Peru and Bolivia 10 days

Overview

1. Day 01

   Cusco, Historic Center and Archaeological Sites

   Arrive in Cusco and explore the city’s most important Inca and colonial landmarks, including Qorikancha, Sacsayhuaman, Qenqo, Puka Pukara and Tambomachay.

   Accommodation: Cusco.

2. Day 02

   Pisac, Ollantaytambo and Aguas Calientes

   Discover the Sacred Valley through its traditional villages and archaeological sites, with visits to Pisac and Ollantaytambo before travelling by train to Aguas Calientes.

   Accommodation: Aguas Calientes.

3. Day 03

   Machu Picchu and Return to Cusco

   Enjoy a guided visit to Machu Picchu and learn about its temples, terraces and most representative Inca structures. Afterwards, return to Cusco by train and tourist transportation.

   Accommodation: Cusco.

4. Day 04

   Route of the Sun from Cusco to Puno

   Travel to Puno along the scenic Route of the Sun, visiting Andahuaylillas, Raqchi, La Raya and the cultural complex of Pukara.

   Accommodation: Puno.

5. Day 05

   Uros Floating Islands and Taquile Island

   Sail across Lake Titicaca to visit the Uros Floating Islands and Taquile, known for its living traditions, textile heritage and beautiful lake views.

   Accommodation: Puno.

6. Day 06

   Copacabana and Sun Island

   Cross into Bolivia and explore Copacabana and Sun Island, surrounded by Lake Titicaca landscapes, ancient terraces and archaeological remains.

   Accommodation: Copacabana.

7. Day 07

   Copacabana Sanctuary and La Paz

   Visit the Sanctuary of the Virgin of Copacabana and discover local traditions before continuing to La Paz.

   Accommodation: La Paz.

8. Day 08

   La Paz City Tour and Moon Valley

   Explore La Paz, including its historic center, Witches’ Market, Killi Killi viewpoint and Moon Valley. In the evening, board an overnight bus to Uyuni.

   Accommodation: overnight bus.

9. Day 09

   Train Cemetery, Colchani and Uyuni Salt Flats

   Travel across the Uyuni Salt Flats by 4x4 and visit the Train Cemetery, Colchani, the Salt Hotel and Incahuasi Island, subject to weather conditions.

   Accommodation: overnight bus to La Paz.

10. Day 10

    La Paz and Departure

    Arrive in La Paz and transfer to the airport or bus terminal for your onward journey.

Itinerary

• 1

  DAY 1Day 01: Cusco – city tour

  Arrival in the city of Cusco, reception and transfer to the selected hotel by a representative of our travel agency.

  The rest of the morning is free to acclimatize to the altitude of approximately 3,350 meters above sea level.

  Pick-up from the hotel between 13:00 and 13:20 to begin the city tour and visit nearby archaeological sites. The tour will show you the impressive colonial city built on Inca foundations. We will visit the Cathedral, a Renaissance-style building with fine paintings from the Cusqueñan School.

  Qorikancha, or Temple of the Sun, known as the Royal House of the Sun in Cusco. We continue with the visit to four archaeological sites: Sacsayhuaman, a great fortress located 5 km from the city. Qenqo, a sacred amphitheater and center of worship to the god Puma, a place where human sacrifices were performed. Pucapucara, the red fortress, named due to the reddish tone its stones take on at sunset, and Tambomachay, a temple dedicated to the worship of water.

  Overnight in Cusco.

• 2

  DAY 2Day 2: Cusco – Sacred Valley of the Incas – Cusco (B – L)

  Breakfast at the hotel.

  Pick-up from the hotel at the agreed time to begin our visit to the Sacred Valley.

  During the tour, we will visit the town of Pisac, a picturesque mestizo colonial village. We continue with a visit to the Pisac archaeological site, where we can observe magnificent Inca terraces. On the way, we will also pass through the towns of Ccoya, Lamay, Calca, and Urubamba.

  Buffet lunch.

  In the afternoon, we will have a guided visit to the town of Ollantaytambo, home to the Ollantaytambo archaeological park, a gigantic agricultural, administrative, social, religious, and military complex from the time of the Tahuantinsuyo.

  Transfer to the train station to head towards Machu Picchu town. Upon arrival at Aguas Calientes station, a representative of our travel agency will be waiting to transfer you to your hotel.

  Overnight in Aguas Calientes.

• 3

  DAY 3Day 03: Cusco – Machu Picchu – Cusco (D – A)

  Breakfast at the hotel.

  Pick-up from the hotel and transfer to the bus station, where we will take the bus that will take us to the Lost City of the Incas, Machu Picchu, rediscovered in 1911 by Hiram Bingham.

  We will enjoy a guided tour of the main structures of the citadel, such as the viewpoint, the Temple of the Three Windows, the Intihuatana, the main square, among others. Afterwards, we will return to the town of Aguas Calientes.

  Lunch at a local restaurant.

  In the afternoon, we will take the train back to Ollantaytambo station, where a transfer will be waiting to take us to the bus that will return us to the city of Cusco.

  Overnight in Cusco.

• 4

  DAY 4Day 04: Cusco – Puno (D – A)

  Breakfast at the hotel.

  Transfer to the bus station at 07:00 hrs.

  Departure to the city of Puno on a tourist bus service. During the journey, we will pass through the picturesque town of Andahuaylillas and visit the Church of San Pedro de Andahuaylillas, dating from the 17th century, better known as the “Sistine Chapel of the Americas” due to its polychrome ceiling, beautiful murals, gold leaf work, and paintings from the Cusqueñan School that it houses inside.

  Along the way, we will stop in Raqchi, where we can see a spectacular Inca sanctuary built by Inca Pachacútec and dedicated to the great god Wiracocha. It features a large central wall with a fine stone Inca base. The other walls are made of giant adobe bricks. The structure also has two circular side columns.

  Around the temple, we will find several constructions that were once used as housing or storage.

  We will have a stop for a buffet lunch at a peaceful countryside restaurant, where you can enjoy the delicious local cuisine.

  We will continue our journey, crossing the border between Cusco and Puno (La Raya), at more than 4,335 meters above sea level, where the famous Chimboya snow-capped mountain is located, the source of the Amazon River. Here we will have time to take photos of the landscape.

  Along the route, we will visit the impressive Kalasaya Temple, a culture that developed from 1600 BC to 400 AD. In this museum, we can find ceramics and sculptures representing zoomorphic figures, including the Hatunñaqac sculpture, which translates as “The Supreme Executioner” of the ancient Pucará culture.

  We will stop in the town of Ayaviri, an important textile and livestock center.

  Arrival at the bus station in Puno, reception and transfer to the selected hotel by a representative of our travel agency.

  Overnight in Puno.

• 5

  DAY 5Day 05: Puno – Islas Flotantes Uros – Taquile – Puno (D – A)

  Breakfast at the hotel.

  Very early, transfer from the hotel to the pier or main port to board our boat and visit the Floating Islands of Uros, currently considered part of the National Reserve of Lake Titicaca. The trip takes approximately 30 minutes. The Uros people still maintain their own culture and traditions, as well as traditional fishing, especially of karachi and silverside fish.

  When fishing is abundant, they preserve the fish by drying them in the sun. They also engage in wild bird hunting and duck egg collection. There are currently 75 inhabited islands, and each one is well organized. We will have a brief visit of approximately 40 minutes.

  We will continue the journey to the natural island of Taquile, whose inhabitants are mainly dedicated to agriculture, handicrafts, and fishing. The locals continue to live according to ancient Inca traditions and laws, with cultural expressions, religious rituals, and folkloric customs such as marriage (sirvinacuy) and the payment to the earth (Pachamama).

  It is worth noting that spinning and weaving are mainly done by men, starting at the age of eight, while women are exclusively dedicated to spinning and weaving.

  We will then enjoy a traditional lunch included in the program.

  After lunch, passengers will have two free hours to visit the local craft center of the town, take panoramic photos, and later return to the city of Puno and their respective hotels.

  Overnight in Puno.

• 6

  DAY 6Day 06: Puno – Copacabana (D – A)

  Breakfast at the hotel.

  At 06:30 hrs, transfer to Copacabana in the sister country of Bolivia. Along the way, we will border Lake Titicaca and enjoy an exceptional view of the Royal Andes Mountain Range.

  At midday, we will enjoy a traditional local lunch. Around 13:30 hrs, we will board our boat and sail across Lake Titicaca, enjoying an exceptional landscape en route to the Sun Island, considered the cradle of the Inca Empire, as it is where Manco Cápac and Mama Ocllo departed toward the city of Cusco to found the Inca civilization.

  We will then visit the Intiwatana archaeological complex, the main tourist attraction of Bolivia, as well as medicinal centers, Pachamama agricultural Inca terraces, and observe a great variety of camelids.

  At approximately 16:00 hrs, we will board the boat back to Copacabana, where we will rest for the night.

  Overnight in Copacabana.

• 7

  DAY 7Day 07: Copacabana – La Paz (D)

  Breakfast at the hotel.

  We will then head out for a city tour and visit the Sanctuary of the Virgin of Copacabana. During our visit, if we are lucky, we may witness the traditional “Ch’alla” ceremony or blessing of vehicles and wishes, performed by Aymara and Quechua “yatiris” and “amautas”, who offer protection and blessings to families.

  As this is an important pilgrimage site, especially in the month of August for local residents, it becomes a significant cultural and tourist attraction.

  After lunch, at approximately 13:30 hrs, we will take the bus to the city of La Paz. This journey will take around 4 hours.

  Arrival in the city of La Paz, where a representative of our travel agency will be waiting to transfer us to the selected hotel.

  Overnight in La Paz.

• 8

  DAY 8Day 08: La Paz city tour – Valley of the Moon – La Paz – Uyuni (B – L)

  After breakfast, we will pick you up to begin this new adventure and learn more about the city on a city tour, where we will appreciate its cultural, historical, architectural, and artistic richness.

  During our tour, we will visit Plaza Murillo, the Cathedral, the Government Palace, the Church of San Francisco, the replica of the semi-subterranean temple of Tiahuanaco, the Quilli Quilli viewpoint, the Gold Museum or Costumbrista Museum, and the Witch Market, where locals buy products for traditional ceremonies such as the Ch’alla or blessing, as well as offerings for Pachamama. After this city visit, we will head to the Valley of the Moon, passing through the traditional neighborhoods of this area.

  You will have free time to explore on your own before being transferred to the hotel.

  At night, we will pick you up and transfer you to the bus station for your departure to Uyuni. The travel time is approximately 10 hours.

  Overnight on the bus to Uyuni.

• 9

  DAY 9Day 09: Uyuni Salt Flats (B – L)

  At 07:00 hrs, arrival in Uyuni, where a representative of our agency will be waiting to welcome us and we will enjoy a delicious breakfast. At approximately 11:00 hrs, we will begin our Uyuni tour, exploring the largest salt desert in the world in a 4x4 vehicle.

  During the tour, we will visit the Train Cemetery, where we will see the oldest trains dating back to 1899. These wagons were once used to transport minerals and are now part of a fascinating industrial past turned into a tourist attraction.

  We will continue to the town of Colchani, located on the edge of the salt flats, where local people still produce salt in a traditional way and will show us the salt extraction process.

  We will also visit the Salt Hotel, an iconic construction made entirely of salt.

  Then we head to Incahuasi Island (Fish Island), located in the middle of the desert, where we will find giant and very old cacti reaching up to 10 meters in height.

  After lunch, we will return across this stunning desert landscape and head back to Uyuni, where we will have the afternoon free. Later, we will transfer to the bus station for our departure to La Paz.

  Overnight on the bus to La Paz.

• 10

  DAY 10Day 10: La Paz Out (D)

  After breakfast, at the scheduled time, transfer to the bus terminal or airport in La Paz.

  Important: excursion times will be reconfirmed at the destination.

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