Essence of the Inca World

Essence of the Inca World

2 Essence of the Inca World 05 Days / 04 Nights Sacred Valley of the Incas (2 nights) Machu Picchu (1 night) Cusco (1 night) Our excursions include a private guide and driver, your own vehicle to go where and when you want, selected hotels, all meals, taxes, fees, a trip concierge with a local phone and an arrival kit.. Price per Person: Authentic: $3,060.58 (Single Supplement $831.85) Upgraded: $3,803.83 (Single Supplement $1,499.20) Simplified: $2,551.37 (Single Supplement $420.63)

3 Summary Day 1 SACRED VALLEY Private transfer from Cusco airport to your hotel in the Sacred Valley Lunch in Cusco at Incanto Excursion to Pisac Market and Ruins Dinner and overnight at your Sacred Valley hotel (Authentic at Sol y Luna Casita Deluxe, upgraded at Sol y Luna Casita Premium, Simplified at Sonesta Posadas del Inca Yucay ) Day 2 SACRED VALLEY Morning excursion to Chinchero, including a visit to Callañaupa textile centre Gourmet outdoor lunch in the Sacred Valley Afternoon Excursion to Maras salt mines and Moray archaeological centre Dinner and overnight at your hotel in Sacred Valley Day 3 SACRED VALLEY / MACHU PICCHU Morning excursion to Ollantaytambo, including a visit to Catcco museum Vistadome Train from Ollantaytambo to Aguas Calientes/Machu Picchu Afternoon Nature Treks at Inkaterra Lunch, dinner and overnight at your hotel in Machu Picchu (Upgraded at Inkaterra Machu Picchu Pueblo Junior Suite, Authentic at Inkaterra Machu Picchu Pueblo Superior, Simplified at El Mapi) Day 4 MACHU PICCHU / CUSCO Private excursion to Machu Picchu Lunch at Machu Picchu Sanctuary Lodge Vistadome train from Aguas Calientes to Ollantaytambo and continue with a Private transfer from Ollantaytambo train station to Cusco Dinner at MAP Café Overnight at your hotel in Cusco (Authentic at Hotel Monasterio Junior Suite, Upgraded at Inkaterra La Casona Suite Patio, Simplified at Novotel Cusco Colonial) Day 5 CUSCO / LAKE TITICACA Morning exploration of the City Transfer to airport End of our services End of Our Services

4 Essence of the Inca World Designed for couples, small groups and families who have visited Asia, Africa or India and want to continue their voyage of discovery of enriching destinations; for those who wish continue to explore, taste, discover, and meander their way around the world. The trip is carefully crafted for savvy travelers who expect the best service, top hotels, memorable meals, outstanding value and flexible schedules. Significant Living Cultures & Astonishing Traditions Peru is a living museum, an open history book and a melting pot of cultures. A trip to Peru will expose visitors to the oldest civilizations in America, complex pre-colonial worlds, the vast Inca Empire, a rich Spanish colonial past, early Republican and contemporary cultures. This diverse heritage coexists with a rich mix of migrant cultures from Europe, Africa and Asia in a true melting pot of eclectic experience to its visitors. Diverse Nature & Tremendous Open Space Peru is a vast county, the size of Spain, France and the UK together, with a dramatic landscape including diverse geological zones, impressive national parks, Pacific coast, protected glacier peaks and vast Amazon regions. This unique geography is complemented with the longest river, the deepest canyon, highest waterfall and the highest lake. In addition to omnipotent geography, Peru is renowned for its tremendous biodiversity. Diverse Flavors, Vibrant Colors & Continuous Beats Peru is replete of unique colors, splendid traditions and famous cuisine. The Andes and the Amazon provide the perfect setting to grow unique and rich ingredients providing poignant colors, and stark contrasts of pastel hues. The melodious sound of Andean flutes, the hearty beat of the Afro Peruvian box and the soothing trance of a lone harpist give Peru the reputation as a vibrant and lively destination.

DAY 01 AMAZON RAINFOREST/CUSCO/SACRED VALLEY OF THE INCAS (9000 ft. 2735 m.a.s.l.) 5 Upon arrival at the Lima Airport, you will be welcomed by our Guest Services Representative who will provide your welcoming kit, containing a detailed itinerary, maps, general recommendations for each destination, bag tags as well as a mobile phone so that you may contact your Experiences Concierge 24/7 during your trip. You will be guided to connect to your flight to Cusco. Upon arrival in Cusco Airport, you will be welcomed by our Guest Services Representative and transferred to a restaurant, located near the Main Square; offering its guests a wide variety of Italian, pasta and grill dishes. After lunch, you will be transferred to the Sacred Valley of the Incas. The Sacred Valley has a moderate altitude, pleasant climate, and picturesque villages. It offers a great opportunity to explore Inca sites, local artisan markets, and if you choose, to do some adventure hiking or rafting. Excursion to Pisac Ruins and its Traditional Market. (Alternatives available: Pisac Ruins, Pisac Market, Chinchero or Ollantaytambo.) Transfer to the town of Pisac in the Sacred Valley (Approximate time of travel: 1hour, 20minutes). The small Main Square is filled wall-to-wall with stalls selling the full range of Peruvian handicrafts: alpaca sweaters and mittens, carved gourds, ceramics, felt hats, musical instruments, paintings, antiques, trinkets, jewelry and most of all, weavings. Visit the mountaintop complex including overlooks, terraces and the main temple, next to the town of Pisac. It is known for its small, polished stones that fit perfectly together. In the main ruins, which are reached by a twohour, uphill hike, you will find temples of the sun, moon, rain, rainbow, and stars, as well as a few Inca crosses rising from the ground. Among the most important buildings in the area are Pisaca, which is a fine curving wall, the Intihuatana group of temples and the military area, called Q Allaqasa. Dinner and overnight at your hotel in the Sacred Valley.

6 DAY 02 SACRED VALLEY OF THE INCAS Excursion to Chinchero, Nilda and Maras & Moray(Alternatives available: Chinchero and Nilda, Pisac Ruins, Pisac Market, Pisac Ruins & Market, Ollantaytambo, Maras & Moray, Pisac Market & Ollantaytambo, Pisac Ruins & Ollantaytambo, Chinchero & Ollantaytambo, Pisac Ruins & Market & Ollantaytambo, Full day River Rafting or Half Day Mountain Bike). After breakfast, we will visit Chinchero, a small Andean village, located high up on the windswept plains of Anta (12,340 ft. 3750 m.a.s.l.), about 18 miles from Cusco. (Approximate time of travel: 45 minutes). Surrounded by dramatic views, you will find the village of Chincheros which overlooks the Sacred Valley of the Incas, the Cordillera Vilcabamba and the snow-capped peak of Salcantay. Chinchero means the birthplace of the rainbow in Quechua. On this day, you will visit Inca ruins, a typical Andean village and a colonial church. The keen photographer should be on the lookout for dramatic mountain landscapes and bright colors from the traditional markets. Afterwards, you visit Nilda Callañaupa Textile Center famous for the handmade textiles. Witness a live demonstration in the ancient art of weaving. Enjoy a gourmet outdoor picnic lunch. Continue your excursion through the sites of Maras and Moray. First, stop at the ancient salt mines, nearby the town of Maras, which may be glanced from an old chapel just above it. Later, visit the huge circular agricultural terraces at Moray. It has been suggested that they have a cosmological meaning; however, the Incas are thought to have used them as a kind of crop laboratory to determine the optimal conditions of planting each species. Dinner and overnight at your hotel in Sacred Valley.

DAY 03 SACRED VALLEY /MACHUPICCHU (8000 ft. 2430 m.a.s.l.) 7 After breakfast at your hotel, you will be transferred to Ollantaytambo Train Station (Approximate time of travel: 30 minutes). En route you will visit Ollantaytambo (8800 ft. 2675 m.a.s.l.), the oldest continuously occupied settlement in the Americas. It demonstrates the best surviving example of Inca city planning. This Inca fortress with its extremely well built walls was also a temple. The temple area is at the top of steep terracing, which helped to provide excellent defenses. The stones for Ollantaytambo were taken from a nearby quarry on the mountainside on the opposite bank of the river - an incredible feat involving the efforts of thousands of workers. For guests staying at Inkaterra Machu Picchu Pueblo: You have the evening at leisure to relax or enjoy some of the hotel s most charming attractions. This includes the reading room, scores of pre-columbian artefacts in the main dining room and the lounge s crackling fireplaces. If you wish to pamper yourself, unwind in the Andean sauna, an igloo made from indigenous bamboo and fresh eucalyptus leaves. Additionally, you may want to take part in one of the many suggested excursions. This includes a birdwatching walk, a nature trail, a twilight walk, an orchid tour, organic tea processing and evening nature shows. Dinner a la carte at the Main Restaurant. Overnight at your hotel in Machu Picchu. Located nearby the gates to the fortress, CATCCO Museum and Cultural Center of Ollantaytambo promotes traditional culture and technology within the district of Ollantaytambo. It has a Museum Shop with textile and ceramic products from the surrounding communities. Board the train to Machu Picchu. The Vistadome service includes carriages with panoramic windows which enhance the scenic view. During the journey a light snack is provided. (Approximate time of travel by train: 1 hour, 30 minutes). You will be welcomed at the Aguas Calientes train station by the hotel s representatives. A short walk with a hotel representative takes you to the Inkaterra Machu Picchu Pueblo Hotel. Lunch at Café Inkaterra and evening at your leisure.

8 DAY 04 MACHU PICCHU/CUSCO (10,900 ft. 3310 m.a.s.l) Machu Picchu Citadel Excursion. (Options available: Machu Picchu & Huayna Picchu, Mandor Waterfalls or Putukusi Mountain). Buffet breakfast at the hotel followed by a short walk from the hotel; take a 30-minute bus ride to Machu Picchu Citadel (8000 ft. 2432 m.a.s.l.). In ancient days, Machu Picchu served as the favored country retreat for the royal family and Inca nobility. Surrounded by mountains and cloud forests, this UNESCO World Heritage Site, is one of the world s most coveted destinations. You will explore the enigmatic citadel of Machu Picchu accompanied by your guide for three hours. Your expert guide will lead you through the site, providing Archaeological and historical information on key areas of interest, including Intihuatana (the Sun Dial), the Sacred Plaza and the Temple of the Sun. Additional points of interest in Machu Picchu are WaynaPicchu and Inti Punku (the Sun Gate), the entrance to the Machu Picchu Inca trail. After the excursion, enjoy lunch at Tinkuy Restaurant at the Sanctuary Lodge. You may leisurely explore the ruins before returning by bus to Aguas Calientes. Head to the train station where you will board the Vistadome Train back to the Sacred Valley. Upon arriving in the Sacred Valley you will be met by our Guest Services Representative and transferred to your hotel in Cusco. Enjoy dinner at modern Map Café located at Casa Cabrera, now the beautifully designed Pre-Columbian Art Museum. Overnight at your hotel in Cusco.

9 Cusco was the ancient capital and spiritual heart of the Inca Empire, as well as an important colonial centre. Strolling through its cobblestone streets, you will spot both, marvelous Incan architecture and Andean Baroque structures from the Colonial Period. Excursion of Cusco including the San Blas Neighborhood.(Options available: Visit to the Four Ruins, excursion of Cusco City & Four Ruins or Excursion of Cusco City & Sacsayhuaman.) After learning about the Cusco School of Art, you will even have the opportunity to visit one of Cusco s classic art workshops. Afterwards, our Guest Services Representative will accompany you to the airport and assist you prior to your flight. End of our services During the morning, enjoy a private guided excursion through the city of Cusco with its Inca walls, colorful costumes and legendary streets. Stroll with your guide around the Plaza de Armas (Main Square). As the main attraction and focal point of Cusco, this is the perfect spot to photograph architectural motifs or urban Cusqueños. Enjoy the beauty and attractiveness of the San Blas neighborhood, one of the most picturesque communities in Cusco. The city is characterized by its steep and narrow streets that zigzag among old colonial houses noticeably constructed over Incan relics.

10 Terms & Conditions Itinerary Includes: Hotels as indicated in the itinerary Meals as indicated in the itinerary Transfers, visits and excursions in private transportation Train Tickets (Vistadome Service) Bus tickets to and from Machu Picchu Citadel Entrance tickets to Machu Picchu Citadel Excursions and visits with local English speaking guide Tips for hotel and airport staff Entrance Fee to main archeological centers in Cusco Local airport taxes Booking Fee Itinerary Does Not Include: Hotels and meals not described in the itinerary Personal expenses Tickets to ruins or other unspecified Parks Local airfare International airfare. Local taxes (18% V.A.T. is applicable only to Peruvian and foreign resident of Peru, in order to be exempted you will need to show your passport and Andean Immigration Card). Please, note that this is a preliminary quote subject to availability; some changes might apply prior to confirmation. If you agree with this estimate, please send your confirmation by e-mail to start booking your reservations, and send you the final confirmed itinerary together with our Terms and Conditions. A 50% deposit is required to confirm the trip and the remaining 50% is due 65 days prior to the trip. Please note that certain services (trekking and cruises) have different payment and cancelation policies.

Peru Photo Safari of Nature and Culture Andean Experience - Peru Sáenz Peña 129 Barranco, Lima 04, Peru T. +51 1 700 5105, USA Toll Free: 1866 628 1777 Andean-experience.com