
Name of the Tour:
Inca Mysteries
Description: In this trip you will discover 3 of the mysteries of the Inca civilization: first, Machu Picchu, which remained unexplored for almost 400 years. Secondly, you will visit the islands in lake Titicaca to discover the ancient culture of the Peruvian highlanders. Finally, you will fly over the mysterious Nazca lines, which its purpose still remains a mystery. This tour includes loads of adventure, you will ride on a horse, you will hike the mountains and explore the bottom of one of the deepest canyons in the world.
Destinations: Cusco, Inca Trail, Machu Picchu, lake Titicaca, Arequipa, Colca Canyon and the Nazca Lines.
Duration: 19 days
Comments:
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Andrew Laurie (Scotland): "The trip was excellent and beyond our expectations. We cannot speak Spanish and would have been lost without our tour leader and Indiana Expedition." | |
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Mairead Guckian (Ireland): "The trip met and exceeded all my expectations about Peru. It was the best trip I have made." | |
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Mary Clay (USA): "The trip was amazing, we both had an incredible time. Our guide was great and a good friend. He arranged birthday cakes for both of us which were wonderful surprises. Again, thanks for a great trip." |
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Day |
Activities |
Accommodation |
| 01 |
Arrival
to Lima: We will pick you up from the airport upon arrival and take you to the hotel in Lima. |
Lima |
| 02 |
Flight
to Cusco: In the morning we will take you to the airport in Lima for your flight to Cusco (1 hour). Once in Cusco we will take you to the hotel there. You will have time to rest and drink a "coca tea" to get used to the altitude. Cusco
City Tour: 1st day |
Cusco |
| 03 |
City
Tour Cusco: 2nd day You will visit the Inca remains in Cusco. The tour will start in Sacsayhuaman, in this site are massive walls made of huge stones that fit perfectly, a impressive example of their architecture. From there you will ride on a horse for 3 hours to visit 2 other archaeological sites: Qenqo (a temple where the Incas mummified their dead) and Tambomachay (a temple where the Inca king went to take ceremonial baths to purify himself and the whole empire). |
Cusco |
| 04 |
Excursion
to the Incas Sacred Valley We will take you to Pisac, the first town in the Urubamba Valley. There you will do a short hike (without backpacks) of 3 hours to visit the Inca temple on the top of a mountain and the Inca cemetery on a cliff. Then, we will take you back to Pisac to lunch and some shopping in its famous handicraft market. Afterwards, we will take you to Ollantaytambo town, after a nice ride along the valley. In Ollantaytambo you will visit a huge Inca temple. Finally, you will return to Cusco city in the evening. |
Cusco |
| 05 |
Inca
Trail: 1st day. From Piscacucho (a.k.a. "Km 82") to Wayllabamba (Distance: 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. |
Campsite |
| 06 |
Inca
Trail: 2nd day. From Wayllabamba to Pacaymayo (Distance: 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. |
Campsite |
| 07 |
Inca
Trail: 3rd day. From Pacaymayo to Winay Wayna (Distance: 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). |
Campsite |
| 08 |
Inca
Trail: 4th day. From Winay Wayna to Machu Picchu (Distance: 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). |
Cusco |
| 09 |
Free
day in Cusco: OPTIONAL:
Rafting in the Urubamba river |
Cusco |
| 10 |
Journey
to Puno At 8 AM you will take the bus to Puno. Along the road you will see wonderful landscapes as snow-capped mountains and valleys. You will arrive to Puno at 2 PM. |
Puno |
| 11 |
Excursion
to lake Titicaca: 1st day In the morning, you will take a boat to visit the Uros and Amantani islands. The first stop is Uros islands, known as the "floating islands" because they are made with "totora" reed by its inhabitants. Then, you will continue to Amantani island, there you will be welcome by the community and you will stay with a local family in their house. After lunch, you will walk to the top of a hill in the island to watch the sunset on the lake. In the evening, you will be the guest of a party with the local people. |
Amantani |
| 12 |
Excursion
to lake Titicaca: 2nd day After breakfast, you will continue your journey to Taquile Island by boat. After one hour, you will reach 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). |
Puno |
| 13 |
Tours
in Puno You will visit two archaeological sites: Sillustani and Chucuito. The first one is a sacred cemetery of the Incas with tombs as big as towers, done with huge rocks. The second one is an Inca temple for fertility with phallus-shaped stones, it's very funny. Journey to Arequipa |
Arequipa |
| 14 |
Arequipa City
Tour In the morning, you will tour the highlights of the city of Arequipa as the Cathedral and the Santa Catalina Convent. Most of these buildings were built with the "sillar" rock (a white volcanic rock). Journey to the Colca valley |
Cabanaconde |
| 15 |
Colca Canyon
Trek: 1st day You will hike down 1,000 meters (3,280 feet) from Cabanaconde town to the bottom of one of the deepest canyons in the world. At the bottom you will stay in a lodge with bamboo huts and a nice swimming pool filled with spring water. |
Oasis Campsite |
| 16 |
Colca Canyon
Trek: 2nd day Early in the morning, you will hike for 3 hours from the bottom to the top of canyon. Once in Cabanaconde town, you will have the chance to eat a second breakfast and wash yourself in the hotel before take the bus to Arequipa. You will get in Arequipa city at 7 PM. |
Arequipa |
| 17 |
Free day in
Arequipa You will have the day free to do some shopping and to enjoy this lovely city by yourself. Journey to Nazca |
Nazca |
| 18 |
Nazca Lines
flight In the morning, you will fly in a Cessna for 3 up to 5 passengers over the mysterious Nazca lines. The flight lasts 30 minutes, and you will see about 12 figures on the desert. Journey to Lima: |
Lima |
| 19 |
Transfer to
the airport: We will take you to the airport on time for your flight back home. |
(not included) |
OPTIONS: If you don't want to hike the Inca trail, we will include a tour to Machu Picchu by train instead, and the trip will be 3 days shorter. Ask for the price.
INCLUDES:
| Accommodation for 13 nights at nice hotels in Lima (2 nights), Cusco (5 nights), Puno (2 nights), Arequipa (2 nights), Cabanaconde (1 night) and Nazca (1 night). More information on the hotels included | |
| Home-stay for 01 night in Amantani Island (lake Titicaca). | |
| Campsites along the Inca Trail (3 nights) and the excursion in the Colca Canyon (1 night). | |
| Camping equipment (except sleeping bags and backpacks). | |
| Mules to carry your backpack on the Colca Canyonl. | |
| Three meals per day during the Inca Trail (3 days), the home-stay in Amantani island (1 day) and the excursion to the Colca Canyon (1 day). | |
| Breakfasts at hotels. | |
| Flight to the Nazca Lines (airport's tax included) | |
| All transfers to airports and hotels listed in the itinerary. | |
| All transports to visit the places included in the tour. | |
| Entrance fees to the places included in the itinerary. | |
| A Peruvian Tour leader (English speaker) who will accompany you the whole trip. |
PRICE:
|
Number of people in the group |
Price US dollars |
| 3 people | 2,030 |
| 4 people | 1,870 |
| 5 people | 1,800 |
| 6-7 people | 1,740 |
| 8 or more | 1,660 |
EXTRAS: not included
| Single Supplement (single rooms): 185 US dollars. | |
| Flight LIMA-CUSCO: 150 US dollars. | |
| Personal porter to carry your backpack on the Inca trail: 100 US dollars. | |
| Rafting in the Urubamba river: 45 US dollars (it includes the complete equipment and box lunch). | |
| Extra night in Lima: Single room US$55 / Double room US$60 (breakfast included) |
PAYMENT:
To confirm your booking you have to pre-pay 300 US dollars per person. The rest can be paid upon arrival. For payments with Credit Cards (Visa, Mastercard or American Express) we use a secure online platform. All payments using a credit card are subject to a 6% fee. If you prefer you can also wire the money through your bank or via Western Unio.Please, read our "Terms and Conditions" that apply to all our tours.
DATES: You can book this trip for anytime (except in February), just tell us when is the best time for you to start this tour.
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