Peru Vacation 9 Days: Lima, Cusco, Machu Picchu and Lake Titicaca

Lima, Peru’s national capital was one of the first to be established in South America by the Conquistadors. This tour will take you from the modern suburb of San Isidro to the pre-Inca pyramid of Huaca Pucllana. Then you will visit the Plaza de Armas which is surrounded by spectacular colonial architectural constructions.

With its 2000 years of history, Lima will amaze you. The center of colonial Lima has been declared to be part of the Cultural Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO. During the Lima City Tour you will appreciate the beauty of the imposing Archbishop´s Palace, the opulent Palace of the Government, the official residence of the president, and the Cathedral of Lima. San Francisco Monastery which was built during the 17th century features some magnificent tile work. In the interior you’ll see exceptional paintings and ornate carvings, including the world-famous library.

In order to get deeper into the history and culture of Lima, you could participate in an optional tour to the Larco Herrera Museum. This museum is located in a restored 17th century mansion and is considered to be the finest museum in Lima. Here you will be able to see the largest collection in the world of pre-Columbian masterpieces, and a very impressive exposition of gold and jewels, the value of which cannot be estimated.

After you eat a delicious breakfast, we will take you over to the Lima airport. There you will board your flight up to Cusco, the ancient capital of the Tahuantinsuyo. Cusco is the oldest continually inhabited city in all of America. When you arrive in Cusco our team will be waiting for you. You will be driven to your hotel in the Historic Center of the city. At your hotel there will be delicious teas available. Coca tea or muña tea can help you acclimate to the high elevation of Cusco. The rest of the day is a free day. If you would like, you can explore the inspirational Imperial City on your own.

We´ll leave Cusco early in the morning and travel to the traditional town of Chinchero. There you will visit a local family who will demonstrate for you the details of their authentic Incan weaving techniques. Then you will have time to visit the amazing Chinchero archeological center. After visiting Chinchero, you will take a trip to the most important agricultural testing station in the Inca Empire, Moray. There you can observe the great skill that the Incas exhibited in how they adapted plants to different climatic zones. You will see great circular terraces where the temperature changes depending on their elevations. The Incas had extraordinary knowledge of climates and microclimates.

In Maras you will make a short stop to see the pretty houses which feature the coats-of-arms of Incan nobles who lived here during Incan and colonial times. The town of Maras used to be inhabited by Incan nobility who originally lived in Cusco. Today the lintel of each house shows the coat-of-arms of an Incan noble family. This town was important after the time of the Spanish Conquest.

You will continue to the salt mines of Salineras. This is an impressive site that consists of over 5000 small wells where salt is collected. Some of these wells are very old. The Incas mined salt at this site, and this practice continued throughout the reign of the Spanish viceroys. Now the local people let the salt water flow into the depressions which they have dug out. Then the sun evaporates the water and leaves behind a crust of salt which is collected and sold on the local market. We will finish up our tour by stopping in Urubamba for a good buffet lunch. After lunch you will explore the Ollantaytambo Ruins. Finally, you will board the Vistadome train to Machupicchu.

This is the day that you have been waiting for. Today you will visit one of the Seven Wonders of the World, Machu Picchu. After breakfast you will board the bus at the bus stop in Aguas Calientes and ride up to the Citadel of Machu Picchu.

There you will definitely have an incredible experience that you will never forget. This tour includes all the major plazas and sacred places of this Seventh Wonder of the World and UNESCO World Cultural Heritage site. First you will start out by visiting the House of the Guardian. From there you can see Machu Picchu in all its glory and splendor. You might as well take advantage of this opportunity to snap some spectacular photos. After a brief explanation from your local guide, you’ll continue on to the following imposing constructions: the Temple of the Sun, the Temple of the High Priest, the Sacred Plaza, and the Great Carved Rock that has intricate markings and was probably used as a Sun dial by the Incas of old. During your tour, try your best to enjoy these authentic ruins of the lost Inca Civilization.

Soon after marveling at this magical landscape, the most famous in all South America, you will return to Aguas Calientes to enjoy the perfect lunch at Café Inkaterra by Machu Picchu Pueblo Hotel. Later in the afternoon, you will board the Machu Picchu train back to Ollantaytambo. From there you will hop in our private van and ride back to the city of Cusco.

During your tour of Machu Picchu you will have the option of climbing up Huayna Picchu Mtn. or Machu Picchu Mtn. If you wish to climb up either one, it would be in your best interest to reserve your tickets at least 3 months in advance.

Your tour of cosmopolitan Cusco begins at the iconic Cusco Cathedral which was built during the colonial era. This historic old church contains over 400 paintings from the Cusco School of Fine Arts.

After touring the Cathedral, you will visit the Incan Temple of the Sun, the Coricancha. The stonework here is absolutely amazing. How did the Incas build this? Before the arrival of the Spanish the walls were covered with sheets of pure gold 3 meters high. During Incan times this was the most important religious site in their empire (Tahuantinsuyo)

Next, you will go out of the city and up to the immense magical Fortress of Sacsayhuaman. On your excursion to the impressive fortress of Sacsayhuaman, which is located north of the city of Cusco, you will observe how this construction was built of gigantic blocks of cut stone. Some of these blocks weigh more than 100 tons. It is the perfect example of Incan archeological engineering. This fortress is an inspiration which took more than 70 years to reach completion. These fabulous walls amaze every traveler who comes here to contemplate the ruins and the spectacular scenery of Cusco’s surrounding mountains.

Then we will go to the mysterious Incan site of Qenco. Qenco is a carved limestone formation which is full of subterranean passages and decorated with mythical figures like the gigantic puma, crawling serpents and soaring condors. In addition, you will visit the Baths of the Incas, Tambo Machay. Here the Incan nobility went to relax and enjoy the pacific waters. Across the street you will be able to find sellers of handmade arts and crafts. There will also be ceramics, silver jewelry, and handmade goods fabricated by the local folks. Finally, you will return to Cusco after your trip which lasts about 6 hours.

Starting after you eat a delicious breakfast, you will leave Cusco and ride through picturesque Andean valleys in the direction of the Antiplano. Your first stop on the adventurous Route of the Sun will be the Church of Saint Peter the Apostle in Andahuaylillas which is called the Sistine Chapel of the Americas. Here you will have a fascinating guided tour of the details of the church. All of the ceilings and the walls are covered with murals and the oil paintings and their frames use real golden foil.

The next stop during your Machu Picchu Family Vacation journey will be at the Temple of Wiracocha at Raqchi. This is a magical rectangular structure which is 92 m. long, 25.5 m. wide, and about 9.8 m high and was dedicated to Wiracocha, the Incan Supreme Deity. At this destination, located near an extinct volcanic mountain, you can enjoy the panoramic scenery and the Andean landscape. At the entrance of this sanctuary Spanish priests built a Catholic Church in the center of the Qhapaq Ñan which was the main Incan highway between Cusco and Lake Titicaca.

When you arrive at Sicuani you will eat a delicious novo andino lunch. Soon you will continue your journey along the Route of the Sun and stop at La Raya. La Raya, at 4335 masl., is the highest point on the trip from Cusco to Puno, and from here you will take the time to discover breathtaking nature. Finally, you will visit the museum at Pukara. This was an important ceremonial site on the Altiplano. Here you can explore the origin of local pre-Incan cultures through the museum’s collection of sculptures and ceramics. Arrival time in Puno is scheduled for 5 pm. In Puno you can get comfortable and relax at your 4-star hotel.

Just after breakfast we will come by and pick you up at your hotel around 7 am. Then you will go to the port and board our comfortable motor launch to ride out to the Island of Taquile. Taquile has been called one of the most beautiful islands in the whole world. It is here that you will meet the isolated weavers of this ancient Andean community. According to pre-Columbian legend, the Incas actually learned how to weave from the artisans of this island. The men are the weavers, and the women spin. Their weavings are awesome. Taquile has been declared part of the Cultural Heritage of the World by UNESCO.

After a really nice experience with the local folks, you will leave Taquile at around noon and go in the direction of the Chucuito Peninsula. This is in the Aymara region of Lake Titicaca and it represents the communal identity of the Peruvian – Bolivian Altiplano. Here you will enjoy a wonderful buffet lunch at The Fisherman´s House right in the community of Luquina Chico. Later in the afternoon you will visit the Floating Islands of the Uros on your way back to Puno. Totora reeds are woven together by natives to construct their islands, their houses and their boats. Here the Uros people have maintained their ancient customs and their way life for thousands of years. When you visit the Uros Islands, the local people will share with you their knowledge and teach you how to live in a more environmentally sustainable manner.

This exclusive program allows our customers to sample new tourist attractions on their Lake Titicaca Tour. Very few visitors know about some of these idyllic destinations. Since this is a non-traditional excursion, our clients are usually absolutely enchanted with the experience.

Travel 1’s Team will drive you to the Inca Manco Capac Airport in Juliaca in time for you to check in and catch your flight. On the way to the airport you will visit the Sillustani Archeological Center. Sillustani was a pre-Incan cemetery on the shores of Lake Umayo near Puno. These tombs, which are built above ground in tower-like structures called chullpas, were built by the Qolla people who were later conquered by the Aymara.

When you arrive at the airport, we will bid you farewell. From here, as you begin your next adventure on your own, we will be hoping that you carry with you fond memories of fulfilled dreams and, above all, positive energy so you will be able to continue to explore the best that our world has to offer.

If you are not yet ready to return home, our team can help you extend your stay in this magical land. There are lots more excellent adventures available for you to experience, such as the Nazca Lines and the Amazon River in Iquitos.