Tour Peru 12D/11N (Lima-Ica-Nazca-Cusco-Puno)

DAY 1: LIMA CITY TOUR

Pick up from the airport. Accommodation at the hotel in Lima.

At 14:30 hrs. start of the city tour in Lima.

Ancestral Lima: we will start our tour with a panoramic view of the “pyramid pucllana”, a magnificent ceremonial and archaeological center built in the 4th century A.D. and considered “sacred town” by the Incas.

Colonial Lima: we will visit the historic center of Lima, where you will appreciate more than fifty monuments and colonial buildings, highlighting the Paseo de la Republica, the Plaza San Martin, the Plaza Mayor, the Government Palace, the Archbishop’s Palace, the Cathedral Basilica, the Municipal Palace and others.

We will visit the museum of the central reserve bank*, where you will appreciate the “treasures of peru collection”, a select exhibition of gold objects, ceramics and textiles from various pre-Columbian cultures. We will also visit the monumental complex of San Francisco, which is the largest sample of colonial religious art in America. We will visit the subway crypts known as “catacombs”.

Our tour ends at 18:00 hrs. Overnight in Lima.

DAY 2: BALLESTAS ISLANDS – HUACACHINA

At 04:00 a.m. you will be picked up from the hotel or coordinated place to go to the city of Paracas, we will arrive to Paracas at 8:00 a.m. approximately. Afterwards you will go to the dock “El Chaco” to board a boat that will take us to the Ballestas Islands.

The first stop of our boat will be in front of the enigmatic Candelabro, a huge geoglyph designed in the sandy summit that has the shape of a trident with more than 2500 years old. We will discover the different hypotheses about its origin, which could be linked to ancient pirates or even with the creators of the famous Nazca Lines.

Continuing our tour, we will arrive at the Ballestas Islands. The Ballestas Islands are three small islands where we will discover the impressive maritime and ecological richness of Peru. We will be impressed by immense colonies of sea lions and Humboldt penguins, and by the countless guano birds that fly over the area.

Although it is forbidden to land on the islands so as not to alter the ecosystem or disturb the animals, we will get close enough to see them interacting in their natural habitat. We will skirt the three islands in a crossing of approximately one hour. Then, we will return to the Paracas dock.

Afterwards, we will continue our trip to Ica. We will visit the Plaza de Armas, colonial mansions, the temple and the Luren mall. We will visit an artisan winery where the Peruvian liquor known as Pisco is made. In this place our local guide will take us on a tour of the facilities of the winery and will explain the ancient method of making Pisco and wine. After the tour our clients will be able to taste the different varieties of Pisco and wine that this winery produces, and if they wish, they will also be able to purchase these products.

Afterwards, we will go to the Huacachina Oasis, a place located only 5 Km. from downtown. In this beautiful lagoon visitors can enjoy the tranquility of the place and walk around in search of good photos and / or restaurants (free time).

At 4:00 pm, or coordinated time, the sand buggy ride begins through the dunes surrounding the Huacachina Lagoon. Also, the huge dunes surrounding the lagoon allow visitors to practice one of the most fascinating sports in the area, popularly called Sandboarding, which consists of sliding on a board on the desert sand. Overnight in Huacachina.

DAY 3: NAZCA

At 7:00 am, you will go to the province of Nazca, where you will have 3 activities:

TOUR ACUEDUCTOS DE CANTALLOC, this place is located 3 km east of the city of Nazca, these subway channels were built by the ancient Nazca approximately 500 years after Christ, thanks to these channels we have water all year round, because our rivers are always dry, the ancient Nazca were the best hydraulic engineers because they used materials that resisted for more than 1500 years, they controlled the speed of water and found the way to perform maintenance. This tour has a duration of 2 hours.

FLIGHT OVER THE NAZCA LINES, the flight over the Nazca Lines lasts approximately 30 minutes and is the best way to see these fascinating lines and drawings that have intrigued people for years. Here, you will be able to see the various figures drawn on the surface of the Nazca desert, representing stylized animals and plants, distributed in a huge maze of lines, trapezoids, triangles and spirals that have been preserved for almost 2000 years. At the end of this activity you will have some time for lunch.

TOUR TO THE CAHUACHI CEREMONIAL CENTER, this archaeological site is located 28 km southwest of the city of Nazca. CAHUACHI is made up of a group of ceremonial plazas, stepped temples and pyramids; all of which served as a place for sacrifices and offerings. Archaeologists believe that it was the inhabitants of Cahuachi who built the Nazca lines, since it was located very close to them. In addition, you will also visit the Maria Reich Museum, and the pottery, goldsmith and weaving workshops.

After visiting the above mentioned places, we will return to the city of Lima. Overnight in Lima.

DAY 4: ARRIVAL TO CUSCO / CITY TOUR AND SURROUNDING ARCHAEOLOGICAL PARKS

Arrival to the city of Cusco, reception at the Velasco Astete International Airport and transfer to the hotel.

13:00 hrs, start of the city tour. Our tour begins with a visit to the Temple of QORICANCHA, and then we will board our vehicle to go to the archaeological centers such as SAQSAYWAMAN which has a strategic location from where you can have a panoramic view of Cusco, this is very famous for the huge polished and molded stones. Then we will go to a mystical temple of the Incas known as QENQO where in Inca times religious sacrifices were made. Then, we will visit the control and military center of the Incas called PUKA PUKARA, finally we will visit the Temple of TAMBOMACHAY where the water fountains stand out.  Return to the hotel around 18:30 hrs. Overnight in Cusco.

DAY 5: SUPER SACRED VALLEY

This tour starts at 06:30 am, first we will go to the town of CHINCHERO to visit the church and the archaeological park of the place, we will also have the opportunity to enter a textile production center where they still use ancient techniques of weaving and dyeing of wool. Afterwards, we will go to the archaeological park of MORAY famous for its circular terraces, then we will visit the SALINERAS de Maras which are about 5000 small pools that are still exploited for human consumption.

Then, we will go to the city of Urubamba where you will enjoy a delicious buffet lunch. After lunch, you will go to the town of OLLANTAYTAMBO nominated as “living Inca city” for preserving the original urban design of the Inca era, in this town you will visit the archaeological park that awaits the temple of the sun composed of a megalithic construction, also highlights the temple of the 10 niches, sacred fountains, the face of the Andean god Tunupa, etc…

Later, you will go to the train station in Ollantaytambo to board the train that will take you to the town of Aguas Calientes, the train ride lasts 1 ½ hours, there you will be picked up by our staff that will take you to your assigned hotel. That same night you will be visited by our local tour guide to coordinate the next day’s tour. Overnight in Aguas Calientes.

DAY 6: MACHUPICCHU

At the coordinated time, you will board the bus for a 25-minute ride to the entrance point of the Inca citadel of Machupicchu. We will visit the Inca citadel for about 2 hours, during which time our guide will show and explain everything about this world wonder.

The work of our guide ends when you have completed the tour of the circuit inside the Inca citadel, then you will have the afternoon free so you can have lunch on your own, until the departure time of the train.

To return to Cusco it is necessary to be half an hour earlier at the train station, according to the schedule assigned on the ticket. Then you will board the train that will take you to the town of Ollantaytambo, where you will be picked up by our bus that will take you back to the city of Cusco. Overnight in Cusco.

DAY 7: HUMANTAY LAGOON

Our tour starts at 04:30 am. First we will pick you up at your hotel; then we will start our trip through a paved road until we arrive to the town of Mollepata, place where you will have breakfast. After breakfast we will continue our journey through a dirt road until we reach the town of Soraypampa, from this point we will start the walk for an hour and a half until we reach the Humantay Lagoon (4,200 meters above sea level). At this point we will have enough time to enjoy the scenery and take pictures. The degree of difficulty of this tour is MEDIUM and the tour requires an acceptable physical condition.

After the visit to Humantay, we will descend to Soraypampa to take our vehicle that will take us to the town of Mollepata where we will have lunch for the day. Then we will continue with our return trip to Cusco city, we will arrive around 06:00 pm. Overnight in Cusco.

DAY 8: SOUTH VALLEY OF CUSCO

At 08:30 a.m. you will start the tour towards the southern valley of Cusco, where you will find two important archaeological complexes: “TIPON”, which is a unique example of the hydraulic engineering of the Incas, and then “PIKILLACTA” considered as an archaeological group of Pre-Inca period. You will also visit ANDAHUAYLILLAS where the picturesque church known as “The Sistine of America” is located.

During the trip you will see the towns of Saylla, Tipon and Oropesa, the latter town famous for its large bread called “chutas”, Tipon for its dishes based on guinea pig (guinea pig), and Saylla famous for its delicious pork rinds. We will return to Cusco at 03:00 pm. Overnight in Cusco.

DAY 9: MOUNTAIN OF 7 COLORS VINICUNCA

At 04:30 a.m. we will pick you up at your hotel, and then we will start our trip following a paved road towards the town of Cusipata. Then, we will enter by a dirt road until we reach the town of Paucarpata, where we will enjoy our breakfast. After breakfast we will continue our journey to Qomer Qocha, there you will have enough time to get ready, also our tour guide will give you recommendations before the walk. The trek on foot has an average duration of 1 hour with an average degree of difficulty whose route requires an acceptable physical condition, since the arrival point of Vinicunca has an altitude of 5,200 meters above sea level.

Arriving at the mountain will have an ideal time to take pictures of the memory; then return to Qomer Qocha, there we will board our vehicle that will take us to the restaurant to have lunch for the day, and after a short rest we will return to the city of Cusco, this tour ends at 05:30 pm approximately. At 21:00 hrs will be transferred to the bus terminal to start the trip to Puno.

DAY 10 and 11: UROS-AMANTANI AND TAQUILE (PUNO)

Description of the tour

For this tour it is necessary to leave Cusco one night before, preferably in a sleeper bus that will allow you to travel comfortably and arrive in Puno early the next day. The departure of the bus from Cusco to Puno is at 21:00 hrs, and Puno is reached at 05:30 am the next day, there will be picked up by our support staff, which will take them to the designated hotel to leave the luggage and also clean up, even in the hotel may take breakfast extra or on their own.

ITINERARY

Day 1: Puno – Uros Island – Amantani

Minutes before 07:30 am you will be picked up from your hotel in Puno to go to the main port, where you will embark and start the navigation on the highest navigable lake in the world “Titicaca”. Our first stop will be in one of the islands of Uros, a culture more than 3,000 years old that builds its houses in the middle of the lake thanks to the use of a vegetable called totora. We will learn how they build their homes and more about their way of life. Optionally, we can navigate in a traditional totora reed boat, then we will continue our trip to Amantani Island, where some of its inhabitants will welcome us in their typical family houses where we will share pleasant and unforgettable moments with them, also they will share their food made from natural products of the place.

During the afternoon, we will be able to walk to the top of the island known as “pachatata”, which is located at 4,130 meters above sea level, from where we have an unbeatable perspective of Lake Titicaca and its spectacular sunset. Then, we will return to our assigned place of lodging, and in the evening you will attend an Andean music show for a couple of hours.

Day 2: Amantani – Taquile – Puno.

We will wake up early to have breakfast and say goodbye to Amantani, then we will embark and head to the island of Taquile, which in colonial times was used as a prison. There we will be able to interact with the inhabitants, who will show us their textile handicrafts and some of their ancestral customs. We will also be able to walk around part of the island, visiting some non-touristy areas where we will find temples, tombs and terraces from the pre-Inca period. Afterwards, we will have some time for lunch; then, we will go down to the port to take our boat and start the return trip to Puno, arriving at the port of Puno at 5.30 pm approximately. Overnight in Puno.

DAY 12: PUNO / DEPARTURE

At the coordinated time, departure transfer to the international airport “Inca Manco Capac” in the city of Juliaca. End of service.