Days
16
Price from
Delve into Peru's Inca history and discover the natural treasures of the Amazon rainforest
Lima is shrouded in history with glorious Spanish colonial buildings and grand museums dotted throughout this grand capital. The Amazon Basin contains the biggest river by volume and the largest tropical rainforest in the world. We discover the incredibly rich biodiversity of this environment on a journey by boat and on foot before returning to Lima. From Lima we fly to the former Inca stronghold of Cusco, where we have plenty of time to soak up the colourful local life. After catching a train to the town of Aguas Calientes, we visit the ancient ruins of Machu Picchu – the lost city of the Incas. A spectacular bus journey then takes us further inland to Puno on the shores of Lake Titicaca, home to the fascinating floating reed islands of the Uros Indians. Spend a couple of nights on a private island on Lake titicaca. Before we arrive in Bolivia’s capital of La Paz we discover the ruins of ancient Tiahuanaco. La Paz is the highest capital city in the world and combines a modern cosmopolitan city with ancient traditions, creating a vibrant finale to our adventure.
- Code
- PSAD
- Physical rating
- Trip rating
- 25 reviews
- Ages
- Min 15
- Group size
- Min 1, Max 12
Peregrine trips are now operated by Intrepid Travel
Why you'll love this trip
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Enjoy a two-night Feature Stay in an Amazon Lodge. Stroll along jungle trails on the lookout for monkeys, parrots, otters and caymans, and sleep in a nature lodge lit by candles and kerosene lamps
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Descend into the vast catacombs beneath Lima on an underground tour. This is a side of Peru's capital not many people have seen
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Peru is a world-class culinary destination. Visit an area unknown to tourists and try a variety of street food and authentic Peruvian desserts
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Enjoy a two-night Feature Stay at the private island of Suasi on Lake Titicaca. Watch the sun go down at the highest point of the island while enjoying a truly memorable picnic and drinks
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Marvel at ancient Incan architecture throughout the fertile Sacred Valley, before discovering the mother of all Incan cities, magical Machu Picchu
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Enjoy two included visits to Machu Picchu and choose whether to hike a portion of the Inca Trail or take the train.
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Join a specialist historian guide on one of your included visits to an archaeological site in Cusco. Your guide will provide fascinating insights and knowledge of Peru's history and culture
Is this trip right for you?
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Due to the high altitude of the places we visit some people can suffer altitude sickness, regardless of age, gender or fitness. It even happened to Sir Edmund Hillary! Please see the ‘Medical and Health Information’ section of the Essential Trip Information for more details.
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Please ensure you bring sturdy walking shoes and comfortable clothes. There are a number of days when you’ll spend time walking around sites or on tours.
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The Amazon Jungle can be very hot and humid, so it's important to drink plenty of water and wear light cotton clothing. Make sure you also bring tropical-strength insect repellent.
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While accommodation in the Amazon is clean, comfortable and ideally located, it's pretty basic compared with other accommodation throughout the trip. Please remember that this is a very remote part of the world. As there's no electricity at night, the rooms are lit with candles and kerosene lamps.
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Visitors are not permitted to explore Machu Picchu without a Machu Picchu guide (not our trip leaders) and must follow set routes within the site. This trip includes two guided visits of Machu Picchu and each visit is approximately 1.5 - 2 hours long. Once your guided visits conclude, you will need to leave the site and personal exploration of Machu Picchu is not permitted. Your leader will provide more information to ensure you get the most out of your visits to this incredible site.
Gallery
Itinerary
Welcome to Lima, Peru. On arrival at Lima's Jorge Chavez International Airport, you'll be transferred to your hotel in Miraflores. In the afternoon around 2 pm, there will be a welcome briefing at the hotel with your Peregrine tour guide. Straight after the meeting your leader will take you on a walking tour of downtown Lima, including the city's historical centre. Flanked by streets of ornate mansions, palaces and churches, Plaza Mayor is the best place to start any exploration of Lima. Take a walk through the old streets to get a feel for colonial life. Continue onto the central market which has a huge variety of fresh produce on offer, including fruits, vegetables and even guinea pigs! You'll also have the opportunity to try some local Peruvian fruits and street food. Next head away from the tourist trail and visit Alameda de Chabuca Granda – an area really only known to locals. This is a place where people go as a treat to enjoy a variety local street food and authentic Peruvian desserts such as mazamorra morada (a sweet porridge made from purple corn), or picarones (Peruvian donuts made from local squash called Macre and sweet potatoes served with a sweet syrup). You will finish in Lima main square, you may choose to stay downtown for dinner or take an included transfer back to Miraflores.
Accommodation
- Hotel Antigua Miraflores or Similar (1 night)
Included Activities
- Lima - Guided tour of San Francisco Monastery including The Catacombs
- Complimentary airport arrival transfer
- Lima - Downtown walking tour
- Lima - Alameda Chabuca Granda tour and tastings
Optional Activities
- Lima - Private Lima: Home Cooked Tour Urban Adventure (price from) - USD83
- Lima - Night Bites & Sights - Urban Adventures - USD68
- Lima Coast Biking Tour - Urban Adventures - USD52
Meals Included
There are no meals included on this day.Special Information
It’s very important that you attend the welcome meeting as we will be collecting insurance details and next of kin information at this time. If you are going to be late please let your travel agent or hotel reception know. Ask reception or look for a note in the lobby for more information on where the meeting will take place.The arrival transfer is only valid if arriving on Day 1 or if you have booked pre-trip accommodation through us. Please provide your flight details at the time of booking, or at a minimum 14 days prior to travel, as we may not be able to confirm a request made within 14 days of travel.
If you wish to take part in any of the optional activities mentioned below, you will need to book additional accommodation prior to the tour start date as there won't be any spare time once the tour has commenced.
This morning starts nice an early with a transfer to Lima Airport at approximately 5.30 am. Fly from Lima to Puerto Maldonado today, which should take around 3 hours, including a 30-45 minute stop in Cusco (during this stop you will not disembark the plane). The flight will arrive into Puerto Maldonado airport just before 12 pm (midday). Take a short drive to the lodge's office in town. Upon arrival, you will be provided with a small duffle bag to pack your personal items required for the duration of your jungle stay. The remainder of your items will be stored securely in the office. From the office it's about an hours' drive to the Port of Inferno. Leave civilisation behind and venture deep into the Amazon rainforest by motorised canoe, up river to your jungle lodge in the Madre de Dios region. During the boat journey you will be given a packed lunch provided by the lodge. Upon arrival at the lodge it's a 15-20 minute walk, and you won't be required to carry your bags. Once you arrive, there is time to unpack and unwind before a short orientation and briefing. After dinner your local guide will take you out into the jungle on a night walk.
Accommodation
- Nape lodge or similar (1 night)
Meals Included
- Breakfast
- Lunch
- Dinner
Special Information
Due to today’s boat transfer to the jungle lodge, the maximum weight limit for the Amazon is 12 kg.Posada Amazonas and Refugio Amazonas lodges are both owned by the indigenous Ese-Eja community of Infierno. The lodges both offer a 30-metre canopy tower that provides spectacular views of the vast expanses of forest, Tambopata River and endless opportunities to witness Amazonian wildlife. Rooms at the lodges are simple but comfortable. They are built using local materials such as bamboo, adobe mud and palm trees. Rooms don't have regular doors for the entrance and bathroom, instead traditional curtains are used. Each room opens out to the rainforest, providing a true jungle experience. Rooms are equipped with flushing toilets, showers (on occasions water may be cold due to remoteness of lodge), mosquito nets and kerosene lamps. Electricity and internet are only available in the common areas at designated times. Please note that drinks and tips are not included.
Embrace another early start (approximately 4.30 am) and visit the Oxbow Lake. The activity begins with a walk through the jungle. It will take you approximately 30-40 minutes to reach the Lake. Once at the Lake you’ll board a catamaran to take a slow ride around. Keep your eyes peeled for Squirrel Monkey troops that sometimes forage in bushes at the edge of the lake. Overhead, spectacular Scarlet and Red and Green Macaws and parrots are a regularly seen as they fly over the Lake. After the boat ride you’ll take the same path back to the lodge, arriving late morning at approximately 11 am, depending on the group's pace. Soon after you’ll head back out on a 20-minute walk through the rainforest to a clay lick visited by 7 to 10 species of parrots and parakeets. While watching from a blind, you’ll be able to get very close to view the Dusky-headed and Cobalt-winged Parakeets, Chestnut-fronted Macaws with Mealy, Yellow-crowned, Blue-headed, and Orange-cheeked Parrots. After this you’ll walk back to the lodge for lunch. There will some free time until mid-afternoon when you’ll head out for the final activity of the day. A 20-minute boat ride downriver from the lodge brings you to Centro Nap – a traditional community clinic that produces medicines from rainforest plants and administers them to patients who either cannot afford to receive treatment in town or prefer traditional medicines. An Eseeja nativa from the Community of Infierno will take you on a unique tour of Centro Nape to explain the uses of various medicinal plants. Head back to the lodge around 6 pm and enjoy some free time before dinner. After dinner head out on an optional night jungle walk.
Accommodation
- Nape lodge or similar (1 night)
Meals Included
- Breakfast
- Lunch
- Dinner
This morning at approximately 8 am, travel back to Puerto Maldonado before taking a short flight (approximately 35 minutes) to Cusco. The flight will arrive into Cusco at approximately 1.30 pm. After settling in at the hotel, embark on an orientation walk of the hotel's surrounding area and Plaza de Armas. This tour will also include a visit to the Cusco Cathedral with a specialist historian guide. Your guide will be highly educated in colonial art, and will be able to offer special insights into Cusco Cathedral, which is a World Heritage-listed site.
Accommodation
- San Agustin Plaza Hotel or similar (1 night)
Included Activities
- Cusco - Orientation Walk
- Cusco - Coricancha Temple (entrance fee)
- Cusco - Cathedral tour with Specialist Historian Guide
- Cusco - Cathedral Entrance Fee
Optional Activities
- Cusco - Pre-Colombian Museum - PEN20
Meals Included
- Breakfast
Your leader will take you on walking tour of Cusco today. Visit the Coricancha Temple for a tour with a local guide. Once plated in thick gold, the Spanish built a Dominican church atop its walls. Afterwards, head to the San Pedro market, where you can practice your bargaining skills and take some colourful pictures. The tour will also stop at the Plaza de Armas in the heart of the city. Here you will again see the main cathedral (this time from the front only), built on top of an Incan palace and one of the city's greatest repositories of art.
Accommodation
- San Agustin Plaza Hotel or similar (1 night)
Included Activities
- Cusco - Leader-led orientation walk
Optional Activities
- Cusco - Inca Museum (entrance fee) - PEN10
Meals Included
- Breakfast
Special Information
Due to a luggage restrictions on the train to Machu Picchu you will be required to pack all necessary items for the next 2 days into a smaller bag. The remainder of your luggage will be stored securely in your Cusco hotel.
This morning, travel by private bus for around 2 hours through the Sacred Valley on the outskirts of Cusco. Known as Wilcamayo by the Incas, this valley was greatly treasured because of its climate, fertile land and the presence of the Urubamba (Sacred) River. Long the main source of food for the high Andes, maize crops can be seen surrounding the river and covering the terraces carved high into the valley walls. You will visit the fortress of Sacsayhuaman where massive stone blocks that form the walls of this site give you an impressive picture of how greatly developed Inca engineering was. Looking over the city from its hilltop position, the fortress is the ultimate example of the Inca's military strength. En route to Ollantaytambo, visit workshops in the Chichubamba community to gain a greater insight into the local lifestyle with an included lunch and visit to some local workshops. After the community visit, continue on to Ollantaytambo. Ollantaytambo is a magnificent example of Inca urban planning and the perfect warm up for Machu Picchu. Ollantaytambo's archaeological site is located to the east of the Plaza de Armas. The upper terraces of this site offer great photo opportunities of the squared grid town below. Today you’ll see lots of evidence of the Incas' engineering skills – in the ruins of ancient aqueducts, irrigation canals, dams on the Urubamba River, imposing sets of terraces and centres of worship dedicated to Pachamama (Mother Earth). Late afternoon head to the hotel in Ollantaytambo and settle in for night.
Accommodation
- Hotel Tika Wasi Valley or similar (1 night)
Included Activities
- Cusco - Full Boleto Turistico Pass (access to 16 archaeological sites, transport & guides not included)
- Sacred Valley - Community visit & lunch
Meals Included
- Breakfast
- Lunch
Your destination today is Aguas Calientas, nestled in the cloud forest at the foot of Machu Picchu. Early this morning at approximately 7.45am you will travel by train for around 90 minutes through the meandering Urubamba Valley to reach the town. From here take a 30-minute bus up the winding road to Machu Picchu, where you will be joined by a guide who will take you through the ruins and tell you stories of its history and the ancestral people of the region. Looking at Machu Picchu for the first time, as it sits against a backdrop of forested mountains, is a truly breathtaking experience. The true purpose behind Machu Picchu may always be a mystery, since no historical records of the complex exist. In fact, none were made in the first place, since the Incas had no written language. Most archaeologists, however, believe it to be the 15th-century headquarters of ‘he who shook the earth’: Emperor Pachacuti. Today, enjoy a guided visit (approximately 1.5–2 hours) with plenty of photo opportunities. Due to visiting restrictions at Machu Picchu, we recommend exploring the Sun Gate and Inka Bridge before your guided tour starts. Your leader can advise how to get the most out of your visit. Later, take the bus back down to Aguas Calientes to spend the night before heading back up to Machu Picchu first thing in the morning for your second visit.
Accommodation
- Hotel Hatun Inti or similar (1 night)
Included Activities
- Machu Picchu - Guided visit
Optional Activities
- 1 Day Inca Trail - Add-on (Must pre-book) - USD380
Meals Included
- Breakfast
Special Information
The 1-day Inca Trail hike is a great option for those wanting to experience trekking in Peru, without committing to the full four days. This trek starts from the train station known as 'KM 104' and after a steep ascent it follows the last portion of the Classic Inca Trail. Trekkers enter Machu Picchu at the Sun Gate in the afternoon, where there will be some time to take a few photos before taking a short bus ride down to Aguas Calientes to spend the night and rejoin the rest of the group. This trek is subject to permit availability, must be pre-booked and will incur a surcharge. Please contact your booking agent if you would like to book this activity.Due to Peregrine's internal safety policy, our leaders are specifically prohibited from recommending or assisting with booking trips to the mountaintop ruins of Wayna Picchu.
At around 5.30 am this morning, take the bus back up the winding road to Machu Picchu. On your second visit to the ruins, join a local Machu Picchu guide once again to explore more of the extraordinary architecture of the many temples, palaces and living quarters. Its mortar-free design is particularly earthquake resistant and the stones are so precisely cut that, to this day, not even a knife fits between them! You'll have time along the way to take any photos you may have missed yesterday. In the afternoon, return by bus and train to Cusco, where you'll spend the night. In the evening, perhaps head out for a celebratory dinner with your group in the city.
Accommodation
- San Agustin Plaza Hotel or similar (1 night)
Included Activities
- Machu Picchu - Second visit
Optional Activities
- Machu Picchu Site Museum - PEN25
Meals Included
- Breakfast
Special Information
The first bus from Aguas Calientes to Machu Picchu departs at 5.30 am. The estimated arrival time is between 6–6.30 am. The sun rises at Machu Picchu at approximately 5.30 am, therefore it's not possible to be there in time for sunrise.
Today, enjoy free time to relax, shop or explore more of Cusco's sights. Perhaps head to a cafe on the Plaza de Armas. There are many optional activities available in Cusco, so be sure to speak with your tour leader if you wish to book any of these in.
Accommodation
- San Agustin Plaza Hotel or similar (1 night)
Optional Activities
- Cusco - Pisco Making - Urban Adventures - USD51
- Cusco - Stand Up Paddle Boarding - USD75
- Cusco - Visit a local Musician's house - USD40
- Cusco - Totem painting workshop - USD59
- Sacred Valley - Via Ferrata & Zipline - PEN265
- Sacred Valley - Mountain Biking - USD120
Meals Included
- Breakfast
Depart the hotel just after 7 am this morning. Travel by bus for around 7- 7.5 hours to the tiny but unique town of Puno. This direct tourist service will take you on decent roads through spectacular mountain scenery. You will also drive through the large sprawling town of Juliaca on your way to Puno, which is a colourful and lively place renowned for its traditional street dancing, often performed in celebration of Catholic festive days in February each year. Arrive in Puno at around 3.30 pm. Located on the shores of Lake Titicaca, this place is a a culture centre of Aymara and Quechuan Indian influences, and where traditional Andean customs are still strongly represented. The town is known as the folklore capital of Peru and is famous for its traditional dances. Many festivals are celebrated here, especially the Virgen de la Candelaria, so if you're lucky your visit might coincide with one of the colourful evening parades, when the streets fill with costumed dancers and musicians. Head to the hotel in Puno and settle in. Shortly after your leader will take you on an orientation walk of Puno town. This evening perhaps head out for dinner with the group – your leader will be able to recommend some great places to eat.
Accommodation
- Hotel Hacienda Puno or similar (1 night)
Meals Included
- Breakfast
Special Information
Today's bus journey is a direct bus service and there are no toilet stops, however there is a toilet on board. The bus company does provide you with a snack upon boarding, however we do recommend packing a few extra snacks and a drink bottle in your day pack for the ride.
Leave the hotel just before 7 am and set off to explore Lake Titicaca. Be enchanted by the striking scenery and unique cultures on a cruise around Lake Titicaca today. As Lake Titicaca is the highest navigable lake in the world, the sun can be extremely strong, so make sure you wear a hat and sunscreen, even on cloudy days. Stop by the floating Uros Islands. The Uros people constructed these islands to isolate themselves from rival tribes in ancient times. They are built completely from multiple layers of totora reeds, which grow in the shallows of the lake. Next call into Taquile Island for some woollen handicrafts. On the island, knitting is strictly a male domain, while women do the spinning. At approximately 1 pm, retire to the private island of Suasi where you'll spend the next two nights. This afternoon you may want to venture out on a walk around the Island or why not head to the spa and book in a massage. Tonight, enjoy an included dinner at the lodge.
Accommodation
- Suasi Island Eco lodge or similar (Feature Stay) (1 night)
Meals Included
- Breakfast
- Lunch
- Dinner
Special Information
Due to a luggage restrictions on the boat you will be required to pack all necessary items for the next two days into a smaller bag. The remainder of your luggage will be stored securely in the Puno hotel.
This morning you will visit the cultural museum on the island. Here you will find maps, pictures of the lake, and books about history of the lake and its communities. There are handicrafts and fabrics from the different groups that developed around the Lake, types of Andean grains like quinoa, and a chance to learn about the painting process of wool. An easy late-afternoon walk (approximately 30 minutes) will take you to a nice spot to witness a memorable sunset over the waters of Lake Titicaca. Enjoy a private picnic with drinks – a unique moment to soak in the beautiful landscape, appreciate the serenity, and if the clouds behave, watch the sun go down. Tonight, enjoy an included dinner at Suasi Lodge.
Accommodation
- Suasi Island Eco lodge or similar (Feature Stay) (1 night)
Included Activities
- Suasi Island - Sunset picnic overlooking Lake Titicaca
- Suasi Island - Cultural Museum
Meals Included
- Breakfast
- Lunch
- Dinner
Special Information
Enjoy a relaxing morning, and just before 1 pm, travel back across the lake to Puno. The boat journey back to Puno is approximately1 hour and 45 minutes. Enjoy a free night in Puno to explore, eat dinner at a local restaurant or relax in the hotel.
Accommodation
- Hotel Hacienda Puno or similar (1 night)
Meals Included
- Breakfast
Special Information
The lodge will provide you with a packed lunch today. It will be available from about 12 pm, you may choose to enjoy this prior to departing the island or during the boat journey
This morning depart the hotel at approximately 7 am. Travel by minivan to Desaguadero (approximately 2.5 hours), where you'll cross the border into Bolivia. The first stop is the Peruvian migration office where you'll be asked to leave the bus and proceed through Peruvian migration. Then walk via a bridge to the Bolivian side, submit your passport at the Bolivian migration office and reboard the bus, which will continue to La Paz. About 30 minutes after crossing the border there's another stop where the army will again check your documents. On your way to La Paz, stop at Tiahuanaco for a guided visit. The archaeological site of Tiahuanaco was the base of a great civilisation that began around 500 BC before mysteriously 'disappearing' around AD1200. It is believed that the ceremonial complex dates back to the AD800 and was once at the centre of a powerful and self-sustaining empire based in the southern Central Andes. It is also where the Incas learned about building systems and agricultural practices. The sprawling ruins comprise of temples, courtyards, terraced pyramids, monolithic stone statues and gateways. The most famous structure is the Puerta del Sol (Gateway of the Sun). From the ruins it's a 2-hour drive to La Paz, where you'll spend the night. Enjoy spectacular views of the city on your approach, due to its unique location in the middle of a vast volcanic crater.
Accommodation
- Hotel Rosario or similar (1 night)
Included Activities
- La Paz - Tiawanaku archaeological site and museum tour
Meals Included
- Breakfast
At around 3600 metres, La Paz feels like the top of the world and vies with Tibet for the title of highest capital in the world. Despite the abundance of colonial architecture, La Paz's indigenous roots run deep, and the atmosphere in the market-filled streets is both modern and traditional. This morning at about 9 am you'll embark on a city tour. Begin with a dramatic ride on the world’s highest 'urban' cable car, up at 13,000 feet connecting La Paz with its twin city El Alto – a challenging urban environment that is a mix of shacks, half-finished buildings and church spires. Here you will visit some craft markets, selling goods made of alpaca wool, leather and other traditional materials, before visiting the Mercado de Hechiceria or Witches' Market. Browse the weird and wonderful stalls that sell everything from potions to incantations made from herbs. This witches market is rarely seen by tourists and is much more authentic than the smaller witches market in La Paz. Just outside the market is a street with dozens of types of doctors or shamans that, for a price, can tell of your future health, love, or career. Reboard the cable car to the south of the city and take a walking tour of the extraordinary landscape of Moon Valley. This isn’t a valley, but a maze of canyons and colossal clay spires. These rugged oddities, caused by erosion, make for staggering views. Stop at Mirador Killi Killi for one of La Paz’s most impressive viewing points. Next head to the main square and Plaza Murillo. After lunch, the rest of the day is free. When the sun sets and the temperature drops, join the locals in seeking warmth in a bar or restaurant.
Accommodation
- Rosario Hotel or similar (1 night)
Meals Included
- Breakfast
Special Information
Please be aware that the order of your tour may change slightly according to weather, however you will still visit everything mentioned in the itinerary.
Your Amazon and Inca Adventure ends after breakfast this morning. Flights can be booked to depart at any time, as there are no more activities planned following check out.
Optional Activities
- La Paz - To 3,600 Metres, and Beyond Urban Adventure - USD41
- La Paz - Food With Altitude Urban Adventure - USD57
Meals Included
- Breakfast
Meals
15 breakfasts, 5 lunches, 4 dinnersTransport
Boat, Bus, Private vehicle, Plane, Train, Motorised CanoeAccommodation
Hotel (11 nights), Jungle Lodge Feature Stay (2 nights), Eco Lodge Feature Stay (2 nights)Included Activities
- Lima - Guided tour of San Francisco Monastery including The Catacombs
- Complimentary airport arrival transfer
- Lima - Downtown walking tour
- Lima - Alameda Chabuca Granda tour and tastings
- Cusco - Orientation Walk
- Cusco - Coricancha Temple (entrance fee)
- Cusco - Cathedral tour with Specialist Historian Guide
- Cusco - Cathedral Entrance Fee
- Cusco - Leader-led orientation walk
- Cusco - Full Boleto Turistico Pass (access to 16 archaeological sites, transport & guides not included)
- Sacred Valley - Community visit & lunch
- Machu Picchu - Guided visit
- Machu Picchu - Second visit
- Suasi Island - Sunset picnic overlooking Lake Titicaca
- Suasi Island - Cultural Museum
- La Paz - Tiawanaku archaeological site and museum tour
Essential trip information
Want an in-depth insight into this trip? Essential Trip Information provides a detailed itinerary, visa info, how to get to your hotel, what's included - pretty much everything you need to know about this adventure and more.
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