Inca Tour || Go BIG Tours

Plaza de Armas, Arequipa

Misti Volcano, Arequipa

AM

Breakfast until 9am

PM

A day for you to explore Arequipa, the White City, on your own

Accommodations

Hotel

Included Meals

Breakfast

Lunch

Dinner

Activities

* Time-specific activity

After breakfast, head out and explore the beautiful city, and if interested, take part in an opportunity to give back at a local orphanage later in the afternoon.

Arequipa is a colonial-era regional capital dating back to 1540, but an Inca settlement long before that. The buildings are largely made from local white volcanic stone (sillar) giving the city its moniker of “White City”. The colonial architecture, the sillar buildings and the three large volcanoes that surround it contribute to it being considered Peru’s most beautiful city.

Things to see: Santa Catalina Monastery (1579) – a still functioning nunnery; La Mansión del Fundador – a 17th century mansion once belonging to the city founder; Molina de Sabandia (1621) – a peaceful historic water mill and beautifully landscaped grounds; Monasterio de la Recoleta – a museum housed in a colonial building with Amazonian artifacts, religious art and ethnic historical items; Convento de Santa Teresa (1710) – a nunnery and a museum of religious art and historical artifacts; Mercado San Camilo – a bustling market designed by Gustav Eiffel (same as Eiffel Tower); Yanahuara – a neighborhood offering many panoramic views of the city; Museo Santarios Andinos – a beautiful museum showcasing the local culture and a mummy; Basilica Cathedral of Arequipa (1656) – a towering neoclassical cathedral; Plaza de Armas – the main square rimmed by white buildings.

Go BIG was founded on the idea of responsible travel and strives to make a positive impact on the places visited. We try to give travelers the opportunity to give back by introducing them to local organizations in hopes of kindling a relationship that could last a lifetime through sponsorship. We can often arrange for our travelers to make a real difference in Peru by: getting directly involved with a volunteering project, albeit a very short one; sharing their knowledge by giving a talk; or simply observing how the organizations are helping the communities. These activities are scheduled outside of the standard tour itinerary as additional opportunities for travelers’ free time.

Misti Volcano

Colca Canyon

AM

Breakfast

Tour through volcanic valleys, high mountain passes and an animal reserve

Check-in to the hotel in Chivay

Rest of the day on your own to explore

PM

Optional volunteering opportunity with local children

Accommodations

Hotel

Included Meals

Breakfast

Lunch

Dinner

Activities

Optional on your own

Head north out of Arequipa in the shadow of Misti Volcano to Pampas Cañahuas National Reserve for wild vicunas with views of the Vizcachani, Callalli, Sibayo and Tuti villages and rock formations. Then, up to Patahuasi at 4,910 m to a viewpoint of Colca Canyon and then descend to Chivay in Colca Valley. After checking-in to the hotel, you can grab lunch in the village and have the rest of the day to walk, swim in the local hot springs, have a massage at a spa, go horseback riding, browse the local market for crafts, or just relax and take it all in at the hotel.

High altitude awareness: Go BIG recommends taking things slowly as your body acclimates to the high altitude – drink water and coca tea (known for its restorative properties), keep your exertion level low and eat lightly. See Tour FAQ.

Traditional Peruvian foods: Ceviche – a seafood dish of meat cooked by citrus juices (see Day 3 of the Grand Tour); Papas a la Huancaína – yellow potatoes covered in queso fresco, aji chili, garlic, evaporated milk, lime juice, and served with saltine crackers; Cuy (guinea pig) – often stuffed with herbs and roasted, and often with an aji dipping sauce served fried or braised; Lomo saltado – stir fried soy-marinated beef or alpaca with onions, tomatoes, aji chilies and spices; Rocoto Relleno – baked red aji peppers stuffed with braised ground beef, olives, garlic, onions, raisins, herbs and spices, and topped with queso fresco and an egg and milk sauce; Anticuchos de Corazón – grilled skewers of beef or alpaca heart that has been marinated in vinegar, garlic, cumin and aji; Ají de Gallina – creamy hen or chicken breast with ground walnuts, cheese and aji chili.

Maca Church

Girl in traditional dress

AM

Early breakfast

Condor viewing

Leisurely drive with stops at small villages to see markets and a church

PM

Chivay for lunch and rest of the day on your own to explore or relax

Accommodations

Hotel

Included Meals

Breakfast

Lunch

Dinner

Activities

Optional on your own

* Time-specific activity

It will be an early start after breakfast and a 25 mile drive to a viewpoint famous for viewing condors in flight. Enjoy ample time to walk to different viewpoints along the cliffs for the best views of condors. Then, the van will work its way back slowly to Chivay through quaint villages with stops along the way. Once at Chivay, you can grab lunch locally and have the rest of the day to explore the area.

Andean condors, large black vultures are the world’s largest terrestrial birds (based on weight and wingspan combined). They have a wingspan of nearly 11 ft (3.5 m) which is slightly smaller than some water bird species including the albatross. They can fly up to 16,000 ft (5,000 m) and live an impressive 50 years in the wild and up to 75 years in captivity. The Inca considered them special divinities linking the world above (hanan pacha) and the world on the ground (kay pacha). They are scavengers that prefer feeding on large carcasses and usually clear in the mornings to take advantage of prevalent thermals. Both parents care for the often single egg laid on bare rock. Chicks will often stay with their parents for 2 years, so hatchings can occur as few as every 3 years. They are a threatened species due to hunting (by people who think they endanger their livestock) and pesticide poisoning.

Giving back opportunity: There are children who live in the small community where we will be staying and they have very limited resources, so toys and sporting equipment are seen as luxuries. We bring a few of these luxury items along with us and give them to the kids. You can donate toward the purchase of these items and be a part of giving them to the children.

Colca Canyon

Puno area, Lake Titicaca

AM

Breakfast

A road journey through the altiplano (high plains) and high mountain passes with beautiful vistas

Lunch (included) at a local restaurant

PM

Hotel check-in in Puno

Accommodations

Hotel

Included Meals

Breakfast

Lunch

Dinner

Activities

* Time-specific activity

After breakfast, it’s back up out of the canyon and over several very high mountain passes and then a drive in the Peruvian altiplano to Puno on the shores of Lake Titicaca. After checking-in to the hotel, the day is yours to explore Puno.

Colca Canyon was formed by the Colca River and is the world’s second deepest at 10,730 ft / 3,270 m deep. The mix of pre-inca terracing (andenes) and the small colonial towns give it a feel like no other place – quiet, historically-rich and welcoming. It is still inhabited by the Collagua and Cabana cultures, ancestors of the people who built the local terraces. These cultures speak different languages- the Cabanas speak Quechua and the Collaguas speak Aymara. The Inca did not arrive until 1320AD and conquered the area by marriage, not warfare. The Spanish arrived in 1540, and in 1570 ordered the inhabitants to move from homes scattered throughout the valley to settlements that are still active today.

Tips for buying wool clothing: there are endless opportunities for buying beautiful wool clothing and blankets. They can come from any of the local camelids and each has different qualities and price tags. Alpaca and llamas are domesticated, so their wool is easy to harvest. The wool from the llama is the coarsest, alpaca’s is finer (softness similar to cashmere) and baby alpaca’s (first shear only) is finer yet. Vicuna has the finest wool in the world (highest density) and guanaco is close behind. Guanaco and vicuna wools are more rare than their domesticated counterparts, are smaller (produce less wool), and wild (harder to shear). An alpaca sweater is about $20 and a baby alpaca sweater about $50. Vicuna wool is VERY expensive and can be $15,000+ for a sweater!

Uru reed boat

Uru floating reed village

AM

Breakfast

Private motorboat tour of Lake Titicaca and visit to Uros floating islands

Boatseeing tour to Taquile Island

Lunch

PM

Boatseeing tour back to Puno

Accommodations

Hotel

Included Meals

Breakfast

Lunch

Dinner

Activities

* Time-specific activity

Visit two of the floating islands made completely from native reeds by the Uros people, descendants of one of the oldest cultures in South America. After a leisurely boat tour, disembark for lunch on Taquile Island at a small basic restaurant perched on a hill overlooking the lake. The boatseeing tour continues until arriving back to Puno in the evening.

The Uru or Uros people call themselves Lupihaques (“Sons of the Sun”). The Uru language has largely been replaced by Aymara and Spanish, and there are perhaps as few as two people still speaking the language. They construct islands of reeds to create movable villages – initially for defensive purposes. They were originally positioned near the center of the lake, but are now closer to the shores. The totora reed is central to their culture, not only for construction but for medicinal purposes and as a food staple. Not surprisingly, fish is a large part of their diet, but also meet from cattle grazed on small Islands and quinoa obtained through trade. They also hunt birds, including seagulls, ducks, and flamingos.

Feast of Virgin de la Candelaria is a celebration originating in 1781 when the city was under siege and the townspeople took the statue of the Virgin out in a candlelit procession accompanied by groups of pan pipers (sikuris). Their efforts led to the besieging army to flee. The Vigin’s statue has been revered ever since as the patron saint of Puno. The celebration is one of the showiest on Earth and attracts visitors from all over the world. The festivities last two weeks in the beginning of February and include over 30,000 dancers, 8,000 musicians all dressed in traditional clothing, over 150 indigenous groups including Quechua and Aymara from all over the region, and a televised dance competition.

Raqchi Incan ruins

The Church of St Peter the Apostle

AM

Breakfast

Pucara Lithic Museum

Lunch (included)

Raqchi Incan ruins

Visit the Church of St Peter the Apostle "The Sistine Chapel of America"

PM

Cusco hotel check-in

Accommodations

Hotel

Included Meals

Breakfast

Lunch

Dinner

Activities

* Time-specific activity

After breakfast, it’s a quick jump to the Pucara Lithic Museum with beautiful pre-Incan artifacts. Then, continue up over the stunning Abra La Raya Pass and on to a local restaurant for lunch. Next, continue the mountain drive to Andahuaylillas, which is home to the beautiful colonial Church of St Peter the Apostle that earns its nickname “The Sistine Chapel of America”. Arrive in Cusco in late afternoon, check-in to hotel, and the city is yours to explore.

The Church of St Peter the Apostle, situated in the quiet village of Andahuaylillas, has a humble exterior that belies the exorbitant ornateness of its interior. Construction of the chapel began in 1570 by the Jesuits. Much of the interior decorations including the beautiful murals were done in the 1620s. The church has had renovations but is still threatened by roof leaks, insect infestations and earthquakes. Recent tourism is bringing to light the historic value of the church and the surrounding town and will hopefully lead to further preservation and protections.

Potatoes are believed to have first started along the shores of Lake Titicaca in Peru and Bolivia. Cultivation may go back 10,000 years. The varieties of potato found in Peru is staggering. It is estimated there are as many as 5,000 species, many of which are only found in Peru. Potatoes are a nightshade and can be poisonous, but varieties were cultivated to produce fewer toxins. The Inca derived much of their caloric intake from potatoes which caught the eye of the Spanish who brought potatoes to Europe in 1570 where their popularity spread and became a staple of many of the northern European countries.

Ollantaytambo ruins

Ollantaytambo terraces

AM

Breakfast

Pisac ruins

Pisac market

Lunch (included) in the archeological town of Urubamba

PM

Ollantaytambo hotel check-in and then on your own to explore the colonial town and surrounding ruins

Accommodations

Hotel

Included Meals

Breakfast

Lunch

Dinner

Activities

Today, you will head into the Sacred Valley visiting small towns that dot its landscape. The first stop is Pisac, a town renowned for its artisanal market where you can find the artisans and their works, including pottery, textiles and paintings. Then, it’s on to Urabamba for a traditional lunch (included) before continuing up the beautiful valley amongst often snow-capped mountains to Ollantaytambo, a colonial town situated amidst the archaeological ruins of a once thriving Incan city. After checking-in to the hotel, take your time to just wander the quaint colonial streets and take it all in, or head up a hiking trail for magnificent views of town, terraces and the valley.

PERUVIAN CRAFTS: Ceramics date back to the Chavín people (~900BCE) and have picked up elements of many cultures since, including influences from the Spanish. Textiles (dating to 10,000 BCE) made from alpaca, vicuna, llama, sheep and cotton and dyed with plant and mineral based dyes are made throughout Peru with specific designs for regions being passed from generation to generation. Embroidery also often uses location specific designs dating back generations. Dolls (rusticas) have regional variants, and date back over a thousand years. Musical instruments: stringed: including bandola, and the charango – a 10-string loot instrument as standard traditionally made from armadillo shells; wind: including pinkillo, tarka, and siku/zampoña – a pan flute; percussion: including the tinya, huancar, and the cajón – a percussion box. Gourd carving (mates burilados) dating back over 3,500 years and still done in central Peru, it is often engraved and naturally colored using burning techniques. Retablos are brightly colored wooden boxes to pick in various events in miniature inside. Masks are often intricately designed, made from various materials, and used for ceremonies and festivals. Jewelry making has long been a part of many of the Peruvian cultures dating back to pre-Inca.

Ollantaytambo

Machu Picchu

AM

Breakfast

Train ride continuing through the beautiful smSacred Valley to Aguas Calientes

Shuttle up to Machu Picchu

Small group tour of the ruins

Lunch on your own in Aguas Calientes

Train ride back to Ollantaytambo

PM

Return to hotel

Accommodations

Hotel

Included Meals

Breakfast

Lunch

Dinner

Activities

* Time-specific activity

Get off to an early start with breakfast at the hotel and then a quick walk to the train station to board the historically renovated train through the narrowest parts of the valley to Aguas Callientes. Board a shuttle to the Machu Picchu ruins with your private guide. Enjoy a tour visiting this iconic wonder of the world! Have lunch on your own at one of the many restaurants in Aguas Callientes before returning to Ollantaytambo by train.

The Inca people originated from a Cusco tribe that expanded by invasions and intermarriage with other neighboring rulers. Cusco remained the administrative, political and military center of the empire. Concord populations were allowed to practice their own religions and lifestyles but had to recognize Inca religion and cultural practices as superior and speak Quechua. The Inca people created an elaborate system of roads throughout the empire which helped unify and manage it.

Machu Picchu is a 15th century Inca citadel and one of the most recognizable ancient ruins in the world. It was declared a Peruvian Historic Sanctuary, a UNESCO World Heritage site and one of the new seven wonders of the world. Its original purpose is often debated, but most archaeologists believe it was constructed as a royal estate for the Inca emperor Pachacuti (1438-1472). 80 years after its completion it was abandoned, possibly to avoid Spanish conquest.

Ollantaytambo terraces

Cusco

AM

Breakfast

Visit of Moray experimental agricultural terraces

Overlook of salt pools (salineras)

Lunch in Chinchero and time in market

PM

Cusco hotel check-in

Accommodations

Hotel

Included Meals

Breakfast

Lunch

Dinner

Activities

Continue to explore Incan archaeological engineering: the experimental agricultural terraces of Moray, the nearby salt mines, and the evaporation pools (salineras). Then, to one of the more traditional markets in the area at Chinchero before going back to beautiful Cusco.

Market negotiation: contracting prices is expected in markets. If you choose not to do it you will be significantly over paying because initial prices are stated with the idea that the price will be negotiated down. As a non-native, you will likely be paying more than a local even after negotiating a lower price. So, you should not feel guilty about the process because “haggling” is essentially part of the experience and can be fun. If the price you offer is not profitable for the vendors, they can refuse it.

Negotiation tips:

In general, prices get better in the offseason, at smaller less-trafficked markets, and late in the day

Often, the best price will be offered to you once you walk away

Learn the differences in craftsmanship by comparing products

If dealing with the artisan directly, don’t criticize the workmanship. Be wary of those claiming to be the artisans because most are not

Move from stall to stall, so it can be seen that you are comparing

Do not immediately buy from the first stall that you enter

You can often communicate with only a calculator. Vendors can enter their price, and you can shake your head no, and enter your own price as a means of negotiation

Remember the goal is NOT to eliminate the merchants profit, but to find a win-win price

Be skeptical of those that offer to help you in your negotiations because they might demand a finder’s fee, a kickback from the merchant

Offer to buy multiple things to try to get a discounted bulk pricing

If possible see what the locals are paying for similar items

Cash is usually the only option in smaller shops, however if they are large and accept credit cards, you should try to pay in cash and let them know that you plan to

Keep a poker face about the items that you really like

Cusco main square

Cathedral of Cusco

AM

Breakfast

City tour

Lunch and rest of the day to explore Cusco

Farewell dinner

PM

Return to the hotel

Accommodations

Hotel

Included Meals

Breakfast

Lunch

Dinner

Activities

* Time-specific activity

After breakfast, there is a city tour and then lunch, and the rest of the afternoon is on your own to explore beautiful Cusco. In the evening, there will be a farewell dinner (included).

Places to see in Cusco:

San Blas: quaint cobblestone street neighborhood with small shops and restaurants.
Santo Domingo/Coricancha: a beautiful church built on ancient Inca site with some of the original stone work still showing.
Plaza de Armas: the heart of the city since the times of the Inca and bordered by Cusco Cathedral, Sagrada Familia Church, Triunfo Church, and Compañía de Jesús – a 16th century Jesuit church.
Museo Inka: a museum of Inca relics located in a 16th century Spanish admiral’s house.
Museo Casa Concha: a museum of repatriated artifacts housed in a beautiful Spanish aristocrat’s former house.
La Merced: a baroque church and convent.
San Francisco Monastery and Church: buildings from the mid 16th century.
Mercado San Pedro: a bustling colorful local market.

Will Add Later

AM

Breakfast

Shuttle to the airport

Breakfast

Lunch

Dinner

After breakfast, catch a shuttle to the airport for your flight home.