Wonderful Peru 12D/11N

In the morning we’ll tour the city of Lima, visiting its best attractions in its three historical periods.

MODERN LIMA: We will stop at Intihuatana Park, located on the Miraflores Malecon, from where we will see the Pacific Ocean. We’ll start our tour of the modern residential districts of Miraflores and San Isidro. From the outside we’ll see Huaca Pucllana, a pre-Inca ceremonial temple in the shape of a pyramid that has survived Lima’s urban sprawl. We’ll continue our tour to Olivar Park and the Financial Center.

COLONIAL LIMA: Our tour will continue to the Historic Center of Lima, declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1991. This is where the center of the Spanish colony was established in the 16th century and the first buildings were constructed. We will visit the Plaza de San Martin, its balconies and old houses, the Main Square and its most important buildings such as the Government Palace, the Cathedral of Lima, the Archbishop’s Palace, the Municipal Palace, the Station for the Destitute and others.

CONVENT OF SANTO DOMINGO: We’ll go to one of the most important 17th century convents where relics of three important Peruvian saints are kept: Santa Rosa de Lima, San Martim de Porres and San Juan Macías. We’ll end our tour with the option of staying at the Marcado Indio in Larcomar or returning to the hotel.

• Overnight: Hotel in Lima
• Meals included: breakfast

Depending on the time of your flight, we will transfer you from your hotel to Lima airport.

When you arrive in Cusco, our team will meet you at the airport and we will take you to your hotel where you will be welcomed with the famous coca tea.

Free afternoon for acclimatization.

The city of Cusco is located at an altitude of 3,399 meters above sea level.

• Overnight: Hotel in Cusco
• Meals included: Breakfast at hotel in Lima
• Check in: 12:00pm Check out: 09:00am

NOTE: if your arrival time is after check-out time, you can use the hotel’s common areas while you wait.

On this day you will visit the best places in and around Cusco.

We’ll start with the Cathedral located in the Plaza de Armas. It is the main church of the imperial city and was built over the palace of the Inca Wiracocha. The cathedral has more than 300 paintings from the Cusco school of art.

Next we head to Qoricancha, which in Quechua means “temple of gold”. The first temple to be built by the Incas, it was once covered in large quantities of gold and silver.

We will leave the city of Cusco to visit the Saqsayhuaman complex, famous for its huge lithic blocks weighing over 150 tons. At the time of the Inca empire it was considered the Temple of Lightning, “the god Illapa”.

Next we’ll visit the temple of Q’enqo, a place dedicated to Pacha Mama (Mother Earth) where you can see carved stone constructions.

Then we’ll arrive at the impressive Inca fort Puka Pukara, which in Quechua means Red Fortress.

Finally, we’ll arrive at Tambomachay, where we’ll see the sacred temple dedicated to the cult of water, which probably also served as a purifying bath for the Inca rulers.

In the late afternoon we’ll return to Cusco, where we’ll drop you off at your hotel or, if you prefer, at the Plaza de Armas.

• Overnight: Hotel in Cusco
• Meals included: breakfast

On this day you will visit the wonderful Sacred Valley of the Incas. Also known as the Vilcanota Valley.

We’ll start the day by visiting the archaeological complex of Pisaq, located on top of a mountain. This wonderful site is made up of groups of terraces and architectural structures scattered across its slopes and on the top of the mountain. A wonderful blend of landscape and buildings. Next, we’ll go to the handicraft market where you can see a wide variety of work from ancient times.

We’ll pass through Urubamba where we’ll take a break for lunch. We will taste typical Peruvian cuisine with a variety of dishes including salads, soups, hot dishes, the famous ceviche and delicious desserts.

After lunch we’ll visit the architectural complex of Ollantaytambo, a living settlement built to guard the entrance to this part of the valley and protect it from possible invaders. We’ll have the opportunity to walk through its streets and get a clearer idea of what this military, religious and cultural center was like during the Inca Empire.

After the visit, we’ll board the train to Aguas Calientes. Upon arrival, the hotel representative will be waiting to take you to your hotel.

• Overnight: Hotel in Aguas Calientes
• Meals included: breakfast, lunch

In the morning, at the scheduled time, our guide will pick you up from your hotel to go to the bus station where you will climb 400m up a winding path for 20 minutes to reach the incredible wonder of the world “The Historic Sanctuary of Machu Picchu”, also known as “The Lost City of the Incas”. When we arrive at the citadel of Machu Picchu with our guide, we will pass through the entrance and begin the tour of the entire citadel. We’ll visit the main sites in Machu Picchu for about 2.5 hours.

We’ll return to the town of Aguas Calientes in the afternoon, where you’ll have free time to enjoy lunch in one of the many restaurants (lunch not included). After lunch, we will take the train to Ollantaytambo (depending on the availability of the train departure time). The return will follow the same route as the outward journey. When you arrive in Ollantaytambo, the train representative will be waiting to take you to the bus to your hotel in Cusco.

• Overnight: Hotel in Cusco
• Meals included: breakfast

In the morning we’ll pick you up from your hotel and head to the bus station to take the “Route of the Sun”, where we’ll visit the most impressive places between Cusco and Puno.

Our first stop will be the village of Andahuaylillas, where we will visit its fantastic 16th century church known as the Sistine Chapel of America due to the large number of paintings on its walls and ceiling. Its organ is decorated with angels and cherubs and its walls with murals by the famous artist Tadeo Escalante.

Next we will go to the Raqchi Archaeological Center, a temple built in homage to the god Wiracocha. In these ruins we will see the remains of the Inca and Wari cultures.

The next stop will be Sicuani, where we will have lunch in a typical restaurant.

After lunch we will visit “La Raya”, the natural border between Puno and Cusco, the most important point of our trip, where we will see incredible landscapes, some with snow.

Finally, we’ll go to Pukara, where we’ll learn a little about the culture of the ancient village of the same name that lived there 300 years ago. We’ll also visit its temple and museum.

In the late afternoon we’ll arrive in Puno where our transfer will be waiting to take you to your hotel.

• Overnight: Hotel in Puno
• Meals included: breakfast, lunch

At about 06:45 hrs, we will make the transfer from the Hotel to the Port. At approximately 07:15 hrs we will leave by boat ” Titicaca Express ” south of the island of Taquile , where we will arrive at a white sand beach paradise.

We will walk through spectacular Pre-Inca landscapes and meet local families, their crafts, their culture and their textile activities.

At approximately 11:00 a.m. we will arrive at the community of Santa María , in the Capacheca Llachón peninsula , where we will be introduced to a cultural experience, we will see their dances, traditions and we will be able to participate in an ancestral ceremony. Next, we will participate in the preparation of the ” Pachamanca”, which is a traditional way of cooking meat, fish and potatoes, where we will observe the different way of cooking in this town, with an underground oven.

For adventure lovers, optional to kayak along the coasts of Llachón .

We will depart from Santa María and at approximately 2:30 p.m. we will arrive at the island of Los Uros Titono , located in the Titicaca Lake Reserve, considered one of the last floating islands. The inhabitants of the islands of “Los Uros” are descendants of one of the oldest cultures in South America.

• Optional ride on rafts of ” Totora “.
• At approximately 4:30 p.m. we will be back to Puno, where we will leave you at your Hotel.
• Overnight : Hotel in Puno
• Meals: breakfast, lunch

At an agreed time we will pick you up from your hotel to begin the trip (between 06:00 and 06:30 hours) and depart at approximately 06:40 am.

The first stop will be in “lagunillas“, where you can appreciate the view of the small lakes, and it is also the habitat of the Andean flamingos and other birds.

The next stop will be in “patawasi” where you will be able to enjoy the traditional coca tea, (optional) at this point you can also use the service of the bathrooms.

Around midday, we will make the last stop at the “mirador de patapampa, located at 4900 masl, the view of Misti, Chachani, Sabancaya and Ampato volcanoes are majestic, here you can see the “apachetas” (small stone towers left by travelers as offerings to the gods to ensure their safe return).

Finally, we will arrive in Chivay between approximately 12:30 and 12:45 approximately, where we will drop off at your hotel.

• Overnight: Chivay
• Meals included: breakfast