Treasures of the South 12 days – 11 nights

You will arrive in the "City of Kings" today. We will welcome you and then transfer you to your hotel, where you can rest and enjoy a free afternoon.

Overnight in Lima.

Lima City Tour. We begin our tour at Huaca Pucllana, taking in a panoramic view of this important ceremonial center belonging to the Lima culture. We then head toward downtown Lima, passing through the districts of San Isidro, Lince, and Cercado. Along the way, we will view the Palace of Justice, the Lima Museum, the Italian Art Museum, the French Palace, and Plaza San Martín. Our walking tour begins at the Plaza de Armas; here, in addition to admiring the Lima Cathedral, the Municipal Palace, the Government Palace, and the Archbishop's Palace, we will have free time to take photos of these landmarks. We will enter the Convent of San Francisco to visit one of its main attractions: the catacombs. These underground passages beneath the church served as a burial site for the city's early inhabitants and hold the remains of over 25,000 people. Finally, we will enjoy a panoramic view of the Park of Love (Parque del Amor), the Pacific Ocean, and Larcomar.

Overnight in Lima.

You will be picked up from your hotel very early and we will head south to the city of Pisco to visit the Ballestas Islands. At the port of El Chaco, we will board a boat and begin our tour, during which we will view the "Candelabra" geoglyph and the rock formations of the Ballestas Islands. We will also see sea lions and a wide variety of birds, such as Humboldt penguins, boobies, Inca terns, pelicans, Guanay cormorants, turkey vultures, and many others. Upon arrival in Ica, we will visit a winery for a tasting session. We will also enjoy the stunning scenery of the Huacachina Lagoon, surrounded by massive sand dunes, and see the monument to the mermaid Huacachina as well as the local artisan center. In Huacachina, we will go sandboarding and take a ride in dune buggies.

Return to Lima.

Overnight in Lima.

We will meet you upon your arrival at the Cusco airport and transfer you to your hotel so you can get some well-deserved rest.

We will begin the afternoon with a city tour through the impressive streets of Cusco.
We will start at the Cathedral and then head to the Qoricancha—also known as the Temple of the Sun. Both sites are located just steps away from Cusco’s Plaza de Armas; however, the four archaeological sites are situated about 20 km away.
We will visit Sacsayhuamán, Qenqo, Pukapukara, and Tambomachay.

After breakfast, we will pick you up from your hotel around 7:00 a.m. to begin the Sacred Valley tour. We will start by visiting Chinchero, a site of great importance during the Inca era. Next, you will visit Moray, known as the first Inca agricultural experimental center. Continuing the tour, you will visit the Maras Salt Mines—the second-largest source of pink salt in the world after the Himalayas. Afterward, you will head to Urubamba for lunch. Following a delicious meal, you will continue the itinerary to visit Ollantaytambo, where you will explore the Inca temple featuring stones weighing over 80 tons. The tour then proceeds to the town of Pisac to visit another Inca citadel before returning to the city of Cusco.

Overnight in Cusco.

We will pick you up from your hotel between 4:00 and 4:30 a.m. and head toward the village of Cusipata, where we will make our first stop for breakfast. We will then continue the journey for about an hour and twenty minutes to the village of Chillihua, the starting point for the hike to Vinicunca (the Mountain of Seven Colors). The hike takes approximately two and a half hours; you also have the option to rent a horse for the ascent. Since the mountain is located at an altitude of over 5,000 meters above sea level, please be sure to bring warm clothing. After enjoying the scenery and the beautiful views, you will return to the vehicle and travel back to Cusipata for lunch before heading back to Cusco.

In the morning, we will pick you up from your hotel and take you to the train station. From there, a bus will transport you to Ollantaytambo—a journey of approximately two hours. Upon arrival at the Ollantaytambo station, you will board the train to the town of Aguas Calientes. There, you will take a bus up to the Inca citadel of Machu Picchu. You will enjoy a two-and-a-half-hour guided tour of the citadel with a private guide. Afterward, you will take the bus back down to Aguas Calientes, where you can have lunch before heading to the train station for the return trip to Ollantaytambo, followed by a bus transfer back to the city of Cusco.

Overnight in Cusco.

You will have the entire day free to rest, shop, enjoy the local cuisine, or explore the corners of Cusco at your own pace. You may also choose to participate in optional activities based on your preferences.

In the morning, we will pick you up from your hotel and head to the town of Mollepata—a journey of about an hour and a half. We will stop there for breakfast before continuing by vehicle for approximately one hour to the settlement of Soraypampa, where the hike begins. Soraypampa is located at 3,800 meters above sea level, and you will ascend to 4,200 meters; the uphill hike takes about three hours. During the ascent, you will enjoy views of two imposing mountains, Salkantay and Humantay. Upon reaching the lagoon, the scenery will be breathtaking. After spending some time at the lagoon, you will begin the return journey to the vehicle, which will take you to Mollepata for lunch before returning to the city of Cusco.

Overnight in Cusco.

In the morning, you will board a bus bound for the city of Puno. En route, you will visit the Chapel of Andahuaylillas—often called the "Sistine Chapel of the Americas"—and Raqchi, home to the Temple of Wiracocha. We will stop in the town of Sicuani for lunch and later pause at the border between the Cusco and Puno regions, where you can see the source of one of the Amazon River's main tributaries. Our final stop will be in Pucará; arrival in Puno is scheduled for approximately 5:30 PM, at which point an Inca Kumaru representative will welcome you and transfer you to your hotel.

Overnight in Puno.

In the morning, we will pick you up from your hotel and take you to the port of Puno. There, you will board a motorboat to visit the Uros Floating Islands first; locals will explain how their ancestors built the original floating islands and how they continue to preserve these techniques and customs. Afterward, you will return to the boat to continue navigating the world's highest navigable lake and arrive at Taquile Island. Here, you will observe the unique customs of the island's inhabitants compared to those of the other islands. Following a demonstration by the locals, we will head to a local restaurant to enjoy a traditional lunch. In the afternoon, you will return to the city of Puno.

Overnight in Puno.

In the morning, you will be transferred from Puno to Juliaca Airport to board your return flight to Lima. From Lima, you will take your international flight back to your home country, thus concluding this unforgettable experience in Peru.