DAY 1: LIMA (B)

Arrival in Lima and transfer from the airport to the hotel. Breakfast included (hotel quoted from prior night). Morning at leisure. In the afternoon, we will have a tour through Lima’s streets and plazas. Starting at “Parque del Amor” in Miraflores, with a spectacular view of the Pacific Ocean, and then we are heading to the Huaca Pucllana, ceremonial center of the Lima culture, for a panoramic view.  After this, we go on to the Main Square where the Government Palace and the Town Hall are located. We will visit the Cathedral and explore the Santo Domingo Convent, along which corridors San Martin de Porres and San Rosa de Lima used to walk around in 17th century, and where their remains rest today. Overnight stay in Lima.

 

DAY 2: LIMA (B)

Day at leisure to explore the city on your own. Overnight in Lima.

 

DAY 3: LIMA/CUSCO (B)

Transfer to the airport and flight to Cusco. On arrival, meet and greet at the airport, transfer to hotel.

In the afternoon, exclusive city tour that starts at San Cristobal Plaza to enjoy a panoramic view of the city. We will then visit Saint Peter Market, where we will be able to appreciate the local flavors and learn about the local produce in this market where you can find everything and is the main supply center of the city. We will then continue to the Koricancha Temple that will welcome us with its splendor. The Golden Precinct is the meaning of its name in Quechua and we can still feel the sumptuousness of its walls that were once lined in gold sheets. From Saint Blas, the craftsmen’s quarters we will walk down along the Hatun Rumiyoc street, finding midway the Inca Roca Palace, today the Archbishop’s Palace; and we will have time to appreciate the worldwide famous Stone of the Twelve Angles. We will go on to the Main Square to visit the Cathedral that houses invaluable colonial works of art. Overnight stay in Cusco.

 

DAY 4: CUSCO (B)

In the morning, we will get away from the crowds to visit Sacsayhuaman, an impressive citadel full of colossal fortress surrounded by beautiful landscapes in complete communion with nature. We will then continue to the Inca shrine of Qenqo, with its awesome altar for sacrifices embedded in the side of the rock. We will finally reach the Puca Pucara watchtower and Tambomachay, a monument of noticeable architectural excellence, considered one of the pillars of the Andean view of the world. Afternoon at leisure. Overnight stay in Cusco.

 

DAY 5: CUSCO/SACRED VALLEY (B/L)

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 and learn from local inhabitants about traditional dyeing and knitting techniques. Later we will explore the Pisac Market  with enough free time to go around and buy handcrafts and 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 in which we will visit the main temple used as a fortress during the Inca resistance. Breathtaking views for amazing pictures. Overnight. stay in the Sacred Valley.

 

DAY 6: SACRED VALLEY/MACHU PICHU (B/L)

This morning, pick-up from your hotel to take you to Ollantaytambo station to board train to Machu Picchu. 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 Machu Picchu, amid a spectacular view of the Urubamba River and its canyon.  The Lost City of the Incas, Machu Picchu, will astonish us with its terraces, ceremonial shrines, steps and urban areas. Energy is all around us. After a guided visit, we will have a buffet lunch at Tinkuy restaurant of Sanctuary Lodge hotel. After lunch, back to the town. Rest of the afternoon at leisure. Dinner and Overnight stay in Aguas Calientes

 

 

DAY 7: MACHU PICHU/CUSCO (B)

Second day in Machu Picchu on your own (guided tour, entrance fees or shuttle bus tickets to return to the citadel are NOT included this day).

Entrance tickets to Machu Picchu are limited.  We suggest applying for the entrance tickets for later dates at the moment you book the whole tour program so as to avoid any complications due to congestions or lack of local availability.  In an additional visit to Machu Picchu, we will be able to see the areas of the Intipunku or Door of the Sun, the Inca Trail entrance to the citadel.  For those looking for a more intense adventure and wish to visit Huayna Picchu, it is important to have in mind that there are only 400 daily spots to climb the mountain, all of which have to be reserved in advance.

At the arranged time, we will return to Cusco by train and will be transferred to the hotel. Overnight stay in Cusco.

 

DAY 8: CUSCO/PUNO (B/L)

Departure on a regular tourist bus to Puno, on the way we’ll stop to visit the attractions this beautiful route has to offer.  The first stop: Andahuaylillas for a visit to its beautiful chapel, then its Racchi, Temple of the Wiracocha god where the walls and narrow streets stand out. Then it’s lunch time and the opportunity to see the view at La Raya, natural border between Cusco and Puno. Before our final destination we will visit the in site Pucara Museum and a chance to get one of the local classic bull shaped ceramics. We will arrive in Puno at the end of the afternoon. Overnight stay in Puno.

 

DAY 9: PUNO/LAKE TITICACA/PUNO (B/L)

A full day tour to explore Lake Titicaca. First we will visit the Uros, the friendly inhabitants of these handmade islands made of totora reeds. Then it’s off to Taquile Island, a place in which the settlers still maintain their ancestral traditions and colorful typical clothes. A great opportunity to explore the island and get the best view of the lake. A typical lunch is provided in the island. Return to the city in the afternoon. Overnight stay in Puno

​

DAY 10: PUNO/COLCA (B/L)

We will depart early in the morning to Colca (6hrs trip approx.). On arrival, we will have lunch at a local restaurant. In the afternoon, we will visit Chivay’s downtown. Dinner and Overnight stay in Chivay.

​

DAY 11: COLCA/AREQUIPA (B/L)

Very early in the morning, we will head for the Condor Cross viewpoint. We will wait expectantly to admire the awesome flight of the condors, giant Andean birds in danger of extinction that is the symbol of the Andes Mountains. The view enables us to appreciate the dimension of the canyon, considered one of the deepest in the world. We will visit the villages of Maca and Yanque that still preserve their colonial churches. We will have lunch at a local restaurant. At the arranged time, we will return to Arequipa. Overnight stay in Arequipa.

 

DAY 12: AREQUIPA/LIMA (B)

In the morning, the White City opens up its doors in a tour that begins in the beautiful colonial quarter of San Lázaro, where Arequipa was founded; from here we will walk along the picturesque streets adorned with geraniums, and then we will head for the Carmen Alto viewpoint from where we will be able to admire the beautiful landscape of farming terraces and the three guardian volcanoes that surround the city: Misti, Chachani and Pichu-Picchu. We will then continue to the colonial district of Yanahuara, famous for its church built in Andalusia style, and its viewpoint with is gorgeous architecture surrounded by sillar stone arches. We will then visit the Monastery of Saint Catherine, an impressive religious monument that had been closed to the public for nearly 400 years; its narrow streets, plazas and gardens reminds us of the ancient districts of Seville or Granada. Finally, we will head for the Main Square, where we will be able to see the Cathedral and the arches that surround the plaza, and then visit the Church of the Company of Jesus founded in the 17th century by the Jesuits, and which stands out for its cloisters and the famous Saint Ignacio Dome.

At arranged time, transfer to airport for your flight back home or to an on-going destination.