GT-212-EXPERIENCE THE BEST OF PERU
Lima, Arequipa & Colca Canyon, Puno & Lake Tititcaca, Cusco, Sacred Valley and
Machu Picchu
Twelve Days
(Minimum two people)
2013 DEPARTURE DATES:
January 25, February 22, March 29, April 26, May 24, June 28, July 12, August 16, September 27, October 25 & November 29
ITINERARY
Day 1: Friday – Arrival in Lima
Arrive in Lima International Airport; upon arrival you will be met by a representative who will assist you with your luggage and drive you to the hotel.
Overnight accommodations in Lima.
Day 2: Saturday – Lima
Breakfast. AM: Enjoy a half day guided sightseeing tour to the most attractive and important
sites in Lima, the “City of Kings”. The tour includes Lima’s Historical Center, passing by Plaza San Martin, Plaza Mayor, the Government Palace, the City Hall, the Cathedral and its Religious Art Museum. Finally visit the residential Districts of San Isidro and Miraflores, passing by the Huaca Pucllana, a Ceremonial and Administrative Centre of the Lima Culture built in the II Century A.C. Also visit El Olivar Park with olive trees brought from Spain in the XVth Century, the Central Park of Miraflores.
PM: Afternoon at leisure.
Overnight accommodations in Lima. (B)
Day 3: Sunday – Lima / Arequipa
Breakfast. Early this morning, transfer to the Lima airport to board your flight to the city of Arequipa. Upon arrival to Arequipa’s airport you will be met by a driver who will assist you with your luggage and drive you to the hotel.
Afternoon sightseeing tour of the City, including the Main Square, one of the most beautiful squares in Peru, and the Cathedral, a prime example of XIXth Century Peruvian Architecture. You will also visit La Compañia Church, an ancient Jesuit temple, maybe the most important one in Arequipa due to its history and tradition. Continue the visit to the Santa Catalina Convent; the most fascinating colonial religious complex in the country, with the architecture, religious art and furnishings of a world that seems to have stood still since 1579.
Overnight accommodations in Arequipa (B)
Day 4: Monday – Arequipa / Colca Canyon
Breakfast. Early in the morning, depart on a wonderful four hour journey to the Colca Canyon, one of the deepest canyons in the world (3400 mts.). On the trip, drive across Pampa Cañahuas in the Aguada Blanca National Reserve, inhabited by herds of Vicuñas and Alpacas (South American cameloids). You will also see beautiful pre-Columbian terraces, still being cultivated by the native Collaguas. Box lunch included en route.
On your arrival at Colca Valley, transfer to the selected lodge. If you are in good shape, you will have free time to stroll around the lodge surroundings or you could take a repairing bath in the hot springs nearby the lodge.
Overnight accommodations in the Colca Valley. (B/Box Lunch)
Day 5: Tuesday – Colca Canyon / Puno
Breakfast. Very early in the morning, drive to the observation point “Cruz del Condor”. While this is not the deepest point of the Colca Canyon, from Cruz del Condor you can appreciate the grandeur of the canyon and with a bit of luck you might spot Andean condors, the largest flying bird in the world, soaring across the high plain. On the way back, visit the towns of Maca at the base of the volcano Sabancaya and then Yanque. The church of Yanque with its baroque façade is testimony to the cultural symbiosis in the colonial era. Continue the journey from the Colca Valley heading southeast towards Lake Titicaca, approximately travelling a total of 8 hours (332 kms / 221.33 miles); most of the route is paved. Beautiful landscapes along the way, corresponding to high altitude ecosystems, approximately one hour before reaching Puno. Puno sits on the banks of Lake Titicaca – the highest navigable lake in the world. This region is the birthplace of Inca Mythology; according to the legend, Manco Capac and Mama Ocllo emerged from the sacred Lake Titicaca to found the Inca Empire and give birth to Inca civilization. Arrival in Puno and transfer to the hotel.
Overnight accommodations in Puno (B/Box Lunch)
Day 6: Wednesday – Puno
Breakfast. Early in the morning, experience an unforgettable excursion via speedboat on the waters of Lake Titicaca to the unique “Floating Islands” of the Uros. These ancient inhabitants of the Lake, known as the Water Tribe, have built their own “Islands” by periodically adding new layers of a type of reed unique to the area called “Totora” (Scirpus totora), vegetable fiber of the Papyrus family. Continue the speedboat trip to Taquile Island, inhabited by Quechua-speaking natives who have developed efficient and unique social systems, as well as fine hand weaving techniques, passed down through the generations.
Upon arrival at the Town of Taquile, enjoy lunch with the local inhabitants, then walk through the various hills and archaeological sites of this 6 km long Island. Return to Puno.
Overnight accommodations in Puno (B/Box Lunch)
Day 7: Thursday – Puno / Cusco
Breakfast. Early departure by tourist bus to the City of Cusco. Travel along the High Plateau of the Collao, stopping at the Town of Ayaviri, an important livestock and textile centre, to visit the impressive Temple of Kalasasaya, remnants of the ancient Pucara Culture. On the way, stop in Raqchi, where you will see a spectacular Inca Sanctuary built by the Inca Pachacutec and dedicated to the great Inca God of Wiracocha; it has a great central wall with a stone base of fine Inca architecture, other walls made of giant adobe bricks and the structure also have two circular lateral columns. Around the Temple are several buildings once used for housing and storage.
About 70 kms further on, pass through the La Raya Ranch where you can see herds of vicuñas and llamas. During the trip, pass by the lovely Wacarpay Lake, offering spectacular views of the mountains reflected in its calm waters. Proceed to the beautiful Town of Andahuaylillas, and visit the Church of San Pedro de Andahuaylillas, better known as the Sistine Chapel of the Americas, due to its decorated polychrome ceiling. Lunch at a quiet countryside restaurant, where you can enjoy the delightful culinary art of the region. Afternoon arrival in Cusco and transfer to your hotel.
Overnight accommodations in Cusco. (B/L)
Day 8: Friday – Cusco
Breakfast at the hotel. Morning at leisure for personal activities.
Afternoon: Half day private escorted sightseeing tour of the city of Cusco, archaeological capital of South America. Cusco also has the finest examples of Inca history and architecture. A visit of the city’s most important historical monuments, The Plaza de Armas, the Cathedral, the Koricancha Temple, and a visit to the surrounding ruins of the Kenko Amphitheater, Tambomachay, Puca Pucara, and Sacsayhuaman Fortress. After the tour you will be driven back to your hotel.
Overnight accommodations in Cusco (B)
Day 9: Saturday – Cusco
Breakfast. A day at leisure to explore and enjoy the many excellent cafés, bars and innovative restaurants in Cusco.
Overnight accommodations in Cusco (B)
Day 10: Sunday – Cusco / Sacred Valley
Breakfast. En route towards the Urubamba Valley, you will the Pisac Markets where you will have the chance to interact with the local folk and even barter with the merchants. After having lunch at a local countryside restaurant, end the day with a visit to the Incan fortress and citadel of Ollantaytambo. This fortress was constructed in order to guard the entrance to this part of the valley and protect it from possible invasions of tribes from the jungle lowlands, and was later the scene of Incan resistance in 1537, when Manco Inca’s forces faced Hernando Pizarro’s troops. After the tour you will be driven back to your hotel.
Overnight accommodations in the Sacred Valley (B/L)
Day 11: Monday – Sacred Valley / Machu Picchu
Breakfast. Morning transfer to the train station for an amazing train journey to the famous Inca Citadel of Machu Picchu, the great mountain-top city abandoned by the Inca Empire, reclaimed by the jungle and lost to humanity until its rediscovery in 1911.
The legendary ‘Lost City’ is without a doubt one of the world’s most impressive archaeological sites. Built by the Incas on the summit of “Machu Picchu” (old peak), overlooking the deep canyon of the Urubamba river in a semi-tropical area 120 Kms (75 miles) from the city of Cusco at 3,400 m.a.s.l (11,155 f.a.s.l). It sits on a mountain site of extraordinary beauty, in the middle of a tropical mountain forest; Machu Picchu was probably the most amazing urban creation of the Inca Empire at its height, with its giant walls, terraces and ramps, which appear as though they have been cut naturally in the continuous rock escarpments. Machu Picchu is also one of the Inca’s best kept secrets, since they did not leave written records and Spanish chronicles make no mention of the citadel, it remains a mystery. Upon arrival to the ruins after a 20 minute bus ride from Aguas Calientes, a guided tour of the Citadel including the Main Plaza, the Circular Tower, the Sacred Sun Dial, the Royal Quarters, the Temple of the Three Windows and various burial grounds. Lunch at a local restaurant. In the afternoon, back to Cusco by train, and transfer to your selected hotel.
Overnight accommodations in Cusco (B/L)
Day 12: Tuesday – Cusco / Lima / International departure
Breakfast. You will be driven by our representative to the Cusco airport in order to board your late morning flight to Lima and connect with your international flight. (B)
RATE PER PERSON BASED ON DOUBLE OCCUPANCY: $1,805.00
PROGRAM INCLUDES:
Eleven nights hotel accommodations. Shared services with local English speaking guides . All entrance fees to the sites mentioned in the itinerary. Meals: As indicated in the itinerary. Roundtrip train ticket to Machu Picchu via Vistadome coach or similar. Bus tickets to and from the Machu Picchu ruins. All tips (except hotel staff) . Permanent assistance during the trip
NOT INCLUDED
International and domestic airlines to be quoted separately. Meals or any other item not described in the itinerary. Early check-in, late check-out, services and non-mentioned meals in the itinerary. Personal expenses. Tips for hotel staff.
PARTICIPATING HOTELS (Or similar category)
LIMA: Allpa Hotel – Standard Room
AREQUIPA: San Agustin Posada del Monasterio – Standard Room
COLCA: Eco Inn – Standard Room
PUNO: Eco Inn – Standard Room
CUSCO: Los Portales – Standard Room
SACRED VALLEY: Inkallpa – Standard Room
AGUAS CALIENTES (Machu Picchu) El Mapi – Superior Room
(Rates and availability for hotel upgrades on request)
