We will greet you at the airport and transport you to your hotel. The rest of the day is at leisure with time to rest, relax and acquaint yourself with Peru’s vibrant capital, founded in 1535 by the conquistador Francisco Pizarro
Overnight: Lima
A fascinating day is awaiting for you this morning. We will pick you up from the hotel and depart to Ica. At your arrival we will make a short stop to visit the Huacachina Lagoon, one of the few natural oasis in the country. It combines landscape, dunes, palm trees and huarangos, Ideal for taking pictures.
Then to Ica airport for your flight to view the Nazca lines. Discover the mystery of the Nazca Lines and view them by air in a small aircraft. In this amazing aerial tour you can see these giant figures that the ancient inhabitants of Peru left marked on the vast Pampa de Nazca. Proof of the genius and wisdom of our ancestors. Dr. Maria Reiche, German archeologist who dedicated her life to studying the lines described it as the largest astronomical calendar in the world. We will fly over these mysterious drawings made in the sand that represent several animal shapes such as a spider, a monkey, a dog, a humming bird, a condor, among others. All of these have huge dimensions that vary from 50ft to 985 ft. in length and one foot deep.
After this unforgettable aerial tour we will enjoy a delicious lunch at a local restaurant.
After we will transport you to your hotel in Paracas. Free time the rest of the day. Enjoy our Peruvian ambiance. Overnight stay at Paracas.
Transport to Lima Airport for flight to Arequipa.
Reception and transport to hotel. We will visit the Santa Catalina Monastery, Plaza de Armas, the Jesuit Church “La Compa Compañia”, it’s cloisters and domes, the Tristan del Pozo House, and Yanahuara neighborhood (vantage point and Church). An amazing view of the typical city of Yanahuara Carmen. Overnight in Arequipa.
Meals Included: Breakfast
After breakfast, continue by land on your excursion towards the Colca Valley. We will be driving across Pampa Cañahuas at the Aguada Blanca National Reserve. It’s a habitat for herds of Vicuñas. We will also be stopping at the Mirador de los Andes, the Crater of Chucura, the Mirador de Chivay. Beautiful pre-Colombian terraces are still being cultivated by native Collaguas. The summit is at 4350 meters above sea level.
Arrival to the Town of Chivay at 13:00hrs. approx. transport to your Lodge.
lunch.
In the afternoon free time to visit the thermal Hot Springs and Medicinal Baths.
Meals Included: Breakfast and lunch
Early in the morning departure to the “Condor’s Cross” from where the great Andean bird, the Condor, may be spotted flying in circles above still farmed green pre-Hispanic terraces. Enjoy the impressive panorama of the Colca Canyon, one of the deepest in the World (3,180 mts). On the way back to Chivay, visit the Mirador of Chinina, where we will find the famous Hanging Tombs. And the Hanging Bridge of Sifón that joins the Town of Yanque with Coporaque. At the Town of Yanque, visit its beautiful church. And check out its characteristic cobbled stone streets among other attractions. To have a spectacular view of the Colca Valley, we will drive to the observation points of Choquetipo and Artahuilque and also to the Town of Maca.
Lunch at a local restaurant.
Return to the City of Arequipa, arriving at 6 p.m. Overnight at your hotel.
Meals Included: Breakfast and lunch
Transport to the airport and flight to Cusco Upon arriving in the city of Cusco, you will be welcomed by one of our representatives, who will give you a brief introduction to the city and our services while en route to the hotel.
You will be free for the rest of the morning so that you can adjust to the altitude.
History-filled alleys, churches, walls and archeological treasures await you in the magnificent Incan capital.
OPTIONAL: Cuzco City Tour
13:15 See this magical city, capital of the Inca Empire (15th Century) on a tour that includes the Main Square, the cathedral, Santo Domingo monastery, the legendary Korikancha temple and a stop at San Cristobal for a panoramic view of the city. Then, in the outskirts you will see the Inca ruins at Sacsayhuaman, an impressively designed fortress built of huge stone blocks, Qenqo ceremonial and ritual center, the amphitheater where sacrifices were held and Tambomachay a temple dedicated to a water cult. Return to Cusco and a brief stop at Plaza Regocijo and the Main Square to visit the cathedral, the principal church of the Diocese of Cusco At the end of the visit, transport to your hotel.
The Sacred Valley of the Incas is waiting for you. On the way we will stop at Awanacancha, small complex to admire Andean camelids such as alpacas and llamas. We will also learn from local inhabitants about traditional dyeing and knitting techniques. Later we will explore the Pisac Market with time to buy handicrafts. if you feel like tasting something traditional, stop by the wood ovens for a delicious empanada or a piece of bread.
Lunch at a local restaurant.
In the afternoon, our tour continues to Ollantaytambo, a small town full of local color and inhabited since Inca times. We will visit the main temple used as a fortress during the Inca resistance. Breathtaking views for amazing pictures. Stay at the Sacred Valley.
A train trip away to see one of the New Seven Wonders of the World. We arrive at the Aguas Calientes station where our staff will assist us on boarding the bus to go up the winding road to Machupicchu, amid a spectacular view of the Urubamba River and its canyon. The Lost City of the Incas, Machupicchu, will astonish us with its terraces, ceremonial shrines, steps and urban areas. Energy will be all around us. After a guided tour, we will have lunch at a local restaurant.
At the arranged time, we will take the train back to Cusco to be transported to your hotel.
Early breakfast and early departure by bus to the City of Puno, altitude 12,664 feet (3,860 m.a.s.l.). During the trip we will pass by the lovely Wacarpay Lake, offering spectacular views of the mountains reflected in its calm waters. We proceed to the beautiful Town of Andahuaylillas, and visit the Church of San Pedro de Andahuaylillas, better known as the Sistine Chapel of the Americas, due to its decorated polychrome ceiling. On the way we will stop in Raqchi, where we will see a spectacular Inca Sanctuary built by the Inca Pachacutec, and dedicated to the great Inca God of Wiracocha. It has a great central wall with a stone base of fine Inca architecture.
Other walls are made of giant adobe bricks. The structure also has two circular lateral columns. Around the Temple are several buildings once used for housing and storage.
About 70 km further on, we pass through La Raya Ranch where we can see herds of vicuñas and llamas. Then we travel along the High Plateau of Collao, stopping at the town of Ayaviri, an important livestock and textile center, to visit the impressive Temple of Kalasaya, ruins from the ancient Pucara Culture. We will enjoy a buffet lunch in a countryside restaurant, where we can enjoy the delightful culinary art of the region.
Afternoon arrival in Puno and transport to your Hotel.
Evening free.
Overnight at your Hotel in Puno.
Early breakfast. Then it’s off in an unforgettable motorboat excursion on the waters of Lake Titicaca to the unique “Floating Islands” of the Uros. These ancient inhabitants of the Lake, known as the Water Tribe, have built their own “Islands” by periodically adding new layers of a type of reed called “totora” (Scirpus totora), vegetable fiber of the Papyrus family. Their homes and boats are also made from this material. We will continue our trip to the island of Taquile. This Island is known for having the best weavers of ancient Peru. This place has preserved many rituals and the lifestyle of the ancient Incas. We will walk for about 30 minutes to the center of the island and will stay there for 3 unforgettable hours and have lunch. Then we will descend down a long stairwell of 500 steps!
We will leave for Puno at 4:00 p.m.
Evening free.
Overnight at your Hotel in Puno.
Meals: Breakfast and typical lunch
Breakfast in the hotel, and once we’re ready we will head out to Juliaca’s Airport, but on the way to the Airport we will visit the Chullpas of Sillustani for around 30 minutes. The archaeological site of Sillustani is located 22.3 miles away from the city of Puno and at an altitude of 12,858 feet (3,840mts.) above sea level. This vantage point allows you to enjoy stunning highland landscapes and imposing pre-Inca architecture. The site is strategically positioned on the top of a peninsula surrounded by a beautiful lagoon called Umayo lagoon.
The archaeological site of Sillustani was a cemetery built in the XIII century by a civilization that occupied the area before the Inca domination. The creators of the imposing burial towers are known as Kolla people. The most imposing burial towers were built for the chiefs and priests. For the ancient cultures, the cemeteries were important resting places for the deceased people. Therefore, our ancestors would strategically choose for burial ground exceptionally beautiful spots. Cemeteries were considered sacred places.
After all this we will go to Juliaca’s Airport and return home.