Classic Machu Picchu, Arequipa, and the Colca Canyon

Day-by-Day Itinerary

Day 1: Lima.

Depart to Lima. After passing through immigration and customs, proceed to the reception area, where our inbound services representative will be holding a sign with your name on it. You will be greeted and then transferred to your hotel. Overnight in Lima.

Day 2: Lima-City Tour-Folkloric Dinner Show.

In the afternoon, you will have a city tour of Lima. The tour begins in Miraflores with a stop at the Parque del Amor, a seaside park with a huge statue of a kissing couple and continues with a drive by of the Huaca Huallamarca, a restored adobe pyramid dating from the pre-Inca period located in San Isidro. The next stop is the Plaza de Armas in downtown Lima, where you will visit City Hall (Palacio Municipal), the Government Palace (Palacio de Gobierno), and the Cathedral of Lima. The last stop is the Convent of Santo Domingo. Following the tour, you will be returned to your hotel.

In the evening, you will enjoy a Folkloric Dinner Show at Junius Restaurant. Overnight in Lima. (B,D)

Day 3: Lima-Arequipa-City-Tour-Mirador de Yanahuara.

Morning transfer to the airport for the flight to Arequipa. Upon arrival, you will be transferred to your hotel. Arequipa, known as the “White City” due to the use of sillar, a white volcanic rock, in the construction of many of its colonial-era buildings, was declared a UNESCO World Heritage site in December 2000. In the afternoon, you will have a city tour that includes a visit to one of the famous Monasteries – Santa Catalina or Santa Teresa. They are two of the most important sites in the downtown area, with over 300 years of history. You will continue walking towards La Compañia Church, one of the oldest churches in the city, famous for its decorative main façade and beautifully painted Cupola (dome shaped roof). You will visit the Plaza de Armas and the Cathedral, and then the neighborhood of Yanahuara to see its Main Square and Mirador (view point) which offers excellent views of Arequipa and Misti Volcano. Overnight in Arequipa. (B).

Day 4: Arequipa-Chivay-Colca Canyon.

Morning departure for the 160 km. drive to the town of Chivay, capital of the Province of Caylloma. You will enjoy the majestic views of Misti, Chachani and PichuPichu volcanoes along the way, and stop at Pampa Cañahuas (11,154 feet above sea level) inside Salinas y Aguada Blanca National Reserve to observe wild Vicuñas in their natural habitat. You will also visit “Pata Wasi” (“High Home”), an Andean community on the opposite end of the reserve, where you can see interesting natural rock formations and view the backside of the Misti and Chachani volcanoes.

Continuing on the road to Chivay, you will pass through Tocra Huaraya, and will be able to observe lakes with migrating birds and get pictures of the Antiplano with its llamas and guanacos. The highest point will be Pata Pampa (“High Land”) located at 15,813 feet, where you will observe the volcanoes Ampato, Sabancaya, Hualca-Hualca, Mismi (the source of the Amazon River), and the Cordillera de Chila.

On the approach to the town of Chivay (11,978 feet) you will appreciate the view of the multicolored terraces of the Colca valley. Upon arrival in Chivay, you will be taken to your hotel and have lunch. Mid-afternoon, you will visit the Indian Town of Coporaque, walk around the Plaza de Armas, and have an optional one hour hike to San Antonio Hill, visiting a pre-Incan cemetery and enjoying the view of the terraces below. Return to your hotel for towels and visit the thermal baths of “La Calera”. Overnight in the Colca Area. (B,L,D)

Day 5: Colca Canyon-Cruz del Condor-Arequipa.

Early morning breakfast to arrive at the famous “Cruz del Condor” point as early as possible (approx. 8:00 AM). You will have a chance to take pictures of the majestic Condors, and then your guide will take you for a short hike near the canyon (one hour). On the way back to Chivay, you will stop at the traditional town of Pinchollo and the Antahuilque viewpoint to observe the amazing 1,500 year-old terracing constructed by the Collaguas culture (pre-Inca). You will also stop at the Choquetico look-out point with its Tumbas Colgantes (“hanging tombs”), and view the litomaqueta (a model of the terraces carved in stone). You will also visit the towns of Maca and Yanque, which has the most beautiful church in the Valley. Upon arrival in Chivay, you will have lunch and then return to Arequipa. Overnight in Arequipa. (B,L)

Day 6: Arequipa-Cusco-City Tour.

Early morning transfer to the airport for the flight to Cusco. Upon arrival, you will be transferred to your hotel. Because of the high altitude (10,912 feet above sea level), we recommend that you rest for a short period. In the afternoon, you will have a city tour that includes a walk-through of the Cathedral, the Koricancha (‘site of gold’), typical streets, and the four ruins that surround the city: the Sacsayhuaman Fortress, Kenko, Puca Pucara, and Tampumachay. Overnight in Cusco. (B)

Day 7: Cusco-Sacred Valley-Awanakancha-Pisac Market-Ollantaytambo.

Today you will have a full-day excursion to the Sacred Valley of the Incas. The tour begins at Awanakancha, a living museum of the Peruvian Andes, where you can observe traditional textile dyeing and weaving techniques and the four types of camelids that are native to the region. You will also visit the Indian artisan market in Pisac and have lunch at a local restaurant (included). The last stop is the impressive Inca ruins of Ollantaytambo that served as both a fortress and ceremonial center, and is the site of a short-lived victory by the Incas over the Spanish. Overnight in Cusco. (B,L)

Note: The Indian market is open on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays from October to March, and daily from April to September. On the days of the week that the market is not open, you will be taken to the Inca ruins above the village.

Day 8: Cusco-Machu Picchu.

Early morning transfer to the train station for the ride to Machu Picchu, ‘the Lost City of the Incas’ (7,900 feet). This mountaintop citadel, which served as both a center of worship and an astronomic observatory, is located in the middle of the cloud forest overlooking the Urubamba River. There are both agricultural and urban areas constructed with the precision stonework that the Incas are known for. The agricultural area consists of terraces and food storehouses, and the urban area contains temples, squares, and royal tombs. Guided tour followed by lunch at the Sanctuary Lodge. In the afternoon, you will be transferred to your hotel. Overnight in Aguas Calientes. (B,L)

Day 9: Machu Picchu-Cusco.

This is a free day to explore Machu Picchu on your own. You may want to hike Huayna Picchu or enjoy another activity. Mid-afternoon, you will depart from Machu Picchu by train to Poroy Station in the Sacred Valley, and then be taken to your hotel in Cusco. Overnight in Cusco. (B)

Note: Hiking Huayna Picchu requires a permit. To ensure availability, we recommend purchasing the permit at the time of booking.

Day 10: Cusco-Lima.

Transfer to the airport for your return flight to Lima and your final destination. (B)

B = Breakfast, L = Lunch, D = Dinner

A Note About Your Free Day in Machu Picchu

On your free day, you will be on your own. If you choose to revisit Machu Picchu, you will need to purchase a second entrance ticket, which currently costs $74 per person. If you are staying in Aguas Calientes, you will also need to purchase a round-trip bus ticket ($28 per person) for transportation to the site. The first bus departs at 5:30 AM. As an alternative to visiting Machu Picchu again, you can hike Huayna Picchu (a +/- 60 minute hike), or partake in another activity. The cost for hiking Huayna Picchu is $13 (in addition to the second entrance ticket). At the end of the day (mid-late afternoon), you will walk to the train station for the return ride to Poroy train station, where our local representative will be waiting for you to take you to your hotel in Cusco.