DAY 1: ARRIVAL TO LIMA
Upon your arrival, reception at the airport by a company´s personal, who will welcome and transfer you to the selected accommodation. Overnight in Lima.
DAY 2: LIMA / CITY TOUR (B)
After breakfast, visit of the city of Lima, where we take a guided tour of the most important and characteristic places of the city, with their typical characteristics of the colonial era, such as the Main Square, the Government Palace, the Cathedral Basilica, the Archbishop's Palace, the Municipality of Lima, the Station of Desamparados, and old streets and the classic mansions of the Viceregal period and Moorish-style balconies; Then we do a panoramic tour of the Church of San Francisco. Leaving old Lima, we enter San Isidro and Miraflores, up to the Love Park, making a contrast between old and modern Lima. Overnight in Lima.
In the afternoon you can visit the Parque de las Aguas in the city, a beautiful place full of pools of multiple shapes, or you can also walk along the Miraflores boardwalk watching the sunset.
DAY 3: AREQUIPA – CITY TOUR (D)
Breakfast, then transfer to the airport for your departure to the city of Arequipa, arrival and transfer to your respective accommodation.
In the afternoon, accompanied by an official guide, we will visit the historical center of the city of Arequipa on foot, appreciating beautiful samples of the architecture of Arequipa.
During this tour we will show you all its charms of the main streets and colonial buildings: the main square, the cathedral, Jesuit Company Church, Santa Catalina convent – which is a city within the city – built on the XVI century and closed to the public for almost 400 years until 1970, and it’s still home of a few nuns. The tour continues to the church and square of San Francisco, we will also visit the San Camilo Market, which is considered a Historical Monumental Heritage of Public Civil Architecture of Arequipa. The current building was inaugurated in 1938 and was declared a Historical Monumental Heritage in 1987. Overnight in Arequipa.
DAY 4: AREQUIPA / COLCA CANYON (B)
Departure to Colca Valley located over 3,500 meters above the sea. On the way you will cross the Aguada Blanca and Salinas National Reserve, with the highest presence of Andean flora and fauna. The trip continues to Tojra wetlands. Later you will cross Patapampa which is a land located over 4,800 meters above the sea where you will find the “Mirador de los Andes”, a strategic point to see the cordillera Chila with great volcanoes: Mismi, Chucura, Huaracante, and far away the Ubinas, Misti, Chachani, Ampato, Sabancaya and Hualca Hualca.
In the afternoon, as an option we can visit the thermal baths of "La Calera" which are at a temperature of 40º and our waters have medicinal properties. To continue you will arrive at Chivay town and you will be transferred to the selected accommodation. Overnight in Colca
DAY 5: CHIVAY - COLCA CANYON / AREQUIPA (B)
After breakfast, starting our tour on the left bank of the Colca river, visiting beautiful typical towns such as Yanque and Maca, colonial churches and we will have contact with the friendly people who still wear their typical costumes embroidered by themselves, on the tour we observed hundreds of pre-Inca terraces are still used and where corn, quinoa, kiwicha, etc. are grown.
Then you will departure to “La Cruz del Condor”, the best spot to observe the deepness of the canyon (3,400 meters deep, 124 miles length) and also see the majestic fly of the condor. There is not an exactly time to see them, it can be at any time; sometimes it depends of your good luck and patience. On the way back you will visit some interesting places such as: Pre -Inca's hanging tombs.
In the afternoon, we´re going to return to Arequipa. Overnight in Arequipa.
At night I recommend you go out and enjoy a nice dinner overlooking the main square of Arequipa.
DAY 6: AREQUIPA - DEPARTURE / CUSCO - WALKING TOUR (B)
After breakfast, to the indicated time transfer to the airport to Cusco, arrive to Cusco and transfer to the hotel.
In the afternoon, we will start our tour of the Historic Center of the Inca Empire. We will visit the traditional neighborhood of San Blas, and the stone of the 12 angles, this is a stone embedded in an Inca mural that was carved in such a way that it has 12 angles, which fit it perfectly with the adjoining stones. Its surprising perfection makes it a symbol of Inca technology applied to architecture. We will take a walk through some narrow and cobbled streets and its large white houses that house numerous workshops and shops of renowned popular artists.
Visit the city declared a World Heritage Site by Unesco. The tour will start at the temple of Koricancha, an ancient Inca palace where the order of the Dominicans built an incredible church that can still be seen there. Then visit the Main Square, where the Cathedral, whose first stone was placed in work in the year 1560. This marvel of religious art has approximately 300 paintings from the Cusqueña School, among many other expressions of art. Overnight in Cusco.
DAY 7: CUSCO: SACRED VALLEY (B)(L)
Breakfast, then departure to the Sacred Valley of the Incas, visit the town of Pisac with its typical Indian market (only on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays), where you can appreciate the ancestral customs of its inhabitants, using "barter" (exchange of products ) for marketing. (only on Sundays mass is celebrated in Quechua, the native language). Buffet lunch in the Valley.
Afterwards, you will get to Ollantaytambo, one of the most monumental architectural complexes of the ancient Inca Empire, one of the few places where the spanish conquerors lost a major battle. Very well known for its “andenes” (terraces dug into the slopes of mountains for agricultural purposes), Ollantaytambo was a highly effective fortress, also served as a temple. Then, you continue Ollantaytambo, “the unique living Inca town”: the best surviving example of Inca city planning, with narrow cobblestone streets that have been continuously inhabited since the 13th century.
Departure from Ollantaytambo heading to Aguas Calientes by train in the afternoon. Overnight in Machu Picchu Town.
DAY 8: TOUR MACHU PICCHU / CUSCO (B)
After breakfast, we pick you up from your hotel to leave for the train station heading for the town of Aguas Calientes, upon arrival we go to the bus station, to ascend 400 meters high, on a zigzagging road, for 20 minutes, until we reach the incredible world wonder "The Sanctuary of Machu Picchu", known as "The Lost City of the Incas". Upon arrival at the citadel of Machu Picchu we will visit the main square, the circular tower, the sacred solar clock, the royal rooms, the temple of the three windows and the cemeteries.
From the beginning the panorama that surrounds Machu Picchu (old mountain) is already amazing, the sensation of seeing the wonder of the world through photos or video is very different from the sensation of being in the same place; It is simply a unique experience, that energy and mystique that will envelop you during the tour of the citadel is felt from the beginning of the tour to the end, guided tour of approximately 2 hours.
At the appointed time, you will return to Aguas Calientes to have lunch (by your own) then you have to go by your own to the train station to take your train ride back to Ollantaytambo / Cusco city to be transferred to the hotel. Overnight in Cusco.
DAY 9: CUSCO DAY OFF (B)
Breakfast, day off to take a rest or take a walk around the city. Also you could go shooping.
Also this day you can take any optional tour:
- Trek to Montaña de Colores de Palccoyo.
- Trek to Laguna de Humantay.
- Tour to Maras, Moray y Salineras.
DAY 10: CUSCO: DEPARTURE / LIMA (B)
Breakfast, transfer to the airport of Cusco for your international departure after having enjoyed the wonders of our country.