Peru: Machu Picchu and Lake Titicaca

What's Included

• Guided Tour of Machu Picchu

  Spend the afternoon with a guide uncovering the mysteries of Machu Picchu.

• Train Journey to Machu Picchu

  Venture through the Andes in a train to Machu Picchu.

• Cruise to Uros Floating Islands

  Cruise to the floating islands of the Uros people of Lake Titicaca.

• Culinary Demonstration

  Enjoy a culinary demonstration at your hotel at the base of Machu Picchu.

• Home-Hosted Farm-to-Table Lunch

  Delight in a home-hosted farm-to-table lunch at a local Quechua community.

• Visit to Pablo Seminario Ceramic Studio

  Discover the artist’s techniques and designs at Pablo Seminario Ceramic Studio.

• Exploration of Pisac Village Market

  Explore the colorful markets of Peru, including the famous Pisac village market.

What's Not Included

Optional Early Morning Machu Picchu ExperienceAscend to Machu Picchu in the early hours of the morning on your own. This option is self-guided and includes bus and entrance tickets.

Experiences

Explore the colorful markets of Peru, including the famous Pisac village market.Discover the artist’s techniques and designs at Pablo Seminario Ceramic Studio.

Options

Lima: Early Morning Machu Picchu Experience Ascend to Machu Picchu in the early hours of the morning on your own. Be one of the first to enter the sanctuary just as the sun rises over the high mountains encircling it. Spend time exploring the grounds at your leisure or merely pick a spot to sit and enjoy the morning serenity of this magical place. Duration approximately 5 hour(s). Transportation is included. A minimum of 6 passenger(s) is required to operate this option.

This option needs to be purchased at least 30 days prior to tour departure and is non-refundable after purchase.
Option is self-guided and includes bus and entrance tickets. Departure will occur at approximately 5 a.m. and allows up to 4 hours on mountain. Guests will walk approx. 5-10 minutes from the hotel to the bus with TM to pick-up location where guests hop on the included roundtrip transfer to Machu Picchu themselves. Guests will have the opportunity to explore Machu Picchu on their own and will need to return to Aguas Calientes with sufficient time to board their group train departure. Tour Manager will advise on recommended return time. This optional tour is non-refundable after purchase.

Culinaries

Enjoy a culinary demonstration at your hotel at the base of Machu Picchu.Delight in a home-hosted farm-to-table lunch at a local Quechua community.

Must See

Cruise to the floating islands of the Uros people of Lake Titicaca.Spend the afternoon with a guide uncovering the mysteries of Machu Picchu.Venture through the Andes in a train to Machu Picchu.

Choice Highlights

Lima Lima is the capital of Peru, located in the central coastal region of the country, overlooking the Pacific. The population in the metro area is 2.8 million, and it was founded in 1535 by conquistador Francisco Pizarro. About a third of the country’s population lives in or near Lima. Much of the city was destroyed by an earthquake in 1940, and during the rebuilding, much of the current population migrated to Lima from the country. The historic center was made a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1988, and it contains sights such as the Monastery of San Francisco, Plaza Mayor and Cathedral. Lima is known as the “Gastronomic Capital of the Americas” with cuisine influenced by the Spanish conquerors and by immigrants from other European countries, Africa, China and Japan.

Sacred Valley of the Incas Also known as Urumbamba Valley, Sacred Valley of the Incas is near Cuzco and overlooked by Machu Picchu. The valley was formed by the Urumbamba River, making it very fertile. There are many remains of Inca villages in the valley, and it was thought to be used for production of maize (corn). Mummies of Incas have been discovered in the valley.

Local Andean Cultures Gain an appreciation for Andean culture when you travel to visit a local community and interact with the people who live there. Get a taste of daily life by participating in group workshops to learn about traditional methods of growing, harvesting and weaving. Learn dances, hear the sound of unique musical instruments and devour a home-hosted farm-to-table lunch that features local foods.

Ollantaytambo Ruins Ollantaytambo was the royal estate of an Inca ruler in the 15th century and is still inhabited today. During the Spanish conquest, it was an Incan stronghold, partly defended by steep terraces below the main Temple Hill site. These terraces were also used to farm the steep hillside. Most of the ruins on the Temple Hill are incomplete, so it is believed that the site was still under construction by the Incas when it was abandoned, possibly due to a conflict among Incan groups. Ollantaytambo is the starting point for the Inca Trail hike.

Home-Hosted Lunches A wonderfully unique way to immerse yourself into a culture. With home-hosted lunches, you are welcomed into a local family’s home for an intimate eating experience feature local cuisine and interaction unlike any other!

Machu Picchu This is an Inca ruin dating from the 15th century, located in the Andes in Peru above the Sacred Valley of the Incas. It was thought to have been built as an estate for an Inca ruler and was abandoned after only about 100 years when many inhabitants died from diseases such as smallpox brought by the Spaniards, and transmitted to the site by travelers. The site was discovered by Hiram Bingham, a lecturer at Yale, in 1911 and National Geographic Magazine devoted a whole edition to it in 1913. It is now Peru’s most visited tourist attraction, and numbers have to be carefully controlled to minimize negative impacts on the site by too many people.

Cuzco Cuzco is a city of over 400,000 people in southeastern Peru. It was the historic capital of the Inca Empire, and it has an elevation of 11,200 feet. Cuzco is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The Inca Empire existed from the 13th century until the arrival of the Spanish in 1532, who took the city of Cuzco from the Incas in 1536. When Machu Picchu was rediscovered in 1911, the city became the starting point for tourists to visit the ruins. It has become a very important destination in itself. The old city center is noted for its combination of pre-colonial (Inca) and colonial buildings, and important sights include the Barrio de San Blas, the Cathedral and Plaza de Armas.

Sacsayhuaman Fortress or Walking Tour of San Blas While in Cuzco, you have the choice between two activities. First, you can choose to visit the sacred Inca ancient ruins of the Sacsayhuamán Fortress. Or, for your second choice, you can choose to embark on a walking tour of San Blas, the traditional old quarter of Cuzco, lined with restaurants and artisan shops.



Sacsayhuamán Fortress

Activity Level 3: Guests must be able to walk continuously for 10-15 minutes on uneven surfaces, and stand for 20 minutes without sitting.



Walking Tour of San Blas

Activity Level 4: Guests must be able to walk continuously for 30- 45 minutes on uneven surfaces, up and down steep streets.

Lake Titicaca This lake in the Andes is on the borders of Peru and Bolivia. It is considered the highest navigable lake in the world at 12,500 feet above sea level. The Island of the Sun in the lake was a major pilgrimage point for the Incas because of a sacred stone there called Titikala, which may be the origin of the lake’s name. There are several endangered animals in or around the lake, such as the Titicaca Water Frog and the flightless bird, Titicaca Grebe. There are several towns around the lake, including Puno, Peru and Copacabana.

Uros Floating Islands The Uros are a group of people who were in the region before the Incas, and they live on the lake on 42 floating islands they make from totora reeds, which grow in the shallows of the lake. The islands allowed the Uros people to defend themselves by simply moving them out of danger. Their houses are made of reeds, and some islands also have reed watchtowers. The Uros live as fishermen, catch shorebirds and ducks for meat and eggs, and also sell woven goods. Tourism has become a large part of their economy.

Mode of Transport

Travel through Peru with a combination of flights, scenic train rides through the Andes, and local transportation, ensuring a seamless and picturesque journey to iconic destinations like Machu Picchu and Lake Titicaca.

Accommodation

Stay at the Hilton Garden Inn Lima Miraflores, Casa Andina Premium Sacred Valley, Sumaq Machu Picchu Hotel, and GHL Lago Titicaca, offering comfort and local charm throughout your journey in Peru.