WONDERS OF PERU 15 DAYS/14 NIGHTS

On arrival at Lima International airport, you will be transferred to your hotel. The city of Lima was founded by the Spanish conquistador Francisco Pizarro on January 5, 1535, the eve of the Epiphany of the Magi – from which it derived its evocative original name of La Ciudad de los Reyes or “The City of Kings”.  It is a city of rare fascination and unexpected pleasures.  Lima has decaying colonial splendor and the teeming vitality of an oriental bazaar; melancholy cloudy winters and warm breezy summers; impoverished urban sprawl and quiet elegant corners among ancient buildings where the night air is scented with jasmine.

Overnight at the selected 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.

Casa Aliaga Visit is included on this day 

Casa Aliaga House, is a  beautiful colonial house built in 1535 for Jerónimo de Aliaga, one of Pizarro’s followers, and which has been occupied by 16 generations of his descendants.

After this visit, 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.

Lunch is included at Cafe del Museo 

Overnight at the selected Hotel.

Transfer to the airport. Flight to Arequipa.

Upon your arrival to Arequipa transfer to your hotel and,  at a scheduled time start your tour. 

In the afternoon, 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. 

Overnight at the selected Hotel.

After breakfast we will embark on the sillar route

On this tour you will discover the sillar. The sillar is white lava stone from the volcanoes whose special shine has given this city the name of ' White City'.

The Sillar Route  is one of the greatest attractions of the region. The visit  includes walks to the quarries of Añashuayco, Cortadores and Culebrillas, located on the outskirts of the city. 

After the tour you will have lunch at a typical "picantería" in Arequipa. 

Overnight at the selected Hotel.

Breakfast at the hotel

This morning you will be met by your guide to continue by private vehicle on a scenic drive to Colca, approximately five hours outside Arequipa.  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 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. 

Overnight at the selected 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 to Puno with visit Sillustani on route.

Sillustani is an impressive site that combines archaeology, history and an amazing landscape. Located facing the Umayo Lagoon, it is home of the best-preserved remains in the area. This was a burial site for the Pucara, Tiahuanaco and Ccolla pre-Inca cultures, long before the Inca expansion. The tower-like structures known as Chullpas are ancient and impressive tombs for chiefs and other dignitaries and symbolized life and birth. 

Overnight at the selected Hotel.

Breakfast at the hotel.

Today we embark for a boat excursion on Lake Titicaca. We visit the Uros Indians, who build their homes on “floating islands” of totora reeds and are known for their boats made of the same material. Continue as far as the Island of Taquile. Members of this self-supporting Aymara community receive visitors to show them their costumes and show them around the island. Taquile is known for its fine decorative weavings.

Lunch included at Luquina.

In the afternoon, return to the hotel. 

Overnight at the selected Hotel.

After breakfast transfer to the train station to take your train to Cusco.

Titicaca train Puno/Cusco (Only runs Mon-Thur-Sat)

The PeruRail Titicaca train offers an unforgettable journey linking the magical cities of Cusco and Puno. Spend a full day crossing the Peruvian Andes between the shores of the mystical Lake Titicaca and the Imperial City of the Incas in an unparalleled experience featuring top-notch service.

Upon your arrival transfer to the hotel. 

Overnight at the selected Hotel.

Breakfast at the hotel.

This morning visit on route to Sacred Valley 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 transferred to the local village of Pisac, famous for its colorful market which attracts tourists from all over the world to try their hand at bartering for local sweaters, ponchos, wall hangings, jewellery and goods.

After visiting the village, you will have the opportunity to do a short hike to the ruins above the town. Here, you will see some fantastic Inca remains, including ritual baths fed by aqueducts and one of the largest known Inca cemeteries. The precision with which the relatively small stones in this site must have been cut is astonishing: in fact it has been said that in some respects the stonemasonry here is even more awesome than that of the more famous ruins in Machu Picchu.

Lunch included at Casa Hacienda Huayoccari

Overnight at the selected Hotel.

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 Wayra 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.

Overnight at the selected Hotel.

Transfer to the train station to take the Vistadome train to Aguas Calientes. Arrival 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.

Lunch at Sanctuary Lodge restaurant.

In the afternoon, return to Aguas Calientes.

Dinner at Hotel Restaurant 

*Guide returns to Cusco in the afternoon. 

Overnight at the selected Hotel.

This morning, you will have a second visit to the Machu Picchu complex (No guide included).

Lunch on your account.

Return to Aguas Calientes for your Vistadome train to return to Cusco.

Overnight at the selected 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.

After seeing the sights of the ancient city, your visit will take you to the ruins of Sacsayhuaman, a true testimonial to Incan architectural skills.  Compiled of massive stones (one weighs 125 tons!) you are challenged to try to slip a piece of paper through the cracks inbetween these blocks, cut and fitted together with incredible precision without a single drop of mortar to hold them in place. This ancient fortress (where the greatest battle between the Spanish and Incas took place) overlooks the red-tiled roofs of Cusco and the breathtaking countryside surrounding the city. 

Afternoon at your leisure.

Overnight at the selected Hotel.

Today, we will travel south of Cusco to Piquillacta. This town, one of the most important civil monuments left by the Incas, is thought to have been a repository for agricultural products or else used for defensive purposes. From there continue south to Andahuaylillas. Here you find the "Sixtine Chapel of Peru", a church that is home to golden altars, paintings and many colored ceilings. The chapel is simple and unassuming on the outside, but on the inside you’ll find masterpiece after masterpiece.

Enjoy box lunch in the small town, before visiting the nearby ruins of Tipon. These well-preserved remains include significant steps and aqueducts, and there is a pleasant walk through the ruins. From here you will return by road to Cusco and your hotel.

Farewell dinner at Map Café restaurant.

Overnight at the selected Hotel.

Breakfast at the hotel. 

At a scheduled time, transfer to the airport for your flight to Lima.

Upon arrival, assistance at the airport for your International flight.