The Best of Peru: Cusco, Machu Picchu & Puno — 10 Days

DAY 1 · Cusco - Inka Museum And Koricancha

Cusco - Inka Museum And Koricancha

Start the adventure of our Peru Tour 10 day from your arrival at Cusco airport to later transfer you to the hotel previously reserved. The rest of the morning will be reserved for resting to adapt to the altitude, approximately 3400 meters/11,000 feet .

In the afternoon we must be ready to visit the Inka Museum , home of thousands of years of Andean culture in its different environments, allowing you to become familiar with the origins and beginnings of the ancient Andean civilizations. Later we will move onto the temple of Koricancha , also as known the famous Sun Temple of Qosqo, a place that was and still remains the pinnacle of organization, architecture, and religion of Inka civilization.

Once the visits are over, you will have the rest of the day to stroll through the center of the city of Cusco and take some incredible pictures, enjoy a delicious dinner (not included) and return to your hotel for a well-deserved rest.

DAY 2 · Saqsayhuaman - Temple Of The Moon - Transfer To Aguas Calientes

Saqsayhuaman - Temple Of The Moon - Transfer To Aguas Calientes

After a delicious breakfast in the hotel, on the second day of our 10 day Peru Tour, we will visit the most important archaeological sites around Cusco City, starting with Saqsayhuaman , the jewel of Inca architecture, with colossal attributes and rocks, considered in the history of mankind as one of the greatest constructions on the face of the earth. Then we will continue to the Temple of the Moon , a place for spiritual connection and encounter with the feminine energy of the Moon Goddess, being a place of great importance for the Andean culture.

In the afternoon we will travel by car to the town of Ollantaytambo , exactly to the train station, from where we will have a dream trip, it will take around 2 hours to arrive at Machu Picchu Town (Hot Springs town). Once there we will continue to the hotel to rest and in the evening you will be able to tour this city and learn more about it.

Note: in case you have energy, you can visit the hot springs of the town (15 minutes on foot) and have a moment of relaxation.

DAY 3 · Machu Picchu

Machu Picchu

This is a special day of our "10 Days Peru Tour". You will start very early in the morning to have breakfast at the hotel and then board the bus that will take you to the citadel Inka of Machu Picchu and appreciate the sunrise in this magical place, a famous masterpiece of architecture and engineering, believed to have been a sanctuary and energetic center.

The guided tour of the Historic Sanctuary of Machu Picchu will last more than 2 hours, which will allow us to visit the most important places of the archeological complex, having enough time to take the best pictures and enjoy this world wonder.

Once the tour in Machu Picchu is finished, we will return to Aguas Calientes for lunch (not included) and have the afternoon free to explore more of this beautiful city, before heading to your hotel and rest.

Optional (Extra cost): The trek to the peak of Huayna Picchu, a rigorous climb on steep trails with impressive ruins and spectacular views, a round-trip of 2 hours.

DAY 4 · Aguas Calientes - Ollantaytambo - Moray - Cusco

Aguas Calientes - Ollantaytambo - Moray - Cusco

Continuing with our 10-day Peru Tour, in the morning we will take aboard the train back to Ollantaytambo , as known as the "living" Inka town, where our private transportation will be waiting for you to continue by car to the Archaeological Site of Moray , one of the most mysterious and unique sites since this place has many concentric "rings" of terraces, which according to studies served for agricultural studies by the Incas.

After the tour, in the village of Moray, you can enjoy lunch (not included) before returning to our transportation, which will take us to Cusco City , exactly at the hotel where you will spend the night.

DAY 5 · Chinchero

Chinchero

Very early in the morning, we will pick you up from your hotel to transfer to Chinchero , a picturesque community located 40 minutes from Cusco City, also known as the rainbow village , home of the ruins of the royal palace of the Inka Túpac Inca Yupanqui .

Having the morning to walk around and admire the very well-preserved Inca walls of the main square, as well as many religious altars. We will also visit the beautiful colonial church, which has unique works of art and imagery inside.

Afterward, we will visit the Chinchero Textile Center , where we will participate in a wonderful introduction and learning experience of the art of Andean textiles, observing the whole process of weaving and natural coloring. Having an incredible afternoon where we will learn more about the wisdom of the Andean looms, which have maintained the technique since long before the Inca Inka times.

DAY 6 · Animal Sanctuary - Pisaq - Pisaq Market

Animal Sanctuary - Pisaq - Pisaq Market

Today we will travel to the Sacred Valley of the Inkas , more specifically to the town of Pisaq, making a stop to visit the Cochahuasi Animal Sanctuary , here we may observe many of the native Andean species such as the puma, Andean cóndor, alpacas , and many more. Further en route, we will stop at a spectacular viewing location to observe the Urubamba River, from which you will be able to observe the mountains and villages of this great place.

Continuing with the tour, we will arrive at the Pisac Archaeological Site, we will observe the construction design for an hour and a half approximately. Discovering more than an important Inca Citadel, it was used as a control point for the valley's entrance and also has a large number of terraces, even more than Machu Picchu. After seeing the archaeological complex, we will descend to the town of Pisaq which stands out for its famous craft market, in which you will have free time to wander the market and interact with many local artisans and purchase handicrafts if you wish.

After the whole experience, we must return to the transport to start the return to Cusco , to rest very early in the hotel, because tomorrow we expect more adventures of our 10-day Peru Tour.

DAY 7 · Departure To Puno

Departure To Puno

This day we will continue with our Peru Tour for 10 days, in the morning, we will go to the bus terminal of Cusco, from where we will start our trip to Puno. Certainly, this is a special bus trip that will allow us to visit many different places along the way, known as «The Route of the Sun», having stopped in the following places: Andahuaylillas (the Sistine Chapel of the Americas) : This temple is one of the best examples of the fusion between Catholic and Andean religions. Raqchi: A Inka temple dedicated to the god Wiracocha , construction of monumental dimensions, an estimated 100 meters long, 26m wide, 14m high. This is the only known temple dedicated to the God Wiracocha, creator of the Universe. La Raya: Midway point on our journey and highest point on the road - 4335 m.s.n.m. The impressive views here allow us to admire the rugged high altitude, full of tall peaks, many of which are snow-capped, and herds of llamas, alpacas, and vicuñas. This is the geographic border between two cultures, the Quechua of Cusco and the Aymara of Puno. Pucara: This ceremonial center is one of the oldest and most important of the high plains, well known for its lithic structures and tombs. After this incredible journey, we will finally arrive at the bus station in Puno, where our transport will be waiting to take you to your previously booked hotel, where you can rest peacefully.

DAY 8 · Uros - Amantani Island

Uros - Amantani Island

Our adventure in Puno will start with a delicious breakfast at the hotel, then enjoy a full day of boat trip on Lake Titicaca. We will also visit the ancient culture of the Uros and have the opportunity to walk on their floating islands. The islanders will give us a presentation about their lifestyle and tell us the process of how they were built by the ancient man, who only used reeds of totora that grow on the shores of the lake, learned to adapt and create these small islands, adapting to various climatic conditions.

Continuing along the lake we will arrive at Amantani Island , where we will meet with «The Quechua Families» who will offer us cozy accommodation in the style of a house stay while they prepare traditional food for our lunch.

After tasting the delicious lunch we will ascend to the two summits of the island. At the top of the island, we will visit two ancient pre-Inca temples, Pachatata and Pachamama (father and mother of Andean cosmology).

In the evening after dinner, the community members will show us a small welcome party, and we can participate to have a more enriching and complete experience.

DAY 9 · Taquile - Puno

Taquile - Puno

After breakfast in Amantani, we will again board a boat to make a short trip to the neighboring Taquile island . Already on the island, we will start a tour through the beautiful cobbled paths towards the community of Taquile, a small and quiet town, very hard working and wise, a culture full of art and tradition in force. Having the opportunity to learn more about their lifestyle, traditions, and customs.

DAY 10 · Puno · Juliaca Airport

Puno · Juliaca Airport

According to your flight time, either in the morning or afternoon, you will coordinate a short transfer from Puno to the neighboring Juliaca city , where you will hate the domestic plane to Lima airport and from where you will board your plane to your city. Thus ending your adventure of our Peru Tour for 10 days.