Secrets of Colca Canyon, Lake Titicaca, and Machu Picchu

We know how exhausting international flights can be, so we will save you from the stress of navigating alone at the moment of your arrival in the Peruvian capital. At Lima Airport, your Machu Travel Peru host will be waiting for you at the arrival gate to accompany you to the hotel of your preference.

Once you have settled in your room, you can take a comforting shower, leaving behind the fatigue of such a long flight, and rest, or you can take advantage of the time to enjoy the best Peruvian gastronomy with a tasty lunch (on your own) in your hotel or the surrounding areas.

Later, we will begin a fantastic city tour of Lima's colonial and modern zones.

You can lose yourself among French-style, republican squares like the Plaza San Martín or the City's main square (Plaza de Armas) while wandering by a charming colonial alley called Jirón de la Unión. Following this, your guide will lead you to the colonial Monastery of San Francisco, where you can appreciate its beautiful Spanish baroque architecture and some religious sculptures from colonial times. But, the best of all will be exploring the hidden underneath its enigmatic catacombs! Here, you’ll know why this monastery was considered the first cemetery for the first Lima inhabitants.

After you return to your hotel, why not enjoy a beautiful afternoon at your own pace by exploring zones of Miraflores, a Lima tourist district, walk in the beautiful Kennedy Park, or go shopping in the famous Larcomar Mall center.

In the evening, for dinner, we recommend considering Central or Maido, both recognized as the finest restaurants in the country. Central ranked first in 2023, and Maido achieved first place in 2025 on The World’s 50 Best Restaurants list. Please note that, due to their high demand, reservations must be secured in advance.

The White City and its beautiful European-style historic center, condors, and deep canyons await you today! But first, enjoy a comforting breakfast with fresh, delicious ingredients at your Lima hotel. Later, at a scheduled time, our host will pick you up and take you to Lima International Airport, where you will board your direct flight to Arequipa.

From your airplane window, you’ll see the Pacific Ocean meet the desert coastline before the landscape rises toward the Andes. As you approach Arequipa, the impressive Misti Volcano will come into view, standing above the city and offering a memorable welcome to this beautiful destination.

Upon arrival, our local host will welcome you and transfer you to your previously selected hotel. Take some time to rest and prepare for your fantastic Arequipa City Tour. A few hours later, your local guide will pick you up to begin this magical experience.

Known as La Ciudad Blanca, Arequipa stands out for its magnificent temples, convents, colonial mansions, and palaces built from sillar, a natural white volcanic stone used in most buildings in the historic center.

Your first visit will be the Santa Catalina Monastery, a colonial mini-city frozen in time and one of Peru’s most fascinating religious complexes. This monastery is especially unique for its blend of Spanish and Andean elements, visible in its vibrant alleys, cozy plazas, stone fountains, and the former cells of the novices who once lived there.

Continuing this wonderful Andean experience, you will visit the scenic districts of Carmen Alto and Yanahuara. These viewpoints offer some of the best panoramic views of Arequipa, with the majestic Misti Volcano as the perfect backdrop. Of course, you’ll also admire the iconic sillar-built houses that give the city its distinctive identity.

Finally, your guide will return you to your hotel and share helpful recommendations to prevent altitude sickness, along with excellent dining suggestions. You will then have the rest of the afternoon free to explore Arequipa’s lively downtown districts or simply relax as you prefer.

This day, the fourth deepest canyon in the world, will be waiting to be explored! Early in the morning, after a delicious breakfast provided Today, the fourth-deepest canyon in the world awaits you! Early in the morning, after a delicious breakfast at your Arequipa hotel, your guide will pick you up to begin your magical journey to the Colca Canyon.

Along the way, you’ll enjoy fantastic views of the Misti, Chachani, and Pichu Pichu volcanoes, stone giants that frame the path toward the canyon.

Your first stop will be the Pampa Cañahuas National Reserve, where you can observe vicuñas, guanacos, and other wild Andean species in their natural habitat. This is a true privilege, as these Andean camelids are endangered and can only be seen freely in very few places in the world.

Next, you’ll pass through several picturesque Andean villages scattered along the canyon, where you’ll witness traditional lifestyles, customs, and beautiful local handicrafts.

Afterward, you’ll stop to enjoy a tasty lunch in an enchanting spot within the canyon, carefully selected by your guide.

Once the visit concludes, you will arrive at your hotel in the heart of the Colca Canyon. The rest of the afternoon is free for you to relax, enjoy dinner on your own, or explore the surrounding area. Optionally, ou may also choose to visit the La Calera hot springs independently.

Today’s journey will take you from the Colca Canyon to Puno. You’ll start early with a delicious breakfast at your hotel. Once you check out, your guide will pick you up and take you to the Condor Cross Viewpoint.

Here, you’ll witness the majestic flight of the Andean condor, one of the largest birds of prey on Earth, soaring through the highest Andean skies like a living symbol of the mountain range. Their bare reddish necks, dark plumage, and powerful wings make them unforgettable to behold.

From this viewpoint, you’ll also appreciate the incredible depth of the canyon, approximately 4,160 m (13,650 ft), making it twice as deep as the Grand Canyon in the USA.

Your visit continues through the charming towns of Maca and Yanque, where you’ll see traditional colonial architecture and the everyday life of Andean communities. Here, you can interact with locals and purchase beautiful handcrafted items.

Next, enjoy a delicious lunch made with local ingredients, fully included as a delightful farewell to this extraordinary region.

In the afternoon, your private guide will accompany you to Puno in comfortable private transportation. The drive lasts about 5 hours through high plateaus, mountains, and striking Andean landscapes.

Upon arrival in Puno, a local Machu Travel Peru host will welcome you and take you to your hotel. Enjoy your accommodation, followed by dinner on your own at one of the excellent restaurants recommended by our staff.

Welcome to the highest navigable lake in the world! To make the most of this day, begin with an early breakfast at your hotel. Then, your host will take you to the local port, where you’ll meet your guide and begin your magical journey across Lake Titicaca.

As you navigate its cool waters, the deep blue sky will blend with the lake on the horizon while your guide shares the legends of Inca origins. Shortly after, the boat will arrive at the floating islands of the Uros, handmade from totora reeds. Here, the friendly inhabitants will show you their customs and explain their more than 2,000-year-old history.

After saying farewell, you’ll continue to Taquile Island, a place where time seems to have stopped. Its residents still follow ancestral traditions and even dress according to their marital status. On this peaceful island, you’ll enjoy a delightful traditional lunch included in your program.

After lunch, you’ll have the opportunity to explore the island, admire its textiles and handicrafts, and enjoy some of the most breathtaking views of Lake Titicaca.

Finally, your boat will return to the Puno port, where your host will take you back to your hotel to relax and enjoy dinner on your own.

NOTE: Please consider that Taquile has a strenuous climb up 500 steps to the central part of the island. The elevation average goes from 12,000 feet on the lakeshore to 13,000 feet at the high point. Please take care of this high altitude.

On the sixth day, your Andean journey toward Cusco begins with a delicious breakfast served at your hotel in Puno. Afterward, your Machu Travel Peru guide and private transportation will pick you up to start this memorable experience along the Route of the Sun, the same path once traveled by the first Incas as they moved from the southern highlands toward Cusco.

Your first stop will be the Pucara Museum, located just outside Puno, where you’ll have the opportunity to see traditional Pucara ceramics and even purchase the iconic Pucara bull, a symbol widely recognized in Peru and throughout South America.

Later in the morning, you’ll pause at La Raya, the highest point between Puno and Cusco (4,319 m.a.s.l. / 14,170 ft.). Here, you’ll be able to step out for a few minutes to feel the crisp Andean air and appreciate the impressive mountain scenery.

Continuing your journey, you’ll stop in a lovely area of the Andean plateau selected by your private guide, where you’ll enjoy a delicious lunch fully included in your program.

As you enter the South Valley near Cusco, you’ll explore Raqchi, the ancient Temple of Wiracocha, considered older than many of the Inca constructions found in Cusco. Your private guide will share the history and legends of this remarkable archaeological site.

Your next visit will be to Andahuaylillas, home to a beautiful colonial chapel often called the Sistine Chapel of America. Inside, you’ll admire its grand religious paintings from the late 16th century, each depicting a fascinating blend of Andean and Catholic traditions.

Upon arrival in Cusco, your private transportation will take you directly to your selected hotel. You’ll have time to rest and enjoy your accommodation. Your private guide will also give you a brief overview of your upcoming tours in Cusco, the Sacred Valley, and Machu Picchu, along with some excellent restaurant recommendations for dinner on your own.

OPTIONAL: You can also experience this journey from Puno to Cusco aboard luxury trains such as the Titicaca or the Andean Explorer. Contact our travel specialists for more details!

Are you ready to discover the enchanting capital of the Inca Empire? Welcome to Cusco, a city where history, culture, and ancient mysteries blend seamlessly with everyday life. After enjoying a comforting and delicious breakfast at your hotel, your guide will be ready to transport you back in time.

First, you’ll explore the Inca fortress of Sacsayhuaman, with its giant rocks perfectly fitted into its structure. The tour will continue by visiting the Qenqo Inca ceremonial center with its ancient sacrifice vestiges. Then, the Inca military barrack, Puca Pucara, will fascinate you with its beautiful views of Cusco. Following, your guide will show you the retreat place of the Inca sovereign called Tambomachay, with its beautiful water fonts, where the sovereign spent long periods resting and hunting.

Then, we will return to the Cusco Center to lose ourselves in its charming stone alleys by appreciating the Renaissance architecture of the Cathedral of Cusco and its famous painting collection of a unique art style called "Escuela Cusqueña".

Later, your guide will lead you to the Qoricancha temple, located a short distance from the Cathedral, where you will be fascinated by the mix of Inca and Spanish architectural styles, besides some original remains of the Inca temples inside it.

Finally, your tour will end in the main square. You might enjoy a nice lunch or dinner on your own in one of the nearby restaurants, or we can arrange transport to drop you off at your hotel. Whatever your decision, tell your guide what you would like to do!

Today, the treasures of the Sacred Valley await you. After enjoying a delicious breakfast at your hotel in Cusco, your local guide will pick you up and accompany you through breathtaking landscapes and ancient Inca heritage.

On the way to the Sacred Valley of the Incas we will visit an exceptional Textile House Museum, where you can see the four types of South American camelids raised in captivity: llamas, alpacas, guanacos, and vicuñas. You can feed them and learn how to tell them apart. Local artisans will show you how they use the ancient techniques of their Inca ancestors to transform the delicate fibers of these animals, especially alpacas and vicuñas, into beautiful and colorful garments. You can also see the creation of multicolored belts, finely woven blankets, and exquisitely embroidered textiles. To complete the experience, a guided tour of the museum will immerse you in the fascinating history of pre-Inca cultures and their textile legacy.

Then, we’ll continue descending through the valley slope until we reach a spectacular Inca archaeological site over a hill called Pisac, with magnificent terraced fields on its hill slopes, among Inca enclosures, squares, temples, and even an Inca cemetery! Your first contact with a rich Andean past! Descending into the modern town, we will lose ourselves among the colored stands of the famous Pisac traditional market, where we will be fascinated by its beautiful handicrafts made by local people, like fabric crafts, sculptures, jewelry, and paintings with Andean thematic.

Next, we will visit a charming restaurant nestled in the beautiful landscapes of the Sacred Valley to enjoy a delicious lunch made from local ingredients, all included in your program. You can choose the restaurant in advance, with the advice of your travel consultants.

Finally, we’ll go to your hotel in the middle of the spectacular scenery of the Sacred Valley, and you can enjoy a delicious dinner here, on your own. A well-deserved sleep is guaranteed tonight!

The Sacred Valley still has treasures to discover, and you will not miss a thing! This day assures an unforgettable trip in a perfect climate. The Sacred Valley is known for its charming climate 365 days a year. First, you'll enjoy a delicious breakfast at your luxury hotel. Then, with your guide, you will begin your adventure through the Sacred Valley of the Incas.

Discover Ollantaytambo, a fortress that was the last Inca refuge in Andean lands during the Spanish invasion. Wander among its narrow alleys, temples, enclosures, and squares of well-carved, perfectly fitted, stone architecture. This incredible experience will be accompanied by stories and myths that your guide will tell you about the place. One notable mention, the fantastic ancient love story legend about an Inca military General and a beautiful Princess, the daughter of the Inca emperor Pachacutec.

Next, you will go to a charming restaurant in the middle of the beautiful landscapes of the Sacred Valley, to enjoy a delicious and exclusive lunch made from local ingredients. As if this were not enough, the variety of flavors and colors in its menu, dishes, and drinks will surprise you.

Then, our next stop will be the white slopes of Maras. There, you will enjoy the brightness of 2,000 small Inca salt wells that are still used by local people today to provide themselves with salt. By the way, the Maras salt is recognized worldwide as being perfect for grills and barbecues.

Moving on, your guide will transfer up to Moray, where you'll be fascinated by a series of circular terraces, in the form of rings, that go into the earth's deeps. These circular terraces were used as an Incan laboratory to acclimatize crops. They sowed a specific type of seed in each circular terrace, from the smallest and deepest ring to the largest, to see the quality of the harvest they obtained.

Finally, we’ll return to the hotel for a deserved rest, you can take a relaxing shower or, maybe, enjoy a fantastic dinner on your own.

The day to conquer Machu Picchu has arrived! After a delicious breakfast in your hotel, your host will take you to Ollantaytambo train station to dispatch you on a charming and comfortable train heading to Aguas Calientes, the modern town of Machu Picchu. The magical train trip will last one and a half hours, crossing the spectacular Peruvian jungle, always accompanied by the singing of exotic birds, leafy undergrowth, and the Vilcanota river that will follow the train's movement, like a snake on the lookout for its prey!

Once you arrive at Aguas Calientes train station, your local guide will await you at the arrivals gate. With your guide, you’ll go to the bus station to take a “CONSETTUR” bus heading to the top of a mountain where the Machu Picchu citadel is located. After 35 minutes of the bus trip, the bus will drop you at the same entrance gate to Machu Picchu.

Then, you will enter the famous Inca citadel to start living the magic there! You can get lost between enclosures, squares, temples, and stone alleys perfectly carved and fitted. Exploring for two hours the mysteries and magic of an Inca citadel that continues to amaze the world with its beauty. Of course, as a soundtrack, you will listen to the stories of its construction, inhabitants, and function from your private guide.

Once the tour is over, but not before taking your dream photo of Machu Picchu, your tour guide will dispatch you in a CONSETTUR bus returning to Aguas Calientes town. There you’ll enjoy a fantastic lunch included in your program in one of the best restaurants in the zone.

Next, you’ll have to go to the Aguas Calientes train station to take your train to return to Cusco. There, you will take a comfortable train back to Ollantaytambo or Poroy train stations. Whatever station you arrive at, another member of our staff will wait for you to transfer to the Cusco Hotel, where you can enjoy a delicious dinner on your own, before taking a relaxing shower and enjoying a well-deserved rest.

Don't worry; as you can see, you will always be assisted at any departure or arrival point!

OPTIONAL: If you want to continue enjoying Machu Picchu, this package, like all the others, can be fully customized by adding a night in Aguas Calientes. So, on the following day, you'll be able to enjoy a second visit to the enigmatic Inca citadel or hike to nearby mountains like Huayna Picchu and get fabulous photos of Huayna Picchu. Just tell us your requirements, it’s as easy as that!

We know that this is the most challenging part of the journey. Being able to say goodbye to such good moments. That is why at Machu Travel Peru, we want to save you this trouble. You will only have to enjoy a comforting breakfast fully included in your hotel reservation while our staff assists you at check out.

Then, we will accompany you to the Cusco airport to assist you with the boarding process and send you on your flight heading to Lima.

Like the sound of our "Secrets of Colca Canyon, Lake Titicaca, and Machu Picchu" tour? Do you have extra requests or questions? Please don’t hesitate to write to us. We will always be attentive to personalize your dreams in Peru at your desire!

NOTE: This program will allow you to visit Lima, Arequipa, the Colca Canyon, Puno, Lake Titicaca the Sacred Valley, Pisac, Moray, Salt Mine of Maras, Ollantaytambo, Machu Picchu and Cusco. Additionally, you can add more exciting day tours in Cusco or another destination in Peru. Please take a look at our package list for more options.