ITINERARY
DAY 1: ARRIVAL LIMA
Assistance on your arrival in Lima and transfer to your selected hotel. Free time to rest and prepare for starting your trip around this magical country. Overnight.
DAY 2: ARRIVAL LIMA : CITY TOUR
Our tour will take you through Lima in its 3 historical periods: Pre-hispanic, Colonial and Modern. We will first show you a panoramic view of “La Huaca Pucllana”, and then you will visit the impressive Historical Downtown of Lima: Its palaces, mansions, churches and squares, ending with a visit to the residential district of San Isidro and an unforgettable view of the Pacific Ocean from the district of Miraflores.
This tour includes the admission to the BCR Museum and the Complejo Monumental San Francisco and its Catacombs.
*The BCR Museum is closed to the public on Saturdays and Sundays afternoon. It is closed all day and Mondays.
DAY 3: LIMA / CUSCO - CITY TOUR + 4 RUINS (B)
Early in the morning, transfer to airport to take a flight to Cusco. Assistance on arrival in Cusco and transfer to your selected hotel. Free time to take a short rest to be acclimatized to the altitude. In the afternoon, city tour of Cuzco visiting the Main Square, the Cathedral and the Temple of the Sun or Korikancha. Then, drive out of the city to visit the Inca sites of Kenko, Tambomachay, Puca Pucara and the impressive fortress of Sacsayhuaman, built strategically on a hill overlooking Cusco; famous for its enormous carved stones joined with astounding precision to form the outer walls. Some of these stones stand over 9m / 30ft tall and weight over 350 tons.
DÍA 4: CUSCO - MACHUPICCHU (B) (L)
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 Machupicchu, 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 Machupicchu. Upon arrival, we´ll participate in a guided tour of the Citadel, visiting the Main Plaza, the Circular Tower, the Sacred Sun Dial(Intiwatana), 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. Late afternoon return to Cusco. Overnight at selected hotel in Cusco.
DAY 5: CUSCO - SACRED VALLEY OF THE INCAS (B) (L)
Excursion to the "Sacred Valley of the Incas", a succession of picturesque towns, agricultural terraces and archeological sites. 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 6: CUSCO / PUNO (B)
Breakfast. Early 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 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 Raqchi, 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 centre, to visit the impressive Temple of Kalasaya, ruins from the ancient Pucara Culture.
Buffet 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 your hotel.
Evening free and dinner on your own.
DAY 7: PUNO - TITICACA LAKE, FLOATING ISLANDS OF THE UROS AND TAQUILE ISLAND (B)(L)
Early in the morning, we will have an unforgettable motorboat excursion on the waters of Titicaca Lake 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.
DAY 8: JULIACA/ LIMA(B)
Early in the morning, transfer to Juliaca airport to take your flight to Lima to board your international departure flight.