PAT 4203 - ORIGINS II

Upon arrival in the city of La Paz, our staff will be waiting for you to transfer you to the selected hotel.

Breakfast at the hotel. Morning off.

At 15:00 p.m. we will pick you up from the hotel to start the visit to the traditional markets of the city of La Paz. We will make a panoramic tour of the San Pedro prison, famous for its infrastructure and constitution different from other prisons. Then we will live the experience of getting on the longest cable car system in the world. Next, we will visit the famous Valley of the Moon, located 10 km from the center of the city of La Paz and named after the famous astronaut Neil Armstrong, due to the curious clay formations created by the erosion of the winds and heavy rains. Then, we will move to the Mirador de Killi Killi, crossing the residential area of La Paz, and from where you can have a spectacular 360° view of the city of La Paz. Later, we will visit the historic center of the city, where we will be able to observe the Plaza Murillo, the Legislative Palace, the Metropolitan Cathedral and the Church of San Francisco. To end our tour, we will visit the Mercado de Las Brujas, where our guide will explain the mystical aspects of Andean rituals and thought. Return to the Hotel.     (B.)

Early in the morning, we will move to Huatajata, from where we will sail on Lake Titicaca for approximately an hour and a half until we reach the southern part of the Island of the Sun, where we will disembark to visit the Archaeological remains of “Pilkakaina” – Inca Temple. Later we will take a short walk up the steps of Yumani until we reach the fountain of Youth, there one can purify oneself by drinking some sacred water, and we will also enjoy the beauty of that beautiful Inca garden. Continuing with the tour, we will arrive in Copacabana, where we will visit “La Virgen Morena”. Lunch. Transfer by bus to the city of Puno. Overnight in Puno.     (B. L)

Breakfast at the hotel. On that day, we will visit the floating islands of the Uros; artificial islands, handcrafted by its inhabitants based on the Totora, plant that grows in the same lake. The Uros live basically from fishing, hunting and gathering, as well as selling handicrafts and multicolored fabrics. During the tour we can see and hear the legends of the Uros, their customs and folklore. It is worth noting that the whole journey of this day is made by navigating on Lake Titicaca, the highest navigable lake in the world.

In the afternoon, we will pick you up from your hotel to visit Sillustani, a necropolis of Pre-Inca origin, located 34 km from the city of Puno (35 minutes by car) and at an altitude of 3,840 masl. During this visit we can enjoy magnificent landscapes and the imposing pre-Inca architecture, located on the top of a peninsula surrounded by the beautiful Umayo lagoon. The Sillustani archaeological site is a cemetery that was built in the 12th century by a civilization that occupied the area, before the Inca domain: The Kolla culture. The most imposing towers that we will observe in this place were built for the most important chiefs and priests. For the ancient civilizations that spread throughout Peru, the cemeteries were resting places for their dead and that is why they strategically chose places beautiful that were considered sacred spaces.

As we walk around Sillustani we can feel the energy that emanates from the entire peninsula and the harmony that constitutes a landscape so perfect for our hearts to recharge with peace.

Return to the city of Puno and overnight.    (B. L.)

Breakfast at the hotel.  Transfer to the bus terminal to board the tourist bus to the city of Cusco. On the way we will visit the Pucará site museum, we will make a brief stop at “La Raya”, the highest point of the route (4335 meters above sea level), we will visit the archaeological center of Raqchi (one of the main temples to the god Wiracocha), and we will stop in Sicuani to enjoy a pleasant buffet lunch. Finally, before arriving in Cusco we will visit the church of Andahuaylillas, also known as the Sistine Chapel of South America. Arriving in the city of Cusco, our staff will be waiting to transfer you to the hotel.  Overnight in Cusco.    (B. L.)

Breakfast at the hotel. Transfer to the airport to board the flight to the city of Cusco. Arrival, reception, and transfer to the hotel. Free time to rest.

Between 12:30 and 13:15 hours, our staff will pick you up from the hotel to start the tour of the colonial city, built on the bases of Inca palaces. In the tour we will visit the Plaza de Armas, the Temple of the Sun, also known as Qoricancha, and the Cathedral of Cusco, where we can see beautiful paintings and sculptures. Then we will continue to the archaeological center of Sacsayhuaman, a multipurpose place where the Sun, the Moon and the Earth were worshiped, and which was also used as a military fortress and an astrological center. Later we will arrive at Q’enco, a cult center related to the fire element. Finally, we have Puca Pucara, a place used as a supply center and Inca checkpoint, where wind ceremonies were also held. At the end of the tour we will arrive at Tambomachay, center of cult to water and fertility. Return to the hotel.  (B.)

Breakfast at the hotel. Between 07:20 and 07:40 hrs., we will start our tour visiting the beautiful town of Pisac, its handicraft market and its narrow streets. Continuing the tour through the Sacred Valley of Urubamba, where you can enjoy a nice lunch.

Next, we will visit Ollantaytambo, an Inca city still inhabited that conserves a complex system of irrigation canals and foundations of that time, on which a large part of the town was built. The archaeological center of Ollantaytambo has large groups of platforms, forts, plazas, canals and the Real Casa del Sol, a megalithic temple of great mystical value. Overnight in the Sacred Valley.   (B. L.)

Breakfast at the hotel.  At the agreed time transfer to the train station to begin the excursion to the Sacred Citadel of Machu Picchu, recognized as one of the wonders of the world and declared Cultural Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO.

The train takes us to the town of Aguas Calientes and then upon arrival we will take the bus to go up to the Archaeological Center and then begin the guided tour that lasts approximately 2 hours. During the visit you can appreciate temples, squares, terraces, houses, barns, as well as the great biodiversity that exists in the surroundings. It is worth mentioning that because of where Machu Pichu is located its beauty is exalted. A National Reserve has been formed around the citadel that has an area of 32,500 hectares, and which includes a constellation of archaeological monuments, which, in our opinion, were built as part of the Machu Picchu complex and not in isolation. After our visit in the Archaeological Center, we will take the bus to go down and back to the town where you will enjoy a delicious meal. Overnight in Aguas Calientes.  (B. L.)

Breakfast at the hotel. Day off to stroll around this small village on your own, or if you prefer, you can make a second visit to the archaeological site of Machu Picchu and visit the Inti Punku, also known as the Sun Gate (Entrance Gate to the citadel from the Inca Trail), Machu Picchu Mountain or Huayna Picchu (Subject to availability of spaces – 400 spaces per day).  Both Machu Picchu and Huayna Picchu tickets are limited, so we recommend when booking the program request these tickets as well to avoid congestion or unavailability if you wish to visit these tourist attractions.

Aguas Calientes works as a foundation for Machu Picchu, with the main attraction being its beautiful natural scenery. The itinerary you choose for this day is not included and is at your own risk. At the appointed time you will board the train back to the city of Cusco. Upon arrival, our staff will be waiting for you to transfer you to your hotel.    (B).

Breakfast at the hotel. At the agreed time transfer to the airport to continue with your itinerary     (B.)

Meals included in the program:    B=BREAKFAST         L=LUNCH         D=DINNER