Classic Peru: From Cusco to Machu Picchu and Lake Titicaca

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Peru is South America's premier archaeological destination. This 10-day itinerary covers the classic southern circuit, starting in Cusco, the ancient capital of the Inca Empire, with its Plaza de Armas, baroque cathedral, and the Qorikancha. The Sacred Valley reveals the markets of Pisac and the fortress of Ollantaytambo, the gateway to the train to Machu Picchu. The Inca citadel is visited with an expert guide at the best hour of morning light, amid mist, llamas, and perfectly fitted stone terraces. Rainbow Mountain, or Vinicunca, demands a high-altitude hike that rewards with one of the most surreal views on the planet: red, yellow, green, and purple stripes in the sedimentary rock. The trip culminates at Lake Titicaca, 3,812 meters above sea level, where you visit the floating Uros Islands built entirely of totora reeds, a unique anthropological experience. Accommodation combines boutique hotels in Cusco's colonial mansions with family homestays in lakeside communities.