Peru’s must-see
Arequipa, Puno and Cusco are located in southern Peru, which makes it a perfect route to travel to Peru in a week.
Arequipa is located by one side of the Misti Volcano on the Andes Mountain Range. Arequipa (2.350 meters above sea level), is the capital of the department of Arequipa. The big old buildings, the temples, convents and monasteries are built with a volcanic lava material called « sillar ». Sillar has a white pearly color that the sun rays illuminate, which is the main reason why Arequipa is called « the White City ».
Puno, which is located in the south of Peru, was dominated by the Tiahuanaco culture. Puno is the maximum expression of the Aymara culture development. This can be appreciated in the archaeological remains found in this area.
The legend tells that from the Titicaca Lake waters emerged Manco Capac, the first Inca, and his wife Mama Ocllo, both children of the sun, to found the city of Cusco. They founded a huge empire as ordered by the sun god.
Cusco, is called the Archaeological Capital of America. It is a city that is opened to the world and coexists in special harmony with an urban place. Some Inca monuments like the Koricancha (Temple of the Sun), the Amaru Cancha (Fence of Snakes), the Kiswar Cancha and the Ajlla Wasi amongst others, are the treasures of the mixing races along with the Cathedral, the Temple of San Blas and La Merced Church and Convent.
This trip to Peru proposal concentrates the most representative and visited places in Peru, however, if you have more time we recommend you to check our trips to the north of the country or additional ones in Arequipa, Puno and Cusco.
**All our programs can be modified according to your requirements on duration, interests, activities, flight reservations or other additional destinations.**
When you arrive at Arequipa, our staff will be waiting to welcome you and to take you to your hotel.
In the afternoon, we will start our tour taking a leap to the past walking around the Monasterio de Santa Catalina (Saint Catherine’s Monastery), where we will discover more than three centuries of history and contemporary life behind its walls.
We will go to Arequipa´s Main Square giving you detailed information about it and then, we will go to the Iglesia de la Compañía (The Church of The Company), famous for its exaggerated baroque façade and altarpieces and its San Ignacio’s polychromed dome, which is one of the most outstanding in the city.
Once we finish our visit to the historic center, we will go to the traditional Yanahuara town, known for its traditional arches and square where we will have a view from the city and the Misti, Chachani and Pichu Pichu volcanoes.
Meals: None
After breakfast transfer to Arequipa airport or bus station to take your flight to Puno. Upon arrival you will be transferred to your hotel where you will rest for acclimatization.
Meals: Breakfast
Get onboard an unforgettable tour on the Lake Titicaca. After having breakfast, we will get on a boat to visit the Uros Floating Islands, very early in the morning. The Uros are Lake Titicacas’ ancient inhabitants, known as the “water tribe”. They build their own islands by constantly adding totora layers. The totora is a material they also use to build their houses and boats.
We will continue sailing until we reach the Taquile Island, inhabited by Quechua natives who have developed an efficient and original social system and a great knitting technique for generations.
We will have lunch once we arrive and then, we will have a trek on its hills and archaeological sites. In the afternoon, we will go back to Puno to our chosen hotel.
Meals: Breakfast and lunch
Departure in a tourist bus early in the morning to Cusco city. During our trip, we will travel along the Collao plateau, and we will make a stop in Ayaviri city, which is an important cattle raising and textile center. There, we will visit the Kalasaya temple that belonged to the Pucara ancient culture. Approximately 70 kilometers ahead, we will pass by La Raya ranch, where we will see llama and vicuna herds.
Buffet lunch in a calm and quiet rural restaurant, where we will be delighted by the regional gastronomy.
On our way, we will stop at Racchi, where we will visit the spectacular Inca sanctuary built by Pachachutec and that was dedicated to the Inca god Wiracocha. This sanctuary has a central wall with a stone foundation and other walls made of adobe. There are several old buildings used as houses or warehouses around the temple.
We will continue towards Andahuaylillas, a picturesque town where we will visit the San Pedro de Andahuaylillas temple, named as the Sistine Chapel of America because of its colonial art richness and the fresco paintings that cover walls, plinths, ceilings and facades. Finally, we will pass by the Wacarpay Lagoon, which will give us a spectacular view of the mountains reflected on its quiet waters. Arrival to Cusco, transfer to the chosen hotel.
Free night.
Meals: Breakfast and lunch
Tour to the Sacred Valley of the Incas, on the Vilcanota River where you will be able to see the typical Indian market and experience its people´s customs. (On Sundays, the mass is celebrated in Quechua the native language)
Lunch in a valley’s local restaurant.
In the afternoon stop by Calca and Urubamba on our way to the Ollantaytambo fortress and citadel, built to guard the entrances to this part of the valley and protect it from possible invasions from the rainforest´s inhabitants. It is formed by a series of overlapping terraces. We will have the chance to walk through the towns’ streets so we can have a clear idea of how this military, religious and agricultural strategic center was during the Inca Empire.
Overnight stay in the Sacred Valley.
Meals: Breakfast and lunch
Visitors will be transferred to the train station early in the morning, to start their trip to the Machu Picchu citadel, also known as “The Lost City of the Incas” which is one of the most renowned examples of the Inca architecture. They will get off the train at the Aguas Calientes station to take a bus that will take them to the wonderful citadel in a 30-minute-long trip through a zigzagging road to get to the wonderful citadel. Once there, we will have a guided tour over the citadel, visiting the Main Square, the Circular Tower, the Sacred Sundial, the Royal Chambers, the Temple of the Three Windows and the cemeteries.
Lunch at a local restaurant. In the afternoon transfer to the hotel in Machu Picchu or Aguas Calientes, which is the closest town, only fifteen minutes from Machu Picchu by bus.
Overnight at Aguas Calientes.
Meals: Breakfast and lunch
Great opportunity to get up early, watch a beautiful dawn and explore the Aguas Calientes town and visit its thermal waters. Then, you will have time to do any of these activities (not included in the price)
In the afternoon, we will return to Cusco by train and you will be transferred to your hotel to stay overnight. Free night. We recommend having dinner at the hotel and going to bed early.
NOTE: The second entrance to Machu Picchu is not included.
Meals: Breakfast
After breakfast, we will get to know Cusco city on a guided tour, visiting the Main Square, the Cathedral and the Temple of the Sun or Korikancha. The tour continues outside the city to visit the Kenko, Tambomachay and Puca Pucara archaeological complexes and the impressive Sacsayhuaman Fortress which was strategically built on a hill dominating Cusco. It is famous for its huge carved stones, put together with amazing precision to form the external walls of the complex. Some of these stones are over 9 meters high and weight more than 350 tons.
At appropriate time transfer to Cusco airport to take your flight to return to your country.
Meals: Breakfast
| Destination | Tourist | Superior tourist | Superior | Deluxe |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Arequipa |
Natura Inn |
Conde de Lemos |
La Hostería |
Casa Andina Premium |
|
Cusco |
Antawasi |
Casona Plaza Cusco |
Xima |
Casa Andina Premium |
|
Sacred Valley of the Incas |
Ollantaytambo Lodge |
San Agustín Urubamba & SPA |
Del Pilar Ollantaytambo |
Casa Andina Premium |
|
Machu Picchu |
Samananchis |
Casa de Luz |
El MaPi by Inkaterra |
Inkaterra Machu Picchu Pueblo Hotel |
|
Puno & Lake Titicaca |
Balsas Inn |
Sol Plaza |
Taypikala |
Casa Andina Premium |
| Price per person: USD | 1015 | 1076 | 1689 | 2170 |
| Arequipa | Natura Inn |
| Cusco | Antawasi |
| Sacred Valley of the Incas | Ollantaytambo Lodge |
| Machu Picchu | Samananchis |
| Puno & Lake Titicaca | Balsas Inn |
| Price per person: USD | 1015 |
|---|
| Arequipa | Conde de Lemos |
| Cusco | Casona Plaza Cusco |
| Sacred Valley of the Incas | San Agustín Urubamba & SPA |
| Machu Picchu | Casa de Luz |
| Puno & Lake Titicaca | Sol Plaza |
| Price per person: USD | 1076 |
|---|
| Arequipa | La Hostería |
| Cusco | Xima |
| Sacred Valley of the Incas | Del Pilar Ollantaytambo |
| Machu Picchu | El MaPi by Inkaterra |
| Puno & Lake Titicaca | Taypikala |
| Price per person: USD | 1689 |
|---|
| Arequipa | Casa Andina Premium |
| Cusco | Casa Andina Premium |
| Sacred Valley of the Incas | Casa Andina Premium |
| Machu Picchu | Inkaterra Machu Picchu Pueblo Hotel |
| Puno & Lake Titicaca | Casa Andina Premium |
| Price per person: USD | 2170 |
|---|
INCLUDES:
NOT INCLUDED:
PRICES
All rates are expressed in US dollars, per person, based on double occupancy and are subject to change without notice.
ITINERARY
All our itineraries have been very carefully prepared taking your trip’s best operation into account. However, changing the order of some tours or routes might be necessary in some cases. Although these changes occur in few instances, the itinerary details should be taken as a basic guide.
AIR TICKETS
If Colourful Peru oversees buying and issuing local-flight tickets, their prices may vary until the date of the flight’s booking and payment. Furthermore, the airline might change the flight number as well as its departure hour.
Once the flight reservation and payment are made, the latter will not be reimbursable. Changes regarding name, flight, route, trip’s date or cancellations are not allowed.
Hotel reservations that are not part of an organized trip
Cancellations and Reimbursements
Booked trips
Cancellations and Reimbursements
(*) Note: some suppliers consider stricter cancellation conditions, consequently, they reserve the right to charge additional fees for other penalties in such cases.
Regarding the Inca Trail: the reserve is subject to its payment and there will not be reimbursements in case of cancellations, moreover, neither name nor date changes are allowed.
During peak season, the company reserves the right to change the cancellation regulations in case the suppliers apply other penalties or make the aforementioned changes.
LIABILITY
Live Corporation carries out your trip’s arrangements, books transfer services, hotel rooms or other travel services required on your behalf, consequently, the company takes no responsibility for the loss of items, flight or tours delays due to events of force majeure, accidents or other events.
Important!
Live Corporation disclaims any liability for medical conditions, pregnancy, mental or physical limitations that might put at risk the health or integrity of the passenger or third parties during the operation of the booked tours or that might jeopardize the trip’s progress. Therefore, the company will not be obliged to any refunds or to address claims regarding the aforementioned reasons, even when there are not noticeable problems in normal circumstances.
Given this, it is important for the passengers to inform the company whether there is any of the aforementioned impediments, so we can offer and suggest suitable services according to the existing limitations.
CLIMATE
The climate in Peru can be divided by zones: the western Andes that has a dry and cold climate in winter and its very rainy during the summer. The rainforest that has a hot, wet and rainy climate and the desert coast with a warm climate without regular rainfall.
The climate in Arequipa city and the Colca Valley is dry and cold. The temperatures are between 17ºC y 24ºC in the morning and between 2°C and 6°C at night. Arequipa has sunny days and cold nights throughout the year. The rainy season is from December to March.
Cusco has a mild climate with temperatures that go from 02ºC to 23ºC with warm days and cold nights. The rainy season is from December to March.
Machu Picchu has a semi-tropical climate with warm days and cold nights. The rainy season is from November to April.
The climate is very cold and dry in Puno. The temperature fluctuates between 5ºC and 8ºC throughout the year. It is sunny during the day and very cold during the night (-10ºC).
The rainy season is from December to March.
The weather doesn’t hold the trip back in general, except when the “El Niño” phenomenon is very aggressive.
TIME ZONE
Peru Time Zone according to Greenwich Mean Time is -5 (GMT -5), same as Bogotá and Mexico throughout the year and same as New York during summer. When it is midday in Peru the hour in the most important cities is:
| São Paulo | 14:00 |
| Frankfurt | 19:00 |
| Nueva York | 13:00 |
| Londres | 18:00 |
| Hong Kong | 01:00 + 1day |
| Singapur | 01:00 + 1day |
ALTITUDE
In Arequipa: 2,350 meters above sea level
In Cusco: 3,360 meters above sea level
In Machu Picchu: 2,400 meters above sea level
In the Sacred Valley: 2,850 meters above sea level
In Puno: 3,860 meters above sea level
WE RECOMMEND
HEALTH
The Peruvian Andes are at high altitudes, so it is necessary to take precautions to avoid altitude sickness or “soroche”. It is important to rest a few hours, to walk slowly and to eat light before beginning any tour. We also recommend drinking coca tea that helps with acclimatization. Even though water is potable in most cities, it is advisable to drink bottled water to avoid any problems.
VISA
To know if you need a visa to enter Peru, please go to the closest consulate since the requirement may vary at any moment. For more information, please go to:
Visa types to enter Peru
LANGUAGE
Peru’s official language is Spanish, which is spoken by 80% of the population. However, there is a large portion of the population that speaks Quechua and Aymara (especially in the Peruvian Andes). Moreover, we can find 55 dialects in the Amazonian rainforest.
ELECTRICAL CURRENT
Electricity in Peru is 220 Volts and 60 Hertz. In some hotels, you may find dual voltage outlets, however, we suggest checking your appliances’ voltage and take precautions by having a power adapter or converter.
PERUVIAN GASTRONOMY
During the last years, the Peruvian gastronomy has become famous because of its variety and exquisiteness. Among the most known dishes you can find the ceviche, a dish made of fish and seafood marinated in lemon juice.
The famous “picanterías” stand out in Arequipa. These are typical restaurants from the past. There, we can find dishes made of cheese, milk and shrimp from the Majes Valley. The best-known dish in Arequipa is the rocoto relleno. The rocoto is a spicy fruit that is stuffed with meat and it is served with potato and cheese.
Other dishes you should try are the ocopa arequipeña, solterito de queso, chupe de camarones and adobo arequipeño (dish made of pork’s meat and chicha de jora). The city’s signature dessert is the queso helado prepared with milk, coconut and cinnamon.
You can try alpaca and trout prepared in several dishes in the Colca Valley
You can drink chicha de jora, a beverage made of fermented corn, and a shot of anisado as a digestive.
There is a new gastronomy trend in Cusco called “novoandina”. The novoandina cuisine is based on the creation of new dishes using local ingredients such as quinoa, quiwicha, potato, alpaca and trout. This way, we have dishes such as alpaca tenderloin with “quinotto” (risotto made of quinoa instead of rice) or grilled trout with sautéed vegetables and native potatoes.
In Puno, we can also find restaurants offering alpaca tenderloin and trout dishes with local vegetables and native potatoes. The zone’s pizzas also have a great acceptance due to the Andean cheese used in their preparation and the clay oven used to cook them.
Restaurants during your trip:
Arequipa: international and local food restaurants.
Cusco: international, local and vegetarian food restaurants.
Aguas Calientes: international and local food restaurants.
Puno: local food restaurants. Taquile only has the basic services.
IMPORTANT
Colourful Peru reserves the right to make any changes without prior notice due to weather conditions, river levels, transport departures or arrivals, etc., to assure a better development of your trip’s operation.
Peru’s must-see
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