Peru, mysteries of the south
Places of interest: Ballestas Islands, Paracas, Nazca Lines, Arequipa, Colca Canyon, Juliaca, Lake Titicaca, Andahuaylillas, Cusco, Sacsayhuaman Fortress, Sacred Valley of the Inca and Machu Picchu.
Book now Ask a questionDay 1: Lima |
Arrival in Lima, where you’ll be greeted and transferred to your hotel. |
Day 2: Lima/Paracas/Nazca |
Enjoy breakfast at your hotel before joining the bus station for your motorcoach departure to the Paracas Bay where you’ll be transferred to the harbor and board comfortable hovercraft to visit Ballestas Islands and enjoy a view of the famous “Chandelier”, considered the start of the Nazca Lines. The islands are home to a varied marine fauna and large guano birds colonies like the cormorant, colibri or booby and of some Peruvian Penguins (Humboldt) in danger of extinction. Also, there is a concentration of Sea Lions and other species. In the afternoon, depart to Nazca for check-in and overnight at your hotel. Meals: Breakfast. |
Day 3: Nazca/Arequipa |
After an early breakfast you’ll be transferred to the local airport to board a small plane and overfly the enigmatic Nazca Lines which continue to be a mystery, not only about their creation but also about their purpose. According to Dr. Maria Reiche, who dedicated a large part of her life to the sudy of these lines, it is the largest calendar in the world. We will overfly the mysterious drawings on the sand, covering an area of around 135 sq. Miles, and representing several animal shapes like a spider, a monkey, a dog, a lizard, a humming bird and a condor, amongst others, all of huge dimensions varying between 50 and 985 ft in length and one foot deep. Later in the afternoon, leave by motorcoach to Arequipa for check-in and overnight at the hotel. Meals: Breakfast. |
Day 4: Arequipa |
Enjoy breakfast at the hotel and take advantage of this morning to rest and relax or to start discovering this interesting city. In the afternoon you’ll be picked-up for a visit the “White City”, as Arequipa is also known because of the volcanic ashlars stone used in its buildings. You’ll admire the Parade Ground, or Plaza de Armas, the Cathedral, the Jesuit Church and visit Saint Catalina Convent built in the 16th century with its 215,000 sq. ft. of cells, cloisters, ashlars fountains surrounded by gardens and narrow alleys. Return to the hotel for overnight. Meals: Breakfast. |
Day 5: Arequipa/Colca Canyon |
After breakfast at the hotel, leave Arequipa via Yura along the skirts of Chachani Mountain, Pampa de Arrieros, Pampa Cañahuas National Reserve where you may admire the svelte vicuña on our way to Vizcachan and Pampas de Toccra, home to a large variety of birds, before driving along the edge of the Chuchura Volcano crater to arrive at Patapampa (15,450 ft.) and Balcony the Andes. From there you can observe the volcanoes’ encircling Arequipa. Continue down the mountain and arrive at Chivay where we stop for lunch. A short ride will take you to Colca for overnight. Meals: Breakfast & Lunch. |
Day 6: Colca Canyon/Puno |
Today you must wake up very early to have breakfast before leaving towards Cross of the Condor, located some 27 miles from Chivay, a place offering the most spectacular landscapes in the entire canyon and, most of the time we see majestic condors flying around. On the way back you’ll visit the villages of Pinchollo, Maca, Achoma, Yanque and the viewpoints of Antahuilque and Choquetico. At mid day we’ll arrive Chivay with time for lunch (not included) before starting our journey to Puno via Patapampa and the Balcony of the Andes, this time admiring Chila Range with the Huarancote Chuchura Crater at short range and Ubinas (the most recently active volcano), Misti, Chachani, Ampato, Sabancaya and Hualca Hualca on the far distance. Our way will bring us to the Chucua crater and, along the Pampa de Toccra, you may encounter a variety of Andean birds. Return to Chivay to arrive at Puno for check-in and overnight at the hotel. Meals: Breakfast & Lunch. |
Day 7: Lake Titicaca |
Enjoy your breakfast before leaving on an excursion to the famous Lake Titicaca that, at 12,500 ft., is the highest in the world. The tour includes a visit to the Uros “islands” reachable by small boat. The Uros are part of Aymara ethnic family and live on artificial islands made of floating reeds (or Totota, a plant that exist in the region). From there reach the hilly Taquile Island (13,255 ft.) to discover one of the most beautiful Andean sites where the time feels like stopped! Dotted with several hills and harboring archeological remains, the island’s main activity are textiles depicting scenes from their daily life. You will have lunch at a local place and return to Puno in the afternoon for overnight at your hotel. Meals: Breakfast & Lunch. |
Day 8: Cusco/Puno |
After your breakfast you’ll be transferred to bus station to board your motor-coach for a drive to Cusco. En route we will encounter several points od interest such as Pukara village for a guided visit of the museum that shelters archeological remains of the Andean cultures who lived on the high plateaux. From there we continue to Raya, a village at the highest point on the route (14,223 ft.). Spend a few minutes there, admire the landscape and take a couple of photos before arriving at Sicuani where we will stop for lunch. The tour continues to Raqchi and its archeological center – an enormous building dedicated to the God Wiracocha before Andahuaylillas where we will visit Saint Peter’s Church – also known as the Sistine Chappel of America. A last ride to arrive in Cusco for check-in at the hotel and overnight. Meals: Breakfast & Lunch. |
Day 9: Cusco |
Enjoy breakfast at the hotel and a free morning to walk around the city and discover its best shopping areas and relaxing spots. In the afternoon, start a tour of Cusco visiting the Plaza Mayor, Cathedral and Temple of the Sun or Korikancha. Continue to the city suburbs to visit the Inca complexes of Kenko, Tambomachay, Puca Pucara and the impressive Sacsayhuaman Fortress, strategically built on a hill dominating Cusco, famous for the huge stones of its external walls, cut and assembled with stunning precision. Some of these stones are more than 30 feet tall and weigh over 700,000 pounds. Return to the hotel for overnight. Meals: Breakfast. |
Day 10: Sacred Valley of the Inca |
Take your breakfast at the hotel before leaving for the Sacred Valley of the Inca. On the way stop at the Awanacancha complex for the chance of feeding Andean Camelids such as Llamas and Alpacas and meet local people who will show their techniques for the dying and weaving of their local fabrics. The visit will include the typical Pisaq Market where you have the opportunity to shop for local artifacts and try the traditional local costumes. Enjoy a buffet lunch at a regional restaurant. In the afternoon you’ll visit the Ollantaytambo Fortress, composed by a series of overlapped terraces and built to stop the invasion of attackers coming from the jumgle through this part of the valley. You’ll have the opportunity to walk the narrow streets of the village and get a first hand feeling of this military, religious and cultural center of the Inca Empire. Overnight at the Sacred Valley. Meals: Breakfast & Lunch. |
Day 11: Sacred Valley of the Inca/Machu Picchu/Cusco |
Enjoy early breakfast at the hotel before your transfer to the railroad station to start a short trip to the Machu Picchu Citadel, also known as the “Lost city of the Inca” and considered on of the new Wonders of the World. Exit the train at the Aguas Calientes station to take the bus for a 30 minute drive along a meandering path leading to the marvelous citadel. As soon as you disembark you’ll start your guided tour of the site, visiting the Main Plaza, Circular Tower, Sacred Solar Clock, royal apartments, Temple of the 3 Windows and the cemeteries. Free time to allow you to walk around and enjoy the mystic energy and natural beauty of the site before returning to Aguas Calientes for buffet lunch. In the afternoon return to Cusco for overnight at the hotel. Meals: Breakfast & Lunch. |
Day 12: Cusco |
Breakfast at your hotel. Depending on your program you may be transferred to the airport or continue your stay in Cusco. Meals: Breakfast. |
The program includes:
– Transfer Airport / hotel / Airport in Lima, Paracas, Arequipa, Cusco and Puno
– 1 nights’ accommodation in Lima
– 1 night’ accommodation in Nazca
– 2 night’ accommodation in Arequipa
– 1 night’ accommodation in Colca
– 2 nights’ accommodation in Puno
– 3 nights’ accommodation in Cusco
– 1 nights’ accommodation in Sacred Valley
– HD city Tour in Lima
– Ballestas Island Excursion
– Overflight Nazca Lines
– City tour and Santa Catalina Convent in Arequipa
– Colca Canyon Excursion
– HD City Tour & Nearby Ruins in Cusco
– FD Sacred Valley + lunch
– FD Machu Picchu + lunch
– FD Island Uros & Taquile.All the services described
– Entrance fees where indicate
– Visit to Machu Picchu by train
– English or Spanish speaking guides
– Meals as mentioned in the itinerary
– Personal assistance during the tour
Program does not include:
– Air tickets, taxes and surcharges
– Airport or border taxes, domestic or international
– Meals not mentioned in the itinerary
– Expenses of personal nature such as water, drinks, phone call, etc.
– Any service not mentioned in the itinerary
– Tips to guides and drivers
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