We depart by coach this morning for Puno, enjoying scenic stops
along the way. During the journey, we reach heights of up to 14,700
feet above sea level, where the air is much thinner than at lower
altitudes.This elevation allows us to enjoy fabulous views across
the Andes. We check into our hotel in Puno on arrival.
On Day 8 we enjoy an excursion by speedboat to
Lake Titicaca, cruising to the Uros floating islands where
incredible flotillas made entirely out of totora reeds are used by
the enterprising Uros people. From here we continue to our included
lunch stop of Taquile, home to the Aymara, a Spanish-speaking
people who live in an almost economically-autonomous community.
We board the luxury PeruRail Titicaca Train to Cusco on
Day 9, taking in the beautiful Andean landscapes
as we journey in restored 1920s carriages through the Peruvian
Highlands. Cusco is a city of true beauty, and is regarded as the
'Archaeological Capital of the Americas' with its delightful blend
of indigenous and colonial Spanish architecture. One of the most
impressive attractions here are the incredible Inca walls, created
from enormous granite blocks that were carved to fit together
without the aid of mortar beds. It's a lasting tribute to the
ingenuity of the Incas that their anti-seismic design has survived
the test of time.
Day 10 includes a sightseeing tour of this
ancient capital. We take in the Plaza de Armas, in the historic
centre, and San Pedro market before visiting the Temple of
Koricancha, or 'Temple of the Sun'. This temple was one of the most
important to the Incas, however it was destroyed and brought to
ruin during a war with Spanish conquistadors in the 16th
century.