Best of Cusco and the Sun Route

Overview

This itinerary is a combination of some of our most popular tours in Peru. It allows travelers to experience much of Peru's culture, history and beauty in 9 days.

The trip starts in Lima, the capital of Peru. From Lima you will be transferred to Cusco, which was the capital of the Inca Empire and is now an incredibly welcoming and charming town full of color, history and culture.

The trip continues with a tour of the Sacred Valley followed by a tour of Machu Picchu, one of the Seven Wonders of the World.

The trip will continue from Cusco with a VIP bus ride to Puno, located at the southern tip of Peru. Puno is home to Lake Titicaca, which is the world's highest elevated large lake. You will spend 3 days here, including an overnight stay with a local family!

The trip ends with a flight back to Lima from the Juliaca Airport .

Trip Highlights

All-inclusive trip!
Professionally guided tours of several Inca archaeological sites
Cultural experiences, including a home-stay with a local family
Tour Machu Picchu
Tour Cusco, the Sacred Valley, Machu Picchu and Lake Titicaca

Activities

Scenery
Wildlife
Culture
Boat ride on Lake Titicaca
History
Great company

Accommodations

7 nights in 3-star hotels
1 homestay with a local family

WHAT'S INCLUDED:

TRANSPORTATION

All transportation for this trip, starting and ending in Lima.
This includes:
- Airport transfers
- Flight from Lima to Cusco and from Puno to Lima
- Private van transportation throughout tours
- Train ride back to Cusco after visiting Machu Picchu
- VIP bus ride from Cusco to Lake Titicaca

SOME MEALS

We provide all of the breakfasts, the majority of lunches and some dinners on this trip. We leave some meals open for those who would like to enjoy a special dinner during their trip. See the detailed itinerary below for more information.

NOTE: Please notify our staff of any food allergies or restrictions, and we will ensure that the food is prepared properly.

PROFESSIONAL GUIDES

Kusa Treks strives for greatness and this begins and ends with our people. All of our Lead and Assistant Guides are locals to this region and studied Tourism and/or Archaeology in University. They are all fluent in English and are passionate about their work.

Trust us when we say, there is no better person to be on a trip with than a Kusa Treks guide. You will be in incredible hands.

PERMITS AND TICKETS

Once you pay the trip deposit, we will purchase your entrance tickets for Machu Picchu. The government issues this permit in your name, under your passport number, and for a specific time-frame; they cannot be changed once confirmed, which is why the initial deposit is non-refundable and non-transferable after 24 hours.

We will also secure your train ticket back to Cusco at this time.

HOTELS

7 nights in 3-star hotels

NOTE: We work with several hotels in Peru. The hotels named in the detailed itinerary are examples of hotels that we use frequently. However, the exact hotel during your stay will depend on the time of year you travel and availability of the hotel. Your booking agent will provide the exact name of your hotels upon reservation.

WHAT'S NOT INCLUDED:

SOME MEALS

Please refer to the detailed itinerary below for information on which meals are not included.

HUYANA PICCHU PERMIT

Huyana Picchu is the pointy, tall mountain in the background of all the pictures of Machu Picchu. Tickets to climb it are available for travelers who wish to hike up an ancient staircase to the top of Machu Picchu's sister mountain.

Hiking to the top provides adventurers with incredible, unique views of Machu Picchu. This secondary hike will have a 1-hour ascent, 15 minutes to take selfies and high-five at the top of the mountain, and then a 45-minute descent.

The ascent and descent are pretty steep, but totally worth it!

Price: $75USD per person

NOTE: Tickets to ascend Huyana Picchu are limited and sold on a first-come-first-serve basis. We cannot guarantee permit availability less than 6 months before a trip start date.

VISTA DOME TRAIN

For your trip back from Machu Picchu to Cusco, we will book tickets on a "regular" train called the Expedition Train. However, there are several train upgrade options available, the most popular of which is known as the "Vista Dome Train".

The Vista Dome train has glass walls and a glass ceiling, which provide panoramic views of the surrounding beautiful Andes mountain-side. Tickets include in-trip meals and entertainment.

Price: $70 USD per ticket

INTERNATIONAL FLIGHTS

This tour begins and ends in Cusco, Peru. You are responsible for getting to Cusco.

We do offer a flight booking service. The price for international flights will depend on origin city, time of travel and preferred class of cabin. If you are interested in having us book your flights, please inform our team at the time of booking.

Pricing:

We offer private service for this popular itinerary.

PRICE: $1,800 USD per person.

NOTE: We require a minimum of 2 people to book this trip.

READY TO BOOK

HAVE SOME QUESTIONS

Itinerary:

THE BEST OF CUSCO AND THE SUN ROUTE ITINERARY:

High Level Itinerary:

DAY 1: Welcome to Peru!

We will meet you at the Lima airport and transfer you to your hotel, located in the in Miraflores district.

DAY 2: Flight to Cusco. Free Day in Cusco.

In the morning, we will transfer you to the Lima airport for your flight to Cusco. We will be waiting for you at the airport in Cusco and will drive you to your hotel. You will have a free afternoon to explore Cusco. *Flight to Cusco included in price*

DAY 3: Tour of Cusco

You will have a free morning in Cusco. In the afternoon, we will take you on a historic tour of the city of Cusco, which served as the Capital of the Inca Empire. You will visit the most important sites of the city, including the ruins above Cusco.

DAY 4: Tour of the Sacred Valley

Today you will venture outside of Cusco by private van through the Sacred Valley. You’ll tour many Inca archaeological sites and visit local communities scattered throughout this fertile valley. Our tour will end with a train ride to Aguas Calientes, where you will stay for the evening.

DAY 5: Machu Picchu

Today is a special day! You will discover the Lost of City of the Incas. You will wake up early and take a 15-minute bus ride from Aguas Calientes to the gates of Machu Picchu. Enjoy a 2-hour professionally guided tour of the ruins followed by free time to explore on your own. After your incredible visit, you will take a train back to Cusco.

DAY 6: Journey on the Sun Route to Puno

Enjoy a first-class bus ride through the southeastern region of Peru as you journey to Puno. During the ride, you will make several stops to tour Inca and even pre-Inca ruins. Once you arrive, our representative will meet you in Puno and take you to your hotel.

DAY 7: Lake Titicaca – The Floating Island

Boat tour across Lake Titicaca, the largest lake in South America. Journey to the floating islands of Uros. Explore the islands and stay overnight with a local family.

DAY 8: Lake Titicaca – Taquile Island

Breakfast with a local family followed by another boat ride to the next set of islands called Taquile. Learn about textiles and agriculture from the local inhabitants of this island. Boat ride back to Puno and private transfer to your hotel.

DAY 9: Goodbye!

Private transfer to the Juliaca Airport for your flight back to Lima.

Details For Each Day

DAY 1: Welcome to Peru!

Accommodations: Casa Andina in the Miraflores district of Lima
Meals Included: None

AFTERNOON/EVENING

A Kusa Treks representative will meet you at the airport and transfer you to your hotel, located in the Miraflores district.

NOTE: If you booked your own international flights, please provide us your flight details prior to your arrival.

DAY 2: Fly to Cusco

Accommodations: Hotel Rumi Punku in Cusco
Meals Included: Breakfast
Entrance Tickets: N/A

MORNING

In the morning, we will transfer you to the Lima airport for your flight to Cusco. A Kusa Treks van will be waiting for you at the airport in Cusco and will drive you to your hotel. You will have a free afternoon to explore Cusco.

DAY 3: Tour of Cusco

Accommodations: Hotel Rumi Punku in Cusco
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Entrance Tickets: Included

MORNING

You will have some free time this morning to sleep in, relax or explore a little bit of Cusco on your own.

AFTERNOON

At 1PM we will meet you in your hotel lobby to begin the Tour of Cusco. You will start today with a tour Q’oricancha, the Temple of the Sun. At Q’oricancha you will see the difference between the Inca and Spanish building methods. This was the spiritual center of the entire Inca Empire, and as such the construction here is amazing. Dozens of roads lead from Q’oricancha to the four quarters of the entire Inca Empire.

After visiting Q’oricancha, the group will walk down the Avenida El Sol, where you will board a bus that will take you just outside of the city. The 25 minute drive will take you to the majestic Inca site of Sacsayhuaman, which has enigmatic monoliths weighing as much as 200 tons! Your guide will offer an explanation of this phenomenal site, and you will have extra time to do a bit of exploring on your own.

From Sacsayhuaman it is a 5 minute bus ride to the Q’enqo Inca site. These ruins include fascinating Inca altars. Following this site is another 5 minute drive to Puca Pucara, which is a small, circular Inca site. The final stop on our tour is Tambomachay, the Inca water temple thought to be used by the ancient civilization for bathing, with its impressive water fountains.

After touring all of these sites, you will drive back down to Cusco where the tour ends at your hotel.

DAY 4: Tour of the Sacred Valley

Accommodations: Samanapaq Hotel in Ollantaytambo
Meals Included: Breakfast & Lunch
Entrance Tickets: Included

MORNING

A Kusa Treks van will pick you up from your hotel in Cusco at 8AM to begin today’s tour of the Sacred Valley. The drive will take a road that winds around the mountains north of Cusco. About 20 minutes into the drive, you will stop at a famous point known as El Mirador (Lookout Point). From here you will be able to see the Sacred Valley stretching out below you while your guide explains a bit of Inca history.

The Sacred Valley was a key area of settlement for the Incas. It has an amazing combination of agreeable climate and fertile plains that allowed for an abundance of crops for the usually unforgiving climate of the high Andes. Here the Incas sculpted vast mountain valleys with their world famous contour terracing and irrigation channels. Your guide will point out the best vantage points to get the best pictures.

AFTERNOON

After re-boarding the van, you will drive to the ruins of Písac. At these ruins, you will see and learn about different aspects of Inca culture. You will see amazing works of art carved into stone as well as impressive agricultural terraces. After exploring the upper plains, you will drive back to the lower part of Písac, where there is a bustling handicraft market where the locals buy, sell and trade goods.

At the market, you will have free time to walk around and do some bargaining of your own for souvenirs and clothing made of alpaca or llama wool. Afterwards we will meet for lunch in a nice, local restaurant where you will enjoy delicious Andean food.

EVENING

After lunch you will continue the tour with a drive along the Urubamba River towards the town of Ollantaytambo. In Ollantaytambo you will tour a set of important ruins that were constructed during the Inca’s heydays called Ollantaytambo Fortress. This extraordinary Inca site also contains an amazing rock formation representing the Inca god Wiracocha.

After touring this site, your guide will take you to your hotel in Ollantaytambo (Samanapaq Hotel, or similar). Ollantaytambo is a charming and welcoming town built by the Incas. Dinner will be on your own this evening, but we are happy to make recommendations of a wonderful place to eat in town.

DAY 5: Machu Picchu

Accommodations: Rumi Punku in Cusco
Meals Included: Breakfast & Lunch
Entrance Tickets: Included

MORNING

Today you will discover Machu Picchu, the world famous Sacred City of the Incas! It is entirely up to you when you would like to start this exciting day, but the majority of travelers choose to wake up around 4:30AM. This allows you to eat a quick breakfast and head over the bus station where you will attempt to catch the first bus from Aguas Calientes to Machu Picchu.

The drive to reach Machu Picchu Park is 25 minutes back the way you came the night before, uphill on a road full of switchbacks. The gates to Machu Picchu open at 6AM as the sun is rising over the lost city. It is truly magical to experience a sunrise over these ruins, as the mists part and the city rises from the clouds stone by stone.

Your official guided tour of Machu Picchu will begin at 8AM and end at 10:30AM if you have permits to climb Huyana Picchu or it will begin between 6 and 7AM and end between 9 and 10AM if you choose not to climb Huyana Picchu. All of our guides have been to Machu Picchu hundreds of times and know this site incredibly well! Your walking, guided tour will start with the impressive Temple of the Sun. You will see several iconic areas of Machu Picchu including: The Citadel, The Royal Tomb, the Main Plaza, the Condor Temple and much more.

NOTE: Due to new regulations (effective Jan 1. 2019), the paths that lead through Machu Picchu are all “one-way”, meaning you are not able to backtrack during your visit to Machu Picchu. Each visitor without a permit to climb Huyana Picchu or Machu Picchu Mountain will have ~4 hours to spend inside the park and those with permits to climb either Huyana Picchu or Machu Picchu Mountain will have 6 total hours to spend inside the park (including the 2 hour climb).

AFTERNOON/EVENING

After touring Machu Picchu, your guide will take you to the bus stop just outside the gates of Machu Picchu Park. You will take this bus back to to Aguas Calientes. Depending on your train departure time (see below), you will either need to head straight to the train station, or you can go to one of the many fantastic restaurants in Aguas Calientes for lunch (not included).

There are several train class options for the ride back to Cusco. The main two trains are the “Expedition Train” (included in the price) and the “Vista Dome Train” (additional $70 USD per ticket). We usually try to get tickets for a train leaving in the 15:00 (3PM) hour, which will have you back to your hotel in Cusco around 19:00 (7PM).

If you have a preference for departure/arrival time, and provide us with 4+ months notice, we are able to book tickets for the following departures:

Expedition train departure times (train ticket included in price):

14:55, 15:20, 16:20, 18:10

Vista Dome train departure times (additional $70 USD per ticket):

15:20, 16:20, 17:10, 18:20
13:37, $25 USD only available for those who do not do the Huyana Picchu hike

All trains that depart from Aguas Calientes will arrive at one of two stations:

Ollantaytambo station, 2 hour drive back to Cusco
Poray station, 30 minute drive back to Cusco

Your arrival station will depend on the time of year of your trip, departure time and class of train. Once you arrive to either station, a Kusa Treks van and driver will be waiting for you at the station to take you back to your hotel.

NOTE: Train times depend on: the number of people in your group, the time of year of your trip and the class of train you prefer.

DAY 6: Journey on the Sun Route to Puno

Accommodations: Hotel Casa Andina in Puno
Meals Included: Breakfast & Lunch
Entrance Tickets: Included

MORNING

Our private van will pick you up directly from your hotel at 6:30AM and transfer you to the bus station. Enjoy a luxurious ride on the Inka Express VIP Tourist Bus from Cusco to Puno (6 hour ride).

You will be accompanied by an English Speaking guide for the ride to Puno. There will be three stops at different sites that you can choose to explore with your guide. These sites are called: Andahaylillas, Raqchi and Puka Pukara, they’re a mouthful, but they each have incredible views!

AFTERNOON

You will enjoy an amazing buffet lunch in the town of Sicuani, which is halfway to your destination. After lunch you will jump back on the bus and continue your journey to Puno.

EVENING

You will arrive to the bus station in Puno around 5PM. Our private transfer will be there to meet you and take you to your hotel.

DAY 7: Lake Titicaca – The Floating Island

Accommodations: Overnight stay with a local family
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Entrance Tickets: N/A

MORNING

We will pick you up from the hotel and transfer you to the lake’s port. You will begin the day by traveling across the lake on a boat tour to the floating islands of Uros, where you will have time to explore.

Your guide will show you some of the more remote parts of the island, where you’ll enjoy a delicious lunch.

AFTERNOON

Following lunch, you will take a boat to the next island, where you will meet the local family that you will be staying with for the evening. You will learn how the indigenous people of the lake live.

In the late afternoon, you will climb a mountain to watch the sunset and participate in a party with locals.

EVENING

Tonight will be a basic but memorable accommodation, as you will be surrounded by a nice family. The family will cook an incredible dinner made with local dishes.

DAY 8: Lake Titicaca – Taquile Island

Accommodations: Hotel Casa Andina
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Entrance Tickets: N/A

MORNING

You will have an early breakfast with the family before you board a boat that will take you to the next set of islands called Taquile.

AFTERNOON

You will spend the afternoon learning from locals about agriculture and textiles and how generations have thrived on these islands.

Lake Titicaca is the largest lake in South America, and Taquile Island is one of the larger islands in the lake. Enjoy the incredible views of the crystal blue water and the rugged mountain landscape that surround you. This is an incredibly beautiful place in the world, and you will have time to appreciate its natural beauty before your boat ride back to Puno.

EVENING

We will get back on the boat around 4:30PM and ride back to Puno. Our representative will meet you at the dock to drive you to your hotel.

DAY 9: Goodbye!

MORNING

When you are ready, we will transfer you to Juliaca Airport for departure to the Lima Airport.

READY TO BOOK

HAVE QUESTIONS

One of the best tours I have ever been on. Our guide made this a trip of a lifetime. His knowledge and passion for the Inca culture is amazing. He is really patient and makes sure the entire group is well taken care of. Another great feature of Kusa Treks is how great they treat their porters/staff. You could tell that they really care about the community and the locals in that area. The food was also top notch! The courses were plentiful and also amazingly decorated/garnished. I did a lot of research before this trip and Kusa Treks blew away all my expectations.

Daniel H • Trip Advisor Review

What make a great yacht lies beneath the core concept. It should be solid and, at the same time, light. We work closely with the engineering team and finally get the perfect combination. This yacht is the gems we all are looking forward to.

Alex Dimitri • Associate Designer