Enigma Peru.- City tour, Puno, Arequipa, Nazca, Paracas, plus 4  days on the Inca Trail 18D/17N

Day 1: Cusco

You will be welcomed in the Cusco airport by our friendly representative. As Cusco sits at 3300m, you will be taken to your hotel and given a free day to acclimatize and visit the impressive main square of Cusco, some museums such as the Inca museum, or you can visit the traditional San Blas where you can see different types of crafts. Depending on how you feel, you can explore Cusco´s nightlife.

Day 2 : Afternoon City Tour of Cusco

After enjoying a free morning in Cusco, you will meet at 1pm to begin your city tour of Cusco. You will visit the Sun Temple (the main temple of the Inkans), and the main Cathedral of Cusco. You will also be taken to some nearby Inkan ruins such as Sacsayhuaman, (with its impressive stone walls overlooking Cusco city), Qenko (an astronomical centre of the Inkas), Puca Pucara (an administrative Inkan centre) and Tambo Macha (the main water temple of the Inkas). Your expert guides will provide insight into the history and culture of the Inkan civilization.

Day 3 : Sacred Valley of the Inkas.

At 8am you will meet up with your group at the office where you will begin your full day tour of the Sacred Valley. You will begin the day in Pisac, only half an hour from Cusco. Pisac offers amazing souvenir shopping in a traditional market as well as beautiful Inkan ruins in the surrounding hillside. You will then make the hour trip to Urubamba where you will be provided with lunch. From there, the trip continues just half an hour to Ollantaytambo a magical town at the foot of the Sacred Valley where you can explore the Sun Temple with incredible stone walls second only to those of Machu Picchu. You will return to Cusco in the afternoon, stopping in Chinchero, the home of traditional alpaca textiles and where you can also visit Inkan ruins, and a Catholic church.

Day 4: Inka Trail Day 1

The start of your trip to Machu Picchu begins with an early wake-up and bus ride to Ollantaytambo. Breakfast will be served before you continue the journey to the start of the Inka Trail at Km 82. The first day we hike along the valley, and up to the first campsite. Along the way there are incredible views of the Urubamba Valley below. We'll pass plentiful flora and fauna such as hummingbirds, falcons and orchids and other native plants and enjoy beautiful views of Mount Veronica, the third highest mountain in the Cusco area. After this we'll arrive at our first Inca site, Patallacta. After lunch we hike for 2 and a half hours until we reach the first night's campsite (Ayapata, 3300 meters). On this last stretch we pass through 2 small communities. We'll arrive at our campsite by 5:00pm . By 7:30 your dinner will be ready, and afterwards you can get some well deserved rest!

Note :

Walking distance : 14 km ( 6-7 hours )
Campsite altitude: 3.300 meter high above sea level.
Considered : Moderate day (get used to the Inca trail)
Weather : warm and windy

Day 5: Inka Trail Day 2

We will wake you up early with a hot cup of coca tea to get you ready for the day. You'll have time to pack your things and then have breakfast at 6:30am so we can set off by 7:00am. Today is our longest day which is why we have such an early start; we'll hike for roughly 4 hours to the highest pass of the trek, Dead Woman's Pass (4215 meters). Along the way there are beautiful views of the surrounding mountains and lots of flora such as Unca trees, ferns, begonias, bromelias and orchids; we'll also see plenty of birdlife such as finches and hummingbirds. If we're lucky we may spot a condor soaring above us. On reaching the pass we'll stop for a short break to enjoy the views before descending to the next valley (Pacaymayu Valley– Hidden River). It's another hour and a half down the side of the valley and then we can stop for lunch and refill our water bottles. After lunch we begin ascending again to the second pass of the trek. It's 2 hours to the pass and along the way we'll stop at a small Inka site (Runcu Raccay). We will also be able to see 2 huge waterfalls cascading down the opposite side of the valley. After the 2nd pass, it's another hour downhill to reach the magnificent Inka site. We'll stop here for a rest and to watch the sunset over the Vilcabamba mountain range. After that it's just another 20 minutes until we stop for the night at our second campsite Chaquicocha (Dry Lake, 3600 meters).

Note:

Walking distance: 16 km ( 7-8 hours )
Campsite altitude: 3.600 meter high above sea level (chilled weather )
Considered: Top day (we will survive two passes)
Area : Andes and the cloud forest.
Weather : cold and rainy.

Day 6: Inka Trail Day 3

Having made it to our third day, we are certainly more than half way there and it's a well deserved pat on our back!
We have another early start at 6:30am and breakfast at 7:00am and we begin our trek on what many believe is the most beautiful day of the whole Inca Trail. We will travel through cloud forest, look across to snow capped peaks and gaze upon lush valleys below. There will be a 2 hour hike to the last peak (Phuyupatamarka 3600 meters). From this point on will be the easiest part of the hike as we walk down steps for approximately 3 hours to our last campsite, close to Wiñay Wayna (Forever Young); the most spectacular Inka site on the trail after Machu Picchu. During the descent we visit 2 Inca ruins, Puyupatamarca (the Town in the Clouds) and Intipata (terraces of the sun). We arrive at our campsite around 1:00pm to have lunch and then relax for the entire afternoon so you're relaxed and ready for your final day at Machu Picchu. You will visit the spectacular Inka ruins of Wiñay Wayna.

Note :

Walking distance: 10km ( 5 hours )
Campsite altitude : 2.600 meter high above sea level (chilly weather)
Considered : Easy day (just downhill)
Area : High cloud forest.
Wather : Warm and very humid.

Day 7:  Observe the sunrise from the Sun Gate and visit Machu Picchu the lost city of the Incas.

We will begin the day with an early wakeup and begin our trek by 5:30am. We'll wave good bye to our porters and chef and then it's all steam ahead to the Sun Gate (Inti Punku). From here we have spectacular views of the mountains and Machu Picchu in all its glory. We reach the Sun Gate by 6:30am to see the sun rise, illuminating Machu Picchu, the day is just awakening and you can hear the dawn chorus in the air. From the Sun Gate it's another hour trek down a stairway to reach the lost city of the Incas. We will enter Machu Picchu and begin our 2 hour guided tour of the city. After the tour you'll be given your bus tickets to make your way down to Aguas Calientes and you'll have between 3-4 hours to explore it by yourself. here you will stay and extra night at the Hotel in order to visit the hot springs.

Note:

Walking distance: 5km
Altitude at Machu Picchu: 2400m
Considered : The most exciting and magical day.
Area: High cloud and tropical forest
Weather: Hot and very humid

Day 8 .- Free Day - meybe Hot springs or go back to Machu Picchu.

Aguas Calientes town is a very touristic place however is a great place to stay extra night after  Inca trail hike basically after waking up  early mornings on the trek, you can visit the hot springs  $ 10 or you can go back to Machu Picchu. You will be arriving in Cusco in the evening depending on your train time.

Day 9.- Cusco - shopping .

Today is the last day In Cusco the Capital of the Incas,  you might want to take some sourveniers  for the Family back at Home here is a great oportunity to purchase some Alpaca hand made crafts. Baby alpaca jackets hats. in the evening is great for night life so depends how you are feeling.

Day 10 : Puno - Cusco

After breakfast in the hotel, you will be transferred to the bus station in Cusco at 7am. You will board a tour bus (Inka Express) to make the journey from  Cusco to Puno. The trip will include multiple stops at various places of interest including Pre-Inkan and Inkan ruins, a Catholic chapel known as the Sixteenth Chapel, museums and fabulous viewpoints of the Altiplano region. A traditional buffet lunch is included en route. Upon your arrival to Puno, you will be transfered to your hotel in the centre of the city Puno (3800m).

Day 11: Lake Titicaca

After breakfast in your hotel, your tour guide will pick you up at 7am to transfer you to the port of Lake Titicaca where you will meet up with your group. (Make sure you take some souvenirs such as school supplies, and food for the family that you will stay with on the island). After a ten minute boat ride, you will arrive to the Uros floating islands. These amazing islands are made from reeds that grow in the same area. Here your guide will teach you about the origin of these islands and the history of the people that live there. Then, after another two hour boat ride on this amazing lake we will arrive to Amantani Islands where you will stay with a local family. You will have lunch with them, and in the late afternoon you will climb for one hour to the peak of the island to see the sunset on the lake. After dinner your family will provide traditional Andean dress which you will put on for a party with the other group members and local people that evening.

Day 12: Lake Titicaca

After seeing an amazing sunrise over the lake and saying goodbye to the family you stayed with, you will take a boat to Taquile Island. Here, your guide will teach you about Pre-Inkan Andean culture such as farming, textiles, and languages. Then, you will take a boat back to Puno where you will spend the night.

Day 13: Arequipa - Puno - bus drive.

The bus ride from Puno to Arequipa is approximately 6 hours with fabulous views of the mountains and glaciers. You will arrive in Arequipa  and be transferred to your hotel at which point you will enjoy a free afternoon.

You will be picked up from your hotel in Arequipa by your tour guide and your adventure to Colca Valley will begin! Along the way, we will pass through Pampa Galeras Reserve where it is easy to spot Vicuñas, Alpacas & Llamas. When you arrive in the village of Chivay in Colca Canyon you will be taken to the lodge where you will spend the night. You will have a free afternoon to relax and enjoy the natural hot springs.

Day 15: Colca Canyon

After an early breakfast, you will be driven to Mirador Cruz del Condor (a famous condor viewing lookout). You will have amazing views of the deepest canyon in the world and get to see the magestic condor flying above the canyon and with luck they will be directly in front of you! Afterwards, we will return to Arequipa passing by Sabancaya, El Misti and Ampato Volcanoes. We will overnight again in Arequipa and prepare for the journey to Nazca the following day.

Day 16: Free Day In Arequipa . Bus to Nazca .

Arequipa is a great city  to vist some museums and the most Imposrtand is Museo de Santa Catalina where you can see the forzen mummie who was found in 1995 by american professor Johan Reiahrd on the top of one glacier peaks. get ready for the evening Bus drive to Nazca.

At 8.30 pm you will be pick at your hotel to be transfer to the Bus station, the bus departs at 10.00 pm and arrives to Nazca the next day In the morning.

Day 17 : Nazca Lines and  Lima - hotel

Pick Up from the Bus station and transfer to our representative Office where you can leave your laggage and go for breakfast, around 10 am you will flight above the magestic Nazca Lines  for aproximately 45 minutes, Nazca lines was used as Calendar by Nazca Culture.

There are nice restaurants for lunch, then 3 hours Bus drive to Lima  where our representative will meet  and take you to the nice hotel In Miraflores area.

Day 18: Lima 4 hours tour.

You can choose the perfect  time for the 4 hour tour to visit some  very important museum in Lima or you can just relax and walk on your own around Miraflores and get ready for oevernight flight, or if you want to extend your holydays is posible.