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Wonders Peru in 12 days
Lima - Arequipa - Colca -
Arequipa - Puno - Cuzco - Sacred Valley - Machu Picchu - Cuzco
(12 days / 11 nts) From
$1640.00
A tour of the marvels of Peru,
covering the Sacred Valley, Cuzco, Machu Picchu, Arequipa, the
amazing Colca Valley, and the highest navigable lake in the
world, Lake Titicaca. Note that you select your preferred hotel
category, and meet your group mainly during day trips so this is
really a semi-private tour.
Day 1 Lima
Upon arrival in Lima, assistance
at the airport and transfer to selected hotel.
Day 2 Lima - Arequipa
Transfer to Lima airport,
assistance on departure flight. Upon arrival in Arequipa,
transfer to your hotel. Tour the lovely "White City," built from
the white sillar rock that spewed out from the Volcan Misti,
including the Santa Catalina Convent, the most astonishing site
in Arequipa, which was opened to the public in 1970 after 400
years as a cloister. Santa Catalina takes visitors back four
centuries. Entering the cloister you see the numerous and
spacious patios and gardens, the kitchen and slave quarters and
stone wash-tubs of this convent where entrance requirements were
among the strictest in Peru. Novices, daughters of aristocrats,
had to prove Spanish origin and come up with a dowry of at least
1,000 gold pesos. About 20 nuns still live in a section of the
tile-roofed convent, which once housed up to 500; Plaza de
Armas, one of the most beautiful in Peru; La Compañia church,
the frontispiece of this two-story Jesuit church is a
compilation of columns, zigzags, spirals, laurel crowns, flowers,
birds and grapevines, into which is embroidered in rock
abbreviations of the Holy Friday Masses. A careful look reveals
that the European influence had its limits: the angels have
Indian faces; one face is even crowned with feathers. The
interior La Compañia is equally impressive. The gilded main
altar is typical of the height of the Peruvian Baroque, and the
sacristy´s ceiling is covered with miniature paintings and
carvings of crimson and gold. Tour the districts of Yanahuara
and Chilina, with a magnificent view of the Misti volcano.
Breakfast.
Day 3 Arequipa - Colca Valley
Drive to the Colca Valley,
towards Yura climbing to the Puna, or high plateau, and desolte
plains on Pampa Cañahuas at the Aguada Blanca National Reserve,
protected habitat for vicuñas ( llamas relatives with finer wool
). The valley has beautiful pre-Columbian terraces still used by
native Collagua to plant corn, potatoes, broad beans, alfalfa,
quinua, barley and wheat. Overnight at selected hotel in the
Colca Canyon. Breakfast, lunch, dinner.
Day 4 Colca Valley - Arequipa
An opportunity to explore Colca
valley unique towns and to share old traditions with its people;
each one has managed to maintain its original appearance despite
the passing of the years. The traditional clothing, still worn
by the majority of women, the legends recounted by its friendly
inhabitants, and the festivals by which agricultural cycles are
marked with song and dance, all reveal the history of the Colca
Valley. The valley is noted for its textiles: beautifully
designed rugs and brocade work (women´s vests, dresses and
blouses), trimmed with embossed tin details. Don´t forget to
taste the delicious prickly pears (tunas). Stop at the "Condor´s
Cross" near the town of Cabanaconde, a natural observatory from
which you can see the deepest part of the Colca Canyon and,
quite frequently, the flight of the impressive Condor -the great
Andean bird- in its native habitat. One of this bird´s most
amazing characteristics is its ability to soar on currents of
air for hours on end, without ever flapping its wings. From here
the valley narrows considerably, with an impressive geological
formation carved out by the river as it has descended between
the mountains (made of largely volcanic materials) over millions
of years, giving origin to the fame of the Colca Canyon as one
of the deepest in the world. The deepest part of the canyon has
been calculated at 3,680m/12,074ft, almost twice as deep as
Colorado´s Grand Canyon. Enjoy the panorama. After lunch return
to Arequipa and selected hotel. Breakfast, lunch.
Day 5 Arequipa / Puno
Transfer to Arequipa´s airport,
assistance on departure flight. Upon arrival to Puno transfer to
selected hotel. Breakfast.
Day 6 Lake Titicaca
Motor-boat ride on Lake Titicaca
(with a surface area of 8,300 km2) to visit the unique floating
islands of the Uros. For hundreds of years the livelihood of
this "Water Tribe" is based on the benefits of a unique plant:
the totora reed (Scyrpus totora). They use it to build their
homes, boats and even the floating islands they live on,
periodically adding new layers of reeds. They also use it in
their highly developed weaving. Continue to the natural island
of Taquile on Lake Titicaca inhabited by quechua-speaking
natives who have developed, through generations, both an
efficient and original social system and a fine hand weaving
technique. Breakfast, box lunch.
Day 7 Puno - Cusco
Assistance at the hotel for
departure. Prepare to enjoy views of Andean landscapes spotted
with little villages and herds of llamas and alpacas as you
drive to Cusco area. On the way, visit the pre-Columbian complex
of Pucara (200 bc), consisting of six, stepped, stone pyramids.
The temple of Raqchi, which contains the ruins of a temple built
by the Inca Pachacutec for the god Wiracocha. Raqchi had a great
reputation as an important destination for pilgrims, a fact that
explains the warehouses and other buildings around the temple
that served as dwellings for priests, servants and farmers. Also
visit to the largest and most beautiful temple built to
commemorate Wiracocha Pachayachachi (maker of the wall), built
on the splendor time of the Inca Empire, under the ruling of
Inca Pachacutec who unified the indians territory with a well
organized administration and also established the use of the
Quechua language on the people conquered by him. In Cusco,
assistance at arrival to selected hotel. Breakfast & lunch.
Day 8 Cusco
Explore the magical capital of
the Incas on a tour including a visit to Plaza Regocijo, Plaza
de Armas, the Cathedral and the Santo Domingo Convent Monastery.
The Santo Domingo monastery was built over the Koricancha
temple, one of the most important temples devoted to worship of
the sun. According to the chronicles, it was covered in gold
sheet and filled with golden representations of nature. Then
walk around the old town with its very narrow streets. After
seeing the most interesting sites of the city, you will drive to
the countryside outside Cusco to visit some of the remarkable
inca ruins in the area: the cult centre of Sacsayhuaman, the
temple and amphitheatre of Kenko and the Red Fortress of Puca
Pucara. Breakfast.
Day 9 Cusco - Sacred Valley of
the Incas
Drive to the "Sacred Valley of
the Incas", a sucession of picturesque towns, agricultural
terraces, and many archaeological sites, as well as the world´s
most famous corn, combine with an exceptional climate to visit
Ollantaytambo, the Inca fortress, which guarded the entry of
this part of the valley and protected it from possible invasion
from the lower jungles. The fortress consists of a series of
superimposed terraces of carved stones accessed by long
staircases. An opportunity to walk through the quaint streets of
the nearby town, the design and foundations of the majority of
its buildings date from the Inca era, when it was a strategic
military, religious, and agricultural center. Lunch at a nearby
inn. Visit Pisac, a lively and colorful Indian market where
locals sell or exchange their products, as the ancestors did
hundreds years ago. Overnight at selected hotel in the Sacred
Valley. Breakfast & lunch.
Day 10 Sacred Valley of the Incas
- Macchu Picchu
Transfer to Ollanta train station
to board the Orient Express rail coach for a one and a half hour
train ride to Machu Picchu, discovered in 1911 by the American
explorer Hiram Bingham. Then make the 25-minute motor coach
ascent to "The Lost City of the Incas." This citadel is
considered one of the most extraordinary examples of landscape
architecture in the world. It straddles a mountain ridge
surrounded by lush tropical forest. The guided tour of this
fascinating place is an awe-inspiring experience. Visit the Main
Square, the Royal Quarters, the Temple of the Three Windows, the
Circular Towers, the Sacred Sun Dial and Burial Grounds.
Overnight at selected hotel in Aguas Calientes town. Breakfast,
lunch.
Day 11 Machu Picchu - Cusco
Morning at leisure. (No guide is
included this day). Early rise is recommended to admire Machu
Picchu at sunrise, a truly mystical experience. For the hiking
enthusiasts, going up the Huayna Picchu peak overlooking the
site is suggested. Afternoon Vistadome rail coach service to
Cusco. Upon arrival, transfer to the selected hotel. Breakfast.
Day 12 Cusco - Lima
Transfer to Cusco airport,
assistance on departure flight. Breakfast
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