Basic travel information

On a Peruvian trek, we will hike the Inca trails following the three-day Lares route in the Peruvian Andes. We will also explore the floating Uros Islands on Lake Titicaca, the historic Inca capital of Cusco and the Peruvian capital of Lima. The trip is crowned by a visit to the legendary ruins of Machu Picchu.

Itinerary

DAY 1 – FLIGHTS HELSINKI – LIMA

Flights to Peru. Arrival in Lima in the evening, transfer from the airport to the hotel.

ACCOMMODATION IN A
HOTEL

DAY 2 – LIMA – CUSCO

After breakfast transfer to the airport and flight to Cusco. The former capital of the Inca Empire and the current UNESCO World Heritage Site, Cusco is the oldest continuously inhabited city in Peru. With the arrival of the Spanish conquerors in 1532, the Incas ruled from Cusco from northern Argentina all the way to the Colombian border. Cusco is located in southeastern Peru, at an altitude of 3,400 meters in the Andean Highlands. According to legend, the city was originally built in the form of the Inca holy animal cougar. History can be seen everywhere in Cusco; The town has numerous old inca walls, narrow cobbled streets, merchant houses built on top of old Inca palaces and numerous churches. Today, Cusco, with a population of 360,000, is still inhabited mainly by descendants of Incas, whose mother tongue is mainly Ketchua. Transfer to the hotel and free time in Cusco. (A)

ACCOMMODATION IN A
HOTEL

DAY 3 – CUSCO

After breakfast, a city tour of Cusco. We visit Plaza de Armas in the heart of the city and the Korikancha Temple. We also visit nearby, Inca-era ruins. The afternoon is your time to set the mood in the alleys and markets of the old Inca capital. (A)

ACTIVITIES
CITY TOUR

ACCOMMODATION IN A
HOTEL

DAY 4 – CUSCO – QUISHUARANI – CUNCANI

The hiking part of the trip begins! In the morning departure to the town of Calcca (2900m) where we stop for coffee and visit the local market. In Ascasmarca we take a short walk and visit the Inca Ruins. The journey continued to Quishuaran (3750m). After lunch we start the hike to the Huillquisaca Abra Pass (3940m). We will have an excursion lunch and continue our hike to Cuncan (3780m) where we will stay. (UNDER)

ACTIVITIES
HIKING

ACCOMMODATION IN A
TENT

DAY 5 – CUNCANI – HUACAHUASI – IPSAYCOCHA

After breakfast we continue our hike to the Huacahuas Pass (3800m). We enjoyed lunch at Azul Cocha mountain lake (4200m). After lunch, climb to the mountain lake of Ipsaycocha (4200m) where we enjoy the stunning scenery and stay overnight. (UNDER)

ACTIVITIES
HIKING

ACCOMMODATION IN A
TENT

DAY 6 – IPSAYCOCHA – OLLANTAYTAMBO – AGUAS CALIENTES

Today we continue our hike to the Patacancha Valley (3700m). The small town of Patacancha is famous for its textiles and Ketchua Indian traditions. From Patacancha we continue by minibus via Pumamarca to Ollantaytambo in the Inca Sacred Valley. We visit the Inca Museum and get to know the city. In the afternoon we continue by train to the village of Aguas Calientes near Machu Picchu, where we will stay. (A, L)

ACTIVITIES
HIKING

ACCOMMODATION IN A
HOTEL

DAY 7 – MACHU PICCHU – CUSCO

Early morning bus transfer to the ruins of the legendary Machu Picchu. The lost city of Machu Picchu is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the most famous archaeological site in all of South America. The ruins of the city are located at 2430 meters above sea level in a saddle between two mountain peaks, above the Urubamba River. The ruins are landscape architecture at its best. They are divided into agricultural and urban quarters, which have served as places of residence and worship for the clergy / nobility.

Machu Picchu, founded by the Incas in the 15th century, was abandoned with the collapse of the Inca Empire. However, the Spanish conquerors never found the city, and it was forgotten in the jungle cache for centuries. American researcher Hiram Bingham rediscovered the ruins in 1911. A visit to Machu Picchu crowns our visit to Peru. For a day, we explore the wonders of a city lost to the Incas. Return by train for the evening to Cusco. (A)

ACCOMMODATION IN A
HOTEL

DAY 8 – CUSCO – PUNO

After breakfast, transfer by tourist bus from Cusco to the shores of Lake Titicaca in Puno. We stop on the way to the temples of Andahuaylillas and Viracocha and enjoy lunch in Sicuan. Before arriving in Puno, we cross the La Rayan Pass at 4200 meters above sea level. Puno, inhabited mainly by indigenous peoples, is the gateway to the traditional reed-built floating Uros Islands on Lake Titicaca. (A, L)

ACCOMMODATION IN A
HOTEL

DAY 9 – LAKE TITICACA

Boat trip on Lake Titicaca. We travel by boat to the floating Uros Islands made by the Indians from the totora reed of the region. During the trip, we will also visit the island of Taquile, inhabited by descendants of the Incas. Return to Puno in the evening. (A, L)

ACTIVITIES
BOAT TRIP

ACCOMMODATION IN A
HOTEL

DAY 10 – PUNO – LIMA

In the morning transfer from Puno to Juliaca city airport. Flight from Juliaca to Lima. Lima transport to the hotel and free time. (A)

ACCOMMODATION IN A
HOTEL

DAY 11 – LIMA –

After breakfast, a guided city tour of Lima. On the city tour we will get acquainted with the history of Peru and the modern district of Lima. In the evening transfer to the airport and return flights overnight to the home country. (A)

DAY 12 – ARRIVAL IN FINLAND

MEALS: [A] BREAKFAST [L] LUNCH [I] DINNER

Country information:

Finnish citizens do not need a visa when traveling to Peru. Upon arrival in the country, a two-part tourist card is issued, which must be kept throughout the trip. The card will be requested when staying in hotels and when leaving Peru.

Hepatitis A vaccination is recommended for all travelers to Peru. Those vaccinated with yellow fever, including those coming directly from Finland, should keep a vaccination certificate with them. If you are visiting the Amazon region after a trip, we recommend taking anti-malarial medication.

Hiking permits are obtained for you and are included in the price of the trip. To do this, send your copy of your passport to Mandala Travel’s office when booking.

For hiking, you need travel insurance that covers, in addition to sickness, helicopter evacuation and repatriation when moving at altitudes above 3,000 meters. We also recommend that you check the coverage of your insurance cancellation coverage.

The amount of equipment to be given to horsemen on a hike is 12 kg / customer. This amount of equipment should accommodate your personal equipment, sleeping bag and sleeping pad. You can leave equipment you do not need for hiking storage at the hotel in Cusco.

The food offered on the hike is a mix of Peruvian and European food made from local ingredients. Meals include appetizer, main course, dessert, and coffee, tea and cocoa. With meals, it is possible to fill your own Drinking Bottles with boiled water that is safe to drink.

Peru is located in the southern hemisphere and the climate in its mountains can be divided into a rainy summer season (November-April) and a dry winter (April-September). The dry winter season is the best time to visit and hike in the Andes mountains. The days are then bright and warm. At an altitude of 3500 m, daytime temperatures range from 12 ° to 20 ° C, with nighttime temperatures dropping close to zero. With hiking in the highest camps, temperatures can drop at night to -5 ° C. On the coast of Lima, daytime temperatures are around 20 ° -25 ° C. The climate in the Amazon region is tropical warm and humid all year round.

The top culture is typical in Peru. However, it should be remembered that it is voluntary. The exception to this is airport bag carriers, who get paid for tips. The normal tip for an airport bag carrier is 1 sol / bag. If the service has been good in the restaurant, you can leave 5-15% of the total amount of the invoice to the waiters. With hiking, you can book a total of about € 40-60 in local currency for tips from plaintiffs, local guides and kitchen staff, depending on the size of your hiking group: in a smaller group, an individual hiker will pay a little more than in a larger one.