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ITINERARIO
Day
1 : Arrival in Lima
Upon arrival at the airport a host will meet and assist you in
transferring to the hotel and registration.
Day
2 : Lima
Breakfast at your hotel. Tour of colonial and modern Lima - 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 we drive through the exclusive residential areas of Miraflores and
San Isidro. (B)
Day
3 : Lima / Paracas / Nazca
We 280 km south along the PanAmerican highway along the
desert coast through fertile irrigated valleys where farmers grow cotton,
asparagus, and other crops. In the afternoon we visit Paracas National
Park, which was once home to the culture of the same name, seeing one of
the world's most beautiful desert landscapes and visiting the small
fishing ports in the area. The park is the natural habitat of seals,
pelicans, seagulls and many other species. Transfer to hotel
Day
4 : Nazca / Arequipa
Upon arrival a host will meet you and assist you in transferring
to the hotel and with registration. In the afternoon, we tour the city.
Your half-day sightseeing tour of this beautiful city includes a visit
to the Spanish Colonial site of Santa Catalina, called "a city
within a city", which lay closed to the layman and shrouded in
mystery for over 400 years. This remarkable relic of colonial times is
now open to the public. (B)
Day
5 : Arequipa / Colca Canyon
Breakfast at your hotel. Colca Canyon 3 days 2 nights - Early
departure heading toward the highlands passing through Yura-Pampa Cañahuas
and La Pulpera. Here there is a good possibility of observing groups of
wild vicuñas. 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.(B,L,D)
Day
6 : Colca Canyon
Breakfast at your hotel. Today, visit La Calera to enjoy the
thermal baths. Return to Chivay. (B,L,D)
Day
7 : Colca Canyon / Arequipa
Breakfast at your hotel. To maximize the probability of seeing
condors we depart very early toward the "Cross of the Condor"
at an altitude of approx. 15,000 feet. We drive a little further in to
the canyon to see some pre-Inca ruins and watch the way of life in this
remote land. Return to Chivay for lunch and afternoon return to
Arequipa.(B,L)
Day
8 : Arequipa / Puno
Breakfast at your hotel. Transfer to bus station to take the
regular service motorcoach to Puno. Upon arrival a host will meet you
and assist you in transferring to the hotel and with registering.(B)
Day
9 : Uros Island and Taquile Islands on Lake
Titicaca
Breakfast at your hotel. Visit the Uros Indian and Taquile Island
at Titicaca Lake. This half day excursion will take you to the highest
navigable lake in the world, to visit the floating islands of the Uros
Indians. They considered themselves to be "Lords of the Lake"
and were convinced they had black blood because they did not feel the
cold of the lake in the winter. Continue to Taquile, a native community
of about 400 families that still live with XIV century Inca traditions.
Taquile is a very important site on Lake Titicaca for it archaeological
remains, the sacred and ceremonial sites, festive activities, and daily
rituals. Taquile´s inhabitants are devoted to farming, textile
production and fishing.(B,L)
Day
10 : Puno / Cusco
Breakfast at your hotel. 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, a host will meet and assist you in transferring to the
hotel and with registration. Lunch is included. (B,L)
Day
11 : Cusco
Breakfast at your hotel. Afternoon tour of the ancient capital of
the Inca empire. Visitors will be caught up in the excitement of this
city. The tour includes a visit to the Cathedral and Santo Domingo
Church, visiting the main streets and Plaza de Armas. You will walk
through the most astonishing Cusco streets to reach the San Blas Church.
Cusco is a delightful combination of Inca and colonial architecture. The
tour includes a visit to the ruins of Qenko, Puca-pucara, Tambomachay
and the Sacsayhuaman fortress.(B)
Day
12 : Cusco / The Urubamba Valley
Breakfast at your hotel. Full-day excursion to the Pisac
Indian market and the Ollantaytambo fortress (Tues, Thurs, Sun). The
tour begins with a drive through the fertile countryside to the colonial
village of Pisac. During your visit to this bustling marketplace you
will have the opportunity to bargain with the local artisans for many
different types of Peruvian handicrafts and jewelry. After lunch, the
tour continues to the village of Ollantaytambo, an ancient fortress
consisting of numerous temples and terraces that tower majestically over
the valley. (B,L)
Day
13 : The Urubamba Valley
Breakfast at your hotel. Toward the west of Cusco, at an
altitude of 3300 m. (10824 feet); is the unique archaeological site
of Moray. Enormous natural depressions or hollows in the ground surface
are found here. The Incas used it as a greenhouse or experimental
biological station, and it was very advanced for its time. We continue
along the dramatic "Andes" from which it is possible to
observe the range of Urubamba mountains. We head toward Maras. the
famous " Inca Salt pans" that are comprised of 3000 small
pools constructed in the slope of a mountain. People still use
traditional methods to extract the salt. (B,L)
Day
14 : Urubamba Valley / Machu Picchu
Breakfast at your hotel. Morning transfer to Ollantaytambo´s
train station for your 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. Lunch at Sanctuary Lodge Hotel is included. (B,L)
Day
15 : Machu Picchu / Cusco
Breakfast at your hotel. This morning you´ll enjoy one of the
most incredible sights on earth, the ruins of Machu Picchu. We can
explore and study the mysterious ruins, and climb the pyramid-shape
mountain above Machu Picchu (Huayna Picchu). You can walk to the Inca
Bridge, a secret entrance used by the Inca's army, or toward the Inca
Trail to find the historic Sun Gate. Guide is included. In the afternoon,
we board the train back to Cusco. Transfer from train station to
the hotel.(B)
Day
16 : Cusco
Breakfast at the hotel. Today enjoy a guided walking tour of
the most traditional areas of Cusco and the artisan neighborhood of San
Blas with narrow winding streets and the local marked.(B)
Day
17 : Cusco / Lima
Breakfast at your hotel. Transfer to the airport for your
flight to Lima. Upon arrival a host will meet you to visit the Gold and
Larco Herrera Museums. Late afternoon transfer to the airport for your
flight home.(B)
End
of services.
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