Mystic Peru, Italian-speaking guide
8 Days Starting in Lima, Peru and ending in Puno, Peru
Visiting: Lima, Aguas Calientes, Machu Picchu, Cusco, Puno
Tour operator:
Tour code:
319686
Guide Type:
Fully Guided
Age range:
10-99
Trip Styles:
Interests:
Activities:
Tour Overview
Embark on an unforgettable journey through the heart of Peru with our "Mystic Peru" tour, guided by an Italian-speaking local expert. Discover the rich history and vibrant culture of Lima, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and explore the ancient Inca capital of Cusco, where pre-Columbian ruins blend seamlessly with Spanish colonial architecture. Marvel at the breathtaking Machu Picchu, the "Lost City of the Incas," perched atop the Andes, and experience the serene beauty of Lake Titicaca, the world's highest navigable lake. This tour offers a perfect blend of historical insights, cultural experiences, and stunning landscapes, ensuring a memorable adventure in Peru.
Highlights
Itinerary
Day 1 : Arrival Lima
Location: Lima
Accommodation Name: Jose Antonio or similar 4*
Arrive at Lima Airport. A transport service and a guide will pick you up from the airport at the scheduled time to transfer you to your hotel in Lima. The Peruvian capital is a modern metropolis full of history, currently undergoing an exciting process of cultural and economic changes. Rest of day at leisure.
Overnight in Lima
Day 2 : Lima: - Cusco (90 Min By Flight)
Location: Lima
Accommodation Name: Sonesta Cusco or similar 4*
Meals Included: Breakfast
After breakfast, at 8.30 am, you will be transferred to enjoy a tour of Lima. The main square is the symbolic place where Lima was born in 1535, known as the "City of the Kings", which later became the capital of the Republic of Peru in 1821, the year that marked the country's independence. Visit the Cathedral and the Casa Aliaga, an ancient viceroyalty house handed over by Francisco Pizarro to one of his captains (Jeronimo de Aliaga) after the city was founded. Continue to the district of Pueblo Libre for an interesting tour through the Larco Museum, founded by Rafael Larco Hoyle in 1926 and located inside a mansion built on a pre-Columbian pyramid. In this famous museum, also known for having the most extensive collection of erotic ceramics in the world, you will have the opportunity to admire a complete pre-Hispanic collection of gold and silver artefacts. After 4- hours visit; transfer to the airport to board the direct flight to Cusco (Lima – Cusco flight not included and we recommend booking the flight after 3 pm). Upon arrival, you will be transferred to your accommodation.
Overnight in Cusco
Day 3 : Cusco – Chinchero – Sacred Valley – Aguas Calientes (75 Km – 2 Hrs By Land / 2 Hrs By Train)
Location: Aguas Calientes
Accommodation Name: El Mapi or similar 4*
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch
After breakfast, pick up at hotel at 7 am and departure to Chinchero, a historical and artisan centre of Inca origin in the Cusco region, where archaeological remains and one of the first Catholic churches dated to the 17th century are preserved. Chinchero, located at 3,762 m.a.s.l, offers a privileged view of the Sacred Valley. Like most of the towns in the region, Chinchero also experienced the practice of "extirpation of idolatries", an action that replaced traditional deities with Catholic ones during the Colonial times. Enjoy 1-hour visit and then continue to Maras and visit the Inca salt pans: a landscape consisting of about 3,000 ponds used by the Inca people for salt extraction and subsequent exchange with other products of the empire. A magical place, full of extraordinary colour combinations that the sun's rays create on the mirror of water and salt. Then, arrive at Ollantaytambo for lunch at 1 pm. Ollantaytambo is a typical example of urban planning of the Incas and is still inhabited as in the past. You will be able to admire during 1.5 hr the imposing archaeological site which, although it is called "fortress", actually was a "tambo", a place of refreshment and lodging for groups that undertook long journeys. Depart from Ollantaytambo train station towards Aguas Calientes. Upon arrival in Aguas Calientes after 90 minutes by train, you will be welcomed by a chosen hotel representative who will accompany you on foot to the hotel. Once at the hotel, you will be contacted personally or by telephone by the Italian speaking guide who will provide all the indications for the Machu Picchu visit the next day.
Overnight in Aguas Calientes.
Day 4 : Aguas Calientes – Machu Picchu – Cusco (2 Hrs By Train / 75 Km – 2 Hrs By Land)
Location: Machu Picchu
Accommodation Name: Sonesta Cusco or similar 4*
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch
After breakfast at about 6 am (the exact time will be confirmed by our guide on the previous day) begin your visit to the citadel. The guide will accompany you to take the bus to Machu Picchu shared with other tourists. Once there, after 25 minutes by bus, the 2.5 hours guided tour will begin around the citadel. You will visit the main square, the Royal apartments, the Temple of the Three Windows, the Circular Tower, the Sacred Solar Clock and the cemetery. At the end of the visit return to Aguas Calientes for lunch. In the afternoon, at 2.30 pm approximately, take the train back to Ollantaytambo Station where a private vehicle will be waiting to take you to your chosen hotel in Cusco at around 6 pm.
Overnight in Cusco
Day 5 : Cusco: City Tour
Location: Cusco
Accommodation Name: Sonesta Cusco or similar 4*
Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner
Indulge in a tasty breakfast. Be ready for a pick up at the hotel at 8.30 am for 4 hours tour of the splendid city of Cusco, which was the capital of the Inca Empire (15th century). Take a look to the Main Square, the Regocijo Square, the Cathedral, the Monastery of Santo Domingo and the legendary Korikancha Temple. Afterwards, visit the archaeological sites of Kenko, Puca Pucara and the extraordinary fortress of Sacsayhuaman, which offers an extraordinary view of the city of Cusco. Return to the hotel at 1 pm. You have the free afternoon to wander through the streets of the bohemian San Blas neighborhood that was inhabited by the Inca nobility with imposing stone buildings, just a few steps from the famous Main Square or Huacaypata. At 7 pm you will be taken to enjoy dinner in a restaurant with folklore show and return to the hotel at 9.30 pm.
Overnight in Cusco
Day 6 : Cusco - Puno (390 Km - 10 Hrs)
Location: Puno
Accommodation Name: Jose Antonio Puno or similar 4*
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch
After breakfast at the hotel at 06:30 am our transport service will take you to the bus station, where a representative will help you catch your bus to Puno. There will be an English and Spanish-speaking assistant on the bus during journey. On the way, you’ll make a number of interesting stops. After a 1 hour ride, visit Andahuaylillas. The main attraction here is the local Church, known as the "Sistine Chapel of America" owing to the high quality of art found inside. The church was built during the 16th century on top of Wari remains. After 1 1/2 hrs of route, arrive to Racchi, home to the Wiracocha Temple, an Inca site built in honour of a powerful Andean god. The rectangular construction boasts thatched rooftops 20 metres above the ground; these are thought to be the highest in the Inca Empire. The visit will take about 45 minutes followed by lunch at a local restaurant. Then we will take a short break at La Raya, the highest point of the trip between Cusco and Puno, at the dizzying altitude of 4,313 metres above sea level. Then we will continue to the town of Pucara and the Pucara Lithic Museum, where we will spend about 30 minutes. This was the first urban settlement on Lake Titicaca, established between 100 and 300 A.D. Arrive at Puno in the late afternoon (approximately 5 pm), where an Italian speaking staff will welcome you transfer you to the hotel.
Overnight in Puno.
Day 7 : Puno - Lake Titicaca: Uros And Taquile Islands - Puno (1 Hr By Boat)
Location: Puno
Accommodation Name: Jose Antonio Puno or similar 4*
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch
After breakfast at the hotel, you will be picked up at 7 am and transferred to the port of Puno where you will embark a boat, for the beautiful 7-hour excursion around the Uros Islands (you will be sharing the boat with other clients but the guide is on private basis). The Uros are an indigenous people of Peru that live on a series of man-made islands, created entirely from the buoyant totora reeds that grow abundantly in the shallows of the lake. The islands are composed of layers of woven totora, which are constantly replenished from the top as they rot from the bottom. The Uros people also use reeds to construct their homes, so cooking is done outdoors to avoid possible fires! After visiting this fascinating island for an hour and a half, sail to Taquile, a small slice of heaven that once belonged to the Inca Empire and whose residents speak Quechua. Look around and you will notice traces of its Incan past in the ruins that still exist around the island. After a brief introduction, the local community will give you an insight into their customs and traditions with a cultural demonstration. Lunch is enjoyed on the island before the return trip to Puno at 3.30 pm. Afternoon at leisure.
Overnight in Puno
Day 8 : Departure Puno
Location: Puno
Meals Included: Breakfast
After finishing your breakfast at the hotel, your representative will assist you with check out and accompany you on the short transfer from Puno to the airport. Although this is the last day of your journey through some of the most fascinating places Peru has to offer, we hope that your memories of this remarkable country, bursting with both culture and history, will last a lifetime.
What's Included
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Tour Guide
Operated with Italian speaking local guide on shared basis on days 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7.
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Accommodation
7 night's accommodation in superior hotel categories.
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Meals
7 breakfasts, 4 lunches on days: 3, 4, 6, 7, and 1 dinner on day 5.
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Transport
Private and shared transfers including airport transfers, train to Machu Picchu, and bus transfers.
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Entrance Fees and Activities
All visits mentioned in the itinerary including guided tours in Lima, Chinchero, Ollantaytambo, Machu Picchu, Cusco, Puca Pucara, Temple of Raqchi, Andahuaylillas’ church, and full day excursion by boat on the Titicaca Lake.
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Other
Meet & Greet on arrival at Lima International Airport on day 1 and at Cusco Airport on day 2.
What's Not Included
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Flights
Domestic and international flights.
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Airport Fees
Airport fees are not included.
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Personal Expenses
Personal expenses such as drinks, telephone, laundry, etc.
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Unspecified Items
Anything not expressly indicated in 'the price includes'.
Requirements
Comfortable and light clothing is recommended for visiting the coastal areas of Peru, while for the high Andean area the use of warm clothing is recommended. It is not recommended that visitors wear sleeveless shirts, shorts, short skirts or short clothes when visiting religious temples or official buildings. Sunscreen, sunglasses, hat and mosquito repellent can be very useful during your stay
Carry the same document that you presented to the agency, given that the train tickets and entrance to Machu Picchu will be issued with the same information
In all train services to Machu Picchu, the passenger can carry only hand luggage (backpack, bag or briefcase) weighing no more than 5kg / 11lb on the train to / from Machu Picchu. You will find your luggage at the chosen hotel. Allowed size: 62 linear inches 157cm (height + length + width)
Please Note
Rates do not apply to Peruvians or residents with more than 60 days of stay. If passengers are Peruvians or exceed 60 days of stay, sale taxes (18%) will be collected by our local operator
We recommend to book the flight Lima – Cusco not prior 3 pm hours on day 2
Please note that Check In in most hotels begins at 1 pm hrs. Clients will be subject to the availability of the room if they arrive before, waiting in the hotel lobby
On Day 7: Operative note: You will be sharing the boat with other clients but the guide is on private basis on Titicaca Lake
If your trip includes the visit to high altitude cities such as Cusco and Puno located at more than 3400 meters (11 200 feet above sea level), do not forget to take precautions in order to avoid altitude sickness. Passengers who have heart problems or high blood pressure should check with their doctor before travelling
Upon arrival is recommended to rest for a few hours, drink coca tea and eat lightly. As a reference, Machu Picchu is located at 2400 meters (8 000 feet above sea level)
On Day 3: Luggage note: For the overnight stay in Aguas Calientes, only hand luggage must be carried with the minimum necessary for the night (maximum 5 kg per person). The main baggage can be left on deposit in the hotel in Cusco.
On Day 3: Operative note: The guide will leave clients at the Ollantaytambo station and the train journey is scheduled unaccompanied. Upon arrival in Aguas Calientes, customers will be expected by a chosen hotel representative who will accompany them on foot to the accommodation. Once at the hotel, customers will be contacted personally or by telephone by the Italian speaking guide who will provide all the indications for the Machu Picchu visit the next day.
Important: During the rainy season (December-March) it will not be possible to carry out Maras's visit. Depending on the climatic situation, it will be replaced with a visit to the archaeological site of Moray or another excursion to be decided at the time.
During the trip from Aguas Calientes to Ollantaytambo, there is no presence of the guide on board, on day 4
IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT THE NEW ENTRANCE REGULATIONS TO MACHU PICCHU
The current restrictions on visits to Machu Picchu allow a maximum stay of 4 hours in the citadel accompanied by a guide during the first entry. If the visitor tours an alternate route (Mountain Machu Picchu or Huayna Picchu) the passenger will have 3 hours to for this purpose, additional to the 4 hours in the citadel. If the passenger wishes to enter the citadel again during the afternoon shift or the next day, he must acquire previously an additional ticket to enter in the new shift. There is no ticket sale in the archaeological zone.
It is forbidden the follow objects: professional cameras that require lights and tripods, or with telephoto lenses with a weigh higher than 2 kilos (in order to use them, special authorization is needed, as well as the payment of an additional fee), drones, selfie sticks, sprays, high heels, walking sticks without rubber tip, banners and posters, sharp objects and backpacks bigger than 40cm x 35 cm x 20 cm.
NEW PLASTIC REGULATION:
After the prohibition of the access of single use plastic items to 76 natural areas including Machu Picchu, it is important to use reusable bottles.
Accommodation options
ACCOMMODATION OPTIONS
Day 1; Lima
- Superior Hotel Category = Jose Antonio or similar 4*
Day 2; Cusco
- Superior Hotel Category = Sonesta Cusco or similar 4*
Day 3; Aguas Calientes
- Superior Hotel Category = El Mapi or similar 4*
Day 4, 5; Cusco
- Superior Hotel Category = Sonesta Cusco or similar 4*
Day 6, 7; Puno
- Superior Hotel Category = Jose Antonio Puno or similar 4*
Mode of Transport
Travel in comfort with private transfers from airports and hotels, roundtrip train to Machu Picchu, shared bus transfers, and a boat excursion on Lake Titicaca.
Accommodation
Enjoy 7 nights of superior accommodation in 4-star hotels, including stays at Jose Antonio in Lima, Sonesta Cusco in Cusco, El Mapi in Aguas Calientes, and Jose Antonio Puno in Puno.
Accommodation options
ACCOMMODATION OPTIONS
Day 1; Lima
- Superior Hotel Category = Jose Antonio or similar 4*
Day 2; Cusco
- Superior Hotel Category = Sonesta Cusco or similar 4*
Day 3; Aguas Calientes
- Superior Hotel Category = El Mapi or similar 4*
Day 4, 5; Cusco
- Superior Hotel Category = Sonesta Cusco or similar 4*
Day 6, 7; Puno
- Superior Hotel Category = Jose Antonio Puno or similar 4*
Check out our Q&As
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What type of guide will be available during the tour?
The tour will be operated with an Italian-speaking local guide on a shared basis on days 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7.
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What kind of accommodation is provided during the tour?
The tour includes 7 nights' accommodation in superior hotel categories. Specific hotels include Jose Antonio or similar in Lima, Sonesta Cusco or similar in Cusco, El Mapi or similar in Aguas Calientes, and Jose Antonio Puno or similar in Puno.
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What meals are included in the tour package?
The tour package includes 7 breakfasts, 4 lunches on days 3, 4, 6, and 7, and 1 dinner on day 5.
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What transportation is provided during the tour?
The tour includes various private and shared transfers, such as private transfers from airports to hotels in Lima and Cusco, roundtrip train to Machu Picchu, shared bus transfers, and private transfers to and from bus stations and piers in Puno.
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Are entrance fees and activities included in the tour?
Yes, all visits mentioned in the itinerary are included. This includes guided tours in Lima, Chinchero, Ollantaytambo, Machu Picchu, Cusco, Puca Pucara, Temple of Raqchi, Andahuaylillas’ church, and a full-day excursion by boat on the Titicaca Lake to visit the floating Uros and Taquile Islands.
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What should I pack for the tour?
Comfortable and light clothing is recommended for coastal areas, while warm clothing is advised for high Andean areas. Sunscreen, sunglasses, a hat, and mosquito repellent are also useful. For visits to religious temples or official buildings, avoid sleeveless shirts, shorts, short skirts, or short clothes.
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Are there any specific requirements for visiting Machu Picchu?
Yes, you should carry the same document presented to the agency as train tickets and entrance to Machu Picchu will be issued with the same information. Only hand luggage weighing no more than 5kg is allowed on the train to/from Machu Picchu.
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What are the new entrance regulations to Machu Picchu?
The current restrictions allow a maximum stay of 4 hours in the citadel accompanied by a guide. If touring an alternate route like Mountain Machu Picchu or Huayna Picchu, an additional 3 hours is allowed. For re-entry, an additional ticket must be acquired in advance.
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What items are prohibited at Machu Picchu?
Prohibited items include professional cameras with lights and tripods, drones, selfie sticks, sprays, high heels, walking sticks without rubber tips, banners, posters, sharp objects, and backpacks larger than 40cm x 35cm x 20cm.
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What should I know about altitude sickness during the tour?
For high altitude cities like Cusco and Puno, precautions should be taken to avoid altitude sickness. Rest for a few hours upon arrival, drink coca tea, and eat lightly. Passengers with heart problems or high blood pressure should consult their doctor before traveling.
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What does the price include?
What is included is stated specifically on the product Description. Gratuities are at your discretion. Prices do not include (unless stated otherwise) - gratuities to the guide, driver or tour manager.
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Are Visa fees included in the price?
No, visa fees are not included
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What happens if I need to change my holiday date once I’ve booked?
You can change it by logging into your profile and click on Bookings. Please check your cancellation policy.
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What documents will I receive before I travel?
Booking confirmation with Itinerary and confirmation vouchers
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When are there specific hotel names confirmed?
Confirmed hotel names are informed latest 10 days prior to client's arrival
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Do you offer any travel insurance?
We do not offer Travel Insurance but would strongly recommend that you purchase a comprehensive Travel Insurance Policy prior to departure.
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Is there any option for solo traveller?
Yes of course. Please note that the default selection shows the price per person per double room. For solo travellers, you will have to select a single room when available.
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Are flights included in the tour?
No, they are not included
Reviews of this operator
Book with Confidence
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Low Deposit
Lima Tours requires a minimum deposit of 25% or the full booking value, whichever is less, with the final balance not due until 89 days before departure.
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Cancellation Policy
We don't charge a cancellation fee, here is a summary of lima tours charges.
At 29 days before tour starts: Forfeit 50% of booking price.
At 8 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of booking price.