Peru Colca

ATTENTION: We recommend that you consult the reference flight considered for the group transfer service to the hotel. If you book a different flight than other passengers, a private transfer fee will be charged.

Arrival to the international airport Jorge Chavez. Welcome, reception by our staff and transfer to the hotel.

Check-in at 15:00.

Dinner not included.

Overnight at DAZZLER BY WYNDHAM LIMA MIRAFLORES **** or SIMILAR hotel. (standard room)

If your passengers arrive on a UX or LAN flight early in the morning, this will be their arrival day and they will have included early check in.

Breakfast

Morning at leisure.

Lunch at local restaurant.

Guided tour of the city center. Lima is the capital and the most populous city of Peru. With an approximate population

of 10 millions of inhabitants, Lima is the fifth largest city in South America. Known as the city of the kings, Lima was

founded on January 18, 1535 by the Spanish conqueror Francisco Pizarro under the name of "City of Kings" and is the

commercial, financial, cultural and political heart of the country. 2/3 of the national industry is concentrated here and the

largest airport in the country is located. Lima is one of the very few South American cities that preserve the colonial past

and in 1991 its colonial center was declared a world heritage site by the UNESCO; we will visit the Convent of San

Francisco, with its Baroque-Limeño style facade and the Cathedral which overlooks the Plaza de Armas and houses

Pizarro's tomb.

Visit the Larco Herrera Museum, founded in 1926 and located inside an elegant 18th century building, built on top of a

7th century pre-Columbian pyramid. The Museum houses a large collection of gold, silver and ceramics and is one of

the few museums in the world where visitors can appreciate 45,000 duly classified archaeological objects; a truly unique

experience.

Dinner not included.

Per Overnight at DAZZLER BY WYNDHAM LIMA MIRAFLORES **** or SIMILAR hotel. (standard room)

Breakfast

Transfer to the airport and flight to Arequipa. Flight non included. (Suggested flight - LA 2103 LIM/AQP 07h00/08h30 - Subject to change without notice ).

Arrival at the “white city” of Arequipa.

Visit Arequipa, known as the “White City” for its beautiful sillar (volcanic rock) buildings. We start with a stop at the picturesque Yanahuara neighborhood and the Carmen Alto viewpoint overlooking the ancient terraced crops of the Chilina valley. Return to the city center, visit the church and cloisters of the Compañia de Jesus and then the Cathedral (outside) which overlooks the Plaza de Armas.

Continue on foot to visit the famous Santa Catalina Monastery, founded in 1579 and open to the public since 1970, a true citadel in the city. The religious complex covers an area of 20,000 m2, develops between narrow and winding passages, colorful alleys and lush gardens.

Lunch not included.

In the afternoon, visit the Santuarios Andinos Museum, where Juanita is exhibited, a young Inca sacrificed to the gods more than 500 years ago on the Ampato volcano (6380 m).

Dinner not included.

Overnight at CASA ANDINA SELECT AREQUIPA**** or SIMILAR hotel (standard room)


Note: The Juanita mummy is kept in the dark for its preservation from January 1st to April 30th. During these months, the Sarita mummy, also found on the Ampato volcano, is exhibited.

Breakfast.

Departure to the Colca Canyon. We will cross the pampas of Cañahuas, one of the few places in the world where you

can observe vicunas in the wild, in this immense reserve you can also find llamas and alpacas. During the journey it will

be possible to admire the beautiful terraces of pre-Columbian origins, which are still cultivated by the indigenous

Collaguas. The highest point we will reach will be Patapampa (4900 m), before descending to Chivay (3600 m).

Lunch at local restaurant.

Dinner not included.

Per Overnight at EL REFUGIO*** or SIMILAR hotel (standard room)

Breakfast.

Morning departure for the Cruz del Condor from where you can enjoy a superb view of the Colca Valley. Some stops

will be made along the route to admire the beautiful landscape. Once you arrive at the Cruz, with a little luck we will have

the opportunity to observe the majestic flight of the condors, which take advantage of the ascending currents of the

canyon to come and fly swirling above our heads.

Return to Chivay with a stop at the village of Maca to briefly visit one of the richest colonial churches in the valley.

Lunch not included.

Depart to Puno (3800 m) with a stop in Lagunillas, where the mountains are reflected in the blue water of the lagoon creating a magical play of colours.

Arrival in the late afternoon and accommodation at the hotel.

Dinner not included.

Overnight at XIMA PUNO*** or SIMILAR hotel (standard room)

Breakfast.

Boat excursion on the Titicaca Lake, the highest navigable lake in the world (3810 m). The legend tells that Mama

Occlo and Manco Capac, the founders of the Inca empire, emerged from its waters.

The first stop is on the floating island of the Indian Uros, indigenous people of Aymara origin whose way of life and strong tradition are the matter of admiration for many visitors: also called water tribes, they live in small straw houses, which they use also for their huts and their boats; they live from fishing and hunting.

Continuation to the Taquile Island, whose inhabitants of Quechua origin are known for their skilled weaving skills.
From the top of the island you will be surprised by the wonderful spectacle that will present to you: the bright blue of the Titicaca Lake surrounded by high mountain ranges.

Available time on the island.

Lunch in a small community restaurant.

Return to Puno with expected arrival in the late afternoon.

Dinner not included.

Per Overnight at XIMA PUNO*** or SIMILAR hotel (standard room)

Breakfast.

Departure by tourist bus towards Cusco*. The beauty of the landscape justifies this journey. During the trip you will be amazed by the wonderful landscapes: the altiplano and Andean mountains. You will passe through some Andean villages such as Urcos, San Pedro, Tinta, Sicuani.

During the route the bus will make stops to visit Pucara; Raqchi where it will be possible to admire ancient Huari ruins and the beautiful Wiracocha Temple and the last stop in Andahuaylillas, whose main attraction is its baroque church known as "The Sixtine Chapel of America". The highest pass of the trip is La Raya (4000 m) which is also the limit between the Altiplano and the Andean mountains.

Lunch at a local restaurant during the journey.

Arrival in the evening in Cusco, the ancient capital of the Inca empire, whose name in the Quechua language means "navel of the earth”.

Transfer and accommodation to the hotel.

Dinner not included.

Overnight at XIMA CUSCO**** or SIMILAR hotel (standard room)


*Starting from base 10, the journey is carried out by private bus, visiting Sillustani instead of Pucara. The famous Chullpas of Sillustani are circular tombs of pre-Inca origin later used also by the Incas. In each of these funerary towers, up to 25 mummified bodies were found in a fetal position and accompanied by offerings (food, jewels and various utensils) that could be used by the deceased for their afterlife. The site is located at approximately 4000 m above sea level. in a landscape dominated by the mountains surrounding the Umayo Lagoon.

Breakfast.

07H00 Am Departure for Chinchero. On Sundays, the town of Chinchero hosts a still authentic market joined by the inhabitants of the surrounding areas to barter (exchange) their products with the locals. From this village you have spectacular views of the Sacred Valley mountains and there is a small but interesting colonial church (not always open to the public).

In addition to the market, we will visit the beautiful archaeological site and be able to attend a demonstration on wool processing; the kind ladies of Chinchero will introduce us to this real art: from washing the wool to its spinning, the coloring process with natural dyes obtained from local plants and finally the weaving with an artisanal loom. (The Chinchero market is only open on Sundays)

Later, we will have the opportunity to see the Maras salt mines located at the slope of a mountain and divided into numerous pools that receive salt water coming from underground. This salt mine is one of the oldest in Peru, it is known that they were exploited before the arrival of the Incas in the region. For environmental protection it is no longer possible to visit the pools, so the visit will consist of admiring the salt mines from the Viewer.

Lunch at restaurant.

Continuation to visit the village of Ollantaytambo to visit the impressive archaeological site. Pachacutec, one of the most representative protagonists of the Inca era, conquered the region and built the village and a large ceremonial center which served as a fort for the resistance during the era of the Spanish conquest.

Transfer to Ollantaytambo train station and departure for Aguas Calientes by Expedition train**.

Dinner at hotel.

Overnight at EL MAPI**** or SIMILAR hotel (superior deluxe room)

NOTE: During the rainy season (from the end of November to the beginning of April) the visit to Maras is replaced with the visit to Moray: visit to the village and archaeological site of Moray, formed by a system of Inca terraces built like an amphitheatre. You will also appreciate picturesque colonial-style rural houses. NOTE: The Chinchero market is only on Sundays, on other days you will visit the Pisac market


** Passengers will have to leave with a backpack with everything needed for 2 days and 1 night as only hand luggage with a total weight of 5 kg is allowed on the train to Aguas Calientes. The suitcases will remain kept in the hotel in Cusco.

Breakfast.

Very early in the morning, you will take the mini bus from Aguas Calientes to reach the site of Machu Picchu (2490 m) in about 30 minutes.

Visit to the majestic ruins of “the lost city of the Incas”*, discovered in 1911 by the American anthropologist Hiram Bingham. The ruins are located on the top of Machu Picchu (old mountain in Quechua), at the foot of Huayna Picchu (young mountain), surrounded by the Urubamba and Vilcanota rivers. The complex is divided into two large areas: the agricultural area, formed by typical Inca terraces which is located to the south and the urban area to the north, which was the area dedicated to daily, civil and religious activities.

Lunch not included.

Return to Aguas Calientes and departure by train to Poroy station, continuation to Cusco and accommodation in the hotel.

Dinner not included.

Overnight at XIMA CUSCO**** or SIMILAR hotel (standard room)

Breakfast.

Visit to the city of Cusco. Visit of Korikancha, the most sacred religious center of the Inca era dedicated to the cult of the Sun god and on which, after the arrival of the Spanish, the Convent of Santo Domingo was built. Continuation towards the Plaza de Armas, where according to legend the golden staff of the Inca Manco Capac was stuck, indicating the exact place where to found the city that would become the capital of the Empire. Visit to the large Cathedral, built in the 16th century on the foundations of the Inca Palace of Viracocha.

Then visit the ruins outside the city: the Qenqo amphitheater, center of worship of the Pachamama (Mother Earth in Quechua); Tambomachay, known as “Inca Bath”, a center dedicated to the cult of water. Last stop in Sacsayhuaman, still the subject of archaeological studies today. This site covers an area of 6 km2 and is thought to be a multipurpose center like Machu Picchu.

At the end of the visits, the guide will accompany you to discover the lively San Pedro Market. This market absolutely deserves to be visited, both for its architectural structure (the construction was followed by Gustav Eiffel...the same as the Tower!), for its liveliness and its colors, and for the interesting products that can be found at very good prices. From the freshest fruit juices to tortillas and other typical Andean products, from handicrafts to coca leaves and llama fetuses for ceremonies of thanks to the land... * a truly unique experience.

* The market is within walking distance, so you may decide to stay there and return to the hotel on your own.

Lunch not included.

Afternoon at leisure to walk around the city.

Dinner in a restaurant with folklore show.

Overnight at XIMA CUSCO**** or SIMILAR hotel (standard room)

Breakfast.

Transfer to the airport and flight to Lima. Flight not included. (Book the flight coinciding with the outbound flight)*

ATTENTION: We recommend that you issue (when possible) this flight together with the intercontinental ticket. Be careful especially when your flight to Europe leaves in the morning. In case of bad weather, Cuzco airport cancels flights.


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