Peru - A Country of Contrasts
Home of the ancient Inca and the mysterious Nazca lines, yet also a thriving modern country. Peru holds a great deal to see, do and discover.
LIMA AND beyond.
13 days / 12 nights
DAY 01 LIMA
Arrive in Lima. Transfer to selected hotel. Rest of the day at leisure.
DAY 02 LIMA
Afternoon city tour including the historical centre of Lima : the Cathedral, San Francisco Convent and the residential districts of San Isidro and Miraflores.
DAY 03 LIMA / AREQUIPA
Early transfer to the airport for the departure flight to Arequipa, the "White City". Upon arrival, assistance and transfer to selected hotel. Afternoon guided tour of the city featuring the Convent of Santa Catalina, a fascinating relic of colonial times.
DAY 04 AREQUIPA / COLCA
Departure for a full day journey to the Colca Valley. Several stops will be made to photograph vicunas at Pampa Cañahuas. On arrival at Chivay, lunch at a local restaurant and accommodation at selected hotel.
DAY 05 COLCA / PUNO
Early departure to the Cruz del Cóndor to admire the Canyon at one of its deepest points and look at the majestic condors in flight. Transportation from Colca to Puno. Overnight at selected hotel in Puno.
DAY 06 PUNO
Full day excursion to Taquile Island. On the way back, stop at the floating islands of the Uros. Lunch included.
DAY 07 PUNO / CUSCO
Leave by regular bus service to Cusco. Stopovers at Racchi and Andahuaylillas. Evening arrival in Cusco and transfer to selected hotel. Lunch included.
DAY 08 CUSCO
Morning at leisure. Afternoon city tour including the surrounding ruins.
DAY 09 CUSCO / URUBAMBA / CUSCO
Full day excursion to Urubamba, the Sacred Valley of the Incas. Stroll and bargain at the handicrafts' market of Pisac. After lunch, drive to Ollantaytambo fortress.
DAY 10 CUSCO / MACHU PICCHU
Early transfer to the station for a 3-hour train ride to the Lost City of the Incas, Machu Picchu. Upon arrival, guided tour of the citadel. Dinner and overnight at a local hotel in Aguas Calientes.
DAY 11 MACHU PICCHU / CUSCO
Morning at leisure. Lunch. Afternoon return by train to Cusco and to selected hotel.
DAY 12 CUSCO / LIMA
Transfer to the airport for flight to Lima. On arrival, transfer to selected hotel. Rest of the day at leisure.
DAY 13 HOMEBOUND FLIGHT
Transfer to the airport for your flight back home.
FOR PUERTO MALDONADO AND SOUTHERN LIMA EXTENSIONS, PLEASE REFER TO OUR "PERU A LA CARTE" PROGRAM. THESE EXTENSIONS ARE INSERTED ON DAY 12
JUNE 16 DEPARTURE - INTI RAYMI
DAY 09 CUSCO
Enjoy the colorful feast of IntiRaymi at the explanade of Sacsayhuaman. Box lunch included.
DAY 10 CUSCO / MACHU PICCHU
Early transfer to the station for a 3-hour train ride to the Lost City of the Incas, Machu Picchu. Upon arrival, guided tour of the citadel. Dinner and overnight at a local hotel in Aguas Calientes.
DAY 11 MACHU PICCHU / CUSCO
Morning at leisure. Afternoon return by train to Cusco and to selected hotel.
DAY 12 CUSCO / LIMA
Transfer to the airport for one-hour flight to Lima. Upon arrival, transfer to selected hotel. Rest of the day at leisure.
DAY 13 HOMEBOUND FLIGHT
Transfer to the airport for your flight back home.
Extensions
ECUADOR EXTENSION
(8 days / 7 nights)
Arriving in Quito on Mondays
DAY 01 QUITO
On the way to the hotel, panoramic city tour. Overnight at selected hotel.
DAY 02 QUITO / RIOBAMBA
Visit the ecological sanctuary of Cotopaxi. Lunch en route to Riobamba. City tour. Overnight in Riobamba.
DAY 03 RIOBAMBA / CUENCA
Transfer to Alausi to board the famous Train of the Andes. Return to Alausi and on to Cuenca visiting on the way the ruins of Ingapirca. Box lunch. Overnight in Cuenca
DAY 04 CUENCA
City tour including visit to a "Panama" straw-hats factory and ceramics atelier. Lunch at a local restaurant. Afternoon visit to a pottery factory. Overnight.
DAY 05 CUENCA / QUITO
Transfer to the airport for the flight to Quito. On arrival, transfer to selected hotel. Few kilometers away from Quito, the Ecuadorian Line crosses the hemisphere. See the monument built to commemorate this imaginary line.
DAY 06 QUITO / OTAVALO
Full day excursion to Otavalo to visit the handicrafts open market. After lunch at a local restaurant, visit Cotacachi, small town known for textiles and leather crafts. Overnight.
DAY 07 OTAVALO / QUITO
Visit the towns of Peguche and San Antonio de Ibarra, known for their carved sculptures in wood. Return to Quito. In the evening, dinner with folklore show at a local restaurant.
DAY08 HOMEBOUND FLIGHT
Transfer to the airport for your flight back home.
EXTENSION TO GALAPAGOS
DAY 08 QUITO / GALAPAGOS
Flight to Baltra. Upon arrival transfer to the pier to board the M/V Galapagos Legend for a 4-day cruise to the islands of Seymour, Española, Genovesa and Santa Cruz islands. Full board.
DAY 11 GALAPAGOS / GUAYAQUIL / HOMEBOUND
Flight to Guayaquil and connection with international flight.
BOLIVIA EXTENSION
(7 days / 6 nights)
DAY 01 PUNO / LA PAZ
Bus service departing Puno very early headed to Copacabana. Board the Catamaran for a cruise to Sun Island. Continue on crossing through the Tiquina Strait to Chua. Proceed by bus to La Paz and to selected hotel. Lunch en route.
DAY 02 LA PAZ / SUCRE
Morning transfer to the airport for flight to Sucre. Upon arrival, transfer to selected hotel. Afternoon sightseeing tour including a visit to main historical monuments.
DAY 03 SUCRE / POTOSI
Transfer to the bus terminal for departure by regular bus to Potosi on a 3-hour trip. Arrival at selected hotel. Afternoon city tour visiting the most important and interesting places of this mining city nominated "Patrimony of Humanity" by UNESCO: La Casa de La Moneda, Santa Teresa Museum, San Francisco church and the local artisan market of San Lorenzo.
DAY 04 POTOSI / SUCRE
Morning visit to a mine in Cerro Rico, run by local miners the same rudimentary way as it used to be during Colonial times. Afternoon return by local bus to Sucre and to selected hotel.
DAY 05 SUCRE / LA PAZ
Morning flight back to La Paz. Accommodation at selected hotel. Afternoon city tour of La Paz, followed by a drive through the residential areas, ending at Moon Valley.
DAY 06 LA PAZ / YUNGAS / LA PAZ
Full day excursion to the sub-tropical area of Yungas across the Cordillera Real. Lunch en route included.
DAY 07 HOMEBOUND FLIGHT
Transfer to the airport for your flight back home.
