BEST OF PERU TOUR DAYS: 9 DAYS / 7 NIGHTS TOUR STYLE: GUARANTEED DEPARTURE / SMALL GROUP TOUR GROUP SIZE: Maximum of 22 CANADA/USA - LIMA CUSCO SACRED VALLEY MACHU PICCHU USCO - LAKE TITICACA LIMA CANADA/USA TOUR SUMMARY: Arrive in the capital city, Lima, before taking a flight to Cuzco, to join a train ride through the sacred valley of Urubamba to the "Lost City of the Incas," Machu Picchu. Explore the ancient city of Cuzco and marvel with the nearby ruins of Sacsayhuaman fortress, an imposing example of Inca military architecture. Continue the journey, as it takes you higher into the mountains, to the shores of Lake Titicaca where you will board a boat to the Uros and Taquile Islands. Return to Lima, where the tour ends after spending a day to discovering this cosmopolitan coastal city. TOUR HIGHLIGHTS: See the world famous Inca ruins at Machu Picchu Visit the impressive man made islands on Lake Titicaca Admire the colonial architecture of the capital city, Lima Soak up the colonial charm of the Sacred Valley and Cuzco Train ride to Machu Picchu
TOUR PRICE & DEPARTURES: TOUR STARTING DATE Toronto Calgary Vancouver Montreal Single Sup 20-Nov-15 CA$ 2199 CA$ 2599 CA$ 2499 CA$ 2299 $ 525 27-Nov-15 CA$ 2199 CA$ 2599 CA$ 2499 CA$ 2299 $ 525 15-Jan-16 CA$ 2299 CA$ 2699 CA$ 2599 CA$ 2399 $ 575 11-Mar-16 CA$ 2299 CA$ 2699 CA$ 2599 CA$ 2399 $ 575 16-Apr-16 CA$ 2299 CA$ 2699 CA$ 2599 CA$ 2399 $ 575 21-May-16 CA$ 2299 CA$ 2699 CA$ 2599 CA$ 2399 $ 575 18-Jun-16 CA$ 2499 CA$ 2899 CA$ 2799 CA$ 2599 $ 575 16-Jul-16 CA$ 2499 CA$ 2899 CA$ 2799 CA$ 2599 $ 575 20-Aug-16 CA$ 2299 CA$ 2699 CA$ 2599 CA$ 2399 $ 575 17-Sep-16 CA$ 2299 CA$ 2699 CA$ 2599 CA$ 2399 $ 575 TOUR LODGING INFO: 7 Nights Hotel + Overnight flights Accommodation will be provided on a twin sharing basis CITIES NIGHTS HOTELS SACRED VALLEY 02 NIGHTS SAN AUGUSTIN HOTEL CUSCO 02 NIGHTS POSADA DEL INCA/CASA ANDINA CLASSIC PUNO 02 NIGHTS CASA ANDINA CLASSIC LIMA 01 NIGHT CASA ANDINA CLASSIC/IBIS Upgrade to Superior Hotels for C$ 375 (US$315) per person in DBL room & C$ 665 (US$550) per person in a SGL CITIES NIGHTS HOTELS SACRED VALLEY 02 NIGHTS CASA ANDINA PRIVATE COLLECTION CUSCO 02 NIGHTS SONESTA HOTEL PUNO 02 NIGHTS CASA ANDINA PRIVATE COLLECTION LIMA 01 NIGHT CASA ANDINA PRIVATE COLLECTION TOUR PACKAGE INCLUDES: Accommodation on a twin sharing basis at listed hotels or similar Daily buffet breakfast 2 special lunches Transportation by deluxe vehicle Return airport transfers Baggage handling at airports and hotels All bus tickets, train tickets and entrance fees as per the itinerary Excursion to Machu Picchu aboard the expedition train (Upgrade to Vistadome train service for an additional CAD 85 (US$70) per person) English Speaking local guides as per the itinerary Domestic airfare Lima Cusco & Juliaca - Lima
International Airfare with taxes & fuel surcharge TOUR PACKAGE DOES NOT INCLUDE: Meals not mentioned as being included Beverages with meals Items of a personal nature Tips & Gratuities Optional tours Travel Insurance Visa fees Items not mentioned as being included TOUR ITINERARY: Please note that this tour will be locally escorted. We strongly believe in using guides with special regional knowledge at the destination and therefore experienced local experts will handle your sightseeing arrangements in each city. In addition, they will offer suggestions for your free time, recommendations for local restaurants, and insider tips so you can experience the destination the way a local would. While every city may feature a new guide, each with strong ties, unparalleled access, and invaluable information about the destination, you can rest assured that you will also be taken good care of during your transfers within the country. When flying;, local guides will receive you as you arrive at the airport so you will be in knowledgeable, safe hands the moment you arrive in a new city. During land transfers, you will have a dedicated driver available for any questions you may have. DAY 01: CANADA Make your own way to your gateway airport for your international flight to Lima. Enjoy in flight meals and services. DAY 02: LIMA CUSCO URUBAMBA SACRED VALLEY (B) On arrival at Lima International Airport you will connect to your domestic flight to Cuzco; a short but spectacular flight over the snowcapped Andes to the oldest inhabited city in the hemisphere, Cusco, at an elevation of 11,440 feet. Upon arrival you ll be met and transferred to Urubamba in the Sacred Valley. Overnight in Urubamba DAY 03: SACRED VALLEY (B) Day at leisure or perhaps take an optional tour to visit Pisac Market and Ollantaytambo. Overnight in Urubamba Optional: Full Day Excursion to the Pisac Indian Market and the Ollantaytambo Fortress CAD 180 (US$150) per person This morning depart for a drive through the fertile countryside of the Urubamba Valley to the colonial village of Pisac where the famous Indian Market takes place Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays. Other days you will tour the religious nucleus and archaeological site of Pisac. During your visit to the bustling marketplace you will have the opportunity to bargain with the locals for many different types of Peruvian handicrafts and jewelry. Continue on to the Ollantaytambo archaeological complex, the Incas built it as a fort that included a temple, agricultural terraces, and an urban area. There are two distinct sectors: the religious and worship zone, and the residential area. Ollantaytambo was an important administrative center with probable military functions if one considers the walls and towers. There are also traces of ancient roads and aqueducts. The town of Ollantaytambo is called a "Living Inca Town" since the inhabitants maintain very old practices and customs. Lunch is at a beautiful country estate on the shores of the Urubamba River. DAY 04: SACRED VALLEY MACHU PICCHU CUSCO (B) This morning travel on the Expedition train through the sacred Urubamba Valley to the "Lost City of the Incas" Machu Picchu. Perched 8,200 feet above the valley, it was hidden by mountains and semi-tropical jungles for 400 years until discovered by Hiram Bingham of Yale University in 1911. Archaeologists believe that the Inca "Virgins of the Sun" took refuge from the Spanish Conquistadors here. On arrival at Aguas Calientes you will transfer to a
shuttle service for a drive up the switch back road to the ruins. A knowledgeable tour guide will share the history of this mystical place of the Inca. This afternoon take the train back to Cusco, where you will be met and transferred to your hotel in Cusco. Overnight in Cusco Optional: Enjoy lunch at the Orient Express Sanctuary Lodge CAD 60 (US$50) per person, located just a few steps from the Inca citadel. DAY 05: CUSCO (B) After breakfast enjoy a tour of the oldest continuously inhabited city in the western hemisphere, Cusco and its nearby ruins. This gives you a chance to see how the Andean and Spanish cultures co-existed and influenced the city. The tour starts at Santo Domingo Convent, built on the site of Koricancha, which was an important ancient Inca palace and center of worship of the Sun God. The tour continues to the Main Square, site of the Cathedral and the La Compañía Church. Later we visit the imposing Sacsayhuaman Fortress, just one example of the military Inca architecture in the area. Finally, the tour heads to the nearby archaeological sites of Qenko, Puca-Pucara and Tambomachay, which can be found to the north east of the city. Overnight in Cusco DAY 06: CUSCO PUNO (B/L) The tourist coach trip to Puno takes most of the day stopping at various sites along the way and today is one of South America's most extraordinary overland trips The scenery of the South Valley of Cusco is spectacular and ideal for great photography. Lunch will be served at a restaurant en-route. On your way visit Racchi also named the Temple of the God Wiracocha, this Inca temple is a monumental 100 meters in length, 26 meters in width and 14 meters in height. Divided in two naves, each of these still retains the bases of eleven giant columns. The base of the walls consists of Imperial Inca stonework with a top section of adobe. Adjacent to the temple, we can see many storehouses, used for various purposes: social, religious and military. Andahuaylillas is referred to as the Andean Sistine Chapel because of its magnificent frescoes; the church is but one example of the mestizo baroque architecture typical of the Cuzco School which was prominent in the 17th century. You will marvel at the ceiling of carved panels covered with gold leaf. The next stop will be La Raya the highest pass on the route between Cuzco and Puno, La Raya is 4,335 meters (14,218 f.) above sea level. Beautiful landscapes await you, as well as the animals that are symbolic of the Andes: llamas, alpacas and vicunas. This is a region situated between two cultures, Quechua and Aymara, as well as a composite of two terrains: the dry and arid Altiplano and the more verdant Quechua valleys and rivers. Visit Pucara the most important and oldest ceremonial site this side of Tiahuanaco. Characterized by a series of satire platforms, the ruins also reveal some lito-sculptures and tombstones, all witnesses of a pre-inca civilization, possibly one at the origin of the Andean culture of the Altiplano. Upon your arrival in Puno, a host will meet and assist you in transferring to the hotel and help you to register. Overnight in Puno DAY 07: UROS AND TAQUILE ISLANDS ON LAKE TITICACA (B/L) Enjoy a boat excursion to the Uros and Taquile Islands on Lake Titicaca. This full day excursion will take you to the highest navigable lake in the world to the floating islands of the Uros Indians, man-made islands by tying totora reeds. The Uros considered themselves Lords of the Lake; they hunt wild birds and maintain traditional fishing methods. The men have developed an extraordinary skill in weaving reeds; producing houses, boats and handicrafts, and the women are expert knitters. Continuing to Taquile where a native community of about 400 families still lives with the traditions and high principals of the Incas. Taquile is a very important site on Lake Titicaca for its archeological remains, the sacred and ceremonial sites, the festive activities and their rituals. Taquile is characterized by its friendly inhabitants, who maintain their customs and traditional clothing. They distinguish themselves by their detailed, fine, and colorful textiles with symmetrical decorations and symbols that reflect their way of life and Andean beliefs. Overnight in Puno DAY 08: PUNO LIMA (B) Today you will be transferred to the airport at Juliaca for a flight back to Lima; the "City of Kings" famous for its Spanish Colonial architecture, extraordinary museums and cuisine. Lima is internationally recognized as
the "Gastronomic Capital of the Americas", and its cuisine is considered among the most diverse and exquisite in the world on par with French cuisine. Upon arrival you will be met and transferred to your hotel. Enjoy the remainder of the day at leisure. Overnight in Lima DAY 09: LIMA - CANADA (B) Enjoy your day at leisure or perhaps book an optional tour to explore the capital city of Peru. This evening you will be transferred back to Lima International Airport for your return flight back to Canada. Optional: half Day Modern and Colonial Lima including the world famous Larco Museum CAD 90 (US$75) per person This half day tour visits both the colonial and modern sections of Lima. Colonial sites include the lovely Plaza Mayor, the Government Palace, San Francisco Church and the exquisite Torre Tagle Palace modern day seat of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. In modern Lima, drive along the exclusive residential areas of Miraflores and San Isidro. Then to the Larco Museum, founded in 1926, it displays remarkable chronological galleries providing an excellent overview on 3000 years of development of Peruvian pre-columbian history. Located in a unique vice-royal mansion of the 18th century built over a 7th century pre-columbian pyramid is surrounded by beautiful gardens. The Larco Museum also features the finest gold and silver collection from Ancient Peru and the famous erotic archaeological collection, one of the most visited Peruvian tourist attractions. END OF OUR SERVICES TOUR CANCELLATION POLICY: You may cancel your booking at any time prior to commencement of the tour by notifying us in writing, which must be signed by the person that signed the Reservation Form. Depending on the type/style of tour you have booked the cancellation charges will be as follows. In light of this we highly recommend travel Land & Air Inclusive Tours: Amount of Cancellation Charges: 100% non-refundable Land Only Tours: Amount of Cancellation Charges: 75-31 Days before the first day of the tour 50% Less than 30 Days before arrival 100% CHANGES BY YOU: If you request any changes to your travel arrangements once we have confirmed a booking, all out of pocket charges, including charges imposed by our suppliers, will be payable by you, plus an amendment fee of $50.00 per revision per booking. If after the commencement of your tour you request any changes to your travel arrangements, we will do our best to implement them, but we cannot guarantee that it will be possible. In the event of such change(s) being made, you will be liable for any cancellation charges that may be levied for the previously booked service and for any costs incurred by us and our suppliers in attempting to secure any revised arrangements. Any name changes must be provided to us in writing and are subject to any airline fees or penalties. HOW TO BOOK: If you are happy with the arrangements outlined within this itinerary and would like to book, please forward your completed booking form and the deposit. If you would like to revise the itinerary, feel free to contact us and we can prepare another version which will hopefully match your requirements. The deposit is 50% of the total cost for land only packages, plus any applicable insurance premiums. Payment can be done d by cheque, bank transfer or credit card (Visa & MasterCard only).
PASSPORT & VISAS: All Passengers are responsible for securing proper documentation prior to joining the tour. Passports are required; in addition travelers are advised to check with local consulates for full details regarding Visa requirements. Please note securing a valid visa for entry is sole responsibility of the traveler.