Southern Perú (12 Days / 11 Nights)

FOREWORD

Experience the wonders and mysteries of the most important city of the Incan Period, Cusco. You will succumb to the charm of its archaeological sites, its history and traditions still living in their people. You will also, enjoy the rich diversity of flora and fauna of the Peruvian jungle in Manu National Park or Tambopata National Reserve. Enjoy this enigmatic Peru 12 day and stroll the Peruvian jungle and view the diversity of species that live in it. You will enjoy the architectural beauty of the city of Cusco and discover the charm of the Sacred Valley. Also, challenge your limits and feel the magic that surrounds a wonder of the modern world; the ancient city of Machu Picchu.

ITINERARY

DAY 1: LIMA

Arrive to Lima
Transfer to your hotel, optional city tour.

DAY 2: LIMA – AREQUIPA

 You will fly from Lima to Arequipa. You will be transferred to your Hotel. There you will have a light lunch and time for a well-deserved siesta.
City Tour. – 01:00pm We will start our walking tour visiting the old quarter of San Lazaro were Arequipa was founded in 1540, we continue visiting the Plaza De Armas before beginning our visit the Monastery of Santa Catalina which is a convent that occupies two blocks in the center of Arequipa. Its foundation dates back from 1575. In 1970 the convent was opened to the public. In the monastery you can see how the nuns lived and that each one had their own private house within the Monastery. It really seems like a small city within the city of Arequipa just the way it was in the 16th century. Our next stop is the Andean Sanctuaries Museum of the Santa Maria Catholic University where is the Lady of Ampato known as “the Mummy Juanita “among others whose stories show magical religious beliefs of man’s relationship with nature. For lunch we have the opportunity to try a typical restaurant from the city as Arequipa is well known for its fantastic gastronomy.

DAY 3: AREQUIPA – COLCA CANYON.

Today we leave our hotel at 08:00am, before to leaving the city of Arequipa, we will visit Mundo Alpaca where we will be able to see the interesting process of the Alpaca and Vicuna wool industry and also have the opportunity of buying the products at outlet prices.
At mid morning we will drive from Arequipa to the Colca Canyon. On the way we can see the volcanoes Chachani and Misti and the Valley of Arequipa.
Reaching the altitude of 12000 feet we will be at the National Reserve of Aguada Blanca in Pampa de Cañahuas , natural habitat of the wild vicuñas, and the domesticated llamas and alpacas.  At midafternoon we will be arriving to our comfortable hotel at the town of Chivay, where we can optionally go the hot springs for a relaxing water massage.
Meals: Breakfast,

DAY 4: COLCA CANYON – PUNO

After an early breakfast we head off to the Cruz Del Condor viewpoint where we will hopefully get to see the majestic Condor.  During our tour in the Colca Canyon you can admire the impressive terraces and irrigation systems from the Collahua period. We will visit the villages of Maca and Pinchollo. After lunch in Chivay, we will take a bus to Puno. On the route we will visit different places of historic interest like Patapampa (4900 meters above sea level), Patahuasi, Pampa Cañahuas and Lagunillas.
Transfer to the hotel.

DAY 5: PUNO – UROS – TAQUILE ISLAND (full day)

After breakfast we will transfer to the port of Puno to take a tourist motor boat to the floating islands of Uros. The inhabitants of these artificial islands made of Totora reeds are known as “The tribe of the water”. They must reconstruct the Islands periodically, adding new layers of “Totora”.
Their homes and boats are made of that same material. After visiting there, we will continue on to the Island of Taquile. This place is colorful and beautiful landscaping and the people even maintain its ancient customs, rituals, religious and folkloric traditions. In the town of Taquile we will experience a typical lunch with fresh fish (Pejerrey). In the afternoon we will return to the city of Puno and transfer to your hotel.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch.

DAY 6: PUNO – CUSCO

7:00 am Transfer to the bus station.
Along our route of travel we will have the opportunity to visit different places, Viracocha temple and Andahualillas Church.
These places had different functions: Andahuaylillas is one of the most beautiful Baroque churches built under spanish influence in the Americas. It is also known as the “Sistine Chapel of the Americas”. Raqchi was the temple dedicated to Viracocha (the god of the Inca). It has walls up to 15 meters high and therefore is unique in the whole of the Inka empire. La Raya located at 4335 metres above sea level is the highest point of the route. Pukara was a great pre-hispanic city, characterized by large pyramids. Transfer to your hotel.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch.

DAY 7: CUSCO.

Free day to see Cusco at your leisure and do some shopping.

DAY 8: CUSCO

At 08:30 am we will have a half day tour of the City and nearby archeological sites.
We will start our excursion visiting the PLAZA DE ARMAS (Main Square) which in the Inca time was called HUACAYPATA. In this square many important events have taken place during its long history. In pre-Hispanic times, many religious and sacred ceremonies were held here. Between the years 1560 and 1654 the Cathedral was built. This monumental architectural jewel from the XVI century is formed with three Churches with a very rich art collection having more than 1200 pieces of art in exhibition.
We will also visit KORICANCHA known as the Temple of the Sun where now exists a Church and a Dominican Convent.  This pre-Hispanic religious icon according to the Andean cosmology is situated in the center of the world.
 After we are going to the nearby archeological sites such as Sacsayhuaman, Q’enqo, Puca Pucara and Tambomachay. Sacsayhuaman is an ancient sanctuary with great monolithic walls build with stones that weigh over 130 tons. Here, yearly on the 24th of June a celebration takes place called INTIRAYMI or Sun Festival. We will continue to Q’enqo or the Labyrinth which dates back to 1500 BC.  Here were held ceremonies to the Sun the Moon and the Stars. Puca Pucara has enclosures, squares, interiors, aqueducts and paths. This could have been a Tambo for storage and a place of rest for the Inca. TAMBOMACHAY had an important religious function related to the water and the earth. After finishing the excursion, we will return to our hotel.
Free afternoon.
Meals: Breakfast

DAY 9:  SACRED VALLEY.

Full day tour leaving Cusco at 8:30 am towards Pisaq where we will visit the archeological site and the local market. Here we will have the opportunity of buying typical art and weavings from Cusco. We will continue down the Valley to Urubamba where we will have lunch at a country side restaurant. After lunch we will visit the town of Ollantaytambo which has maintained through the years the old Inca design and street layout. It is an example of urban Inca organization. Here we will also see agriculture areas with ancient irrigation systems still working as in the Inca times.
Finally, we will visit the archeological site build by the Inca Pachacutec.  It was constructed using enormous stones brought from quarries from the other side of the mountain. After finishing the excursion, we will transfer to the hotel in Urubamba.
 Meals: Breakfast

DAY 10:  SACRED VALLEY.

Our tour begins with the gathering at the hotel at 8:30 a.m to board our private transportation. We will visit the archeological site of Moray, (3499msnm) important agricultural system construction, here we will visit for about one hour and then we will visit the salt mines (Salineras) where salt is extracted in artisanal form. Finally, late in the afternoon you will be transferred to the train station and board the train for a spectacular 2-hour train ride alongside a roaring river into the cloud forest. You will arrive to Machupicchu Town, a small town at the base of a beautiful cloud forest setting, and you will know why Machu Picchu is also called the Lost City of the Incas. Arriving you will transferred to your hotel.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

DAY 11: MACHUPICCHU – CUSCO.

Early in the morning we will depart by bus to Machupicchu to begin our guided tour. We will visit the different areas of this amazing archeological site such as temples, royal residence, agriculture zone and the Intihuatana (Sun Dial). After the guided tour we will have free time to visit at our leisure different places like the Sun Gate or the Inca Bridge. After a hearty lunch we will take the train back to Cusco.
Meals: Breakfast

DAY 12: CUSCO  –  LIMA

Transfer to the airport for your flight to Lima.
End of our services

INCLUDE
  • All transfers from airport, hotels and train station.
  • 11 hotel nights according to the program with breakfast.
  • Half Day City tour in Arequipa
  • Colca Canyon Tour 2d /1N
  • Full day Uros & Taquile Islands
  • Bus Tickets. ( Puno – Cusco. )
  • City tour and nearby ruins (5 hours approx.)
  • Two full day Sacred Valley tour with lunch at country side restaurant.
  • Machupicchu tour with all services included. Excep Lunch and Dinner.
  • Professional English speaking guides .
  • All entrance fees for sites visited.
NOT INCLUDED
  • Tips
  • Flight tickets ( Lima – Arequipa / Cusco – Lima )
  • Alcoholic beverages
  • Baggage excess
  • Medical expenses

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