From Poás Volcano to Machu Picchu: A 10-Day Tropical Expedition

Join us for a full-day adventure through the stunning highlands of Costa Rica! Our journey begins as we travel by bus through scenic mountain landscapes and rolling cattle farms on our way to the magnificent Poás Volcano. At the volcano, we’ll take a short, easy walk to the crater’s edge, where—weather permitting— you’ll witness the breathtaking view of its vibrant turquoise lagoon nestled inside the active crater. The dramatic setting offers a unique photo opportunity and a chance to experience one of Costa Rica’s most iconic natural wonders. Next, we’ll head to the La Paz Waterfall, a stunning 37-meter cascade set amidst lush tropical vegetation. This is the perfect spot for unforgettable photos and a refreshing nature experience. Our final stop is an authentic Costa Rican coffee farm, where you’ll stroll among the coffee plants, learn about the traditional and modern methods of coffee production, and enjoy a tasting of fresh coffee and locally made chocolates.

Your day begins with a 6:00 AM pickup from your hotel in San José, Heredia, or Alajuela. Enjoy scenic views of coffee plantations and the lush mountains of Braulio Carrillo National Park as you head to a local restaurant for a traditional Costa Rican breakfast around 7:15 AM, featuring fresh juice, coffee, eggs, and gallo pinto. Next, visit a banana plantation to learn about the growing and export process, then continue to Tortuguero National Park, where you’ll board a boat and cruise through its winding jungle canals. Surrounded by over 29,000 hectares of tropical rainforest, spot incredible wildlife like green sea turtles, monkeys, sloths, toucans, and crocodiles, while learning about local conservation efforts. After a hearty buffet lunch, enjoy a relaxing walk through Tortuguero Village to discover its culture and history. Later begin your journey back to San José, wrapping up a day full of nature, wildlife, and authentic local experiences.

Our guide will pick you up from your hotel lobby and transferred to the first stop. The Plaza de Armas (Central square), home to the gorgeous Cathedral of Cusco and start exploring this beautiful World Heritage– listed church, and then we will walk for about 5 minutes along the ancient Inca-built Street from the Plaza de Armas to Koricancha or sacred temple of the Sun. Here you will see the clash between Inca culture and Catholicism as you take note of the difference in building methods. The Inca architecture here is quite amazing, particularly a high altar made of bronze, as this was the key spiritual center of the Incas, to where all roads led from all of the four quarters of the Inca Empire. Then we will drive you just outside of the city for about 10 minutes to visit 4 stunning Inca places and stop at the majestic Inca site of Sacsayhuaman with its enigmatic monoliths weighing as much as 200 tons. Then we will continue our visit to Qenqo, home to fascinating Inca altars and then drive another 5 minutes to Puca Pucara, a small circular Inca site known as the check point to enter in Cusco. Finally, we will have our last stop at Tambomachay a temple with water fountains, thought to be used as baths by the Incas. After enjoying this amazing Cusco city tour, we will drive you back to your hotel or end at the central square of Cusco for Dinner (not included).

Breakfast at your hotel, Our guide will pick you up from your hotel lobby and drive you in our private transport from Cusco passing through or explore Chinchero and visit the Tupac Inca Yupanqui Royal House where their original Inca walls are still well preserved and have a chance to meet the Chinchero women in their traditional dressing in a weaving or textile center. And then continue our journey to the village of Maras where you will visit the archaeological site of Moray which contains an important agricultural system. Moray, during the Incan times, was possibly one of the most important agricultural research centers, where experiments were conducted at different heights crop, the arrangement of its platforms produces a variety of micro-climates taking the center of the concentric circular terraces higher temperature and decreasing gradually outward lower temperatures. After this important visit, we will drive to our next stop and visit the famous Salineras or Salt mines. The salt is extracted in artisanal form, the Salt Mines are made up of about 3000 small wells that have been exploited since the Inca times and it was an economic exchange way. Then, we continue our journey to Ollantaytambo where we will visit this amazing Inca site, which is an important area with Inca constructions, built during the Incan times. This is an extraordinary Inca citadel where we will find an amazing rock formation representing the Inca god Wiracocha. Then we will drive you for about 30 more minutes to Urubamba town and enjoy a delicious buffet lunch (not included). After Lunch, we will drive around 90 minutes to the village of Pisac where we will visit the famous Pisac Market and purchase some local souvenirs. Then we will drive up to the Pisac Inca site to have stunning views over the valley. Here you can appreciate temples, residences, altars, channels and learn about the Incan agricultural methods shared by our Machupicchu Latin America expert guides. Finally on our way back to Cusco we will stop at Taray (viewpoint) for sacred valley classic photos and then continue to Manos de la comunidad animal rescue center (to see Llamas, Alpacas and Vicuñas).

Our representative will pick you up from your hotel lobby and transferred in our private transport for about 1.5 hours to Ollantaytambo train station. 6:50am: Board the Vistadome train to Aguas Calientes (Machupicchu town). This train journey takes 1.5 hours and allows you to appreciate the fascinating scenery along the sacred Vilcanota River. Upon arrival at Aguas Calientes train station, you will be welcomed by our guide who will meet you and provide you some free time. Board the bus and take a short ride up to the main entrance gate of Machupicchu Time to begin a unique experience by exploring one of the New Seven Wonders of the World accompanied with a professional tour guide who will share with you all his knowledge about the history, traditions and more that surrounds this mysterious and enigmatic Inca citadel of Machupicchu. After the guided tour is over, board the bus down to Aguas Calientes for Lunch 13:30pm: Lunch Later Board the Vistadome train back to Ollantaytambo train station, the train ride takes 1.5 hours. On your arrival to Ollantaytambo train station our representative will be waiting for you by the general exit gate holding a sign with your name on it and transferred in our private transport back to your Cusco hotel. Arrive at your Cusco hotel

Breakfast at your hotel Our Machupicchu Latin America representative will pick you up from your hotel lobby and drop off you to the Titicaca Lake harbor to board the motorboat and set off to explore the highest navigable lake in the world. We will sail for about 30 minutes to our first stop, the fascinating Uros floating island made of reeds and learn about the local lifestyle and interact with the locals who are still living on this floating Islands. Then we will continue sailing towards Taquile Island and visit the famous weavers to appreciate the beautiful handmade works so you can purchase these great souvenirs. After a great time, we will enjoy a delicious and traditional lunch with the host family. Later, we will return back to the Puno city ending this amazing tour.