Itinerary
- Day 1
Arequipa
You'll arrive in Arequipa and get settled at your hotel. The morning is yours to do as you like, whether that's shopping or just relaxing after your travels. Around 1:30 PM, a guide meets you for a city tour covering the Monastery of Santa Catalina, Plaza de Armas, the Jesuit Church of the Company, and the Tristan del Pozo house. After that, you'll head through Carmen Alto and Yanahuara to catch views of the city before heading back to your hotel around 6 PM.
Included Activities
- Guided Arequipa City Tour - visit Monastery of Santa Catalina
- Visit Plaza de Armas
- Visit Jesuit Church of the Company
- Visit Tristan del Pozo house
- Visit Carmen Alto and Yanahuara districts for city views
Landmarks/POIs Monastery of Santa Catalina Plaza de Armas Jesuit Church of the Company Yanahuara Church and Mirador - Day 2
Colca Canyon
This is an early start, departing around 2:30-3:00 AM for the drive northwest to Chivay, about 3 hours out. You'll grab breakfast there, then continue another 2 hours to La Cruz del Condor where you can see the canyon's depth and watch for condor flights. From there, you'll visit villages like Yanque and Maca to see colonial churches and old terraces. There's an optional stop at La Calera hot springs (40°C/104°F) if you're interested, followed by traditional lunch in Chivay. The return route includes stops at Patapampa viewpoint at 4,800 meters and Pampa Cañahuas National Reserve to spot wild vicunas, alpacas, llamas, and various birds. You're back in Arequipa around 5:00 PM, then transfer to the bus station for an overnight bus to Cusco, roughly 10 hours of travel.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Breakfast at hotel in Chivay), Lunch (Traditional lunch in Chivay)
Included Activities
- Guided full day Colca Canyon tour - visit La Cruz del Condor viewpoint
- Visit typical villages of Yanque and Maca
- Visit colonial churches in the canyon
- See pre-Inca terraces
- Stop at Patapampa viewpoint (4,800m) for volcano and snow-capped mountain views
- Visit Pampa Cañahuas National Reserve to see wild vicunas, alpacas, llamas, flamingos, ibis, Andean geese, ducks, and Andean eagles
Optional Activities
- Visit to La Calera hot springs with pools at 40°C/104°F temperature
Landmarks/POIs La Cruz del Condor Yanque Maca Patapampa Viewpoint Pampa Cañahuas National Reserve La Calera Hot Springs Chivay - Day 3
Cusco
Your night bus arrives in Cusco and you'll transfer from the station to your hotel in the city center. After settling in, around 1:00 PM you'll join a guided tour of the major archaeological sites. You'll see the Temple of the Sun (Qorikancha), then head out to Sacsayhuaman, Kenko, Puca Pucara, and Tambomachay. The tour wraps up around 7:00 PM back at your hotel.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Breakfast at hotel)
Included Activities
- Guided Cusco City Tour - visit Temple of the Sun (Qorikancha)
- Visit Sacsayhuaman
- Visit Kenko
- Visit Puca Pucara
- Visit Tambomachay
Landmarks/POIs Temple of the Sun (Qorikancha) Sacsayhuaman Kenko Puca Pucara Tambomachay - Day 4
Aguas Calientes
After breakfast, your hotel pickup happens around 8:30 AM for the Sacred Valley tour. You'll start at the archaeological park in Pisac and check out the traditional market there. Lunch is a buffet spread in Urubamba, then you'll explore Ollantaytambo with its cobblestone streets that still reflect Inca heritage. From Ollantaytambo station, you board a train to Aguas Calientes, about 1 hour 40 minutes of travel. Your evening is free, so you can find a restaurant and dine wherever appeals to you.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Breakfast at hotel), Lunch (Delicious buffet lunch in Urubamba)
Included Activities
- Guided Sacred Valley of the Incas tour
- Visit archaeological park Pisac
- Visit Pisac traditional market
- Visit Ollantaytambo city
- Train journey Ollantaytambo to Aguas Calientes
Landmarks/POIs Pisac Archaeological Park Pisac Traditional Market Ollantaytambo Urubamba - Day 5
Machu Picchu
Breakfast comes first, then you'll take the bus up to Machu Picchu for a three-hour guided tour with an expert who can explain what you're seeing. After that, you have time to wander around on your own and take in the site at your pace. Once you're finished exploring, the bus takes you back down to Aguas Calientes. In the afternoon, you board the train back to Ollantaytambo station where your driver picks you up for the journey back to Cusco.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Breakfast at hotel)
Included Activities
- Guided three-hour tour of Machu Picchu with expert guide
- Self-paced exploration of Machu Picchu
- Bus ride from Aguas Calientes to Machu Picchu
- Bus ride from Machu Picchu to Aguas Calientes
- Train journey from Ollantaytambo to Cusco
Landmarks/POIs Machu Picchu - Day 6
Departure from Cusco
You'll transfer from your hotel to Cusco airport at the appropriate time for your departure flight. This marks the end of your tour.
