LIMA  - WELCOME Welcome at Jorge Chavez Airport, tranfer to Hotel Gemina** located in Miraflores district. Meals at your leasure.

LIMA-CUSCO (BY PLANE) Transfer to Lima Airport for flight to Cusco. Welcome at the airport and transfer to hotel Amaru**. Cusco, in Quechua, means “navel of the World” for this city that was the Inca Empire’s center was also the departing point toward the World’s four regions according to the Inca’s cosmic vision.  Cusco is definitely one of the most beautiful cities of the peruvian highlands. Rest to allow altitude acclimatization. Free for lunch. Early in the afternoon guided visit of Cusco and its surroundings: The Solar Temple - Cathedral- Tambomachay - Pukapucara - Sacsayhuaman - Q'enko. Return to the hotel at the end of the afternoon. Meals at your leasure.

CUSCO-PISAC-OLLANTAYTAMBO 9 A.M. , departure by private transportation for the Sacred Valley. After aproximately one hour drive, we’ll arrive at ruins of Pisac that was one of the most important fortress of the Inca Empire, built mainly for stocking its food reserves. Guided visit of the site. We’ll then walk down back to the small colonial settlement of Pisac and stroll along the indian market (Sunday, Tuesday and Thursday). Typical buffet lunch in a restaurant. Early in the afternoon we’ll continue our excursion to the Inca village of Ollantaytambo with a visit of its fortress that was a strategical military, religious and agricultural center. At the end of the day, we’ll stroll along the narrow streets of this small village. Transfer to hotel Munay Tika**. Lunch included. Supper at your leasure. Note: 40 minutes walk

OLLANTAYTAMBO - AGUASCALIENTES – MACHU PICCHU- CUSCO (TRAIN) Machu Pichu was discovered in 1911 by american anthropologist Hiram Bingham. Archeologists  estimate its construction mid XVth Century. Various hypothesis are considered as to the exact purpose of this hard-to-reach fortress: Was it a military garrison? A kind of secret “Harem” for the sole use of the Inca? A resting resort for him? It remains an enigma!
Departure around 8.30 A.M. by “backpacker” class train to reach the small town of Aguascalientes,  arrival around 10.30 A.M. and connection by bus to the Machu Pichu fortress. Day dedicated to the visit of the site. Return to Aguascalientes by bus and connection by train for Cusco at 3.55 P.M., arrival at 8.20 P.M. Transfer to hotel Amaru** in Cusco. Meals at your leasure.
Suggestion: You may also reach Huyana Picchu peak. The climb is rather difficult. You need serious foot-gear, no heavy packsack and not be scared of heights. From the top fantastic view over the Machu Pichu; figure aproximately two hours round trip. A less dangerous alternate is to walk to the Solar Temple where the view is also spectacular. Round trip, around and hour and a half.

CUSCO – TINQUI (alt. 4,000 m ) (alt. 3,400 – 3,200 – 3,900 m.) After breakfast, departure for Tinqui by private transportation. Breath-taking view over the Vilcanota cordillera and arrival by the afternoon in Tinqui after 7 hours drive on a trail. There we set-up our camp. Note: cold climate

TINQUI-UPIS (alt. 3,900-4,400 m.) Breakfast. A first altitude acclimatization day South of the Altiplano will allow us to reach the hot springs of Upis. Night camping at the foot of majestic “nevado” (snow-capped volcano) Ausangate, also called Upis. Note: aproximately 6 hours hike.

UPIS-JATUN PUCACOCHA (alt. 4,400 – 4,850 – 4,650 m.) Breakfast. “Up-and-down” hiking day: after crossing “paso Arapa” pass at 4,700 m., we walk down a valley sided by colorful lakes such as Yanacocha Lake (4,400 m.) and Pucacocha. We’ll set-up our camp by one of them, Jatuncocha Lake. Note: aproximately 5 hours hike – Cold climate

JATUN PUCACOCHA - : PAMPA CANCHA (4,650 – 5,200 – 4,600 m .) After a solid breakfast, climb to Ausangate pass where we can sight Ausangate Lake and then a second pass, Palomani (5,200 m.) higher point of our trekking, wher we’ll enjoy great landscapes such as snow-capped volcanos (“nevados”) Ausangate (5,800 m.) and Santa Catalina (5,808 m.). We’ll hike down to our campsite called Huchuy Pinaza or Corralpampa (4,600 m.). Note: Aproximately 6 hours hike – Cold climate

Day 9

PAMPA CANCHA – LAGUNA COMERCOCHA (4,600 – 5,100 – 4,350 m.) The goal to-day will be climbing to the Campa Pass (5,100 m.) and then hiking down toward our campsite, Comercocha Lake. Note: aproximately 7 hours hike.

Day 10

LAGUNA COMERCOCHA – PACCHANTA (4,350 m.) Our hike to-day toward various lakes and Communities such as Calacha or Pacchanta (4,350 m.) where we’ll set-up our camp and where you will be able to enjoys thermal springs. Note: aproximately 5 hours hike.

Day 11

PACCHANTA-TINQUI-CUSCO. Breakfast. Return trip to Tinqui leaving behind us the gorgeous Ausangate mountain chain landscapes. Night in Cusco at Hotel Amaru**

Day 12

CUSCO-PUNO, BY BUS Transfer to bus station at 7.30 A.M. for a ride to Puno. Great landscapes all the way: Tourist bus makes various stops such as the archeological site of Raqchi, Andahuaylillas village with its famous “Sixtine Chapel” built mid XVIIth Century as well a stop-over for lunch (included) in Sicuani. Arrival in Puno around 4.30 P.M. Transfer to Hotel Balsas Inn**. Supper at your leasure. Note: Unaccompanied bus trip. However the bus company provides a bilingual guide (Spanish/English) that gives information along the way.

Day 13

PUNO – UROS - TAQUILE – PUNO (BY BOAT) Transfer to Puno harbour to board early in the morning to Uros and Taquile Islands. After about fourty minutes sailing, guided tour of floating islands of Uros. Thes are man-made by the Uros tribe whose main activity relies on fishing. The visit lasts aproximately fourty minutes and then sailing again for Taquile, two hours away from Uros. Taquile Islands offers a great cultural interest. Its inhabitants live according to ancestral customs. Guided visit of the Island and its Inca remains. Lunch at your leasure in one of the typical restaurants of the Island. Rest and return to Puno mid-afternoon. Transfer to Hotel Balsa Inn**. Meals at your leasure. Note: There is no sailing by night on the lake.

Day 14

PUNO – JULIACA – SILLUSTANI - AREQUIPA (BY PLANE) Transfer to Juliaca Airport for a 30 minutes flight to Arequipa. Along the way visit of the Sillustani’s “Chullpas”, archeological site 30 kilometres north of Puno.  “Chullpas” are circular stone funerary towers, some as high as 12 meters. They were used by the “Collas”, pre-Inca civilization (circa XIIth-XIVth Century). Visit lasts roughly 2 hours. Flight to the “White City”. Arrival and transfer to Hotel Casa de Melgar**. Meals at your leasure.

1st Option : The Colca Canyon
 

Day 15

AREQUIPA – CHIVAY/YANQUE (PRIVATE) The Colca Canyon, an awsome geological formation, is one of the deepest in the World with its 3,680 m. Departure by mini-bus to ride along the magnificent road leading to the Colca Canyon. Along the way we’ll be able to watch vicunas. Crossing of Patapampa Pass (4,800 m.). Check-in at Hotel Tradicion Colca** and bath in hot thermal spring waters in the village. Meals at your leasure

CHIVAY/YANQUE – AREQUIPA (PRIVATE) The « Colca Canyon » is twice as deep than the Gran Canyon (of Colorado). The Colca River originates in the middle of a circus of cultivated pre-Inca terraces and then dives gradually into steep canyons. The background landscape is towered by a line of volcanos, of them the most famous being  the Sabancaya, on of the most active on the Continent, spitting permanently its menacing fumes above the canyon.

AREQUIPA – LIMA (BY PLANE) – DEPARTURE INTERNATIONAL FLIGHT Transfer to Arequipa Airport for flight to Lima. Direct connection for international return flight. Meals at your leasure.

Second option : Ascent of Chachani
 

Day 15

AREQUIPA –BASE CAMP 5,000 m.  - camp I (5,350 m) ASCENT OF CHACHANI, LEVEL : EASY TO MODERATE Departure early morning by 4WD for Chachani Base camp, then 2-hour hike to camp I. Camp. All inclusive

Camp I (5,350 m.) ASCENT OF CHACHANI (6,075 m.) – BASE CAMP (5,000 m.) Breakfast. Ascent will start at 4 A.M. toward the Chachani summit (5 to 6 hours climb). Return through Base camp within 3 hours. Return to Arequipa. Night at Hotel Casa de Melgar**. Meals at your leasure. Lunch included. Supper at your leasure.

AREQUIPA – LIMA (BY PLANE) – DEPARTURE INTERNATIONAL FLIGHT Transfer to Arequipa Airport for flight to Lima. Direct connection for international return flight. Meals at your leasure.