Inca Explorer

  Peru

• Cusco: 
Cusco
• All Other Areas in Peru: 
Arequipa,  Puno,  Amantani Island,  Machu Picchu,  Incan ruins

Dates: All year (except February)

Description: In this trip you will travel through the Peruvian highlands from the heights of the Inca trail to one of the deepest canyons in the world, the Colca canyon. You will tour Machu Picchu, home-stay in lake Titicaca with a local family and watch condors flying above your head, not to mention the great shopping you will do in Cusco and Arequipa cities. We highly recommend this trip to people who are interested in the local people, their culture and folklore. Also, to people who enjoy outdoors (trekking, hiking, camping).

Highlights: Itinerary:

1st Day: Arrival to Lima.
We will pick you up from the airport upon arrival and take you to the hotel in Lima.

2nd Day: Flight to Cusco.
Transfer to the airport in Lima / Flight to Cusco / Transfer to the hotel in Cusco. You will have the afternoon free to rest and tour the city by yourself.

3rd Day: Cusco City Tour.
In the afternoon (1:30 PM) you will visit the Cathedral. Then, you will tour the amazing Inca sites of Sacsayhuaman, Qenqo and Tambomachay. These archeological sites are the remains of the ancient capital of the Inca Empire.

4th Day: Inca Trail - 1st day (9 Kms / 5.6 miles).
A bus will pick you up from the hotel to take you to the beginning of the Inca Trail (2,720 mts / 9,000 ft); from there you will hike for 2 hours before lunch, and then 2 hours more to reach the campsite. You will see Llactapata ruins and camp at Wayllabamba (2,950 mts / 9,800 ft) with an amazing view of Veronica snow-capped mountain.

5th Day: Inca Trail - 2nd day (12 Kms / 7.5 miles).
This is the toughest day of the trek. After 4 hours hiking, you will reach the Warmiwanuska pass, the highest point of the trail (4,200 meters / 14,000 ft). After rest at the pass, you will descend to the Pacaymayo campsite (3,600 mts / 11,900 ft); there you will lunch and rest.

6th Day: Inca Trail - 3rd day (16 Kms / 10 miles).
This day is the nicest one, the hike starts with a climb to the Runkurakay pass (3,990 meters / 12,960 ft), from there the view of the mountains and the cloud-forest is quite impressive. After the pass, the path is mostly downhill and the sceneries change dramatically. Along the path it are 3 main Inca sites: Sayacmarca, Phuyupatamarca and Winay Wayna. You will camp in Winay Wayna campsite at 2,700 meters (8,900 ft).

7th Day: Inca Trail - 4th day (5 Kms / 3.2 miles).
You will wake up early in the morning (4:30 AM) to reach Inti Punku (Sun's Gate) before 6:30 AM to watch the first sun beams over Machu Picchu (2,400 mts / 7,900 ft). Once in there you will have a guided-tour for 2 hours; afterwards, you will have free time to explore by yourself. In the afternoon, you will take the train back to Cusco (4 PM).

8th Day: Free day in Cusco.
You will have the day free to do some shopping and to enjoy this lovely city. OPTIONAL: Rafting in the Urubamba river. We will take you to the Urubamba river to have fun on a raft. The level of it is very good, adventurous but safe (rapids class II and III). You will be back in Cusco city in the afternoon (5 PM).

9th Day: Journey to Puno.
At 9 AM, you will take the bus to Puno. During the ride you will enjoy wonderful sceneries of snow-capped mountains, valleys and llamas. You will arrive to Puno at 3 PM and then taken to the hotel.

10th Day: Lake Titicaca tour - 1st day.
In the morning, you will take a boat to visit the Uros and Amantani islands. The first stop is the Uros islands, known as the "floating islands" because they are made with "totora" reed by its inhabitants. Then, you will continue to the Amantani island by boat too. There, the group will be welcome by the community, and you will stay with a local family in their house. After lunch, you will go to the top of a hill in the island, there you will watch the sunset on the lake. In the night, you will be the guest of a party with the people of the community.

11th Day: Lake Titicaca tour - 2nd day.
After breakfast, you will continue your journey to Taquile Island by boat. After one hour, you will get in this island, home of an ancient community. There, the people still wear typical costumes. If you want you can swim in the lake. You will be back in Puno in the afternoon (4:30 PM).

12th Day: Journey to Arequipa.
At 2:30 PM, you will take the bus to Arequipa. You will arrive at 8:30 PM and we will take to the hotel.

13th Day: Arequipa City Tour.
In the morning, you will tour the city of Arequipa and its highlights like the Cathedral and Santa Catalina Convent. You will have the afternoon free to do some shopping.

14th Day: Tour to the Colca Canyon - 1st day.
In the morning a private bus will take you to Chivay town in the Colca valley. Along the road you will see volcanoes and llamas. In the town you will have a bath in its wonderful hot-springs, so don't forget your swimming-suit.

15th Day: Tour to the Colca Canyon - 2nd day.
Early in the morning you will have a ride along the valley until the "cruz del condor" lookout point a perfect spot to watch the "condors" on their daily flights. Afterwards, you will return to Chivay town to lunch and finally return to Arequipa city.

16th Day: Flight to Lima.
Transfer to the airport in Arequipa / Flight to Lima in the afternoon.

Cost in US$: 1065

Extras:
- Single Supplement (single rooms): 115 US dollars
- Flights Lima-Cusco / Arequipa-Lima: 200 US dollars (airports' taxes NOT included)
- Personal porter to carry your backpack on the Inca trail (4 days): 95 US dollars
- Rafting in the Urubamba river: 35 US dollars (it includes the complete gear and box lunch)
- Extra night in Lima: Single room US$45 / Double US$50 (breakfast inc.)
- Lima City Tour: 25 US dollars.

This Program is open to Worldwide Participants.

Participants Travel to Peru Independently

Indiana Expedition's Mission Statement: Indiana Expedition is a tour operator based in Peru with loads of experience leading tours to Peru. Our main goal is to show the beauty of this country, the kindness of its people and the riches of its history.

Year Founded: 2000