Incan Route: Cusco to La Paz

Arrive in Cusco
On arrival at the airport you will be met by our representative and transferred to your hotel.

We suggest that you take it easy today to give yourself the best opportunity to acclimatise to Cusco's altitude. This city is bursting with Andean culture and is one of the great culinary destinations of South America. It also just happens to be the gateway to the Sacred Valley and Machu Picchu, the best-known archaeological site on this vast continent.

City & Ruins Tour
Your first morning in Cusco can be spent at your leisure, enjoying breakfast before exploring Cusco or relaxing at your hotel.

In the afternoon you will be met for your guided tour of Cusco and its archaeological sites. Your Cusco tour will include highlights such as Plaza de Armas, the cathedral and Koricancha Temple. We also visit the UNESCO World Heritage listed ruins of Sacsayhuaman just outside of Cusco which were once the former capital of the Incan Empire.

Breakfast included.

Sacred Valley and Aguas Calientes
This morning you will be picked up from your hotel to discover the Sacred Valley of the Incas on this full day excursion. This fertile river valley was home to many important sites for the Incas, both strategic and religious. Your first stop will be the lookout Mirador de Taray, a scenic lookout point offering impressive panoramic views of the Sacred Valley.

Continue on to Pisaq where you will first visit the archaeological complex, the ruins of the fortress of Pisaq which are set high above a valley by patterned fields and rimmed by vast terracing. The stonework and panoramas at Pisac's Inca citadel are magnificent. You will visit the lower part of the complex where the agricultural area and the pre-Hispanic cemetery are located. Afterwards, visit the colourful local market and have free time to search for a souvenir or two before enjoying a typical Andean lunch at a local restaurant.

We then continue our journey along the River Urubamba to Ollantaytambo, where you will visit Ollantaytambo Ruins and one of its best preserved areas, Hanan Hucaypata.

You will be transferred to the local train station where you will catch the scenic afternoon train to Aguas Calientes. On arrival you will be escorted to your hotel by the hotel's staff. Enjoy a free evening and prepare for your early morning visit to Machu Picchu the next day.

*Option to add a night in the Sacred Valley and continue to Machu Picchu early tomorrow, giving you the opportunity to enjoy 2 visits to Machu Picchu.

Breakfast and Lunch included.

Guided Tour
This morning you will have an early start to visit Machu Picchu at sunrise and see the vivid colours brightening up this amazing destination. You will have a guided tour of the ruins and monuments visiting the Main Square, the Circular Tower, the Sacred Solar Clock, the Royal Quarters, the Temple of the Three Windows and the Cemeteries. The citadel was discovered in 1911 by the American explorer and academic, Hiram Bingham. Many theories on the citadel exist, but most agree it was a holy site, hidden for centuries and never found by the invading Spanish.

For those looking for adventure, we recommend the one and one half hour trek up Huayna Picchu Mountain, which overlooks Machu Picchu and allows for spectacular views of Machu Picchu and the surrounding area.

Return to Cusco
THE BEST SCENIC TRAIN IN LATIN AMERICA, THE 360° MACHU PICCHU TRAIN.

The only train in Peru with an entertainment app on board which will allow you to learn more about the train journey and the Inca civilization. Enjoy our appetising selection of cold and warm drinks, prepared using fruit juices and Andean herbs, and our delicious gourmet and organic delights made with products from the Sacred Valley. Experience a unique way to travel to Machu Picchu from Cusco, exploring the Andean landscape like never before with wider and taller panoramic windows and an observation outdoor carriage including a bar.

You will take the 360° Machui Picchu train from Aguas Calientes to Ollantaytambo station where you will continue your journey by bus/van to Cusco. Upon arrival, our representative will meet you and transfer you to your hotel. In case you have left any luggage in the hotel in the Sacred Valley, it will be picked up en route.

Breakfast included.

Bus Tour to Puno
This morning you will be met at your hotel by our representative and transferred to the bus station where you will board your bus to Puno. This 10-hour bus trip takes you through picturesque Andean landscapes dotted by small villages and herds of llamas and vicunas.

Throughout the journey you will make 3 important stops: the first is Andahuaylillas, known for its baroque church dating back to the 17th-century. The second stop will be at La Raya Pass where you will climb up to enjoy a panoramic view of the snow-capped Andes. The final stop is Raqchi where you will visit the Viracocha Temple. This was the only Incan temple of the time to feature cylindrical columns covered by fine layers of clay. You will enjoy a delicious lunch in a local restaurant in Sicuani then board the bus again for the final leg of your trip.

Upon arrival into Puno you will be met at the bus station and transferred to your hotel.

There is also an option to take the scenic Titicaca train between Cusco and Puno.

Breakfast and Lunch included.

Uros & Taquile Island
This morning we board our speed boat for the cruise to the Uros and Taquile Islands. By taking a speed boat we save 2-hours travel time giving you more time to explore the islands.

Our first stop is to visit the Uros Indians, who live on islands of floating reeds and, save for a few modest concessions to the modern world, still live as their ancestors would have done centuries ago.

We continue on to Taquile Island where we will tour around the ruins and visit these beautiful people, world famous for their intricate and fascinating weavings. After lunch we will return to Puno and transfer you back to your hotel.

* If you have an extra day then we recommend spending this evening in an authentic Lake Titicaca island home. On the following day you will return to Puno via Taquile Island.

* Please note: Due to the high altitude (3800m) visitors require a certain level of fitness for the walking on the islands.

Breakfast and Lunch included.

Travel to La Paz via Copacabana and Sun Island
Transport by local bus from Puno to Copacabana. Departure time 07.00 hrs., estimated arrival time 11.30 hrs.

You drive from Puno to Copacabana where you will enjoy lunch at a restaurant on the bay with lake views.

Afterwards you will board the boat to the mythical Sun Island. According to the legend, the Inca couple Manco Capac and Mama Ocllo appeared here to found the Empire of the Sun. We'll visit the Inca steps and Yumani, a small community that has kept its traditions and boasts breathtaking views from Lake Titicaca. After visiting Pilkokaina Inca Palace you sail back to Copacabana. This town is not only beautifully nestled between hills overlooking the bay, but is also an important Bolivian ancient shrine as thousands of pilgrims visit the city to be blessed by the Dark Virgin of Copacabana. At the end of the tour, you will be brought to bus terminal for your bus ride to La Paz. Departure time 18.30 hrs., estimated arrival time 22.00 hrs.

Breakfast and Lunch included.

City Tour
Pick-up time 09.00 hrs. from your hotel in La Paz. Our 5 hour tour of La Paz begins with a visit to the Bolivian National Museum of Archaeology which is located in the capital of La Paz and serves as an insightful look into the mystifying relics of Bolivia's past. Wander the halls, gaze at artefacts dating back as far as 1,500 BC and trace the history of the indigenous peoples from eras long forgotten through the art which is still being produced today. From here we head to ‘Mirador Balcón' which offers spectacular views of the city and after a short walk we reach Plaza Murillo and admire the colonial architecture around the square as your guide introduces the culture and history of La Paz and Bolivia. Enjoy a traditional mid morning ‘Salteña' snack as you take in the plaza.

We then wander through Calle Jaen, with its steep, narrow cobblestone alley lined with brightly coloured colonial houses, cafes and museums before taking a cable car to El Alto. You can expect spectacular views and then at the end you are met by your driver and transferred back into town where we visit the Witches' Market. Your guide shares information about Aymara healing and spiritual beliefs as you browse an amazing array of medicinal herbs, folk remedies and talismans. You can even pay to have your fortune told by a shaman who specialises in reading fortunes with coca leaves. We return you to your hotel and you have the remainder of the day at leisure.

Breakfast included.

Depart
Our representative will pick you up from your hotel and transfer you to the airport.

Breakfast included.