CLASSICPERU 9 days 8 nightss Lima Arequipa Puno Cuzco Colombia Ecuador Brazil Pacific Ocean Lima Cuzco Arequipa Puno Bolivia Lake Titicaca Chile
Day 1: LIMA Upon arrival in Lima you will be transferred from the airport to your hotel. With its mild climate, the Peruvian capital is a hospitable, interesting, gourmet city. In the afternoon we will visit colonial Lima; the tour includes the main attractions of Lima, including Plaza San Martín, the Main Square, Government Palace, Cathedral, Archbishop s Palace, Municipal Palace, Santo Domingo Church and the old streets with their colonial mansions and Moorish style balconies. You will also visit the church and convent of San Francisco, with its famous catacombs. The tour also includes the residential areas of San Isidro, with the El Olivar Park, and Miraflores, with its Central Park. Lima, Main Square Day 2: LIMA / AREQUIPA You will be transferred to the airport in the morning for the flight to Arequipa, a city situated at an altitude of 2,363 meters and surrounded by imposing volcanoes. Upon arrival you will be transferred to your hotel. In the afternoon we will visit the city, one of the best conserved in all Peru. The tour includes Santa Catalina convent, which dates from the 16th century and is a true jewel of the colonial period. Lima Gourmet Arequipa, Santa Catalina Convent Day 3: AREQUIPA / PUNO In the morning you will be transferred to the station for the bus from Arequipa to Juliaca. This is a 5-hour trip through the imposing scenery of the high Andes. Upon your arrival at Juliaca bus station, you will be met by the guide who will escort you on a visit to the famous funerary towers of Sillustani. The beautiful setting of Lake Umayo, below the archaeological site, contributes to the overall splendor of the site. From here we will continue to the city of Puno, located at an altitude of 3810 meters and home to a predominantly indigenous population. Upon arrival you will transferred to your hotel.
Day 5: PUNO / CUZCO Puno, Lago Titicaca la isla de los Uros Cuzco, Main Square Day 4: LAGO TITICACA Today will be devoted to a full-day excursion on Lake Titicaca, the sacred lake of the Incas. You will visit the unique floating islands of the Uros Indians, whose existence is based on their use of the local totora reed. From here we will continue by launch to Taquile, an island of marvelous forms and colors at the heart of Lake Titicaca. The steel blue of the lake contrasts with the green fields and red flowers of the island, while the horizon is dominated by the majestic peaks of the Cordillera Real, in Bolivia. The inhabitants of Taquile are expert weavers. Lunch is included. In the morning you will be transferred to the bus station for the journey to the city of Cuzco. This is a very interesting route. We cross vast grasslands before reaching the valley of the Vilcanota River, the sacred waterway of the Incas. Our route takes us past the picturesque villages of Pucará, Tinta (home of the celebrated revolutionary figure Tupac Amaru II) and Urcos. We will arrive in Cuzco in the afternoon. This is the archaeological capital of the Americas, and the starting point for our visit to Machu Picchu. You will be transferred to your hotel upon arrival. Lunch is included. Day 6: CUZCO You will have the morning free to enjoy this magical city at 3400 meters above sea level. In the afternoon, we will visit the Main Square (Plaza de Armas), certainly one of the most beautiful city squares in the world. The architecture of the Incas and the Spaniards is exquisitely combined, particularly in the case of the Dominican church of Santo Domingo, built over the walls of Koricancha, the Inca temple of the sun. We will then visit the important Inca archaeological sites of Sacsayhuaman (a great fortress), Qenko (oracle and sacred shrine) and Tambomachay (ceremonial baths). Cusco, Sacsayhuaman Fortress
Day 7: MACHU PICCHU Today we will leave Cuzco by train to visit the lost city of the Incas, discovered in 1911 by the American historian Hiram Bingham. Recently declared one of the New Seven Wonders of the World, Machu Picchu is certainly one of those places everyone should visit at some point in their life. You will have lunch in a local restaurant in the small town of Aguas Calientes before making the return journey by train to Cuzco, where you will be transferred to your hotel. Day 8: SACRED VALLEY During this full-day excursion we will visit the Sacred Valley of the Incas, a place of incomparable beauty. The trip begins in Pisac, an exquisite little town of narrow, cobbled streets and wood-burning ovens. Above the town can be seen the agricultural terraces and stone structures of the Inca settlement of the same name. This community is famous for its craft market, where elaborate blankets, alpaca clothing and other handcrafts can be seen and purchased. We will enjoy a rustic lunch dominated by the aroma of corn that characterizes the valley. The charming village of Ollantaytambo marks the end of the Sacred Valley. Located at an altitude of 2750 meters, Ollantaytambo has a mild climate. Visitors who walk its streets can imagine themselves transported back for a moment to the past, so strong is the Inca presence here. The upper part of the village is dominated by a fabulous temple which also served as a fortress. Return to Cuzco Day 9: CUZCO / LIMA This morning you will be transferred to the airport for your flight to Lima and connecting international flight. Sacrted Valley Chinchero, Fair Machu Picchu
EXTENSIONS Puerto Maldonado Paracas Nazca - Paracas Trujillo - Chiclayo
EXTENSIONS Puerto Maldonado Hacienda Concepción Lodge 3 days 2 ights Ecuador Colombia Brazil Pacific Ocean Lima Cuzco Puerto Maldonado Bolivia Lake Titicaca Chile Day 1: CUSCO / PUERTO MALDONADO The trip begins with your arrival at Puerto Maldonado. Allow yourself to be surrounded by the jungle as we travel by motorized canoe along the Madre de Dios River as far as Hacienda Concepción (approximately 26 minutes downriver). Enjoy a buffet lunch made from organic ingredients with all the flavors of the forest. After lunch we will walk the Concepción Trails. A series of nature trails surrounds the lodge, and as you discover them for yourself you will learn more about the primary and secondary forest, its component parts, uses, the transformations made by mankind, and the relevance of the forest for the world. After sundown, take a canoe excursion on the river by night. Navigating the Madre de Dios River, you will learn about its ecosystems, Amazonian valleys, the behavior of nocturnal fauna, and the constellations of the southern hemisphere. That evening dinner will be served in the lodge s dining room. Leaf cutter Ants
Day 2: PUERTO MALDONADO New emotions await you, and after a nutritious buffet breakfast it will be time to prepare for a long walk through the Tambopata National Reserve as far as Lake Sandoval. Here you will begin to understand why the Madre de Dios region is known throughout the world as the biodiversity capital of Peru. You will learn about the conservation work being undertaken within the reserve and discover how the lake was formed as we explore the entire length of this body of water, home to the endangered giant river otter (Pteronura brasiliensis), the blue and yellow macaw (Ara ararauna), the howler monkey (Alouatta seniculus), the black caiman (Melanosuchus niger) and one of the world s largest fresh water fish, the paiche (Arapaima gigas). We will return to the lodge at lunchtime. Later, it will be time to prepare again, this time for the canopy walkway and the Anaconda Trail. A 20-minute trip by motorized canoe will take you to the Canopy Visitors Center, where you will learn about the construction of the canopy walk and the NGO ITA-Inkaterra Association s projects. It will then be time to climb one of the 30-meter towers (98 feet) and cross the seven suspension bridges that connect the 28-meter (91 feet) treetops. Enjoy the majestic views and take the opportunity to observe red-billed toucans (Ramphastos tucanus), hummingbirds, trogons, squirrel monkeys (Saimiri boliviensis) and three-toed sloths (Choleopus hoffmani). After returning to ground level, we will continue to enjoy the incredible atmosphere of the primary forest as we take 30 minutes to cross the 200 meter long wooden bridge that crosses the wetlands. We will return to the lodge to enjoy our evening meal. Sandoval Lake Day 3: PUERTO MALDONADO / LIMA Enjoy a nutritious buffet breakfast before setting off. This morning we will travel by motorized canoe back to Puerto Maldonado, where you will visit the Inkaterra Lounge (Butterfly Garden). Here you will be able to relax as you wait for your flight to Lima. Canopy walk
EXTENSIONS Paracas 3 days 2 nights Ecuador Colombia Brazil Pacific Ocean Lima Paracas Bolivia Lake Titicaca Chile It is said that the marvelous south of Peru begins in Ica. And that would appear to be the case, for here the geography seems to change suddenly, and an immense desert, dotted with oases, awaits us in this land of high temperatures. This region is home to the Paracas National Reserve, a wonderful coastal wildlife refuge. This is the habitat of seals, Humboldt penguins, otters, flamingoes and many species of seabirds. Day 1: LIMA / PARACAS ou will be transferred to the station for the scheduled bus service to Paracas, which leaves at 7:00 AM (this is a 3 ½ journey). Easily accessible from Lima, Paracas is a delight which should not be missed by those who love biodiversity. Upon arrival you will be transferred to your hotel, and you will have the afternoon free to relax. Optional: Flight over the Nazca Lines from Pisco. Evening meal and overnight accommodation Nazca Lines
Day 2: PARACAS We will leave in the morning by motorboat for the Ballestas Islands. This is a two-hour excursion. During the trip we will be able to observe the Candelabro, a figure etched into the Paracas peninsula that resembles an enormous trident, the origin of which remains a mystery. The Ballestas Islands are home to hundreds of seals and thousands of birds, including cormorants and Inca terns. With luck, we may even spot dolphins and Humboldt penguins. Evening meal and overnight accommodation. Optional: Dune buggy and sandboarding A drive through the deserts of Ica by dune buggy will enable us to access the remote areas composed of small rocky hills between 5 and 25 meters in height that surround the valley, and enjoy all the emotion of an exciting adventure This excursion includes sandboarding, which can be practiced on any one of a number of dunes. Islas Ballestas Day 3: PARACAS / LIMA In the morning you will be escorted to the station for the return scheduled bus ride to the city of Lima. Buggy
EXTENSIONES Nazca - Paracas 3 days 2 nights Ecuador Colombia Brazil Pacific Ocean Lima Paracas Nazca Bolivia Lake Titicaca Chile Day 1: LIMA / NAZCA You will be transferred to the station for the scheduled bus trip to Nazca, which leaves at 7:00 AM (it is a 7 ½ hour journey). Upon arrival you will be escorted to your hotel. Evening meal and overnight accommodation. Day 2: NAZCA / PARACAS Optional: Flight over the Nazca Lines. Approximately 22 kilometers from Nazca, on the Pan-American Highway, the famous Nazca Lines are located. They have been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Incredibly, the silhouettes of a hummingbird, monkey, whale, spider, dog and humanoid, among other figures, can only be fully appreciated from the air. We will leave by scheduled bus for Paracas, which is a delight that should not be missed by those who love biodiversity. Upon arrival you will be escorted to your hotel. Evening meal and overnight accommodation. Paracas
Day 3: PARACAS We will leave in the morning by motorboat for the Ballestas Islands. This is a two-hour excursion. During the trip we will be able to observe the Candelabro, a figure etched into the Paracas peninsula that resembles an enormous trident, the origin of which remains a mystery. The Ballestas Islands are home to hundreds of seals and thousands of birds, including cormorants and Inca terns. With luck, we may even spot dolphins and Humboldt penguins. Optional: Dune buggy and sandboarding A drive through the deserts of Ica by dune buggy will enable us to access the remote areas composed of small rocky hills between 5 and 25 meters in height that surround the valley, and enjoy all the emotion of an exciting adventure This excursion includes sandboarding, which can be practiced on any one of a number of dunes. Evening meal and overnight accommodation Candelabro Día 4: PARACAS / LIMA Por la mañana traslado hacia la estación para tomar el bus regular hacia Lima. Buggy
NORTHERN EXTENSION Trujillo - Chiclayo 3 days 2 nights Ecuador Colombia Chiclayo Trujillo Brazil Pacific Ocean Lima Bolivia Lake Titicaca Chile Day 1: LIMA / TRUJILLO You will be transferred to the airport for the flight to the city of Trujillo, where upon arrival you will be escorted to your hotel. Evening meal in a local restaurant. Overnight accommodation. Typical large houses Day 2: TRUJILLO Today we will visit the Temples (or Huacas) of the Sun and Moon, one of the most important shrines of ancient Peru. Huaca de la Luna was a religious center for the Moche culture. The monumental structure is composed of a series of temples. We will have lunch in a local restaurant in the seaside resort of Huanchaco, a picturesque fishing community where the traditional so-called caballitos de totora, or reed rafts, are still used to surf, side-by-side with modern surfboards. After lunch we will visit Chan Chan, considered the largest mud brick city of pre-hispanic America. The site covers an area of 24 square kilometers and is composed of a series of walls decorated with relief designs, palaces and water channels. The city would have been home to one hundred thousand inhabitants and was the capital of the Chimu state, conquered by the Incas in 1450. Accommodation.
Day 3: TRUJILLO / CHICLAYO / LIMA We will leave by private vehicle for Chiclayo (around 3 hours). Along the way we will visit the El Brujo Archaeological Center, where the tomb and mummified remains of the Moche ruler known as the Lady of Cao were discovered. We will also visit the famous Royal Tombs of Sipán Museum, located in the welcoming town of Lambayeque. One of the most modern museums in South America, the Royal Tombs of Sipán Museum displays the objects discovered in the eleven tombs unearthed in 1997, including items made from gold, silver and turquoise. The most luxurious of these tombs belonged to the Lord of Sipán. After lunch in a local restaurant you will be transferred to the airport at Chiclayo for your flight to the city of Lima. Trujillo, Huaca de la Luna Lambayeque, Huaca Rajada
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