Machu Picchu & Uyuni Salt Flats

Breakfast at Hotel; pick up from the hotel at 09:00am.
This culinary adventure will begin with a visit to the local market. You will see, smell, taste, and experience the infinite variety of textures, colors, aromas, and flavors.

Then, we will take you to our cooking studio where you will have a “hands-on” cooking lesson. You will learn about Peruvian cuisine and prepare delicious local dishes. After cooking, we will enjoy the lunch prepared by ourselves. The perfect reward for our hard work!

At 14:00pm pick up and transfer to Lima historical center. We’ll take you to a fascinating walking tour. We will show you palaces and castles hidden in Lima. We will also visit the great Saint Francisco Monastery and impressive underground Catacombs!

We will then visit “The Main Square”, Archbishop’s Palace and the Municipal Palace and many other great places with our local guide. Our historical center is considered a World Heritage protected by the UNESCO; we will show you the Original Spain Mansion Palace and enjoy its great collection of 18th Century paintings, its impressive sculptures and great original terrace. After the tour we will take you back to your hotel.

Overnight at the Hotel in Lima.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch.

Breakfast at hotel; at 06:30am pick up from the hotel and transfer to the airport for your flight to Cusco, the ancient Inca capital of the Incas. On arrival in Cusco, assistance at the airport and transport to your hotel, where the rest of the morning is free time to rest in the hotel in order to avoid altitude sickness.

Pick up from the hotel at 14:30pm – walking tour will begin at Colorful San Pedro market, there’s probably no better market to experience Cusqueñan life. Enjoy a first-hand look at how local residents live day-to-day outside the postcard perfection of Cusco’s main square. The guide will explain the history of this market as you wander through colorful stalls filled with fabrics, food, shaman stalls, etc.

After the market, we visit Cusco’s main square, a busy and vibrant space that marks the colonial center of the city; which features wide stone pathways and well-kept colorful gardens.

After, we will head to the Temple of the Sun (Qorikancha) upon which the Convent of Santo Domingo has been built. Interesting fact: according to a legend, this temple was entirely gold plated which left many conquerors impressed with its magnificence when they came here! – The tour will end around 18:00pm.

Overnight at the Hotel in Cusco.
Meals Included: Breakfast.
Suggested flight schedule — Lima (09:30am) – Cusco (10:50am)

Breakfast at hotel – pick up from your hotel at 07:30am.
We will embark on a journey back in time to the Incan’s Sacred Valley beginning in Pisac, 31 km from Cusco. The ancient Incan archeological site and city is located on the top of a mountain. There you will have the chance to witness the impressive stone masonry skill of our ancient ancestors. Afterwards, you will go down into the quaint little town and wander through its colorful market where you can buy beautifully crafted, hand-made products.

After this, lunch will be served at a local restaurant.

Then, you will continue to Ollantaytambo, a military, religious, and agricultural center of the Incas located at the top of a mountain. Note: unlike other small towns, this one has maintained its original Incan design including outstanding stone buildings and narrow streets. It was once used as a fortress and administrative and urban center.

Stop in Ollantaytambo from where we catch the train to Aguas Calientes, upon arrival to Aguas Calientes, reception and transfer to your hotel.

Overnight at the Hotel in Aguas Calientes.
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch.
Expedition train — Ollantaytambo (19:04pm) – Aguas Calientes (20:45pm)

Breakfast at the hotel; around 06:00am you will ride a bus to Machu Picchu
Machu Picchu is an archeological site (2,430m/7,972ft) that was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1983 and one of the New Seven Wonders of the World in 2007, the hilltop citadel deserved every bit of its fame.

Around 07:30am the guided tour begins, the guide will expertly direct you throughout the astounding ruins and its main streets. You can then wander around the town squares as well as climb the intricately carved stairways made of stone. Machu Picchu is considered to be the world’s spiritual center by esoteric wisdom. The guided tour takes around two hours.
From 10:00am to 12:00pm once the guided tour is over, you will have some free time to explore the citadel on your own.
From 12:30pm to 13:30pm take bus to Aguas Calientes.
From 13:30pm to 15:00pm take lunch on you own.

Return to Cusco: later board the train for the return trip to Cusco. You will stop at the Poroy station and then be picked up and driven to your hotel in Cusco.

Overnight at the Hotel in Cusco.
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch.
Expedition train — Aguas Calientes (15:20pm) – Cusco (19:05pm). Note about train tickets: We will attempt to book tickets on this train, but if there are timetable changes or trains are fully booked, we may need to book an alternative service.

Breakfast at hotel; you will be picked up at 06:00am from your hotel in Cusco and then transferred to the bus station where you will board the bus to Puno.

Enjoy spectacular views of the countryside on this full day of travel from Cusco to Puno, through the high Altiplano.

You will enjoy several shorts stops to take in panoramic views and visit historical ruins in Andahuaylillas, Raqchi, La Raya, Pucara and Sicuani where you’ll have a delicious buffet lunch and taste its unique Andean flavor.

Upon arrival, reception and transfer to your Puno Hotel.

Overnight at the Hotel in Puno.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch.
Bus schedule — Cusco depart (07:00am) – Puno arrival (17:00pm)

Breakfast at hotel; you will be picked up from your hotel at 07:00am and transferred to Puno’s port. Our journey will begin with the Uros Floating Islands. The Uros are the native people who live on these man-made islands made with cattail which is grown on Lake Titicaca. The houses are built on top, while the cooking is done outside to avoid fires.

After spending an hour on the Island of Uros, you will proceed to the Island of Taquile. Here you will become aware that these locals speak Quechua instead of the predominant Aymara. The Island of Taquile was once a part of the Inca Empire, which still influences the style of the buildings today. Upon arrival to the island, you will receive some brief information as well as a tour until lunchtime. In the afternoon, the boat will take you back to Puno. From Puno’s port, you will be transferred back to your hotel.

Overnight at the Hotel in Puno.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch.

Breakfast at hotel; at 07:00am pick up from the hotel in Puno and transfer to Copacabana. After migration formalities, visit the town and the Church where the famous brunette virgin is.

Transfer by motorboat to the famous Sun Island where the Great Inca Empire was originated. After approximately 50 minutes of navigation, we arrive at the island and have lunch at a local restaurant. Sun Island is home of important archaeological sites such as the Inca Stairs, which lead to the upper part of the Island where there are viewpoints to appreciate the majestic Lake Titicaca. The sacred source of crystalline water is considered the fountain of youth.

We return to Copacabana by motorboat and land transfer to La Paz, arrival time approx. 19:00pm.

Overnight at the Hotel in La Paz.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch.

Breakfast at hotel; at 09:00am pick up from the hotel to Killi Killi viewpoint, Murillo Square, where you will find the Executive Palace, the Legislative Palace and the Metropolitan Cathedral, ancient and majestic buildings. Visit the picturesque Museum of Ethnography and Folklore where you can appreciate the colorful clothes typical of Bolivia.

Transfer to the cable cart to enjoy an impressive panorama of the city of La Paz in one of the most ecological and modern means of mass transportation in the world heading south, crossing the sky to visit the amazing Valley of the Moon, rocky landscape that was created by the erosion of the winds and the heavy rains forming an attractive lunar spectacle.

Lunch at a local restaurant. In the afternoon visit the craft center and the Witches Market, where you will find for sale mystical objects of ritual and Andean sorcery. Visit the San Francisco Church in Baroque Mestizo style with impressive carvings on its façade. Return to the hotel.

Overnight at the Hotel in La Paz.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch.

Breakfast at hotel; at 05:00am pick up from the hotel and transfer to La Paz airport (El Alto) to take flight to Uyuni.

Around 08:30am upon arrival to Uyuni airport, reception and transfer to our office in Uyuni. At 10:00am begin one of the most exciting experiences. Visit the train cemetery of old locomotives and then continue to the town of Colchani where there are craft factories of salt extraction. Entrance to the salt flats to visit the salt mounds and its eyes. After a short stop, visit Inkawasi Island an amazing habitat of giant cacti. Tour the trails with a spectacular view of the Salt flat. Lunch included and free time to enjoy the stunning scenery. At the end of the afternoon you will be able to appreciate a beautiful spectacle of the sunset.

Return to Uyuni and transfer to airport. Take flight to La Paz. Upon arrival to La Paz, reception and transfer to your hotel.

Overnight at the Hotel in La Paz.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch.
Suggested flight schedule — La Paz depart (07:30am) – Uyuni arrival (08:20am)
Suggested flight schedule — Uyuni depart (20:10pm) – La Paz arrival (21:00pm)

Breakfast at hotel; you will be collected from your hotel in La Paz and transferred to the airport.

Take International flight.

Meals included: Breakfast.

Have a great 11-day tour with Andean Journeys!