The Best of Peru Itinerary: Days 1 to 8 of 15




Tour Length: 15 days / 14 nights.
Activities: Trecking, Outdoor, Archaeological, Ecological.
Spots to visit: Lima / Arequipa / The Colca Valley / Sillustani / Puno / Cusco / Machu Picchu / Ica / Paracas.
Best day Departures: Every Sunday of 2008 / 2009
Domestic or Int'l flights: Not included.
Min. Paxs: 02 pax, max. 14 pax.

Day 1 LIMA
Arrival, meeting and transfer to selected hotel.

Day 2 LIMA - AREQUIPA
Breakfast, transfer to the airport, flight to Arequipa. Arrival, transfer to the hotel; afternoon city sightseeing visiting the St. Catalina Convent, The Yanhuara Lookout, The Museum of "Juanita the Mummy".

Day 3 AREQUIPA - COLCA VALLEY
Breakfast. Departure heading to the Colca Canyon, in the journey we will appreciate the volcanoes Misti, Chachani, Sabancaya, the Cañahuas national reserve, arrival in Chivay, lodging in the hotel.

Day 4 CROSS OF THE CONDOR - AREQUIPA
Breakfast. Departure heading to "Cross of the Condor" lookout to watch the Condors at flight, return to Arequipa, arrival, transfer to the hotel.

Day 5 AREQUIPA - PUNO
Breakfast; transfer to the airport and flight to Juliaca, arrival and transfer to Puno located at the shores of the Titikaka. On the way along Juliaca and Puno we will stop for a visit to Sillustani comomnly known as "Chullpas" pre-Inca towers located in the shores of the magical Umayo Lake. Transfer to the hotel.

Day 6 PUNO - LAKE TITICACA
Breakfast; transfer to the pier in Puno, the tour sails to the surprising floating islands of the Uros Indian, we will continue to the Amantani Island where you will have the opportunity to share with the islanders their way of live. Overnight. Lunch and Dinner.

Day 7 AMANTANI - TAQUILE - PUNO
Breakfast; the journey will continue sailing towards the Taquile Island. The "Taquileños" posses an extraordinary cultural heritage along with an extreme well organized way of life. Arrival in Puno and transfer to the hotel.

DAY 8 PUNO - CUSCO
Transfer to the bus station, departure to Cusco. The journey includes several visits such as the Archaeological complex of Pucara, The Temple Of Viracocha in Rajchi and Andahuaylillas and its beautiful chapel called The Andean Sixtina Chapel, arrival to Cusco. Transfer to the selected hotel, lodging.

The Best of Peru Itinerary: Days 9 to 15 of 15

Day 9 CUSCO
Breakfast. Morning at leisure, in the afternoon visit to the city and the four nearby ruins: Sacsayhuaman, Kenko, Puca-Pucara and Tambomachay.

Day 10 CUSCO - SACRED VALLEY
Breakfast at the hotel. Early morning excursion to the Urubamba Valley, the Sacred Valley of the Incas. Visit to the picturesque Indian Pisaq Market held on Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday, the shopping paradise of the Andes where barter is still practiced. In the afternoon, passing through the towns of Calca and Urubamba, we visit the Inca Fortress and Citadel of Ollantaytambo, built to guard the entrance to this part of the valley, and protect it from possible invasion from the tribes in the lower jungle. You can walk through the quaint streets of the nearby town, and get a good idea of what this strategic military, religious, and agricultural center was like during the era of the Inca Empire. Overnigt in Ollantaytambo in one of the cozies hotels.

Day 11 OLLANTAYTAMBO - MACHU PICCHU
The day starts with the transfer to the Ollantaytambo train station for an hour train journey to the famous Inca Citadel also known as "The Lost City of the Incas". Arrive at Aguas Calientes station followed by a 30-minute bus drive, climbing 6km of winding road, to the incredible site of Machu Picchu. Upon arrival, we'll participate in a guided tour of the Citadel, visiting the Main Plaza, the Circular Tower, the Sacred Sun Dial, the Royal Quarters, the Temple of the Three Windows and various burial grounds. After the tour you will have free time to stroll around the archaeological site on your own. Lunch at a local restaurant, lodging in the selected hotel in Aguas Calientes.

DAY 12 MACHU PICCHU - CUSCO
Day at leisure in Aguas Calientes, opportunity to stroll up Machu Picchu again; late afternoon return to Cusco. Arrival and transfer to the hotel.

Day 13 CUSCO - LIMA - ICA
Early breakfast in the hotel, transfer to the airport and departure to Lima; meeting at the airport and inmediate departure to Ica by private car, arrival to the Ica airport and flight over the lines and draws of Nazca from the aerodrome of Ica. Afterward and if the timing is correct tour of the city, Regional Museum, Oasis of Huacachina and artisan vineyard for a tasting tour of the famous Peruvian Pisco; then transfer to Pisco and overnight in the hotel.

Day 14 BALLESTAS ISLANDS - LIMA
Breakfast, early sail to the Ballestas Island, afterwards tour of the National Reserve of Paracas, return to Lima by private car; arrival, and transfer to the hotel.

Day 15 LIMA - INT'L DEPARTURE
Breakfast in the hotel. At proper time transfer to the airport and stand by to connect your international flight.