VisitCuzco

Overnight.

In the night I recommend dinner at Astrid & Gaston Restaurant, it's located in Miraflores and its considered one of the best Restaurants in Lima ; it is also the # 1 Restaurant in Santiago de Chile for second year in a row.

09:30 Visit to the Cathedral, the Main Square, San Francisco Convent and its Catacombs, the Inquisition Court, the residential areas of San Isidro, Miraflores, the new commercial area south of Lima, the ocean front to enjoy a magnificent view of the Pacific Ocean.

In the night I recommend dinner at the Rafael Restaurant , it's located also in Miraflores and its considered one of the best Restaurants in Lima . After dinner a walk to Larco Mar, an overlooking the ocean party place, is perfect to have a god digestion and head to one of the several bars and clubs. I recommend Blue Bar or Zuka to start and then Aura Club for those looking for House music and Salsa and Gotica Club for those with a younger attitude and salsa dancing.

Buffet Breakfast at the hotel. Transfer to the airport. Depart from Lima to Cusco Arrival in Cusco . Reception and transfer to Hotel Casa Andina (3***sup) or similar. Rest of the morning at leisure to get used to the altitude.

14.30 In the afternoon, visit the Sacsayhuaman Fortress, a pre-Inca architectural masterpiece, overlooking the city of Cusco, Qenqo, a rock sanctuary which main attraction a monolithic altar representing a puma; the red Fortress of Puca-Pucara and Tambomachay, a beautiful fountain fed by a spring forming a series of basins. Continue to the Main Square , the Cathedral with its museum, and the Santo Domingo Church or Koricancha, the Temple to the Sun during Inca times. Return to the hotel and overnight.

Tonight I recommend dinner at the Inca Grill, very good food in a nice Restaurant, Its located in the main plaza and their chef and part owner is one of Peru 's top chefs. Just behind the Restaurant there is a little Bar called the Big Blue Martini Couch Bar, owned by the most fun and beautiful girls in town; you can taste the best Cosmopolitans and Martinis in Peru . Tell Esther that you come with Visit Cusco and you'll get extra attention!!!

Leave Cusco early in the morning and drive by bus for 40 minutes to our launching spot near the town of Huambutio . After preparing and boarding the rafts, begin an exciting day of introductory river running down the Urubamba River in the Sacred Valley of the Incas. The scenery is beautiful, highlight of a marvelous trip. Halfway, a stop is made for lunch on a sandy beach. Continue down the rapids to our final spot. A quick change of clothes and accommodation at Hotel Casona Yucay or similar in the Sacred Valley .

We leave at 6:00am on a private bus, and drive for an approximated 4h through part of the Sacred Valley to then head towards Lares (3100m), a little rural village located in the beautiful valley of the same name, hosting some well-known hot springs . Upon arrival, we enjoy our lunch, to then start a 1:30h hike to the archaeological site of Choquecancha. After the visit, we hike back to Lares, where we can enjoy an evening dip in its hot springs before or after our dinner is served. Our camp will be set next to the thermal baths and access is free the whole night.

After an early wake up and breakfast, we meet our horsemen and horses and leave our campsite at around 9.00am to walk along an ascending path that will lead us to Huacahuasi, (3600m). This authentic Andean community is located in an impressive valley, where we can appreciate the typical house constructions of the Quechua communities living at high altitude. We will stop to visit a typical house and family, before we enjoy our lunch. In the early afternoon, we continue our hike ascending toward the mountain pass of Ipsay (4450m / 3h), walking through little communities and impressive flats (pampas) with the presence of llamas and alpacas. The pass offers impressive views of Mount Veronica and the surrounding snow-capped peaks. Just half an hour from this point is Ipsayqocha, or the Lagoon of Ipsay, where we will set our camp and spend the night, amidst an awesome scenery.

Tuesday 16 IPSAYQOCHA – HUILLOQ – AGUAS CALIENTES (breakfast, lunch and dinner)

We leave our camp at around 7.30am and following a downhill path, we continue our hike towards Patacancha (1,5h). This is a well-known textile Andean community that still preserves the ancient Quechua traditions and dressing code at its best, where we will stop to visit. We then continue an additional 1,5 hour until we reach Huilloq, hiking along a gorge with increasing vegetation as we approach the Sacred Valley . Huilloq is another well-preserved authentic Andean community, where our private transportation will be waiting for us to take us to Ollantaytambo. We then board an afternoon train that will take us to Aguas Calientes. Upon arrival, we will be accommodated at our hotel Inti Inn. Dinner at Toto's House Restaurant.

Tonight there are various options of Pizza places, local food restaurants and Tex-Mex places along the main street of Aguas Calientes. This is a great place to meet people from all over the world and enjoy a cold beer.

After an early breakfast, we board a bus to go up to Machu Picchu and then immediately begin a complete guided tour of the Inca citadel that will take approximately two hours. We will then have free time to walk around, climb the Huaynapicchu Mountain , where one can appreciate spectacular views of all of Machu Picchu , the valleys and mountains that surround it, or visit the Temple of the Moon and the fabulous Inca Bridge . In the afternoon, we will meet in the town of Aguas Calientes where, if you like, you can visit and relax in the thermal baths. From here we will take the train back to the city of Cusco , where we will arrive after nightfall. Accommodation at Hotel Casa Andina or similar.

Tonight I recommend dinner at a place called La Cicciolina Restaurant, it opened about a year ago and it's been having great reviews, they serve “tapas” on one menu, which could be good for a quick and light meal with a glass of wine, and on their other menu they have the more elaborated dishes which are all very good. Mentioning Visit Cusco to Jose Francisco, the owner, could come handy for extra attention!!!!

For Lunch maybe a box lunch can get handy if you decide to walk to Sacsayhuaman to enjoy the view. La Cicciolina Restaurant has a good variety of Italian Salame, Prosciutto, Brie and Camembert cheese and red wines, ask for their artichokes they are amazing when mixed with local bread.

Tonight I recommend dinner at the MAP Restaurant, Its your last night so I'll go for the home run. It's located in the Plaza Nazarenas, in front of the Monsaterio Hotel, which should be visited because its really nice. MAP's chef is considered one of the best in Peru, also owner of the Inca Grill. Let Vanessa from the MAP Restaurant know you come from Visit Cusco , maybe you get a Pisco Sour. After this meal go to Mama America Club, this place gathers everyone that's looking for a great party. I recommend to drink imported liquor to reduce the hangover and always keep an eye on your drinks.

Breakfast at the hotel. Transfer to the airport. Departure from Cuzco to Lima .
Upon reception at the airport transfer to Holiday Inn Hotel.
Afternoon at leisure to wonder around Miraflores, maybe go to a market to buy local artscrafts.

In the night I recommend dinner at Ozaka Restaurant. Located in the San Isidro area no more than 10 minutes from Miraflores. This Peruvian, Japanese and Thai fusion has opened our vision to the incredible possibilities that Peruvian cuisine has to keep growing as one of the best cuisines of the world

10 nights accommodation in double room with private bath in the mentioned hotels or similar category : 03 nights in Lima, 03 nights in Cuzco, 1 night at Sacred Valley, 01 night at Aguas Calientes village and 02 night at camp.

Local Air ticket Lima – Cusco - Lima
Breakfast daily
Lunch on mentioned days.
Transfer, tours and excursions as per itinerary based on private services with local English speaking guides
4 days – 3 nights Lares trek package with all meals included (3 breakfast, 3 lunches and 3 dinners) with personal porter per each 2 passengers.
Entrance ticket to monuments in Cuzco and nearby ruins
01 entrance ticket to the Machu Picchu ruins
01 buses ticket Machu Picchu-Aguas Calientes
Train backpacker Aguas Calientes-Cuzco
Minimum 15 paying passengers and 01 tour conductor free of charge sharing one double room.

What is included at the trek:

• Collection from your hotel in the morning and transfer in private transportation to Lares.
• Personal tents: 2 people in each 4-people-capacity tent, to allow for higher comfort and a safe keeping of backpacks
• One mattress per person
• One sleeping bag per person if requested: our sleeping bags are -15ºC-comfort and mummy form. They are cleaned after every use and have a maximum usage of 20 trips.
• Dining tent with tables and chairs
• Kitchen tent
• Toilet tent
• English speaking professional guide
• Cook and cooking equipment
• Horsemen and horses (to carry tents, food and cooking equipment) – days 2 and 3
• Horses to carry personal gear up to 9 kg per passenger – days 2 and 3
• 1 emergency horse every 6 persons • Accommodation for our guides, cook and horsemen
• Meals (03B, 03L, 03D + daily morning snack +daily tea service except last day)
• Others: hot water every morning and evening for washing purposes / boiled water to fill in your water bottle every morning and night, and at lunch time if requested with enough time ahead
• Lares hot springs entrance fee
• First-aid kit including emergency oxygen bottle
• Train ticket RT Ollantaytambo – Aguas Calientes – Cusco (in the event of not finding spaces available for the return trip direct to Cusco : return train ticket Aguas Calientes –Ollantaytambo + private transportation Ollantaytambo – Cusco )
• Accommodation in a hostel in Aguas Calientes (basis: double room with private bathroom)
• 1D Machupicchu entrance fee
• RT bus tickets Aguas Calientes – Cusco – Aguas Calientes
• Transfer to your hotel in Cusco

What we recommend that you bring:

• A backpack with a change of clothes for the whole period of the trek
• Rain jacket or poncho (plastic ponchos can be purchased in Cusco )
• Strong footwear, ideally trekking or sport shoes
• Warm clothes, including jacket, fleece and sweaters
• Flashlight and batteries
• Camera, films and batteries (batteries consume more quickly under cold conditions)
• Hat or cap to protect you from the sun, rain or cold
• Sun block
• Insect repellent
• Toilet paper
• Snacks: biscuits, energy bars, chocolate, etc.
• Water bottle and sterilizing tablets (ie. Micropur)
• Small towel
• Swimsuit (if you intend to go to the hot springs )
• Cash in soles and US$
• Optional: walking sticks or poles (rubber covers required in Machu Picchu )

Optional services to be hired:

• An extra horse to carry your additional personal items (above the included 9kg): US$ 40.00 / days 2-3. A horse can carry up to 20 kg. Therm-a-rest inflatable mattress rent: US$ 15.00 / day