Wonders and Mysteries of Peru

Transcription

1 Wonders and Mysteries of Peru 8 DAY TOUR APRIL - 28, 205 TOUR HOSTS: FEATURING: LIMA PACHACAMAC CUSCO SACSAYHUAMAN MACHU PICCHU AGUAS CALIENTES SACRED VALLEY PUNO LAKE TITICACA COLCA CANYON AREQUIPA PARACAS NAZCA LINES BALLESTAS ISLANDS

2 Wonders and Mysteries of Peru Join us on an adventure to Peru and discover one of the most varied and fascinating countries in the Americas. This was home to the sun-worshipping Incas whose empire was once the largest in the world. Since the time of the Spanish Conquest the riches of Peru has fired the imagination of adventurers from around the world. Experience the bustling city of Lima, and an excursion on the highest navigable lake in the world. Your stay in Cusco, the historic capital of the Incas, will be highlighted with a trip to magnificent Machu Picchu, the lost city of the Incas. You'll do a flyover to view the mysterious Nazca Lines and take a cruise to view the wildlife on the Ballestas Islands, known as the "Galapagos of Peru". Along with a wide range of spectacular scenery you'll enjoy the unique music, dance and cuisine native to this diverse country. 0 0 SOUTH PACIFIC OCEAN 00 Peru 2 = overnights Motorcoach Airplane Train 200 Kilometers Miles Lima 3 PERU Dublin Ballestas Islands 3 Paracas Nazca Machu Picchu Sacred Valley 3 Cusco 2 Colca Lake Canyon Titicaca 2 Arequipa Puno CHILE SATURDAY, APRIL Day Departure Day Our excitement grows as this evening we meet our travelling companions at the airport. Our flight takes us to Lima, the "City of Kings" founded in 535 by Pizarro and rebuilt in 99. We arrive after midnight and are met by our guide then taken to our hotel for the night. SUNDAY, APRIL 2 BD Day 2 Free Morning - Pachacamac Tour This morning we have time to sleep in and rest up from our flight. This afternoon we venture outside Lima and visit the archaeological site of Pachacamac which dates back before the Inca arrived. This was the most important pilgrimage centre in ancient Peru, and in its glory days Pachacamac attracted worshippers from all over. The site contains numerous pyramids, temples, large plazas, dwellings, and impressive remains of frescoes which decorate the adobe walls. This will be a great introduction to the tremendous history of the region. Tonight we will attend the Lima Magic Water Show, a spectacular display of water and lights. MONDAY, APRIL 3 BD Day 3 Lima Tour - Free Afternoon This morning we enjoy a tour of colonial modern Lima. Included is a visit to the historical centre of Lima, declared a World Heritage Site (WHS) by UNESCO. We'll see the Cathedral, Main Square, Government Palace and City Hall. Then we'll visit the San Francisco Convent and its catacomb. This afternoon is free to relax and explore on our own. Tonight we enjoy a dinner and local folklore show that includes the marinera style of dancing, considered the national dance of Peru. TUESDAY, APRIL 4 BD Day 4 To Cusco Today is a travel day. After breakfast we transfer to the airport for a flight to Cusco, the fabled capital of the Incan Empire. We check into our hotel and the rest of the day is free to relax and acclimatize to the high altitude (3400 metres above sea level). WEDNESDAY, APRIL 5 BD Day 5 Cusco Tour - Sacsayhuaman Our tour of Cusco (WHS) starts with a visit to the centuries-old civic square and the Cathedral Plaza de Armas, which houses a solid silver altar. Next we'll visit Santo Domingo, the 7th century church built on the original site of the Incan Temple of the Sun. There will be a stop at a panoramic viewpoint for pictures. We'll also visit the Incan fortress of Sacsayhuaman, overlooking Cusco, Qenko and Puka Pukara. Later tonight we savour a Peruvian dinner and folkloric show. THURSDAY, APRIL 6 BLD Day 6 Misminay Village Today we take a break from traditional tourism and embark on an intercultural experience off the beaten path. We travel 75 minutes from Cuzco to visit Misminay, a small Andean village. In this rural community we will have the opportunity to interact with the locals and learn about their way of life. Each person in the group will choose one activity that interests them: weaving, agriculture or ethnobotany (how local herbs are used to combat illness). After a warm greeting by the townsfolk, we will split into smaller groups according to our selection, then later we meet to enjoy a delicious brunch made using their local products. FRIDAY, APRIL 7 BLD Day 7 Machu Picchu An adventure to remember as we take the Vistadome train through the Urubamba Valley to the town of Aguas Calientes, situated in the valley below the Lost City of the Incas, Machu Picchu (WHS). We are taken by bus up to the ruins where we have a guided tour of one of the most spectacular ancient cities in the world. This fabulous city features houses, temples, warehouses and a large central square; all connected by narrow roads and steps that are surrounded by terraces cut into the mountain side. After the tour we'll have some free time to enjoy this spiritual wonder. Lunch at the Machu Picchu Sanctuary Lodge will be included. We return to Aguas Calientes and our hotel for the night. SATURDAY, APRIL 8 BD Day 8 Aguas Calientes - Cusco This morning we have the opportunity to spend time in the colourful market town of Aguas Calientes. Or, for an additional cost, we can return to the Machu Picchu site to do more exploring on our own (must be booked in advance). In the afternoon

3 SPECIAL INCLUSIONS Dinner and Folklore Show in Lima Lima Magic Water Show Vistadome Train Ride to Machu Picchu Orient Express Train Ride to Puno Excursion on Lake Titicaca Flight to View the Nazca Lines Cruise to Ballestas Islands TOUR HOSTS 727 Strathcona Dr. SW Calgary, AB T3H P2 Home: (403) we'll board the train and return to Cusco and our hotel for overnight. SUNDAY, APRIL 9 BLD Day 9 Sacred Valley Today we have a full-day tour of the Valley of the Urubamba - the Sacred Valley of the Incas. Included is a visit to the village of Pisac, founded during colonial times. We will have time to interact with the local people as they barter their products including the artisans from the region who sell their woven alpaca wool blankets, ponchos, engraved gourds, antique reproductions and jewellery. After a buffet lunch at a local restaurant we visit Ollantaytambo, an inhabited Inca town with original Inca water channels and stone streets. We explore the impressive ruins of the fortress above Ollantaytambo, and then return to Cusco via the traditional market town of Chinchero. MONDAY, APRIL 20 BLD Day 0 Train Journey To Puno After breakfast we are taken to the train station where we embark on a fabulous 0-hour train journey to Puno aboard the Orient Express Explorer. Meals are served at your table and there is an observation car where you can enjoy the stunning views of the high plateau of the Andes know as Altiplano. We'll have a stop at La Raya, the highest point of the journey at 4335 metres above sea level. We'll disembark in Puno, lying on the shores of Lake Titicaca, the highest navigable lake in the world at 3800 metres above sea level. Puno is also the folkloric capital of Peru. TUESDAY, APRIL 2 BLD Day Lake Titicaca Excursion We enjoy a full day excursion to Lake Titicaca. We start with a visit to the floating islands of Uros, a group of islands made entirely of tortora reeds and home to a small community dating back to a pre-inca culture. We continue to the island of Taquile where the inhabitants keep their ancient traditions alive. Wearing colourful typical dresses, they are skilled artisans who use techniques developed centuries ago. We'll have lunch on the island prepared by the local people. Later we will return to our hotel in Puno. WEDNESDAY, APRIL 22 BLD Day 2 Puno - Colca Canyon After breakfast we enjoy the wonderful scenery as we make our way by motorcoach to the Colca Canyon area, passing through the alitplano before descending into the canyon. Arrive at our hotel in the area where we can enjoy the hot springs (bring swimwear with you) and free time at leisure. THURSDAY, APRIL 23 BLD Day 3 Colca Canyon - Arequipa An early morning as we start the ascent up to the Cruz del Condor where we will have a spectacular view of the canyon and, with luck, see the largest and most impressive bird of the Andes, the majestic condor. We will visit some of the villages of the canyon, all of which have beautiful, colonial-style churches. Inca terraces can be seen all along the valley, some of which are still in use. As we continue to Arequipa we view groups of wild alpacas, vicuñas and guanacos in their natural habitat. Upon arrival, we check-in to our hotel. FRIDAY, APRIL 24 BD Day 4 Arequipa - Lima - Paracas After breakfast, enjoy a short tour of the centre of the "white city" (WHS) including a visit to the 6th century Santa Catalina Convent, built entirely of volcanic lava. The Misti Volcano stands as a sentinel behind this colonial city. Then transfer to the airport to fly to Lima where a bus will meet us to take us on a scenic drive through the desert on the Pan American highway to Paracas. We stay three nights at a resort overlooking the beautiful Paracas Bay. SATURDAY, APRIL 25 BD Day 5 Nazca Lines - Wine-tasting We start the day with a flight to see the Nazca Lines (WHS). Dating back to pre-inca civilization, these mysterious lines representing animals and stylized plants were etched in the sandy soil between 500 BC and AD 500. Later we'll visit a local vineyard to experience the production of Pisco, Peru's signature drink (a type of grape brandy). We'll also discover some of the wines of Peru before returning to our hotel in Paracas. The rest of the day is free to relax. SUNDAY, APRIL 26 BD Day 6 Ballestas Islands After breakfast we take a cruise to the Ballestas Islands. Home to thousands of sea birds and hundreds of playful sea lions, these islands are known as the "Galapagos of Peru". Penguins, pelicans, boobies, and cormorants are some of the birds usually seen and the sea lions will usually be tanning themselves on the rocks or swimming around our boat on the cruise. We return to the mainland and enjoy free time at the hotel. MONDAY, APRIL 27 BD Day 7 To Lima - Farewell Dinner This morning we have some free time before departing for Lima. If time permits we'll visit the Larco Herrera Museum, an 8th century colonial-style museum that houses an impressive display of pre-colombian art. Tonight we enjoy a farewell dinner to celebrate the success of our visit to Peru. Later this evening we are taken to the airport for our return flight. TUESDAY, APRIL 28 Day 8 Return Home Today we arrive home with an abundance of souvenirs and memories. While we may be sad that our trip is over, we are excited about sharing our experiences with family and friends. PRICES Calgary $7795 Vancouver $7795 Halifax $7745 Toronto $7595 Prices from other cities available upon request. Prices are per person based on double occupancy. The supplement for a single room is $430 per person. This tour is not subject to GST/HST. PRICE INCLUDES Return economy class airfare Current airline taxes, fuel surcharges and airport fees ($420) Domestic flights within Peru including taxes First class hotels First class motorcoach Meals as shown (B=breakfast, L=lunch, D=dinner) Professional tour guide Sightseeing tours including entrance fees Luggage handling at hotels Tipping for all included services All foreign taxes Rostad Tours travel gift Tour documentation and travel information Not Included: Meals not shown, Beverages, Items of a personal nature, Entrance fee to Machu Picchu on second day, Any airline luggage fees, Increases to surcharges, taxes or fees, Insurance. SAVE UP TO $500 PER PERSON Ask us about our Early Booking and Rostad Frequent Traveller discounts TOUR ACTIVITY LEVEL Challenging You may encounter more strenuous activities such as longer walking tours and travel over rough terrain, extreme temperatures, or high altitudes. Members should be in good physical condition.

4 Tour Conditions & Information RESERVATIONS A deposit of $300 per person is required to make a reservation on this tour. This deposit is completely refundable up to 90 days prior to departure. A confirmation of your reservation will be forwarded to you after the deposit is received. FINAL PAYMENT The final payment is due no later than 90 days before departure. If you are joining the tour within 90 days of departure, full payment is required. CREDIT CARD PAYMENTS For payments made by credit card, we reserve the right to have credit card charges processed by the suppliers of travel services such as the airline, cruise line, etc. All credit card payments will be processed in Canadian dollars. SHARED & SINGLE ACCOMMODATION Passengers must indicate at the time of booking whether they want to share a room or if they prefer a single room. Your roommate, if known, should also be indicated. If you do not have a roommate we will attempt to find a suitable travelling companion to share a room with you. If you join the tour by November 2, 204 and we are unable to find a roommate, you will only be charged one-half of the single supplement. If you join the tour after November 2, 204 and we are not able to find a roommate, you will be charged the full single supplement. Triple rooms, while not recommended, can be arranged. RESERVATION CHANGES If you want to change your reservation, such as change your departure city or plan an extended stay, you must submit your request in writing at least 90 days prior to departure. If planning an extension, an additional non-refundable payment may be required in order to reserve flights and other arrangements. Any subsequent changes, cancellations of extension arrangements or changes requested within 90 days of departure are subject to a service fee of $00 per person in addition to any fees charged by the various travel suppliers. TOUR PRICE The prices shown are based on currency levels, airfares, and taxes valid as at May 5, 204 and are subject to change. Once you have paid in full we guarantee that there will be no price increases due to currency exchange fluctuations or airfare increases. FUEL SURCHARGES It has become common practice for airlines, cruise lines and motorcoach companies to apply surcharges due to the volatile price of fuel. These surcharges are included in the price of the tour based on surcharges in effect as at May 5, 204 and are subject to change. CANCELLATIONS Your deposit is fully refundable for any reason up to 90 days prior to departure. Cancellations after this date are subject to the following cancellation charges: 90 to 6 days prior to departure $ to 3 days $ to 0 days $ 6000 If you cancel, you will receive back all money paid towards the tour less the applicable cancellation fee. The charges apply to the base price of the tour only and do not include cancellation charges for any extra arrangements such as single supplement, accommodation upgrades, additional tours, etc. INSURANCE We recommend that all passengers buy insurance to protect themselves against any possible cancellation charges or out-of-country medical expenses. An all-inclusive policy which has cancellation, hospital/medical and baggage coverage will be offered to Alberta residents prior to making their final payment. For passengers residing outside of Alberta, we will explain how you can obtain our special group rates for travel insurance direct from Reliable Life Insurance. As your deposit is fully refundable until 90 days prior to departure, you do not need to purchase insurance until that date. PASSPORTS A passport is required for all tour participants. Some countries require that your passport to be valid for at least three months and some at least six months past your intended return date. If you do not already have a passport, or if your current passport will expire within this period, apply for your new passport at least 90 days before departure. HEALTH REQUIREMENTS During walking tours you will likely experience uneven ground, cobblestone streets and various amounts of steps or stairs. For your enjoyment, and in fairness to your fellow passengers, you should be in good physical condition, with the ability to stand for reasonable periods of time and walk several kilometres easily. Should you feel a particular excursion may be too strenuous, you are welcome to forego the sightseeing tour and rest or explore on your own. At the time of printing, no inoculations are required for this tour. TOUR DOCUMENTS The tour documents (hotel list, flight itinerary, name tag, etc.) will be sent approximately 30 days prior to departure. Please notify our office in writing if you require any information in advance of this date. BAGGAGE ALLOWANCE Tour members are allowed one suitcase per person with the total dimensions not to exceed 60 (i.e. 30 length + 20 height + 0 width) and a maximum weight of 20 kg. Your suitcase will be portered at all hotels but tour members are responsible for their flight bags/carry-on luggage at all times. Rostad Tours accepts no responsibility for the loss of, or damage to, any baggage or any tour member s personal belongings. ITINERARY VARIATIONS Rostad Tours reserves the right to change the itinerary of the tour due to airline schedule changes or any other circumstances beyond our control. Every effort will be made to keep the tour as close as possible to the original itinerary. TOUR MEMBERSHIP Rostad Tours reserves the right to reject any person as a tour member and to expel from the tour any person whose actions are deemed to be detrimental to the enjoyment of the tour by the other passengers. Children 6 years of age and under at the time the tour departs are considered too young to travel on tour. RESPONSIBILITY Rostad Tours Ltd. of Calgary, Alberta act as agents for the various owners or contractors providing hotels, means of transportation or other services. Issuance and acceptance of the tour documents shall be deemed to be consent to the condition that Rostad Tours Ltd. shall not become liable or responsible in any way for any personal or property loss, damage or injury, howsoever caused or arising. In the event that we are forced to cancel a tour due to insufficient registrations, Rostad Tours Ltd. s sole responsibility shall be the refund of all monies paid to Rostad Tours by the tour participant Palliser Drive SW, Calgary, AB, Canada T2V 4W5 Toll Free: Phone: (403) Fax: (403) tours@rostad.com

5 PASSENGER REGISTRATION FORM Please complete this form and mail it to the Tour Host or directly To Rostad Tours If paying by credit card, you may also register by phone or fax this form to Rostad Tours PASSENGER INFORMATION Wonders and Mysteries of Peru Departs: April, 205 Marple504 (): Date of Birth: 9 / / Title Last Name First Name Year/Month/Day (2): Date of Birth: 9 / / Mailing Address : City/Town: Prov/State: Postal Code/Zip: Phone: Home ( ) - Work: ( ) - Type of Accommodation Requested: Twin/Double or Single Departure City: Roommate (if known): If unknown, would you like us to find you a roommate? PRIVACY: Rostad Tours is committed to respecting and protecting your privacy. The main purpose of collecting your personal information is to arrange travel products and services for you. Accordingly, personal information required for this purpose may be shared with airlines, hotels, cruise lines, travel insurance companies, tour operators and other travel-related vendors. It may also be used to provide you with information regarding future travel opportunities. We will not sell or trade your personal information with third parties. Our complete Privacy Policy is available at our website at or, if you wish, we can send you a copy via or by postal mail. PAYMENT INFORMATION Deposit Required (per person): $300x = Total: Deposit is fully refundable until January, 205 Payment Method: Visa Mastercard Cheque (made payable to Rostad Tours) Credit Card # Expires: / Month/Year Cardholder Name: Please note that we reserve the right to have credit card payments processed by third parties such as Cardholder Signature: airlines, cruise lines, etc. Mail with payment to either address below: 727 Strathcona Dr. SW Calgary, AB T3H P2 OR Rostad Tours 0, 309 Palliser Drive SW Calgary, AB Canada T2V 4W5