Lima, Cuzco & Luxury Inca Trekking Vacation
Peru Packages
DAY BY DAY Itinerary
Day 1 – Lima, Peru Vacations – Arrival
Arrival at Lima airport, meet and greet.
Private transportation to your hotel.
Balance of the day at leisure.
Overnight in Lima.
Day 2 – Lima, Peru Vacations
Breakfast and departure for a half day city tour that offers the best of colonial and modern Lima.
Included are Lima's most imposing colonial churches and mansions such as the Government Palace, the Plaza Mayor, the City Hall and the Cathedral,
including 17th century San Francisco Monastery.
The tour ends with a visit to the modern suburbs of San Isidro, where a visit to the pre-Inca pyramid of Huaca Huallamarca (closed Mondays).
Before continuing to Miraflores we will visit Larco Herrera Museum, founded in 1926 by Peruvian archaeologist Rafael Larco Hoyle.
It showcases remarkable chronological galleries providing an excellent overview on 3000 years of development of Peruvian pre-Columbian history.
Located in a unique vice-royal mansion of the 18th century built over a 7th century pre-Columbian pyramid, is surrounded by beautiful gardens. Features
the finest gold and silver collection from Ancient Peru and the famous erotic archaeological collection, one of the most visited Peruvian tourist attractions.
For an unforgettable experience, Larco is one of the few museums in the world where visitors can also choose to enter the storage area with its 45.000 classified<
archaeological objects.Its masterpieces are considered worldwide icons of Pre-Columbian art, after being exhibited in the world's leading museums.
Return to hotel and afternoon at leisure.
At night you will enjoy a delicious dinner at La Dama Juana with a folklore show. Return to Hotel.
Overnight in Lima.
Day 3 - From Lima to Cuzco, Peru Vacations
In the morning, after breakfast, private transportation from your hotel in Lima to the Jose Chavez airport on time for your next flight to Cuzco.
Upon arrival reception, assistance and transfer to the hotel. Visitors should take a short rest in order to adjust to altitude.
In the afternoon a walking tour to experience the mystery of the Cathedral, Temple of the Sun, the famous twelve sided stone,
narrow streets with the finest walls as example of Inca Architecture, and the San Blas suburb, the residence of the best artists since the colony.
Overnight at Casa Cartagena, Cuzco.
Day 4 - Trekking Route - Our Luxury adventure starts
From Cuzco to Salkantay Lodge & Adventure Resort at Soraypampa (3800 m/12500 ft)
After an early breakfast, guests will be picked up starting at 7:00 am at their hotel in Cusco by our guide and vehicle in direction to the Salkantay Lodge & Adventure Resort (SLAR) in Soraypampa.
En route we will take a short break to visit the Inca ruins of Tarawasi near the town of Limatambo (approx. 1.5 hrs from Cusco). After leaving Limatambo, we pass through the mountain village of Mollepata where we stop for a short coffee break before ascending a winding mountain road to a place called Marcoccasa (30 minutes from Mollepata by vehicle).
Above & Left: Salkantay Lodge & Adventure Resort at Soraypampa
Here, we will begin our trek to Soraypampa, on an old route called the “Camino Real” (Royal Path). This is a good opportunity for guests to acclimate and enjoy a mild & beautiful 4 hour trek on their first day. (Hiking level: moderate)
(Optional: guests who do not wish to trek may be transported to the lodge in the vehicle).
The SLAR takes its name from the majestic peak at the head of the valley – the “Salkantay”, the 2nd most sacred peak in Inca mythology and, at 20,600 ft (6,270 m), the highest in the region.
After a warm welcome by our friendly staff, guests will be shown to their rooms and have time to wash-up. The first afternoon is spent at leisure to adjust to the altitude.
An evening briefing by the fireplace is followed by aperitifs and dinner.
Box lunch included.
Overnight at Salkantay Lodge and Adventure Resort.
Day 5 - Trekking Route - Soraypampa
Today is spent at leisure for rest or activities, depending upon guests’ level of acclimatization. The most popular activity at Soraypampa is a
half-day hike (3-4 hours. Hiking level: moderate to challenging) to a glacial lake where the more adventurous might take a very short swim!
This activity is excellent for acclimatization and a first immersion into high-mountain trekking. In the afternoon, guests may choose to trade the glacial swim for a relaxing soak in our outdoor jacuzzi. In the evening, the guide will brief the trekking party on gear and the itinerary for the following day.
Breakfast, lunch and dinner are taken at the Lodge.
Overnight at Salkantay Lodge and Adventure Resort.
Day 6 - Trekking Route - Soraypampa to Huayraccmachay
This is the big day: the start of the four-day trek to Machu Picchu.
After an early start, we will hike up the Rio Blanco valley, circling Humantay Peak across from Salkantay Peak. The highest point on the trek is a pass at 4,600 m (15,000 ft).
At the pass we stop to take in views of snow-capped peaks of the Vilcabamba Range in every direction, the south face of Salkantay towering above us. We will keep our eyes out for Andean condors, often visible in this area. From the pass we continue our descent toward the Wayra Lodge (“Wayra”: wind; ‘the place where the wind lives’) our destination for the evening.
A hot lunch is taken en route. Dinner and overnight at the Lodge.
Hiking time: 4-6 hours.
Total excursion time for day: 5-7 hours.
Hiking level: challenging with a 15,000ft mountain pass.
Overnight at Wayra Lodge.
Day 7 - Trekking Route - Huayraccmachay to Collpapampa
On this day we enjoy a leisurely breakfast at Wayra Lodge.
We then begin our trek by hiking downhill above the Salkantay River, through increasingly verdant scenery. The Colpa Lodge is located in an open promontory at the confluence of three rivers.
The outdoor hot tub in this lodge has prominent views of lush green mountains and a small, far-away, local town.
Dinner and overnight at the lodge.
(Hiking time: 3-4 hours.
Hiking level: easy to moderate.
Overnight at Colpa Lodge
Day 8 - Trekking Route - Collpapampa to Lucmabamba
We depart early today and head down the Santa Teresa River Valley, through more populated rural areas. We will pass through banana, granadilla, and avocado orchards and coffee plantations (said to be one of the best organic coffees in the world). We stop along the river for a hot picnic lunch.
After another hour of trekking a private vehicle arrives to take us to the beginning of the “Llactapata Inca Trail” (30- minute drive). From the head of the trail it is a short climb (30 min.) to the Lucma Lodge, set in an avocado orchard.
We arrive in time to allow for exploration of the small village of Lucmabamba and possibly meeting with members of the local community.
Dinner and overnight at the lodge.
Hiking time: 5-6 hours.
Total excursion time for day: 6-8 hours.
Hiking level: moderate to challenging, basically due to distance, not terrain.
Overnight at Lucma Lodge.
Day 9 - Trekking Route - Lucmabamba to Aguas Calientes
After an early start and a hearty breakfast, we tackle the last day of our trek.
We head uphill for 2-3 hours towards Llactapata pass (2,700 m/8,900ft), where we come upon a distant but quite special view of Machu Picchu from the southwest, a view few tourists ever glimpse.
An added value are the Llactapata Ruins, which have recently been restored.
Lunch is provided at the observatory, in view of Machu Picchu.
We then begin our final descent to the Aobamba River through lush bamboo forests and more orchards and coffee plantations (2-3 hour descent). Aguas Calientes and Machu Picchu are a short (30 minutes), scenic train ride away.
Total hiking time: 4-6 hours.
Hiking level: moderate to challenging.
We then arrive in Aguas Calientes to check-in at Inca Terra Pueblo hotel for the night.
Overnight at Incaterra Pueblo, Aguas Caliente.
Day 10 - Aguas Calientes to Cuzco
We wake up early to have breakfast at the hotel and then make our way to the bus station for the ride up to Machu Picchu (30 min).
A complete guided tour of Machu Picchu will be provided (2 hours).
Guests will have about 4 additional hours to explore the site on their own—there is a lot to do and see.
Afterwards, we will return by bus to Aguas Calientes for lunch and to go to the train station for the afternoon departure on board of VistaDome.
The train takes us to Ollantaytambo (1½ hrs), where a private vehicle awaits to take us to Cusco (1 ½ hrs). Upon arrival in Cusco (approximately 7-8pm) we will drop you off at Casa Cartagena hotel in Cuzco.
Overnight at Casa Cartagena, Cuzco.
Day 11 - From Cuzco to Lake Titicaca, Puno
Breakfast and free morning in Cuzco.
In the early afternoon, private transportation to the Cuzco airport for your next flight to Juliaca.
Airport arrival in Juliaca and private transfer to Libertador Lake Titicaca Hotel.
Overnight at Libertador Lake Titicaca, Puno.
Day 11 - Lake Titicaca, Peru Luxury Vacations
Breanfast and today we will enjoy a full day tour to visit two great attractions.
The Island of the Uros, north of the bay of Puno, is made almost entirely of "totora" (marsh reeds), and consequently is one of the world's most unique tourist attractions. Inhabited by two thousand Uros, who claim to be "kot-suña" (the people of the lake), and so have black blood, cannot drown and never feel the cold. For this reason - they claim - they are great fishermen.
The Island of Taquile, 35 kilometers to the east of Puno, with an area of six square kilometers, is the largest of the islands found in the lake and has an interesting variety of microclimates. The town of Taquile (3,950 m.a.sl.) has some Tiahuanaco and Inca ruins. Furthermore, the Inca moral principles Ama Sua (Do not steal), Ama Quella (Do not lie), and Ama Lulla (Do not be lazy) are still observed by the inhabitants. Should one of the thousand plus inhabitants break these rules, the islands community authorities may even banish the lawbreaker as punishment.
In the afternoon return to hotel.
Overnight at Libertador Lake Titicaca, Puno.
Day 12 - From Puno back home
Breakfast and morning at leisure.
In the afternoon, check out and private transfer to the Juliaca airport for your next flight to Lima and back home.
End of the program.
