DISCOVER PERU TRAVEL PACKAGE 13D/12N
In this week tour you’ll see all the great highlights that Peru has to offer. Archeological sites, Museums, Visit the Jungle of Manu National Park, Arequipa and the Colca Canyon, Ica and the Nazca Lines, Paracas, the mythical City of Cusco, the Sacred Valley and Machu Picchu.
TOTAL PLACES VISITED: Cusco, city tour, Sacred Valley in Cusco, Machu Picchu, Manu National Park, Arequipa, Colca Canyon, Nazca Lines and Paracas.
TOUR ITINERARY
• B= Breakfast
• L= Lunch
• D= Dinner
DAY1: CUSCO – CITY TOUR
Early in the morning, at your arrival we will pick up you from the airport and take you to the chosen hotel. We suggest that you get some rest during the remainder of the morning so that you may acclimate yourself to the high altitude, then enjoy lunch at the hotel. In the afternoon, we shall take a guided city tour of Cusco visiting the Plaza Mayor (main square), the Catedral, the Templo del Sol (Temple of the Sun) or Qorikancha. The trip shall continue onto the outskirts of town to visit the different Incan complexes such as the impressive Fortaleza (fortress) de Sacsayhuamán, which was strategically built on a hill on edge of Cusco and it is famous for its enormous crafted stones that have been pieced together with stunning precision and that conform to the external walls of the complex; some of these stones extend above 9m in height and weigh over 350 metric tons. Next, we will direct ourselves toward the archeological sites of Kenko, Puca Pucara and Tambomachay. By nightfall, we shall enjoy some free time. (B.L)
DAY2: SACRED VALLEY – CUSCO
At 9:00am gather of its hotel to make the trip to the Sacred Valley where We will visit the colorful Indian market in Pisac where a mixture of color, tradition will be able appreciated The Valley has a distance of 31 km (19 miles) of Cusco, and one altitude of 2,970 ms (9,700 p), Pisac where we will visit the market, and is located to the entrance of the Sacred Valley followed by Ollantaytambo, the older town continuously occupied of the American continent. The narrow streets of Ollantaytambo, along with their channels that have not varied from the time Inca, evoke their ancestral inheritance, in the afternoon we will return to Cusco. (B.L)
DAY3: CUSCO – MOLLEPATA - SORAYPAMPA (SALKANTAY TREK)
We leave Cusco very early, passing villages like Izcuchaca and Limatambo and then after 3 hours we arrive in Mollepata. After a light breakfast we start our long but slow walk till the sector of Silca where the lunch is waiting for us. After a short break we continue our walk in beautiful landscapes till Soraypampa, where we spend our first night. (B.L.D)
DAY4: SORAYPAMAPA – COLLPAPAMPA.
The sunrise is impressing, when the majestic snowy-peak of Salkantay is the first thing we see after getting up. At 7:00a.m. we have a breakfast and then we start our walk, which will take 7-8 hours today. On the way we can contemplate different ecological levels, entering in kind of canyon which takes us till the foot of Salkantay. After three hours walk we have our Lunch, then we continue till the pass of Salkantay (4.600mas.) from where we descend and contemplate the beginning of the forest. This day we reach Collpapampa, where we spend the second night. (B.L.D)
DAY5: COLLPAPAMPA-LA PLAYA.
We start our walk with an exceptional view of the snow-peak Salkantay (6271masl). Then we descend till a riverbank where we have a delicious lunch and continue our walk through the cloud forest where we have the opportunity of seeing how the environment changes, passing from mild to hot. In the afternoon we arrive in La Playa where we camp. (B.L.D)
DAY6: LA PLAYA -HYDROELECTRICA –MACHU PICCHU.
This day we take an interesting way which takes us along the Inca trail till we reach hydroelectric where we take our lunch and in the afternoon we get in to a train which takes us to Aguas Calientes, where we accommodate ourselves in a beautiful hostal. (B.L)
DAY7: AGUAS CALIENTES-MACHU PICCHU-CUSCO
This day we go by bus or walking to Machu Picchu where our guide tells us in three hours about the times and history of Incas, when we have the opportunity to appreciate Machupicchu in all its splendor. In the afternoon we return to Aguas Calientes to take a train. Then, in Ollantaytambo we change to a bus which takes us to Cusco. (B.BOX LUNCH)
DAY8: CUSCO – PUNO
On this day’s journey we shall come across Lake Wacarpay, which offers spectacular views of the mountains’ reflection off the lake’s calm waters. We shall visit the citadel near the pre-Inca town of Pikillacta—Quechua name meaning “town of the fleas”—considered to be one of the most spectacular centers of the Wari culture. These ruins consist of over 700 structures with some walls that stand about 12m tall. From there we shall proceed to the charming city of Andahuaylillas and visit the Saint Peter’s church of Andahuaylillas, better known as the Sistine Chapel of the Americas due to its gold-adorned ceiling. Then, we shall stop in Racchi along our way, where we will see a marvelous Inca sanctuary built by Pachacutec the Inca King and dedicated to the great Inca God of Wiracocha. It contains a great main wall with a base made of stone of fine Inca architecture. Other walls are then made of large adobe bricks. The structure also has two large side columns. Around the temple there are a number of buildings once used as shelters and for storage. Then, around 70km further down the road on our journey, we shall come across the “La Raya” ranch where we will be able to spot herds of vicuñas and llamas. We shall then journey along the Plateau of Collao, stopping in the city of Ayaviri—an important center for textiles and cow-herding—to visit the impressive Kalasaya temple, which are ruins of the ancient Pucara culture. By the afternoon, we shall arrive in the city of Puno where we will be spending the night. (B.L)
DAY9: PUNO- TAQUILE- LOS URUS
After having breakfast we shall proceed to the pier via Chucuito, where we will visit the Templo de los Falos (Temple of Fertility), then continue on to the town of Charcas, which has a traditional market that, still at present day, continues its exchange of goods since the period prior to exploration of the Americas by the Europeans. Thereafter, we shall make our way to the pier where we shall board our boat headed to Taquile Island. There, we shall appreciate the cultural and ethnic values of its inhabitants who, to this day, maintain their ancient customs and cultural traditions. At noon we shall enjoy a traditional meal, then, by afternoon, we shall make our way through the arches and descend the 500 steps of stairs of Taquile to embark on small boats and arrive at the floating islands of Los Uros, which are made of a local type of aquatic reed called Totora. Then, later in the afternoon, we shall return to the city of Puno. (B.L)
DAY10: PUNO - SILLUSTANI - AREQUIPA
During the day we shall make our way to the Arequipa. On our way to the Arequipat we shall visit the famous Chullpas de Sillustani, cilindrical mausoleums used by the Aymara indigenous group to bury their high priests. The Umayo Lagoon, located in front of the Chullpas, only adds to the beauty of it all. Here, we will have the chance to spot a great variety of birds. Thereafter, we will head our way to Arequipa, in total it will take us reach Arequipa about 6 hours. (B.L)
DAY11: AREQUIPA – COLCA CANYON
On this day, we shall prepare to take a tour around the Earth’s core, our destination being Colca Canyon. On our way, we will visit the Pampa Cañahuas National Reservation where we will observe the Vicunas; this National Reservation is representative of the Peruvian fauna and the typical scenery of the Andes.Next, we shall visit Vizcachani where we shall enjoy the breathtaking view of the Cordillera Blanca (White Cap mountain range) and the Pampa de Tojra (Tojra Plains), which is host to a vast population of Alpacas and Llamas. We shall briefly come across the Mirador (lookout) de Chucura to finally arrive in Chivay. After an energizing meal, we will visit the baños termales (thermal baths) de la Calera where we will be able to enjoy a refreshing and relaxing bath. By the afternoon, we shall return to the town of Chivay where we will spend the night. (B.L. D)
DAY12: COLCA CANYON – AREQUIPA
Early in the morning, we will head to the Cruz del Cóndor (Condor Cross), where the world’s largest bird—the condor—can be seeing flying above the green agricultural terraces, which have been cultivated since pre-Incan times. Take in and enjoy the beautiful views that Colca Canyon—one of the deepest canyons in the world (3,000 m)—has to offer. On our way back to Chivay, we shall visit the Mirador (lookout point) de Chichina, where we will find the Tumbas Colgantes (Hanging Tombs) and the Puente Colgante de Sifón (Hanging Bridge of Sifón) that joins the towns of Yanque and Copóraque. Later, we shall arrive in the town of Yanque to visit its charming church and cobblestone streets among other attractions. Then, we shall take brief stops at the lookout points of Choquetipo, Artahuilque and the town of Maca where we will take advantage of our last chances to see the charming Colca Valley. After lunch, we shall continue on to our destination back to the city of Arequipa. (B.L. D)
DAY13: AREQUIPA – AIRPORT
In the morning after breakfast we will drive all the way to the airport, on the airport our SERVICES END. (B)
