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This completely private package in Peru will take you on an epic journey through the Andes to discover the heart of the Incan Empire, the highest navigable lake in the world and the most spectacular canyon in Peru. Your adventure will begin in Lima to explore the colonial gems of this Capital city. You will then fly to the Andes to privately tour through the Sacred Valley of the Incas. You will wander through the majestic ruins of Machu Picchu, discover the Incan culture at Ollantaytambo and Maras & Moray, encounter the spectacular mountainous landscape on horseback, and visit Andean villages and towns to meet the local people. You will then continue to the highest navigable lake in the world, Lake Titicaca, where you will visit some of the oldest communities in South America. You will also spot impressive condors at the spectacularly deep Colca Canyon.
Day 1 Lima
Day 2 Lima / Cusco
Day 3 Sacred Valley: Amaru Community & Pisaq
Day 4 Sacred Valley: Ollantaytambo, Maras & Moray
Day 5 Sacred Valley / Machu Picchu
Day 6 Machu Picchu / Cusco
Day 7 Cusco / Lake Titicaca (Private Van)
Day 8 Amantani Island / Lake Titicaca
DAY 9 Puno / Lake Titicaca
Day 10 Lake Titicaca / The Colca Canyon (Yanque)
Day 11 Colca Canyon / Arequipa
Day 12 Arequipa ´The White City`
Day 13 Flight to Lima
Day 1 Lima
Arrive in Lima at any time. Our representative will greet you at the airport and private transfer to your hotel. There are no planned activities today so check-in and enjoy the city, although there is an optional walking tour or city tour in a van. This afternoon you are free to explore colonial and modern Lima, with visits to the Government Palace, cathedral, Plaza de Armas and the Archaeological Museum. Or hang around the bustling commercial districts of and Miraflores and Barranco.
Day 2 Lima / Cusco
A morning flight brings us to Cusco, high in the Andes Mountains, upon arrival to Cusco Airport, our staff will be waiting for you to drive you to the Hotel where you will receive an aromatic coca tea then you have the free morning to rest for a while. Later in the afternoon we’ll take you on a guided visit to see Cusco’s highlights, including nearby ruins of Sacsayhuaman, Q’enko; followed by a visit to the Main Square and famous ‘Koricancha’ or Temple of the Sun and of course the local market (B)
Day 3 Sacred Valley: Amaru Community & Pisaq
In the morning, your private tour guide and driver will pick you up from your hotel take you to the Sacred Valley of the Incas, which is located at a lower altitude than Cusco. Along the way, you will visit the Andean community of Amaru, where you will experience in Peru the daily life of a typical mountain community and observe how the people weave textiles, such as belts and blankets, and how they grow and harvest their produce. You will also have the opportunity to taste the delicious different types of Andean potatoes and corn. We will then continue through the Sacred valley to visit Pisaq, which has a large daily market full of goods for both tourists and locals. This market is where villagers come from the mountains to sell their home-grown produce and unique handmade arts and crafts. It is highly recommended for having a wide variety of interesting souvenirs at great prices. After you have shopped to your heart’s content, we will drive you to a private hacienda to enjoy a delicious lunch. In the afternoon, you will be taken to your hotel where you can spend time relaxing and enjoying the spectacular landscape of the Sacred Valley. (B)
Day 4 Sacred Valley: Ollantaytambo, Maras & Moray
In the morning, your private tour guide and driver will take you off the beaten path to Maras, a typical Andean village. Here you will walk through the streets and get a sense that you are walking during the time of the Incas as a lot of the culture has remained very similar. Next, we will drive you to the incredible circular terraces of Moray, which were used as an Incan laboratory to acclimatize crops. After exploring Moray, you will have an opportunity to visit the salt mines of Maras to see and learn about an ancient pre-Incan method of producing salt. After this visit, you will have the choice of either a short 1 hour trek to the Vilcanota River or drive you to the Res taurant for lunch. In the afternoon, you will have a private tour of Ollantaytambo, one of the last Incan refuges during Spanish colonization. You will step back in time as many of the houses and buildings continue to stand from the Incan empire and display original architecture. You will be invited to enter one of these houses to observe the building and the way in which the people used to live. We will then take you to visit the powerful and impressive Ollantaytambo ruins, temples and terraces. (B)
Day 5: Sacred Valley / Machu Picchu
In the morning, your driver and tour guide will meet you at your hotel in the Sacred Valley and take you to Ollantaytambo Train Station. From here, you will board the Vistadome Train for a spectacular hour and a half scenic journey to Aguas Calientes. Upon your arrival in the afternoon, you will visit the breathtaking ruins of Machu Picchu, ‘The Lost City of the Incas’ and begin your expedition around this sacred Incan site. As there are not as many people in the afternoons, it is more peaceful and enjoyable. You will learn about the history and visit the remarkable temples of the Sun and the Condor. You will also see aqueducts and houses, while learning some interesting facts about the Sacred Incan Terraces. After a nice sunset, you will return back to Aguas Calientes. (B, L)
Day 6 Machu Picchu / Cusco
Today, you have the morning to spend at your leisure. You may wish to revisit Machu Picchu and enjoy one of the many short trekking options, such as the one to the Sun Gate for an impressive view overlooking Machu Picchu or a visit to the Incan Bridge, a secret entrance for the Incan Army. The most adventurous travelers should not miss the mountain climb to the summit of Huayna Picchu. There are two scheduled entrance times at 7am and 10am and there’s a limit of 400 climbers per day so you need to book this with us in advance. Or the more challenging Putukusy Mountain climb for an impressive view of the Machu Picchu citadel. In the afternoon, you will board the Vistadome Train to Ollantaytambo before being taken to your hotel in Cusco. (B)
Day 7 Cusco / Lake Titicaca (Private Van)
Today at 7am, your private tour guide and driver will pick you up from your hotel for your journey to Lake Titicaca. You will travel through stunning Andean scenery in the south valley of Cusco passing small Andean villages. You will make a stop at Oropesa Village, known for baking fresh bread in very large, typical, adobe brick ovens. Here you will have the opportunity to taste some typical bread baked by locals. Your journey will then continue to the Andahuaylillas Church, known as the Andean Sistine Chapel, where you will see intriguing 16th, 17th and 18th century mural paintings and altars completely decorated in gold. Next, you will stop at Racchi, a small highland town where you will discover the Incan temple of Wiracocha and learn about its fascinating construction with adobe brick walls that measure up to 11 meters high. You will then continue on a fascinating route, off the beaten track, alongside Lake of Langui, located 4,000 meters above sea level. At this lake, you will be able to observe flamingos, ducks, eagles and a variety of Andean birds in their natural habitat. Here, you will stop for an appetizing picnic lunch with a dazzling view of the lake and its surroundings. After lunch, you will pass an altitude of 4300m, 14100ft at La Raya before heading to Lake Titicaca, the birthplace of the Incan Empire and the first Inca, Manco Capac. Upon your arrival to Lake Titicaca, at approximately 5pm, we will take you to your hotel where you have the rest of the evening to relax or explore the city of Puno.
Day 8 Amantani Island / Lake Titicaca
After breakfast, our local guide will take us to the floating reed islands of the Uros and then on to Amantani Island by motor boat. The Uros people are a specific cultural group apart from the Incas. They are more sensitive and protective. We ask that visitors always proceed with respect. The locals are very friendly and produce souvenirs representing life on the Lake. You can support them by buying a souvenir if you choose.
After the Uros, we will take a step back in time as we arrive to Amantani. The island culture offers a glimpse into their ancient traditions and customs. A rural home stay will open your eyes to the true beauty of this place and the people that have inhabited the lake for thousands of years. All local food and beverages included. (B, L, D)
DAY 9 Puno / Lake Titicaca
We’ll start with an early wake up call to enjoy a spectacular sunrise over Lake Titicaca before visiting the neighboring island of Taquile. Famous for textiles and weavings, Taquile is a cultural treasure chest. We’ll spend an hour hiking to the summit of Taquile Island before enjoying lunch overlooking the Lake Titicaca. Our lunch will include local favorites, trout or kingfish, before heading back to Puno. (B, L)
Day 10 Lake Titicaca / The Colca Canyon (Yanque)
In the morning, your private guide and driver will meet you at your hotel to travel to the town of Yanque. Along the six hour journey, you will have a view of magnificent landscapes marked by lakes, lagoons, trout farms and Andean flamingos. You will also reach the soaring altitude of 4850m (12,000ft), which will give you an unbelievable aspect of the highlands. After this amazing journey, you will arrive at your hotel in Yanque.
Day 11 Colca Canyon / Arequipa
Very early in the morning, your tour guide and driver will meet you at your hotel and take you to the Colca Canyon, along the way we will stop in some small Andean villages where time seems to have stopped and Colonial architecture is still well preserved. We will then continue until we reach ‘Mirador Cruz del Condor,’ which is the most popular viewing point for looking into the depths of the Colca Canyon, and at this particular point it is 1200m deep. From here you will almost always see a few condors in flight with the breath taking scenery in the background. You will have an opportunity for a short hike along the canyon and will enjoy a nicely prepared local lunch afterwards. Once you have taken in the refreshing air of the Colca Canyon, we will head to your hotel in Arequipa, which will take approximately 4 hours through spectacular scenery of lakes, glaciers and volcanoes.
Day 12 Arequipa ´The White City`
In the morning, you will explore the secrets of Arequipa, ‘The White City,’ on a City Tour that visits stunning attractions including, the Monastery of Santa Catalina, Juanita Mummy Museum (Museo Santuarios Andinos), and the districts of Cayma, Sabandia, and Yanahuara. You will also be treated to a delicious traditional Arequipeñan lunch! The Monastery of Santa Catalina is a work of art, designed using Colonial architecture and built with Silla, white volcanic rock, making it a very popular complex that encloses a complete spiritual world within its walls. Its composition of interesting rooms, little plazas and streets are something that you must not miss. Another important must-see place on the tour is the Juanita Mummy Museum (Museo Santuarios Andinos), which houses the frozen mummy of Juanita and her artifacts. Juanita was a young teenage girl who was sacrificed by the Incas to the mountain gods on Ampato Mountain. She is the most well-known mummy in the Andes due to her remarkable preservation in this museum. After the museum, the tour will continue to the colonial suburbs of Cayma, Sabandia and Yanahuara, from where you will enjoy nice views of the city and its volcanoes. After lunch, we will take you back to your hotel and you will have the rest of the day to spend at you own leisure.
Day 13 Flight to Lima
Today, your private driver will pick you up from your hotel and take you to Arequipa Airport. Your flight will take approximately one hour and a half from Arequipa to Lima, arriving in time for your international flight.
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