Detailed description. Peru in 2 weeks. Welcome. Day to Day schedule. A land of panoramic views. Trip code: Group size: Number of days: SPZ

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1 Peru in 2 weeks A land of panoramic views Trip code: Group size: Number of days: SPZ Detailed description Welcome In Peru there is culture aplenty : the many relics from the Inca time such as the world famous Inca city of Machu Picchu and the Spanish Colonial architecture in Arequipa, Puno and Cuzco. In terms of nature, the country is as just as diverse: the Andes climb to more than 6000 meters high, there are snowy mountains and volcanoes, the beautiful Lake Titicaca and of course the enigmatic Nazca Lines. Discover the Ballestas Islands, with their seals and numerous waterfowl. In the markets of Cuzco and Puno witness the different Indian tribes in their colourful costumes, a sight for sore eyes. In villages and cities, in the markets, on the train and on the floating reed islands get to know this friendly Indian population. Peru in 2 weeks is a short tour of the highlights of this fascinating country! Day to Day schedule Below is a summary of the day-to-day description. Transport Route Overnight stay 1 Lima Lima 2 Lima Lima 3 Bus Lima - Pisco - Huacachina Huacachina 4 Bus Huacachina - Nazca Nazca 5 PublicTransport Nazca - Arequipa Arequipa 6 Arequipa Arequipa 7 Bus Arequipa - Chivay (Colca Canyon) Chivay (Colca Canyon) 8 Bus Chivay (Colca Canyon) - Puno Puno 9 Puno Puno 10 Bus Puno - Cuzco Cuzco 11 Cuzco Cuzco 12 Cuzco Cuzco

2 13 Cuzco - optional excursion Aguas Calientes (Machu Picchu) Cuzco 14 Cuzco - optional excursion Aguas Calientes (Machu Picchu) Cuzco 15 Cuzco Cuzco 16 Cuzco End of tour Day to Day description Day 1: Lima Welcome to Peru! Your tour starts in Lima, where you can use your hotel room from check in time (12.00 hrs at noon). Most of your travel companions will arrive later this evening, the exact time will be depending on their flight schedule. You will also meet your English speaking tour leader. Day 2: Lima Today we are free to explore this beautiful city at leisure. The city centre around Plaza de Armas is full of old colonial buildings, palaces, churches, monasteries and museums, including the Museum of Anthropology & Archaeology. The shopping streets are busy and lively and in the evening you can sample local cuisine in one of the many restaurants. Day 3: Lima - Pisco - Huacachina After leaving Lima behind, you drive south through the desert, which stretches from the center of Chile to Northern Peru and extends as a narrow, dry coastal strip. This is an area where using irrigation systems are an increasingly common agricultural practice. On the way you can take an optional excursion to the Ballestas Islands. This archipelago is half an hour away by boat and is the habitat of thousands of sea lions, penguins, cormorants and pelicans. While the sea lions are swimming around the boat, look at the countless birds on the rocks. On the way you sail past the "Candelabra", a rock-hewn drawing whose meaning and origin is still unknown. You'll also sail along the peninsula of Paracas. The islands here are protected nature reserves. Day 4: Huacachina - Nazca The combination of the cold Humboldt current flowing along the coast of Chile and Peru and the dry desert air lends itself to beautifully shaped sand dunes interspersed with oases. They arise in those places where the rivers, originating in the Andes, flow into the Pacific Ocean. It is around one of these oases that the town of Huacachina is located. Huacachina is situated on a lagoon with water that is claimed to have a medicinal effect. Maybe hone your skills on a sandboard, surfing the dunes! Or end the day with a spectacular buggy ride at sunset over this special landscape. This afternoon we continue our journey by bus to Nazca, famous for its intriguing Nazca Lines. Just as amazing is the cemetery at Chauchilla, where sun-bleached Nazca skeletons guard their age-old resting place.

3 Day 5: Nazca - Arequipa This morning you can take an optional flight across the famous Nazca Lines or you can sit and relax by the hotel swimming pool or book another optional excursion. In the afternoon we will board a comfortable public bus to Arequipa where you will arrive late in the evening, after a journey along the coast and through the mountains. Day 6: Arequipa Arequipa is a beautiful old colonial city, surrounded by volcanoes including the famous El Misti, which can be seen from Plaza de Armas. Although the city was founded by the Spanish Conquistadors, many remains from preinca and Incan times can still be found in and around the city. A variety of day trips are available, however, in Arequipa itself, the Santa Catalina convent, one of the most beautiful in the New World, is worth a visit. For 400 years, nuns lived here in total isolation, until 1970 when the convent was opened to the public. You should also visit the Museum of Sanctuaries Andinos and see the mummy of a young Inca girl, Juanita, who was sacrificed to the volcano to put it in a more favourable mood. Day 7: Arequipa - Chivay (Colca Canyon) Today we cross the Altiplano with its fantastic views of the surrounding volcano peaks, the pampas, where vicuña graze, and through several small traditional villages, to Chivay. This trip can be physically demanding because of the altitude, which rises as high as 4800 m. Our visit to the ³Cruz del Condor with its splendid view of Colca Canyon, one of the deepest gorges in the world, is one of the highlights of our journey and if you are lucky you may catch sight of the majestic condor floating on the thermals. The entrance to Colca Canyon National Park is included in your holiday price. Day 8: Chivay (Colca Canyon) - Puno This morning we move on to Puno, where you are free to spend the day as you please. Puno lies on the banks of Lake Titicaca, the highest commercially navigable lake in the world. You can visit the Sillustani Tombs here, where the Colla people, a pre-inca civilisation, buried their dead. You could visit Puno s colourful market or explore the town at your leisure. Alternatively you may choose to make an excursion to the where pre-incan excavations at Tihuanacu, in Bolivia. Day 9: Puno Alternatively you can take a trip to the Uros and Taquile Islands. The 300 inhabitants of the Uros live on Lake Titicaca, on floating islands made of totora reeds. Their small houses and boat are also made out of reed and the largest island has two-storied houses and a school. The Indians on Isla Taquile are known for their weaving culture.

4 Day 10: Puno - Cuzco The bus ride from Puno to Cuzco takes you along a nicely paved road through the Altiplano, past corn and quinoa fields interspersed with pieces of wasteland. After you have passed the busy city of Juliaca you drive through the area where once the Pukura culture prevailed. Then continue to the La Raya pass, at more than 4300 meters high. On either side loom some beautiful, snow-covered mountains $URXQG WKH DUHD RI /D 5D\D LV WKH University of Cuzco and a facility for breeding alpacas and llamas for quality wool. The bus ride from Puno to Cuzco takes about seven to eight hours. En route you'll pass several villages and a few interesting Wari and Inca ruins such as Raqchi and Pikillacta. Provided there is time you will also visit the picturesque village of Andahuaylillas, with its beautiful church before arriving in Cusco. You can also (optional) take a train from Puno to Cuzco. This comfortable train departs on Monday, Wednesday and Saturday mornings from Puno, then in the evening you will arrive in Cuzco. Day 11: Cuzco The Incas considered their city as the 'navel of the earth' and central to the Inca empire. The Spaniards had little respect for the Inca culture and many religious temples were cleared to make way for their baroque churches and for the building of ornate houses. The mixture of architectural styles in Cuzco can clearly be seen in the alleyways around the Plaza de Armas. In the city itself, there is plenty to do. If you are interested in the Inca culture, definitely visit the Museo Inka, which is full of gold and silver artifacts and large earthenware cups. The only remaining Inca Palace, the Coricancha, is not to be missed. During the last earthquake in 1950 the walls of the monastery and church of Santo Domingo were exposed but restoration work has since taken place in such a way that the Incan masonry is still visible. It's worth buying the Cuzco visitor ticket, that gives you access to almost all major monuments, churches and museums. Remember that if you opt for the 4 day Inca Trail, you will have little time to see Cuzco (and vicinity)! Day 12: Cuzco Today you have a free day to spend in Cuzco. Inca trail For hikers, nature and culture lovers the 42 kilometre long Inca trail is a true challenge but truly enchanting. This is a rugged trek where you sleep in twoperson tents so make sure you prepare yourself thoroughly. It is best to walk the Inca trail between May and October, although there may be one or two showers. Please note that during the month February the Inca Trail is always closed for maintenance. For a description of the Inca trail please check the information at the end of the final day of this tour. Day 13: Cuzco - optional excursion Aguas Calientes (Machu Picchu) Today you can join an optional excursion to Machu Picchu (request when booking). You travel by train to Aguas Calientes. The train ride through the beautiful scenery of the Sacred Valley takes about four hours. The rest of the day you are free to explore the town or to take a nice walk. You can even visit the Inca city of Machu Picchu today. Keep in mind though that the bus between Aguas Calientes and Machu Picchu would today be at your own expense (on day 14, the bus is included), and that for two days you will need to pay the entrance fee to Machu Picchu.

5 Day 14: Cuzco - optional excursion Aguas Calientes (Machu Picchu) Today is the planned day that you'll visit the hidden city of the Incas: Machu Picchu, beautifully situated on a plateau surrounded by rugged rock formations. Due to its unique location, the city was never discovered by the Spaniards, leaving them exceptionally well preserved. Only in 1911 were the ruins accidentally discovered by American historian Hiram Bingam who thought that he had found Vilcabamba. Archaeologists assume that it was once a religious city of the Incas, but the exact function is still unknown. There is plenty of time to explore this great complex with its many temples, terraces and sacred sites. For the classic photo of Machu Picchu climb up to the Hut of the Caretaker of the Funerary Rock. For a completely different view then hike to up to Inti Punku (Sun Gate) or to the top of Huayna Picchu, also with spectacular views. In the afternoon take the train back to Cuzco. Day 15: Cuzco Free day in Cuzco. Take a stroll through the streets of the artists' quarter of San Blas or watch the market sellers trying to sell their beautiful llama and alpaca sweaters. It is also worthwhile to take an optional excursion to the Sacred Valley. This will include a visit to the ruins of Pisac with beautiful views, and of course the Inca fortress of Ollantaytambo, where the Incas achieved one of their few victories over the Spaniards. If you have time you can end this tour by visiting the pre-inca salt pans of Salineras. The sight of these pans, situated in a valley, is very beautiful. Cuzco attracts crowds of tourists from around the world because of it's historical importance. It is therefore not surprising that cuisines from almost every country are represented. In the evening enjoy a live performance by Indian musicians until the early hours. Day 16: Cuzco The last day of your tour. You can use your hotel room in Cuzco until check out time (most times at hrs noon). We wish you a comfortable journey home and are sure you will take with you some wonderful memories of Peru. Your personal µmy.shoestring page on our website is the perfect way to make contact with other travellers before and after your trip. You can read and create journals from trips and upload your photos onto the photo gallery. Visit my shoestring today. When booking your tour, please check to see whether you need any posttour nights, bearing in mind that accommodation for the night of the final day of the tour (day 16) is not included. With a group of 8 persons (or more) the entire trip will be carried out with private transportation (except for the section from Nazca to Arequipa, as mentioned in the day-to-day description). With a group of up to seven persons the sections Lima-Ica-Nazca and Puno-Cuzco will be carried out using public transportation. Naturally, the tour leader takes care of the tickets for the public transportation. Festival trip On the trip departing June 10th 2019, you can see the Inti Raymi Festival from Cuzco. Inca trail Before booking an Inca trail excursion please check real time

6 availability 4-day Inca Trail This is the ultimate tour for people who have adequate time, good health and good fitness. In four days you can walk from 2000 meters to 4200 meters and along 3900 passes. You will also walk over plains, sometimes by a dense cloud forest mountain with beautiful bromeliads and lianas. Also explore with the local guide who accompanies you throughout the trip, some very beautiful Inca ruins. Cooking utensils, tents, provisions and fuel for four days go along with the local porters. Take a small backpack with you containing your stuff for 4 days, and your sleeping bag. For an extra fee you can have the porters carry your luggage (please do this immediately upon booking if you wish). 2-day Inca trail You will be accompanied by a local guide who will stay with the group during the entire trek. Local porters carry the cooking equipment, tents and provisions for two days. You carry a small backpack containing your needs for these two days and a sleeping bag. This two day walk of the Inca trail starts near the holy Urubamba River and ends in the afternoon in Machu Picchu, where we will stay the night at the foot of the city in the village of Aguas Calientes. The next day we have plenty of time to take a guided tour of the ruins, in late afternoon we board the train to Cuzco. If you want to walk the Inca trail, indicate this on your booking form and as the trek is extremely popular and places are limited book early to avoid disappointment. When booking, give your exact name and passport number (your passport must be valid for at least 6 months after the tour), this information will be printed on the entrance tickets. Any error in this data automatically generates a penalty fee which will be passed on to you. The Inca Trail is upon request and is only confirmed when you have received confirmation from us. Given the high cancellation we charge 100, - cancellation fee if you decide to cancel once all is confirmed. The impossibility of confirming the Inca Trail does not mean that the whole trip may be canceled free of charge. If you have booked either the 2 or 4 day Inca trail, you will not stay overnight in Aguas Calientes (plus train trip) according to the standard programme. Obviously, all these costs are taken into account in the price. More info What's included: Accommodation in hotels; transportation with (mini) bus only for transfers from hotel to hotel and transportation by first class public buses with reserved seats from Nazca to Arequipa; 2-day excursion Colca Canyon including entrance fee; Uros and Taquile excursion in shared service with harbour transfers, boat; English speaking tour leader. What's excluded: International flights; optional flight Nazca lines; Inca Trail and/or jungle extension (reservation should be done at time of booking tour); Aguas Calientes/Machu Picchu tour (reservation should be done at time of booking tour); all meals; tips; visas; optional excursions; all entrance fees; border fees; airport transfers; booking fee; travel insurance.

7 Extra Costs The amount of money we recommend that you bring with you on this tour is the minimum you should budget for all your meals, drinks, optional excursions and tours, entrance fees, local airport taxes and tips. The amount you actually spend will depend a great deal on your own habits and preferences. We therefore have not included souvenirs (amongst other things) in the recommended amount. Travel documents Travelling with the correct travel documentation is your own responsibility. Please ensure your passport is valid for a minimum of 6 months beyond the finish date of your trip. For Peru, a visa is not required for stays of less than 30 days for many nationalities. Please check this information in good time before your trip commences as this information is always subject to change. You can check this information through a site such as this one. Accommodation and transport Transport We use a private bus for the majority of this tour. The Nazca - Arequipa journey is made with a comfortable public bus. Of course, all bus trips and transfers (except for those from and to the airport) are included in the trip. Any additional transportation costs of optional excursions are not included. With a group of 8 persons (or more) the entire trip will be carried out with private transportation (except for the section from Nazca to Arequipa, as mentioned in the day-to-day description). With a group of up to seven persons the sections Lima-Ica-Nazca and Puno-Cuzco will be carried out using public transportation. Naturally, the tour leader takes care of the tickets for the public transportation. Accommodation During the tour you'll stay in simple hotels in 2-person rooms with private bathroom. Most hotels have their own restaurant and usually a garden or terrace. Participants who book individually share a room with another participant. We keep in mind that you should of course be paired with someone of the same sex as you. It is also possible to have, where available, a room just for yourself. You pay a single supplement for this and this should be added at the time you make your booking.

8 During your trip, it is possible to participate in 'single' excursions offered locally by the tour leader. These excursions are optional. To allow you to plan a budget for your trip we have provided you with an idea of the cost of these excursions. The price can change due to currency fluctuations. The amounts are therefore only meant to give you an indication of the cost. Entrance fees will often change and therefore are excluded from the prices displayed (unless explicitly stated). We display the prices in Euros/GB Pounds/US Dollars. When you are in your destination, it is possible to pay for the excursions in local currency. Single excursions Excursion Details Price Arequipa - City tour This excursion begins with a tour of the Santa Catalina convent. You continue the route to the Compañía church. In the central square you will find the cathedral in Neo- Renaissance style. You leave the center and travels by bus to the traditional villages of Yanahuara and Carmen Alto, where you have a wonderful view of Arequipa and the surrounding volcanoes. After lunch (exclusive) you'll return to Arequipa. Duration: 3 hours Departure: in the morning or afternoon Included: Private transportation, English speaking guide, entrance fees Minimum number of participants: 2. When more participants the price decreases (and vice versa!). The price mentioned is per person with 10 participants. 38 Cuzco - 2 day Inca Trail (book before departure) For description, see day to day program. Includes: Transfer from hotel to train station v.v; Expedition train from Cuzco ( for 104 km), Inca Trail Entrance (also valid for Machu Picchu), English speaking guide / cook; Overnight hostel in Aguas Calientes: All meals from lunch day 1 until breakfast day 2 (1 x breakfast, 1 x lunch, 1 x dinner); Visit Machu Picchu on day 2; Bus trips between Aguas Calientes - Machu Picchu ; Expedition train Aguas Calientes - Cuzco. Please be sure to add this package to your booking form at the time you reserve your trip. 450

9 Cuzco - 4 day Inca Trail (book before departure) For description, see day to day program. includes: Transport from hotel to trail start point (82 or 88 km); Entrance Inca Trail (also valid for Machu Picchu), English speaking guide / cook; Carriers (not for personal equipment); Complete camping equipment (double tents with simple mats, kitchen tent, toilet tent, dining tent, tables and chairs, cooking equipment, crockery, first aid box and oxygen); All meals from lunch day 1 until breakfast on day 4 (3 breakfasts, 3 lunches, 3 dinners); Visit Machu Picchu ; Bus Machu Picchu - Aguas Calientes, Expedition train Aguas Calientes - Cuzco. Please be sure to add this package to your booking form at the time you reserve your trip. 495 Cuzco - City tour + Incan sites During this city tour you'll visit the highlights in and around Cuzco. You start with a visit to Sacsayhuaman. This vast building overlooks the city and is a perfect structure, made of huge boulders. Then you will visit another important Inca site called Qenqo. Here you will find carved stone channels in a zigzag pattern. In the inner part is a stone table where the Incas mummified their dead. You return to Cuzco, where you visit one of the holiest Inca buildings, the Temple of Koricancha. Finally, visit the magnificent cathedral of Cuzco. On one of the many paintings you see the Last Supper depicted. Christ and the apostles eat guinea pig (guinea pig was one of the main dishes at sacred Inca festivals)! 19 Duration: 4 hours Departure: in the morning or the afternoon Includes: transportation, English speaking guide Excludes: entrance fees (22 USD for the ruins outside of Cusco, 13 USD for the Cathedral and Koricancha). Minimum number of participants: 2. With more participants, the price becomes cheaper (and vice versa!). Price stated is based upon 10 participants.

10 Cuzco - Lares trek (4 days, book before departure) The Lares trek is a good alternative to the 4-day Inca Trail, or if the 4-day Inca Trail is full. More information about this trek is available on request. 495 The Lares trek is a four-day trek that ends at Machu Picchu. It takes you to the rarely visited Lares valley offering spectacular views of the Urubamba Mountains, east of the Sacred Valley. You'll come across small villages and mountain passes at altitudes of over 4000 meters, with a great view of the snowy peaks. This trek gives you the opportunity to see how the Quechua-speaking Indians of the high mountain villages make their living from agriculture. The Lares trek is seen as not too difficult and is similar to that of the Inca Trail. However, there is a peak of over 4000 meters to climb and so it is important that you have a reasonably good physical condition. People who go trekking only need to take their day baggage (the bulk of your luggage you leave in the hotel in Cuzco). You must bring your own sleeping bag. includes: Transportation by bus from Cusco to Lares, English speaking guide / cook, 2 nights camping and 1 night in a hostel; horses for luggage (not for personal equipment) including escorts; breakfast, lunch and dinner during the trek, complete camping equipment (double tent with simple mats, kitchen tent, toilet tent, dining tent, tables and chairs, cooking equipment, crockery, first aid box and oxygen); bus from Aguas Calientes to Machu Picchu + v.v, entrance fees and guide; Expedition train Aguas Calientes - Cuzco. Please add this trek to your booking form at time of trip reservation. Cuzco - Machu Picchu entrance 40 At the beginning of the trip you can ask your tour leader for your ticket to Machu Picchu. You may want to combine this with Huayna Picchu, the Sun Gate (Inti Punku) or the museum. Cuzco - Machu Picchu return train expedition class (book before departure) This package includes your return train ticket from Cuzco to Machu Picchu in expedition class and your overnight stay in Aguas Calientes. You will also need to purchase your entrance ticket to Machu Picchu which you should do locally with the tour leader. 260 Cuzco - Machu Picchu return train Vistadome service (book before departure) This package includes your return train ticket from Cuzco to Machu Picchu with Vistadome service (including a snack and hot drink, more comfortable seats, larger windows) and your overnight stay in Aguas Calientes. You will also need to purchase your entrance ticket to Machu Picchu which you should do locally with the tour leader. 290

11 Cuzco - Sacred Valley tour You leave by bus north to the mountains. On the way you stop at El Mirador, from where you can see the whole Sacred Valley and have a good grasp of the history of the Incas. You drive to the modern town of Pisac, where you have the time to visit the local market. You continue your journey along the Urubamba River to Ollantaytambo. You'll visit the ruins of Ollantaytambo, an important Inca construction built during the heyday of the Incas. 28 Duration: 8 hours Departure: 08:30 am. Includes: transportation, English speaking guide Not included: entrance fees (22 USD) lunch and tips Minimum number: 2 persons. With more participants, the excursion becomes cheaper (and vice versa!). Stated price based on 10 participants. Cuzco - Tambopata jungle extension (book before departure) 895 The ''Peru in 2 weeks'' trip can be extended with a 4-day (3 nights) jungle tour in Puerto Maldonado followed by a night in Lima. You must book this extension at the same time as reserving your trip. The flights involved are on a request basis. If you are the only one to book and there are no others to share a room with then there will be a single room surcharge of 149. The price of the jungle package includes the transfer from the hotel to the airport in Cuzco, the entrance fee to Tambopata Reserve and local airport taxes, but excluding, gratuities, drinks and personal expenses. On the first day you will fly from Cuzco in a half hour to the city of Puerto Maldonado, where you'll meet your boat and sail to the jungle lodge. In the afternoon there is time for a welcome drink and a short walk to a lake. After sunset there is the chance for caiman spotting by canoe. You see their eyes sparkle in the light of your flashlight. The following day you make a walk and a canoe trip on the lake where, if you are lucky, you can see giant river otters, monkeys, turtles and many species of birds. In the afternoon you have time to relax on your own or take the opportunity to go hiking. The next day is often used to do your own thing or to walk along the marked trails. Of course you can also sign up for an excursion organized by the lodge if you prefer. For example, a visit to a small clay wall or a day hike to the Katicocha Lake. On the fourth day you'll travel by motorized canoe back to Puerto Maldonado. From this city you will fly back to Lima where you will have one final night at the hotel.

12 Lima - City Tour You start the city tour with a visit to the modern suburbs of San Isidro and Miraflores. From the Miraflores Malecon (the seafront) you have a beautiful view over the cliffs and the Pacific. In the 16th century historic center of Lima (UNESCO world heritage), you see the Plaza Mayor, the presidential palace, the Cathedral, City Hall and the palace of the bishop. In the San Francisco monastery visit the Catacombs. 25 Duration: 3 hours Includes: private transport, English speaking guide, entrance fees. Minimum number: 2 persons. With more participants, the excursion becomes cheaper (and vice versa!). Stated price based on 10 participants. Nazca - Chauchilla The cemetery of Chauchilla is the only place in Peru where the ancient mummies can still be visited in their original graves. The excursion to the cemetery is combined with a visit to a ceramics workshop where you you can see the old fashioned way that gold was processed. 17 Duration: 2-3 hours Includes: transfers and a local guide. Exclusive: entrance fee (2 Euros p.p.). Minimum number: 2 persons. With more participants, the excursion becomes cheaper (and vice versa!). Stated price based on 10 participants. Nazca - Flight over Nazca lines (to be booked before departure) With a small 4-seater Cessna plane fly for about 20 minutes over some of the Nazca drawings (occasionally, a slightly larger aircraft is deployed for up to 12 people). The pilots are known for their particularly good flying skills. The Nazca plains extend around the famous Nazca lines. The Nazca lines are an enigma. Nobody has proof why they lie, or by whom they were created. Since their discovery, the Nazca lines have inspired the most fantastic stories. The lines are dated between 200 BC and 600 AD, and it is thought that they were used for rituals that are linked to astronomy. Includes: airport transfers, flight over the Nazca lines and a certificate at the end. Not included: airport tax (sol per person, about 8 euros). This excursion must be booked at the time you make your trip reservation. You can book it as part of the excursion package or as an individual excursion. 100

13 Pisco - Ballestas Islands Some 240 kilometers south of Lima lies the Paracas National Reserve and the Ballestas Islands. The Ballestas Islands have more than 160 species of seabirds, including Humboldt penguins, pelicans, cormorants and gannets. In addition, large numbers of sea lions live here. Dolphins and whales can sometimes be seen. The only way to observe the wildlife around the Ballestas Islands is from a boat. It is forbidden to enter the islands but you can easily spot the animals from the boat. The islands also have some impressive rock formations and you will certainly sail alongside the Candelabra (an archaeological etching in the hills), which is best seen from the sea. 16 Duration: 2 hours Includes: boat tour to the islands and a local guide. Exclusive: entry fee + port tax (4 Euros total) You travel in international company (shared excursion) Festival info INTI RAYMI - CUZCO From the mid 20th century the inhabitants of Cuzco, Peruvians throughout the country and foreign interested parties all celebrate the Inti Raymi festival. The Incas traditionally celebrated Inti on June 24, but the Spanish invaders banned this celebration for centuries. June 24 for the Incas, marks the beginning of a new Solar Year (Inti Raymi). This day revolves around the sun and it is when we have the longest day of the year. During the festival, the Sun God Wiracocha and its relationship with the sun is honoured by man. The Inti Raymi days are worth attending, because there are fun activities on the streets, dancing and live performances (at the central Plaza de Armas) organized. At the ceremony there will be hundreds of people present. It is worth doing some advance reading too because during the performances only Quechua (Inca language) is spoken. The Sapa Inca honours Wiracocha: People gather in the square for the Coricancha or the Santo Domingo church on Avenida El Sol. Here, the Sapa Inca (the divine emperor of the Inca Empire) calls on the blessings from the sun. Then he is carried in a procession on a golden throne to the Inca Fortress Sacsayhuaman. The accompanying people then make music with drums and the Sapa Inca in turn blesses the people. Previously the 5 hour show would end with a white llama sacrifice. The llama is now no longer really slain. The people kneel down towards the sun as it starts to set. You can see all the festivities in and around Cuzco and witness the procession to Sacsayhuaman. The entrance fee to Sacsayhuaman, where the final ritual of the parade takes place, is U.S. $ 100. For this section are limited tickets available. The tour leader, at the beginning of the journey will ask if anyone is interested and will arrange this for you if there are still tickets available. Please note that the travel routes during festival tours can be adjusted. News General information

14 Tour leader Our tours are led by trained, local English speaking tour leaders. We know that our travellers appreciate being accompanied by these local tour leaders who, compared to their counterparts (living outside of the destination) have more detailed knowledge of their country. He/she knows the area well, can provide background information and ensure that the trip goes smoothly. He/she knows what to do if something were to go wrong, but is not a "walking encyclopedia". Therefore we would like to refer you to study a good travel guide (book) in advance of travel. Your tour leader understandably expects a tip at the end, if she/he has completed the job well. Shoestring pay the tour guides a wage which is higher than that of most adventurous travel companies. Our guideline for tipping is between 1, - and 2, - per passenger per day (the equivalent thereof). Sustainability We know that travelling to remote corners of this planet has its effects. At Shoestring we really try to make an effort to keep our impact to a minimum. We try to avoid the use of plastic water bottles on our treks through Nepal and we do not dump our litter during our trips through Africa. All of our staff have been trained to take special care to ensure we make as little impact on the environment as possible. Furthermore we support a lot of local projects which are mostly related to clean drinking water or making sure that children get vaccinated against illnesses such as tuberculosis. On most tours you will be able to visit some of the projects we support through our local agents. Find out more about the different projects Shoestring are involved with, how you can make a difference and our environmental policies here Further important info...

15 We recommend preparing well before you go on this trip so please read about your destination and carefully check which vaccinations and other medications you might need. Here are a few important points. Prior to the trip After making your booking, if you have not heard whether your trip is definitely going ahead then it is safe to assume that this is the case. If we unexpectedly have to cancel the trip, we will let you know no later than three weeks prior to your departure. It is not common for a trip to be cancelled, so please do not worry unduly. Incidentally, even if the minimum number of participants is not reached, Shoestring can still choose to let the trip proceed anyway. Guarantee Shoestring offers a unique guarantee, but what does a "guaranteed price" mean? It simply means that you pay the price that appears on the website at the time of booking. We guarantee that price. Any price increases made later will not be passed on to you! Personal Information Make sure when completing your booking to fill all details in correctly. This includes your passport and personal information (such as gender, date of birth and first and last name as stated in your passport). These details are necessary for confirming any domestic flights or transportation tickets and at some hotels that form part of your itinerary. Check your (digital) receipt of your booking confirmation details to make sure they are listed correctly. You are responsible for providing correct information. Incorrect information can lead to you not being admitted onto a train or into a hotel! Further information for your trip No later than one week prior to departure you will find your departure letter on your personal myshoestring site. Any tickets for local flights/other transportation will be controlled by your tour leader and provided locally. Single travellers About a third of our travellers are single travellers. This does not have to cost more as you can share with one of the other travellers in your group. We of course keep in mind to pair you with someone of the same sex. If you would prefer a room to yourself then this is usually possible. Please indicate this when booking and the applicable supplement will be added. Feedback While we put a lot of effort into the execution of your trip, it still occurs that travellers have comments about various aspects. To ensure that these observations can be addressed immediately we ask that they are notified to the tour leader in writing whilst on tour. If comments are not communicated in writing to the tour leader during the trip then this will affect how we are able to handle any potential complaint after the trip has concluded. Newsletter We regularly send out a digital newsletter, our E -zine. Here you can read stories, offers, tips and latest news about our travels. Do you receive this newsletter? Sign up easily through this link. Kuoni Specialists Ltd Shoestring is part of Kuoni Specialists Ltd, a group of adventure travel companies that interact in various ways to ensure that the traveller gets true value for his/her money. Behind the scenes, there is cooperation in the field of purchasing and handling of the trips and for the traveller, it means that we have an enormous amount of extra resources behind us, in the event they should be required. Have fun with the preparations for your trip! Insurance

16 Travel insurance, including medical repatriation insurance, is mandatory. It is not included with our packages and it is your responsibility to purchase suitable travel insurance. Make sure that it covers all the activities that you are likely to undertake, such as rafting and trekking. Many free insurances that come with banking packages, credit cards etc, are quite often inadequate to cover you on our tours, so make sure you check the policy before you travel. You should enter your travel insurance details via your my.shoestring account and you are required to give a copy of your insurance policy to your tour leader upon arrival. Without proper insurance like this, you will not be allowed to join the tour as we will not be able to respond adequately in case of an emergency if you do not have the right insurance. Address Shoestring International Entrada AA Amsterdam-Duivendrecht, The Netherlands. You can call us on number or +44 (0) and us at info@shoestring.com Opening hours Monday to Saturday 10 AM to 5 PM (Local times in Netherlands).