Peru Express - 12 Days

The first stop-off on our Lima city tour is Huaca Pucllana, a huge archaeological site in Miraflores, one of Lima’s most popular districts. 

After this brief stop-off, we’ll drive to the historic center of Lima, all of which is a designated UNESCO World Heritage site. We’ll visit the beautiful Plaza de Armas (Lima’s main square) which is surrounded by impressive colonial and Republican-era buildings, many of which have ornate wooden balconies. Some of Peru’s most important buildings surround the square, including the Government Palace, Lima Cathedral, Archbishop's Palace of Lima, the Municipal Palace, and the Palace of the Union. We’ll visit the Cathedral of Lima, which was completed in 1649. It’s a huge structure, with a large central nave and 14 side chapels. Inside, we’ll see the sculptures and paintings that decorate the interior. The cathedral is also home to the tomb of the conquistador Francisco Pizarro.

Next, we’ll walk one block to the Convent of Santo Domingo. Founded in the 1530s and completed in 1766, it is one of the most important religious buildings in Peru, and its large bell tower is a landmark in the historic center of Lima. As we walk around the interior of the convent, we’ll see the beautiful Sevillian "azulejos" (ceramic tiles) that decorate the walls, dating from 1604 and 1606. There is also a series of paintings that present passages of the life of Saint Dominic, the founder of the Dominican order, which dates to around 1608. 

Next, we’ll head to the private Larco Museum, which is one of the best museums in the country. Here you can see a wide range of pre-Columbian art and artifacts, including ceramics, textiles, metalwork, and more. The museum is most famous, however, for its incredible – and quite X-rated – gallery of pre-Columbian erotic pottery. These ceramics display sexual acts between men and women, as well as homosexual acts, in at times explicit detail and in various postures.

At the end of the Larco Museum tour, we will return to your hotel.

A representative of Valencia Travel Cusco will pick you up from your Lima hotel and take you to the airport where you will take your flight to Cusco! 

After your arrival to Cusco, your cultural excursion will begin when we pick you up at the Cusco Airport and drive you out to the  Chinchero Community to have a weaving demonstration using traditional weaving techniques that have been passed down through the generations for centuries. During your visit, you will be able to attend a talk and see a demonstration of how these textiles are made, learning all about the ancient techniques that are still used today.

One of the Quechua-speaking weavers will tell us (through a translator) the secrets of the traditional iconography that they use in their designs and will show you the entire production process, from shearing the wool to spinning and washing the wool. wool with natural soap You will also learn about the plants and flowers that are collected to use as dyes. You can also try weaving a blanket, a poncho, a chullo, or one of the many other garments made by the weavers of Chinchero. After the weaving demonstration, you will be able to shop for the amazing high-quality textiles on offer, helping to support the local community, directly.

The colonial church, in The Chinchero Plaza dates back to the early 17th century and was built upon the foundations of an Inca temple or palace. The walls of the church are covered in wonderful floral and religious designs. The people of Chinchero are very much connected to the old traditions, and many still dress in colorful clothes that combine indigenous and Spanish influences. We’ll also have wonderful views from Chinchero, as the village is surrounded by the beautiful snow-capped peaks of Chicón and Veronica. 

We will then drop you off at your Sacred Valley hotel, where you can spend the rest of the day at leisure.

We’ll pick you up from your Sacred Valley hotel at 08h30 and head off towards Pisac. In Pisac, we will visit the colorful traditional market, where you can browse the array of local artisan work and other souvenirs – which of course you can buy to take home with you. We’ll spend about 30 minutes here, and then head up to the ruins of Pisac which sit atop a hill at the entrance to the valley.

At the Pisac archaeological site, we’ll explore the extensive ruins and enjoy the beautiful views across the valley. You’ll be given a guided tour of the ruins, passing through various structures that once served as homes, storage rooms and temples, and you’ll see Inca altars, carvings, tunnels, caves and the famous Intihuatana, the “hitching post of the sun.” We’ll explore Pisac for about 90 minutes. Alternatively, if you’d like to spend more time in the market in Pisac instead of seeing the ruins, you can talk to your guide and arrange a time and a place to meet when the tour group returns through the market after the ruins. 

We’ll now head on towards Urubamba, where we’ll stop for about 45 minutes for lunch (not included). After another 30-minute drive, we’ll reach the wonderful Inca town and archaeological site of Ollantaytambo. Ollantaytambo was the royal estate of the Inca emperor Pachacuti, who conquered the region and built the town and a ceremonial center. We’ll spend about an hour exploring these magnificent ruins, visiting the amazing Temple of the Sun and seeing massive blocks of rock that were perfectly carved and polished by master Inca stonemasons. Ollantaytambo is also a fine example of Inca agricultural construction and hydro-engineering, with a complex series of stone water fountains, channels and agricultural terraces, the latter organized by elevation to create different microclimates for crop experimentation.   

We’ll see the extent of the water system when we return to the town, where fast-flowing water channels built by the Incas are still in use today. Walking to the town square, we’ll have great views of the ruins above us, as well as Inca granaries and storehouses built on the sides of the surrounding mountains. Here we can also watch the daily life of Ollantaytambo, where many of the locals still wear traditional dress. 

After the visit to Ollantaytambo, we will return to your hotel in Urubamba for the evening.

Our tour begins in Cusco, where we’ll pick you up at 06h00. and then head to the train station to board the train to Aguas Calientes (also known as Machu Picchu Pueblo). The train leaves at approximately 07h50 although the exact schedule does change sometimes. The two-hour train journey is a memorable experience in itself, as we pass through river canyons and rolling hills, then your guide will pick you up from the train station at around 09h15. We’ll then walk to the bus departure point for the short but zigzagging ascent up the road to Machu Picchu. 

We’ll then pass through the gates to the Machu Picchu archaeological site. Here you’ll begin your guided walking tour with an experienced and highly knowledgeable guide. Our tour of Machu Picchu will last about two hours and will take you to all the most famous and spectacular parts of the extensive archaeological complex. These include the House of the Guardian, Intihuatana, Temple of the Sun, Sacred Plaza, and other key locations. And as we walk around, we’ll have spectacular views across the agricultural terraces of Machu Picchu and across to the surrounding mountains and plunging gorges. 

Once we’ve finished our tour of Machu Picchu, we’ll take the bus back down to Aguas Calientes where you can relax.

Aguas Calientes is also surrounded by thermal hot springs, and when we arrive you’ll have plenty of time to relax and enjoy a dip in one of the steaming natural springs. You’ll also have time to walk around the town, exploring the colorful markets and general buzz of this unique Peruvian settlement.

This morning is at leisure. We recommend you either pre-book an optional early morning visit to Machu Picchu (2nd bus and entry not included). Enjoy the sunrise over the ruins and watch the mist rise over this mountain-top citadel at dawn or perhaps climb The Huayna Picchu Mountain.

Optional services in Aguas Calientes:

Second entrance to Machu Picchu – Cost per person $90 USD (Only Entrance Fee and Bus Tickets).

Huayna Picchu – Cost per person $105 USD (Only Entrance Fee and Bus Tickets). 

**The second day´s Entrance Ticket and return bus ticket are not included in your general tour cost. To avoid disappointment, we recommend that you pre-purchase the 2nd day entrance & bus transfers as part of this package as spaces are limited and can sell out.

This afternoon, you will board the train back to Poroy or Ollantaytambo Train Station. Upon your arrival at the train station, we will pick you up and take you back to your hotel in Cusco. 

Our Cusco day trip begins in the morning, heading first to the imposing Inca fortress of Sacsayhuamán, perched on a hill above Cusco. Here, you will witness some of the finest examples of Inca masonry and construction, including enormous boulders that were meticulously cut and perfectly fitted to form the walls.
After exploring Sacsayhuamán on our Cusco tours, we will climb the hill to Qenqo, one of the most intriguing archaeological sites of the Inca civilization. This enigmatic sanctuary, whose name in Quechua means "labyrinth" or "zigzag," offers visitors a fascinating mix of history, spirituality, and architecture. From here, you will also enjoy beautiful panoramic views of Cusco.
Next, on our Cusco excursions, we visit the Tambomachay Archaeological Complex. The exact purpose of this site is unknown, but it may have functioned, at least in part, as an Inca spa. Incan hydraulic engineering is evident here, with a series of aqueducts, canals, and waterfalls running through the terraced rocks.
We then continue to the wonderful Koricancha, adjacent to the Church of Santo Domingo. According to chroniclers writing during the period immediately following the Spanish conquest, the Koricancha was the most sacred and important temple in the Incan Empire. Its walls were covered in gold, and life-size statues of plants and animals, all made of pure gold and silver, decorated its rooms and hallways. Sadly, this wealth was stripped away by the Spanish conquistadors. However, it remains a magnificent temple, and your Cusco private tour guide will show you details that you would almost certainly miss if you visited without a guide.
After visiting the Koricancha, we will head to the Cusco Cathedral, located in the Plaza de Armas. Built between 1560 and 1654 on the foundations of an existing Inca temple, this spectacular cathedral houses many works of art from the Cusco School of painters, and its main altar and pulpit are covered in gold and silver reliefs. Look closely, and you will also see elements of indigenous religious symbolism incorporated into the church by the natives who worked on its construction, such as the carved head of a jaguar on the doors.
Finally, our guide will bid you farewell, offering restaurant recommendations for a delicious meal (not included) or providing directions on how to return to your hotel.
Note: Our city tour begins at 9:00 am or 1:00 pm, with a brief coordination with the office.

Total trekking distance:  3 km (1 hour approx).

Highest altitude: 3,750 m (12,303 ft).
Lowest Altitude: 3,400 m (11,154 ft).

After breakfast, enjoy a free day to explore Cusco at your ease. The capital city of the Inca Empire is now the undisputed archaeological capital of the Americas, as well as the continent’s oldest continuously inhabited city.

Optional Tour:

Classic Cooking Class - Cost per person $ 40.

With an approximate duration of 3 hours, this service starts at 11 am, picking up the user from their hotel on the way to the house of the chosen cook. Once in the place, the tourists receive a brief explanation of the activities they will carry out, and they will receive the appropriate clothing for the class. What we will do next is practical cooking classes where tourists learn the preparation of traditional plates of the city, presented by experienced chefs, who teach various conventional recipes. In this service, all the ingredients are already at home. Lunch/Dinner at the cook's house: We want all the tourist to feel immersed in the local culture, for this, each chef has prepared various stories and experiences that are transmitted in the table and surrounded by local people (the cook and his family) while tasting the food made in the cooking class.

Rainbow Mountain - Cost per person $ 90.

We will Pick you up from your hotel around 05h30 – 06h00. We´ll head to the community of CUSIPATA, we’ll get there in about 2 hours. Then we continue for some 30 minutes more, to the Town of CHILLIHUANIl, where we will pass through picturesque places like TINTINKO and RIO TIGRE and the Mountain of Surina in LLACTO, where you will also enjoy the flora and fauna in its natural habitat. (Llamas, Alpacas, Vicunas, etc.). 20 minutes later we will reach the starting point of our walk to Rainbow Mountain. This walk will last about 1 hour and a half, We’ll enjoy panoramic views such as the Red Valley and Nevado Ausangate and small lagoons just before arriving at the spot where we can watch the whole colorful mountain. Our guide will explain you the science behind the colors and we`ll have some hot tea and something to eat. Then we will begin to descend to our starting point. Our vehicle will be waiting for us there to return to your hotel in Cusco, arriving around 18h00.

Maras Moray – Cos per person $ 40

We will pick you up from your hotel around 08h00 to take you to Moray “The Inca agricultural greenhouse or laboratory.” We will drive for about 1 hour and 20 minutes through the snow-capped peaks of the Andes, through lush yellow fields of wheat, past some villages.  Finally, you will arrive at the fascinating display of terraces in Moray. Moray boasts three amphitheater-like terraces made by the Incas. These terraces, which are carved deep into the earth in a bowl shape, were thought to be used to determine the optimal conditions for growing crops. When we finish exploring Moray, we will continue and visit the salt mines of Maras, which is about 2 miles away.  This village is known as a former salt-producing center that is thought to date back to pre-Inca times. There are over 3000 salt pools all carved into the mountainside; the highly salty water emerges at a spring, a natural outlet of the underground stream. The flow is directed into an intricate system of tiny channels constructed so that the water runs gradually down onto the several hundred ancient terraced ponds. The water, which is exposed to the sun, leaves salt on the land. After this fantastic visit, we will drive back to Cusco.

After breakfast, you'll be picked up from your hotel at 06h30 and dropped off at the bus station to take a bus trip, more like a tour - a guide will be on board, and you'll stop at four exciting sites:

•  Andahuaylillas: The Sistine Chapel of South America. This church is one of the most beautiful examples of Andean popular religious art. 

•  Raqchi (Wiracocha Temple): This was an Inca church of considerable dimensions; 328 feet long, 85 feet wide and 45 feet high. The temple is divided into two naves, and each nave has 11 large columns.

•   La Raya: This is the half-way point between Cusco and Puno and also the highest point (14,222 feet above sea level). The landscapes here are stunning and typical Andean animals like the llama, alpaca, and vicuña are familiar sights. It is also the geographic border between two cultures - Quechua and Aymara. 

•    Pukara: This is the most important and oldest ceremonial center of the altiplano. There are new light sculptures and tombs.

Arrival time to Puno will be around 5 pm. 

Upgrade Titicaca Train Cusco to Puno - $290 USD per person (excluding Festive Seasons).

Our full-day trip on this Peru tour begins around 07:00 when we will pick you up from your hotel in Puno. Then we will go to the port and board our comfortable boat to go to Uros Island, followed by Taquile Island. It is Puno Tours and Lake Titicaca Trips like this one, that show you the real Peruvian way of life!

When we get to the floating islands, you will probably be surprised by the scale of these floating reed constructions. The Uros originally built these islands for defensive reasons: if a threat appeared, they could move their island homes to a safer location. The islands are made from cattail reeds that grow around the lake, and each island is in a constant state of rebuilding, as old reeds are replaced with new ones. Entering the islands is quite an experience, as the reed floor feels strange under your feet. We will explore the main island and see the houses, watchtowers, and other structures, all built from reeds. Then one of the locals will give a short presentation on how the islands are made and then you can meet one of the local families to see how they live. Next, we head to Taquile, one of the most beautiful islands in Peru, where the traditional way of life is still very much alive. We will meet some of the master weavers of this ancient Andean community, whose textiles are considered among the best in the country. According to legend, the Incas themselves learned to weave from the artisans of this island. In Taquile, the men are the weavers and the women spin the thread.

After seeing the weavers and exploring the beautiful island, we will head to the small port of Taquile around noon, where we will enjoy a delicious local menu, made with local products and if we are lucky, trout from Lake Titicaca!

Finally, we will return to Puno from our tours of the islands of Lake Titicaca in Peru, where we will take you to your hotel for the evening.

After Breakfast, we will transfer you from your Hotel to Juliaca Airport for your flight to Lima. On arrival at Lima airport a transfer will be arranged to the hotel where the rest of your evening is at leisure.

This morning you will be picked up from the hotel and transferred to the airport for your flight back home!