Itinerary
- Day 1
Cusco
You'll arrive at Cusco Airport where someone from Waman Adventures meets you with a sign. The drive to the city center takes about 15-20 minutes, and then you'll check into your hotel. Spend the rest of the day taking it easy and getting used to the altitude around 11,150 feet. Coca tea helps with the adjustment, so try some when you get the chance.
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Day 2
Cusco to Ollantaytambo
Your hotel pickup happens between 7:30-8:00 am to start exploring around Cusco. First, you're heading to Chinchero to check out Inca stone walls and a Colonial church, then spending time at a textile center learning about Andean fabric work. After that, you'll see Moray's circular terraces carved into the mountainside. Later comes a visit to the Maras Salt Mines where over 3,000 small wells dot the hillside. By evening you'll be in Ollantaytambo, an old Inca town where you'll stay the night.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Visit to Chinchero town with Inca wall constructions
- Participation in Andean fabric elaboration at textile interpretation center
- Visit to Moray circular cultivation terraces
- Visit to Maras Salt Mines
Landmarks/POIs Chinchero Moray Maras Salt Mines - Day 3
Short Inca Trail to Machu Picchu
An early hotel pickup gets you to Ollantaytambo train station to board for km 104, about an hour away. From there you start hiking at Chachabamba and walk past an archaeological site just 15 minutes in. The trail climbs through green vegetation past waterfalls and orchids for roughly 4 hours until you reach Winaywayna. You'll have a boxed lunch here, then continue hiking 2 more hours through old Inca rest stops to reach Inti Punku (Sun Gate) overlooking Machu Picchu. After descending 30 minutes to the site itself, you take a 25-minute bus to Aguas Calientes. The thermal baths are optional (15-minute walk, 10 soles to enter) if you want to soak before dinner.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Box lunch at Wiñaywayna), Dinner
Included Activities
- Train journey to km 104 (Chachabamba)
- Hike on Short Inca Trail
- Visit to Chachabamba archaeological site
- Visit to Wiñaywayna archaeological site
- Visit to Inti Punku (Sun Gate)
- Visit to Machu Picchu
Optional Activities
- Visit to thermal baths in Aguas Calientes (10 soles entrance fee)
Landmarks/POIs Chachabamba Wiñaywayna Inti Punku (Sun Gate) Machu Picchu - Day 4
Machu Picchu
You'll take the bus from Aguas Calientes up to Machu Picchu and check in with your tickets and passport. A guide leads you around for 2 hours showing the main structures and spots for photos of the site. Lunch back in Aguas Calientes is on your own. Afterward, you'll catch the train to Ollantaytambo, where an agency driver picks you up for the ride back to your Cusco hotel.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Guided tour of Machu Picchu (2 hours with professional guide)
Optional Activities
- Huayna Picchu Mountain or Machu Picchu Mountain hiking and entrance (US$ 90 per person - ticket only, must request in advance as tickets sell out quickly)
Landmarks/POIs Machu Picchu - Day 5
Route of the Sun
Hotel transfer to the tourist bus station between 6:20-6:30 am, then depart Cusco at 7:00 am heading south. You'll stop at Andahuaylillas Chapel from the 1600s, called the 'Sistine Chapel of America' for its murals and gold work. Next is Raqchi Archaeological Complex with its Temple of Wiracocha and old stone storage buildings (about 40 minutes there). In Sicuani you get a 40-minute lunch buffet at La Pascana restaurant. The route passes through La Raya mountain pass at 4,335m/14,222 feet where you cross into the Puno region and can see Chimboya mountain. After the Pukara lithic museum with its ceramics and sculptures, you'll arrive in Puno around 5:00 pm.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Buffet lunch at La Pascana restaurant in Sicuani)
Included Activities
- Visit to Andahuaylillas Chapel
- Visit to Raqchi Archaeological Complex (Temple of Wiracocha)
- Visit to Pukara lithic museum
Landmarks/POIs Andahuaylillas Chapel Raqchi Archaeological Complex La Raya Pass Chimboya Pukara Museum - Day 6
Lake Titicaca Boat Tour
Your hotel pickup between 7:30-8:00 am takes you to Puno's port for a full day on Lake Titicaca, the world's highest lake you can actually navigate. First you visit the Uros floating islands where residents keep their own culture and traditions alive while fishing. Then you sail about 2.5 hours to the natural island of Taquile, watching the mountain scenery the whole way. Taquile gets about 2 hours for walking around, and lunch (traditional local food) takes about an hour. Your guide tells you when to head back, and you return to your hotel in the afternoon.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Typical lunch on Taquile Island)
Included Activities
- Complete boat tour on Lake Titicaca
- Visit to Uros floating islands
- Visit to Taquile island
Landmarks/POIs Lake Titicaca Uros Floating Islands Taquile Island - Day 7
Puno to Juliaca Airport
Based on your flight departure time, you'll be transferred to Juliaca Airport. That's where Waman Adventures' services end for this trip.
