to enjoy it in comfort. The 3 hour journey takes you through a change landscape, passing by lush, green fields and colorful villages in the foothills of the Andes. On arrival in Machu Picchu your private guide will be waiting for you . You will be transfer by small buses to the entrance of the ruins to commence our touring. Machu Picchu rises to an altitude of 7,900 ft. above sea level between the Huayna Picchu (young peak) and Machu Picchu (old peak). It lies within the spectacular framework provided by the exuberant vegetation of nearby jungle and the rugged landscape. The ruins are situated on the eastern slope of Machu Picchu in two different areas: the agricultural and the urban. The latter includes the civil sector (dwellings, canalizations), and the sacred sector (temples, mausoleums, squares, royal houses). Although constructions show different levels of architecture, religious buildings exhibit a high degree of perfection. The construction was with general use of stone, and the roofs were built of tree trunks and thatched with ichu straw. The walls were made with an inward inclination for protection against earthquakes. Overnight in the village of Aguas Calientes, just at bottom of Machu Picchu. Lunch at the Sanctuary Machu Picchu. (B,L) |
| Day 5 | Cuzco | MACHU PICCHU-CUZCO : Day at leisure to explore Machu Picchu on your own. You can go back to the Lost City and visit this magnificent archeological site at your own pace or do some trekking...or stay in Aguas Calientes and visit the local market or the thermal baths. Afternoon return to Cuzco by train with transfer to your hotel (B) |
| Day 6 | Cuzco | CUZCO : At leisure. The city of Cuzco is like an open museum, wherever you go you will find ancient Inka streets, palaces, colonial mansions from the Spaniards conquistadores or just take advantage of great bargains such as sweaters, ponchos, alpaca rugs, gold and silver jewelry....plenty of things to do and see.... (B). |
| Day 7 | Puno | CUZCO-PUNO MOTORCOACH TOUR : Depart Cuzco about 7.30am for a picturesque bus ride thru the Andean mountains. Stops will be made at Andahuaylillas, noted for its colonial chapel with beautiful Creole frescoes -also call the Sixtine Chapel of South America, then Raqchi, where a 6 mile Inka wall surrounds the Temple of the Inka God Wiracocha. Continue to "La Raya Pass" at 14,500 feet high with spectacular views of the white snow peaks. Time to take some pictures. Then, buffet lunch at typical restaurant.. Final stop will be made at Pucara where you'll find an interesting small museum with some statues from the Pucaras - a Pre-Inka civilization. Arrive in Puno and transfer to your hotel. (B,L) |
| Day 8 | Puno & Lake Titicaca | PUNO & LAKE TITICACA : In the morning, depart for Lake Titicaca " the highest navigable lake in the world", at 12,000 feet high- to visit one of the oldest races of man -The Uros- You will see them standing on their floating islands made of reeds. Return to your hotel and afternoon at leisure to explore Puno and surroundings. (B) |
| Day 9 | CHIVAY | PUNO-CHIVAY (COLCA) : Board the tour bus that will take you from Puno to Chivay. You will get to the high pass called "Cruce Alto" at 14,500 feet high, then down to Lagunillas (small lake) where you will see Andean Flamingos and others birds. Continue and see Vicunas on the way belonging to the Salinas and Aguada Blanca reserve. Along the way you'll have spectacular views of the Volcano Chachani. After reaching the final pass Patapampa at 15,600 feet continue driving down to Chivay. In the afternoon there is an optional visit to the thermal springs & pools in La Calera with water temperatures up to 40°C (this optional visit to the hot springs is for passengers staying at any hotel located in Chivay only). Overnight in Chivay. (B) |
| Day 10 | Arequipa | COLCA-AREQUIPA : Today, an early morning departure for a pass known as the "Mirador de los Condores" at a height of 15,420 ft. From this pass enjoy a panoramic view of the snowy summits of the live volcanoes Ampato 20,703 ft and Sabancaya 19,607ft. With good luck you will see Condors flying over head so close you will see their feathers ruffle. This is a breathtaking experience viewing these massive and beautiful birds. They measure 52 inches tall with wing spans exceeding 10 to 12 feet! It is truly awesome! While viewing the Condors you will have time to enjoy the view of the canyon. The deepest part of the Canyon has been calculated at 12,074 ft almost twice as deep as Colorado's Grand Canyon. Return to Chivay for lunch and continue on for a 3 hour commute to Arequipa the "The White City". Most of the colonial area was built with the white volcanic lava rock called sillar from El Misti. Overnight at hotel selected. (B) |
| Day 11 | CONNECT TO USA | AREQUIPA-LIMA CONNECT TO USA : Morning Tour of Arequipa whose restored Colonial architecture and glided churches vividly illustrates Peru in the days of the Viceroys. Continue on for a fully escorted tour of the famous Monastery of Santa Catalina to see architecture, art, and furnishings of a world that has stood still since 1579. In mid-afternoon transfer to the airport for flight to Lima where you will be connecting with your international flight back to USA. (B) |
| Day 12 | Arrive USA | ARRIVE USA : (optional extension to Lima available upon request) |
- Dates/Pricing
- Lodging
- 3 Stars: Dorado in Cuzco; Inti Inn in Aguas Calientes; Casa Andina Classic in Puno & Colca; Casa Andina Classic in Arequipa
- 4 Stars: Sonesta Cuzco in Cuzco; El Mapi or Andina Luxury in Aguas Calientes; Casa Andina Private in Puno; Colca Lodge in Colca and Sonesta in Arequipa.
- 5 Stars: Libertador or Aranwa in Cuzco; Inkaterra or Sumaq in Aguas Calienter; Libertador in Puno, Casitas del Colca in Colca and Casa Andina Private Collection in Arequipa.
- Disclaimer
International airfare not included.
Sample air cost from Miami to Lima RT US$700-950 plus taxes via American or Lan Airlines (see add-ons below from more than 100 USA cities)
INTERNATIONAL AIRFARE NOT INCLUDED:
Sample air cost from Miami to Lima RT US$550-750 via American or Lan Airlines (see add-ons below from more than 100 USA cities)
HOTELS AVAILABLE upon request Monasterio, Machu Picchu Sanctuary, Casitas de Colca... email us your request. We custom made itineraries for the last 32 years.....
DEPOSITS:
US$350.00 at the time of booking.
FINAL PAYMENT:
60 days before departure.
