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| Day 1: Arrival in Lima. Accommodation in Lima |
daily program |
| Upon arrival at the international airport Jorge Chavez in Lima, you will be greeted by your local tour conductor, who will guide you to the modern area of Miraflores and will help you check into your hotel. Depending on your arrival time, you will have time to grab a bite in Kennedy Park or take a stroll by the Pacific Ocean, where you will find the modern shopping center Larco Mar, which offers a marvellous view of the ocean. Your local tour conductor will be happy to assist you. |
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| Day 2: Flight to Arequipa, city tour Arequipa. Accommodation in Arequipa |
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daily program |
Today, your destination is Arequipa. The country´s second city is nicknamed “the White city”, because of its precious colonial architecture, almost entirely built in white tuff or volcanic stone. The city is embedded in a beautiful landscape between the coast and the highlands, surrounded by the picturesque volcanoes Misti, Chachani and Picchu Picchu.
City tour in the afternoon. Arequipa is said to have the best preserved Spanish-influenced architecture. The cathedral and the Jesuit Church La Compañía are excellent examples, as well as the Santa Catalina monastery, a sixteenth century colonial jewel. The monastery is like a city within a city, with small alleys and several patios in Andalusia style. The guided tour of the monastery will help you to understand the austere religious life and habits of the sixteenth century. |
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| Day 3: Flight to Juliaca, journey to Puno with sightseeing along the way. Accommodation in Puno |
daily program |
| Flight to Juliaca, located in the altiplano, from where you will continue to Puno. Stops along the road to visit a family of farmers and the ancient burial grounds of Sillustani, located on the peninsula on the banks of Lake Umayo. The tombs or Chullpas originated in the Inca and pre-Inca eras. Arrival in Puno, at the shores of the legendary Lake Titicaca. Accommodation in Puno. |
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| Day 4: Uros Islands and Taquile. Accommodation in Puno |
daily program |
| Boat trip to the island of Taquile. Visit of the floating Uros-islands along the way. The islands are located on the Bay of Puno, separated from the great Lake by a peninsula and several indentations. The name and some of the traditions of the Uro have been preserved, but there are no ‘original’ Uros left, since the tribe has become intertwined with the Aymara.The islands and boats are made of totora, a type of bulrush. Even though the islands have now become a tourist attraction, it is still possible to sneak a peek at the traditional lifestyle of the islanders. In 1996, the government had solar cells installed in some of the islands, so the islanders now have a power connection. Later, the boat will take you to the island of Taquile, home of the weaving men. Return to Puno by boat. |
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| Day 5: Trip to Cusco with sightseeing along the way. Accommodation in Cusco |
daily program |
| Today you will travel on a regular bus to Cusco (390 km), the ‘navel of the world’. The trip usually takes about 9 hours, passing many sleepy Indio villages along the way. You will discover the Puna landscape, where large herds of llamas and alpaca graze on the pampas grass. Visit of the pre-Inca ruins of Pucará. Shortly after crossing the highest pass on your trip, „ La Raya“(4312 m asl (asl)), you´ll enjoy lunch in the little town of Sicuani. Then, the journey continues to Raqchi, where you´ll visit the Wiracocha temple. From here onwards, the landscape changes as the road winds throught the lush valley of the Vilcanota River. Shortly before reaching Cusco, the bus will stop in Andahuaylillas, where you can admire a splendid colonial church known as the “Sixtine Chapel” of the America´s. Arrival in Cusco in the evening. |
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| Day 6: The Sacred Valley. Accommodation in Cusco |
daily program |
Full day excursion to the Sacred Valley of the inca. The terraces in this valley are among the best preserved in Peru. The colourful market, where villagers from miles around gather to barter and sell their produce, has remained the same for hundreds of years. A wide variety of handicrafts are for sale here. Actually, almost anything is for sale here: from fruit and vegetables to blankets, pullovers and ponchos, garments and make-up.
From here, a short 15-20 minutes trip will take you to Cuyo Grande, your starting point for a three hour walk to Chahuaytiri. Along the way you´ll admire murals and visit a local community of weaving women. |
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| Day 7: City Tour Cusco. Accommodation in Cusco |
daily program |
You will start your day with a city tour of the former capital of the Inca Empire. In Quechua, Cusco stands for ‘navel of the world’. No other city in Peru boasts a similar mix of indigenous and colonial architecture.
The ancient temple of the Sun “Koricancha” is a good example of the impressive construction skills of the Inca . Most of the buildings were destroyed by the Spanish conquerors. Only the foundations remained intact. Palaces, monasteries and churches were built on top of these foundations. Gigantic stones were carved out in a very precise manner and no mortar was used. The Dominican Monastery of Santo Domingo was thus built on the remains of the Koricancha temple. The Cusco cathedral is famous for the “Señor de los Temblores”, or Lord of the Earthquakes, highly venerated by the indigenous population. The cathedral contains numerous examples of the famous Cusco School paintings. The so-called Cusco School blends catholic themes and European techniques with indigenous elements. The city tour is followed by a visit to the nearby Inca ruins: Sacsayhuaman, Kenko, Puca Pucara and Tambomachay. One wonders how the Inca transported the heavy stones used in construction, without the usage of the wheel. Be surprised by the many different theories. Leisure time in the afternoon. |
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| Day 8: Machu Picchu. Accommodation in Cusco |
daily program |
| Today you’ll explore one of Peru’s main highlights: the sacred city of Machu Picchu. From your hotel, you will be transferred to the train station. You will board a first class train, and depart on a journey through the lush altiplano and the wild valley of Urubamba, located at 2400 m asl in a subtropical climate. The little town of Aguas Calientes, at the foot of the Machu Picchu, will be your last stop. From here, the last part of the road separating you from the ancient city high up in the mountains, will be covered by bus. The lost city, first rediscovered in 1911, is one of the largest and most fascinating Inca cities of the highlands. During your extensive visit, you will discover ancient temples, palaces, fountains and terraces. After your visit, you will return to Cusco by bus and train. |
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| Day 9: Leisure time in Cusco (Optional Maras and Moray). Accommodation in Cusco |
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daily program |
| Day at leisure. (Optional Full day excursion to Maras and Moray: a visit of two special locations where tourism is still rare. The Salt terraces of Maras are a complex of hundreds of small terraced basins, in which the highly salted water, emerging at a nearby spring, converges. The salt mines have been in use since the time of the Incas. Visually, the reflections of the sun on the numerous salt-encrusted terraces and their different shades are extraordinary. From here, you will walk for about half an hour down to the valley, where you will have lunch at a typical hacienda. Moray is a thing of beauty to behold in its own right. The Inca used four natural indentations in the vertical landscape to build terraces where they experimented with different crops and microclimats. The round terraces remain intact until today. |
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| Day 10: Flight to Lima (or start of the extended itinerary), City Tour, flight home |
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daily program |
| AM: Flight from Cusco to Lima. Upon arrival, you will be greeted at the airport and depart on a city tour. The tour will take you to the colonial old town, and the modern area Miraflores. The colonial heart of the city lies in the Plaza Mayor, surrounded by the mighty cathedral, the Archbishop’s Palace and the Palace of GovernmentIn the old town, many of the wooden balconies have been there since the time of the colonies. In the Cathedral, one can visit Francisco Pizarro`s tomb, conqueror and founder of Lima. The San Francisco Monastery is famous for its colonial library and catacombs. The underground catacombs are the site of thousands of bones and skeletons. After the city tour, you will be transferred to the airport for departure on your international flight. |
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| Number |
Arrival in Lima |
End Basic program |
Other dates:
| 4* (Inti Raymi) |
16.06.2012 |
25.06.2012 |
*The Special Inti Raymi tour (Festival of the Sun) is offered at an additional charge and is subject to a modified program. The details of this program will be communicated. |
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