CUSCO HUARAZ 10D/9N

Overview

The 10-day, 9-night Cusco–Huaraz tour is a unique experience that combines the magic of the ancient Inca civilization with the natural beauty of the Peruvian Andes. In the first part, you will explore the historic city of Cusco and its impressive archaeological sites, such as Sacsayhuamán, Qenqo, and the Temple of Tambomachay, as well as a visit to the fascinating Machu Picchu. The tour continues to the Sacred Valley, where you will discover wonders such as Chinchero, Moray, and the Maras Salt Mines, before enjoying a night in Aguas Calientes. Then, the tour moves to Huaraz, the “Peruvian Switzerland,” where you will have the opportunity to explore its majestic natural landscapes, such as Laguna Parón, Laguna 69, and the ascent to Nevado Mateo. Throughout the trip, you will enjoy a perfect blend of culture, adventure, and nature in the most beautiful corners of Peru.

Itinerary

Day 1: Reception, transfer to the hotel, and guided tour of the city.

Welcome to the city of Cusco and transfer to the hotel A representative from our company will be waiting for you with transportation upon your arrival in the city of Cusco. We will board the vehicle and head to your selected hotel, where you will receive an informative talk about the activities we have prepared for the coming days. At 12:50 p.m., our transfer will stop at your hotel. At 1:00 p.m., we will begin our tour of the city. We will start by visiting the impressive Temple of Qoricancha, a prominent site that showcases the fusion of Inca and colonial architecture. Then, we will drive to the fascinating nearby archaeological sites. Our first stop will be at Sacsayhuamán, known for its enormous polished stones and strategic location, which offers spectacular panoramic views of Cusco. We will continue on to Qenqo, an ancient Inca temple where religious ceremonies were held. Next, we will explore Puka Pukara, an Inca military and control center. Finally, we will visit the enigmatic temple of Tambomachay, which is notable for its water fountains.

Day 2: Sacred Valley

Recomendación: Llevar una mochila pequeña con sus objetos personales y una muda de ropa, ya que no regresaremos a Cusco. Nuestra movilidad pasará por su hotel a las 6:30 a.m. y nos dirigiremos a nuestro primer destino: Chinchero. Allí visitaremos su mercado tradicional y el centro arqueológico, donde podremos observar la impresionante arquitectura inca y las áreas de cultivo. Admiraremos las increíbles terrazas agrícolas y pasaremos alrededor de una hora explorando esta ciudadela inca.

A continuación, visitaremos el sitio arqueológico de Moray, también conocido como “los invernaderos de los incas”. Este sitio consiste en un sistema de terrazas escalonadas en una enorme cuenca excavada por los incas con fines agrícolas. Las terrazas tienen microclimas variados según la profundidad de la cuenca, lo que se cree que los incas utilizaban para descubrir las condiciones ideales de crecimiento para sus diferentes cultivos.

También visitaremos las minas de sal conocidas como Salineras de Maras. Este lugar fue de suma importancia en las épocas preinca, inca y colonial, y continúa siendo relevante en la actualidad, ya que los habitantes del pueblo se benefician de la sal extraída de estas minas.

Continuaremos nuestro recorrido dirigiéndonos al pueblo de Urubamba, donde disfrutaremos de un delicioso almuerzo buffet. Finalmente, llegaremos a Ollantaytambo, donde tendremos tiempo para explorar el antiguo y bullicioso pueblo inca junto a las enormes construcciones incaicas, con la información proporcionada por nuestro guía.

A continuación, abordaremos el tren que nos llevará en un viaje de 1 hora y 50 minutos hasta el poblado de Machu Picchu (Aguas Calientes), donde pasaremos la noche.

Al llegar a Aguas Calientes, nuestro personal estará esperando para conducirlos al hotel seleccionado y brindarles una charla informativa sobre el lugar y sobre las actividades del día siguiente, en el que visitaremos la maravilla de Machu Picchu.

Day 3: Machu Picchu

We will start the day with breakfast at the hotel. An hour before our entrance to Machu Picchu, we will head to the bus station, where we will take a short 25-minute ride that will take us to the impressive Inca city. There, our guide will be waiting for us to begin our visit. Once inside, we will enjoy a comprehensive two-hour guided tour, exploring the most remarkable and intriguing corners of Machu Picchu. We will discover the mystery behind its abandonment for centuries and marvel at the numerous farming terraces and irrigation channels that surround the city, allowing for year-round harvests. Machu Picchu has more than 200 structures, including houses, plazas, granaries, temples, and observatories. Among the most notable monuments are the Temple of the Sun, the Main Square, the Temple of the Three Windows, the Temple of the Condor, and the Inti Watana. Other points of interest include the funeral rock, the main gate, the Acllahuasi, the royal mausoleum, and the princess’s house, among other wonders. At the end of our visit, we will take the bus back to the town of Aguas Calientes, where you will have free time to enjoy lunch on your own. At the agreed time, we will head to the train station to begin the return trip to Ollantaytambo, from where we will travel in our vehicle back to the city of Cusco.

Day 4: Mountain of colors

The tour begins early in the morning. We will pick you up at your hotel in Cusco between 4:00 and 4:30 a.m. We will travel by bus for approximately 1 hour and 30 minutes south to the district of Cusipata (3310 meters above sea level), where we will enjoy a semi-buffet breakfast. We will continue traveling for 2 more hours on a dirt road until we reach the checkpoint and begin the hike in Kayrahuiry. The hike will last approximately 50 minutes, during which we will observe the typical flora and fauna of the Andes, highlighting the presence of llamas and alpacas. We will pass beautiful streams and see snow-capped peaks. Upon arriving at the Vinikunka or Mountain of Colors viewpoint (5080 meters above sea level), our guide will explain the orography, ecosystem, and color of the mountain. We will also take the opportunity to observe the Vinikunka mountain range (5020 meters above sea level), take photos, and admire the beautiful landscape. We will return along the same path to the point where we began the hike in Kayrahuiry, where our transport will be waiting to take us back to Cusipata, where we will enjoy a semi-buffet lunch. After lunch, we will begin the return trip to the city of Cusco, arriving between 4 and 5 p.m.

Day 5: Flight to Huaraz with connection

After several days of activity in Cusco, we will bid farewell to this magical city. At the appointed time, transportation will pick you up at your hotel for transfer to the airport and begin the journey to Huaraz, with a connection in Lima. Reception and transfer to your selected hotel in Huaraz. This first day will be for acclimatization. We will be able to stroll on our own through the city known as the Peruvian Switzerland, Huaraz, located in the department of Ancash. The remaining days of our program will be spent visiting natural attractions such as snow-capped glacial lakes.

Day 6: Paron Lagoon

Huaraz – Callejón de Huaylas – Carhuaz – Parón Lake

After picking you up from your hotel in Huaraz (around 6:00 to 6:30 a.m.), we will drive to the town of Carhuaz, where we will make a short stop to visit its main square and also buy some food or drinks that we may have forgotten in Huaraz. We will then continue to the town of Caraz, located 70 km north of Huaraz. From here, we will begin a gradual ascent along an unpaved road, passing through picturesque villages until we reach Parón Lake.

Once at Parón Lake, we will have time to walk around and admire the native Andean flora, as well as some of the most iconic pyramid-shaped peaks of the Cordillera Blanca, such as Artesonraju, Pirámide Garcilaso, and Caraz. The lake’s stunning turquoise waters make this a truly breathtaking destination.

We will take a hike of approximately 40 minutes along a steep zigzagging trail, in some parts over rocks, until reaching the viewpoint, from where we can appreciate the lake in all its magnificence.

After spending some time there and taking plenty of photographs, we will return along the same route to the town of Caraz and then continue back to Huaraz. The tour ends around 6:00 p.m.

Day 7: Lagoon 69

From 5:00 a.m. to 5:30 a.m., transportation will pick you up at your hotel to begin our activity. North of Huaraz, through the Callejón de Huaylas towards Yungay, we will enter Huascarán National Park. Breakfast at the tourist restaurant in the village of Umanchuco. 1st stop: Short stop to see the Chinancocha lagoon and take photos for 10 minutes. We will continue our tour and enjoy the view of Lake Orconcocha. 2nd stop: CampoPampa onion farm. From here, we will begin our 3-hour hike (7 km). Along the way, we will observe a variety of flora and fauna, Lake Consuelo, and views of the Huascarán, Chopicalqui, Yanapaccha, Pisco, and Chacraraju snow-capped mountains. At Lake 69, we will appreciate the majesty of the snow-capped Chacraraju (6,108 meters above sea level). Upon arrival, we will have 40 minutes to rest and take photos. We will return along the same route to Cebollapampa, where our bus will be waiting to take us to Huaraz. 7:00 p.m.: End of the activity, arrival in Huaraz.

Day 8: Roqotuyoc Lagoon and Frozen Lagoon.

8:30 to 9:00 a.m.: We will pick you up at your hotel. We will begin the journey north of Huaraz to Marcara, where we will turn east, passing through the community of Vicos, and enter Huascarán National Park through the Paccharuri Canyon. Brief stop in Anta to reserve lunch. (Optional reservation) 1st stop: Paccharuri Waterfall, a splendid waterfall over 30 meters high. 2nd stop: Rocotuyoc Lagoon, at 4500 meters above sea level, surrounded by abundant flora and fauna. It welcomes us with its emerald blue color and imposing snow-capped mountains (Paccharaju, Bayonaraju, and Copa). From this point, we will begin a 50-minute hike to the foothills of the Paccharaju snow-capped mountain. Third stop: (frozen lagoon) We will be able to get very close to the snow-capped mountain and will have 30 minutes to enjoy the scenery, take photos, and then return along the same path to our vehicle to begin the journey back to the city of Huaraz.

Day 9: Ascent to Nevado Mateo

3:00 a.m. to 3:30 a.m.: We will pick you up and begin our tour. Northeast of Huaraz, entering through Carhuaz to the Olympic point located in Quebrada Ulta. Start of the activity. 6:00 a.m.: We will begin the ascent up the moraine, carrying our backpacks with mountain equipment, and after 1 hour and 30 minutes we will reach the base of the glacier. 8:00 a.m.: Start of the snow. At this point, we will get equipped and our guide will give us recommendations, inspect all the essentials for the ascent, and keep us going to continue the 1 hour and 30 minute climb. 9:30 a.m.: Arrival at the long-awaited summit of Nevado Mateo to enjoy a splendid view of the mountains of the Cordillera Blanca: Huascarán, Chopalqui, Ulta, Contrahierbas, and Chacraraju. We will remain at the summit for 40 minutes to rest, hydrate, and take photographs. Finally, we will descend along the same route to the vehicle to be transferred to Huaraz.

Day 10: Transfer to the airport. End of our services

At the appointed time, the shuttle service will pick you up at your hotel and take you to the airport, thus concluding our services. After several intense days, you will return to Lima.

Included:

Accommodation in selected hotels for 9 nights.
Transfers Airport – Hotel – Airport in Cusco and Huaraz.
Tourist transport throughout the itinerary.
Train ticket round trip to Machu Picchu (Ollantaytambo – Aguas Calientes).
Professional guides in Spanish and English on all excursions.
City tour in Cusco and visit to archaeological sites: Qoricancha, Sacsayhuamán, Qenqo, Puka Pukara and Tambomachay.
Tour to the Sacred Valley: Chinchero, Moray, Salineras de Maras, Urubamba and Ollantaytambo.
Complete excursion to Machu Picchu with entrance and specialized guide.
Tour to the mountain of colors (Vinicunca).
Tours in Huaraz: Laguna Parón, Laguna 69, Laguna Rocotuyoc, Laguna Frozada and Ascent to the Nevado Mateo.
Daily breakfasts in hotels.
Lunches during tours according to itinerary (includes buffet lunch in the Sacred Valley).
Tickets to all the tourist sites and parks mentioned.
Official permits for walks and activities in the Huascarán National Park.
Emergency insurance for mountain activities in Huaraz.
Permanent assistance throughout the tour.
Informative talk at the start of the program.

Not included:

Domestic and international flights.
Food not specified in the program (dinners and some lunches).
Tips and personal expenses.
Optional and additional activities not included in the itinerary.
Personal travel insurance

Recommendations

Bring a passport or original identity document.
Wear comfortable and warm clothes, ideal for changes in weather (waterproof, thermal and light clothing).
Wear shoes suitable for hiking and trekking (preferably with good traction).
Carry small backpack for daily excursions with essential personal items.
Protect yourself from the sun with sunscreen, hat or cap and sunglasses.
Bring insect repellent, especially for Machu Picchu and natural areas.
Stay hydrated; Bring reusable bottle with water.
Adapt to Height: Avoid heavy meals for the first few days and rest well.
Carry personal medications, including for altitude sickness (consult with your doctor).
Have cash (soles) for small purchases, tips or emergencies.
Always follow the instructions of the guide during the excursions.
Respect the environment and do not leave waste in the places visited.

CUSCO HUARAZ 10D/9N