Spectacular Peru 10 days

In the morning we will make the circuit through the city of Lima, where we will visit the best attractions of Lima in its three historical periods:

Modern Lima: We will make a stop at the Intihuatana Park , located on the Malecón de Miraflores , from where we will observe the Pacific Ocean. We will begin our tour through the modern residential districts of Miraflores and San Isidro. We will observe outside the Huaca Pucllana , pre-Inca ceremonial temple in the form of a pyramid that has survived the urban expansion of Lima. We will continue our journey to the Parque del Olivar and the Financial Center.  

Colonial Lima: Our tour will continue towards the Historic Center of Lima , declared by UNESCO in 1991 Cultural Heritage of Humanity, where the center of the Spanish colony was established in the 16th century and the first buildings were erected. We will know the Plaza San Martín , its balconies and old houses, the Plaza Mayor and its most important buildings such as the Government Palace , the Lima Cathedral , the Archbishop’s Palace , the Municipal Palace , the Desamparados Station , among others.

Convent of Santo Domingo: We will enter one of the most important convents of the 17th century. Where the relics of the three most important Peruvian saints are preserved: Santa Rosa de Lima, San Martin de Porres and San Juan Macías.

At the end of our tour, you will have the option of staying in the Indian Market , in Larcomar or returning to your hotel..

• Overnight : Hotel in Lima
• meals: breakfast

According to the schedule of your flight, our driver will pick you up from your hotel to the Lima international airport.

Once in Cusco, our staff will be waiting for you at the Cusco Airport, to take you to your hotel, just let us know your exact arrival time and flight number. Here, you will be welcomed with a hot cup of the famous coca tea. You will have a free afternoon to acclimatize, as the city of Cusco is at an altitude of 3,399 m (11,151 feet)

IMPORTANT ADVICE ON ARRIVAL TO CUSCO

Please be prepared for the fact that the high elevation, will make you feel more tired than normal on your arrival, so we recommend that you take the afternoon easy. If you are feeling fine, then have a cup of coca tea, which will help you acclimatize quicker. It is recommended to take a light walk, maybe to see The Plaza De Armas, to see the incredible colonial buildings, built on top of Inca foundations. It is important to drink a lot of water at high elevation, which will help you with the process of acclimatization. For the first few days at high elevation, it is also important toe at light meals as your digestion will be slower and later on you will have the opportunity to try the famous Guinea pig, a dish which was revered by the Incas and is still a national dish of The Andes and is eaten on special occasions and celebrations. One thing you must not miss on one of your free days is a visit to the “Centro QOSQO” of native art a show which demonstrates traditional dances, costume and music of the region.

The show begins at 6pm, but we recommend that you arrive 40 minutes earlier and wait in line, as many people want to go to the see this unique spectacular. If you have the “boleta turistica” included in your package, you will have free access to this incredible show. 

IMPORTANT ADVICE

Drink the coca tea on offer and each morning to help you acclimatize. Remember that it has a similar effect to caffeine so don´t drink it too late in the evening or you sleep will be affected.  Bring a decent and comfortable pair of walking shoes. We suggest a visit to the Plaza de Armas with its colonial and Inca temples, The Regional History Museum, The Contemporary Art Museum, the Museum of The Qoricancha, and the Museum of popular art. These places will make your trip an even more unforgettable experience and give you the perfect insight into local culture.

• Overnight: Hotel in Cusco
• Check in: 12:00 Check out: 9:00
• Meals: breakfast at the hotel in Lima

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

This day you will know the best places in Cusco and the surrounding area.

We will start with the Cathedral , located in the Plaza de Armas, it is the main church of the imperial city, it was built on the palace of the Inca Wiracocha. The Cathedral has more than 300 paintings from the Cusco art school.

Then we will visit the Qoricancha , in the Quechua language means “temple of gold”, it was the first temple built by the Incas, it was formerly covered with large amounts of gold and silver.

We will leave the city of Cusco and arrive at the Saqsayhuaman complex , famous for its huge lithic blocks of more than 150 tons. In the Inca era the temple was considered to lightning, “the god Illapa”.

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

Then we will arrive at the impressive Inca fort Puka Pukara , in the Quechua language it means Red Fortress.

Finally, we will arrive at Tambomachay , where we will see the sacred temple dedicated to the cult of water that probably also had a purification bath function for the Inca rulers.

At the end of the afternoon we will return to Cusco, where we will leave you at your hotel or if you prefer in the Plaza de Armas.  

IMPORTANT ADVICE

 The City Tour will begin in the afternoon. You will have a free morning to acclimatize and drink a coca tea with your breakfast. Wear comfortable walking shoes/boots. We suggest that you visit the Plaza de Armas with its colonial and Inca temples, The Regional History Museum, The Contemporary Art Museum, the Museum of The Qoricancha, and the Museum of popular art. These places will make your trip an even more unforgettable experience and give you the perfect insight into local culture.

• Overnight : Hotel in Cusco
• Meals: breakfast

OnThis day we will visit beautiful Inca towns with their colonial houses, on this unique and pleasant tour we will be able to appreciate the treasures that this sacred land hides. We will start the day visiting the experimental agricultural terraces of Moray. Groups of circular terraces that measure up to 150 meters deep. According to historians, these constructions constituted an important Inca agricultural laboratory. Since their platforms are built with their respective irrigation channels and each of them constitutes a microclimate. What draws most attention is the large difference in average annual temperature between the top and bottom of the depressions, a difference of up to 15°C. Next we will go to the colonial town of Maras, a town that still preserves its Andean traditions and customs. We will be able to appreciate its beautiful architecture and its houses with colonial-style stone doorways. Finally we will visit the Salineras De Maras. These mines continue to be exploited today, where farmers have worked every day since Inca times. At the end of the tour we will return to Cusco, where we will drop you off at your hotel.

• Overnight: Hotel in Cusco
• Meals: Breakfast

Today you will discover the incredible Sacred Valley of the Inca, also called the Vilcanota Valley after the river that flows through it. After breakfast, we will first head to the artisan centre of Awanacancha, where we can see up close the famous llamas. You will also have the opportunity to chat with the local craftsmen and learn about the techniques and appreciate the intricacy of their Peruvian textiles and artwork. This is the perfect place to buy souvenirs for your loved ones back home and contribute to local craftspeople and artisans of The Andes, as well as purchase an intricate and authentic piece of fine textile, with an original beauty that can only be found in this region. We will then head to the archaeological site of Pisaq, situated on the mountain top. This magnificent site is composed of many sections of terraces and archaeological structures, built on the hillside of the high mountain. The perfect example of stunning countryside and impressive stonework, which combine to make this spectacular site. We will then head down to the town of Pisaq and its famous handicraft market, where local people sell their variety of handmade products, using techniques dating back to ancestral times. We will then head along the Sacred Valley to the town of Urubamba, where we will stop for lunch and where we will have the opportunity to sample some of the local delicacies, of the Peruvian kitchen including salads, soups, ceviche a variety of main courses and delectable desserts. After lunch, we will visit the impressive archaeological site of Ollantaytambo, quite probably constructed to monitor the entrance into this part of the valley and protect the Incas from possible invasion. We will have the opportunity to walk through its narrow, cobbled streets and gain a better idea about how this site functioned during Inca times, as a strategic military outpost as well as a religious and cultural centre. After the visit, we will then board the train that will take us to Aguas Calientes, at the base of Machu Picchu. On arrival, the hotel representative will be waiting for us to take us to the hotel

IMPORTANT ADVICE

After a hearty breakfast and the recommended coca tea, we suggest that you just take an overnight bag /daypack to spend the night in Aguas Calientes. (Include money, light clothing, travel documents, camera, repellent, sunhat, sunscreen and personal hygiene products). Your trip will be more comfortable for doing so. The rest of your baggage can remain at your Cusco hotel as you will be returning there tomorrow.

• Overnight: Hotel in Aguas Calientes
• Meals: Breakfast, lunch

In the morning, according to the scheduled time, our guide will pick you up at your hotel to go to the bus station where you will climb 400m along a winding path for 20min to reach the incredible wonder of the world “The Historic Sanctuary of Machu Picchu”, also known as “The Lost City of the Incas”. Upon arriving at the Machu Picchu citadel with our guide, we will pass through the entrance and begin the tour of the entire citadel. For around 2h30m we will visit the main places in Machu Picchu.

We return to the town of Aguas Calientes in the afternoon, where you will 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 train departure time availability). The return will follow the same route as the departure. Upon arrival in Ollantaytambo, the train representative will be waiting to take you to the bus heading to your hotel in Cusco.

IMPORTANT

From the 1^st of January 2019, the rules changed with regards to the Machu Picchu. The visit to the archaeological site will all be in one direction, which means that once you have passed by a certain site, you are not allowed to return. There is no re-entrance to the site, if we leave the site for any reason, we are not allowed to re-enter. The only exception to this new rule is, if you have an entrance ticket to either Machu Picchu Mountain or Huayna Picchu mountain. Also, if you wish to climb one of these mountains, the guided tour of the main citadel will be reduced to coincide with the mountain entrance time. In the case of Machu Picchu Mountain, your guided tour will be for one hour to allow time for you to climb the mountain; In the case of Huayna Pichu, the tour of the main citadel will be for 2 hours.

IMPORTANT ADVICE

Before you go up to Machu Picchu, we recommend that you leave your overnight bag /daypack at the hotel in Aguas Calientes and only take water, (please remember that Machu Picchu is a plastic free zone so plastic water bottles will be confiscated on entry). passport, cash, entrance ticket, sunhat sunscreen and insect repellent. When you head back down to Aguas calientes, you can collect your overnight bag from the hotel. If time allows, we recommend a visit to the Chávez Ballón Museum, the museum of Machu Picchu. There is a free entrance after midday and you simply need to show your passport. We should also take into account that there is usually a queue for the shuttle bus, to and from Machu Picchu. There is also usually a queue for the train back to Ollantaytambo also, so we will need to allow plenty of time in each case. Your guide will be there to orientate you in the best possible manner.

• Overnight : Hotel in Cusco
• Meals: breakfast

Early in the morning, we will collect you from your hotel to head to the bus terminal for our journey along the “Route of The Sun” along which, we will visit the most impressive sites between Cusco and Puno. Our first stop will be at the Temple of Andahuaylillas, where we will visit the famous 16th century church, known as “The Sistine chapel of The Americas” due to the massive number of religious paintings on the walls and roof. The church is home to an ornately decorated organ, with angels and surrounded by the prodigious murals painted by the famous artist, Tadeo Escalante. We will then continue along our way to the archaeological site of Raqchi, which was a temple built in honour to the pre-Inca deity, Wiracocha. Here we will be able witness remains of the Inca Civilization and the Wari Civilization. Our next stop will be at Sicuani, where we will enjoy a traditional lunch of the region. After lunch, we will head to “La Raya” which is the highest section of the journey to Puno, and marks the official border of Cusco and Puno. Here, we will make a brief stop to appreciate the magnificent views of the surrounding snow-caps.  Our final stop along the journey, will be at Pukara, where will learn all about the ancient civilization of the same name, who lived there. We will also visit the church in the village and the attached museum.  We will arrive at the City of Puno, early evening, where our transfer will be waiting to take you to your hotel for the night.

 IMPORTANT ADVICE: The City of Puno, is found at 3,800 metres elevation (12,467 feet), On your arrival, make sure you have a warm jacket as temperatures often drop to around 2°C. After the tour, you will quite likely be hungry. We highly recommend the restaurant “Los Balcones de Puno”, in the centre , for amazing food and a traditional folklore show.

• Overnight: Hotel in Puno
• Meals: Breakfast and 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

Depending on the time of your flight, we will collect you from your hotel and take you to the Juliaca airport. This marks the end of our services. 

• Check in: 12:00pm Check out: 09:00am
• Meals: Breakfast 

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