Peru: Cusco & Puno Exploring 10 Days / 9 Nights

Overview

1. Day 1Visit Andenes de Yucay – Sacred Valley Farm – Moray, Salt mine and Urubamba Hotel
2. Day 2Visit Chinchero inca site - Chinchero Weaving center – Ollantaytambo Incan ruin.
3. Day 3Full Day Visit to Machupicchu - Return Cusco Hotel
4. Day 4Visit Full Day Potato Park – Pisaq
5. Day 5Days 5 – Full Day – Humantay Lake
6. Day 5Full Day Veninkunka - Rainbow Mountain
7. Day 6Visit Cusco City Tour - Afternoon Planetarium
8. Day 7Puno – los Uros – Amantani
9. Day 8Amantani – Taquile - return to puno city – hotel
10. Day 9Puno city – fertility templo – Aramu muru rock gate – Sillustani inca cementery
11. Day 10Transfer - Cusco Airport

1. Day 1Visit Andenes de Yucay – Sacred Valley Farm – Moray, Salt mine and Urubamba Hotel

   Our Journey start from your hotel at 6 am in the morning where our Driver and our guide pick you up, and then drive you to Andenes of Yucay where you will be able to splore and observe the impressive tremendous incan terraces still now days is used by the locals, and then we will drive 15 minutes to the town of Urubamba - Chichubamba where we visit a farm land showed by owner. This gives an insight into how locals still work and depend on this fertile land.

   We walk the farmlands, in order to observe the types of vegetables they abtain and the important of the land was for incas civilization. After this we will walk to local market in Urubamba. Here we see local families selling things such as fruits, vegetables, flowers, and natural medicinal plants. Your guide shows you the market and you can taste Peruvian fruits and foods such as passion fruit, lucuma, and chirimoya. This is followed by organic lunch with ingredients and farmed in the sacred Valley, eaten outside overlooking the Sacred Valley. ¡Once enjoyed your delicious organic lunch you will be take to Moray archeological site and salt mine and finally we will drive you to hotel organize by the company in urubamba!

   Overview:

   • Tour Location: Cusco Urubamba – Sacred Valley, Peru
   • Tour Type: Day tour / van - walk
   • Start/End Time: Pickup is at 8 am from your hotel and you should be back around 4 pm
   • Consideration: Please provide comfortable clothes, camara, phone, others etc.
2. Day 2Visit Chinchero inca site - Chinchero Weaving center – Ollantaytambo Incan ruin.

   We pick you up from your hotel around 8 am. From Urubamba - Sacred Valley organize by the company, we enjoy a 40-minute drive through beautiful Andean mountains and farmlands to the town of Chinchero.

   In Chinchero, we will visit the women's weaving cooperative where we watch a demonstration of local weavers. They use traditional Inca techniques for dyeing fabric and for weaving traditional patterns. The local community has used its internationally-renown weaving skills to regenerate the village.

   There is time to browse in the shop, where the items you’ve seen being made are sold. This is a great place to get a souvenir, from Inca-style purses, colorful tablecloths, wall hangings, and many more exquisitely patterned artisanal goods.

   A few minutes walk we visit the inca ruins called Chinchero where our guide will be able you to show an explain. ¡After this our chef will provide you another delicious organic lunch with nice surprise!

   After lunch, we visit the Inca ruins at Ollantaytambo (2,792m/9,160ft). Ollantaytambo is one of the best-preserved Inca towns in all of Peru. Many of the original buildings from the 15th century are still standing. Ollantaytambo was an important town – it was home to the Inca emperor Pachacutec – and was the base for military victories against the Spanish.

   We explore the exquisite terracing, fountains, aqueducts, and ruins that surround the town. A highlight is Temple Hill with its Sun Temple and the impressive Wall of the Six Monoliths. The Pinkuylluna Inca storehouses are also spectacular. And then take you to your hotel organize by the company urubamba or Ollantaytambo.

   Overview:

   • Tour Location: Cusco Urubamba – Sacred Valley, Peru
   • Tour Type: Day tour / van - walk
   • Start/End Time: Pickup is at 8 am from your hotel and you should be back around 4 pm
   • Consideration: Please provide comfortable clothes, camara, phone, others etc.
3. Day 3Full Day Visit to Machupicchu - Return Cusco Hotel

   Today is great day at 5.00 am in the morning, we will take the train from ollantaytambo to aguas calientes for a 1 hour and 50 minutes, from Aguas Calientes, it’s a 20-minute bus ride up a zig-zag path to the entrance to the Machu Picchu ruins. Our Machu Picchu guided tours last around two hours. There is free time to take pictures and add on a visit to Huayna Picchu or Machu Picchu Mountain (early morning entry required).

   The first entry to Machu Picchu is at 6 am and then entry is available on the hour, every hour, until the last entry at 2 pm. Please in this case we wll take 7 to 8 am which is better  for you.

   Below are some of the highlights you will see.

   Intihuatana (Sun Clock)

   This mysterious and beautiful sundial was carved directly into the bedrock of Machu Picchu. Much is not known about its unusual design and markings. What is known is that it aligns with the sun during the winter solstice (June 21 in Peru). At midday, the main stone casts no shadow at all.

   The Temple of the Sun

   The Temple of the Sun was the most sacred of all temples at Machu Picchu. It was most likely only accessed by priests and high-ranking Incas.

   It is built over an enormous rock in a unique semi-circular fashion and features a tower and a trapezoidal window. It is believed that the Incas worshipped their sun god, called Inti, and other theories exist, too.

   These range from being a royal tomb to being an observatory or a sacrificial center.

   Temple of the Condor

   This is one of the most spectacular sites at Machu Picchu. The Incas took a large, natural rock formation and sculpted it to take on the appearance of a condor in flight, wings spread and magnificent.

   There are details alongside its majesty; a condor’s head and neck feathers complete the condor. A mummy was found in a small cave under the rock and there is speculation that sacrifices happened here, too. Behind the temple are a prison complex and dungeons.

   Temple of the Three Windows

   We will see this temple in the Sacred Plaza area of Machu Picchu. It is a large structure, with three walls and the main attraction is the three large windows.

   There are many theories as to why there are three windows. Your guide will discuss their and your opinions during the tour.

   And finally after visited the Machupicchu inca city we will take back he bus down for 20 minutes and see where we can enjoy the lunch before to returning to cusco hotel.

   Overview:

   • Tour Location: Cusco Urubamba – Machupicchu, Peru
   • Tour Type: Full Day tour / van - walk
   • Start/End Time: Pickup is at 8 am from your hotel and you should be back around 4 pm
   • Consideration: Please provide comfortable clothes, camara, phone, others etc.
4. Day 4Visit Full Day Potato Park – Pisaq

   For today we will be visiting two wonderfull places in 1 and half hours we will arrive to one of the communities the name Pampacancha, here one of the local native guide will teach and explain us the hundres of varieties of potatoes that actually excited in Peru and also he will show us the bank of potato seed where in this community they will  provide us the lunch prepared by them wich this would be considered our lunch for today. Once enjoyed our lunch with them, our next stop will be pisac inca site or incan ruins where we'll see tremendous farming terraces, the tour guide will teach you about the religious places, cemetery, military area and food storehouses and finally return to Cusco hotel organize by the company.

   Overview:

   • Tour Location: Cusco Pisaq, Peru
   • Tour Type: Full Day tour / van - walk
   • Start/End Time: Pickup is at 8 am from your hotel and you should be back around 4 pm
   • Consideration: Please provide comfortable clothes, camara, phone, others etc.
5. Day 5Days 5 – Full Day – Humantay Lake

   The call of the mountain is an early one. We’ll pick you up at 4 am from your hotel for the start of our Lake Humantay tour. Don't worry about breakfast; we drive for a couple of hours to Mollepata then Soraypampa (3,900m/12,795ft), where we enjoy a delicious meal.

   The Lake Humantay hike begins after we’ve sated our appetites. The views are wonderful from start to finish. We’ll see offerings made to the mountain gods as we walk along and can make our own at some stone buildings known as Apachetas.

   Our path involves climbing for around 90 minutes to Humantay Lake, which nestles under the sheltering gaze of Humantay Mountain. The lake sits at an elevation of 4,200m / 13,780ft, making it perfect as an acclimatization walk.

   Humantay’s picture-perfect turquoise waters are framed by Humantay glacier. Humantay Lake can also be the starting point for a Salkantay trek to Machu Picchu.

   We’ll enjoy this stunning slice of Andean beauty then return to our vehicle in Soraypampa and retrace our steps to Cusco, dropping you off at your hotel.

   Overview:

   • Tour Location: Cusco Pisaq, Peru
   • Tour Type: Full Day tour / van - walk
   • Start/End Time: Pickup is at 8 am from your hotel and you should be back around 4 pm
   • Consideration: Please provide comfortable clothes, camara, phone, others etc.
6. Day 5Full Day Veninkunka - Rainbow Mountain

   We’ll pick you up at 4:am and take you in our private van for 3 and a half hours through the Vilcanota Valley and passing small towns and communities until we reach chillca (3750m), the starting point for our hike. There, your guide will take you to a local house to teach you about the local traditions, and you’ll enjoy a healthy breakfast.

   After a delicious breakfast, you’ll start your journey. We’ll hike for approximately 3 hours until we get to the famous Rainbow Mountain. On the way up, you’ll appreciate beautiful landscapes and alpacas, llamas, and vicuñas, the national animal of Peru. Once we summit Rainbow Mountain, we’ll stay at the top for a 15 to 20 minutes in order to enjoy the beautiful view and learn cool information about this colored mountain once that, We will then make our descent for approximately 2 hours until we reach our rest spot, where our driver will wait for us and our tour guide will take you to the local restaurants for lunch where you will enjoy delicious, organic buffet lunch. After lunch, we will catch up our private van back to Cusco and leave you at your hotel.

   Overview:

   • Tour Location: Cusco Pisaq, Peru
   • Tour Type: Full Day tour / van - walk
   • Start/End Time: Pickup is at 8 am from your hotel and you should be back around 4 pm
   • Consideration: Please provide comfortable clothes, camara, phone, others etc.
7. Day 6Visit Cusco City Tour - Afternoon Planetarium

   Our English-speaking guide will show you the rich culture and traditions of historic Cusco, one of South America’s oldest cities. This Cusco city tour includes the Inca fortress of Sacsayhuaman and its incredible stonework and magnificent mountain views.

   Moreover, our walking tours of Cusco include hidden parts of Cusco, so you can see how locals proudly live in traditional and time-honored fashion.  Cusco sites at around 3,400m/11,155 feet, and our highest point is at 3,800m/12,467 feet. Therefore, our Cusco city tour is ideal after acclimatization preparation for visiting this amazing Cusco attraction. Today you will be able to visit the 4 incan ruins and planetarium in the afternoon such like

   1- Sacsayhuaman

   2- Qenqo

   3- Tambomachay

   4- Puka pukara

   5- Plaza de Armas

   6- Afternoon - Planetarium

   Cusco Planetarium

   This planetarium is located in near Sacsayhuaman after explore in the plaza de armas around 2 pm you will be starting to 4 ruins and then connect directly to planetarium house where our partner will give you welcome and start with its. The

   Specialist guides show you the night skies as seen through the eyes in the Incas. Look through powerful telescopes, homed in a typical adobe house, at the beautiful night sky. We visit the Interpretation Center first and then visit The Dome, both of which educate and prepare us for looking at the constellations.  Through powerful telescopes, you see stars, planets, nebulae, and the constellations of the southern skies – a real treat. The light of the stars has traveled millions of years, just for you to see in these special moments.

   Note: Tours are subject to weather conditions; constellations depend on the time of year of the visit.

   Overview:

   • Tour Location: Cusco Pisaq, Peru
   • Tour Type: Full Day tour / van - walk
   • Start/End Time: Pickup is at 8 am from your hotel and you should be back around 4 pm
   • Consideration: Please provide comfortable clothes, camara, phone, others etc.
8. Day 7Puno – los Uros – Amantani

   The tour starts  first  you will be picked up from the bus station or hotel in Puno (06:30 am), and then transferred to the port of Puno where Lake Titicaca is located, the highest navigable lake in the world. At this point you will board a boat to first visit the Floating Island of Los Uros which are made of reeds, here the tour guide will give an explanation about the history of the island and its economic system, and will also appreciate the customs of this island and its crafts. After, you will go to Amantani Island on a 3-hour trip through the waters of Lake Titicaca, during the trip you will observe a great variety of scenic beauty, as well as the chain of mountains that belong to the Andes mountain range. In the main port of Amantani, a family from the community will welcome you into their home to show you their daily life and customs, providing you with accommodation, food (lunch) and company. During the afternoon you will have the option of going hiking to one of the sacred mountains known as Pacha Tata. At night and after dinner, you can rest. Night in Amantani.

   Overview:

   • Tour Location: Peru - Puno – Amantani, Island
   • Tour Type: Full Day tour / Boat - walk
   • Start/End Time: Pickup is at 9 am from bus station and you should be arriving at 2 pm and then after afternoon hike you will be back at 6pm
   • Consideration: Please provide comfortable clothes, camara, phone, others etc.
9. Day 8Amantani – Taquile - return to puno city – hotel

   Today - After a delicious typical breakfast, the trip will continue to the next island of Taquile aboard a boat. The trip will take 1 hour, arriving at the island we will have the opportunity to meet the inhabitants of this area who are very collaborative and well organized. In addition, this community has demonstrated its high degree of advancement in Textile Industry, even receiving its recognition award from UNESCO. It should be noted that the spinning and weaving of these textiles is done mainly by men, starting at the age of eight. Life in Taquile is still largely unchanged by modernity. At noon you will enjoy a delicious lunch. Finally, the guide will inform you of the return time, arriving at 5:00 p.m. in the city of Puno. Once arrive to puno we will take you directly to the hotel organize by the company where woulb be the last hotel organize by the company.

   Overview:

   • Tour Location: Puno Taquile, Peru
   • Tour Type: Full Day tour / boat - walk
   • Start/End Time: At 8 am from the local house  and you should be returning at 3pm to Puno city
   • Consideration: Please provide comfortable clothes, camara, phone, others etc.
10. Day 9Puno city – fertility templo – Aramu muru rock gate – Sillustani inca cementery

    Today day after have breakfast provide by hotel our destinations will be to visit the inca fertility temple, aramu muru inca rock temple and sillustani inca cemetary, from puno you will take 25 minutes driving to chocuito city and visit (fertility inca templo) - Located 18 km south of the capital of Puno, in the city of Chucuito, at about 3873 m /12706.69 ft former capital and administrative center of the Aymara Lupaca kingdom, which later came under Inca rule. After amazing experience you Will continue to next spot, aramu muru inca rock temple. This "Aramu Muru Temple" in Puno, Peru, is actually the Aramu Muru Portal (or Hayu Marca), a mysterious carved rock formation that looks like a giant door, a mystical and enigmatic place known as the "Gate of the Gods" or "Star Gate", where it is believed that Inca shamans activated portals to other dimensions, a site of spiritual energy and legends located near Lake Titicaca, ideal for contemplation and rituals. After this wonderfull experience you Will be returning to puno in order to enoy lunch in one the tourist restaurant and then continue to our next spot sillustani inca cemetery - Sillustani is an impressive pre-Inca and Inca funerary archaeological complex located near Puno, Peru. It is world-famous for its chullpas, which are imposing circular stone towers built to house the mummified remains of the highest authorities of the Kolla culture and the Inca Empire.

    The site is situated on the shores of the picturesque Lake Umayo, offering spectacular views and an atmosphere of Andean mysticism. Also you will appreciate this beautiful scenary for an 2 hours. And then back to puno and return to cusco city. Taking the over night bus from puno to cusco.

    Overview:

    • Tour Location: Puno – Peru
    • Tour Type: Full Day tour / van - walk
    • Start/End Time: Pickup is at 8 am from your hotel and you should be back around 4 pm
    • Consideration: Please provide comfortable clothes, camara, phone, others etc.
11. Day 10Transfer - Cusco Airport

    Today will be last couple hours in cusco, our company Machulas Journey will be transfer you to Cusco airport from where you will take your fly to lima and from lima at home - finally we will say - hasta la vista baby (good bye).

    Overview:

    • Tour Location: Cusco
    • Tour Type: Transfer to Airport
    • Start/End Time: at time your fly but we have to be 2 hours in advance in the airport
    • Consideration: Please make your Fly Cheking in by advance

Included

Recommendations

• A light day pack with a change of clothes for the whole journey, prepared for a wide range of temperature changes.
• Rain gear such as a waterproof jacket and pants, or a rain poncho. Plastic ponchos can be purchased in Cusco for
• approximately USD 1.
• Strong footwear, with waterproof trekking boots highly recommended.
• Warm clothing including a jacket, fleeces, gloves, scarf and beanie. Thermal clothing is also recommended, especially for
• sleeping.
• Camera, memory cards and spare batteries or power bank, as batteries drain faster in cold conditions.
• Hat or cap to protect from sun, rain and cold.
• Sunblock.
• After-sun or hydrating cream for face and body.
• Insect repellent with a minimum of 30% DEET, although there is no reported malaria risk.
• Snacks such as biscuits, energy bars, chocolate, fresh fruits, muesli or similar.
• Reusable water bottle (Nalgene type) to carry water during the journey.
• Personal medical kit including any special medication you may require, painkillers, blister treatment and basic first aid
• items.
• Small towel or sarong.
• Swimsuit if you plan to visit hot springs.
• Cash for snacks, tips and souvenirs.
• Original passport and ISIC (International Student Identity Card) if applicable.
• Walking sticks or trekking poles (available for rent; note that poles with metal tips are not allowed inside Machu Picchu
• and must be left at the hotel on the final day).
• Binoculars, if available.

Route map

Approximate route. Your guide will share the detailed map before departure.

Gallery

FAQs