Classic Andes Tour — Daily Departures, All Year Long
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Machu Picchu and Lake Titicaca are the two great icons of the Peruvian Andes, and this classic 10-day itinerary links them in the most scenic way. After Lima, fly to Cusco, hike to the striped slopes of Rainbow Mountain, explore the Sacred Valley and take the panoramic train to Machu Picchu. Then travel the Route of the Sun from Cusco to Puno, stopping at Andahuaylillas, Raqchi and La Raya Pass, and sail on Lake Titicaca, the world’s highest navigable lake, to the floating reed islands of the Uros, before flying back to Lima.
Your 10 days at a glance: Lima, Cusco, Rainbow Mountain, Machu Picchu, the Route of the Sun and Lake Titicaca. Tap any day to see the details.
Every day of your trip, with where you'll spend the night.
Day 1
A driver meets you in the arrivals hall of Jorge Chávez International Airport and takes you to your hotel in Miraflores, the seaside district perched on cliffs above the Pacific. Rest after your flight, then take an easy walk along the malecón gardens to Larcomar and enjoy your first Peruvian dinner — ceviche, lomo saltado and a pisco sour.
Day 2
Explore the historic center of Lima with your guide: the Plaza Mayor, the Cathedral, the Archbishop’s Palace with its carved wooden balconies and the San Francisco Monastery, famous for its library and underground catacombs. Spend the afternoon in Miraflores or Barranco, or enjoy a cooking demonstration of Peru’s famous ceviche.
Day 3
Fly to Cusco (approx. 3,400 m) and transfer to your hotel. Take it easy for the rest of the day to adapt to the altitude: drink coca tea, eat lightly and, in the late afternoon, take a gentle walk around the Plaza Mayor and the narrow Inca streets of Hatunrumiyoc and its famous 12-angled stone.
Day 4
An early departure takes you to the trailhead of Vinicunca, the Rainbow Mountain. Walk at your own pace through the high Andes as the colors of the land intensify with every step. At the viewpoint, more than 5,000 m above sea level, bands of red, gold and turquoise stretch across the mountainside. Horses are available for part of the way.
Day 5
After the heights of Rainbow Mountain, descend to the green Sacred Valley. Visit the Inca terraces and market of Pisac and the fortress of Ollantaytambo, then board the panoramic train through the Urubamba canyon to Aguas Calientes.
Day 6
Reach Machu Picchu by bus early in the morning and tour the citadel with your guide, from the agricultural terraces to the Temple of the Sun and the Sacred Plaza. In the afternoon, take the train back to Ollantaytambo and continue by road to Cusco.
Day 7
Travel from Cusco to Lake Titicaca on a guided tourist bus. Stop at the baroque church of Andahuaylillas, the “Sistine Chapel of the Americas”, the Inca temple of Raqchi and La Raya Pass (approx. 4,335 m), the highest point of the journey, with a buffet lunch on the way. Arrive in Puno in the late afternoon.
Day 8
Set sail on Lake Titicaca, the world’s highest navigable lake. First stop: the Uros Floating Islands, woven entirely from totora reeds by families who still live on them today. Continue to Taquile Island, whose textile art is recognized by UNESCO and where the men are master knitters, for a walk along its stone paths and a lunch of fresh lake trout with views of the Bolivian Andes.
Day 9
Transfer to Juliaca airport for your morning flight to Lima. Spend the afternoon at leisure: visit the Larco Museum and its collection of pre-Columbian gold, or enjoy a farewell dinner overlooking the Pacific.
Day 10
A relaxed last morning in Lima before your transfer to the airport for your international flight home. End of services.
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Yes. Ten days is the classic length for this route: Lima, Cusco, the Sacred Valley and Machu Picchu, then the Route of the Sun to Puno and Lake Titicaca. A flight from Juliaca (near Puno) back to Lima avoids backtracking to Cusco.
By the Route of the Sun, a guided tourist bus between Cusco and Puno (approx. 10 hours) with stops at Andahuaylillas, Raqchi, La Raya Pass and Pucará, and lunch included. It turns the journey into a full sightseeing day across the Andes.
The Uros are islands built entirely from layers of totora reeds by families who still live on them. On the Lake Titicaca excursion you visit them by boat and continue to Taquile Island, known for its textile tradition.
Rainbow Mountain comes on your second day in Cusco and reaches more than 5,000 m, so it is the most demanding day of the trip. If you are not used to altitude, we recommend moving it later or swapping it for the Sacred Valley first; horses can also be rented for part of the trail. Just tell us in the request form.
You spend your first afternoon in Cusco (approx. 3,400 m) resting, Machu Picchu (approx. 2,430 m) is lower, and Lake Titicaca (approx. 3,830 m) comes at the end, when your body is already acclimatized. Drink plenty of water and check with your doctor if you have a medical condition.
April to November is the dry season, with sunny days and cold, clear nights at Lake Titicaca. December to March brings green landscapes and afternoon showers; the tour runs all year.
Yes. Departures are daily, all year, and every day of this 10-day itinerary can be adapted: add nights, upgrade hotels, switch to a luxury train to Machu Picchu or add Huayna Picchu. Just tell us in the request form.
The price depends on the hotel category you choose (Essential 2★, Comfort 3★, Superior 4★ or Deluxe 5★) and on the number of travelers. Open the Rates tab for the current price per person, based on double or twin accommodation. Domestic flights are quoted separately so you can choose airline and schedule.