Latin American Journey

Discover Peru #43

12 Days / 11 Nights Lima, Arequipa, The ColcaCanyon, Puno, Cusco,
Pisac Indian Market and Ollantaytambo Fortress Machu Picchu

  • Arrival in Lima. In the afternoon Tour of Modern and Colonial Lima and Larco Museum.

Day 1 – Arrival in Lima

Upon arrival at the airport a host will meet and assist you in transferring to the hotel and help you in registering. In the afternoon City Tour of Lima and Larco Museum - This half day tour visits both the colonial and modern sections of this "City of Kings." Colonial sites include the lovely Plaza de Armas with its cathedral and palace, and the exquisite Torre Tagle Palace modern day seat of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. In modern Lima, drive along the exclusive residential areas of Miraflores and San Isidro. Continue to the Larco Museum, founded in 1926, it showcases remarkable chronological galleries providing an excellent overview on 3000 years of development of Peruvian pre-Columbian history. Located in a unique vice-royal mansion of the 18th century built over a 7th century pre-Columbian pyramid, is surrounded by beautiful gardens. Features the finest gold and silver collection from Ancient Peru and the famous erotic archaeological collection, one of the most visited Peruvian tourist attractions.

  • Motor coach trip to Ica. Flight over the Nazca Lines. Visit the Archaeological Museum of Ica. (B,L,D)

Day 2 - Lima / Ica

Breakfast at your hotel. Nazca Lines 2 Day Excursion with Overnight in Ica, Locally Hosted - Today you'll travel by bus (Cruz del Sur) along the Peruvian coast to Ica (a four hour ride). Upon arrival in Ica a local host will transfer you to the airport for a flight over the Nazca Lines. Are they merely huge figures or could they be extraterrestrial landing fields? Lunch is included. After lunch visit the Archaeological Museum of Ica. Dinner is included. (B,L,D)

  • Early morning transfer to Paracas. Boat tour around the Ballestas Islands passing the Candelabro. Evening arrival in Lima. (B,L)

Day 3 - Ica / Paracas / Lima

Breakfast at your hotel. Ballestas Islands Excursion - Early morning you'll take a yacht ride to the Ballestas Islands passing the Candelabro. These islands, also known as the Guano Islands, have large concentrations of sea birds and sea lions in their natural environment. Lunch is included. Evening arrival in Lima. (B,L)

  • Transfer to the airport for your flight to Arequipa. Tour of Arequipa and Santa Catalina Convent. (B)

Day 4 - Lima / Arequipa

Breakfast at your hotel. Transfer to the airport for your flight to Arequipa. Upon arrival at the airport a host will meet and assist you in transferring to the hotel and help you in registering. Arequipa City Tour and Santa Catalina Convent - Your half day sightseeing of this beautiful city, placed on the World Cultural Heritage list by UNESCO, features Mixed Baroque churches and mansions from the Colonial Period like the Monastery of Santa Catalina, called "a city within a city", a Spanish city in miniature with stone streets, beautiful patios, and plaza. It is a masterpiece of colonial architecture, and houses some of the finest examples of Spanish American religious art. Since 1970 visitors have been able to stroll through the streets and cloisters that during colonial times were the refuge of female nobility who had decided to shut themselves away from the world and dedicate entirely to prayer. (B)

  • Excursion to Colca Canyon with overnight stay in Chivay. (B,L,D)

Day 5 - Arequipa / Colca Canyon

Breakfast at your hotel. Early departure towards the highlands passing through Yura-Pampa Cañahuas and La Pulpera with good possibility of observing groups of wild vicuñas and fighting cattle. Stop en route to see petrogliphs in the Caves of Mollepunco and in the town of Callali to see natural hill formations with the appearance of enchanted castles. Continue to La Calera to enjoy the thermal baths under the stars. (B,L,D)

  • In the morning visit the Cruz of the Condor. Arrival in Puno. (B)

Day 6 - Colca Canyon / Puno

Breakfast at your hotel. To maximize your probability of seeing condors we depart very early towards the "Cross of the Condor" at about an altitude of 15,000 feet, which grants visitors spectacular views of condors wheeling across the Colca Canyon, the world's deepest. Drive a little further in to the canyon to see some pre-Inca ruins, pre-Inca burial grounds, to watch the way of life in this remote land and to admire the impressive irrigation system and the fertile mountains terraced for farming of the Colca valley. The afternoon ride to Puno features unique natural scenery of the Peruvian Highlands. (B,L)

  • Full Day excursion to the floating island of the Uros Indian and Taquile Island. (B,L)

Day 7 - Puno

Breakfast at your hotel. Visit to the Uros Indian and Taquile Island at Lake Titikaka - This full day excursion will take you to the highest navigable lake in the world, to visit the floating islands of the Uros Indians, considered themselves Lords of the Lake, and they were convinced they had black blood because they did not feel the cold of the lake and the winter. Continuing to Taquile where a native community of about 400 families still lives with the traditions of the XIV century that respect the principals of an Incan way life. Taquile is a very important site on Lake Titikaka for its a archeological remains, the sacred and ceremonial sites, the festive activities, their rituals and for the daily life of the inhabitants which is dedicated to farming, textile production and fishing. (B,L)

  • Bus to Cusco passing through striking highland scenery and picturesque Andean villages. (B,L)

Day 8 - Puno / Cusco

Breakfast at your hotel. Bus journey through the Peruvian Andes from Puno - Today one of South America's most extraordinary overland trips takes you by bus to Cusco passing through striking highland scenery and picturesque Andean villages. Upon your arrival in Cusco, the former capital of the Inca Empire, a host will meet and assist you in transferring to the hotel and help you to register. (B,L)

  • Free morning. In the afternoon Tour of Cusco and its Ruins. (B)

Day 9 - Cusco

Breakfast at your hotel. Free morning. Tour of Cusco and its Ruins - This afternoon's tour of the oldest continuously inhabited city in the western hemisphere includes important landmarks of enchanting Cusco and also the nearby ruins of Kenko, Puca-pucara, Tambomachay as well as the Sacsayhuaman fortress. Once the center of the Inca civilization, modern Cusco is a delightful combination of Inca and colonial architecture. During the tour, you will visit Cusco's Cathedral, Santo Domingo Church and the Plaza de Armas. (B)

  • Full Day excursion to the Pisac Indian Market and Ollantaytambo Fortress. (B,L)

Day 10 - Cusco / Sacred Valley / Cusco

Full Day Excursion to the Pisac Indian Market and the Ollantaytambo Fortress
Breakfast at your hotel. Morning departure for a drive through the fertile countryside of the Urubamba Valley to the colonial village of Pisac where a unique Indian Market takes place daily. The variety of products offered is overwhelming, from pottery with reproductions of archaeological pieces, to all kinds of textiles, jewelry and Peruvian handicrafts. During your visit to this bustling marketplace you will have the opportunity to bargain with the artisans and indigenous traders. Grab the items you like, you will hardly see the same one again.

Continue to the Ollantaytambo archaeological complex, the Incas built it as a fort that included a temple, agricultural terraces, and an urban area. There are two distinct sectors: The religious and worship zone, and the residential area. Ollantaytambo was an important administrative center with probable military functions if one considers the walls and towers. There are also traces of ancient roads and aqueducts. The town of Ollantaytambo is called a "Living Inca Town" since the inhabitants maintain very old practices and customs. Lunch is at a beautiful country estate on the shores of the Urubamba River. (B,L)

  • Full Day excursion to Machu Picchu. (B,L)

Day 11 - Cusco / Machu Picchu / Cusco

Breakfast at your hotel. Full Day Excursion to Machu Picchu - Early wake up for a train ride through the sacred valley of Urubamba to the "Lost City of the Incas," Machu Picchu. Perched 8,200 feet above the valley, it was hidden by mountains and semi-tropical jungles for 400 years until discovered by Hiram Bingham of Yale University in 1911. Archaeologists believe that the Inca "Virgins of the Sun" took refuge from the Spanish Conquistadors here. Guided tour of the ruins upon arrival. All transfers are included. Lunch is at the Orient Express' Sanctuary Lodge located just a few steps from the Inca citadel. Afternoon return to Cusco. (B,L)

  • Transfer from hotel to the airport for your flight to Lima and then take your connecting flight to home. (B)

Day 12 - Cusco / Lima / Home

Breakfast at your hotel. Transfer from hotel to the airport for your flight to Lima and then take your connecting flight to home. (B)

Tourist Class Hotels SIB Premium Private Services
Min 1 Min 2 1 2 3 / 4 5 / 9 10/14 15/19 20/24 25/29 30 up
Double Room $3252 $4071 $3344 $3008 $2684 $2584 $2502 $2432 $2394
Triple Room $3224 $3316 $2980 $2656 $2556 $2474 $2404 $2366
Single Room $4991 $3710 $6651 $4528 $3802 $3466 $3142 $3042 $2959 $2890 $2851
Tourist Superior Hotels SIB Premium Private Services
Min 1 Min 2 1 2 3 / 4 5 / 9 10/14 15/19 20/24 25/29 30 up
Double Room $3396 $4215 $3488 $3152 $2828 $2728 $2646 $2576 $2538
Triple Room $3535 $3627 $3291 $2967 $2867 $2784 $2715 $2676
Single Room $5287 $4006 $6947 $4824 $4098 $3762 $3438 $3338 $3255 $3186 $3147
First Class Hotels SIB Premium Private Services
Min 1 Min 2 1 2 3 / 4 5 / 9 10/14 15/19 20/24 25/29 30 up
Double Room $3627 $4446 $3719 $3383 $3059 $2959 $2876 $2807 $2768
Triple Room $3603 $3695 $3359 $3035 $2935 $2852 $2783 $2744
Single Room $5716 $4435 $7376 $5254 $4527 $4191 $3867 $3767 $3684 $3615 $3576
First Class Superior Hotels SIB Premium Private Services
Min 1 Min 2 1 2 3 / 4 5 / 9 10/14 15/19 20/24 25/29 30 up
Double Room $3731 $4550 $3823 $3487 $3163 $3063 $2980 $2911 $2872
Triple Room $3803 $3895 $3559 $3235 $3135 $3052 $2983 $2944
Single Room $5924 $4643 $7584 $5462 $4735 $4399 $4075 $3975 $3892 $3823 $3784
Deluxe Hotels SIB Premium Private Services
Min 1 Min 2 1 2 3 / 4 5 / 9 10/14 15/19 20/24 25/29 30 up
Double Room $4254 $5072 $4346 $4010 $3686 $3586 $3503 $3434 $3395
Triple Room $4344 $4436 $4100 $3776 $3676 $3594 $3524 $3486
Single Room $6978 $5696 $8638 $6515 $5788 $5452 $5128 $5028 $4946 $4876 $4838
Luxury Hotels SIB Premium Private Services
Min 1 Min 2 1 2 3 / 4 5 / 9 10/14 15/19 20/24 25/29 30 up
Double Room $5204 $6023 $5296 $4960 $4636 $4536 $4454 $4384 $4346
Triple Room $5226 $5618 $5282 $4958 $4858 $4775 $4706 $4667
Single Room $8815 $7534 $10475 $8352 $7626 $7290 $6966 $6866 $6783 $6714 $6675
  • Tour includes:
  • All airport transfers listed in the itinerary
  • Baggage handling at airports and at hotels
  • All tours and excursions indicated in the itinerary
  • All entrance fees and transfers needed to operate tours and excursions
  • All train tickets, bus tickets and boat services needed to operate tours and excursions
  • Service of a bilingual licensed tour guide for all tours and excursions
  • All meals indicated in the itinerary. B for breakfast, L for lunch. D for dinner
  • Hotel accommodation and hotel service charge
  • Hotel taxes are exempt for foreigners visiting Peru
  • When domestic airfare within Peru is specified as included: Airfare includes all queues, security fee, fuel surcharges and 18% Peruvian sales tax.
  • Not included:
  • Extra expenses in case of modifying the itinerary due to flight cancelation, strikes or blocking of roads and train tracks by demonstrators or political activists. Travel insurance is strongly recommended.
  • When staying overnight in Machu Picchu, the entrance fee for the 2nd day in Machu Picchu is not included. This can be added to the itinerary upon request
  • Expenses such us beverages on meals, tips, laundry, phone calls and other personal expenses are not included
  • When a cruise to the Galapagos Islands is part of the itinerary, the Galapagos National Park Tax is not included. It is payable upon arrival at the Galapagos Islands
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