By The UNCHARTED® editors · 3 min read
One Unbelievable Experience
This voyage takes you through the trodden trails of Machu Picchu and Cusco, but it also guides you into a mystical land of shamans, Andean condors, and floating villages flush with folklore.
Most travelers head to Peru with one mission in mind: to see Machu Picchu. But there is so much more to the country than that, from sierra highlands and deep valleys to alpine lakes and Amazonian rainforests.
This trip allows you to discover these places the UNCHARTED way. After starting out in Lima, voted one of the best culinary cities in the world by the annual 50 best list, we bring you to Arequipa. Spend time exploring the city’s historical square, marked by its 17th-century Basilica Cathedral and Baroque buildings, and begin adjusting to the altitude. Next, snake your way through Colca Canyon’s dizzying 16,000-foot heights (the best place in the world to spot soaring Andean condors), before heading to the shores of mystical Lake Titicaca.
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This Southern triangle of Peru has previously been difficult to reach, but with exciting UNCHARTED Outpost openings and a new vision for the area, that is no longer the case.
Ignacio Masías, an UNCHARTED friend and the visionary behind Outpost Titilaka on Lake Titicaca and Outpost Cirqa in Arequipa, continues to unveil unique experiences. The latest addition to his collection is Puqio, a luxury tented camp nestled in the heart of Colca Canyon. Ignacio's idea was to seamlessly connect these three distinct regions via an overland route, making southern Peru more accessible.
After experiencing this little-visited part of the country, the big finale is Machu Picchu, the Sacred Valley and Cusco: Scramble over ruins, take in impressive terraces, and board a luxury train decorated in the style of a 1920s Pullman.
One interesting nuance about doing the trip in this way is that it also follows a chronological timeline: In Colca Canyon, travelers learn about pre-Spanish and pre-Columbian ethnic civilizations, and then proceed to Lake Titicaca, the cradle of the Andean Uros people, before concluding with the Incas and Machu Picchu in the Incan empire heartland. This entire route, extending beyond the well-explored territory of the country, offers a captivating journey, with each leg providing a photogenic backdrop to the rich tapestry of Peru.
Read below for a couple of our favorite highlights in Colca Canyon and Lake Titicaca
Lake Titicaca, Peru
Sacred Valley of the Incas, Peru
Deep in the heart of an other-worldly land, Puquio reflects the simplicity and beauty of its landscape. Situated at 12,000 feet, this camp offers condor-spotting day trips, high-altitude trekking, horseback riding to hot springs, visits to textile weavers in nearby villages, and pisco tastings—all surrounded by smoldering volcanoes, bleating alpacas, and Andean grasslands. Whether you visit in the green or the gold season, your menus will showcase the seasonal local terroir and authentic flavors of the region. After family-style meals prepared over open flames, relax back in your abode with an outdoor bathtub and wood-burning stove on the terrace.
After your Puqio stay, we take you to the enchanting shores of Lake Titicaca, on the border between Peru and Bolivia. It is the highest altitude lake in the world, and is considered a sacred place to the Uros people, who identify as kot-suña, or "guardians of the lake." Lore has it that their blood turned black when they were expelled into the region during the days of the Incan empire, making them impervious to the cold. Ever-adapting, these ancestors sought refuge on the glistening water by building floating islands out of totora reeds. Many Uru families still live on these traditional-style atolls today, and our guides will take you by boat to experience first-hand their cultural practices, from weaving and craftsmanship to witnessing a few of their 300 traditional dances that represent characters from local legends. There's a reason why Puno, which sits on the shore of this mighty lake, is recognized as Peru’s folkloric capital.
SEE THE ITINERARY
Colca Canyon, Peru
Machu Picchu, Peru
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