Official Itinerary

Day 1: Mon, 16th ✈
- Traveling all day... Long layover in Houston and Lima


Day 2: Tues, 17th ✈
6:40 am arrival in Cuzco
9:05 am to 10:10 am- flight to Arequipa
-Pickup arranged by hotel (Tierra Viva Hoteles)
-Make a trip to Giardino Tours office to make payment for the Colca trip (ADRESS. JERUSALEN 604-A)
-Overnight at Tierra Viva Hoteles


Day 3: Wed, 18th
-7:30am depart from Arequipa, driving 160 km to the town of Chivay.  At the beginning of our excursion we will enjoy the majestic views of the Misti, Chachani and PichuPichu volcanoes before approaching the National Reserve of "Pampa Canahuas", where our transportation will make a short stop to observe the wild Vicunas (one of 4 types of American camels) in its natural habitat.  At this point we are about 3400 meters above sea level.
-Moving on, we will arrive to "Pata Wasi", an Andean community at the opposite border of the reserve.  Here you might enjoy the natural formation of rocks and the view to the backside of the Misti and Chachani volcanoes.  To prevent altitude sickness we will have some Coca Tea
-Continuing on the road we will pass "Tocra", a high plain at more than 4500 meters, where we will observe lakes with migrant birds and get pictures of the "Antiplano" with its Llamas and Guanacos.  The highest point of our tour will be "Pata Pampa" located at 4820 meters, where we'll observe the volcanoes Ampato, Sabancaya, Hualca-Hualca, Mismi (the source of the Amazon River), and the "Cordillera de Chila".  When we are close to the town of Chivay, we will see the spectacular multicolor view of the terraces of the Colca Valley.
-After a short visit of Chivay's Plaza, we will drive to Coporaque town and visit the Lodge "La Casa de Mamayacchi" where we will have our lunch. (not included in fees)
-After lunch, your guide will invite you to a short hike to the hill of the San Antonio ruins, where we will visit a cemetery and have a wonderful view to the terraces of the Canyon (hike is about 1 hour, and is optional)
-we will come back to our transportation and drive to "la Calera" natural hot springs, where we will enjoy a spectacular sunset surrounded by the mountains (Entrance fees not included)
-Return to Mamayacchi where we will spend the night.


Day 4: Thurs, 19th
-We will have breakfast very early in the morning and leave to the famous "Cruz del Condor" point.
-Arrive to "Cruz del Condor" and time enough to have an enjoyable view of the deep of the Canyon and if the weather permits; majestic pictures of the flight of the Condors.
-After a coordinated time, our guide will take you for a short walk near the Canyon (approx. 1 hr).
-On the way back to Chivay, we're going to visit the traditional village of Pinchollo and the "Antahuique viewpoint", where wonderful 1500 year old terraces, contructed by the Collaguas, a culture well before the Incas' time, can be observed.
-We will also make a stop at the look out point of "Choquetico" with its hanging tombs "Tunbas colganes", and take a look to the litomaqueta, a model of the canyon terraces carved in a rock.
-We will continue visiting Maca, and Andean community that experienced an earthquake in November of 1991 and the village of Yanque with the most beautiful church in the valley.
-Upon our return to Chivay we will have lunch at a local restaurant, then leave Chivay for Puno around 1 pm.
-Overnight at Punuypampa Inn


Day 5: Fri, 20th
-Independent Day trip to Lake Titicaca (or we can arrange with the hotel once we arrive)
-Uros Islands and Taquile Islands
-Overnight at Punuypampa Inn


Day 6: Sat, 21st

6:00 am- Check-in for bus from Puno toe Cuzco
7:00 am- Depart from Puno at Inka Express Bus Station Puno
-On the route visit Andahuaylilas town.  Stop at a church referred to as the Andean Sistine Chapel because of its magnificent frescoes
-Visit Raqchi, also named the Temple of the God Wiracocha.  121 km from Cuzco, this Inca Temple is monumental: 100m in length, 26m in width and 14 m in height.  Divided into two naves, each of these still retains the bases of eleven giant columns.  The base of the walls consists of Imperial Inca stonework with a top section of adobe.  Adjacent to the temple, we can see many storehouses, used for various purposes.
-Lunch buffet at Sicuani.  The buffet includes typical Andean choices as well as International New Andean cuisine.
-Stop at La Raya.  The highest pass on the route between Cuzco and Pun, La Raya is 4335m above sea level.  Beautiful landscapes await, as well as the animals that are symbolic of the Andes: Llamas, alpacas, and vicunas.  This is a region situated between two cultures, Quechua and Aymara, as well as a composite of two terrains: the dry and arid Altiplano and the more verdant Quechua valleys and rivers.
-Visit Pucara, the most important and oldest ceremonial site this side of Tiahuanaco.  Characterized by a series of satire platforms, the ruins also reveal some lito-sculptures and tombstones, all witnesses of a pre-Inca civilization, possible one at the origin of the Andean culture of the Altiplano.
-Arrive in Cuzco around 3:00 pm
-Afternoon in Cuzco

Day 7: Sun, 22nd
My Dad arrives at 6:30am

- Explore Cuzco

Day 8: Mon, 23rd
- 10:00 pick up from hotel to head on out to Puerto Maldonado for a tour of the Amazon
- 11:45 Flight departs to PEM


Day 9: Tues, 24th
- Amazon Tour


Day 10: Wed, 25th
- Amazon Tour
- Return to Cuzco at 14:00


Day 11: Thurs, 26th
-9:00 am City tour of Cusco: Visit the Cathedral, Koricancha or Temple of the Sun, the archaeological complex of Sacsayhuaman, Kenko, Pucapucara, and Tambomachay.

Day 12: Fri, 27th
- 9:00 am Sacred Valley Tour: Visit the artisan market and Archeological Site of Pisac
- 12:30 - 13:30 Buffet lunch in Urubamba, Continue the tour visiting the Archaeological site of Ollantaytambo and enjoy an amazing mountain view.
- 17:00 - 17:30 Transfer to the Ollantaytambo station to take the Expedition train departing at 19:00 and arriving to Aguas Calientes at 20:43, Transfer to your hotel in Aguas Calientes assisted by the hotel's staff


Day 13: Sat, 28th
- 7:00 Tour Machu Piccu: tour guide will pick up from our hotel to take the bust up to Machu Piccu Mountain early in the morning to explore the great "Lost City of the Incas" together
- 10:00 - 10:30 After the tour, recommended to walk up, on our own, to the Sun Gate or Inti Punku to admire another amazing panoramic view of the Historic Sanctuary of Machu Piccu or visit the Inca Bridge.
- 13:00 - 13:30 Buffet lunch at Machu Piccu Sanctuary Lodge. Only hotel located at the top of the mountain.
- 16:00 - 16:30 Take the bus down to Aguas Calientes to enjoy it's natural hot springs. 
- 17:27 Transfer to the station to take the Vistadome train departing at 17:27 and arriving at 20:40 to Poroy. 


Day 14: Sun, 29th
- 9:00 Maras, Moray and Chinchero Tour: pick up from hotel. Visit the natural salt mines of Maras, to the most advanced agricultural system of the Incas, Moray and to the textile town of Chinchero where you can visit its market, arqueological site and its church.
- Return to hotel.


Day 15: Mon, 30th ✈
- 13:30 Pick up from hotel and transfer to the airport and fly home!