Peru Trips Treasures of The Andes

Assistance at your arrival to Lima International Airport and transfer to your hotel(Not included). There you will receive a briefing on your tour; receive vouchers covering all the services included in your tour and additional information on the organization of your Peru trip.

Meals Included: None

Breakfast. In the morning, 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 San Martin Main, Main Square, the Government Palace, the City Hall, the Cathedral and its Religious Art Museum, the Church of Santo Domingo, with the tombs of Santa Rosa and San Martin de Porras, and Lima's Colonial Balconies. We will visit the Convent and Church of San Francisco, the greatest monumental complex of Colonial Art in America and Cultural Heritage of Humanity. The tour includes a visit to the Basilica of 21 altars, Convent of Cloisters, Capitulary and Clementine Rooms, Chorus and Library of the priests, a Museum showing 11 paintings of the Rubens School, the Sacristy with paintings of Surbaran and Ribera, its great patio decorated with Seville tiles of the XVIth Century, Moorish arches and underground Catacombs. And finally we will go to 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. that

the Incas considered as "Ñaupallaqta" or Sacred Town. We will also visit El Olivar Park with olive trees brought from Spain in the XVth Century, the Central Park of Miraflores and Larcomar, a symbol of modern Lima and a tourist and entertainment centre as well as a privileged site to enjoy an amazing view of the Pacific Ocean. Lunch on your own. At appropriate time, transfer to the Airport for your departure flight to Arequipa. Upon arrival, meet by our Representative and transfer to your hotel.

Meals Included: Breakfast

Breakfast. Sightseeing tour of Arequipa, including the Main Square, one of the most beautiful squares in Peru, and the Cathedral, a prime example of XIXth Century Peruvian architecture, housing beautiful treasures in gold and silver. We also visit the La Compañia Church, an ancient Jesuit temple, maybe the most important one in Arequipa due to its history and tradition, with a beautiful façade with carved columns, laurel crowns, flowers, birds, etc. A more careful look at the façade, however, reveals the limits of European influence, as the angels have Indian faces; and indeed one face is even crowned with feathers. Then, we will visit the Santa Catalina Convent; a "small town" built in the XVIIth Century and opened to the public in 1970, after 400 years as a Cloister. Perfectly preserved for four centuries, you go back in time as you enter the Cloister and see the numerous, spacious patios and gardens, the kitchen and slave quarters and stone washtubs of this Convent. About 20 nuns, of what were once 500, still live in a section of the Convent. Return to your selected hotel in Arequipa. Lunch on your own.

Meals Included: Breakfast

Breakfast. Transfer to the airport of Arequipa to take your flight bound for Cusco. At your arrival you will be transferred to your hotel, where you will rest to acclimatize. Lunch on your own. In the afternoon, we will have a guided sightseeing tour of Cusco visiting the Main Square, the Cathedral and the Temple of the Sun or Korikancha Then; we drive out of the City to visit the Inca sites of Kenko, Tambomachay, Puca Pucara and the impressive Fortress of Sacsayhuamán. Sacsayhuamán strategically built on a hill overlooking Cusco and famous for its enormous carved stones, some of them standing over 9m / 30ft high and weighing over 350 tons. Return to the hotel.

Meals Included: Breakfast

Breakfast. Full-day excursion to the "Sacred Valley of the Incas", along the Vilcanota River, where we will have the opportunity to share closely the peasants' customs and bargain with vendors at the typical Indian market of Pisac, held only on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays. Lunch in a local countryside restaurant. In the afternoon, passing

through the Towns of Calca and Urubamba, we visit the Inca Fortress and Citadel of Ollantaytambo, built to guard the entrance to this part of the Valley, and protect it from possible invasion from the tribes of the Lower jungle. You can walk through the quaint streets of the nearby Town, and get a good idea of what this strategic military, religious, and agricultural centre was like during the Inca Empire. Late afternoon return to Cusco  for overnight (Plaza Regocijo). Evening at leisure. We suggest going around the Main Square and enjoy the night atmosphere tasting a delicious Pisco Sour in some of the several Pubs around the Square.

Meals Included: Breakfast and lunch

Breakfast. The day starts with an early morning rise to transfer to Cusco Train Station for a 3 ½ hour train journey to the famous Inca Citadel of Machu Picchu, also known as "The Lost City of the Incas". Arrive at Aguas Calientes Station followed by a 30-minute bus drive, climbing 6km of winding road, to the incredible Machu Picchu. Upon arrival, we'll participate in a guided tour of the Citadel, visiting the Main Plaza, the Circular Tower, the Sacred Sun Dial, the Royal Quarters, the Temple of the Three Windows and various burial grounds. After the tour you will have time to stroll around the archaeological site at your leisure.

Overnight. Dinner on your own.

Meals Included: Breakfast

Leisurely breakfast. Excellent opportunity to wake up early and enjoy with a beautiful sunrise as well as stroll by the Town of Aguas Calientes and visit its hot spring thermal waters. Then, you will have time to perform some of the following activities: (not included in the overall tour price)

Meals Included: Breakfast

Breakfast. Early departure by bus to the City of Puno, (3,860 m.a.s.l.). During the trip, we pass by the lovely Wacarpay Lake, offering spectacular views of the mountains reflected in its calm waters. We 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. On the way, we stop in Raqchi, where we can 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 are made of giant adobe bricks. The structure also has two circular lateral columns. Around the Temple are several buildings once used for housing and storage. About 70 km further on, we pass through La Raya Ranch where we can see herds of vicuñas and llamas. Then we travel along the High Plateau of Collao, stopping at the Town of Ayaviri, an important livestock and textile centr, to visit the impressive Temple of Kalasaya, ruins from the ancient Pucara Culture. Buffet lunch in a quiet countryside restaurant, where we can enjoy the delightful culinary art of the region. In the afternoon, arrival in Puno and transfer to your hotel. Evening free and dinner on your own.

Meals Included: Breakfast and lunch

Breakfast. Early in the morning, we will have an unforgettable motorboat excursion 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 called "totora" (Scirpus totora), vegetable fibre of the Papyrus family. Their homes and boats are also made from this material. We continue our motorboat trip to Taquile Island, inhabited by Quechuas –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 we will have a lunch. Then we will walk through the various hills and archaeological sites of this 6 km long Island. In the afternoon, return to Puno for overnight at your hotel. Evening free and dinner on your own.

Meals Included: Breakfast and lunch

Breakfast. Early in the morning, transfer to Juliaca Airport to board your flight to Lima.

On the way to the airport, we will visit the famous Chullpas de Sillustani: stone cylinder burial chambers used by the Aymaras to bury their important leaders. Lake Umayo, located in front of the Chullpas, adds further beauty to the place. Here you also have the opportunity to observe several local typical birds. Upon arrival in Lima, transfer to your hotel.At the appropriate time, transfer to the airport to board your international departure flight.

Meals Included: Breakfast