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Day 1 : LIMA PICK UP
Pick up upon arrival and overnight at Carmel Hotel or similar located in
Miraflores, Lima.
Day 2 : LIMA CITY TOUR AND GOLD MUSEUM
In the morning, Lima city tour (half day). You will be picked up from
your hotel at 09 a.m. The city tour begins with a visit to the Plaza the
Armas, which has been declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. Running
along two sides are arcades with shops: Portal de Escribanos and Portal
de Botoneros.
In the center of the Plaza is a bronze fountain dating back to 1560.
Located in the Plaza is the Cathedral, note the splendidly carved
stalls, the silver covered altars surrounded by fine woodwork, mosaic
covered walls bearing the coat of arms of Lima and Pizarro. Next to the
Cathedral is the Archbishop's Palace. Then you will visit the Monastery
of San Francisco. This is famous for the Sivillian tilework and paneled
ceiling in the cloisters, the catacombs under the church and part of the
monastery are well worth seeing.
You will visit the old colonial streets in the center of the city, and
the modern Lima with the district of San Isidro and Miraflores. Then you
will visit the Peruvian Gold Museum; this excellent private collection
includes pre-Columbian gold, silver and bronze, ceramics, weavings,
mummies, etc. The second floor of this museum is a remarkable arms
collections with an impressive exhibition from Spanish colonial times.
Overnight at Carmel Hotel or similar . (B,L)
Day 3 : PARACAS
Early in the morning transfer to the bus station, at 7:30 am you'll take
the Royal Class motor coach (best available) to Paracas (3 hours 1/2).
Upon arrival transfer to Posada del Emancipador Hotel or similar, then excursion to
Paracas of about 2 h. 30 min. Paracas is one of the best marine
reserves, with the highest concentration of marine birds. In the
afternoon return to the hotel and overnight (B)
Day 4 : BALLESTAS NAZCA LINES
At 7:15 in the morning transfer to the private dock in Hotel Paracas
where you will take a motorboat excursion to the Ballestas islands. This
islands are spectacular, eroded into numerous arches and caves, which
provide shelter for thousands of seabirds, some of which are very rare,
and seas lions. The islands are known as "the Galapagos of Peru", at the
end transfer to Nazca (2 hours aprox) where we will admire the famous
Nazca lines. Cut into the stony desert are large number of lines, not
only parallels and geometrical figures, but also designs such as a dog,
an enormous monkey, a bird with a wing span of over 100 meters, a spider
and a tree. The lines, that represent some sort of vast astronomical
pre-Inca calendar, are best seen from the air. We will take a half hour
flight above the Lines then you'll visit to the Chauchilla cemetery,
where skulls, mummies and pottery shards littering the desert. At 9:30
pm. you will take the motor coach Royal Class to Arequipa where you will
arrive early in the morning (6 am) transfer to La Gruta Hostal or
similar. (B)
Day 5 : AREQUIPA
Around 3 pm you will take the Arequipa half day city tour that includes
the visit at the Santa Catalina Monastery. The city has fine spanish
buildings and many old and interesting churches built of sillar, a
pearly white volcanic material almost exclusevely used in the
construction of Arequipa.
The Santa Catalina Convent is by far the most remarkable sight, opened
in 1970 after 4 centuries of mistery. Overnight at La Gruta Hostal or
similar.
(B)
Day 6 : COLCA CANYON
You will be picked up from your hotel at 08:00 am. Leave Arequipa
towards nor west direcction behind snow-covered Chachani, Yura, small
valley with thermal springs, see wild vicuñas in Pampa Cañahuas National
Reserve, alpacas and llamas in Tocra, some bidrs like flamingoes, ibis,
andean gooze, ducks, andean eagle "Kara Kara" view point of the
Volcanoes and snow covered mountains in Patapampa (4,800 m. - 15,000
ft.). See the Ampato, Sabancaya, Walca Walca, etc. Chivay, capital of
the valley. Afternoon visit to the termal springs and pools in La
Calera. (Admission to the pools not included, about $2 per person).
Overnight at Colca Lodge or similar. (B,L,D)
Day 7 : COLCA CANYON
Early morning after breakfast leave for a full day excursion in the left
shore, beautiful tipical towns, like Yanque & Maca, colonial churches,
gently people with tipical needlework dresses, hundreds of pre inca
terraces still in use with andean growings like corn, qinua, kiwicha (Amaranto),
etc.
Lookout of The Cross of the Condor: see the deep of the canyon and if we
have good the flight of the Condor. Stone scale models, some pre inca
graves. (Time for lunch). Return to Arequipa around 18:00 hrs. Overnight
at La Gruta Hostal or similar . (B,L) * Take note that not all the way
towards the Colca is asphalt paving .
Day 8 : PUNO
Transfer to the airport where you will take the flight to Puno (airfare
not
included), reception in the airport and transfer to the Qelqatani Hotel
or similar. In the afternoon visit at the Sillustani Chullpas
(pre-Colombian funeral towers). The scenery is desert but impressive, in
a beautiful setting on a peninsula on lake Ayumara about 32 Km. from
Puno. Most of the towers date from the period of Inca occupation in the
15th century, the engineering involved in their construction is more
complex than anything the Incas built. Overnight . (B)
Day 9 : UROS AND TAQUILE ISLANDS
You will be picked up from your hotel at 6:40 a.m., after a 2 hour
motorboat ride, you will arrive at the Uros island in the Titikaka lake.
Fishermen and hunters inhabit the floating islands of the Uros. The
residents of the Uros use the cattail, a type of rush, which grows in
the lake, to create the conditions that ensure the islands stay afloat.
The dense roots that the plants develop support the island. The roofs
are waterproof and the houses are extremely humid because of the
surrounding water. At present, they speak Quechua and Aymara. Then we
will visit the Taquile island, where we will have lunch in the
cooperative restaurant. There is also a cooperative shop on the plaza
that sells exceptional wool goods which are of very fine quality and
somewhat expensive. Taquile Island is famous for its craft production,
particularly for its beautiful textiles. The island is narrow at about 1
Km. wide and 6 to 7 Km. long. The visit could be exhausting because of
the 533 steps on the stone stairway to climb to get to the village and
because of the altitude (13,000 ft above sea level). On Taquile there
are numerous pre-Inca and Inca ruins as well as Inca terracing. We will
return in Puno in the afternoon, overnight at the Qelqatani Hotel or
similar. (B,L)
Day 10 : PUNO - CUSCO
After breakfast, transfer to the train or motor coach station. Ten hour
train or coach ride to Cusco *, across the scenic high Andes landscapes
only
dotted by small villages and herds of the llamas and vicuñas. Upon
arrival
transfer to the Orquidea Real or similar . ( B,L )
(*) Additional fare on $250 per person if travelling by train. Ask for
availability. Day 11 : CUSCO CITY TOUR
Morning at leisure. At 1:45 pm Cusco city tour. This tour includes the
major
sites of historical interest in Cusco, such as the famous Inca Fortress
at
Sacsahuaman and the Temple of the Sun. Also included in this is a
tourist
card, giving you access to all the sites in the Cusco area as a whole
(i.e.,
including outside of the City itself). This tour finishes at 18:00 hrs.
Overnight at the Orquidea Real Hostal or similar . ( B )
Day 12 : SACRED VALLEY TOUR (TUESDAY, THURSDAY AND SUNDAY)
You will be picked up at 8,45A.M. Full day excursion to the Urubamba
Valley,
visiting: the village of Pisac, a picturesque town of creole and
colonial
aspect and its lndian market and craftfair. Lunch provided. In the
afternoon
you'll visit to the fortress of Ollantaytambo, an architectural group
that
in the days of the Tahuantinsuyo empire was a gigantic agricultural,
administrative, social, religious and military complex, then the Chincero
market. At the end Return to Cusco and Overnight. (B,L)
Day 13 : MACHU PICCHU
At 5:30 a.m. you will be picked up from the hotel to the train station
which
leaves at 06:00 a.m. Travel will be in a "Vistadome" Class (formerly
"Autowagon"). At 09:40 a.m. you will arrive at the Aguas Calientes
Station,
from where you will take a 25 minutes bus ride to the ruins of Machu
Picchu.
Once there, you will take a guided tour, with an English speaking guide.
Overnight at the Presidente Hostal or similar in Aguas Calientes (Machupicchu). (B, Box lunch)
*Optional: For lunch at Machu Picchu Sanctuary Lodge instead of
box-lunch,
add $35.00 to the tour price.
Day 14 : MACHU PICCHU
Morning at leisure in Aguas Calientes to continue visiting the area and
Machu Picchu (bus ticket and entrance fees not included). At 3:30 pm we
will
take the Vistadome train back to Cusco, arriving at 7:30 pm. We will
stay
overnight at Orquidea Real Hostal or similar . (B)
Day 15 : TRANSFER TO LIMA
Transfer to the airport where we will take the flight back to Lima
(airfare not
included). (B)
END OF OUR SERVICES
NOTE
-Daily departures
-No minimum of participants is required
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Lima Plaza de Armas |
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