Discover the capital of the Inca Empire and its richness empire

Day 1:

Arrive to Lima from International flight.

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Upon arrival, you shall be met by a representative in Lima and transferred directly to you hotel in Miraflores, Casa Andina Centro. If you arrive on time you should be 1 hour to get through customs and baggage collection and then another 30 minutes to the hotel. Your hotel is in a great location near to the main park and also based on the street of Petit Thouars with lots of artisanal markets. Exploring the district of Miraflores on foot which is very safe even at night. There are many cafes, restaurants and bars to explore. There are also pharmacies, banks and money exchange shops all nearby if you need them.

Overnight: Carmel or Casa Andina Centro 3* Miraflores, Lima

Day 2:

Half day tour of Lima by bus OR Tour of Miraflores by bicycle, late afternoon flight to Cusco.

BUS TOUR - We pick up at 9am in order to do a sight-seeing in the capital of Peru. We go to the downtown and can visit the cathedral, presidential palace and see the changing of the guards, as well as San Francisco convent and catacombs, finishing at around 1pm.

We then head directly to the airport. We shall have the 3.50pm flight from Lima to Cusco (1 hour 15 minutes) so we take a 30 minute journey to reach the airport. Bags will need to be checked out and into the bus at breakfast. When we arrive in Cusco (at around 5pm) we have only a 15 minute transfer to our hotel located in the historic centre which is within a 5-10 minute walk to most of the main attractions of downtown Cusco

BICYCLE TOUR - After breakfast, we shall take you on a private guided tour around the main places of interest in the districts of Miraflores and Barranco, including a visit to the lighthouse, the Malecon of Miraflores and Larcomar and the bohemiam district of Barranco full of art deco and older classic style buildings and mansions that were of the high class of of Lima and ‘Mayor’ where you can view the presidential palace and main cathedral. We shall also take you to the San Francisco church and convent to visit the underground catacombs. Also stops en-route between Barranco and Miraflores include ‘Parque de Olivos’ and ‘Parque de Amor’, el faro (lighthouse), Puente de suspirios (wishes bridge) and finishing with an ice cream from the best shop in Barranco. Tour to finish by 1pm where you can ask the guide for suggestions for lunch. Afterwards, we transfer to the airport via the hotel to pick up our bags. Flight at around 4pm (1 hour 10 minuters) 15 minute transfer to hotel in Cusco downtown arriving around 6-6.30pm.

Overnight: Cusco 3* Andariego or Villa Mayor

Day 3:

Half day Tour of Cusco on foot, afternoon free for optional activities. WELCOME TO CUSCO – CAPTIAL CITY OF THE INKAS!

Today is your main day to see Cusco and around and also see how bodies are coping with the altitude (11000ft/3300m).

Today we will offer you to be orientated by local guide showing you around the historical centre of the City on foot. In the given time you would visit the main plaza, Koricancha temple, San Franscisco Square, San Blas neighbourhood and San Pedro Market.

In the afternoon we can offer many other ideas to visit such as the Inka museum, Coca museum, museum of Pre Colombian art. As well as many cafés, shops, restaurants and bars that offer almost any time of eating and drink.

If you want to do activities such as horse riding, we can offer this in the afternoon depending on how adjusted people are people are.

Horse riding currently optional

In the early evening (around 5.30pm) we could also suggest an OPTIONAL trip to the Cusco Planetarium. Here we will learn and find out about the Inkas way of astrology and also insight to the constellations of the Southern Hemisphere. The first hour will be more of a lecture and also a light projection show onto an indoor dome. This will be followed with the next hour star-gazing outside (depending on clouds).

We return to Cusco square at 7.30pm.

Planetarium currently optional

Overnight likely 3* Villa Posada or 3* Andariego, Cusco

Day 4:

Travel to Aguas Calientes via the Sacred Valley

At around 9am, you will be met by a local guide and head through the nearby Inka ruins of Sacsayhuaman, Puca Pukara and Tambo Machay then to Awanakancha: a live Alpaca and Llama museum where you can feed and groom these native animals of the Andes and learn the differences between these Camilids.

At Awanakancha interactive museum, we can also see how they weave and dye locally and traditionally the textiles they make from Alpaca wool.

Typically we get to feed the animals such as Alpacas and Llamas, and weaving demonstrations.

Then just another 20 minutes to the beautiful town of Pisaq, where you can visit the local market and have lunch.

In the afternoon we can go and visit some of the most impressive Inka terraces at the archealogical site of Pisaq and views towards the Sacred Valley.

Overnight 3* Royal Inka, Pisac

The Majestic Inka terraces of Pisaq and some of the main buildings inside the archaeological site. Our hotel is place perfectly in the valley between local farms and walking distance from Pisac Village.

Day 5 :

Travel to Machu Picchu, guided tour train back to the Sacred Valley

After an early breakfast, we shall start our drive along the middle of the Sacred Valley passing through many rural towns and villages. We can stop along the way at Ollantaytambo (by 10am) to be close to the train station for our travel to Machu Picchu. This allows to get snack before we get to Aguas Calientes (Machu Picchu village) as we head straight to the ruins for mid-day when the main crowds have left for lunch and the site is much quieter.

We will then take our afternoon tour (around 2 hours) of the Inka ruins with our local guide before heading back down on the 25 minute shuttle bus to the village where we can spend some time there and a good meal before taking the train back in the evening around 7pm to Ollantaytambo in the Sacred Valley.

Not included – lunch, dinner

Our accommodation is in Ollantaytambo (Tika Wasi) for the evening

Note – if preferred you could stay overnight in Machu Picchu village but would mean a longer travel day to get back to Cusco the following day.

Day 6:

Day trip discovering Sacred Valley and surroundings.

Today (around 8,30am) we take you out to the beautiful Sacred Valley and explore Chinchero, Moray, Misminay and Salt Terraces of Maras.

At around 9.30am. We travel to Chinchero around 1 hour from Ollantaytambo. A town famous for traditional textiles and weaving processes.

Afterwards, the transfer 1 hour to the community of Misminay where we will receive a warm welcome with music and followed by a local lunch.

Following this, we can drive down to visit the unique ruins of Moray (1 hour) then trek to visit the Pre-Inkan Salt terraces via the town of Maras (2-3 hours) where Salt is still being mined today, from there we either trek down to Rumichaca and back to Cusco by van or directly back by van to Cusco from the Salt Terraces.

Overnight – 3* Andariego or Posada Villa Mayor, Cusco down town (as previously).

Day 7:

Fly Cusco-Juliaca, transfer to Puno/Uros Islands

Your flight is at 1.15pm. We will pick you up from your hotel at 11.15am as the transfer is only 13 minutes to the airport and for local flights you only need to arrive around 1 hour 30 minutes before. Cusco is a tiny airport!

Your flight time from Cusco to Juliaca is about 50 minutes. After landing and getting bags you will have a local representative to meet you and drive 1 hour to Puno port situated next to Lake Titicaca. You will then transfer by local boat over to the cluster of reed Islands known as Uros.

Our hosts take care of you offering some dinner. Before an early finish for an early start the next day.

Day 8:

LAKE TITICACA TRIP – (group services on tour/boat)

Lake Titicaca is one of the natural wonders of Peru and largest mainland lake on the South American Continent. It is shared almost equally between Peru and Bolivia and you can see wonderful views of each country from either side. It’s altitude is almost 4000m so nights are cold and days are sunny. Sunsets and sunrises are simply spectacular!!!!

Schedule - Pick up from accommodation at around 8-30am. We travel around Uros Islands in a reed boat to learn the local way of fishing and how they make the islands. These 30 or so Islands are made up entirely of floating reeds found at the base of the shallow parts of the lake. Here, the guide will explain about their way of life and the language they speak which is called Aymara and the second most spoken indigenous language of the Andes after Quechua. After 1 hour, we then travel approximately 2.5 hours into the centre of lake and Island of Taquile.

On Taquille, we take a short hike to navigate the Island and stopping at the main village for some photos and an explanation of the weaving done by the men and textiles specific to the Islanders. Then go for a typical lunch before heading back to boat and a 3 hour transit back to the port of Puno arriving between 3.30 and 4-30pm, so it may be an idea to bring a book for this part of the journey.

Once arriving back at Puno port you have a night at a convenient 3 star hotel right in the town centre: hotel accommodation 3* Intiqa.

Day 9:

Transfer from Lake Titicaca to Colca Canyon afternoon Hot springs. Evening show

We use the best tourist class bus company available and with snacks and drinks included as well as a bilingual tour guide. Departing Puno at 6.15am and arriving around 12 mid-day. Snacks provided on the way.

There are options for lunch in the main square of Chivay. We then transfer 10 more minutes to our accommodation in the village of Yanque.

A short walk from town in around 20 minutes to Chacape where we can relax at the loveliest hot springs nestled inside of the Canyon (photos below).

In the evening, we offer to arrange an evening show of music, food and traditional dance native to the area in the nearby town of Chivay.

Day 10:

Visit Cruz Del Condor- the condor view-point, return to Arequipa

After some time for breakfast, we then go to a view point where we can see Condors fly. There is a light trek involved, along the side of the Canyon which travels between several different viewpoints. Total time to walk on this well paved section is around 45 minutes to 1 hour. Entry ticket included.

Afterwards, we tour back from some of the famous towns along the Canyon and take lunch in Chivay. from here we head across to Arequipa. We drive a 4 hour scenic drive with the opportunity to spot 7 volcanoes at a Panaromic view-point as well as the native Vicuna’s a wild specifies of the Camelid family related to Alpacas and Llamas….

We should arrive in Arequipa (Peru’s 2nd largest city) by late afternoon, about 4pm.

Once in Arequipa, we can check out the main square full of balcony restaurants over-looking the main square and it’s cathedral all lit up for one last final night in Peru!

Overnight hotel Riviera Colonial or Terra Mistica Monestario

Day 11:

Short guide Visit of Arequipa, flight to Lima, connect home.

After some time for breakfast we offer a walking tour of the city with a local guide. (2-3 hours). If you wish to go visit inside the Cathedral or enter the Juanita Ice Mummy exhibition, or the Santa Catalina Monestery there would be an extra cost and it would take additional time.

Also the nearby district of Yanahuara is worth visiting with some amazing restaurants serving typical food and views back towards the centre of the city is worth a visit too.

Your flight and transfer to the airport can be arranged for any time in the afternoon. Flight takes 1 hour and 20 minutes so we would ensure to connect with your international departure home.

Note – an extra night (either Arequipa or Lima) can be arranged if you have an early morning flight home.

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