Peru, the route of the sun

Arrival in Lima, where you’ll be greeted and transferred to your hotel. In the afternoon, your visit of Lima starts at Historical Center: Plaza Mayor, location of the Government Palace, City Hall, Cathedral and Archbishops’ Palace. You’ll visit the Convent and Saint Francis Church, the largest monumental group in Colonial Art found in America and classified as Humanity’s Cultural and Historic Heritage. The tour includes a visit to the Basiclic, that offers 21 altars, cloisters, Capitular and Clementine Halls, choir and a monks library, the museum that exhibits 11 paintings of the Rubens school, the Sacristy displaying paintings by Surbaran and Ribera, the inside patio decorated with 16th century Seville tiles, Moorish arches and catacombs. Then, continue to the elegant residential districts, such as San Isidro and Miraflores, from where you’ll enjoy an excellent view of the Pacific Ocean. Return to the hotel for overnight.

Enjoy breakfast at the hotel before your transfer to the airport for your flight to Cusco. Upon arrival you’ll be met and transferred to your hotel in Cusco. 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.

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.

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 Caliente for a buffet lunch. Return to Cusco for overnight at your hotel. Meals: Breakfast & Lunch.

After your breakfast you’ll be transferred to bus station to board your motorcoach for a drive to Puno. On the way you’ll see several touristic marks such as Saint Peter of Andahuaylillas Church – also known as the Sistine Chapel of America, the archeological center of Raqchi, an enormous building dedicated to the God Wiracocha. The bus will stop for lunch at the Sicuani village before continuing 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 continuing to Pukara, the last stop en route for a guided visit of the museum that shelters archeological remains of the Andean cultures who lived on the high plateau. A last ride before arriving in Puno for check-in and overnight at the hotel. Meals: Breakfast & Lunch.

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.

After breakfast you’ll be transferred to the airport for your flight back to Lima where, upon arrival, you’ll be mat and driven to your hotel. The afternoon is at your leisure for shopping or visiting one the prestigious city museums. Overnight at the hotel. Meals: Breakfast.

Breakfast at your hotel. Depending on your program you may be transferred to the airport or continue your stay in Lima. Meals: Breakfast.