Duration: | 21 Day(s) - 20 Night(s) |
Tour Category: | Culture Tours |
1st Day: Lima
Upon your arrival reception at the airport and transfer to the selected Hotel.
Overnight at the selected hotel.
2nd Day: Lima/Chiclayo
LIMA CITY TOUR (COLONIAL AND MODERN):
Guided visit through Lima's Historical Center: the Plaza Mayor (Main Square), the Government Palace, the Archbishop's Palace, the City Hall, and old streets with colonial mansions and Moorish balconies. You will also visit the San Francisco Convent, which has the most magnificent collection of colonial art in America.
The tour will continue through the most traditional residential areas of Lima, including San Isidro, Miraflores, and LarcoMar, a shopping center of international thematic attractions that offers a spectacular panoramic view of the Pacific Ocean.
Transfer to the airport to take your flight to Chiclayo.
Airline ticket to Chiclayo.
Upon arrival, meet at the airport and transfer to the selected hotel.
Overnight at the selected hotel.
Meals included: Breakfast.
3rd Day: Chiclayo
TUCUME COMPLEX - ROYAL TOMBS OF SIPAN MUSEUM - SICAN NATIONAL MUSEUM:
Full-day visit to the north of Chiclayo to Tucume complex, an important archeological center of the Lambayeque culture. It is made up of 26 truncated pyramids (700-1100 B.C.). This was the center of political, religious, and military power and influence for this culture. Among these sites are, Huaca Larga, Las Estacas, Las Balsas, etc. There is also a site museum.
Afterward, you will visit the Royal Tombs of Sipan Museum, which has more than two thousand pieces made of gold. On the second floor, you could appreciate a replica of the funeral chamber for a Moche noble warrior called "The Lord of Sipan".
Also, you can appreciate the ornaments and how they were recovered in the tomb, as the Coxal protector is made of gold, and pectoral, among other important objects.
Then, you will enjoy a delicious lunch and visit the Sicán Museum, where you will be able to appreciate different treasures from the Sicán culture, which have been thoroughly studied by the famous archaeologist Dr. Isumi Shimada. The exhibit shows a recreation of the tomb, but it goes further than that and, at the same time, it shows an interpretation of society at that time, its artifacts, the daily life of its people, and their ways of thinking.
Overnight at the selected hotel.
Meals included: Breakfast and Lunch.
4th day: Chiclayo/Trujillo
At the appropriate time, transfer to the bus station.
The bus ride to Trujillo.
Upon arrival, meet at the bus station and transfer to the selected hotel.
CITY TOUR & CASSINELLI MUSEUM:
For 3 hours approximately, you will visit the Colonial Mansions, where you will see its beautiful balconies, yards, and entries. You will visit two important houses, the San Francisco Church and the Cathedral. Afterward, visit the Cassinelli Museum, where you will appreciate beautiful pre-incan pieces of art.
Overnight at the selected hotel.
Meals included: Breakfast.
5th Day: Trujillo/Lima
SUN AND MOON TEMPLE - PERUVIAN PASO HORSE SHOW - HUANCHACO BEACH - CHAN CHAN ARCHEOLOGICAL COMPLEX:
You will visit the Sun and Moon Temple, the religious and cultural center of the Moche civilization. Afterward, you will enjoy a spectacular Peruvian Paso Horse Show with a typical folkloric dance called Marinera. Continue to Huanchaco Beach, famous for its caballitos de totora.
Here, you will have a delicious lunch with typical dishes. Finally, you will visit Chan Chan, the biggest mud citadel of ancient America, featuring the Tschudi Palace, Huaca Dragon, Rainbow Temple and its ceremonial places, housing, ateliers, labyrinths, walls, grain stores, and the cemetery.
Airline ticket to Lima.
Upon arrival, transportation to the hotel.
Overnight at the selected hotel.
Meals included: Breakfast and Lunch.
6th Day: Lima/Paracas
Transport to the bus station and bus ride to Paracas.
Upon your arrival, you will be welcomed and taken to your hotel by private transport.
FREE AFTERNOON
Overnight at the selected hotel.
Meals included: Breakfast.
7th Day: Paracas/Nasca
BALLESTAS ISLANDS:
Reception and private transfer to Paracas. Trip in a comfortable boat to the Ballestas Islands. During the trip, you will be able to appreciate the panoramic sight of "El Candelabro". Ballestas Islands are stony formations where you can find important marine fauna with lots of Peruvian birds. At Ballestas Islands, you will see the Peruvian penguin, an endangered species.
Also, the Ballestas Islands are the haven of sea lions and other mammals. These sea lions like to be near the boats when are close to the shores of the islands. This beautiful spectacle along the shouting sea lion herd justifies your visit. There is also a great variety of resident and migrating birds.
At a suitable time, transfer to the bus station.
The bus ride to Nasca.
Upon arrival, transfer to the hotel.
Overnight at selected hotel.
Meals included: Breakfast.
8th Day: Nasca/Arequipa
OVERFLIGHT NAZCA LINES:
Air ticket from Aerocondor airline to overflight the Nazca Lines departing from Ica. You will take a light aircraft to fly over the Mysterious Nazca Lines which are seen only from the air, The giant geometrical and animal figures were etched on the desert sands by the Nazca people 1,500 years ago and their purpose is still a mystery.
Transfer to the bus station.
The bus ride to Arequipa.
Meals included: Breakfast and Lunch.
9th Day: Arequipa
Upon arrival, transfer to the selected hotel.
Early check-in at the selected hotel.
CITY TOUR & SANTA CATALINA CONVENT:
You will take 3 hour and a half tour of the city of Arequipa, visiting the main square (Plaza de Armas), the Cathedral, the Jesuit church of La Compañia, Santa Catalina Convent and its religious cloisters built in the XVI century closed to the public for almost 400 years until 1970, it is still home to a few cloistered nuns. The tour continues to the Church and Square of San Francisco and the Yanahuara area with its famous viewpoint from where it is possible to have a complete view of the city and its volcanoes.
Overnight at selected hotel.
Meals included: Breakfast.
10th Day: Arequipa/Colca Valley
COLCA CANYON EXCURSION:
Departure towards the Colca Valley at 11,483 ft. On the way, you will cross the Salinas and Aguada Blanca National Reserve, with the highest population of Andean flora and fauna. The trip continues to Tojra wetlands. Later you will cross Patapampa, a plain above 15748 ft. where you will find the "Mirador de los Andes", a strategic point to see the Chila mountain range and its great amount of volcanoes: Mismi, Chucura, Huaracante, and far away the Ubinas, Misti, Chachani, Ampato, Sabancaya, and Hualca Hualca. Arrive at Chivay town and transfer to the selected accommodation.
After lunch, visit "La Calera" hot springs located 2 miles away from Chivay, where you can take a relaxing bath. Then you can also visit an Ethnological Museum. Overnight at the selected hotel.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner.
11th Day: Colca Valley/Puno
COLCA - PUNO:
After breakfast, departure towards "El Mirador de la Cruz", the best spot to observe the deepness of the canyon 11,155 ft deep and 124 miles long, and from where almost always is possible to see the majestic flight of the condors. There is no exact hour to see them, as many said, you can see them at any time, it depends on luck and patience. On the way back visit some very interesting places such as Pre-inca hanging tombs, terraces viewers, and Pinchollo, Maca, Achoma, and Yanque towns. Arrival at Chivay and box lunch. At an appropriate time ride to Puno.
Upon your arrival, meet at the bus station and transfer to the selected hotel.
Overnight at the selected hotel.
Meals included: Breakfast and Lunch.
12th Day: Puno/Titicaca Lake/Puno
UROS & TAQUILE ISLANDS (TITICACA LAKE - Peru):
After breakfast, you will take a two-hour motor boat excursion on the waters of Lake Titicaca (Peru) 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 unique to the area called "Totora". Their homes and boats are also made from this material. After having experienced some of the ancient traditions of the local people, you continue your motorboat trip to Taquile Island.
You will arrive by the back side of the island and start a hike to appreciate the wonderful natural sightseeing, the Ascending through a regular pendant slope you will arrive at the town, where you will visit the Handicraft Center to buy a great variety of fine colored hand made weaves. At the proper time transfer to Puno. Upon arrival transfer to selected hotel.
Overnight at the selected hotel.
Meals included: Breakfast and Lunch.
13th Day: Puno/Cusco
At the appropriate time, transfer to the Bus Station.
INKA EXPRESS BUS RIDE FROM PUNO TO CUSCO WITH VISITS ON ROUTE:
Departure for an eight hours trip towards Cusco, the Inka Express bus will stop in some interesting places to visit such as Raqchy Temple and some old Inca constructions. Marvelous scenery of landscape and typical animals like the "llama", and "alpaca" will join you through this journey.
Transfer from the bus station to the hotel.
Overnight at selected hotel.
Meals included: Breakfast and Lunch.
14th Day: Cusco
CITY TOUR & NEIGHBORING RUINS:
City tour for 3 hours through the beautiful Cusco city and its nearby ruins. The tour will show you the amazing colonial city built on the foundations of the Inca palaces. You will visit the Koricancha or Temple of the Sun, where you can appreciate the incredible masonry of the Incas, the Plaza de Armas, and the Cathedral with its carved woodworks, altars, and paintings.
Then you will be driven to the Inca fortress of Sacsayhuaman, to the underground cave and temple of Qenqo, and to Tambomachay, known as the Baths of the Inca.
Finally, you will visit the Misminay Exhibit, Misminay is a native community of Cusco, there you will be able to appreciate their beautiful handicrafts.
Overnight at selected hotel.
Meals included: Breakfast.
15th Day: Cusco/Sacred Valley
PISAC MARKET & OLLANTAYTAMBO
Full-day Sacred Valley excursion. 31 km (19 miles) from Cusco is Pisac, at the entrance of the Sacred Valley. Visit the colorful market where on Sundays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays a craft fair takes place where you can buy beautiful handicrafts and souvenirs. The lunch will be served in a local restaurant. The tour continues towards Ollantaytambo, an archaeological site that the Incas built as a fort and includes a temple, agricultural terraces, and an urban area.
There are two distinct sectors: Araqama Ayllu, the religious and worship zone, and Qosqo Ayllu, the residential area. Ollantaytambo was an important administrative center with probable military functions due to the walls and towers. There are also traces of ancient roads and aqueducts. The town of Ollantaytambo is called a Living Inca Town since the inhabitants maintain very old practices and customs.
Overnight at the selected hotel.
Meals included: Breakfast and a Buffet Lunch.
16th Day: Sacred Valley/Machu Picchu
Transfer to the train station.
MACHU PICCHU VISIT:
Arrival by Vistadome class train to Machu Picchu ruins. From Aguas Calientes station you will be transported by bus to the top of the mountain and to the citadel of Machu Picchu, one of the most renowned examples of Inca architecture. The city of Machu Picchu is the department of Cusco’s most important tourist attraction and one of the new 7 Wonders of the World. (The one in Peru) Discovered in 1911 by the American explorer, Hiram Bingham, this city is considered to be one of the most extraordinary examples of scenic architecture in the world, built at the top of a granite mountain.
The Incas, using ingenious engineering techniques, were able to transport heavy stone blocks up the mountainside, and once there, they used their excellent masonry skills to produce amazingly polished stones that fit together perfectly. After a three-hour guided visit to the ruins, you will have lunch at a restaurant in the area.
After a two-hour guided visit to the ruins, you will have lunch at a restaurant in the area.
Overnight at the selected hotel.
Meals included: Breakfast and a Buffet Lunch.
17th Day: Machu Picchu/Cusco
SECOND DAY IN MACHU PICCHU
Entrance fee to Machu Picchu Tour or to climb the Huayna Picchu peak, the great mountain behind the citadel. The guide is not included.
Enjoy lunch at a local restaurant.
At the appointed time, you will return to the station to take your train ride to Ollantaytambo station at the Sacred Valley.
Transfer from Ollanta Station in the Sacred Valley to the Cusco Hotel.
Overnight at the Selected Hotel.
Meals included: Breakfast and a Buffet Lunch.
18th Day: Cusco/Puerto Maldonado
Private transportation to the airport to take the flight to the City of Puerto Maldonado.
LODGE:
Peru Amazon Tour: Transfer from the airport to the river port on the Madre de Dios River. A 25-minute journey down the Madre de Dios River by motorboat will take you to a 2-mile trail (rickshaw available) through the forest, finally, you will board a catamaran towards the Lodge.
After lunch and a brief rest, once again board the catamaran and set off to explore the entire west end of the lake. There, macaws return to the palm forest to spend the night. Return to the lodge around nightfall for dinner. After dinner return to the canoes to look for the rare Black Caimans. If it is a clear starlit night, you will also be able to float in the middle of the lake and marvel at the brilliance of the sky.
Overnight at the lodge.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner.
19th Day: Puerto Maldonado
DISCOVERING THE JUNGLE:
A pre-dawn wake-up call will enable you to be on the lake for sunrise, you would see birds feeding and a hopeful encounter with the family of Giant Otters who frequent the lake and are most active at that time of day. After returning for a late breakfast you will set for a Brazil Nut trees demonstration of how the local inhabitants collect, open, and commercialize this important natural product, very important for the native economy.
After lunch and an hour to relax, they board again the catamaran to explore the eastern part of the lake, where you might see one or more of the five species of monkeys that live in the forest near the lake, such as the Brown Capuchin Monkey. There is a final chance after dinner to try and spot some Black Caimans on the lake, or to go on a short night walk through the primary forest.
Overnight at the lodge.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner.
20th Day: Puerto Maldonado/Lima
LAST DAY IN THE JUNGLE:
After a dawn breakfast, you will take a final, shorter paddle around the west end of the lake to try and glimpse the giant otters before returning to Puerto Maldonado to catch your flight.
Airline ticket to Lima. Upon your arrival reception at the airport and transfer to the selected Hotel.
Overnight at the selected hotel.
Meals included: Breakfast.
21st Day: Lima/...
Transport to the airport to take your international flight.
Meals included: Breakfast.