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Route
Technical Characteristics:
Route Profile: Medium. You will be hiking on a trail with continuous line and balanced ascent. The hikes are not difficult but the high altitude adds challenge. The tour is designed so the hiker can gradually acclimatize along the way. Some surefootedness and experience with hilly terrain would be of benefit.
Total Distance: 58.5 km
Travel Season: Any date on request from January 2 to December 31, 2023
*Group rates available for this tour. As this is a guided tour, the pricing improves with more people participating. Please ask us for details.
Accommodation:
3* and 4* hotels, lodges and homestays
This 20 day round trip is a perfect journey for the active traveller who wants to see the highlights of Peru, but in a different and more active way. It’s a good mix of cultural events such as city tours, and some fun experiences, like sandboarding in Huacachina, biking in Paracas and kayaking at the Titicaca Lake. This tour also has two treks: one in Colca Canyon and finally the Classic Inca Trek.
Itineraries
Day 1
Arrival in Lima
Pick up at airport and transfer in to hotel in Lima.
Day 2
Paracas: Dune Buggies & Sandboarding
Morning transfer to the bus station in Lima and then a public bus to Paracas along the Peruvian Cost line. Arrival in Paracas and transfer to your hotel. In the afternoon there will be a tour to the sand dunes in Huacachina, near Paracas. After a 20 minute drive, we arrive at the desert. Here we will travel across the desert on dune buggies, the ideal transportation for sandy terrains. You will be assisted by an expert guide who will show you the amazing desert landscapes, while having lots of fun. At the end of the adventure you will have the opportunity to try sandboarding in the dunes. After this fun activity, we return to the hotel in Paracas.
Day 3
Ballestas Islands & Mountain bike in the Paracas National Reserve
Morning boat tour to the Ballestas Islands. Pickup from hotel around 8 a.m. The morning tour is a two hour boat trip where we will visit the Ballstas Island. From the boat we can observe the wild life of Ballestas, which consist of: sea lions, tendrils, boobies, pelicans, penguins and more than 200 birds (migratory and endemics). During the trip we will pass by “El Candelabro”, which is an impressive figure painted in the sand and its origin (a well as the Nazca lines) is unknown. Remember to bring a jacket as the mornings can be chilly. Return to Paracas around 10:20. Around 11 AM, after a short break for a coffee or snack, we will do another tour to visit the Paracas Natural Reserve by mountain bike. It is a private tour with local guide. Visiting the dessert by bike is absolutely the best way as the climate is warm and windy and it is relatively flat. Along the way there will be several photo opportunities and it is possible to observe flamingos and the beautiful desert landscapes. As it is a private tour, the length and strength depends entirely of the clients. Return to Paracas by the end of the day.
Day 4
Travel to Nazca. Cahuasi Pyramids & Cantalloc Aqueducts
Morning bus to Nazca. Check in to hotel. After lunch time, private tour
to the Cahuasi pyramids and the Catalloc Aqueducts. The Cahuasi were
the capital of the Nazcas from 200 BC to 450 AC. It was a ceremonial
place with great importance to the Nazca until it was destroyed by an earthquake and later covered with sand after a tsunami hit. Some of the pyramids have been restored while other are still being excavated by archaeologists. Afterwards visit to the Catallocs aqueducts. It is an impressive hydraulics system made by the Nazcas and its still being used for agriculture.
Day 5
Nazca Lines & Chauchille Cemetery. Travel to Arequipa
Morning flight over Nazca Lines (according to the weather conditions). The Nazca Lines are a group of impressive figures that were carved into the desert by ancient Nazca people. This overflight will allow us to film and photograph the Nazca Lines. After the flight, we take a visit to the Chauchillas cemetery, discovered in the 1920s. It is a necropolis consisting of mud-brick tombs and mummified remains belonging to the Nazca people, with interments that date between 200 and 900 AD. Though many of the mummies are at least 1000 years old, many still have skin and hair attached. The incredible preservation of these bodies is due to both the mummification process and the dry, arid environment of the Peruvian desert. Afternoon travel by executive bus to Arequipa.
Day 6
Arequipa – City tour
After breakfast, a morning city tour of three hours visiting: Molino de Sabandía, Convento de Santa Catalina, Cathedral, main square “Plaza de Armas”, La Compañia de Jesús church. Afternoon free for own plans.
Day 7
Colca Tour: Arequipa – Chivay
Start of our three day tour to the Colca canyon. Morning pick up at the hotel – on the way we will see Vicuñas llamas and alpacas in wildlife at Pampa Cañahuas National Reserve. Stop at Patabamba view point of the volcanoes, and then continue until Chivay. In the afternoon, visit to la Calera hot springs. Hotel in Chivay.
Day 8
Colca Tour: Colca Canyon & Colca Trek
Morning visit to “Mirador Cruz del Condor”. This is the most popular point for viewing the canyon, around 1200 meters deep here, and you can almost guarantee seeing several condors circling up from the depths against the breathtaking scenery. Afterwards we will continue to Cabanaconde. From here we start our trek, visiting the village of San Juan de Chuqcho. Here you will observe the formation of the Colca Canyon and the beautiful snowy peaks. We continue descending to the canyon visiting the Malasa Village, where the weather is warm, and we will observe the beautiful lush vegetation. In the afternoon we arrive at the Oasis lodge, where we spend the night in bungalows.
Day 9
Colca Tour: Colca Trek & transfer to Puno
In the early morning we make the trek back to Cabanaconde, and then transfer back to Chivay. From here we take a shared tourist bus to Puno. Upon arrival in Puno, transfer to the hotel.
Day 10
Kayak at Titicaca: Night on Amantani Island 10 km 3 hours
At 7 a.m. we travel by motor boat towards Llachon – Santa Maria. We meet the staff of Titicaca Kayak Company and after the safety briefing from the specialized kayak guide, we will get equipped and then paddle to Amantani Island in a kayak. This is the ultimate way of experiencing the Titicaca Lake and a perfect retreat from the city. Arrival and check in at a home stay on Amantani. Afternoon free for hanging around the main square and for taking photos. After dinner your host family will dress you up in traditional local costumes and take you to the community hall for a small celebration, it is a lot of fun! Overnight at the home stay (basic facilities).
Day 11
Kayak at Titicaca: Amantani – Taquile – Uros – Puno 10 km 3 hours
After breakfast, we will do a second kayak tour on Titicaca Lake and paddle to Taquile Island. During this unique journey, we will observe the distant but impressive snow-capped mountains on the other side of Lake Titicaca. After three hours of kayaking, we will arrive to Taquile Island. The main attractions of Taquile are the views and the fine textiles. Upon arrival to the island, a long gradually ascending path will take us to the village. It takes approximately 50 minutes to walk up to the village to visit the communal cooperative, and there are plenty of photo opportunities on the way. Lunch at one of the local restaurants, then we descend 500 steps down to the port and return to Puno. Before arriving to the main land, we will make a stop at the incredible floating reed islands inhabited by the Uros people. This ethnic group has made use of the totora reeds for their homes, canoes, fuel, art and food – evolving a truly remarkable lifestyle. Reed boat rides can be arranged directly with the local fishermen before we continue back to Puno. Upon arrival at Puno (around 4:30 pm) and transfer to your hotel.
Day 12
Puno – Cusco
Morning transfer to the bus station in Puno and shared tourist bus to Cusco. On the way we will visit Pucara museum, Raqchi temple of the God and Andahuayllillas church. Afternoon arrival in Cusco and private transfer to your hotel.
Day 13
City Tour in Cusco
Discover Cusco and the surroundings by a half day private city tour including visit to Qorikancha (Sun temple) and the Inca Ruins in the outskirts of Cusco: Sacsayhuamana, Qenqo, Puca pucara and Tambomachay. Afternoon free to enjoy Cusco town.
Day 14
Full day tour to Sacred Valley: Cusco – Pisac – Ollantaytambo
The Sacred Valley of the Incas contains many famous and beautiful Inca ruins. It was called the Sacred Valley because it contains some of the best land in the region and was not a part of the Empire but the property of the Emperor or Inca himself. On this private day tour, we will visit Pisac Inca Ruins, Pisac Indian Market, Urubamba valley and the impressive ruins in Ollantaytambo. Afternoon transfer to your hotel in Ollantaytambo.
Day 15
Inca Trail: Ollantaytambo – Piskakucho (Km. 82) – Huayllabamba 11 km 6 hours 3000 meters above sea level
Pick up from your hotel in Ollantaytambo (around 8 a.m.) and approximately one hour drive to Piskakucho at kilometer 82 where the Inca Trail begins. After getting acquainted with our trail crew we set out, crossing a footbridge to hike a gentle two hours down the Urubamba Canyon, and then visit imposing sculpted Inca farming terraces and the settlement of Llaqtapata on the banks of the Cusichaca side river. We then climb a short way up the Cusichaca Valley to Huayllabamba, the last inhabited village on the trail, where we camp.
Day 16
Pacaymayo (3587 M) 10 km 7 hours + 1263 m – 607 m highest altitude 4194 m
We climb the steep sided Llullucha valley past a rushing stream and through enchanted native polylepis woodland. Crossing the rim of a small plateau, abruptly the puna appears, the treeless grasslands of the high Andes. The trail traverses an open slope opposite mighty mountain crags, ascending to the first and highest pass, Warmiwañusca (4194 m). Here there are spectacular views of the trail ahead to the second pass, and look back to the sweeping snow peaks and valleys of the Huayanay massif. The trail descends to the bottom of the forested Pacaymayo valley, where the camp will be set up. Night in tents.
Day 17
Inca Trail: Pacaymayo – Wiñay Wayna 12.5 km 8 hours
Today we will climb to the second pass Runkurakay at 3860 meters above sea level. Compared with the days before, you will have two hours more of hiking, and you will visit archaeological complexes such as Sayacmarca and Phuyupatamarca, and then we will continue to Intipata and Wiñaywayna, where you will camp for the night.
Day 18
Inca Trail: Wiñay Wayna – Machu Picchu – Aguas Calientes 5 km 3 hours maximum altitude 2650 meters above sea level
This day the hiking will be shorter than the days before. We will start early in the morning and go to Intipunku or “Sun door” – here we will see the amazing lost city of Machu Picchu. Afterwards we will get the bus to Aguas Calientes.
Day 19
Aguas Calientes – Cusco (No guide service)
Free morning in Aguas Calientes for an optional second visit to Machu Picchu (not included). Afternoon train back to Ollantaytambo. From here private transfer to your hotel in Cusco
Day 20
Cusco – Lima – Home
Transfer to Cusco airport, flight to Lima. At your arrival in Lima transfer to the international departures to check in. Return home.
Prices
Included:
- All transfers in private services except (shared services):
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- Tourist bus Lima – Paracas
- Tourist bus Paracas – Nazca
- Tourist bus Nazca –Arequipa
- Tourist bus Colca – Puno
- Tourist bus Puno – Cusco
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- Bus Aguas Calientes – Machu Picchu – Aguas Calientes
- Expedition class train Aguas Calientes – Ollantaytambo
- Transfer Ollantaytambo – Cusco
- English speaking guide during activities/tours
- All activities/tours in private services except following tours (shared services):
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- Tour to Paracas & Ballestas (Approx. 20-25 people)
- Inca Trail (Approx. 6-8 people)
- Nazca overflight (Approx. 8-10 people)
- Tour to Colca Cañon with trek (Small Groups)
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- All entrance fees
- Accommodation
- Camping equipment, food and porters during the Inca Trail (weight restrictions apply)
- Meals according to program (19 breakfasts, 7 lunches and 5 dinners)
Not Included:
- Domestic and international flights
- Taxes for Nazca Lines over flight ($ 10.00 USD). To be paid on the spot in cash at Nazca’s airport.
- Meals not mentioned in the program
- Alcoholic and soft drinks
- Personal expenses
- Tips
- Everything not mentioned in the “Included” list
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