SUSTAINABLE TOURISM CIRCUIT I
11 Days - 10 Nights | Lima - Paracas - Ica - Arequipa - Puno - Cusco
ITINERARY DETAILS
DAY 1: ARRIVAL & LIMA CITY TOUR
- Arrival at Jorge Chávez International Airport, transfer to hotel
- 14:15: Modern Lima: Miraflores district (Love Park), Huaca Pucllana pyramid, El Olivar forest
- Colonial Lima: Historic center (Plaza San Martín, Plaza Mayor, Government Palace, Cathedral)
- Visit San Francisco Convent and catacombs
Accommodation: Lima
Meals: None
Meals: None
DAY 2: FULL DAY PARACAS & ICA
- 04:40: Departure to Paracas (261km south of Lima)
- Boat tour to Ballestas Islands (see "The Candelabro" geoglyph and marine wildlife)
- Transfer to Ica for wine/pisco tasting at local vineyard
- Lunch with regional cuisine
- Huacachina Oasis: Dune buggies and sandboarding
- Evening return to Lima
Accommodation: Lima
Meals: Breakfast
Meals: Breakfast
DAY 3: AREQUIPA CITY TOUR
- Morning transfer to Arequipa
- 14:00: City Tour: Plaza de Armas, Cathedral, La Compañía Church
- Visit Santa Catalina Monastery ("small city" closed for 400 years until 1970)
Accommodation: Arequipa
Meals: None
Meals: None
DAY 4: COLCA CANYON - TRANSFER TO PUNO
- 03:00: Early departure to Colca Canyon
- 06:30: Breakfast in Chivay
- 08:30: "Cruz del Cóndor" viewpoint (spot Andean condors)
- Visit traditional villages: Yanque, Maca (church with gold altars)
- Relax in thermal baths
- 19:30: Arrival in Puno, transfer to hotel
Accommodation: Puno
Meals: None
Meals: None
DAY 5: UROS, AMANTANI & TAQUILE ISLANDS
- 08:00: Boat tour to floating Uros Islands (1-1.5hr visit)
- Continue to Amantani Island
- Lunch with local family
- Afternoon cultural activities (traditional dances)
- Homestay with local family
Accommodation: Family home (Amantani)
Meals: Lunch + Dinner
Meals: Lunch + Dinner
DAY 6: TAQUILE ISLAND - RETURN TO PUNO
- Breakfast with host family
- 09:30: Visit Taquile Island (artisan community)
- Traditional lunch
- 15:30: Return to Puno
Accommodation: Puno
Meals: Breakfast
Meals: Breakfast
DAY 7: PUNO TO CUSCO - SUN ROUTE
- 06:40: Scenic bus journey to Cusco
- 08:50: Pucará Museum (origins of Andean civilization)
- 11:00: La Raya pass (border between Puno/Cusco)
- Traditional Andean lunch
- 13:00: Raqchi archaeological site (Temple of Wiracocha)
- 15:30: Andahuaylillas Chapel ("Sistine Chapel of America")
- 17:30: Arrival in Cusco
Accommodation: Cusco
Meals: Breakfast + Lunch
Meals: Breakfast + Lunch
DAY 8: CUSCO CITY TOUR
- 14:00: Visit Qoricancha (Temple of the Sun)
- Explore Sacsayhuamán fortress (megalithic stone walls)
- Visit Quenko ceremonial site, Pucapucara military outpost
- Stop at artisan center for "Inka Tea"
- Final stop at Tambomachay (Inca water temple)
Accommodation: Cusco
Meals: Breakfast
Meals: Breakfast
DAY 9: SACRED VALLEY
- 08:30: Full-day Sacred Valley tour
- Visit Pisac village (Sunday Quechua mass) and market
- Buffet lunch in Urubamba
- Afternoon visit to Ollantaytambo archaeological complex
- Return via Chincheros (Inca agricultural center)
Accommodation: Cusco
Meals: Breakfast + Lunch
Meals: Breakfast + Lunch
DAY 10: MACHU PICCHU
- Morning train to Aguas Calientes (Expedition class)
- Bus ascent to Machu Picchu citadel
- 2-hour guided tour of the archaeological complex
- Lunch in Aguas Calientes
- Afternoon return to Cusco
Accommodation: Cusco
Meals: Breakfast + Lunch
Note: Machu Picchu entries subject to availability (after 1pm)
Meals: Breakfast + Lunch
Note: Machu Picchu entries subject to availability (after 1pm)
DAY 11: DEPARTURE
- Breakfast at hotel
- Transfer to Velasco Astete International Airport
Meals: Breakfast
Note: Flights not included in package
Note: Flights not included in package
WHAT'S INCLUDED
- All transfers (airport/hotel/station)
- 10 nights accommodation:
- 2 nights Lima
- 1 night Arequipa
- 2 nights Puno (1 hotel, 1 homestay)
- 4 nights Cusco
- 1 night Amantani Island (family homestay)
- Daily breakfasts + 4 lunches + 2 dinners as specified
- All tours mentioned with professional guides (Spanish/English)
- Entrance fees to all attractions in itinerary
- Ballestas Islands boat tour
- Colca Canyon tour
- Lake Titicaca islands tour (Uros, Amantani, Taquile)
- Sacred Valley tour with lunch
- Machu Picchu excursion (train, bus, entrance, guide)
- Transportation:
- Tourist bus: Lima-Paracas, Chivay-Puno
- Inka Express: Puno-Cusco
- Expedition train to Machu Picchu
- Sustainable tourism experiences:
- Local family homestay on Amantani Island
- Traditional community visits
- Cultural exchange activities
WHAT'S NOT INCLUDED
- International/domestic flights
- Meals in Paracas and Ica (except breakfast)
- Early check-in or late check-out
- Travel insurance
- Tips and personal expenses
- Cathedral entrance fee
IMPORTANT NOTES
- Prices subject to change without notice
- Not valid during Holy Week, National Holidays, New Year, or long weekends
- Machu Picchu entries subject to availability (after 1pm)
- 4% credit card surcharge
- 3% bank fee for international transfers
- Exchange rate: 4.00 (market variations apply)
- Tours subject to weather conditions
- Sustainable Tourism Focus: This itinerary includes community-based tourism experiences that directly benefit local populations
