DAY 01 – ARRIVAL IN CUSCO AND REST

Cusco and Puno 9 Days/8 Nights

You will arrive in the city of Cusco (time to be confirmed) and be transferred to your hotel, where you will have the afternoon free to rest. You will spend the night in a local establishment.

DAY 02 – SACRED VALLEY OF THE INCAS

After breakfast, we begin our tour of the Sacred Valley of the Incas with pick-up at the hotel at 7:00 a.m. to depart for the charming village of Chinchero, located 40 minutes from Cusco. At this destination, you will visit the palace of Inca Tupac Yupanqui and participate in a hands-on experience at a textile center, where the use of natural dyes is demonstrated. Afterward, you will tour the unique archaeological complex of Moray, formed by natural depressions used to create agricultural terraces. Next, you will continue to the village of San Francisco de Asís de Maras, renowned for its colonial portals with coats of arms from the 16th to 20th centuries, and visit the Salineras, where you will observe the traditional salt harvesting process, famous for its pink hue, which is appreciated worldwide. Next, you will travel along the banks of the Vilcanota River until you reach Urubamba, where you will enjoy an exquisite buffet lunch at a high-class restaurant. Finally, you will visit the town of Ollantaytambo, one of the last living vestiges of the Inca culture, and tour its archaeological complex, culminating with a visit to the vast citadel of Pisaq. At the end of the day, you will return to Cusco for the night.

DAY 03 – TRANSFER AND TRAIN TO MACHU PICCHU TOWN

Next, you will be transferred to the train station in Ollantaytambo, where you will take the Incarail Voyager train departing at 4:16 p.m. for Machu Picchu Town.

DAY 04 – MACHU PICCHU FULL DAY

After breakfast, board the connecting bus that takes you to the citadel of Machu Picchu in 25 minutes. Once there, enjoy a guided tour of approximately two hours through the most outstanding areas of the site. Later, you will return to the town of Aguas Calientes to take the train back to Cusco at approximately 7:00 p.m. (approximate duration 1 hour and 30 minutes). Finally, you will be transferred from Ollantaytambo to Cusco, where you will spend the night at the hotel.

Note: The purchase of the entrance ticket to Machu Picchu will be made according to availability, with circuit 2 being the recommended option. If there are no spaces available, circuit 3 will be chosen and, as a last resort, circuit 1.

DAY 05 – CONNECTION BUS ALONG THE SUN ROUTE (CUSCO – PUNO)

On this route, we begin with the Route of the Sun, visiting the most representative attractions between Cusco and Puno. First, we visit Andahuaylillas (3,100 meters above sea level), an hour from Cusco, where we visit the Temple of St. Peter the Apostle, known as the “Sistine Chapel of America.” During the visit (approximately 35 minutes), you will admire its impressive architecture, Renaissance works, a valuable collection of paintings from the Cusco School, and ornamental details such as a majestic organ and a Baroque altar, complemented by sculpted crosses symbolizing the Trinity. It is also noteworthy that the base of the church comes from an ancient Inca palace.

Next, you will arrive at Raqchi (3,480 meters above sea level), 1 hour and 30 minutes from Andahuaylillas, to explore the imposing Temple of Wiracocha, which takes approximately 50 minutes to visit. Next, there is a stop in Marangani (3,709 meters above sea level), where you can enjoy a buffet lunch at the Marangani Tourist Restaurant for about 45 minutes. Here, you can optionally visit an Interpretation Center.

Further on, you will travel to Pukara (3,910 meters above sea level) and, shortly after, you will arrive at La Raya (4,335 meters above sea level), the highest point and the border between the regions of Cusco and Puno. During this short break (10 minutes), you can enjoy panoramic views of the snow-capped Chimboya mountain, part of the Andean mountain range, as well as camelids in their natural habitat and handmade products made from alpaca wool.

DAY 06 – UROS & TAQUILE (FULL DAY TOUR)

At 7:00 a.m., you will be picked up at your hotels and transferred to the port of Puno to board the boat that crosses the majestic Lake Titicaca. On the way to Taquile Island, there will be a stop at the floating islands of the Uros, where you will stay for approximately 1 hour and 30 minutes. Next, continue to Taquile, a natural island located 35 km from Puno. Finally, resume the tour by tourist bus with connection to Cusco, departing at approximately 10:00 p.m.

DAY 07 – SOUTHERN VALLEY (TIPÓN, PIQULLAQTA, AND ANDAHUAYLILLAS)

Departing at 8:30 a.m., the tour begins with a visit to Tipón, the ultimate expression of the Inca hydraulic system, where you can see terraces and ritual areas. Then, continue to the pre-Inca citadel of Piqqullaqta, renowned for its straight streets, military urban planning, and structures that exceed 12 meters in height. To conclude the day, visit the colonial church of Andahuaylillas, considered a jewel of colonial art. After this enriching day, return to Cusco for the night.

DAY 08 – MOUNTAIN OF COLORS (VINICUNCA)

Very early, between 4:00 and 5:00 a.m., you will be picked up at your hotel and taken by bus to the community of Cusipata, a journey of approximately 1 hour and 30 minutes on a paved road. Upon arrival, you will enjoy a buffet breakfast before continuing along the Cusipata route for 30 minutes until you reach the village of Chillihuani. Along the way, you will visit picturesque places such as Tintinko and Río Tigre and see the imposing Surina Mountain from the Llacto sector.

Afterwards, you will pass the Cusipata checkpoint and begin a 20-minute walk to the starting point of the excursion. For approximately 1 hour and 30 minutes, you will follow the trail that leads to the majestic Rainbow Mountain (Vinicunca), passing through landscapes where intense colors and small streams of icy water mix, as well as llamas and alpacas. You will reach a maximum altitude of 5029 meters above sea level at the summit, where you can enjoy unforgettable views. At the end of the hike, you will return along the same path to the starting point, where a buffet lunch will be served, and then return to Cusco around 6:00 p.m.

DAY 09 – END OF SERVICES

To end the Cusco and Puno 9 Days/8 Nights itinerary, you will be transferred to the airport, marking the end of this unforgettable experience.