Cusco

Meet the Locals

Get back to nature in the dramatic landscapes of the Andes Mountains and experience the amazing scenery of the Sacred Valley by Quad Bike. Benefit from pick-up at your hotel in Cusco, and then journey through typical villages to reach the colonial town of Maras. Admire the pretty church and rustic buildings of the pretty town center and watch the locals going about their everyday lives farming the surroundings. Visit the archaeological site of Moray to see the incredible terraced holes that form an amphitheater-like depression on the surface of the land. Learn how the holes were used by the Incas in ancient times to acclimatize seeds from the Andes Mountains. Next, visit the salt ponds that the locals continue to work to obtain salt at the mines, just as their ancestors did in the days of the Inca Empire.

Travel through the historic Urubamba Valley on an unparalleled half-day tour from Cusco and pass the snow-capped peaks of the Peruvian Andes. Meander through lush yellow fields of wheat and sleepy little villages en route to Moray. Upon arrival, learn about the ingenuity of the Incas in their mysterious circular terraces. Continue to the nearby village of Maras to explore its history as a center for salt production. Take in the spectacular nature and admire the unique quilt work of over 3,000 salt ponds spilling into the Sacred Valley. Finish the day back in Cusco in time to explore more of the magnificent city.

During this Sacred Valley day tour, go to the must-visit sites of Cusco and have a chance to try traditional Incan beer. Get picked up from your hotel in Cusco's city center and head to your first stop, Mirador Taray. Take in the spectacular views of the Andes and the Sacred Valley to prepare for your day of discovery.  Continue to the town of Pisac, the site of a popular market. See how locals dye alpaca wool with natural plants of the region. Visit the archaeological site and see its terraces, Incan cemeteries, and royal buildings. Afterward, move on to Moray to learn about the history of the Incas and wonder at their mysterious circular terraces. Head to the nearby village of Maras and learn about its history as a center for salt production at the Maras Salt Mines. Admire the unique quilt work of over 3,000 salt ponds spilling into the Sacred Valley. From here, go to Urubamba and to enjoy a buffet lunch at a local restaurant. Your adventure in the valley continues with a drive along the Urubamba River towards the town of Ollantaytambo to visit the ruins. Marvel at the remarkable Incan architecture built during the Incan Empire's heyday. In addition to the ruins, see an amazing rock formation that represents the Incan god of Wiracocha. Following your time at the ruins, choose to return to Cusco with your guide or to stay in Ollantaytambo so you can continue your personal travels to Machu Picchu.

Today you will participate in a walking tour starting at the Coricancha Temple, one of the most important buildings in the city. It was one of the most important centers of worship to the Sun God of the Incas that was converted into a convent after the arrival of the Spanish. Then visit the wonderful Cusco Cathedral, built between 1560 and 1664, and end the tour visiting the San Pedro market, a pantry of thousands of products from different areas of the region. Finally, you will return to your hotel.

Your tour will begin as you are picked up from your hotel between 5:20PM and 5:35PM. Once pickup is completed, the tour will begin by advancing to one of the most unique planetariums in the world. Your experience is guaranteed to be entertaining, as well as unique and educational. Your guides will tell you stories, and will also reveal the secrets of why their ancestors observed the skies to understand the world. Following this, you will enjoy an incredible projection of the southern skies, the stars, and the Inca constellations and their hidden stories with your professional telescope. You will observe many stars, nebulas, planets, and the most important constellations of the skies of the southern hemisphere. Following your experience, your tour will end near the Plaza De Armas in Cuzco at approximately 8:15PM.

Day 1 Meet your driver at the bus terminal in Cusco in the evening and board your overnight bus to Puno. Day 2 After a night on the road, arrive in Puno in the morning. Transfer to your hostel where you can leave your bags for the day. Next, take the boat out to the Uros Islands for a guided tour of the famous floating reed islands. Enjoy a cruise through the highest navigable lake in the world to reach the remote island of Taquile. Upon arrival at Taquile, enjoy a guided tour of the island which takes in some of the best viewpoints available before stopping for lunch at a local restaurant. After lunch, begin the journey back to Puno.  In Puno, enjoy some free to explore the city or go for dinner at one of the many restaurants before boarding your overnight bus back to Cusco. Day 3 Get dropped off at your hotel or hostel in Cusco in the morning.

The world-famous Vinicunca Rainbow Mountain has garnered plenty of attention over recent years. However, this small site has lost its charm due to the abundance of travelers and overcrowding. Luckily, you can still experience the true beauty of these colorful landscapes on an alternative route to Palyccoyo Mountain. The day begins with early morning pickup at 4 AM from your accommodation in Cusco. Set out on the journey towards the hiking route, stopping by a local restaurant for a hearty breakfast to fill you up for the trip. Arrive at the trail's starting location at 9:30 AM and listen to a briefing to ensure you’re prepared for the 50-minute hike ahead. As you walk to the top of Palyccoyo, admire the incredibly colorful landscapes and meet friendly alpacas that roam the mountains. At the top of Palyccoyo, soak up unspoiled views of your surroundings and marvel at the beauty of nature. You can also opt to continue the hike onto the nearby Stone Forest where another fantastic lookout awaits. After some time to enjoy the view, walk back down the mountain and head to a nearby restaurant for a well-deserved lunch before the return journey to Cusco.

Day 1: Cuzco – Quesoyuni – Llamachimpana  Set out on a drive through the South Valley and enjoy lunch in Pitumarca. Continue your trip to the trailhead at Quesoyuni to hike through villages and interact with the local residents. Have the opportunity to see adorable chinchillas and vicunas. After a hike of 3-4 hours, reach your camp, near the village of Llamachimpana. When night falls enjoy a serene night’s sleep under the stars. Day 2: Llamachimpana – Vinicunca (Rainbow Mountain) – Red Valley – Cuzco  Start your day with an early climb up the beautiful Rainbow Mountain. Take in the views of landscape and the valleys that this beautiful place offers. Cross 2 lagoons and arrive at Llamachimpana for lunch before heading back to Cuzco where your adventure comes to an end.

Become a pisco pro on this Cusco tour that will sharpen up your cocktail mixing skills, and help you to get to know local Peru culture at the same time. Because let’s face it, there are few better ways to get to know a nation’s culture than through its boozy creations! Meet your friendly local guide at Plaza San Blas, the bohemian area of Cusco and a place that has been the heart of the “fiesta” in Cusco since a long time ago! You’ll get to explore the square a bit as well as all the outstanding buildings that make this plaza one of the most beautiful ones in the city before officially beginning your Cusco tour. From there, you’ll wander along ancient streets to admire the dramatic Inca Walls, constructed of mammoth granite blocks, side-by-side with colonial buildings. It’s here that you’ll also get to see a famed Inca masterpiece, the 12-angle stone. Then it’s back to the order of the day: Pisco! As you wander through the city, your local guide will tell you all about traditional Pisco as well as fill you in on the distillation process, how this sour drink is made, and its place in Peruvian history. The first stop will be at a local bar where you can taste a few different flavors of Pisco, and learn how to prepare the Chilcano, a cocktail made with Pisco, which is a very famous drink among the locals. Finally, it’s your time to shine! Get your mixologist hat on and try your hand at making your very own pisco sour, using all the knowledge that you’ve picked up along the way on this Cusco city tour. And the best part? You get to drink it afterward — Salud!

Embark on an adventure-filled 2-day tour of the Lake Titicaca area. Discover some of the highlights located in and around Puno, Uros, Taquile, and Cusco, stopping with plenty of time to soak up the local flair and experience the key attractions. Stay overnight in Puno and savor some tasty local cuisine along the way. Day 1: Cusco to Puno with stops Get picked up from your hotel and head to the tourist bus station for Puno. During the trip, enjoy a suite of exciting stops at different tourist centers and attractions. Begin with a 35-minute tour of the Temple of Andahuaylillas Sistine Chapel of America and prepare to be amazed. Later, explore the Archaeological Complex of Raqchi, before arriving at Sicuani where you can sit for a buffet lunch in the restaurant. In the afternoon, visit the pretty Paso la Raya, hemmed in by snow-capped mountains. Explore the Pucara Lithic Museum. Check in to your hotel in Puno. Day 2: Puno, Uros, Taquile, Cusco Your second day will start early with hotel pickup and transfer to the Port of Puno. Board your boat and head to Uros where you will participate in a cultural demonstration that will allow you to discover the Uros way of life. Visit the Taquile Islands and get to know the local culture. Take a lovely 1-hour walk packed with amazing photo opportunities. Break for lunch in the afternoon at a restaurant in town, where you can sample local favorites like quinoa soup or fresh fried fish from the lake. Return to the main port of Taquile and then to your hotel in Puno in the late afternoon to have dinner on your own. Get picked up and driven to the bus station in Puno. The bus will leave for Cusco at 10:00 PM and arrive at 5:00 AM the next morning. You can then take a taxi back to your hotel.