Day 1 - Thursday |
Depart for Lima, capital of Peru. Arrive late in the evening. |
Day 2 - Friday |
Sleep late. Explore Miraflores, the waterfront, Chorrillos, Barranco, Puente de los Suspiros. |
Day 3 - Saturday |
Visit the Museo de la Nacion, Plaza de Armas, Plaza San Martin, la Catedral, la Iglesia de San Francisco and catacombs, Jiron de la Union (shopping district), and La Merced. |
Day 4- Sunday |
Take early morning flight to Cuzco (elevation 11,000 ft). Acclimate to altitude. Free afternoon. Attend folklore dance show at Qosqo Center of Native Dance. |
Day 5 - Monday |
Take train to near Aguas Calientes. Get off at KM104 and hike (optional) via Huinay Huayna and Inti Punku to Machu Picchu (5 hours). Return by bus to Aguas Calientes. |
Day 6 - Tuesday |
Take a tour of Machu Picchu early in the morning. Hike (optional) in the afternoon. |
Day 7 - Wednesday |
More optional hiking and exploring the many trails around Machu Picchu. Board afternoon train to Ollantaytambo. |
Day 8 - Thursday |
Visit ruins of Ollantaytambo. Take bus to the agricultural terraces of Moray and the market town of Chinchero. Visit the market, colonial church, and ruins. Return to Cuzco by bus. |
Day 9 - Friday |
Tour the Inca ruins in or near Cuzco: Coricancha, Sacsayhuaman, Qenko, Puca Pucara, and Tambo Machay. |
Day 10 - Saturday |
Free day. Revisit ruins, shop, or just relax. |
Day 11 - Sunday |
Spend the day in the ruins and market town of Pisac. Visit a native handicraft market on the way and see locals weave in the traditional method, using a back-strap loom. Also see vicunas, guanacos, alpacas, and llamas. |
Day 12 - Monday |
Take the 10 hour train trip through the Altiplano to Puno, on the shores of Lago Titicaca (12,500 ft). |
Day 13 - Tuesday |
Take bus along south shore of Lake Titicaca, cross the border into Bolivia, and proceed to Copacabana. Take boat to the Isla del Sol. |
Day 14 - Wednesday |
Hike the island or just take it easy. |
Day 15 - Thursday |
Take a boat back to Copacabana. Board a bus to La Paz, crossing the estrecho de Tiquina by boat. |
Day 16 - Friday |
Take morning bus tour of the city, Valle de la Luna, Museo de Oro, Indian handicrafts market, and witches’ market. |
Day 17 - Saturday |
Travel to Chacaltaya (optional), highest ski run in the world at nearly 18,000 feet. Hike to the summit. Shop or relax in the afternoon. |
Day 18 - Sunday |
Take bus to Puno, stopping at Tiahuanaco (pre-Inca ruins near Lake Titicaca). |
Day 19 – Monday |
Tour las Islas Flotantes (floating islands) on Lake Titicaca and the Inca ruins of Sillustani. |
Day 20 - Tuesday |
Take bus to Juliaca and board plane to Lima. Free afternoon in Miraflores. |
Day 21 - Wednesday |
Visit the Museo de Oro or have a free day in the Miraflores area of Lima, a great shopping district. Return to the airport late in the evening and board the return flight to the U. S. |
Day 22 - Thursday |
Arrive US. |
