Peru Highlights & Deluxe Trains 2021

Arrival and transfer to your hotel. 

This morning, you will embark on a guided city tour of Lima’s historic downtown, beginning with a visit to the Main Plaza and the surrounding monuments: the Cathedral, built in 1534 and an architectural masterpiece; the Presidential Palace, where the soldiers guarding the palace offer an excellent photo opportunity; the Archbishop’s Palace, City Hall, the Desamparados train station, and the Moorish-style houses and balconies along Lima’s old streets.
Then, you will continue to the Rafael Larco Herrera Archaeological Museum (Museo Arqueolegico Rafael Larco Herrera), founded in 1926, is the world's largest private collection of pre-Columbian art; with an astonishing array of gold, silver, semi-precious stones and textiles. The collection's predominant strength is in Mochica ceramics, from the north coast of Peru, of which the erotic ones are the most famous. Their notoriety ought not to obscure the fact that the museum presents a complete view of the cultural development of ancient Peru through a selection of its 45,000 pieces, housed in a colonial building of the 18th century.
Afternoon free to explore on your own.
 

Transfer to the airport. Flight to Cusco. Arrival and transfer to the Sacred Valley. En route, visit to Awanacancha, which is a weaving center with the goal to keep alive the traditional textile arts. Here you can see four members of the cameloid family - llama, alpacas, vicunas and guanacos; learn about the harvesting of the different wools and the natural dying techniques and have a chance to see native weavers from different areas showing their different weaving styles and dresses.

Then, you will be driven to Pisac, a Peruvian village full of color and tradition in the Sacred Valley on the Urubamba River. The village is well-known for its market, an event which attracts travelers from all over the world.

Lunch at Huayoccari Hacienda.

Rest of the afternoon at your leisure to enjoy the hotel facilities. 

Morning departure from your hotel with a scenic drive to the agricultural terrace of Moray. You will explore the experimental Inca terraces and then will be driven to the salt panes of Maras.

Lunch at local restaurant.

In the afternoon, visit to the massive fortress of Ollantaytambo, a formidable stone structure that climbs massive terraces to the top of a peak, was the valley’s main defense against the Antis and was the site of the Incas’ greatest victory against the Spanish during the wars of conquest.

Transfer to the train station to take the Hiram Bingham train to Aguas Calientes. Arrival to Aguas Calientes and transfer to bus station.

Visit to Machu Picchu, the impressive Inca citadel located 113 Km. from Cusco at 2400 meters above sea level. This complex has several stone constructions that leave the tourist breathless because of the amazing design. Accompanied by your guide, explore the city's ruins, and feel its pulse as you visualize the lives of the priests, craftsmen, and servants who inhabited this seemingly uninhabitable citadel. Excavations at the site have revealed skeletons, artifacts and woolen clothing, but no gold. The same precision of assembled stones exists here as in other Incan sites. Overlooking the raging Urubamba River and discovered in a hidden tangle of vines and trees atop the mountain, the city of Machu Picchu will forever hold the secret of its destruction - the Incas left no written record.

Brunch on board the train

In the afternoon, return to Aguas Calientes.

Dinner at Hotel Restaurant 

*Guide will return to Cusco in the afternoon. 

**Free of cost activities in the hotel are included in your overnight. Please check with front desk. 

This morning, you will have a second visit to the Machu Picchu complex on your account. Entrance fee and bus are included. 

Lunch on your account.

Return to Aguas Calientes to board your Hiram Bingham train to return to Cusco.

Transfer to your hotel.

This morning, you will embark on a guided city tour of Cusco, visit the most important places of the Archaeological Capital of America which was the capital of the Inca's Empire. Observe the mixture of the 3 cultures: the native quechuas Indians, the Spanish conquerors and the actual people. We include the visit of the Main Square, the Cathedral, the church of "La Compañía", the attractive neighbourhood of San Blas and the Santo Domingo Church former Koricancha Temple. Finally a visit to the surrounding ruins: Puka-Pukara, Saqsayhuaman, Qenqo y Tambomachay. Lunch on your account.

Afternoon at your leisure.

Farewell dinner at Map Café restaurant.

Transfer to the Wanchaq Train station.

Board the Andean Explorer train to Arequipa. 

Andean Explorer - Peruvian Highland - SIC SVC -

*Departures only Thursdays

11:00am - Departure from Cusco to Wanchaq Station

12:30pm - Lunch on board

13:55pm - Tour of Raqchi

15:30pm - Canapes in the bar car

17:45pm - Tour of La Raya

19:00pm - Pre-Dinner cocktails

19:30pm - Dinner on board

22:30pm - Arrive at Puno - Lake Titicaca Station

*Overnight stay at Lake Station (Puno)

* Sunrise at Lake Titicaca

06:00am - Breakfast on board

08:30am - Board boats to explore Lake Titicaca. Visit to Uros & Taquile floating Islands.

12:30pm - Private lunch at Collata Beach, in Taquile. Dance & Artisanal craft displays

15:45pm - Arrive back at Lake Titicaca Station (Puno)

16:00pm - Tea Time at the station

16:50pm - Depart to Arequipa

19:00pm - Pre-dinner cocktails

19:30pm - Dinner on board

Arrive to Arequipa 

* Overnight stay at Saracocha

* Sunrise in Arequipa

06:00am - Breakfast on board

06:45am - Depart to Arequipa

09:40am - Tour of Sumbay Caves

11:30am - Disembark for passengers going to Colca

This morning you will be met by your guide at the start point to continue by private vehicle on a scenic drive to Colca.  A winding road leaves the city and crosses the slopes of the snow-capped Misti, Chachani and Ampato volcanoes and finally arriving at one of the most beautiful places on earth: the Colca Canyon.  Local geologists claim that Colca, with chasms that can measure up to 11,000 feet top to bottom, is the world’s deepest canyon.  The valley has beautiful pre-Columbian terraces that are still farmed by native collaguas.  The terraces might remind you of Asian terraced farming.

Explore the region, you will cross through the Aguada Blanca reserve where you will be able to see some cameloids like alpahacas, vicuñas, and perhaps you will see Andean condors soaring in the valley as you gaze down to the river below from the various look-out points.

Lunch is included. 

Arrival to your hotel and rest of the afternoon free to enjoy the hotel facilities. Free of cost activities are included in your stay, please check with front desk. 

Breakfast in your hotel. 

Early this morning depart for the Condor Cross, a location at which you will have an opportunity to observe these magnificent birds as they glide over the canyon and around mountain peaks.

Then, you will be driven back to Arequipa, you will make some stops on route to visit the local small traditional towns.  

Upon evening arrival in Arequipa, you will be transferred to your hotel.

Lunch on your account. 

Afternoon at your leisure to explore on your own and shopping. 

Breakfast in your hotel. 

Visit the Colonial District of Yanahuara, famous for its churches built in an Andalucian style and its Viewpoint. The Viewpoint of Carmen Alto with its beautiful landscape.  Then proceed  to Visit the Neighborhood of San Lázaro where Arequipa was founded, the Church of San Francisco with its beautiful plaza that dates back to the XVIII century, then continue to the Main Square, which has a beautiful architecture, surrounded by sillar arcs, the façade of the Cathedral, the Church of La Compañía de Jesús, founded in the XVII century by the Jesuits, renowned by its Cloisters. Then Santa Catalina Monastery will be visited, which is the most important and impressive religious monument in Perú, founded in 1579.

Note: The Monastery is closed on the following dates: January 1st, Holy Thursday since midnight and Holy Friday all day, and December 25th.

Lunch on your account. 

Afternoon transfer to the local airport for your flight to Lima.

International departure.