ITINERARY
Day 1: LIMA PICK UP
Upon arrival in Lima reception and transfer to the select Hotel - overnight
Day 2: LIMA CITY TOUR
This tour could start in the morning 9:30 am or 2:30pm. You will be picked up from you hotel. This excursion offers the best combination of the differents attractions in Lima and its three historical periods: pre-hispanic, colonial and contemporary. In Lima, there were several different pre-columbian cultures which are dated thousands of years back. Lima was part of the Inca Empire until was founded by the spaniard Francisco Pizarro on the 18th. of January, 1535. During our guided tour we will travel along its millenary history.
ANCESTRAL LIMA. At the Huaca Pucllana, an archaeological precint build in the IV century A.C., we will have a panoramic view of this magnificent ceremonial and administrative centre which was considered by the Incas a holy village. We will learn about the life and rituals of its ancient inhabitants and admire its typical piramidal building, very characteristic of sacred pre-hispanic edifications which were adored in the coast of Perú.
COLONIAL LIMA. The peruvian Viceroyalty was the most important one in the Spanish Empire and Lima was its capital. The highlights of its historical centre are its architecture and the urban design of the city, found in thold streets filled with colonial houses adorned with moorish-style balconies. Our trip includes the Paseo de la Republica (Promenade of the Republic), Plaza San Martin(San Martin Square) and the Plaza Mayor (Main Square), with their different buildings: Palacio de Gobierno (Government Palace), Palacio Arzobispal the (Archibishop's Palace), the Basilica Catedral (Cathedral Basilica) and the Palacio Municipal (Municipal Palace). We will enter the monumental Convento de San Francisco (Convent of Saint Francis), which displays the biggest collection of religious art in America. We can admire the Choir Room and the Monks’ Library, the Sacristy, with its collection of Zurbaran and Rivera paintings. The Big Patio of the Main Cloister, decorated with sevillan tyles from the XVI century, its beautiful moorish arches and its subterranean crypts known as The Catacombs, where you will feel the presence of Lima's colonial past.
CONTEMPORARY LIMA Visit to the most traditional residential areas in the capital: The Olive Grove of San Isidro, Miraflores and Larco Mar, distinctive tourist centre of contemporary Lima.
After the tour transfer to you hotel. Overnight. breakfast included.
Day 3: AREQUIPA
You will be picked up from your hotel and transfer to the airport for your flight to Arequipa (airfare included) upon arrival reception and transfer to the select hotel.
You will be picked up from your hotel at 2:30pm( City Tour will last 3 hours) you will visit the Historical Center , taking in the Plaza of Armas, the Jesuita Church of the Society of Jesus, the Santa Catalina Monastery, then visit to the Yanahuara Neighborhood, the beautiful colonial district, where we visit the "Mirador". Breakfast included.. Overnight. Breakfast included.
Day 4: COLCA CANYON 2/1
A t 8:30 am, 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 Carnaubas in the Aguada Blanca National Reserve, inhabited by herds of vicuñas and alpacas. You will continuo to the plain of Patapampa (4800 ), the to the “ Mirador de los Andes”, where you ill overlooking the Chila’s Mountain Chain where there are many volcanos: the Mismi, Chucura, Misti, Chachani, Ampato, Sabancaya Y Hualca Hualca. The you will arrive at CHIVAY town where you will have lunch, in the afternoon you will visit the hot spring “La Calera” (entrance not included), and the ethnological Museum. Dinner and overnight in the selected Hotel. (breakfast, lunch and dinner included).
Day 5: CONDOR CROSS / PUNO
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 Pincholo, Yanque, Achoma and Maca. Lunch at Chivay town restaurant. At 6:00 pm aprox. You will go to the selected hotel in Puno Breakfast and lunch included
Day 6: UROS AND TAQUILE
We will pick you up from your hostel at 07.15 a.m. and we will go to our boat. Today we will visit the floating islands of Uros, located inside the bay of Lake Titikaka only nine miles away from the city (20 to 30 minutes of navigation). It is believed that the Uros were one of the first ethnic groups populating the Andean region. When the Spanish chroniclers encountered the Uros by the end of the XVI century, the Uros were still living on the lake in small reed-boats that they used as floating houses. Only in the early 60's, the Uros started to build small artificial islands with reeds for their homes. Then we will discover Taquile, the biggest island of the lake. Taquile has approximately 1,200 inhabitants. The people from this island have a Quechua origin and they are mostly small farmers. We will arrive in the northern dock of the island and we will start 1 hour hike as far as the main village of Taquile, where we will visit the plaza and the market. After lunch we will return to Puno from the main dock. We will arrive in Puno at 17:30 p.m.
Note: Take note that there are 533 steps to get on top of the Island
Day 7: PUNO / CUSCO
7:00am pick up from your hotel and transfer to the bus station to depart to Cusco 8 hours journey, on the way you will visit some archeological sites, arrival reception and transfer to select Hotel - overnight (B+L)
Day 8: CUSCO CITY TOUR PM
In the afternoon 2;00pm you will be taken on a city tour and visit a local archeological sites, the Cathedral, Koricancha, Sacsayhuaman and surroundings returning later afternoon 5:30pm to your hotel around and enjoy the hospitality of the local people (B).
Day 9: SACRED VALLEY
After breakfast at 8:45am you will be taken through the Inca Sacred Valley where life has remained almost unchanged for 500 years. You will visit the impressive village of Pisac and the Indian market, enjoy the beautiful handicrafts on sale and wonder at the many ethnic tribal costumes worn, not just for tourists, but as part of their heritage by the local people. The tour also include the visit to Ollantaytambo fortress and the Chinchero Market Before returning to your hotel in Cusco late afternoon (around 6:30pm)(breakfast and Lunch included)
Day 10: MACHU PICCHU 2days 1 night by train
Early morning 5:30am and after breakfast, we'll depart to the train station to our journey to Machu Picchu on Vistadome Train. (4 hours) at 9:40am you will arrive to the Aguas Calientes Town from where you will have to take 20 minutes bus to the Archeological site; Once there where you will have a guided tour with an English speaking professional guide follow by some time at leisure, stay overnight in the area or town relax at the nearby hot springs (entrance not included) (breakfast included)
Day 11: MACHU PICCHU - CUSCO
Morning at leisure to explore by your own, you can visit the citadel early when the full magnificence of the site reveals itself in all its majesty, you will have the option to to hike up to Huaynapicchu, the pyramid-shaped peak that overlooks Machu Picchu (entrance and bus fee for this day not included on the rate) return to Cuzco where you will arrive around 7:30pm. (breakfast included)
Day 12: TRANSFER TO LIMA
You will be picked up from your hotel and transfer to the airport for your flight to Lima - free afternoon (Breakfast included)
Day 13: LIMA TO CHICLAYO - LORD OF SIPAN
Arrival Chiclayo, "The Capital of the Friendship" and transfer to Hotel. Then we'll visit Sipan, where the tomb of the Lord of Sipan was discovered. The Lord ruled around 200 AD over the Moche culture, and his gold-laden tomb is considered to be the richest in the Americas. We will travel to the town of Lambayeque to visit the Royal Tombs of Sipan Museum where many of these riches are displayed. After lunch, we'll visit the 26 pre-Columbian pyramids of Tucume. These pyramids were excavated by Thor Heyerdahl (of Kon-tiki fame), who discovered burial sites, textiles, Incan figurines and depictions of reed boats. This, together with goods from far-flung corners of the South America, allowed Heyerdahl to prove that the ancient people of Tucume were experienced voyagers and traders. We'll return to Chiclayo for the night.
Day 14: CHICLAYO TO TRUJILLO - CHAN CHAN
In the morning, we'll travel by private car or bus to Trujillo. This city keeps the colonial atmosphere and it was was founded in 1534 on the orders of Francisco Pizarro. In the morning, we'll head south of town to visit the Temples of theSun and Moon, built by the Moche Culture in around 500 AD. These 130-foot-tall pyramids are thought to be the largest adobe structures in the Americas. We return to Trujillo to spend the night. We'll then visit the royal palace complex of Chan Chan, built by the Chimu culture in pre-Inca times. This enormous complex, the largest in pre-Columbian America, is divided into nine separate citadels. We return to Trujillo to spend the night.
Day 15: TRUJILLO TO LIMA
Take a short tour of Trujillo in the morning, including the Casa del Mayorazgo, Casa Orbegozo, Casa de la Emancipacion, and La Merced Church. You'll stroll along the grand central plaza and the streets lined with colonial mansions.
Before returning to the airport for a late afternoon flight to Lima - Upon arrival transfer to the Hotel . Overnight (B)
Day 16: TRANSFER OUT
Pick up from your hotel and transfer to the airport - end of our services
Note: check out 11:00am (Breakfast included)
INCLUDE:
Domestic airfares, nights at select hotel based on double occupancy, all transfers, professional biligual guide service, entrance fee, transportation and meals as specify in the program.
NOT INCLUDED:
International airfares, airport departure taxes or visa fees, excess baggage charges, extra expenses for flight cancellations, alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages or bottled water, snacks, insurance of any kind, laundry, phone calls, reconfirmation of international flights and items of personal nature.