Pathway to Machu Picchu – 9 days / 8 Nights Itinerary

Day 1, Arequipa City Tour

Often called the “White City” due to its many buildings constructed of sillar, a white volcanic rock. Upon arrival into Arequipa, you’ll be greeted at the airport by one of our representatives who will take you to your confirmed Arequipa hotel to settle in.

In the afternoon, meet your guide for your Arequipa city tour. During the tour, visit San Ignacio Chapel, the Plaza de Armas, a neoclassical Cathedral, and the Santa Catalina Monastery, a beautiful colonial convent that once housed 500 nuns. End at one of two famous lookout points, where you can appreciate views of the Misti Volcano. Spend the evening as you wish. We recommend sampling the delicious local cuisine.

• Meals: None
• Accommodation: 3* or 4* Hotels

Day 2, Colca Canyon Tour & Overnight

This morning will start with a wonderful breakfast at your hotel before setting off on a scenic drive to the Colca Canyon. Pass stunning landscapes of the Salinas Aguada Blanca National Reserve. Along the way see Vicuna’s grazing. The highest point of the journey will be at Patapampa Pass located at 4910 meters above sea level. See pre-Inca terraces and awe-inspiring volcanos in the distance.

On arrival into Chivay town, visit the Plaza and have a lunch, this is not included in the tour price, and later travel to the Calera Hot Springs, here you can enjoy the warm pools and take in the stunning scenery. Settle into your hotel for the night and relax after a long day of traveling.

• Meals: Breakfast
• Accommodation: 3* or 4* Hotels

Day 3, Colca Canyon Tour and Arrival in Puno

Early this morning, with your guide drive to the Mirador Cruz del Condor, one of the best viewpoints over the canyon and home to the famed giant Andean condors. The road leads past picturesque villages and pre-Inca ruins dominated by the Ampato and Hualca glaciers, both visible in the distance.

Travel back to Chivay and have lunch in town before we start our journey to Puno, a journey of between 5 and 6 hours from Colca Canyon by car with spectacular views on the way. Puno is at a higher altitude than Arequipa, and if you haven’t already sufficiently acclimatized, it is a good idea to take it easy upon arrival. Transfer to your hotel and relax or go out and explore the town of Puno.

• Meals: Breakfast
• Accommodation: 3* or 4* Hotels

Day 4, Lake Titicaca Tour

After a wonderful breakfast at your hotel we embark on a full-day experience will last around 9 hours. First, we visit the floating Uros islands, composed of about 32 islands constructed of many layers of totora reeds. While visiting the islands, your guide will explain the local customs, and you can explore the reed homes, and maybe take a ride on the reed boats.

This exciting tour continues to Taquile Island. During the boat ride, enjoy amazing views of Lake Titicaca, perched at 12,500 feet in elevation. While on the island visit the most important sites and embark on a rigorous hike to the viewpoints. Have time to enjoy a local lunch (not included), before your return by boat to Puno. You’ll arrive back in Puno in the early evening and will have time to relax in your hotel at your leisure.

• Meals: Breakfast, lunch
• Accommodation: 3* or 4* Hotels

*Note: Visiting Taquile requires a strenuous climb up 500 steps to the main part of the island. Elevation ranges from around 12,000 ft at the lakeshore up to 13,000+ ft at the highest point. Please take care with the high altitude.

Day 5, Route of the Sun to Cusco

After a filling breakfast at your hotel make the journey just as exciting as the destination with a exceptional tour from Puno to Cusco, we will stop at the highlights of the Route Of The Sun, The border of Puno and Cusco “La raya”, The famous for Raqchi’s Wiracocha temple, the 16th-century church in Andahuaylillas. Rather than spending hours on a coach, you’ll disembark regularly and enjoy the beautiful scenary of the Peruvian Andes

• Meals: Breakfast, lunch
• Accommodation: 3* or 4* Hotels

Day 6, Cusco City Tour

Spend the morning at your leisure. This is a great time to explore some of Cusco’s less-visited attractions, including the vibrant San Pedro Market, the bohemian neighborhood of San Blas, or one of Cusco’s many fine museums.

After lunch, your city tour will introduce you to the remarkable history of Cusco, visible in its monumental architecture, richly ornamented churches, and present-day Andean cultural practices. Begin in the historic center with visits to the majestic Cusco Cathedral and Qoricancha (Temple of the Sun), the modern-day Santo Domingo Church. Your guide will give you all the details before driving to the surrounding hillside to explore the spectacular Sacsayhuaman fortress and—time permitting—other nearby archaeological sites such as Qenko.

In the late afternoon, return to your Cusco hotel. Spend the evening at your leisure, enjoying the local cuisine, music and Cusco at night.

• Meals: Breakfast
• Accommodation: 3* or 4* Hotels

Day 7, Sacred Valley Tour

From Cusco we travel to the Sacred Valley. The valley was the spiritual and agricultural center of the Inca Empire. Here the powerful emperors built private estates, temples, fortifications, and thousands of agricultural terraces.

Join your guide for a full-day journey through this remarkable region. Begin in Pisac, where you’ll tour the impressive hillside ruins with your guide and take in their spectacular views before exploring the famous artisan market in the village of Pisac. Here is the perfect place to buy all your souvenirs. Travel further into the valley and stop for lunch (not included) at a buffet restaurant in Urubamba.

Later we visit the spectacular Ollantaytambo fortress, an important royal estate of Inca Emperor Pachacuti. Take some time to explore the village’s stone-lined streets, where water still flows through ancient Inca-built channels. Ollantaytambo has some great photo opportunities.

Late in the afternoon, your guide will drop you off at your hotel in Urubamba, where you can soak in the tranquility of this beautiful town and sleep under the brilliant Andean night sky.

• Meals: Breakfast, lunch
• Accommodation: 3* or 4* Hotels

Day 8, Machu Picchu Tour

The highlight of any Peru tour is Machu Picchu. After breakfast at your Sacred Valley hotel, take a scenic train (departs at 8:29 am) journey through mountain valleys, high jungle, along rivers and mystical cloud forests before arriving in Aguas Calientes. There, our guide will transfer you to a shuttle bus for the winding ascent to Machu Picchu.

Stay with your expert guide for an unforgettable walk through the stone-lined paths of this ancient citadel. Explore its most important temples and enclosures, while your guide shares with you all his knowledge about this enigmatic site. Visit the plaza and the Residential sectors. Take in the breathtaking views of the surrounding Andes and feel the presence of the Inca.

In the late afternoon after lunch, return by bus to Aguas Calientes and board your train at 4:22pm, 4:43pm or 5:23 pm, back to Ollantaytambo where you’ll be transferred to your hotel in Cusco. Expected arrival time between 8:30 pm to 9:30 pm, depending on the train schedule.

Optional: Extend your stay with an overnight in Aguas Calientes, allowing you to return to Machu Picchu for a second visit. You can also hike Huayna Picchu or Machu Picchu Mountain for a stunning bird’s-eye view of the ruins. Permits are limited and must be booked in advance, so let us know if you’re up for the challenge.

• Meals: Breakfast,
• Accommodation: 3* or 4* Hotels

Day 9, Departure from Cusco

After breakfast at your hotel, one of our representatives will meet you at your hotel and take you to the airport for your journey home or on to your next destination.

• Meals: Breakfast