Machu Picchu + Humantay + Titicaca Lake 07 days

When you arrive at the Alejandro Velasco Astete International Airport in Cusco, a member of our team will be waiting for you with a sign bearing your name. We’ll greet you with a warm welcome and accompany you to the private vehicle that will take you to your chosen hotel, allowing you to rest after the trip and begin your altitude acclimatization.

Cusco is located over 3,000 meters above sea level, so it’s important that your body has enough time to adapt. For this reason, you’ll have the rest of the day free to relax, take a gentle walk around the city, or enjoy a delicious traditional dish from the region, such as a comforting quinoa soup or lomo saltado.

For those who want to start discovering Cusco we recommend taking a few simple walks through the emblematic places of the historical center of the city, this is on your own, visiting the Plaza de Armas and San Pedro market.

After enjoying a delicious breakfast, we’ll begin our adventure to the Sacred Valley of the Incas, a place full of history, culture, and stunning landscapes.

Our first stop will be Chinchero, a picturesque town known for its textile workshops and artisan markets. Here, a group of local women will give us a demonstration of traditional Andean weaving, explaining how they obtain wool from sheep and alpacas and how they use natural herbs to create vibrant colored dyes. We will also visit archaeological sites and the local colonial church.

Next, we’ll head to Moray, an ancient agricultural laboratory of the Incas, where we’ll see its impressive circular terraces used to experiment with different crops. Then we’ll explore the Maras Salt Mines, a set of more than 3,000 salt ponds that have been used since pre-Inca times.

At midday, we’ll take a break in Urubamba, where we’ll enjoy a buffet lunch featuring a variety of typical regional dishes.

In the afternoon, we’ll visit Ollantaytambo, a living Inca city with imposing stone structures and a fascinating archaeological complex. Finally, at dusk, we’ll take the train from Ollantaytambo to Aguas Calientes, where we’ll rest in preparation for the big visit to Machu Picchu.

Our day begins very early with breakfast at the hotel. Then, we’ll head to the bus station in Aguas Calientes, where we’ll take a bus that will bring us to the entrance of the Machu Picchu archaeological site in approximately 30 minutes.

Upon arrival, we’ll go through the access control with our guide. It is mandatory to present your original passport, as it is required to validate entry to the citadel or, if you purchased the additional ticket, to Huayna Picchu Mountain (optional entrance with an additional cost of $65 USD per person, which must be booked up to six months in advance due to high demand).

The entry time and visit circuit will be assigned at the time of booking. It is highly recommended to confirm your reservation as early as possible to get the best schedules and tour options.

Once inside, we’ll begin a guided tour of approximately two hours, during which we’ll learn about the importance of Machu Picchu in Inca culture. Throughout the tour, we’ll admire the impressive stone structures built with advanced techniques that still amaze architects and engineers today for their strategic location and architectural precision.

At the end of the tour, you’ll have free time to take photos or simply sit and enjoy the beauty of this magical place. Afterwards, we’ll take the bus back to Aguas Calientes and later board the train back to Cusco, ending an unforgettable day at one of the wonders of the world.

After enjoying a delicious breakfast at the hotel at 7:30 a.m., we will board our private transport bound for Soraypampa, the starting point of our hike.

The hike to Humantay Lake takes approximately 1.5 hours uphill. It’s an ascending trail, so we will move at a relaxed pace alongside our guide. Along the way, we’ll admire the stunning landscape of the Peruvian Andes and enjoy the surrounding nature.

Upon arriving at the lake, we’ll be greeted by a spectacular view: turquoise waters surrounded by imposing snow-capped mountains. We’ll have plenty of time to rest, take photos, and listen to our guide’s explanation about the history and significance of this beautiful place in the Andean worldview.

After enjoying the lake, we’ll begin the return journey to where our transport will be waiting. Midway, we’ll stop in the town of Mollepata to enjoy a well-deserved traditional lunch. Then we’ll continue our trip back to Cusco, arriving at our hotel in the afternoon.

After an early breakfast at the hotel in Cusco, we will head to the tourist bus station to begin our journey to the city of Puno. The bus departs at 7:00 a.m. and the trip will take approximately 10 hours, with several stops at points of interest along the famous Route of the Sun.

Places We Will Explore on the Route of the Sun

During the journey, we’ll visit must-see places:

• Andahuaylillas: Known as the “Sistine Chapel of the Americas,” this impressive colonial temple stands out for its beautiful architecture and dazzling frescoes painted on its walls and ceilings.
• Raqchi: Here we’ll explore the Temple of Wiracocha, an imposing Inca structure that was part of a large ceremonial complex dedicated to the god who created the universe.
• Sicuani: We’ll stop in this picturesque town to enjoy a buffet lunch at a local restaurant, where we can taste Andean cuisine.
• La Raya: This is the highest point of the journey, reaching 4,335 meters above sea level. It’s an ideal spot for taking photos of the breathtaking Andean landscapes and snow-capped mountains.
• Pucará and its Lithic Museum: On our last stop we’ll visit this museum, where we’ll learn about the Pucará culture, one of the most important pre-Inca civilizations in the region.

Throughout the trip, we’ll be accompanied by a bilingual guide (Spanish-English), who will provide detailed information about each site we visit. In addition, the bus offers unlimited hot drinks, which will help us acclimate to the altitude, since Puno is located at a higher elevation than Cusco.

Upon arrival in Puno, a representative of our company will welcome us and take us to the Lake Titicaca dock. From there, we’ll board a boat and in approximately 20 minutes arrive at our lodge on the famous Uros Islands, where we will spend the night in a magical setting over the waters of the highest navigable lake in the world.

After enjoying breakfast at our lodge, we’ll begin the excursion to the Uros Floating Islands, a group of artificial islands built with totora reeds on Lake Titicaca. During the visit, we’ll learn about the lifestyle of this ancestral community, their economy based on fishing and tourism, their social organization, and the traditions that have endured for centuries, even before the time of the Incas.

Next, we’ll board our boat again to head to Taquile Island, a natural island famous for its stunning landscapes and its textile culture, declared an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO. On Taquile, we’ll explore trails surrounded by panoramic lake views and learn about the lifestyle of its inhabitants, who still preserve their ancestral customs.

At midday, we’ll enjoy a traditional lunch prepared with fresh regional ingredients, such as Titicaca trout and Andean quinoa.

In the afternoon, we’ll return by boat to the city of Puno, where we’ll transfer to our hotel to rest after a day full of history, culture, and breathtaking scenery.

We’ll start the day with a buffet breakfast at our hotel in Puno. Then, depending on our flight schedule or next destination, we’ll prepare for the transfer to the Inca Manco Cápac International Airport in Juliaca, a journey of approximately one hour in private transportation.

If our journey continues by land, we also have the option to transfer to the Puno bus terminal to board transportation to our next destination.

It’s important to remember that this itinerary is flexible and can be adjusted according to our needs and time availability. Additionally, it’s always advisable to consider our physical condition and take the necessary precautions for activities carried out at high altitudes, such as those in Cusco and Puno.