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Day 1: International arrival to Lima
Assistance on your arrival to Lima "Jorge Chavez"
Airport and transfer to the selected hotel.
Day 2: LIMA: City Tour
Morning at your leisure.
In the afternoon, about 14:00 hours you will picked up from
your Hotel for the guided city tour by the most attractive
and important sites in Lima, the "City of Kings".
The tour includes visits to the Huaca Pucllana, and considered
by the Incas as ñaupallaqta, a "sacred village".
We will show you the Historical Center: Paseo de la República,
San Martín Square, Main Square, Government Palace,
Basilica Cathedral, the Archbishop's Palace, City Hall Palace,
the old streets with colonial mansions and Moorish-style balconies.
We will visit the Convent and Church of San Francisco, the
greatest monumental assembly of colonial art in America. The
monks' Choir and Library; the Vestry, with paintings by Zurbaran
and Rivera; Main Cloister decorated with Sevillian tiles from
the 16th century; Moorish arches, and The Catacombs, underground
crypts from the colonial times.
The tour continues through the more traditional Residential
Areas: El Olivar in San Isidro, Miraflores' Central Park,
and Larco Mar which has become a distinctive symbol of modern
Lima.
Day 3: PARACAS: National Reserve / Ballestas Island
Early in the morning, transport by bus fron Lima to Paracas
Peninsula, where we can find the most important wildlife sanctuary
on the Peruvian Coast. Boat excursion to the Ballestas Islands,
in the Paracas National Reserve, where we can observe sea
lions, boobies, pelicans, penguins and marine birds. On the
way back, from the water, we can also see the "Candelabro"
(Candelabrum), a giant figure etched in the sand on the side
of a hill in the style of the Nazca Lines. In the afternoon
travel by bus to the city of Nazca for overnight.
Day 4: NAZCA: Nazca Lines / AREQUIPA
Early in the morning, after breakfast, transfer to Nazca airport
for a 45-minute overflight of the enigmatic Nazca Lines. These
enormous lineal drawings of animals, birds and geometric figures,
remain etched in the desert and they can only be appreciated
from the air. At noon, travel to the city of Arequipa (about
6 hours 30 minutes) along the desert and coast valleys. Arrival
at the White City of Arequipa. It receives this name due to
its white rock buildings, a white rock that flows out of Misti
Volcano. On your arrival at Arequipa, transfer to the selected
hotel. Free night.
Day 5: AREQUIPA: City tour
Morning city tour of Arequipa, including the Main Square,
one of the most beautiful squares in Peru, and the Cathedral,
a prime example of XIX century Peruvian architecture, housing
beautiful treasures in gold and silver. We also visit the
La Compania Church, and ancient Jesuit temple, maybe the most
important one in Arequipa due to its history and tradition,
with a beautiful façade with carved columns, laurel
crowns, flowers, birds, etc. A more careful look at the façade,
however, reveals the limits of European influence, as the
angels have Indian faces; and indeed one face is even crowned
with feathers. Then, we will visit the Santa Catalina Convent,
a "small town" built in the XVII century and opened
to the public in 1970, after 400 years cloister. Perfectly
preserved for four centuries, you go back in time as you enter
the cloister and see the numerous, spacious patios and gardens,
the kitchen and slave quarters and stone washtubs of this
convent. About 20 nuns, of what were once 500, still live
in a section of the convent. Transfer to the hotel.
Rest of the day at your leisure.
* It is possible to do this tour starting in the afternoon
so you have the morning free.
Day 6: AREQUIPA: Colca Valley
(L) (D)
Early in the morning, depart on a wonderful four hours bus
trip to the Colca Canyon, one of the deepest canyons in the
world (3,400 mts.). On the trip we drive across Pampa Cañahuas
in the Aguada Blanca National Reserve, inhabited by herds
of vicuñas and alpacas (South American camelids). We
also see beautiful pre-Columbian terraces, still being cultivated
by native Collaguas. Lunch on your arrival at Chivay in the
Colca Valley, transfer to the selected logde.
In the afternoon, we recommend you to rest and get used to
the altitude. If you are in good shape, you will have free
time to stroll by the lodge surroundings or you could take
a reparing bath at the hot springs near the lodge.
Dinner and overnight at the lodgey.
Day 7: COLCA CANYON: Condor Cross (L)
We leave early in the morning to the "Condor's Cross",
where the biggest bird in the world can be usually seen flying.
On the way back we visit the colonial towns and churches of
Yanque, Coporaque, Achoma and Maca. Good opportunity to appreciate
the life of these people that has changed little since Inca
times.
Lunch in a local restaurant.
Late in the afternoon return to the selected hotel in Arequipa.
Day 8: CUSCO: City tour and visit to nearby ruins
Early in the morning, transfer to Arequipa airport to take
a flight to Cusco. Upon arrival transfer to selected hotel.
After arrival we suggest some rest in the hotel in order to
avoid altitude sickness and have lunch there. In the afternoon,
we will have a guided city tour of Cusco visiting the Main
Square, the Cathedral and the Temple of the Sun or Korikancha
Then, we drive out of the city to visit the Inca sites of
Kenko, Tambomachay, Puca Pucara and the impressive fortress
of Sacsayhuaman, strategically built on a hill overlooking
Cusco and famous for its enormous carved stones, some of them
standing over 9m / 30ft high and weighing over 350 tons. Return
to the hotel. Free night.
Day 9: CUSCO: Sacred Valley of the Incas (L)
Excursion to the "Sacred Valley of the Incas", a
succession of picturesque towns, agricultural terraces and
archaeological sites. On Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays,
we´ll have the opportunity to bargain with vendors or
stroll at the Pisac's typical Indian market, with a catholic
mass service on Sunday (celebrated in Quechua, the native
language).
Lunch at a local restaurant in the Sacred Valley.
In the afternoon pass through Calca and Urubamba towns to
arrive to the Inca Fortress and Citadel of Ollantaytambo,
which was built to guard the entry of this part of the valley
and protect it from enemies of the lower jungles; consisting
in a series of superimposed terraces of carved stones accessed
by long staircases. We will have the opportunity to walk through
the quaint streets of the nearby town, religious and agricultural
centre during the Inca Empire, and get a clear idea of the
military strategy against possible invasions. On our way back
to Cusco we will visit the picturesque Andean village of Chinchero
where the remains of what was the royal hacienda of Tupac
Inca Yupanqui lies. Admire its well preserved Inca Wall at
the Main Square, visit the beautiful colonial temple built
on Inca foundations, with interesting frescoes on the portico.
Back to Cusco in the afternoon.
Day 10: CUSCO: Machu Picchu - Aguas Calientes
The day starts with an early morning rise to transfer to Cusco
train station for a three hour train journey to the famous
Inca Citadel of Machu Picchu, also known as "The Lost
City of the Incas". Arrive at Aguas Calientes station
followed by a 30-minute bus drive, climbing 6km of winding
road, to the incredible Machu Picchu. Upon arrival, we´ll
participate in a guided tour of the Citadel, visiting the
Main Plaza, the Circular Tower, the Sacred Sun Dial, the Royal
Quarters, the Temple of the Three Windows and various burial
grounds. After the tour you will have time to stroll around
the archaeological site at your leisure. Lunch in a restaurant
at Aguas Calientes town.
Overnight in a hotel in Aguas Calientes.
Free night, we recommend to have dinner at the hotel selected
in Aguas Calientes.
Day 11: CUSCO: Aguas Calientes - Cusco
Excellent opportunity to wake up early and enjoy with a beautiful
sunrise as well as stroll by the town of Aguas Calientes and
visit its thermal waters. Then, you will have time to perform
some of the following activities: (not included in the price)
1. Visit the Citadel of Machu Picchu for the second time.
2. For more adventurer people, we suggest to go up the Huayna
Pichu (if it is not raining) from where you can appreciate
the immensity of Machu Picchu, even more amazing being at
a high distant. Arriving at the top takes about two hours
and a half and it must be before 13:00 hours. It is necessary
to register in a office at the beginning of the trail. An
exciting adventure for the travellers who want to see, from
the top, the nature and the carved stone emerging from the
ground as a geological miracle.
In the afternoon, back to Cusco by train, and transfer to
the selected hotel for overnight. Free night.
Day 12: CUSCO / PUNO (L)
Early (7.30 am) departure by bus to the City of Puno, (3,860
m.a.s.l.). During the trip, we pass by the lovely Wacarpay
Lake, offering spectacular views of the mountains reflected
in its calm waters. We visit the nearby pre-Inca citadel of
Pikillacta, quechua name for "City of Fleas", one
of the most spectacular centers of the Wari culture. These
ruins consist of more than 700 structures with some walls
standing at almost 12m high.
We proceed to the beautiful town of Andahuaylillas, and visit
the Church of San Pedro de Andahuaylillas, better known as
the Sistine Chapel of the Americas, due to its decorated polychrome
ceiling. On the way, we stop in Archi, where we can see a
spectacular Inca Sanctuary built by the Inca Pachacutec, and
dedicated to the great Inca God of Wiracocha. It has a great
central wall with a stone base of fine Inca architecture.
Other walls are made of giant adobe bricks. The structure
also has two circular lateral columns. Around the Temple are
several buildings once used for housing and storage. About
70 km further on, we pass through La Raya Ranch where we can
see herds of vicuñas and llamas. Then we travel along
the high plateau of Collao, stopping at the town of Ayaviri,
an important livestock and textile center, to visit the impressive
Temple of Kalasaya, ruins from the ancient Pucara Culture.
Lunch in a quiet countryside restaurant, where we can enjoy
the delightful culinary art of the region .
In the afternoon, arrival in Puno and transfer to the selected
hotel. Free night.
Day 13: PUNO: Titicaca Lake, Floating Island of the Uros
and Island of Taquile (L)
Early in the morning, we will have an unforgettable motorboat
excursion on the waters of Lake Titicaca to the unique "Floating
Islands" of the Uros. These ancient inhabitants of the
lake, known as the Water Tribe, have built their own "islands"
by periodically adding new layers of a type of reed unique
to the area called "totora" (Scirpus Totora), vegetable
fibre from the Papiro family. Their homes and boats are also
made from this material. We continue our motorboat trip to
Taquile island, inhabited by Quechua-speaking natives who
have developed efficient and unique social systems, as well
as fine hand weaving techniques, down through generations.
After lunch in a local Taquile inn, we have a walk through
the various hills and archaeological sites of this 6 km long
island. In the afternoon, return to Puno for overnight at the hotel.
Free night.
Day 14: PUNO / LIMA: Chullpas of Sillustani on route
Early in the morning, transfer to Juliaca airport to take
your flight to Lima. On the way to the airport, we will visit
the famous Chullpas of Sillustani: stone cylinder burial chambers
used by the Aymaras to bury their important leaders. Lake
Umayo, located in front of the Chullpas, adds further beauty
to the place. Here you also have the opportunity to observe
several local typical birds. Upon arrival in Lima, ypu wait
in the Airport for your international flight. If your flight
is earlier, please let us know to find the better way to schedule
the day.
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