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Value Peru: Sacred Valley of the Incas to Lake Titicaca

Trips to Tailor

12 days from £1,950

per person
Based on two people sharing & excluding flights
This economical holiday includes Peru’s top sights and features visits to charitable projects and local communities. An excellent budget choice if you’re interested in local community life.
What to expect
Itinerary

Explore the tour day by day, from the highlights to the quieter moments in between. Here’s how each day unfolds and what to expect along the way.

Day 1 - Lima
Arrive in Lima.

Walk the short distance from the terminal to your hotel.

The Wyndham Grand Costa Del Sol Lima Airport Hotel, conveniently located within the airport complex, features 249 comfortable rooms, tastefully decorated and furnished with all the amenities associated with a modern airport hotel.

With an on-site restaurant, bar, terrace, spa, fitness centre and several recreational spaces, as well as easy access to airport and its many facilities, the hotel is ideal for those with early departures or late arrivals in Peru’s dynamic capital city.

Day 2 - Cusco
Fly to Cusco; guided tour of the city and Sacsayhuamán temple fortress.

Return to the airport for the one hour flight to Cusco.

The name Cusco derives from the Quechua word for navel, indicating its location at the centre of the Inca Empire. Today its many impressive original Inca walls display extraordinary craftsmanship, while the bustling squares are dotted with ornate baroque colonial churches. It’s a vivacious city, where shoeshine boys and postcard sellers jostle for your attention in cobbled streets lined with handicraft shops and cafés. In the evening, the town centre fills with people flocking to the many restaurants, bars and cafés.

Today take a guided tour of the city. You visit Q’oricancha, once the principal Inca Sun Temple, with extraordinarily intricate stonework, and then explore the colossal zigzag walls of Sacsayhuamán, brooding on a hillside above Cusco. The first conquistadores to see this temple fortress were awestruck; centuries later it is still an extraordinary and imposing sight.

Walls in the Sacred Valley of the Incas, Peru
Hotel Los Ninos

Located in a quiet street close to Cusco’s Plaza de Armas, the community-focused Hotel Los Ninos is a very special place to stay. Its Dutch proprietor established the hotel in the 90s in order to raise funds to support her charity Niños Foundation, which aims to provide 500 extremely neglected children in the city with sanitation, hot food, dental and medical assistance as well as help with their education.

It’s a modest but clean and neat property in a 300-year-old colonial building. There’s a large patio where home cooked meals are served. Decoration is minimalist, with photographs of smiling children that have benefitted from the charity’s work adorning the walls. Guests frequently comment very favourably about the warm welcome they receive here.

Day 3
Day at leisure in Cusco.

Day at leisure to explore Cusco.

If you are staying during the week then there is the opportunity to visit a charity set up by a Dutchwoman, Jolanda van den Berg, to fund the provision of daily hot meals, warm showers, medical/dental care, homework and sports lessons for 500 extremely disadvantaged children in Cusco. There is no charge and no request for money; donations are accepted from anyone who wishes to contribute to the project’s continuing success.

Hotel Los Ninos

Located in a quiet street close to Cusco’s Plaza de Armas, the community-focused Hotel Los Ninos is a very special place to stay. Its Dutch proprietor established the hotel in the 90s in order to raise funds to support her charity Niños Foundation, which aims to provide 500 extremely neglected children in the city with sanitation, hot food, dental and medical assistance as well as help with their education.

It’s a modest but clean and neat property in a 300-year-old colonial building. There’s a large patio where home cooked meals are served. Decoration is minimalist, with photographs of smiling children that have benefitted from the charity’s work adorning the walls. Guests frequently comment very favourably about the warm welcome they receive here.

Day 4 - Urubamba
Guided exploration of the Sacred Valley of the Incas.

A guided tour exploring the Sacred Valley of the Incas. The drive takes in several of the villages and temple fortresses that pepper the valley. You visit the artisan market in Pisaq village, dominated by the terraces and fortress high above. Continue along this picturesque, patchwork valley to the fortress/temple of Ollantaytambo. The snow-capped Andean cordillera forms a stunning backdrop. The village sits sitting strategically at the gateway to the Amazon basin.

The fortress, the colonial grid plan and the Inca foundations are still intact and there are wonderful views down over the sloping hillsides and into the fertile valley.

Sacred Valley harvested wheat field in Urubamba Valley in Peru, Andes, on the road from Cuzco to Abancay
Las Casitas del Arco Iris

Deep within the heartland of the ancient Inca Empire, the secluded Casitas del Arco Iris is on the fringes of Urubamba in the Sacred Valley. It is a lovely spot surrounded by beautiful gardens where abundant flowers attract a wide variety of butterflies and bird life.

Consisting of a handful of spacious, homely bungalows scattered throughout the grounds, the accommodation is top-notch. Décor calls to mind a delightful country cottage and natural materials dominate. Further cosiness is added by the fireplaces in every bungalow.

The hotel’s restaurant serves gourmet Peruvian and international specialities prepared with organic ingredients grown on site. By day, there is much to explore in the peaceful environs of the Sacred Valley where trips to a wealth of archaeological sites and lesser-known beauty spots can be arranged by the friendly and helpful staff, while by night the warmth of the fire and the beauty of star-flecked night skies make the hotel an ideal place to unwind.

Central to the Casitas’ existence is the charitable foundation set up by the Dutch owner, who invests all proceeds in education, healthcare and training for deprived children and young people in the local area.

Day 5
At leisure in the Sacred Valley.

At leisure in the Sacred Valley. You can go horse riding, biking or walking. Alternatively relax in the tranquil countryside.

PER_Chinchero_Sacred_Valley_TJS_Free
Las Casitas del Arco Iris

Deep within the heartland of the ancient Inca Empire, the secluded Casitas del Arco Iris is on the fringes of Urubamba in the Sacred Valley. It is a lovely spot surrounded by beautiful gardens where abundant flowers attract a wide variety of butterflies and bird life.

Consisting of a handful of spacious, homely bungalows scattered throughout the grounds, the accommodation is top-notch. Décor calls to mind a delightful country cottage and natural materials dominate. Further cosiness is added by the fireplaces in every bungalow.

The hotel’s restaurant serves gourmet Peruvian and international specialities prepared with organic ingredients grown on site. By day, there is much to explore in the peaceful environs of the Sacred Valley where trips to a wealth of archaeological sites and lesser-known beauty spots can be arranged by the friendly and helpful staff, while by night the warmth of the fire and the beauty of star-flecked night skies make the hotel an ideal place to unwind.

Central to the Casitas’ existence is the charitable foundation set up by the Dutch owner, who invests all proceeds in education, healthcare and training for deprived children and young people in the local area.

Day 6 - Machu Picchu
By road and train to Machu Picchu, guided tour of the site.

Transfer by road to the station, before travelling for 90 minutes by train from Ollantaytambo to the ruins of Machu Picchu. As the river Urubamba enters its narrow gorge between thickly-forested granite hills, there is room only for a single track, which hugs the right bank and passes through hamlets that are no more than a collection of shacks beside the railway. Close to the foot of the mountain on a saddle of which the citadel was built is the village of Machu Picchu, dedicated to serving the many visitors with artisan markets, bars and restaurants.

The majestic ruined city, reclaimed from tropical cloud forest, is reached by bus up a sinuous road, or on foot up a near vertical rocky path. The American explorer Hiram Bingham discovered it in 1911, by which time it was completely buried beneath jungle vegetation. It is perhaps the ruins’ location, on a ridge spur amid forested peaks and above a roaring river canyon, that most ignites the imagination.

You will have a guided tour of the ruins along one of the set trails, before heading back down to spend the night in Machu Picchu village.

Sun over Machu Picchu in Peru

Owned by the reputable Casa Andina group, this contemporary hotel prides itself on its prime location opposite the railway station at the centre of Machu Picchu village. Guests arriving by train have the treat of being delivered quite literally to the door.

While the building’s five-storey grey panelled exterior is a little drab, the inside is fresh, clean and modern with bright furniture, marble floors, brilliant white walls and attractive artworks.

More than 50 guestrooms are simple, functional and modern in design. White walls and bedding are interrupted only by a slim brightly coloured throw hung across the end of the bed, a contemporary homage to the colourful traditional weavings of the area. Superior rooms and suites have the added benefit of views over the Vilcanota River. The hotel’s riverside restaurant has floor-to-ceiling windows which optimise the view.

Day 7 - Cusco
Return by rail and road to Cusco.

In the morning there’s an opportunity to return for an optional second visit to the site of Machu Picchu. Getting up early and taking the first buses up is well worth it… The site is virtually empty and the early morning mists swirl around the surrounding mountain tops. Alternatively, enjoy the thermal baths or walks in the village below. Later, return to Cusco by rail and road.

Hotel Los Ninos

Located in a quiet street close to Cusco’s Plaza de Armas, the community-focused Hotel Los Ninos is a very special place to stay. Its Dutch proprietor established the hotel in the 90s in order to raise funds to support her charity Niños Foundation, which aims to provide 500 extremely neglected children in the city with sanitation, hot food, dental and medical assistance as well as help with their education.

It’s a modest but clean and neat property in a 300-year-old colonial building. There’s a large patio where home cooked meals are served. Decoration is minimalist, with photographs of smiling children that have benefitted from the charity’s work adorning the walls. Guests frequently comment very favourably about the warm welcome they receive here.

Day 8
Day at leisure in Cusco.

At leisure in Cusco.

Cusco is a compact city, easy to explore on foot independently. You are at leisure to discover the colourful markets, the many churches and museums, and to wander the attractive narrow streets.

There are optional excursions in the surrounding region, including a trip to Maras and Moray, about an hour’s drive from Cusco, should you wish to venture outside of the city. Moray is a system of ancient agricultural irrigation paths which now form circular depressions in the earth, with wonderful views into the Sacred Valley and in the shadow of the snowy peak of Mount Veronica. From here it is a short walk to the salt pans at Maras, circular pans of glistening white carved into the mountainside. Feeling you’d like to be active? White-water rafting, cycling and horse riding are also on offer.

Hotel Los Ninos

Located in a quiet street close to Cusco’s Plaza de Armas, the community-focused Hotel Los Ninos is a very special place to stay. Its Dutch proprietor established the hotel in the 90s in order to raise funds to support her charity Niños Foundation, which aims to provide 500 extremely neglected children in the city with sanitation, hot food, dental and medical assistance as well as help with their education.

It’s a modest but clean and neat property in a 300-year-old colonial building. There’s a large patio where home cooked meals are served. Decoration is minimalist, with photographs of smiling children that have benefitted from the charity’s work adorning the walls. Guests frequently comment very favourably about the warm welcome they receive here.

Day 9 - Puno
By coach to Puno on Lake Titicaca.

By public coach (tourist service) to Puno on the shores of Lake Titicaca.

The lonely road follows the fertile Urubamba valley, through fields of crops and livestock and adobe villages, up to a windswept grassy plain framed by jagged mountains. During the 9hr hour journey there are short stops at: Andahuaylillas, where the town’s ornate, baroque 17th-century church has beautiful frescoes and an impressive gilded altar; Huaro, Raqchi, here the Temple to Viracocha is the largest roofed building ever built by the Incas: this is one of Peru’s most stunning Inca sites; and Pucará, famous for its pre-Inca ruins and local pottery, where you visit the little museum.

There is a short stop at la Raya, with a backdrop of snow-capped peaks, and a buffet or three course lunch is served at Sicuani. There is an English-speaking guide, refreshments and a toilet on board.

Hotel Intiqa

The bright, modern Hotel Intiqa is conveniently located in Puno city centre, near the park and main commercial district. It’s a basic, budget property without any special features but has friendly and helpful staff, and its box beds and fleecy duvets are comfortable. 

Guestrooms are sleek and contemporary with hardwood floors, local artwork and bathrooms. There is also a restaurant, handicraft gift shop and a bright atrium with stained-glass windows. In-room massages can be arranged.

Day 10 - Luquina Chico/Acora/Chucuito (nr Puno)
By boat to Taquile Island; overnight with a family at Luquina Chico.

Take a boat trip to the remote and tranquil island of Taquile with its stunning views of Lake Titicaca. Around 1,500 Quechua-speaking indians continue to live in this remote community and many still wear the traditional hand-woven dress. The island, 7km long, is devoid of roads and vehicles, its terraced hills scattered with pre-Inca ruins.

Continue by boat to the indigenous village of Luquina Chico on the Chucuito Peninsula. This community-based tourism initiative has strict controls over visitor access and a visit allows you to spend time with locals and learn more about their way of life. During the afternoon, walk along the lakeshore and enjoy the scenery.

Overnight with a family in the village.

Day 11 - Puno
Return to Puno.

After breakfast with the family there is time to go for a walk or rent a sailboat before a restaurant lunch. In the afternoon, visit the floating Uros Islands, constructed and reconstructed from layers of tortora reeds by the Uros indians over several centuries. Today no pure-blooded Uros remain, but the islands are still home to several hundred inhabitants.

Although the islanders now earn a living mainly from tourism, their unique way of life continues to be totally ‘interwoven’ with the tortora reeds – their boats, houses and even the football pitch are all made from this material. Afterwards, return to Puno.

View from Isla del Sol, on background Isla de la Luna. The lake is located at the northern end of the endorheic Altiplano basin high in the Andes on the border of Peru and Bolivia. The western part of the lake lies within the Puno Region of Peru, and the eastern side is located in the Bolivian La Paz Department.The lake is composed of two nearly separate sub-basins that are connected by the Strait of Tiquina which is 800 m (2,620 ft) across at the narrowest point. The larger sub-basin, Lago Grande (also called Lago Chucuito) has a mean depth of 135 m (443 ft) and a maximum depth of 284 m (932 ft). The smaller sub-basin, Winaymarka (also called Lago Pequeno, "little lake") has a mean depth of 9 m (30 ft) and a maximum depth of 40 m (131 ft).The overall average depth of the lake is 107 m (351 ft)
Hotel Intiqa

The bright, modern Hotel Intiqa is conveniently located in Puno city centre, near the park and main commercial district. It’s a basic, budget property without any special features but has friendly and helpful staff, and its box beds and fleecy duvets are comfortable. 

Guestrooms are sleek and contemporary with hardwood floors, local artwork and bathrooms. There is also a restaurant, handicraft gift shop and a bright atrium with stained-glass windows. In-room massages can be arranged.

Day 12
Visit Sillustani ruins, fly to Lima and connect with international flight home.

En route to Juliaca airport you will visit the ancient burial ground of Sillustani, 32 km from Puno. The site lies on top of a small hill overlooking Lake Uyamo, and is most notable for its chullpas – the funerary towers where the Aymara-speaking Colla people buried their nobility. Although not built by the Incas – the engineering involved in the construction is regarded as far more complex than that seen in much Inca construction – most date from the period of Inca occupation.

The most impressive of the towers, of which there were thousands, are 12m high and are scattered throughout the area. A closer look at those still standing reveals some interesting carvings of reptiles and mammals.

Transfer to airport for flight to Lima, connecting with international flight home.

Value Peru: Sacred Valley of the Incas to Lake Titicaca full itinerary
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Overview
Places Visited

The places you’ll stay and explore on this tour. Here’s a closer look at each one and what makes it worth the trip.

Surrounded by the Andean mountains, the former capital of the Inca Empire boasts intricate temples and golden-hued colonial architecture. Explore rugged landscapes and fascinating architecture with a Cusco holiday from Journey Latin America.

Cusco

We think of the Sacred Valley as the heartland of the Inca Empire – fertile valleys, snow-capped mountains and ancient stone fortresses make it one of Peru’s most captivating landscapes. Stretching between Cusco and Machu Picchu, it’s home to colourful markets, traditional villages, remarkable archaeological sites and some of the country’s most spectacular scenery.

Sacred Valley of the Incas

Few archaeological sites in the world compare to Machu Picchu, where ancient Inca stonework clings to a mountain ridge high above a jungle-clad valley. Nestled among cloud-wreathed Andean peaks at 2,430m, this corner of Machu Picchu Peru combines spectacular scenery, remarkable architecture and fascinating history to create one of South America’s most unforgettable travel experiences.

Machu Picchu

Peru’s capital doesn’t get the credit it deserves. In Lima, colonial grandeur, world-class gastronomy and Pacific Ocean views combine to make it one of South America’s most exciting cities. Known as the City of Kings, Lima blends rich colonial heritage with contemporary culture, outstanding museums and some of the best food on the continent.

Lima

Deep blue waters stretch towards snow-capped mountains at one of Latin America’s most iconic destinations, where traditional island communities preserve centuries-old ways of life. Straddling the border between Peru and Bolivia, Lake Titicaca is the world’s highest navigable lake and one of the Andes’ most remarkable cultural landscapes.

Lake Titicaca – Peruvian side
Overview
Highlights

This unusual private tour of Peru explores the Inca heartland in the Andes, and includes attractions in and around Cusco and Lake Titicaca. Fly up to the Andes from Lima and stay in historic Cusco, the former Inca capital and a treasure trove of Inca stonework and colonial architecture. Continue by road into the Sacred Valley of the Incas. 

Next is a rail journey alongside the tempestuous Urubamba river through a narrow gorge leading to the Inca citadel of Machu Picchu, set on a mountain saddle above the valley. Finally travel to shimmering Lake Titicaca on the altiplano, visiting islands and local communities as well as the ruined artefacts of a long-gone pre-Columbian civilisation.

What makes this holiday special is its community focus: you are staying at two hotels set up to support a street children’s charity established by a Dutchwoman, you visit indigenous communities on the Uros and Taquile Islands of Lake Titicaca and stay with a local family on the shores of the lake. This gives you the opportunity to engage with local people and learn about their lifestyle at first hand.

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Finn Clennett

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What you need to know
Essentials

The practical detail for this tour, all in one place. Transport, accommodation, what’s included and what to pack, so you know exactly what to expect before you go.

Peru information
What's included in the price
Services of our team of experts in our London office
Services of Journey Latin America local representatives and guides
All land and air transport within Latin America
Accommodation as specified
Meals as specified
Excursions as specified, including entrance fees
Taxes and compulsory charges
Included Excursions
Tour of the city of Cusco and Sacsayhuamán ruins
Visit the Los Niños charity project
Full day guided visit to the Sacred Valley of the Incas
Guided tour of Machu Picchu
Inca ruins and museums en route to Puno
Sillustani ruins near Lake Titicaca
What's not included in the price
Tips and gratuities
Meals other than specified
International flights to Latin America
Optional excursions
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Rosie Kay
Rosie Kay
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Rosie embarked on a year-long backpacking trip across Latin America. She is excited to share her knowledge and experiences with others.

Finn Clennett
Finn Clennett
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Finn discovered his passion for travel on an extensive 18-month trip to Latin America, experiencing the vibrant Carnaval in Rio, the end-of-the-world city of Ushuaia, trekking the Andes and volunteering on the Galápagos Islands.

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Maggie Wilson
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Maggie visited Latin America on her first backpacking trip when she was 19. Since then, she has taken every opportunity to travel, and has managed to explore a lot of the region in subsequent trips.

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Gary discovered what he had been missing with his first foray into the wilds of Latin America. In his role as Product Manager, he combines this personal obsession with years of industry experience to help ensure that travellers will fall for the region every bit as much as he has.

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What to do

Things to do

We proudly offer the widest range of activities, excursions and one-of-a-kind experiences across all our destinations, tried and tested personally by our travel experts.

Walls in the Sacred Valley of the Incas, Peru

Take a tour of the colossal stone fortress of Sacsayhuamán, a hugely important Inca ruin on the outskirts of Cusco.

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Train passing through greenery in the Peruvian Andes

Travel on one of the continent’s most scenic rail journeys to arrive at the incomparable Lost City of the Incas.

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Machu Picchu

Explore the world-famous Lost City of the Incas: the undisputed jewel in Peru’s crown.

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Uros, Lake Titicaca

Visit tiny islands bobbing on the surface of Lake Titicaca, inhabited by an indigenous community who build their floating homes out of reeds.

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Sillustani

Visit a traditional village, walk with llamas and visit the stone burial towers of the ancients on this cultural tour around Lake Titicaca.

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Where to stay

Accommodation

Browse our unrivalled portfolio of accommodation. Every option has been carefully chosen by our team of travel experts, so you can rest assured that you will relax in utter comfort

Delightfully secluded and homely hotel surrounded by flower-filled gardens in the heart of Peru’s Sacred Valley. All proceeds go to a charitable foundation for deprived youngsters.

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This Peruvian-owned mid-range hotel in Machu Picchu village is a convenient base for visits to the ruins.

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Holiday extensions

If there’s somewhere you particularly want to go that isn’t included in this tour, we can add on an extension to take you there.

Nasca lines in Peru

Nazca Lines + Paracas

Travel to the Paracas Peninsula and explore the bird-smothered Ballestas Islands by boat. Fly over the Nazca Lines for a bird’s eye view of the giant symbols and lines carved into skeletal desert rock by the pre-Columbian Nazca people. Day 1: From Lima, travel by public coach south to Paracas (3.5hrs) on the Panamerican Highway,…

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Our specialists know the best and most unusual places to stay across Latin America.
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A former Journey Latin America tour leader, Sally spent 7 years working, travelling and living throughout Latin America before returning to the UK to help people arrange their own adventures to this wonderful destination.

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Level definitions

Essential
What it means

Stay in comfortable, well-located hotels chosen to keep you close to the action. These are reliable, practical places with everything you need for a good night’s sleep, sometimes a smaller or family-run find, sometimes a larger, more functional hotel. It’s a straightforward style of stay that keeps costs down and leaves more of your budget for the experiences themselves.

Premium
What it means

Return each evening to well-appointed hotels chosen for their comfort and setting. Rooms are spacious and properly equipped, with all the mod cons you’d expect, and facilities to include a restaurant, a bar or lounge, and often a pool or spa to unwind in. It’s an easy, comfortable style of travel, with somewhere relaxed to look forward to each day.

Essential
What it means

Settle into stylish hotels picked for their character, setting and service. That might be a luxurious city hotel like the Loi Suites in Buenos Aires, or somewhere with a setting you won’t forget, a former estancia on the Patagonian steppe or a lodge at the foot of Machu Picchu. This is our most memorable style, where the hotel becomes part of the journey itself.

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