Peru: 14 Days – 13 Nights
From the City of the Kings and gastronomic capital Lima, to flying above mysterious Nazca Lines, enjoying the White City of Arequipa, to see flight of the condors in the deep Colca Canyon, to navigate on the Lake Titicaca, to get to Cuzco – The Center of the World – in order to find the beautiful Machu Picchu.
Lima – Ica – Arequipa – Puno – Cuzco
DAY 01 / ARRIVAL IN LIMA:
Reception at the International Airport Jorge Chavez in the Peruvian Capital City of Lima by our personnel and transfer to the hotel of your choice. Overnight.
DAY 02 / LIMA (L): Lima City Tour
After breakfast we will start visiting the Historic Centre of Lima, known since its foundation as the “City of the Kings,” which was the Capital of the Viceroyalty of Peru. We will visit the Main Square, The Government Palace, the Lima Cathedral, The Archbishop´s Palace, The Museum of the Central Reserve Bank and Main streets and Colonial Mansions with balconies in Mudejar style. After this, we will visit the Convent of San Francisco, a real jewel of Colonial architecture dating from 1546; we will walk through its main Cloister decorated with tiles from Seville from the Seventeenth Century, the Sacristy with paintings by Rivera and Zurbaran and the world famous Catacombs. Transfer to the hotel of your choice. Overnight.
DAY 03 / LIMA – PARACAS – NAZCA (B): Ballestas Islands
Very early pick up at your hotel and transfer to Paracas where you will take a motorboat excursion to the Ballestas Islands. These Islands are spectacular, eroded into numerous arches and caves, which provide shelter for thousands of seabirds, some of which are very rare, and also Sea lions and Southern Fur seals. We will also see the famous “Candelabro” an enigmatic figure carved out in the sand. Transfer to the bus station to board the bus to the City of Nazca. Upon arrival in Nazca transfer to the hotel of your choice. Overnight.
DAY 04 / NAZCA – AREQUIPA (B): Nazca Lines
Transfer to the small local airport where you will take the flight over the famous Nazca lines. Carved into the stony desert are large number of lines, not only parallels and geometrical figures, but also designs such as a dog, an enormous monkey, a bird with a wing span of over 100 meters, a spider and a tree. The lines, that represent some sort of vast astronomical and irrigation pre-Inca calendar, are best seen from the air; we will take a half hour flight above the Lines. Afterwards we will board a bus to the so called White City of Arequipa, thus named because its Centre is built with a white volcanic tuft called Sillar. Upon arrival in the City of Arequipa, reception and transfer to the hotel of your choice. Overnight.
DAY 05 / AREQUIPA (B): City Tour, Monastery of Santa Catalina, Yanahuara Viewpoint
In the morning we will initiate the tour visiting the White City of Arequipa. We will visit the Main Square, which presents a beautiful bronze fountain of three plates crowned with the figure of a soldier of XVI century. Here we will be able to appreciate the Jesuit Order Church La Compañia. Next we will visit the Monatery of Santa Catalina who was a center of absolute retreat, which stayed closed to the public for centuries but which today is harmoniously restored and opened. It allows us to appreciate in small how the City of Arequipa was in the XVII century. We will see its streets, gardens, walls of sillar, etc. Afterwards we will continue on to the beautiful and green countryside of the Yanahuara Viewpoint, where we will have a privileged view of the City and Volcanoes like the Misti, Pichupichu and Chachani. Return to the Hotel, rest of day free for personal activities. Overnight.
DAY 06 / AREQUIPA – COLCA (B): Colca Canyon, District of Yura and Pampa Cañahua
Early in the morning we will start our trip to the Colca Canyon located at 3 600masl. On our way we will pass by the District of Yura and Pampa Cañahua, where vicuñas can be appreciated. We will pass through the old crater of the Chucure Volcano. Later, we will arrive at Patapampa, the highest point of the tour (4 800masl). From this point, the maximum number of volcanoes that exist together in the Department of Arequipa can be appreciated. Afterwards we will continue on to the hotel of your choice. Overnight.
DAY 07 / COLCA – PUNO (B): Cruz Del Condor – Cross of the Condor
This day we will visit the so called Cruz Del Condor – Cross of the Condor, a place that has an impressive view of the Valley and from there we will be able to appreciate the flight of the condor and the full depth of the Canyon. During the return trip we will be able to visit the Town of Pinchillo, see from a distance the so called Hanging pre-Inca Tombs, as well as huge boulders with their surface showing layouts of towns and geographical models carved into the living rock by Inca engineers to be used as models for future works by the Inca Empire builders. We will visit the Towns of Maca, Achola, Yanque and Chivay, this last from which we will board our bus to the City of Puno, where you will be transferred to the hotel of your choice. Overnight.
DAY 08 / PUNO (B-L): Lake Titicaca, Floating Islands of the Uros, Taquile Island
In the morning, we will go to the Port of Puno, where we will begin our lake adventure in very fast boats. We will arrive quickly to the Floating Islands of the Uros, which are a set of floating islands made out of Totora reeds, originally inhabited by the Uros, people who descended from one of the oldest civilizations of the Americas. We will be able to appreciate the raft peoples´ distinct lifestyle and creations, like the elaboration of fine weavings. Next we will visit the Taquile Island where we will have lunch in the village and we will have time for exploration and shopping. We will return in the evening to Puno and your hotel. Overnight.
DAY 09 / PUNO – CUZCO (B-L): Pukara, Andahuaylillas, Raqchi
In the morning we will transfer to the bus station to board the bus to the City of Cuzco. On the way to Cuzco we will visit Pukara, Andahuaylillas and Raqchi. We will enjoy a buffet lunch in the Town of Sicuani, arriving in Cuzco late at night to the hotel of your choice. Overnight.
DAY 10 / CUZCO (B): City Tour
In the morning after breakfast we will visit the City of Cuzco on a guided sightseeing tour 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 Qenqo, Tambomachay, Puca Pucara and the impressive Fortress of Sacsayhuaman, strategically built on a hill overlooking Cuzco, famous for its enormous carved stones, some of them standing over 9 m / 30 ft high and weighing over 350 tons, forming a snakelike defensive zig zag pattern. Return to your hotel. Overnight.
DAY 11 / CUZCO (B-L): Sacred Valley of the Incas, Pisac, Fortress of Ollantaytambo, Chinchero
In the morning we will go to the town of Pisac where we will have the chance to visit the Typical Artisan Market and the Main Square, we continue by one side of the Vilcanota River, until arriving in Urubamba, where we will have lunch. After that, we will explore Ollantaytambo, one of the last living Inca towns. This is so because its streets maintain the same layout as in the time of the Incas. We will visit the wonderful archaeological complex located there. On our way back to Cuzco we will visit the Town of Chinchero, a small Colonial Inca town, where we will appreciate its Main Square and Church. We will return back to Cuzco and the hotel of your choice. Overnight.
DAY 12 / CUZCO (B-L): Machu Picchu
After breakfast at Your Hotel transfer to the Poroy Train Station to board the Train to the famous Inca Citadel of Machu Picchu, also known as “The Lost City of the Incas”, one of the most renowned examples of surviving Inca architecture. Upon arrival at the Aguas Calientes train station at the foot of Machu Picchu you will do a 30-minute bus drive, climbing 6km of winding road, up to the marvellous Citadel. Upon arrival, you will 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’ll have time to stroll around the Archaeological Site at your leisure; Lunch at a local restaurant in Aguas Calientes and a late afternoon return train ride to the Cuzco Poroy Station. Transfer to the hotel of your choice. Overnight.
DAY 13 / CUZCO – LIMA (B): Gastronomic capital
In the morning free time for personal activities in Cuzco. Then transfer to the Cuzco Airport of Velasco Astete to board the flight to Lima. Reception by our personnel at the Lima International Airport Jorge Chavez and transfer to the hotel. Overnight.
DAY 14 / LIMA – OUT (B): Pachacamac Sacred City
The last day we will start our visit to the Sacred City of Pachacamac, located at 31 kilometres South of Lima in the Valley of Lurin. It is one of the most important ceremonial centres, considered together with Cuzco, the largest place of worship in Pre-Hispanic America. Pilgrims arrived to this place from far away to pay tribute to the god Pachacamac, which name means “the one who moves the world” known as the creator of the world and its creatures; The archaeological site displays, carefully restored, palaces, squares and temples and has a site museum that houses an interesting collection of pieces found at the scene such as a wood carving of the god Pachacamac, also considered the god of earthquakes. During the tour we will visit the Old Temple of the Lima Civilization (where the Oracle of Pachacamac was located), the Pyramids with ramps, the painted temple of the Ichmay civilization, the Temple of the Sun and the Acllawasi or House of the chosen Virgins of the Sun during the Inca imperial period. Afterwards we will continue on to the Peruvian Gold Museum, this excellent collection includes pre-Columbian gold, silver and bronze, ceramics, weavings, mummies, etc. Upstairs is a remarkable arms collection with an impressive exhibition from Spanish colonial times, afterwards you will be transferred to the airport to board your outbound flight.
END OF OUR SERVICES
Included:
– Transfer In-Out
– Bus Lima-Paracas-Nazca-Arequipa
– Touristic bus Puno-Cuzco
– 13 nights in the Hotel of your choice.
– 13 breakfasts, 05 lunches.
– All visits detailed in the program
– Train Poroy-Aguas Calientes-Poroy
– Official Tourism Guide (English)
– All entrance fees
– All services in SIC
– Domestic Peruvian Flights
Not included:
– Other meals not detailed in the program
– Tips, extras, alcoholic drinks
– Personal expenditures