Heart of the Incas + Titicaca Lake + Colca Canyon 9D/8N

Tour Information

Type of Tour:

• Lodge-based historical experience featuring van transport and scenic train rides to iconic destinations in Peru.

Trip Service:

• All-inclusive travel package for a seamless and hassle-free travel experience in Peru.

Type of Transport:

• Private van transport for each tour from start to finish, complemented by comfortable train rides through stunning landscapes.

Duration:

• 9 days / 8 nights of immersive cultural experiences and breathtaking scenery.

Group Size

We prioritize delivering high-quality service, which is why our tour groups are kept small, averaging between 2 to 8 guests. This personalized approach ensures you receive individual attention and feel like part of our family. Imagine the difference: learning and exploring with a close-knit group versus a larger crowd, where it’s challenging to hear or see your guide.

Accommodation

We offer comfortable accommodations in 3 to 5-star hotels, and at the time of booking, you can choose your preferred hotel type to suit your travel preferences.

Our Guides

Our professionally trained guides, both men and women, hold university degrees and receive annual refresher training through NOLS (National Outdoor Leadership School) in Wilderness First Responder, history, archaeology, and biology. We invest in our guides because they are the cornerstone of our travel company, sharing their passion and knowledge with you to enrich your adventure in Peru.

Location

This trip commences in Cusco city or the Sacred Valley, depending on your preference. You will need to fly into Lima, the capital of Peru, and then transfer to Velasco Astete Airport in Cusco, which is a small domestic airport.

Departures

Our tours operate daily year-round with group sizes typically ranging from 2 to 8 people, enabling us to provide personalized service tailored to your needs.

We accept bookings throughout the year, and this tour does not need to be booked far in advance. Whenever you’re ready, feel free to reach out with any questions at our 24/7 contact number: +51 989585967, or email us at info@perubylocals.com. Join us for an unforgettable journey through Peru’s breathtaking scenery and rich culture!

Itinerary: 7-Day Cultural Adventure in Peru

DAY 1: Arrival to Cusco
Upon your arrival at Cusco airport, your designated guide will meet you and drive you to your hotel in the historical center. Along the way, you will see impressive examples of Incan and colonial architecture, as well as receive all necessary instructions about the activities planned for your stay. Your hotel is conveniently located near restaurants and main attractions, making it easy to explore. Depending the toime of your arrival you can explore the old cityt center on Cusco and taste the best of Peruvgian cousoine.

Included: Pick up from airport to hotel, orientation meeting with your guide, wellcome dinner at Morena restaurant a  la carte or similar, night at Tierra viva centro or similar.

DAY 2: City Tour in Cusco
At your scheduled time, meet your guide at the hotel for a captivating tour of Cusco’s main attractions. Begin with a visit to the Colonial Cathedral of Cusco, where you can admire colonial paintings from the Cusco school, including a famous depiction of the Last Supper featuring cuy (guinea pig) as the main dish.

Next, explore Qoricancha, or the Temple of the Sun, an architectural marvel that showcases Inca ingenuity. Continue to Sacsayhuamán, where you’ll be guided through this impressive archaeological site built with massive stones weighing up to 120 tons, expertly fitting together without mortar. Finally, visit Qenqo, the Temple of the Mother Earth, and possibly the tomb of the revered Inca king, Pachacutec.

Included:  Brackfast at the hotel, Transportation during the tour, tour guide, entrance tickets to tour atractions, lunch at Organika ala Carte, night at Tierra viva centro or similar.

DAY 3: Classic Sacred Valley
At 7 AM, enjoy an early breakfast and be picked up from your hotel for a scenic tour of the Sacred Valley, known for its breathtaking landscapes and rich Inca history. Start your day at Pisaq, where you’ll explore its terraces, ancient cemetery, and water fountains.

Next, visit the Salt Mines, where you’ll discover over 3,000 salt ponds and learn about traditional salt processing techniques passed down through generations. The tour will continue at Moray, an agricultural experimentation site of the Incas known for its unique circular terraces.

Lunch will be at Huacatay Restaurant, one of the top dining spots in the Sacred Valley. Afterward, visit the Ollantaytambo Inca Site to marvel at its majestic architecture, including the Sun Temple and Princess Bath. Conclude the day with a scenic train ride to Machu Picchu town, which takes about 1 hour and 40 minutes.

Included: Brackfast at the hotel, Transportation during the tour, tour guide, entrance tickets to tour atractions, lunch at Huacatay ala Carte, Vistadome train ride  from Ollantayatmbo town to Aguas Calientes town, night at Tierra viva Machu Picchu.

DAY 4: Machu Picchu Tour
Machu Picchu is a true masterpiece of architecture and engineering, famous for its mystique and breathtaking beauty. In the morning, take an early bus to Machu Picchu to catch the sunrise. Your guide will lead a detailed tour covering the culture and history of this UNESCO World Heritage Site. Visit the main temple, the Temple of the Condor, Inca palaces, the stone quarry, and the Sun Observatory. This enriching tour typically lasts around 3 hours.

You will return to Machu Picchu town by 10 AM for a delightful lunch before boarding the train back to Cusco.

Included: Breakfast at the hotel, round-trip bus ride from Aguas Calientes town to Machu Picchu, entrance ticket to Machu Picchu, tour guide, lunch at Full house or similar a la carte,  train ride from Aguas Calientes town to Ollantayatmbo, transfer from train station to hotel in Cusco, a night at tierra Viva cnetro or similar.

DAY 5: Departure from Cusco to Puno
After your last breakfast at your Cusco hotel, you will be picked up early for a full-day journey in our private van through the stunning Peruvian altiplano. Your first stop will be the Sixteenth Chapel of the Americas, a Catholic church featuring an impressive collection of colonial art and frescoes from the 17th century. Continue to the Temple of Wiracocha, the main god of the Incas, for a one-hour tour.

You are expected to arrive in Puno city, located alongside Lake Titicaca, by approximately 5 PM.

Included: Breackfast at the hotel, transportation during the tour, tour guide, entrance tickets to tour atractions, box lunch, a night at Tierra viva Puno or similar.

DAY 6: Uros and Taquile Islands Tour on Lake Titicaca
Today, explore the unique floating Islands of Uros, inhabited by families who migrated to Lake Titicaca over 3,000 years ago. Learn about their intriguing history and way of life upon arrival. Afterward, board a boat for a one-hour journey to Taquile Island, where you’ll enjoy a scenic walking tour and a delicious lunch before returning to Puno around 5 PM.

Included: Breackfast at the hotel, transportation from hotel to lake port, tour guide, entrance tickets to Uros floating Islands and Taquile, lunch, at night at Tierra viva Puno and Good buy dinner at Moqsa restaurant or similar.

DAY 7: Departure from Puno to Colca Canyon

Start your day with an early meeting at the hotel after enjoying a hearty breakfast. Prepare for a scenic 5-hour drive through the breathtaking landscape of the Andes, highlighting highland lakes and picturesque alpaca and llama farms. Along the way, we will pass by the Peruvian National Reservation at Salinas, where you can spot the wild South American camelids known as vicuñas, which remain undomesticated.

As we approach our destination, Colca Canyon, you’ll be treated to stunning views of a majestic chain of volcanoes, including the iconic Misty Volcano, the towering White City of Arequipa, and the active Sabancaya Volcano.

Our hotel is situated in the heart of Colca Canyon, where you can enjoy a delicious dinner and take in the spectacular vistas all around of course deep into the hot Spring whcih are lucated juts right outside the hotel.

Included: Breackfast at the hotel, transportation from puno to Chivay (Colca Canyon), tour guide, lunch at Maray resturant or similar in Chivay, at night at Aranwa pueblito.

DAY 8: Tour to Colca Canyon and Drive to Arequipa

We will leave the hotel by 6 AM for a 1.5-hour drive into Colca Canyon, taking in the beautiful scenery of the Colca Valley, lush cornfields, and the hundreds of Incan agricultural terraces dotting the landscape.

Once we arrive, take your time to photograph the spectacular condors, which are renowned as the largest flying birds in the world. After enjoying the breathtaking sights, we will head back to Chivay for lunch. Following lunch, prepare for a 3-hour drive to Arequipa, where you’ll be surrounded by stunning mountain landscapes.

Included: Breackfast at the hotel, transportation, tour guide, lunch at Maray resturant or similar in Chivay, entrance tickets to the Canyon, a night at tierra Viva Arequipa and Good buy dinner at Chicha restaurat.

DAY 9: City Tour in Arequipa and Departure

Embark on a morning city tour in Arequipa, where we will visit the Monastery of Santa Catalina. This working convent resembles a small city within Arequipa, rich in amazing history dating back to colonial times. We will also explore the Museum of the Juanita Mummy, featuring one of the best-preserved mummies, which carries an incredible story. Both locations are conveniently located near the main square, and the visit will last about 2 hours.

Afterward, savor a delicious lunch before catching your flight home, marking the end of this incredible adventure in Peru.

Included: Breackfast at the hotel, transportation from Hotel to airport, tour guide and entrance ticjkets to tour atractions.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

WHERE DO I MEET THE TEAM?

The day you arrive at Cusco airport, your guide will be there with a sign of PERU BY LOCALS and your name (Cusco airport is domestic and very small).

HOW LONG BEFORE SHOULD I BOOK THIS TRIP?

The Machu Picchu permits should be booked in advance. We recommend you book this trip at least a month in advance. Of course, it is much better to book once you have your travel dates.

WHAT IS THE WEATHER LIKE IN MACHU PICCHU DURING THE YEAR?

Weather in the region is extremely variable, and you should pack for a variety of conditions. In addition, our trek passes through ten bio-zones ranging from high-altitude alpine conditions to high jungle. During a sunny day, you can expect temperatures of about 18–25°C (65–77°F). However, on the second day, the weather is very unpredictable, and temperatures can drop to 6°C (42°F) during the day at the pass (but you won’t spend a lot of time up there).

The Machu Picchu area has a humid climate and tends to be warmer since it is located at a lower altitude and near the Amazon Jungle. The average temperatures at Machu Picchu are between 23°C to 25°C (73°F and 77°F), with the minimum temperature around 18°C (64°F). The Cusco area has only two well-defined seasons: the wet season and the dry season. The wet season starts in November and ends in March. During this period, it rains almost every day for three or four hours, but there are also several sunny days. The dry season begins around April and lasts until October. June and July are the coldest months. Paradoxically, at noon, the temperatures can reach 23°C (73°F), the annual highest temperature.

WHAT AM I GOING TO EAT ON THE TRIP?

All restaurants we use are a la carte, so you have many options from meat to vegetarian dishes. If you are vegan or have a strict diet, let us know so we can arrange specialized restaurants for your diet.

SHOULD I TIP THE PORTERS AND GUIDES? IF I DO, HOW MUCH SHOULD I TIP?

We recommend tipping your guide 10% and 5% to the driver at the end of your trip.

HOW BIG WILL MY GROUP BE?

We specialize in small groups because that way our clients receive personalized service, especially when encountering various attractions on tours, such as Incan sites, flowers, flora, and fauna. Your guide spends lots of time with you so you can learn more about our culture and history.

We limit the size of our groups on treks to up to 8 people, but we almost always end up with 2 to 5 guests.

HOW DO I GET WATER ON THE TOURS?

We will have water available in the car we use for the tours. We recommend you bring Nalgene water bottles or camel bags so that way we can produce less garbage. You will encounter locals selling bottled water along the way, but not everyone is responsible; many people litter, and that is sad. We need to take care of our home and nature. That is why we recommend you refill your bottles when you can. Thank you for being part of our green home. Hotels in Peru don’t have spots to fill your water bottles.

CAN I PAY THE REST OF THE BALANCE WITH A CREDIT CARD, OR DOES IT HAVE TO BE IN CASH?

We accept the balance of the payment in cash, so you won’t need to pay extra fees. Of course, you can use PayPal or a credit card, but you will need to pay the fees that are usually over 6%.

On the day of your briefing, when your guide meets you, one of the representatives will also meet you to collect the remaining balance for your trek.

PERUVIAN CURRENCY

The Peruvian Sol is the currency of Peru and usually fluctuates between 3.3 to 3.8 Nuevos Soles to 1 US Dollar.

LANGUAGE

Spanish is the national language of Peru. Also, about 20% of Peruvians speak Quechua (Inca language). Our guides are fluent in Spanish and English.

Why Peru by Locals

• Peru by Locals offers tailor-made treks and tours and we cater to your interests when we plan your tour.
• We are committed to providing world-class tours based on exceptional customer service.
• We are a locally owned and highly experienced travel company based in Cusco, Peru.
• Our staff consists of members who have decades of first-hand experience in the Peruvian tourism sector.
• All the management and staff at Peru by Locals speak English, Spanish, and Quechua (the language of the Incas).
• Our guides and staff members are professionally trained and educated in the history of the Incas, Peruvian history, culture and traditions, first aid in the wilderness, guiding treks and tours, the fauna and flora of the region, and tourism management.
• We are committed to protecting our environment.
• We are committed to creating jobs and empowering local people. We believe in fair labor practices and honor and treat all our employees with dignity.
• We have programs to help with the development of the porters’ families and communities, such as planting trees and buying school books and school equipment for poor local communities.
• We honor native communities that have stewarded the land you visit.
• We have also started an Education Fund to support the education of the children of porters. A percentage of income from every tour and trek goes to the education of those in need.
• Our trips are carefully designed to your needs, and we create diverse, unique itineraries from 1 to 15 days in length. We offer a wide range of tours and treks and all the tours. We guarantee you the experience of a lifetime!
• Peru By Locals organizes worry-free trips for you to enjoy fully.

Peru Small Group Specialists

Our tours are designed for those who love adventure, want to explore new places, experience the local culture, love food, or enjoy history or photography for all ages, whether you are traveling alone, with friends, as couples, or with family. At Peru by Locals, there is not.

Small groups are the best, and the average tour or trek group size is around 2 to 5 people. Why is this great? Well, have you ever waited in line while 40 other people get a coffee in the morning? Believe it or not, it is not fun. Taking small groups allows us the flexibility to take you on an adventure to places that nobody else goes.