Day 1: Lima
We will welcome you and pick you up from the airport in Lima. On the way to the hotel, you will get some information about the most important and interesting sights of the capital.

Day 2: Lima - City Tour - Arequipa
Today we will do a tour through Lima's historic centre, passing the old "Plaza Principal" and the quayside of the river "Rimac". Later we will visit Lima's cathedral and the catacombs of the church "San Francisco". In the afternoon, we will take a flight to Arequipa.

Day 3: Arequipa - City Tour
After Lima, Arequipa is the second largest city of Peru and is located 2.325 above sea level. It is known as the “White City”, for its baroque architecture made from the local chalky volcanic stone sillar, a colonial legacy recognised by UNESCO, which has declared the central city a World Heritage site. The perfect volcanic cone of El Misti (5,825 meters) and its neighbour Nevado Chachani (6, 075 meters) hover together with the Pichu Pichu (5.664 meters) over the city.

Today we begin the day by visiting the main plaza, considered as one of the most beautiful one's in Peru. The cathedral is a perfect example for the Peruvian architechture of the XIX century as lot's of gold and silver was used. La Compañia church is an old jesuit temple, that counts to one of the most important ones in Arequipa because of its history and tradition. You can see twisted columns scalloped with curved wreaths, flowers and birds. We also visit the labyrinth of the Santa Catalina monastery (considered by many the finest in South America). If you take a closer look, you can tell that the european influence came to an end at this point: the angels have Indean faces, one of them wears a feathery crown. The monastery seems like a small town of the XVII century. After 400 years, the monastery was opened up for the public. Today you feel like being put back 4 centuries. You walk through numerous gardens and terrasses, the kitchen and the former slaves' rooms. You can even take a look at the washingmachines of the time. Today there are about 20 nuns still living in a section of the monastery, whereas about 500 nuns used to live in Santa Catalina back then. Concluding our tour, we will visit the "Casa Tristán del Pozo", the plaza of San Francisco and the archaeological museum.

Day 4: Arequipa - Cabanaconde - San Juan de Chuccho
We will leave Arequipa at about 3am and drive to the Colca valley. We will reach the perfect viewing point to admire the majestic flight of the condor around 9am. Next, we continue our journey to Cabanaconde, where we will begin our trek down the canyon. After about 3 hours we will cross the river Colca and after another hour we will reach the village "San Juan de Chuccho", where we will spend the night.

Day 5: Colca Canyon
After a restorative night and an extensive breakfast, we will continue our trek on the other side of the canyon. We will pass the picturesque and traditional villages "Coshñirgua" and "Malata", before we will walk down to the "Rio Colca". Shortly after noon we will reach "El Oasis" where we will have lunch, before resting by the pool the whole afternoon. The river Colca is only five minutes away. The night will be spent in bungalows.

Day 6: Colca Canyon - Cruz del Condor - Chivay - Puno (Private car Cabanaconde - Chivay)
Today we will get up at 4am, to avoid the torrid sun during climbing. Using torches in the beginning, we will climb up 1000 meter to Cabanaconde. In case you are too tired, you can rent a donkey and comfortably do the rise on its back. Arrived in Cabanaconde, a delicious and well-deserved breakfast will be waiting for us. Later we will take a bus that stops at different viewing points. We will have a tasty buffet lunch in Chivay, from where we will continue the journey to Puno.

Day 7: Lake Titikaka
Today we will take a boat through the cold waters of lake Titikaka to visit the most impressive sights of the lake. We will also visit the floating islands Uros and the island Taquile, where the traditional culture is still looked after and kept.

Day 8: Puno - Cusco
We will take a touristic bus to Cusco, but make a stop to visit the fortress Pukará, which originates from the early culture of the Tiahuanaco. There you can see a great example of the Chacana or a mystic andean cross. On 4.256 meters above sea-level, we will cross the border of the department Cusco and Puno, then we will drive down to the village Sicuani to have lunch. Furthermore, we will visit Raqchi (archaeological centre of the Incas with walls of 13 meters height) and the temple San Pedro in Andahuaylillas, that is called "sixtine chapel of the Andes" because of its beautiful craftworks made of gold and silver. At around 5pm we will arrive in Cusco. There we will have dinner and spend the night.

Day 9: Valle Sagrado
Today we will visit the sacred valley of the Incas to explore the beautiful ruins of the area, that show the Inca's architechture e.g. the impressive town "Ollantaytambo".

Day 10: Cusco - Mollepata - Soraypampa

The day begins at around 5 o'clock in the morning. The transport takes us to Mollepata where we will arrive at around 7 am. Mollepata is a small town situated at 2850 metres with a temperate climate and a very various vegetation. Around the village, it is possible to look at snowy peaks of the Salkantray mountain range, which are located between 4000 and 5000 metres of altitude. After having had breakfast, we hike for about 7 to 8 hours. On the way, we will stop to have lunch and then continue until we reach Soraypampa to spend our first night.

Overnight in tents.
Included meals: lunch, dinner.

Day 11: Soraypampa - Chaullay

After having breakfast and enjoying the sunrise on the Salkantay peak, we will start our hike of 7 to 8 hours during which we will appreciate the landscapes and the nature, and will see the difference between the ecological and latitudinal layers. We will first climb through a canyon, before getting to the sides of Salkantay, the little valley of Salkantay and going through one of the side of the impressive peak. Afterwards, we will go down to Wayrapampa to have lunch, and then carry on to Chaullay where we will spend our second night.

Overnight in tents.
Included meals: full board.

Day 12: Chaullay - La Playa - Santa Teresa - Aguas Calientes

Today, we will start our hike very early and will pass through beautiful landscapes. The climate here will be very different from the first two days, as we get into a zone with a temperate climate that can only be found in the forest. During this hike, we will observe many different birds, mammals, insects and other animals. We will also have the opportunity to learn more about the settlers' lifestyle there, to see the waterfalls of Waynapoco, and then take the bus to the hydroelectric power plant of Machupicchu. From there, we will have a three-hour walk to the village of Aguas Calientes where we will have dinner and spend the night.

Overnight in tents.
Included meals: full board.

Day 13: Aguas Calientes - Machu Picchu - Cusco

Today is the big day! We will discover the historic sanctuary of Machu Picchu. Starting at 6 am, we will climb for about an hour and a half before getting to the site. We will have a guided tour of 2 or 3 hours of the site. Afterwards, you will have free time to walk through and discover the Inca Citadel at your own speed.

We will then climb down to Aguas Calientes, where we will take the train to Ollantaytambo, where our transport will take us to Cusco.

Included meals: breakfast.

Day 14: Cusco 7 colored mountain Vinincunca

At 3 am, we head south of Cusco, for a journey of 2 hours and 45 minutes to the community of JAPURA where we will have our breakfast, then continue for 15 minutes more to Pitumarca (Quesiyono) 4,420masl approx. from where we will start a hike on an easily accessible road for an estimated time of 3 hours and arrive at the Mountain of Colors, located at 5. 050 masl. approx. After enjoying the wonder of Mother Nature, we will return by the same route, where our transportation will be waiting for us and then we will move for 15 minutes to lunch place, then we will return to Cusco, approx. 6:00 and 7:00 pm (Plaza Regocijo).

Includes: Transfers in tourist unit, Pick up at the hotel, professional guide. * Overnight at Hotel *** and half board.

Day 15: Cusco - Lima - Huaraz
In the afternoon we take the flight Cusco - Lima. When we are in Lima at night, we will take a bus that will take us to the city of Huaraz, arriving to this city the next morning. Overnight in bus.

Day 16: Huaraz - Caraz - Cashapampa - Llamacorral (Santa Cruz Trek)
We make a 4 hour trip between the Cordillera Negra and Cordillera Blanca stopping in the town of Caraz. Our road point is Cashapampa, in this place the donkeys and muleteer are waiting for us to transport the personal and camping luggage, starting the trek towards the Santa Cruz ravine, after the walk we will arrive at the camp called: Llamacorral (3760 m). Here we will organize the camp. Overnight in tent and full board.

Day 17: Llamacorral - Quebrada - Arhuaycocha - Taullipampa (Santa Cruz Trek)
Leaving very early from the camp we will head towards the right bank of the Santa Cruz ravine and we will pass by the Ichiccocha and Jatuncocha lagoons and we will be able to observe the snow-capped peaks of Aguja de Santa Cruz, Pumapampa, Curuicachajana, Quitaraju, Pucahirca, Rinrinjirca, Rinrinjirca and Taullipampa, Curuicachajana, Quitaraju, Pucahirca, Rinrinjirca, Taullipampa, Artesonraju, Paria, Millishraju and from the detour of the Arhuaycocha ravine we will be descending to a small viewpoint to observe the most beautiful snow-capped mountain in the world: Alpamayo and a lagoon that is located at the foot of the snowy Quitaraju that is very impressive, and then return to the Q. Santa Cruz and arrive at Taullipamapa camp. Overnight in tent and full board.

Day 18: Taullipampa - Punta Union - Quebrada Paria (Santa Cruz Trek)
This day we will overcome the pass of Punta Union (4750 meters) from where we have an impressive view of the Cordillera Blanca as the Taulliraju, the Rinrijircas, the Pucahircas, Quitaraju, the Santa Cruz, Artesonraju, Pyramid of Garcilazo, Paria, Millishraju, after passing Punta Union we will be descending to the camp of Paria. Overnight in tent and full board.

Day 19: Quebrada de Paria - Collo - Vaqueria Laguna 69 - Cebollapampa (Santa Cruz Trek)
Tour along the Huaripampa Valley, we observe picturesque villages like Yurma, Huaripampa, Colcabamba, spectacular view of the Nevado Chacraraju, our private transport awaits in Cerro Collo because from this point you can travel to the village of Vaqueria from this village we will move to reach Cebollapampa passing first through the pass Portachuelo (4767 m. At this point we will observe the snow-capped mountains of Huascaran, Chopicalqui, Huandoy, Pisco, Chacraraju. Then we will descend until we reach kilometer 42 where we will walk to the lagoon 69 (4400 mts). Return to our camp Cebollapampa (3850 m.a.s.l.). Overnight in tent and full board.

Day 20: Cabollapampa (3.850 m) - Huaraz - Hotel Lima
After breakfast we will drive back to Huaraz. Today we will have our farewell lunch. You will have the afternoon to yourself. Later we will take a night bus to Lima.

Day 21: Lima (Departure)
In the morning we will reach Lima. We will say good-bye at this point. We hope you enjoyed this adventure and get home safely full of wonderful memories!

 

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Included in the price of the tour:

-All 3* hotels with breakfast
-Accommodation in double rooms
-National flights Lima - Arequipa and Cusco - Lima
-All transfers e.g. airport - hotel - airport, train to Machu Picchu, boat on lake Titicaca
-All entrance fees to national parks, churches, monasteries, museums, cathedrals, ruins, hiking trails and other attractions that are included in the programm
-All transports are private, except the Inca trail and Valle Sagrado
-Local bus only from Arequipa to Cabanaconde and Lima - Huaraz - Lima
-All local guides (languages: English and Spanish) for the included sightseeing trips and hikes/treks
-Food during the treks

 

Not included:

-International flight to/from Peru
-Excursions and tickets not mentioned in the program
-Further food, snacks, mineral water, entries to nightclubs and alcoholic drinks