Wonders of the South

HOME > EXPERIENCES : STEP 1 from 2

Wonders of the South

The south of Peru is rich in history, landscapes, contemporary lifestyles, and culture; come and explore with us 3 incredible regions of Peru. From the White City of Arequipa through the sweeping landscapes of the Colca Canyon, learning from ancient floating communities in Puno to the impressive archaeological sites of Cusco, this program delivers a comprehensive introduction to the riches of Peru. 

11 days/10 nights

Explore

Destinations	AREQUIPA / LIMA / CUSCO / PUNO
Departure	Every day. Since we start in Lima you can arrive anytime before 4 PM so you have time to rest before the experience begins.
Departure Time	day 2 early in the morning
Dress Code	Casual: Warm clothing (sweater, hat, gloves, socks), Comfortable walking shoes (Trainers and sandals), waterproof clothing, cap, sunglasses, sunblock, insect repellant, water bottles, basic medical kit, positive energy.
Included	2 days Colca Canyon excursion + 01 lunch in Colca + access ticket to the canyon Accommodation in each City of the itinerary + breakfast Domestic Flights from Lima to Arequipa Full Day Sacred Valley excursion + lunch + Access tickets Full Day Uros Island + Taquile + 01 lunch Half day city tour Arequipa Half day Cusco City Tour + Ruins + Access tickets Machu Picchu excursión + roundtrip bus tickets + Access ticket to the citadel Tourist bus Puno to Cusco + lunch + access tickets Train from MachuPicchu to Poroy (Cusco) Train tickets from Ollantaytambo to MachuPicchu Transfer from Arequipa airport to the hotel Transfer in/out from/to Cusco hotel Transfer in/out from/to Lima airport Transfer in/out from/to Puno Hotel

Tour Plan

Day 1: Arrival to Lima

Arrival and transfer to the chosen lodging. Overnight in Lima.

Day 2: Lima to Arequipa

AM Breakfast. Transfer from your hotel to the airport for your flight to Arequipa. Your domestic flight from Lima to Arequipa is included. Arrival to Arequipa and transfer to your chosen lodging. PM In the afternoon, your city tour of Arequipa will begin. Starting at the Plaza de Armas (the main square), then visit the “city within a city,” the Convent of Santa Catalina, with its vibrantly colored walls and courtyards that remained cloistered for centuries and was only opened to the public in the 1960s. We also visit the Compañia Church, an old Jesuit complex, perhaps the most historically significant in Arequipa, with a beautiful church facade covered in columns carved into spirals, laurel wreaths, flowers and birds. Transfer back to your hotel. Overnight in Arequipa.

Day 3: Arequipa to Colca

AM Breakfast Early in the morning, you will be picked up from your hotel, driving 160 km to the town of Chivay. At the beginning of our excursion, we will enjoy the majestic views of the Misti, Chachani, and PichuPichu volcanoes before approaching the National Reserve of “Pampa Cañahuas”, where our transportation will make a short stop to observe the wild Vicuñas in their natural habitat. PM - When we are getting close to the town of Chivay (3,651 above sea level) we will start to wonder at the spectacular multicolor view of the terraces of the Colca valley. Overnight in Colca.

Day 4: Colca to Puno

AM Breakfast. We’ll have our breakfast very early in the morning and leave for the famous “Cruz del Condor” point. Arrive at the viewpoint and time enough to have an enjoyable view of the deep of the Canyon and if the weather permits; majestic pictures of the flight of the Condors. On the way back to Chivay we’re going to visit the traditional village of Pinchollo and the “Antahuilque viewpoint”, where wonderful 1,500-year-old terraces, constructed by the Collaguas, a culture well before the Incas’ time, can be observed. PM Transfer to Puno (5hrs approx.). Arrival to Puno and transfer to your chosen hotel. Overnight in Puno.

Day 5: Puno/Islands

AM Breakfast. Early pick up from your hotel and then transferred to the pier and take the motorboat towards the Uros Floating Islands. Upon arrival, we will walk on the reed islands and interact with the natives.Continue our journey towards “Taquile Island”, a traditional Quechua speaking community, and full of ancient agricultural terraces. The weaving tradition is part of the culture and goes back to early civilizations; all weaving is handmade. Arriving on the island, we have to walk up along a narrow path, enjoying on the way impressive views of Lake Titicaca. At the village, there is free time to explore around on your own, lunch is included. At the end of the tour, you will be transferred back to your hotel in Puno. Overnight in Puno.

Day 6: Cusco

AM - Breakfast. Early transfer to the Bus station. VIP Bus to Cusco. During the journey we will make some stops: Pucara Museum (pre-Incan artifacts), La Raya (a scenic overlook at 4335masl), buffet lunch, Rachi archaeological site and Andahuaylillas Church (The Sistine Chapel of America). Arrival and transfer to your hotel. Overnight in Cusco

Day 7: Cusco

AM - Breakfast. PM – Early in the afternoon you will be taken on a half day City Tour & Nearby archaeological sites. The Cathedral, impressive because of its paintings from the Cusco school. The Qorikancha (Sun Temple), This enclosure was the most important religious building during the Incas time. After that, you will visit four archaeological sites surrounding the city of Cusco; Sacsayhuaman, Q´enqo, Pukapukara & Tambomachay. Overnight in Cusco

Day 8: Cusco, Maras & Moray

AM - Breakfast. AM – Pick up from your hotel and you will be taken on a half day tour to the Salt mines of Maras & the archaeological site of Moray. The Salt mines of Maras are one of the largest salt extraction centers of prehispanic origin in the region of Cusco and of the current territory of Peru. The salt mines themselves are constituted by a set of approximately 4,500 salt wells placed in the form of stepped terraces in the middle slope of the hill Qaqawiñay, which has slopes of 20 degrees of inclination to the bottom of the gorge on the left bank of the Salineras stream. Moray, an archaeological complex used by the Incas as an agricultural research center, here you will find the famous Inca platforms, an example of the great architectural capacity of this empire. Overnight in Cusco

Day 9: Cusco/Sacred Valley to Machu Picchu

AM - Breakfast. Today we will visit the Sacred Valley of the Incas, visiting the complex of Pisac on the way, located 33 km/ 20 miles from the city of Cusco, we will also visit its famous artisans market. Lunch is included at a local restaurant in the Sacred Valley. PM – After lunch, we will visit the archaeological site of Ollantaytambo (an important fortress, due to its great surrounding walls). Train to Machu Picchu (approx. 1hr30min). Arrival and transfer to your lodging there. Overnight in Machu Picchu.

Day 10: Machu Picchu to Cusco

Early breakfast. We will pick you up early in the morning to board the bus up to the mountain. Arrival and guided tour of one of the most awe-inspiring places in the world "Machu Picchu". As a supremely religious site, Machu Picchu demonstrates the superior knowledge achieved in agriculture, astronomy, and astrology. PM - Return to Cusco by train, arrival, and transfer to the lodging. Overnight in Cusco.

Day 11: Cusco

AM – Breakfast and transfer to the airport or bus station.

Location

Arequipa, also known as "The White City" - World Heritage Site by UNESCO, for the numerous and magnificent constructions of temples, convents, colonial houses, and palaces with white ashlar sculpted as filigree.

Colca Canyon is the deepest on the Earth, besides landscapes of indescribable beauty, it offers one of the best sceneries in the world for rafting, canoeing, trekking, and for the lovers of extreme adventure. Despite its depth, The Colca Canyon is geologically young. The Colca river has cut into beds of mainly volcanic rocks, which were deposited less than million years ago along the line of a major fault in the earth´s crust.

Puno, settled life began here in 200BC with the Pukara culture, which erected huge pyramids and monuments. Nowadays, Puno focused on magnificent Lake Titicaca, is a stronghold of rural Peruvian life.

Lake Titicaca is the world´s highest navigable lake, and south America largest lake; here we can visit the floating reed islands of Los Uros and, the tradicional Islands of Taquile and Amantani.

Cusco City: Located between sacred mountains, such as "Apu Wanacahure" where according to the legends the empire was founded, Cusco offers a privileged geographical scenery, of beautiful landscapes; its cultural coalition Andean-Hispanic, has determined very special characteristics in its architecture and population. Walking around the Historical center of Cusco we can enjoy Inca walls, numerous buildings of two styles: Inca and Spanier. The Qoricancha temple is an example of syncretism, during the Inca´s time it was the most important religious building - it was the temple of the Sun; now it is the Santo Domingo Church. 

Sacred Valley of the Incas: Located 15 Km. north of Cusco, it is one of the most productive/fertile and extensive valleys in the area, that is why it's called "The Sacred Valley of the Incas". During the Inca times, this Valley was the main agricultural area, because of the excellent climate conditions, very fertile lands, and the sacred river, that is why we find such amazing terraces between Pisaq and Ollantaytambo archaeological sites. 

Machu Picchu: Located 112 Km. (70 miles) from Cuzco. This wonder of the world has an all package: Nature + history + spirituality + energy and more. Even when we are still studying and trying to find the "history" of it, MachuPicchu - as a masterpiece - tells you his history in every step, through every wall. At the citadel, we can find two -  perfectly separated - areas: the -Agricultural & the religious. Walking on it you can fill the high sense of spirituality that inhabits this place, it seems to transport its visitors to a place where everything "in an unimaginable way" is possible. It is a place where strange forces of nature allow the individuals to reach an incomparable cosmic state, a state that can only be experimented with in Machu Picchu.

Gallery

Discounts
and
Offers

Are you a frequent traveler or referred by one?

Contact us for special discounts