Things to do in

Puno

Discover the islands of Lake Titicaca on this 2-day tour from Puno. Spend the night at a homestay on Amantani Island and learn about local traditions. Day 1: Uros Islands and Amantani Head to the legendary floating reed islands by motorboat. On Amantani Island the tour breaks into smaller groups for stays with local families. Trek to the top of the mountain to see the Temples of the Pachamama and Pachatata. Authentic food will be prepared and music performed by your designated family. Day 2: Taquile Island – Puno After breakfast, take a short boat ride to nearby Taquile island and meet locals known for their intricate weavings. Return to Puno after lunch, arriving between 3:15 PM and 3:30 PM.

Depart Puno and journey to the floating islands of the Uros people on Lake Titicaca. Get explanations from your guide about how these islands are created by the locals using bundles of dried totora reeds. Learn the history of the area and interact with the locals to hear more about their life out on the water. Then, cruise over to Taquile Island in the largest part of Lake Titicaca. Experience life on the lake up close and get some stunning views of the Andes Mountains as a bonus. Hear about the inhabitants of Taquile Island and how they descended from the Inca people to mostly work as farmers and weavers, and how they have inherited some distinct Inca traditions. Go for a medium-level hike on the island, known for its handwoven art and collective farms, and enjoy a lunch of local produce served in a local restaurant. Then, return to Puno city on the shore of the lake for the end of the tour services.

Embark on a 2-day trek to the Colca Canyon, twice as deep as the Grand Canyon and an incredible sight. Look out for more than 100 kinds of birds, over 300 types of plants and more than 30 types of cactus. Head to Condor’s Cross for the best viewpoint in South America for seeing the Andean Condor, a gracious bird that can have a wingspan of up to 3 meters and weigh up to 12 KG. Day 1: Arequipa - Chivay - Condor’s Cross - Sangalle After an early morning (around 3:00-3:30 AM) pick-up from your hotel, head to Cabanaconde in the Colca Canyon. This is approximately a 6-hour drive from Arequipa, and on the way you’ll stop for breakfast. Continue to Condor’s Cross for a panoramic view of the canyon and the famous Andean Condor. Arrive at the beginning of your trek and start a downhill hike for about 3-hour from 3,300 to 2,100 meters above sea level into the canyon. Upon arrival, have lunch and take some time to rest in San Juan de Chuccho. Continue your journey and pass by the towns of Cosñirhua and Malata. Hike further into the canyon until reaching Sangalle, the deepest part of the canyon and 1900 meters above sea level. Sangalle is a lush green oasis with a tropical microclimate and some simple accommodation. Here you can enjoy the swimming pool after a long day of hiking. Enjoy dinner and spend the night here Day 2: Sangalle - Cabanaconde - Chivay - Arequipa or Puno Leave early morning (around 5:00 AM), and start hiking uphill for about 3-hour back to Cabanaconde town using torch lights for illumination. Enjoy spectacular views of the sunrise and eat breakfast upon arrival at Cabanaconde.  Head towards Chivay, viewing pre-Inca terraces, archaeological ruins, and colonial towns on the way. Around noon, arrive at the hot springs. Optionally take a dip in the hot springs and relax in waters of 38°C. In Chivay, have a buffet lunch in a local restaurant (not included). After lunch, start your return to Arequipa. On the way, you will descend from 4830 to 2325 meters above sea level, passing by a national reserve and Pampa Cañahuas. This is is a habitat for the four species of South American camelids (llama, alpaca, vicuña, and guanaco). Arrive in Arequipa late afternoon and be dropped you off next to Santa Catalina Monastery. If you choose the option to be dropped off in Puno, you will leave from Chivay after having lunch. You’ll arrive around 6:45 PM in Puno. You will also make a stop in Pampa Cañahuas to have great views of the local landscapes.

You’ll be picked up at your Puno accommodation at the beginning of this full-day excursion to Lake Titicaca. An English-speaking guide will accompany you as you travel to the lake’s islands of Uros and Taquille. Uros is a group of islands whose buildings are made entirely of tortora reeds. It is home to a small community that dates back to pre-Inca times. Spend some time with the local residents before continuing on to Taquile – an island whose culture is more closely related to that of the Aymara people of Bolivia. You’ll enjoy a locally prepared lunch on the island before visiting the local cooperative and seeing first-hand the skill of the local weavers. Return to Puno and to your lodge after a unique look at the cultures of these islands.

Travel comfortably with all facilities from Puno to Cusco or vice versa. No matter if you travel at night or during the day, benefit from the air–conditioner and heating system, drinks on board, Wi–Fi on board, and USB chargers. Departure will be at 9:30 PM (regardless of the departure point, Puno or Cusco). Get warm with heating to rest comfortably. The arrival time will be at approximately 4:30 AM (regardless of the departing point, Puno or Cusco).

Start your tour at 7:00 AM as you depart. Enjoy a guided tour of the church San Pedro de Andahuaylillas, considered one of the most beautiful religious buildings in the Andes thanks to the rich decoration. Move on to take a guided tour of the Archaeological complex of Raqchi, home to agricultural terraces, an artificial lagoon, Inca houses and the Temple of Wiracocha God, a pilgrimage destination during Inca times. Sit down for a buffet lunch in Sicuani town to taste delicious Peruvian food, before you move on to Abra La Raya, a natural and political border. See the imposing Chimboya mountain towering at 5300 meters high. Visit the Lithic Museum of Pucara and discover an ancient civilization that emerged in the high plains 2000 years ago. See the many anthropomorphic designs carved on stone, worshiped by the Pucara civilization. Please note that the described itinerary is the route from Cusco to Puno; if you choose to take the tour in the opposite direction, your itinerary will be reversed.

Enjoy a boat trip on Lake Titicaca and visit the floating islands of Uros. The inhabitants of the lake are referred to as the Water Tribe and have built their own islands with a local type of sugarcane. Their homes and boats are also made from this material. The next stop is Taquile Island, inhabited by Quechua speakers who have developed unique and effective social systems and hand-weaving techniques. Stop for a typical lunch in the village of Taquile. Take a walk through the hills and archaeological sites of this 6-kilometer-long island before returning to Puno by boat.

Enjoy early morning pickup at your hotel or accommodation in Arequipa, from where you will travel to the incredible Colca Canyon. Stop for breakfast in the charming town of Chivay. Travel through the Andes villages before reaching the Cruz del Cóndor viewpoint. Once there, walk to the viewpoint and see the views of the surrounding landscape and gaze the flight and the natural habitat of the giant Andean condor. Cross the Patapampa Pass and admire the beautiful flora and fauna of the area, where you'll also see the peaks of the Misti, Chachani, Pichu Pichu, and Ampato volcanoes. Following the tour, you will have the option to go to the La Calera Hot Spring. At the end of your tour, the bus will return you back to the city of Puno, where you will be dropped off at your accommodation at approximately 7:30 PM.

Day 1: After being collected from your accommodation in Puno City, you will hit the road. Along the way be sure to look out for llamas, alpacas, and vicuñas in the magnificent mountains of the Andes, before you make a stop at a small cafe. You'll receive breathtaking views of the Misti, Chachani, Pichu Pichu, and Ampato volcanoes from the highest point of the Patapampa route. You'll then continue to Chivay, the entrance town of the Colca Canyon. Once there you will have lunch at a local restaurant, before being dropped off to your hotel in Chivay Town. You can then enjoy the afternoon at leisure, with the option to visit the La Calera water spring. Day 2: You'll depart from Chivay in the early morning and make your way towards the stunning Cruz del Condor viewpoint. Along the way you'll pass the pretty towns of Coporaque and Maca, before getting in touch with nature on a short hike. You'll later arrive to Cruz del Condor, where you will watch the majestic birds in flight for a full hour. On the way back you will enjoy lunch in Chivay, before continuing on to Arequipa City where you will arrive at approximately 5:00PM.

Embark on an adventure-filled 2-day tour of the Lake Titicaca area. Discover some of the highlights located in and around Puno, Uros, Taquile, and Cusco, stopping with plenty of time to soak up the local flair and experience the key attractions. Stay overnight in Puno and savor some tasty local cuisine along the way. Day 1: Cusco to Puno with stops Get picked up from your hotel and head to the tourist bus station for Puno. During the trip, enjoy a suite of exciting stops at different tourist centers and attractions. Begin with a 35-minute tour of the Temple of Andahuaylillas Sistine Chapel of America and prepare to be amazed. Later, explore the Archaeological Complex of Raqchi, before arriving at Sicuani where you can sit for a buffet lunch in the restaurant. In the afternoon, visit the pretty Paso la Raya, hemmed in by snow-capped mountains. Explore the Pucara Lithic Museum. Check in to your hotel in Puno. Day 2: Puno, Uros, Taquile, Cusco Your second day will start early with hotel pickup and transfer to the Port of Puno. Board your boat and head to Uros where you will participate in a cultural demonstration that will allow you to discover the Uros way of life. Visit the Taquile Islands and get to know the local culture. Take a lovely 1-hour walk packed with amazing photo opportunities. Break for lunch in the afternoon at a restaurant in town, where you can sample local favorites like quinoa soup or fresh fried fish from the lake. Return to the main port of Taquile and then to your hotel in Puno in the late afternoon to have dinner on your own. Get picked up and driven to the bus station in Puno. The bus will leave for Cusco at 10:00 PM and arrive at 5:00 AM the next morning. You can then take a taxi back to your hotel.