Mysteries of the Inca Empire with Arequipa & Colca Canyon - 2022
Mysteries of the Inca Empire with Arequipa & Colca Canyon - 2022
Mysteries of the Inca Empire with Arequipa & Colca Canyon - 2022
15 Days Starting and ending in Lima, Peru
Visiting: Lima, Cusco, Sacred Valley, Machu Picchu, Juliaca, Puno, Lake Titicaca, Colca Canyon, Arequipa
Tour operator:
Tour code:
1306-2022
Guide Type:
Fully Guided
Physical rating:
Active pace
Age range:
5-99
Special diets catered:
Vegetarians, Please make Cosmos aware at the time of booking what your requirements are and they will endeavour to assist with your request.
Tour operated in:
EnglishTrip Styles:
Interests:
Activities:
Tour Overview
On this Peru tour, delve into the past, learn about the local culture, and experience beautiful scenery as you overnight in Lima, the Sacred Valley, Machu Picchu, Cusco, Lake Titicaca, Arequipa, and Colca Canyon. Along the way, visit ancient ruins, witness amazing scenery, and enjoy guided sightseeing of Peru's fascinating cities. History comes alive on this tour through Peru. Imagine what life was like in the 15th century as you tour the ancient ruins of Machu Picchu, where you'll see this famous Inca complex of palaces, plazas, temples, and homes set in a majestic setting. More history awaits at Ollantaytambo, the archaeological site of the Incas’ resistance during the Spanish conquest, and the Temple of Sacsayhuaman, a fortress with some of the best examples of Inca masonry. Guided sightseeing in Cusco features the Santo Domingo Monastery, where the Inca foundations remain under the Spanish baroque structures, and the Cathedral, housing a magnificent collection of artwork.
Highlights
Itinerary
Day 1 : Lima, Peru
Location: Lima
Accommodation: Hotel
Accommodation Name: Jose Antonio Lima Hotel (or similar)
Meals Included: No Meals
Welcome to Lima, Peru. Heralded as the “City of Kings” by Spanish conquistadors, Lima retains vestiges of its opulent past with its colonial buildings and world-class museums.
Day 2 : Lima
Location: Lima
Accommodation: Hotel
Accommodation Name: Jose Antonio Lima Hotel (or similar)
Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner
Sightseeing today focuses on Lima’s colonial heritage. Founded in 1535, Lima was once capital of Spain’s South American Empire. Visit the baroque 11th-century San Francisco Monastery, with Spanish and Moorish architecture throughout. Continue to Plaza Mayor, where you will see the Government Palace that houses the presidential palace and was once the home of Francisco Pizarro, founder of Lima and conqueror of Peru. Nearby, see the cathedral where Pizarro’s remains are buried. The remainder of your day is free to explore. Enjoy dinner at a local restaurant this evening.
Day 3 : Lima–Cusco–Sacred Valley
Location: Cusco, Sacred Valley
Accommodation: Hotel
Accommodation Name: La Hacienda Del Valle (or similar)
Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner
Fly to Cusco high in the Andes and upon arrival, descend into the Sacred Valley of the Incas. Stop at Awanakancha and learn about the importance of camelids (llama, vicuña, alpaca, and guanaco) for Inca cultures. See them up close and learn how their coats are transformed into precious fibers for ancient weaving techniques still in use today. Continue to Pisac, a charming village with a famous Indian market, where you have plenty of time to browse the many colorful stalls selling handicrafts ranging from alpaca sweaters and blankets to painted vases and sterling silver. Later, arrive at your hotel in the peaceful Sacred Valley.
Day 4 : Sacred Valley
Location: Sacred Valley
Accommodation: Hotel
Accommodation Name: La Hacienda Del Valle (or similar)
Meals Included: Breakfast
Start the day with a visit to the village of Ollantaytambo and the Inca ruins of the same name. Explore the archaeological site that was the scene of the Inca resistance during the Spanish conquest—the only place ever to resist Spanish attacks. See how the temple area at the top of the terraces was the perfect defensive stronghold, then visit a local home in this Incan town to experience life in a traditional village, which has been remarkably well preserved. Next, visit the Seminario ceramics workshop to learn about Peruvian ancient and modern art. End your day at a local chicheria for a taste of a chicha, a typical Inca drink in Peru.
Day 5 : Sacred Valley–Machu Picchu
Location: Sacred Valley, Machu Picchu
Accommodation: Hotel
Accommodation Name: El Mapi by Inkaterra (or similar)
Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner
Board the Vistadome train that cuts a path through the picturesque Urubamba Valley bound for Aguas Calientes, the quaint town closest to the “Lost City of the Incas.” Ascend the mountainside through tropical forest to the sacred refuge of Machu Picchu. Listen as your guide recounts the many accomplishments of the Incas as you tour the terraced ruins dating back to the 15th century. Abandonded when the Inca Empire fell to the Spanish, these remarkable ruins remained undiscovered for nearly 400 years. Many mysteries surrounding Machu Picchu remain to this day.
Day 6 : Machu Picchu–Cusco
Location: Machu Picchu, Cusco
Accommodation: Hotel
Accommodation Name: Jose Antonio Cusco (or similar)
Meals Included: Breakfast
Enjoy some free time this morning to explore the mountain town of Aguas Calientes; perhaps visit the local market, quaint boutiques, or take a walk along nearby trails. Later this afternoon, return to Cusco, former capital of the Inca Empire.
Day 7 : Cusco
Location: Cusco
Accommodation: Hotel
Accommodation Name: Jose Antonio Cusco (or similar)
Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner
Embark on a guided sightseeing tour of Cusco that focuses on the city that was once the political, military, and cultural epicenter of the Incas until the Spanish toppled it. In fact, Inca foundations can still be found in Cusco, with the Spanish baroque structures built on top. Visit the Santo Domingo Monastery, where these two forms of architecture are melded together with the temple of both cultures atop one another. Also, see the Cathedral in the Plaza de Armas, housing a magnificent collection of artwork, including a depiction of The Last Supper that portrays the apostles dining on cuy (guinea pig). Continue to the hillside overlooking Cusco for a visit to the Temple of Sacsayhuaman. Some of the best examples of Inca masonry can be found at this fortress, where stones weighing up to 350 tons are pieced together to form a complex that could house up to 10,000 men. Learn about the ceremonies and battles that took place here, then see the ruins of Kenko and Puca Pucara before returning to Cusco.
Day 8 : Cusco–Juliaca–Puno
Location: Juliaca, Puno
Accommodation: Hotel
Accommodation Name: Xima Puno Hotel (or similar)
Meals Included: Breakfast
Fly to Juliaca, then transfer to Puno on the shores of Lake Titicaca. Legend says the first Inca, Manco Capac, arose from the waters of the lake by the power of the sun god to found the Inca Empire.
Day 9 : Puno. Excursion To Lake Titicaca
Location: Lake Titicaca, Puno
Accommodation: Hotel
Accommodation Name: Xima Puno Hotel (or similar)
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Experience fascinating Lake Titicaca today as you embark on a motorboat tour of the highest navigable lake in the world and its man-made islands. On Taquile Island, see how the local people integrate their Inca and Spanish past. This is evident by the Spanish peasant dresses made of Andean textiles—the islanders make some of the finest in all of Peru. Continue to the Uros floating islands, a group of approximately 40 artificially made islands. Learn how the Uros Indians construct their islands, homes, boats, and many other resources completely of tortora reed, a centuries-old practice. Enjoy a farewell dinner hosted by your Tour Director this evening.
Day 10 : Puno–Colca Canyon
Location: Puno, Colca Canyon
Accommodation: Hotel
Accommodation Name: Casa Andina Standard Colca Hotel (or similar)
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch
This morning, depart Puno for a scenic drive to Colca Canyon. Enjoy scenery of Pre-Columbian terraces populated with vicuñas and a variety of birds, and stop for lunch in the town of Chivay. This afternoon, arrive in Colca Canyon.
Day 11 : Colca Canyon
Location: Colca Canyon
Accommodation: Hotel
Accommodation Name: Casa Andina Standard Colca Hotel (or similar)
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch
Today, spend time in the Colca Canyon, an impressive geological formation more than twice as deep as the Grand Canyon. Visit Condors’ Cross, an observation point, where you can view the Andean condor in flight at eye level, followed by a visit to the town of Yanque. This afternoon is free for independent exploration.
Day 12 : Colca Canyon–Arequipa
Location: Arequipa
Accommodation: Hotel
Accommodation Name: Casa Andina Select Arequipa (or similar)
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch
Drive to Arequipa located in the Chili River Valley and flanked by three snowcapped volcanoes: Misti, Chachani, and Pichu Pichu. Known as the “white city,” Arequipa definitely does justice to its nickname, as its buildings are made of sillar, a white volcanic rock found throughout the area. The stone embellishes the facades of the city’s homes and churches.
Day 13 : Arequipa
Location: Arequipa
Accommodation: Hotel
Accommodation Name: Casa Andina Select Arequipa (or similar)
Meals Included: Breakfast
This morning, a city tour of Arequipa shows off the Plaza de Armas and the Cathedral before visiting the Jesuit church, considered the best example of the mestizo baroque style. Continue to the residential districts of Yanahuara and Chilina, where you enjoy a magnificent view of Arequipa’s countryside and the Mount Misti volcano.
Day 14 : Arequipa–Lima
Location: Lima
Accommodation: Hotel
Accommodation Name: Jose Antonio Lima Hotel (or similar)
Meals Included: Breakfast
Fly to Lima today.
Day 15 : Lima
Location: Lima
Meals Included: Breakfast
Your vacation ends after breakfast this morning.
What's Included
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Meals
14 breakfasts, 4 lunches, 5 dinners
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Accommodation
It may occasionally be necessary to use alternative hotels of a similar standard to those shown.
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All Domestic Transportation (including internal flights)
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Fully Guided
What's Not Included
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International Travel
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Tipping and Gratuities
Check out our Q&As
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Are flights included in this tour?
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How long has the tour company been trading?
Since 1961
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What Ethical Travel credentials does the tour company have?
Cosmos is committed to minimizing our impact on the environment and to reducing dependence on non-renewable resources. In this endeavor, we have implemented policies to support this mission and are working carefully to enhance our products with this mission and our values combined. We are committed to complying with all relevant legislation and/or regulations.
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What documents will I receive before I travel?
Travel documents, including any air tickets, itineraries, and other information, are available approximately two to three weeks prior to departure provided full payment has been received.
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What happens if I need to change my holiday date once I’ve booked?
All guests are fully vaccinated against COVID-19 for travel through February, 2023. Beginning March 1, 2023, while we highly recommend vaccination, we will no longer require it. We ask all guests to comply with airline and destination requirements, which still may apply. To check your destination requirements for your travel dates, view the Latest Travel & Health Restrictions for Travel.
Reviews of this Operator
Book with Confidence
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Low Deposit
Cosmos requires a minimum deposit of 200 GBP per person or the full booking value, whichever is less, with the final balance not due until 60 days before departure.
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Cancellation Policy
We don't charge a cancellation fee, here is a summary of cosmos charges.
Up to 65 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of deposit.
At 64 days before tour starts: Forfeit 20% of booking price.
At 21 days before tour starts: Forfeit 30% of booking price.
At 7 days before tour starts: Forfeit 50% of booking price.
At 1 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of booking price.
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