Incas, Titicaca & La Paz - 12 days
Incas, Titicaca & La Paz - 12 days
Incas, Titicaca & La Paz - 12 days
12 Days Starting in Lima, Peru and ending in La Paz, Bolivia
Visiting: Lima, Cusco, Sacred Valley, Machu Picchu, Puno, Copacabana, La Paz
Tour operator:
Guide Type:
Fully Guided
Group size:
2 - 16
Age range:
12-
Tour operated in:
EnglishInterests:
Activities:
Tour Overview
Embark on a captivating 12-day journey through Peru and Bolivia with the "Incas, Titicaca & La Paz" tour. Begin in Lima, exploring its vibrant plazas and colonial architecture, before flying to Cusco, the heart of the Inca Empire. Discover the Sacred Valley's Pisac ruins and Ollantaytambo fortress, and marvel at the iconic Machu Picchu. Journey to Puno and sail on Lake Titicaca, visiting the unique Uros floating islands and Taquile Island. Cross into Bolivia to explore Copacabana and the high-altitude city of La Paz, with its stunning views, Moon Valley, and mystical Witches Market. Enjoy guided tours, scenic train rides, and cultural encounters, all while staying in comfortable accommodations. This small group tour offers an unforgettable cultural experience, blending history, breathtaking landscapes, and local traditions.
Highlights
Itinerary
Day 1: Lima
Location: Lima
Accommodation Name: hotel
Welcome to Peru! Upon arrival at the Lima airport you’ll be transferred to our hotel in the popular Miraflores district of the city. The rest of the day is free to relax or explore the city.
Day 2: Lima
Location: Lima
Accommodation Name: hotel
Meals Included: Breakfast
Today we explore the beautiful city of Lima, also known as the 'city of kings'. Our guided tour takes us through Plaza San Martin, also taking in Plaza Mayor, the Government Palace and the City Hall. We continue with a visit to the San Francisco Monastery and its famous underground crypts which are home to an estimated 70,000 remains. This bright yellow architectural wonder also houses an incredible library, holding thousands of antique texts, some of which pre-date the conquest in the 16th century. Later we take in the residential districts of San Isidro and Miraflores, where we see Huaca Pucllana, an impressive clay pyramid that represented the ceremonial and administrative centre of the Lima culture. We also visit El Olivar park, a peaceful space with olive trees that were brought to Peru in the 15th century. The final stop on today's tour of Lima is El Parque del Amor, a romantic spot is situated on the cliffs of Miraflores overlooking the Pacific ocean. The rest of the day is free for you to explore this fascinating city at your own pace.
Lima is fast becoming one of the gastronomic capitals of the world and later this afternoon there is the opportunity to join an exciting optional Lima Gourmet Food Tour, combining gastronomic delights with walks around the capital, experiencing the local culture. Please book before you travel.
Day 3-4: Cusco
Location: Cusco
Accommodation Name: hotel
Meals Included: Breakfast
Lima - Cusco. This morning we transfer to the airport for our flight to Cusco. Arriving into Cusco the rest of the day is free to relax and adjust to the altitude. This beautiful city full of history and intrigue, is located 3,399m above sea level.
The following morning we take in the highlights of the beautiful city of Cusco on a guided tour. Starting at the Plaza de Armas, built on the remains of one of the most important Incan gathering spots, we also visit the cathedral, the Kenko Amphitheatre and the impressive Sacsayhuaman Fortress. Built between 1438 and 1474, Sacsayhuaman Fortress took over 20,000 labourers to build and some of the magnificent stone work measures over 4 metres in height and over 100 tons in weight. The afternoon is free to stroll around the cobbled streets, visiting handicraft shops, markets and cafes.
Day 5: Sacred Valley
Location: Sacred Valley
Accommodation Name: converted 18th century monastery
Meals Included: Breakfast
Cusco - The Sacred Valley. Departing Cusco we travel to the Sacred Valley of the Incas today. Our first stop is the popular Pisac markets where we have the chance to see the variety of colourful handicrafts on offer. Originally only held on Sundays, Pisac Market was a place for artisans from across the region to trade in their products. Today the market is a daily occurrence where locals and visitors alike can find some of the finest textiles, jewellery and clothing typical of this area of Peru. We continue our journey to the remarkable Ollantaytambo fortress which was constructed to guard the entrance to this part of the valley and protect it from possible invasions of tribes from the jungle lowlands. One of the best examples of Incan architecture, many of the inhabitants of Ollantaytambo still live according to the customs and traditions they have inherited from generations of ancestors, leading to it being known as a living Inca town. We spend the night at a converted 18th century monastery nestled in the heart of the Sacred Valley.
Day 6: Machu Picchu
Location: Machu Picchu
Accommodation Name: hotel
Meals Included: Breakfast
Sacred Valley - Machu Picchu - Cusco. We have an exciting day ahead, starting with a short drive to the Ollantaytambo train station where we board the train for a scenic journey to Aguas Calientes. Remember to look out the windows as the scenery along the way is utterly breathtaking. In Aguas Calientes we board a bus which takes us along a winding path up the slopes of the great Machu Picchu mountain to the famous Inca citadel.
The incredible lost city of the Incas is situated on a mountain ridge above the Urubamba River, surrounded by tropical forest. Completed in the latter half of 15th Century, archaeologists believe Machu Picchu was built as an estate for the Pachacuti, an Incan leader who reigned from 1438 to 1471. Built in the classical Inca style with polished dry-stone walls and terraces that seem to have been crafted naturally from the rock escarpments, Machu Picchu is a spectacular testament to the greatness of the Inca civilisation. Only a century after its completion however, the citadel was abandoned during the Spanish conquest and only thrust into the spotlight in 1911 when it was discovered by the American historian and explorer Hiram Bingham, who brought it to the world's attention.
We explore Machu Picchu on a guided tour and then return to the spa town of Aguas Calientes where there's time to stroll around before travelling by train back to Cusco.
Day 7: Cusco
Location: Cusco
Accommodation Name: hotel
Meals Included: Breakfast
Enjoy a free day in Cusco to explore the city at your own pace. Alternatively you may wish to join one of the optional excursions on offer. Visit the local Andean market town of Chinchero on a half day tour. Chinchero has one of the most traditional markets in South America, and here you will find locals in colourful traditional dress, buying and selling their produce.
Alternatively, for the fit and active, there's an optional full day excursion to Vinicunca, the [[Rainbow Mountain|131596]] (offered from March to November), with lunch included. After a scenic 2.5 hr drive through rugged mountain scenery, trek with a guide to the summit of Rainbow Mountain, with its striking bright stripes of mineral deposits. Please note: Optional excursions must be booked prior to departure.
Day 8-9: Lake Titicaca (Peru)
Location: Puno
Accommodation Name: hotel
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch
Cusco - Puno. After an early breakfast, we travel by tourist bus to Puno (approx. 10 hr journey), passing by the lovely Wacarpay Lake, with spectacular views of the mountains reflected in its calm waters. Along the way we make a couple of stops, the first one being in Andahuaylillas to see the Church of San Pedro, which has been given the nickname the Sistine Chapel of the Americas. Moving along, we pass through herds of llamas and spectacular landscapes until we get to Ayaviri, an important livestock and textile centre. Here, we see the Temple of Kalasaya, remnants of a Pucara structure. After a stop for lunch at a countryside restaurant, we continue on to Puno, our base for the next two nights.
The following day we take a boat trip on Lake Titicaca to see the remarkable floating islands of Uros. These unique islands are made of a certain type of reed called totora, which enables it to float, despite the weight of a civilisation upon it. We then move on to Taquile Island, where we can mingle with the Quechua-speaking locals and learn about their efficient and unique social system as well as their fine hand weaving techniques, passed down from generation to generation. We're invited into a local home for lunch to enjoy a delicious home cooked meal. After lunch we explore more of this remarkable island including some of the islands archaeological sites. Later this afternoon we return to Puno.
Day 10: Copacabana
Location: Copacabana
Accommodation Name: hotel
Meals Included: Breakfast
Puno - Copacabana - La Paz (Bolivia). This morning wake up early for our journey to La Paz. Bidding farewell to our Peruvian tour leader, travel (unescorted) by tourist bus from Puno to the stunning city of La Paz in Bolivia. On this scenic bus journey we stop to spend the afternoon at leisure in the pretty town of Copacabana, on the Bolivian side of Lake Titicaca. Here there's the opportunity to independently explore the town, with its iconic whitewashed Basilica and wonderful lake views. Late afternoon it’s time to rejoin the bus and continue to our final destination in La Paz, arriving late evening.
Day 11: La Paz
Location: La Paz
Accommodation Name: hotel
Meals Included: Breakfast
At an altitude of 3660 metres, La Paz is one of the world’s highest cities. The imposing Mount Illimani looms in the background whilst below lies a valley full of sensational surprises. Buildings cling to the sides of the canyon that the city was built in and spill spectacularly downwards. Sprawling shanty towns give way to affluent high-rise apartments as the city’s central tree-lined thoroughfare runs through the downtown core.
Today we head out to explore this captivating city on a guided tour. Starting with a tremendous perspective of the city at the Killi Killi viewpoint, we make our way to Murillo Square, the main square in La Paz and home to the Presidential Palace, the National Congress of Bolivia and the Cathedral of La Paz. Be sure to look out for the clock on the Bolivian congress building, which in 2014 was changed by the Bolivian government to turn anti-clockwise. The government at the time said it was to help Bolivians to treasure their heritage, question established norms and think creatively! Our exploration continues as we descend into the mesmerising Moon Valley, this rocky landscape which has been created by centuries of weathering is quite an incredible sight. Next we take a ride in a cable car across the city, giving an impressive panorama of the city. Then we visit the famous witches market, where many mystical objects of Andean rituals and sorcery are on sale, from dried frogs to llama foetuses for Aymara rituals. Before our tour ends we visit the beautiful San Francisco church with it's exquisite carvings on the facade, it is one of the largest colonial architectural complexes found in Latin America.
The rest of the day is free for you to independently explore. Wander around the cobbled streets, admire the colourful houses and perhaps enjoy a spot of souvenir shopping before you return home.
Day 12: La Paz
Location: La Paz
Meals Included: Breakfast
Today our tour comes to an end with a transfer to the airport. Alternatively opt to extend your stay to explore more of Bolivia.
What's Included
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Accommodation
3 - 4 star -
11 breakfasts and 2 lunches
The tour includes 11 breakfasts and 2 lunches during the trip.
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8 nights 4 star hotels and 3 nights 3 star hotels in the Sacred Valley and La Paz
Accommodation includes 8 nights in 4-star hotels and 3 nights in 3-star hotels in the Sacred Valley and La Paz.
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1 economy flight: Lima - Cusco
An economy flight from Lima to Cusco is included in the tour package.
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Airport transfers on day 1 and day 12
Airport transfers are provided on the first and last day of the tour.
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Guided tour of Lima, Cusco, the Sacred Valley, Machu Picchu and La Paz
The tour includes guided tours of Lima, Cusco, the Sacred Valley, Machu Picchu, and La Paz.
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Boat excursion on Lake Titicaca
A boat excursion on Lake Titicaca is part of the tour itinerary.
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Escorted by an English-speaking local tour leader on days 3 - 9, Cusco to Puno (for groups of 4 or more), with specialist local guides for all included sightseeing
The tour is escorted by an English-speaking local tour leader from days 3 to 9, with specialist local guides for all included sightseeing.
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Transfers and transportation in private air-conditioned vehicles and on a tourist bus from Cusco to Puno and Puno to La Paz
Transfers and transportation are provided in private air-conditioned vehicles and on a tourist bus from Cusco to Puno and Puno to La Paz.
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Expedition train to Machu Picchu
The tour includes an expedition train ride to Machu Picchu.
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Entrance fees and Cusco Tourist Ticket
Entrance fees and the Cusco Tourist Ticket are included in the tour.
What's Not Included
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International flights and visas
International flights and visas are not included in the tour package.
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Tipping
Tipping is not included and is at the discretion of the traveler.
Age Policy
Minimum age 12. If booking a family please contact GH to request/check triple rooms / rooms next to each other before confirming the bookingThere is no maximum age. Those 70 or over will be required to fill out a tour suitability tour. Â
Mode of Transport
Travel in style with private air-conditioned vehicles, a tourist bus from Cusco to Puno and Puno to La Paz, an expedition train to Machu Picchu, and an economy flight from Lima to Cusco.
Accommodation
Enjoy 8 nights in 4-star hotels and 3 nights in 3-star hotels in the Sacred Valley and La Paz, offering comfort and convenience throughout your journey.
Check out our Q&As
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What kind of accommodation is provided during the tour?
The tour includes 8 nights in 4-star hotels and 3 nights in 3-star hotels located in the Sacred Valley and La Paz.
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Are meals included in the tour package?
Yes, the tour package includes 11 breakfasts and 2 lunches.
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Is there a flight included in the tour itinerary?
Yes, there is an economy flight included from Lima to Cusco.
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What kind of transportation is used during the tour?
The tour includes transfers and transportation in private air-conditioned vehicles, a tourist bus from Cusco to Puno and Puno to La Paz, and an expedition train to Machu Picchu.
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Will there be a tour guide during the trip?
Yes, the tour is escorted by an English-speaking local tour leader from days 3 to 9 for groups of 4 or more, with specialist local guides for all included sightseeing.
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Are there any optional activities available during the tour?
Yes, there are optional activities such as the Lima Gourmet Food Tour and excursions to Chinchero or Rainbow Mountain, which must be booked prior to departure.
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What is the age policy for this tour?
The minimum age for the tour is 12 years. There is no maximum age, but those 70 or over will be required to fill out a tour suitability form.
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What Ethical Travel credentials does the tour company have?
Ensuring our footprint is light and that the benefits of travelling reach the local communities you visit is paramount to us. We’re proud to say that when travelling with us, the large majority of your holiday funds remain within the countries you visit, supporting local economies at a grass roots level.
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How long has the tour company been trading?
Since 1998
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Who will be my travelling companions on the tour?
With English-speaking tours, it's not a huge surprise that most on our travellers are from English-speaking countries or have English as their second language. Our group tours cater for everyone from 18 years old to 70+
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Will the accommodation included meet local health and safety regulations?
Yes
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Low Deposit
On The Go Tours requires a minimum deposit of 600 USD per person or the full booking value, whichever is less, with the final balance not due until 60 days before departure.
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Cancellation Policy
We don't charge a cancellation fee, here is a summary of on the go tours charges.
Up to 60 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of deposit.
At 59 days before tour starts: Forfeit 50% of booking price.
At 30 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of booking price.