Machu Picchu & Lake Titicaca - 11 days
Machu Picchu & Lake Titicaca - 11 days
Machu Picchu & Lake Titicaca - 11 days
11 Days Starting and ending in Lima, Peru
Visiting: Lima, Cusco, Sacred Valley, Machu Picchu, Puno
Tour operator:
Specialist Group:
Family/Kids
Guide Type:
Fully Guided
Group size:
2 - 16
Age range:
15-
Tour operated in:
EnglishInterests:
Activities:
Tour Overview
Embark on an unforgettable 11-day adventure through Peru, exploring the rich history and breathtaking landscapes of Machu Picchu and Lake Titicaca. Begin your journey in Lima, where you'll discover the vibrant plazas and colonial architecture on a guided tour. Travel to Cusco, the heart of the Inca Empire, and explore the impressive Sacsayhuaman Fortress. Roam the Sacred Valley, visiting the Pisac ruins and Ollantaytambo. Experience the awe-inspiring Machu Picchu, one of the New 7 Wonders of the World, via a scenic train ride. Continue to Puno and the serene Lake Titicaca, where you'll visit the unique Uros floating reed islands and Taquile Island. Enjoy comfortable accommodations, including stays at the Hilton Garden Inn and Sonesta Hotel, and savor local cuisine with included breakfasts and lunches. This small group adventure offers a perfect blend of guided tours and free time to explore at your own pace.
Highlights
Itinerary
Day 1: Lima
Location: Lima
Accommodation Name: Hilton Garden Inn Miraflores
Welcome to Peru! Upon arrival at the Lima airport you’ll be transferred to our hotel in the popular Miraflores district of the city. The rest of the day is free to relax or explore the city.
Day 2: Lima
Location: Lima
Accommodation Name: Hilton Garden Inn Miraflores
Meals Included: Breakfast
Today we explore the beautiful city of Lima, also known as the 'city of kings'. Our guided tour takes us through Plaza San Martin, also taking in Plaza Mayor, the Government Palace and the City Hall. We continue with a visit to the San Francisco Monastery and its famous underground crypts which are home to an estimated 70,000 remains. This bright yellow architectural wonder also houses an incredible library, holding thousands of antique texts, some of which pre-date the conquest in the 16th century. Later we take in the residential districts of San Isidro and Miraflores, where we see Huaca Pucllana, an impressive clay pyramid that represented the ceremonial and administrative centre of the Lima culture. We also visit El Olivar park, a peaceful space with olive trees that were brought to Peru in the 15th century. The final stop on today's tour of Lima is El Parque del Amor, a romantic spot is situated on the cliffs of Miraflores overlooking the Pacific ocean. The rest of the day is free for you to explore this fascinating city at your own pace.
Lima is fast becoming one of the gastronomic capitals of the world and later this afternoon there is the opportunity to join an exciting optional Lima Gourmet Food Tour, combining gastronomic delights with walks around the capital, experiencing the local culture. Please contact us to book.
Day 3-4: Cusco
Location: Cusco
Accommodation Name: Sonesta Hotel
Meals Included: Breakfast
Lima - Cusco. This morning we transfer to the airport for our flight to Cusco. Arriving into Cusco the rest of the day is free to relax and adjust to the altitude. This beautiful city full of history and intrigue, is located 3,399m above sea level.
The following morning we take in the highlights of the beautiful city of Cusco on a guided tour. Starting at the Plaza de Armas, built on the remains of one of the most important Incan gathering spots, we also visit the cathedral, the Kenko Amphitheatre and the impressive Sacsayhuaman Fortress. Built between 1438 and 1474, Sacsayhuaman Fortress took over 20,000 labourers to build and some of the magnificent stone work measures over 4 metres in height and over 100 tons in weight. The afternoon is free to stroll around the cobbled streets, visiting handicraft shops, markets and cafes.
Day 5: Sacred Valley
Location: Sacred Valley
Accommodation Name: Sonesta Posadas del Inca-Yucay
Meals Included: Breakfast
Cusco - The Sacred Valley. Departing Cusco we travel to the Sacred Valley of the Incas today. Our first stop is the popular Pisac markets where we have the chance to see the variety of colourful handicrafts on offer. Originally only held on Sundays, Pisac Market was a place for artisans from across the region to trade in their products. Today the market is a daily occurrence where locals and visitors alike can find some of the finest textiles, jewellery and clothing typical of this area of Peru. We continue our journey to the remarkable Ollantaytambo fortress which was constructed to guard the entrance to this part of the valley and protect it from possible invasions of tribes from the jungle lowlands. One of the best examples of Incan architecture, many of the inhabitants of Ollantaytambo still live according to the customs and traditions they have inherited from generations of ancestors, leading to it being known as a living Inca town. We spend the night at a converted 18th century monastery nestled in the heart of the Sacred Valley.
Day 6: Machu Picchu
Location: Machu Picchu
Accommodation Name: Sonesta Hotel
Meals Included: Breakfast
Sacred Valley - Machu Picchu - Cusco. We have an exciting day ahead, starting with a short drive to the Ollantaytambo train station where we board the train for a scenic journey to Aguas Calientes. Remember to look out the windows as the scenery along the way is utterly breathtaking. In Aguas Calientes we board a bus which takes us along a winding path up the slopes of the great Machu Picchu mountain to the famous Inca citadel.
The incredible lost city of the Incas is situated on a mountain ridge above the Urubamba River, surrounded by tropical forest. Completed in the latter half of 15th Century, archaeologists believe Machu Picchu was built as an estate for the Pachacuti, an Incan leader who reigned from 1438 to 1471. Built in the classical Inca style with polished dry-stone walls and terraces that seem to have been crafted naturally from the rock escarpments, Machu Picchu is a spectacular testament to the greatness of the Inca civilisation. Only a century after its completion however, the citadel was abandoned during the Spanish conquest and only thrust into the spotlight in 1911 when it was discovered by the American historian and explorer Hiram Bingham, who brought it to the world's attention.
We explore Machu Picchu on a guided tour and then return to the spa town of Aguas Calientes where there's time to stroll around before travelling by train back to Cusco.
Day 7: Cusco
Location: Cusco
Accommodation Name: Sonesta Hotel
Meals Included: Breakfast
Enjoy a free day in Cusco to explore the city at your own pace. Alternatively you may wish to join one of the optional excursions on offer. Visit the local Andean market town of Chinchero on a half day tour. Chinchero has one of the most traditional markets in South America, and here you will find locals in colourful traditional dress, buying and selling their produce.
Alternatively, for the fit and active, there's an optional full day excursion to Vinicunca, the Rainbow Mountain (offered from March to November), with lunch included. After a scenic 2.5 hr drive through rugged mountain scenery, trek with a guide to the summit of Rainbow Mountain, with its striking bright stripes of mineral deposits.
Day 8-9: Lake Titicaca (Peru)
Location: Puno
Accommodation Name: Hotel Jose Antonio
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch
Cusco - Puno. After an early breakfast, we travel by tourist bus to Puno (approx. 10 hr journey), passing by the lovely Wacarpay Lake, with spectacular views of the mountains reflected in its calm waters. Along the way we make a couple of stops, the first one being in Andahuaylillas to see the Church of San Pedro, which has been given the nickname the Sistine Chapel of the Americas. Moving along, we pass through herds of llamas and spectacular landscapes until we get to Ayaviri, an important livestock and textile centre. Here, we see the Temple of Kalasaya, remnants of a Pucara structure. After a stop for lunch at a countryside restaurant, we continue on to Puno, our base for the next two nights.
The following day we take a boat trip on Lake Titicaca to see the remarkable floating islands of Uros. These unique islands are made of a certain type of reed called totora, which enables it to float, despite the weight of a civilisation upon it. We then move on to Taquile Island, where we can mingle with the Quechua-speaking locals and learn about their efficient and unique social system as well as their fine hand weaving techniques, passed down from generation to generation. We're invited into a local home for lunch to enjoy a delicious home cooked meal. After lunch we explore more of this remarkable island including some of the islands archaeological sites. Later this afternoon we return to Puno.
Day 10: Lima
Location: Lima
Accommodation Name: Hilton Garden Inn Miraflores
Meals Included: Breakfast
Puno - Lima. This morning we head to Juliaca Airport for our flight back to Lima. Transfer to our hotel in Miraflores and then the rest of the day is free to spend at leisure exploring the beautiful Peruvian capital. Why not visit one of the many fantastic museums around the city, showcasing everything from pre-Colombian art to archaeological gems.
Day 11: Lima
Location: Lima
Meals Included: Breakfast
Today our tour of Peru comes to an end with a transfer to Lima airport.
What's Included
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Accommodation
3 - 4 star -
10 breakfasts and 2 lunches
Enjoy 10 breakfasts and 2 lunches during your tour.
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10 nights 4 star hotels and 1 night 3 star hotel in the Sacred Valley
Stay in 4-star hotels for 10 nights and a 3-star hotel for 1 night in the Sacred Valley.
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2 economy flights: Lima - Cusco and Juliaca - Lima
Includes economy flights from Lima to Cusco and Juliaca to Lima.
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Airport transfers on day 1 and day 11
Airport transfers are provided on the first and last day of the tour.
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Guided tour of Lima, Cusco, the Sacred Valley, and Machu Picchu
Experience guided tours of Lima, Cusco, the Sacred Valley, and Machu Picchu.
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Excursion on Lake Titicaca
Enjoy an excursion on Lake Titicaca.
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Escorted by English-speaking local tour leader (for groups of 4 or more) and specialist local guides for included sightseeing
The tour is escorted by an English-speaking local tour leader for groups of 4 or more, with specialist local guides for included sightseeing.
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Transfers and transportation in private air-conditioned vehicles and on a tourist bus from Cusco to Puno
Transfers and transportation are provided in private air-conditioned vehicles and on a tourist bus from Cusco to Puno.
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Expedition train to Machu Picchu
Travel to Machu Picchu on an expedition train.
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Entrance fees and Cusco Tourist Ticket
Entrance fees and the Cusco Tourist Ticket are included.
What's Not Included
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International flights and visa
International flights and visa are not included in the tour package.
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Tipping
Tipping is not included; refer to the Tipping paragraph in the Trip Notes for further information.
Accommodation
Stay at the modern Hilton Garden Inn in Miraflores, the recently renovated Sonesta Hotel in Cusco, the scenic Sonesta Posadas del Inca-Yucay in the Sacred Valley, and the Hotel Jose Antonio with stunning views of Lake Titicaca. Enjoy amenities like air conditioning, free Wi-Fi, and on-site dining.
Age Policy
As standard they must be ages 15 or older to join this group tour. However, those aged 13+ may be considered on a case by case basis.
Mode of Transport
Travel in comfort with private air-conditioned vehicles, a tourist bus from Cusco to Puno, and an expedition train to Machu Picchu. Enjoy two economy flights between Lima and Cusco, and Juliaca and Lima, with airport transfers on the first and last day.
Check out our Q&As
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What kind of accommodation can I expect during the tour?
During the tour, you will stay in a mix of 4-star and 3-star hotels. The accommodations include the Hilton Garden Inn Miraflores in Lima, Sonesta Hotel in Cusco, Sonesta Posadas del Inca-Yucay in the Sacred Valley, and Hotel Jose Antonio in Puno. These hotels offer modern amenities such as air conditioning, free WiFi, and on-site dining options.
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Are there any meals included in the tour?
Yes, the tour includes 10 breakfasts and 2 lunches. These meals are provided at various points throughout the tour, allowing you to experience local cuisine as part of your journey.
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What is the transportation arrangement for the tour?
The tour includes transfers and transportation in private air-conditioned vehicles, as well as a tourist bus from Cusco to Puno. Additionally, there are two economy flights included: from Lima to Cusco and from Juliaca to Lima. An expedition train ride to Machu Picchu is also part of the itinerary.
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Will there be a guide during the tour?
Yes, the tour is escorted by an English-speaking local tour leader for groups of 4 or more. Specialist local guides are also provided for included sightseeing activities, ensuring you have expert insights at each destination.
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What activities are included in the visit to Lake Titicaca?
During the visit to Lake Titicaca, you will take a boat trip to see the floating islands of Uros and visit Taquile Island. On Taquile Island, you will have the opportunity to interact with the Quechua-speaking locals, learn about their social system and weaving techniques, and enjoy a home-cooked meal in a local home.
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What Ethical Travel credentials does the tour company have?
Ensuring our footprint is light and that the benefits of travelling reach the local communities you visit is paramount to us. We’re proud to say that when travelling with us, the large majority of your holiday funds remain within the countries you visit, supporting local economies at a grass roots level.
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How long has the tour company been trading?
Since 1998
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Who will be my travelling companions on the tour?
With English-speaking tours, it's not a huge surprise that most on our travellers are from English-speaking countries or have English as their second language. Our group tours cater for everyone from 18 years old to 70+
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Will the accommodation included meet local health and safety regulations?
Yes
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Low Deposit
On The Go Tours requires a minimum deposit of 600 USD per person or the full booking value, whichever is less, with the final balance not due until 60 days before departure.
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Cancellation Policy
We don't charge a cancellation fee, here is a summary of on the go tours charges.
Up to 60 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of deposit.
At 59 days before tour starts: Forfeit 50% of booking price.
At 30 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of booking price.
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