On the trails of Southern Peru

Beschreibung der Reise

Unterkunft

Reiseprogramm

• Tag 1

  Arrival in Lima

  

  International flight – arrival in Lima at the end of the day. Welcome and transfer to our hotel, located in the historic center. A bustling capital of nearly 10 million inhabitants, Lima is surprising right away: set on the edge of the Pacific and surrounded by the desert, it breaks with all the clichés one may have about Peru. It is a world apart, colorful and contrasting, which we will take the time to get to know during our trip. Our time in the Peruvian capital also comes with a gastronomic discovery: we will not fail to taste the specialties of the coast, such as pollo a la brasa (wood-fired roast chicken), or the Asian influences of the chifas. Dinner and overnight in the historic center of Lima.

• Tag 2

  Downtown Lima

  

  Often overlooked by tourists, Lima nevertheless holds some lovely surprises. This day on foot in its historic center takes us to discover its emblematic squares: Plaza de Armas and Plaza San Martín, the elegant Hotel Bolívar, the baroque churches of La Merced and San Pedro, as well as the Santo Domingo monastery and its rococo tower. We continue our walk through the Chinatown district and the central market, rich in colors and scents, before visiting the Central Bank museum. Its gold room, set up in a former vault, offers a memorable visit. In the afternoon, transfer to the airport and flight to Arequipa. With more than a million inhabitants, the “white city” is the third in the country, perched on a plateau between the Pacific coast and the Andes. Dinner on your own and overnight in Arequipa. Dinner not included. Transport time: 1h30 flight

• Tag 3

  Arequipa, the white city

  

  We devote this day to discovering Arequipa. We begin with the Santa Catalina monastery, a vast convent complex with the feel of a small town, with its cloisters, its alleyways and its colorful patios. The visit continues in the historic center, listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site: Plaza de Armas, Church of the Company of Jesus and colonial residences in volcanic stone, which give Arequipa its very particular elegance. After lunch, we visit the Santuarios Andinos Museum, where the mummy of Juanita rests, a young Inca girl sacrificed more than 500 years ago at the summit of a volcano and preserved in the ice until her discovery. In the late afternoon, transfer to the Yanahuara viewpoint, which offers a panorama of the region’s guardian volcanoes: Misti, Chachani and Pichu Pichu. Dinner in one of the best restaurants in the city center. Night in Arequipa.

• Tag 4

  Arequipa – Colca Canyon - Cabanaconde

  

  We leave Arequipa in a private vehicle to reach the sillar quarries, from where the volcanic stones that shaped the city’s iconic monuments are extracted. The visit includes the Culebrillas canyon, a narrow gorge with walls sculpted by erosion, a true plunge into the bowels of the desert. We continue the road towards the Colca canyon, skirting the slopes of the Chachani volcano. On the Cañahuas pampa, we come across herds of vicuñas, an elegant Andean camelid. After lunch on the way, we cross the pass at the volcanoes viewpoint, with a breathtaking view of the mountain range and Sabancaya, an active volcano whose fumaroles mark the landscape. The descent takes us to the bottom of the valley to the village of Cabanaconde (3 290 m), perched above the canyon. It is the starting base for treks to the bottom of the canyon. Check-in at the hotel. Dinner and night in Cabanaconde. Transport time: 5h

• Tag 5

  Colca Canyon Trek - Cabanaconde – Llahuar

  

  In the morning, we leave Cabanaconde on foot, crossing the cultivated fields that stretch across a plateau. The trail, along the cliffside, offers striking views over the immensity of the canyon. Little by little, we descend into a gorge before following a vertiginous wall and beginning our descent toward the river. Crossing the rio Colca marks the entry into a more mineral world. A short climb on a track, then a final descent to cross the rio Huaruro, lead us to the isolated hamlet of Llahuar (2 0400 0m) for lunch. The afternoon is free: swimming in the hot springs or relaxing by the river. Dinner and night at the Llahuar Lodge (simple accommodation, shared bathroom without hot water). Walking time: 5h30 12 km - 1200 m / + 150 m

• Tag 6

  Trek Colca Canyon - Llahuar – Cosñirhua – San Juan de Chuccho

  

  Departure early in the morning for our second walking stage. We will cross the gorge again in order to climb back up via a beautiful path through cultivated fields to the track that leads to Cosñirhua. The road forms a balcony that offers superb views over the bottom of the canyon. Arrival in Cosñirhua (2650 m) for lunch on a panoramic balcony. We will then continue to San Juan de Chuccho in the afternoon. A steep descent will take us to the bottom of a narrow valley, then we will follow a magnificent path between fields, stone walls and fruit trees to our accommodation in San Juan. Dinner and overnight in basic-comfort accommodation in San Juan de Chuccho, with a superb view of the Colca cliffs (very simple accommodation, shared bathroom without hot water). Walking time: 6 h 00 13 km + 600 m / - 450 m

• Tag 7

  Trek Colca Canyon - San Juan de Chuccho - Cabanaconde – Sibayo

  

  Departure at daybreak from San Juan de Chuccho (2400m). We descend to the Rio Colca before starting the long ascent towards Cabanaconde. The trail, steep and winding, snakes between the rocky cliffs up to the plateau. From the viewpoint, the view takes in our entire route and, with a bit of luck, we will be able to observe condors gliding on the rising air currents. Transfer by private vehicle to the Cruz del Condor viewpoint, a very busy site but still ideal for observing the large birds of prey. We then continue towards the village of Sibayo, nestled in the upper Colca. This preserved hamlet retains its traditional architecture, with its stone houses with thatched roofs. Change of atmosphere: in the afternoon, we set off on foot across the high-altitude meadows to reach an ancient burial site housing an impressive mummy, a striking testimony to the ancestral practices of the region. Return to Sibayo at the end of the day. Dinner and overnight stay with a local. Walking time: 5h00 13 km - 100 m / + 1080 m Transport time: 2h

• Tag 8

  Colca Canyon trek - Sibayo - Chivay - Puno

  

  In the morning, we drive down into the valley to reach a small village, the starting point of a short hike along an old Inca trail. Between open plateaus and narrow valleys, the route reveals superb panoramas of the Sabancaya volcano, whose fumaroles regularly dot the sky. Arrival in Chivay for lunch. In the afternoon, drive to Puno, on the shores of Lake Titicaca. On the way, two stops are planned: the Pillones waterfalls, nestled in a mineral setting, and the Lagunillas viewpoint, which offers an unobstructed view of the high-altitude lagoons. Dinner and overnight in Puno. Travel time: 5h 8,5 km +100 m / -250 m

• Tag 9

  Crossing of the Capachica Peninsula - Capachica Llachon

  

  Early in the morning, transfer by private vehicle to the village of Capachica, located on a peninsula of Lake Titicaca. We begin our hike on a trail that follows the ridgeline, offering wide panoramas over the blue waters of the lake and the mountains of the Altiplano. After a few hours of walking, we reach the village of Llachon, located on the lakeshore. Check-in with a local host. The afternoon is free: walk in the village, birdwatching, stroll on the beach or rest on the white sand facing the lake. Dinner and overnight with a local host in Llachon (comfortable accommodation, double rooms with private bathroom and solar hot water). Transport time: 3h Walking time: about 4h00 9 km + 450 m / - 450 m

• Tag 10

  Trek crossing the Capachica peninsula - Kayak at the Uros Titino – Puno

  

  We continue our discovery of the peninsula via the lake. Boarding in a kayak to reach the Uros Titino islands, a small group of floating islands far from Puno and much less frequented than the main islands. Kayaking immerses us in the silence of the lake, with the feeling of being alone in the world on Lake Titicaca. After visiting the islands, we board our escort boat to reach the port of Puno. Lunch upon arrival. Free late afternoon to rest or stroll through the streets of Puno, with the possibility of visiting the workshops of masks and traditional costumes used during folk dances. Dinner at leisure and overnight in Puno. Transport time: 2h of navigation on the lake. Kayak time: about 1h30. Dinner at leisure.

• Tag 11

  Puno – Pucará – Pallay Punshu – Raqchi

  

  Early in the morning, departure from Puno heading north. First stop in Pucará, cradle of one of Peru’s oldest civilizations and famous for its small ceramic bulls, traditional good-luck charms. An opportunity to share a coffee with our producer friends, in the village’s main square. We continue on to Ayaviri, where we taste cancacho, marinated lamb roasted over a wood fire, served with Andean potatoes. Farther on, we cross the La Raya pass (4 335 m), a natural border between Cusco and Puno, and the setting for the opening scene of the film The Big Blue. Late in the morning, a track takes us to the foot of the spectacular colorful mountain of Pallay Punshu (4 580 m). Its mineral layers form patterns reminiscent of an Andean poncho. We will take the time to go on a hike along the ridgelines, which allows us to enjoy an exceptional panorama over the mountain range. After lunch in San Pablo, we continue the road to the village of Raqchi, nestled in a eucalyptus forest. Warm welcome with a local family and a ceramic painting workshop, know-how passed down since the Inca era. Dinner and overnight with a local family in Raqchi. Travel time: about 6 h

• Tag 12

  Raqchi – Baroque Churches – South Valley of Cusco

  

  Early in the morning, a short walk along an old Inca path to the tambo, an ancient relay that once welcomed travelers linking Cusco to Lake Titicaca. Return to Raqchi to visit the archaeological site: the vast temple dedicated to Viracocha, the residential quarters and the hundreds of granaries that bear witness to the religious and strategic importance of this city. We then take the road again toward the South valley. Discovery of the circuit of Baroque churches: the famous Andahuaylillas, nicknamed the « Andean Sistine Chapel », but also those of Huaro and Canincunca, elegant and rarely visited. After lunch, we head to the pre-Columbian site of Piquillacta, an ancient city of the Wari civilization, laid out in a grid, dotted with hundreds of granaries and stone houses. Final stop at Tipón, a masterpiece of Inca hydraulic engineering, with its fountains, its irrigation canals and its monumental terraces. The site, still little frequented, offers a peaceful atmosphere at the gates of Cusco and is visited through a short hike. Arrival in Cusco at the end of the day. Dinner on your own and overnight in Cusco. Transport time: about 6 h Dinner on your own

• Tag 13

  Cusco – Hike to Tambomachay, Qenqo and Sacsayhuamán

  

  This morning, we take a vehicle to reach the heights of Cusco and arrive early at the sites of Tambomachay and Puca Pucara, two Inca complexes linked to the worship of water. From there, we will begin a hike through the Andean countryside: trails lined with eucalyptus trees, superb views over the valley, up to the site of Qenko, an ancient religious sanctuary with finely carved rocks and crossed by mysterious tunnels. We continue on foot to Sacsayhuamán, an impressive ceremonial complex with cyclopean blocks, a true masterpiece of Inca megalithic architecture. After a visit to the site and a passage through one of its emblematic tunnels, we walk back down to Cusco. After lunch, we continue with a visit to the Coricancha, the Temple of the Sun, once the most important sanctuary of the Inca empire, whose majestic foundations now support the church of Santo Domingo. We end the day with a visit to the paved alleyways of the capital of Tawantinsuyo. Dinner and overnight in Cusco. Transport time: 30 minutes

• Tag 14

  Cusco – Hike to Pisac – Patabamba

  

  Early departure for the archaeological site of Pisac, perched above the Sacred Valley. With its monumental terraces and its many buildings, it is one of the most complete and aesthetic complexes in the region. We begin a loop hike that allows us to discover the site in its entirety. The trail, fun and varied, gradually reveals the different sectors, passes through tunnels carved into the rock, takes dizzying stairways and runs alongside superb ruins. Picnic on site. In the afternoon, transfer to the village of Patabamba, known for its weavers and its commanding view over the valley. This is where our balconies trek begins. Dinner and overnight stay with a local in Patabamba. Transport time: 3h00 6 km + 600, - 600 m

• Tag 15

  Trek of the balconies of the Sacred Valley - Patabamba – Huchuy Qosqo

  

  This morning, we leave the village of Patabamba and cross the reconstruction of an Inca suspension bridge made of plant fibers. The trail then climbs along the terraced cultivated slopes, forming a true balcony above the Sacred Valley, a nickname often given to this trekking route. If the sky is clear, we will have splendid panoramas of the Urubamba mountain range and its majestic glaciers, Sahuasiray and Chicon. We cross the Andean village of Qquencco, then a short ascent leads us to a pass, then to the small hamlet of Pucamarca, where we have lunch. Inca remains mark the entrance to the Leon Punku canyon: a spectacular descent on an ancient Inca path, winding between rocky walls and a flower-filled valley. After one last bend traced into the mountain, the terraces and ruins of Huchuy Qosqo finally appear – “the little Cusco” in Quechua. We explore this archaeological site still preserved from mass tourism, its square, its Inca palace, its ceremonial fountain and its many buildings, before reaching a neighboring hamlet where we are welcomed by a family for dinner and the night. Dinner and night with a local family near Huchuy Qosqo (3 700 m) Walking time: 6h30 13 km + 400 m, - 470 m

• Tag 16

  Trek of the balconies of the Sacred Valley - Huchuy Qosqo – Piuray Lagoon

  

  This morning, we leave the surroundings of the Huchuy Qosqo site and climb back up the narrow valley that overlooks it. The trail follows a superb area of Inca terraces, then crosses an old control post perched in the mountain. The ascent continues gently toward the high plateaus, until reaching a pass at 4 400 m altitude. In clear weather, the panorama opens onto the entire Urubamba range and, in the distance, onto the snow-capped peaks of the Vilcanota, including Ausangate. The descent takes place in an open valley, bordered by pastures and rock formations, before joining an old Inca path that runs along the mountain slopes. The last section crosses a forest of pines and bushes, gradually revealing the laguna Piuray, a vast mirror of water nestled at 3 700 m. Picnic near the village of Tauca. Dinner and overnight stay with a local resident on the edge of Lake Piuray. Walking time: 5h00 10 km: +700 m, -550 m

• Tag 17

  Trek of the balconies of the Sacred Valley – Piuray Lagoon – Urquillos – Ollantaytambo

  

  We leave the lagoon at dawn and reach a narrow valley that we follow up to the heights of the village of Chinchero. From there, we take an ancient Inca trail that winds along waterfalls, between stone walls and dense vegetation. The descent is gradual, in a forest atmosphere, down to the bottom of the valley. We reach the village of Urquillos (2 900 m), whose adobe houses line the cobbled lanes. After crossing its narrow lanes and reaching the main square, we meet our vehicle to head to Lamay, where we have lunch in a magnificent restaurant run by the local community. The tasting menu allows you to savor several typical specialties of Cusco. We then head to Ollantaytambo, nestled in the heart of the Sacred Valley. Those who wish can climb up to the Inca granaries of Pinkuylluna to enjoy a panoramic view. After the departure of the many tourists, we stroll through Ollantaytambo, where the Inca urban layout can be seen in the houses with trapezoidal doorways, arranged around the cancha, a traditional central courtyard. The peaceful atmosphere of the town at the end of the day allows us to discover Ollantaytambo from another angle, far from the tourist crowds. Dinner on your own and overnight in Ollantaytambo. Transport time: 2h30 Walking time: 5h00 15 km +200 -1000m Dinner on your own Note regarding Machu Picchu A symbol of Peru, Machu Picchu remains an exceptional site. But its massive attendance, catastrophic management, and costs that have become disproportionate have profoundly altered the visiting experience. Today, the route is restricted to a small portion of the site, often rushed through in the crowd and without real immersion. In keeping with our values, we have chosen to no longer offer Machu Picchu systematically in our trips. We prefer to highlight other archaeological sites, more authentic, less saturated, and offering a more enriching discovery experience. Machu Picchu nevertheless remains accessible as an option, for those who still wish to live this experience. This option also allows you to gauge the real cost of this day. We will be happy to discuss it with you, to share our vision and to advise you according to your expectations. Optional visit to Machu Picchu (not included): departure by train from Ollantaytambo in the early afternoon, dinner and overnight in Aguas Calientes. The next day, ascent by bus, then visit of Machu Picchu for about 2h, accompanied by your specialized local guide. Return by train to Ollantaytambo, then transfer to Cusco via the Maras salt mines.

• Tag 18

  Ollantaytambo - Moray - Maras Salt Mines

  

  This morning, we visit the ruins of Ollantaytambo, perched on the mountainside. A morning visit that allows us to fully enjoy the site before the arrival of the first tourists and to appreciate the ingenuity of Inca architecture. We then take the road to the plateau overlooking the valley, where the famous terraces of Moray are located, arranged in concentric circles. This unique site bears witness to Inca agricultural engineering and their ability to experiment with cultivation at different altitudes. We continue our day with a visit to the salt mines of Maras, an impressive set of hundreds of small basins fed by a natural salt spring, used since Inca times for the production of salt. Return to Cusco at the end of the day. Free time to stroll around Cusco. Dinner at leisure and overnight in Cusco. Meals at leisure. Transport time: 1h30

• Tag 19

  Flight Cusco-Lima

  

  In the morning, transfer to the airport and flight to Lima. Upon arrival, we head to the modern district of Miraflores, which reveals a completely different side of the Peruvian capital, between urban art, lively cafés and green parks. The day is free to stroll at your own pace through the streets of Miraflores: you can discover Kennedy Park, walk along the aisles of the handicrafts market or simply enjoy the atmosphere of this modern and dynamic district. In the early evening, night visit of the Huaca Pucllana, an ancient pre-Columbian pyramid nestled in the heart of the district. We end this day with a dinner at the foot of the illuminated ruins, in the Huaca’s restaurant, to savor the local cuisine in an exceptional setting. Night in Lima. Lunch at your own expense Travel time: 1h30 flight

• Tag 20

  Larco - Return flight

  

  In the morning, transfer to the Larco Museum, one of Peru’s archaeological jewels. We discover an exceptional collection of ceramics, textiles and metal objects, illustrating millennia of history and pre-Columbian craftsmanship. The pieces on display tell the story of daily life, rites and the art of ancient civilizations, offering a cultural conclusion to our trip. After the visit, lunch in the museum’s restaurant, in the heart of a magnificent garden, where the peaceful atmosphere and the many plants create an ideal setting for a final moment of relaxation and culinary discovery. Transfer to the airport directly after the meal.

• Tag 21

  Arrival

  

  Arrival at destination, with memories filling your eyes.