Peru with Josh

At the moment you arrive in Lima, a team member of Valencia travel will be waiting for you at the airport and take you, on private transport, to your hotel. Then you will have all day to relax and enjoy the beauty of Lima and its surroundings.

• Services Included:
• Private Transport: Lima Airport - Hotel (1 hour approx.).
• Local Tour Guide: English/Spanish
• Overnight: Arawi Miraflores Express - Accommodation in Standard Room

Today, we will transfer you to Ica town to enjoy a delicious lunch and finally take you to Huaccachina Lagoon where you will explore and enjoy in Polaris and the sandboarding. At the end of the day we will transfer you to the hotel in Inca to rest after a long day.

• Services Included:
• Transfer: Bus from Lima to Ica
• Local Tour Guide: English/Spanish
• Excursion: Huaccachina lagoon (Polaris & Sandboarding)
• Overnight: Hotel Las Dunas - Accommodation in Standard Room

Your trip to the Ballestas Islands begins at 8 a.m. when we meet you at the Paracas Terminal or at the Paracas Explorer Office. We'll then go to the harbor and head out into the Bay of Paracas. It takes about 30 minutes to get out to the islands.

On the way, we'll pass by the famous El Candelabro (Candelabra), a large-scale geoglyph built by the Paracas culture around 200 BC. While its exact purpose is unknown, some theories suggest it represents the trident or lightning rod of the god Viracocha, and it might have served as a sign to sailors, who could easily see it from the sea.

When we reach the islands, we'll have about one hour to explore by boat. Going ashore is forbidden, as it could disturb the natural balance of this vital reserve. But we can see plenty from the boat, and you'll have magnificent views of the islands and their many residents. Your guide will point out the various animals that call these craggy islands home. You'll see Humboldt penguins hopping around and an incredible amount of seabirds, including gulls, terns, pelicans, guanay cormorants and blue-footed boobies. You'll also be able to spot hundreds of fur seals and sea lions, and maybe marine otters or possibly a humpback whale, which come to these waters between August and October.

We'll head back towards Paracas harbor, arriving at around we will back to Lima. Arriving to Lima

• Services Included:
• Transfer: Ica to Lima
• Excursion: Ballestas Island & Paracas national reserve
• Entrances Fee: Included
• Local Tour Guide: English/Spanish.
• Overnight: Arawi Miraflores Express - Accommodation in Standard Room

Today, we transfer you to Ayacucho town where is located the most beautiful landscapes in Peru The ride takes around 9 hours but on roads will do stop and enjoy the route with your guide

• Services Included:
• Transfer: Lima to Huaraz (9 hours approx.).
• Experience: Route to Huaraz
• Entrances Fee: Included
• Local Tour Guide: English/Spanish.
• Overnight: Churup Hotel - Accommodation in Standard Room

Leaving the city of Huaraz, Laguna 69 is a beautiful lagoon, located below the mountains.

We travel from Huaraz, within the Huascarán National Park, where we enter the Llanganuco ravine visiting the lagoons of the place, arriving at Cebollapampa (3850 masl), where our walk begins, we climb a zigzag path to Laguna 69, a beautiful bright blue water mirror that is 4650 meters above sea level, surrounded by the snow-capped Chacraraju and snowy Pisco that reflect on its waters.

• Services Included:
• Excursion: 69 Lagoon
• Entrances Fee: Included
• Local Tour Guide: English/Spanish.
• Overnight: bus to Lima

Today arrives to Lima and transfer you to the airport for your domestic flight to Cusco arriving to Cusco your guide will meet you and take you to Maras and Moray begins when we pick you up from your hotel in Cusco at around 08h00. First we'll head to magnificent Moray, the Inca agricultural laboratory. It takes about 1.5 hours to get there, but we'll be driving through spectacular Andean scenery, passing by yellow wheat fields, picturesque traditional villages and snow-capped mountains.

Arriving at Moray, your guide will show you around the three amphitheater-like terraced structures. These terraces, which are carved in a circular series to create a bowl shape, are believed to have been used as a testing ground for various crops, to find the most optimal growing conditions. It's an incredible sight, and gives real insight into the genius of the Inca Empire. After exploring Moray we'll head on to Maras, which is just two miles away. Here we'll see the amazing salt evaporation ponds, which were used by the Incas and quite possibly by pre-Inca civilizations. More than 3,000 salt pools are carved into the mountainside, which catch highly salty water as it emerges from a spring in the mountain. The ponds catch this water, where it slowly evaporates, leaving just the salt behind.

After spending time at Maras, we'll head back to Cusco, where we'll drop you off at your hotel.

• Services Included:
• Excursion: Maras & Moray excursion
• Entrances Fee: Included
• Overnight: Los Portales Cusco Hotel - Accommodation in Standard Room

Our Salkantay Trek to Machu Picchu begins when we pick you up from your hotel in Cusco at around 5 a.m. We'll then travel in our private bus to Mollepata, which takes about four hours. It's a lengthy trip, but it's needed to get out to this relatively remote region. On the way, you'll be able to enjoy the wonderful scenery, including views of the Izcuchaca and Limatambo mountain ranges.

Eventually we'll arrive at the colorful Andean village of Mollepata, where the trailhead for our Salkantay trek begins. Here we'll met our horsemen, porters and cooks. Setting off, we'll trek for about three hours until we reach Cruzpata, where we will have lunch with panoramic views of the beautiful snow-capped mountains of Humantay and Salkantay, and can visit Humantay Lake. Our specialized chefs not only produce the most delicious food but also use locally sourced ingredients from the nearby villages so that we are directly contributing to the areas where we trek. Heading onwards, we'll trek until we reach our first campsite at Soraypampa, taking in the beautiful landscape along the way. We'll set up camp and later have dinner, surrounded by mesmerizing scenery.

• Hiking Time: .4-5 hours approx.
• Hiking Distance: 7 Km / 4.35 miles
• Lowest Point: 9,906 m / 10,521 ft
• Highest Point: 4,220 m / 13,845 ft

• Services Included:
• Transport: Cusco - Mollepata
• Tour Guide: Spanish/English.
• Horsemen and mules: They carry cooking and camping equipment.
• Overnight: Soraypampa Camp.

We will wake early and have breakfast around 5:30 a.m. We have a long day of trekking ahead of us, through some of the most incredible scenery in Peru. This will be our most challenging day, as we ascend to the highest point on the trail.

We first make the climb to a mountain pass at 4,650 m (15,200 ft) - the highest location on the trek. From here, we'll have sublime views of two huge snow-capped mountains: Salkantay on the right and Tucarhuay on the left. After a rest and time to enjoy the views, we will continue our walk downhill through a dramatic cloud forest towards Huayracpunku, also known as Huayracmachay, where we will have lunch. We'll then set off again, trekking for about three hours through junglelike scenery until we reach our second campsite, Colcapampa, at 3,000 m (9,800 ft). If our group has made good progress, we might have time to push on to alternative campsites at Challway or Andenes. Wherever we decide to stop, we’ll set up the camp and prepare a big meal, a welldeserved reward after a hard day of trekking.

• Hiking Time: 8 hours approx
• Hiking Distance: 16 Km / 9.94 miles
• Lowest Point: 3,000 m / 9,800 ft
• Highest Point: 4,650 m / 15,200 ft

• Services Included:
• Tour Guide: Spanish/English.
• Horsemen and mules: They carry cooking and camping equipment.
• Overnight: Challway or Andenes Camp.

Waking at 6: 30 a.m., we'll have a hearty breakfast before setting off. Today, much of our trekking takes us through a region of jungle known as the “ceja de selva” or eyebrow of the jungle: the swathe of jungle that lies between the Andes and the Amazon rainforest. We'll cross the Lluskamayo River and find ourselves in a world of waterfalls, tropical fruits and colorful birds. If we're lucky, we might even see a cock of the rock, Peru's national bird. The temperature will be much warmer here, and the various waterfalls and creeks provide plenty of opportunities to cool down with a refreshing splash in their crystalline waters.

We'll stop for lunch and then continue trekking for three more hours, until we reach our last campsite at the village of La Playa, at 2,500 m (8,202 ft). At La Playa you'll have plenty of free time to relax and enjoy the nearby hot springs: the perfect way to soothe those aching muscles! Later we'll have dinner and then turn in for the night, relaxed and ready for our final day of trekking.

• Hiking Time: 6 hours approx.
• Hiking Distance: 15 Km / 9.32 miles
• Lowest Point: 2,500 m / 8,202 ft
• Highest Point: 3,000 m / 9,800 ft

• Services Included:
• Tour Guide: Spanish/English.
• Horsemen and mules: They carry cooking and camping equipment.
• Overnight: La Playa Camp.

On our final day of trekking, we'll have breakfast at 6:30 a.m. before setting off towards Llactapata. It will be a steady three-hour climb, and as we ascend we'll have wonderful views of the Santa Teresa Valley below us. Eventually we'll reach Llactapata, an impressive Inca ruin that may have served as an important resting place and roadside shrine on the journey to Machu Picchu, which it is connected to, via the Inca Trail. From here we get our very first glimpse of our final destination: Machu Picchu in the distance, an inspiring sight indeed!

After a rest and time to take photos, we will continue along a downhill trail for about two hours, passing plantations of coffee cocoa, bananas and other native crops are grown. Eventually we'll reach the Hydroelectric Station, a well-known point along various routes to Machu Picchu, where we'll have lunch. Then we will walk for a couple more hours until we reach Aguas Calientes, the lively town that sits below Machu Picchu.

After checking in to your hotel you'll have some free time, so you can explore the town and, if you like, visit the nearby hot springs. We'll have dinner in one of the many great, local restaurants in Aguas Calientes, and then you can return to your hotel for an early night before our final day -- and our tour of the magnificent Machu Picchu.

• Hiking Time: 6 hours approx
• Hiking Distance: 12 Km / 7.45 miles
• Lowest Point: 2, 040 m / 6,692 ft
• Highest Point: 2,400 m / 7,874 ft

• Services Included:
• Tour Guide: Spanish/English.
• Overnight: Inti Punku Machupicchu Hotel & Suites - Accommodation in standard room.

To best appreciated Machu Picchu, we'll wake up early in the morning so we can get to the citadel in good time. You'll have time for breakfast first, and then your guide will pick you up from the hotel at around 5:40 a.m. We'll then walk to the bus departure point for the short but zigzagging ascent up the road to Machu Picchu. We'll then pass through the gates into the Machu Picchu archaeological site. Here you'll begin your guided walking tour with an experienced and highly knowledgeable guide. Our tour of Machu Picchu will last about two hours, and will take you to all the most famous and most spectacular parts of the extensive archaeological complex. These include the House of the Guardian, the Intihuatana, the Temple of the Sun, the Sacred Plaza and other key locations. And as we walk around, we'll have spectacular views of the agriculture terraces of Machu Picchu and across to the surrounding mountains and plunging gorges. After the guided tour you'll have time to explore Machu Picchu as you please, perhaps walking to some less visited parts such as the Inca Bridge.

Once we've finished our tour of Machu Picchu, we'll take the bus back down to Aguas Calientes where you can relax and have lunch (not included) before we board the train back to Poroy and Cusco. Upon arrival at the station, we'll be waiting to take you back to your hotel in Cusco, where you'll end your incredible Salkantay trek to Machu Picchu.

• Services Included:
• Bus Tickets Consetur: Aguas Caliente - Machu Picchu - Aguas Caliente (Per route: 25 minutes)
• Tour Guide: Spanish/English
• Entrance Fee: Machu Picchu City
• Train Tickets: Aguas Calientes - Poroy (Expedition Train - 3.5 hours)
• Transport: Poroy Train Station - Hotel in Cusco (30 minutes).
• Overnight: Los Portales Cusco Hotel - Accommodation in Standard Room

We will pick you up from your hotel in Cusco at around 05h00 as we need time to drive out to the trailhead and then complete out trek. The drive itself takes about three hours, passing through wonderful Andean scenery along the South Valley. We'll stop for breakfast along the way, and then continue on to the trailhead at the village of Quesiuno, at about 4,326 m (14,189 ft) above sea level.

From here, we'll set off on our trek, first following a pretty stream, seeing herds of alpacas and llamas as they graze on the hillsides. We'll also have consistent views of the sacred Ausangate Mountain. As we continue, we'll pass occasional villages where the old traditions of the Andes are still very much alive.

We'll stop for a packed lunch somewhere along the trail, enjoying the scenery as we eat and relax for a while. Heading on, we'll pass by the remote potato fields of this rugged region, and we might also see some local wildlife.

As we near our destination, we'll start to see many red mountains. And after trekking for a total of about five hours, we'll finally reach our goal: Vinicunca, the spectacular Rainbow Mountain. Here, at a literally breathtaking 5,020 m (16,466 ft) above sea level, we'll start exploring the area, which is in fact is a series of colored mountains, not just one. We'll hike up to the top of Rainbow Mountain, where we'll spend about 30 minutes, allowing plenty of time to enjoy the view and take photos.

Once we've had time to take in all the magnificent sights, we'll set off on our return trek, which will take three to four hours. Our private transport will be waiting for us when we get back to the trailhead, and we'll set off back to Cusco, again taking about three hours. We should arrive in Cusco at 16h00. And finally take you to the airport.

• Services Included:
• Shared Services: Rainbow Mountain excursion
• Local Tour Guide: English/Spanish
• Entrance fees: Included
• Transport: Hotel - Cusco Airport (20 minutes approx.).