Arrival in Lima and transport to your hotel. The rest of the day is at your leisure with time to rest, relax and acquaint yourself with Peru’s vibrant capital, founded in 1535 by the conquistador Francisco Pizarro.
Overnight: Lima
Welcome to Peru, a country of incredible contrasts and astounding treasures. This morning’s tour of Lima, with its 2000 years of history, begins at the colonial center of the city, declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site, with its historic buildings surrounding the splendid Plaza Mayor. View the impressive Palace of the Archbishop with its fine carved balcony, the opulent Government Palace, official residence of the President, and the 16th century Cathedral of Lima whose first stone was laid by Pizarro. Continue to the 17th century Monasterio de San Francisco complex with its magnificent tiles, ornate carved ceilings, exceptional paintings and world-renowned library. Spend the remainder of the day at leisure or join the optional not-to-be missed tour to the Larco Herrera Museum, considered the best museum in Lima, housed in a restored 18th century mansion. Here, admire the world’s largest collection of pre-Colombian masterpieces and a stunning exhibition of gold and priceless jewels. This afternoon, join your guide for a briefing about the wonderful tour that awaits you. Tonight you can attend the Peruvian dinner featuring delicious local specialties along with a delightful musical performance or try one of Lima’s world-class restaurants known for its fusion cuisine.
Optional: Half Day Larco Herrera Museum (PM)
Optional: Dinner & Show in Lima
Overnight: Lima
Meals: Breakfast
Depart Lima this morning by flight to Cuzco in the Peruvian Andes. This ancient capital of the Inca Empire is the oldest continuously inhabited city in the western hemisphere, designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Upon arrival, transport to your hotel in this historic city and spend the rest of the day acclimating to the altitude. Or, attend the optional Half Day Cuzco Ruins tour which explores some of Cuzco’s most unique Inca Ruins
OPTIONAL: CUSCO CITY TOUR
13:15 See this magical city, capital of the Inca Empire (15th Century) on a tour that includes the Main Square, the cathedral, Santo Domingo monastery, the legendary Korikancha temple and a stop at San Cristobal for a panoramic view of the city. Then, in the outskirts you will see the Inca ruins at Sacsayhuaman, an impressively designed fortress built of huge stone blocks, Qenqo ceremonial and ritual center, the amphitheater where sacrifices were held and Tambomachay a temple dedicated to a water cult. Return to Cusco and a brief stop at Plaza Regocijo and the Main Square to visit the cathedral, the principal church of the Diocese of Cusco. At the end of the visit, transport to your hotel
Overnight: Cusco
Meals: Breakfast
Breakfast at the hotel. Early in the morning our guided visit to the Sacred Valley will take place. We will start the tour departing through the fertile countryside, arriving to the colonial town of Pisac, where a colorful market will welcome us. Continuing our route through the valley we will be passing by typical towns, till we get to the archaeological province of Urubamba to enjoy a delicious lunch buffet. After we will visit an ancient but enigmatic Ollantaytambo Fortress located in a typical Inca town, composed of numerous temples and terraces. This archaeological complex is one of the biggest monumental exposures that the Inca have ever done.
Overnight at the Sacred Valley
On the second day, you will visit the Santuario Histórico de Machupicchu (Historic Sanctuary of Machupicchu). We will then board a comfortable train and we will depart for the Aguas Calientes Station. We will enjoy a spectacular view along the way. Upon arrival you will board a bus that will take you to the entrance gate of the citadel of Machupicchu. Rediscovered by Hiram Bingham more than a century ago, Machupicchu is considered one of the Seven Wonders of the World. Its architectural beauty, spectacular natural landscapes and the energy held in its enigmatic structures will take your breath away. You will follow in the footsteps of the ancient Incans as you explore this magical citadel along with your guide. After the tour, you will stop at a local restaurant for lunch.
At the scheduled time, you will be picked up and taken to Aguas Calientes, where you will return to the your hotel.
Accommodation in Aguas Calientes.
Breakfast in the Hotel. Excellent opportunity to wake up early and partake of a morning stroll by the Town of Aguas Calientes while enjoying a beautiful sunrise. You will also have time to enjoy doing some of the following activities: (not included in the overall tour price): Visit the Thermal Hot Springs or visit the Citadel of Machupicchu for the second time.
For the most adventurous people, we suggest that you go up to the Huayna Picchu (if it’s not raining) from where you can see Machupicchu. From this vantage point you will see the immensity of Machupicchu.
Arriving at the top takes about two hours and a half therefore it must be done before 1:00 p.m. It’s necessary to register in the office at the beginning of the trail.
An exciting adventure for the travelers who want to see, from the top, the nature and the carved stone emerging from the ground as a geological miracle.
Return to Cusco by train. Transport to your hotel.
Breakfast. Early departure by bus to Puno city, (3,860 m.a.s.l.). During the trip, we will pass by the lovely Wacarpay Lake, offering spectacular views of the mountains reflected in its calm waters. We will then proceed to the beautiful Town of Andahuaylillas and visit the Church of San Pedro de Andahuaylillas. Better known as the Sistine Chapel of the Americas, due to its decorated polychrome ceiling. On the way we will stop at Raqchi where we can see a spectacular Inca Sanctuary built by the Inca Pachacutec, and dedicated to the great Inca God of Wiracocha. It has a great central wall with a stone base of fine Inca architecture.
Other walls are made of giant adobe bricks. The structure also has two circular lateral columns. Around the Temple are several buildings once used for housing and storage.
About 70 km further on, we pass through La Raya Ranch where we can see herds of vicuñas and llamas. Then we will travel along the High Plateau of Collao, stopping at the Town of Ayaviri, which is an important livestock and textile center. We will visit the impressive Temple of Kalasaya and the ruins from the ancient Pucara Culture. Buffet lunch in a countryside restaurant. Here you will enjoy the delightful culinary dishes of the region. In the afternoon we will arrived in Puno and transport you to your Hotel. Evening time is free time. Overnight at your hotel in Puno.
Breakfast. Early in the morning, we will have an unforgettable motorboat excursion on the waters of Lake Titicaca 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 called “totora” (Scirpus totora), vegetable fiber of the Papyrus family. Their homes and boats are also made from this material. We will continue our trip to the island of Taquile. This Island is known for having the best weavers of ancient Peru. This place has preserved many of it’s rituals and lifestyle of the ancient Incas. We will walk for about 30 minutes to the center of the island and will stay there for 3 unforgettable hours and have a delicious lunch. Then we will descend a stairwell of 500 steps. We will leave for Puno at 4:00 p.m. Evening time is free time. Overnight at your hotel in Puno.
Overnight: Puno
Meals: Breakfast
Morning transport to the airport in Juliaca for your flight back to Lima. Spend the remainder of the day at your leisure. Evening time we will enjoy a fantastic Dinner Show with local Peruvian specialties.
Final farewells to your travel companions and your tour manager.
Overnight: Lima
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Breakfast in the hotel. Transport to the airport and take your flight home
Meals: Breakfast