Trip name: Southern Peru Treasures
Trip Length: 10 Days
Type service: Shared Group
Type itinerary: Customize
Destinations: Lima, Cusco, Machu Picchu, Nazca, Paracas, Ballestas Island, Lake Titicaca
Activities: Culture and History/Walking/Family/Multi- Activity
Difficulty / Physical Activity: **Moderately – Easy – 1-3 hours physical activity daily
Comfort: **Moderate to superior-class accommodations, combined with basic accommodations or camping

Highlights: Lima, Cusco, Andes Mountains, Cusco, Pisaq ruins and market, Ollantaytambo Fortress, the lost city of the Incas Machu Picchu, Overflight Nazca Lines, Ballestas Island, Paracas, Lake Titicaca

Explore Peru’s mixture of colonial and Inca architecture

This itinerary offers you the chance to explore Lima’s historic centre the “City of Kings”, on this trip we discover the beautiful city of Cusco the timeless capital of both the Incas, is our gateway to the lost city of Machu Picchu, and the ruined fortresses, temples and lively markets, learn about local culture visiting a Sacred Valley of the Incas community, over flight the Nazca Lines, visit Ballestas Islands and Paracas Reserve, visit Lake Titicaca

Trip Itinerary

Day 1 – International Arrival in Lima

Our representative will meet with you at International Lima Airport and escort you to your hotel.

There are no planned activities, so check into the hotel and rest up – Overnight at Lima Hotel

Meals Included: None

Note: Arrive in Lima at any time but we highly recommend you arriving to Lima between 3 to 10pm

Day 2 – Lima Sightseeing Tour

Breakfast at the Hotel; morning free to relax; we recommend you to take a long rest and be prepared to begin with this unforgettable journey through our wonderful country.

At 2:30pm start your guided sightseeing tour to the most attractive and important sites in Lima, the “City of Kings”. This excursion offers the best combination of the different attractions in Lima and its three historical periods: pre-Hispanic, colonial and contemporary. In Lima, there were several different pre-Columbian cultures which are dated thousands of years back. Lima was part of the Inca Empire until was founded by the Spaniard Francisco Pizarro on the 18th of January, 1535; back to Hotel – Overnight at Lima Hotel

Meals Included: Breakfast

Optional Tour to Fountains of Lima; be surprised by the largest compound of electronic fountains in the world.

Guided excursion to the Magical Water Circuit the largest water fountain compound in the world, certified by Guinness World Records. Here you will enjoy a wonderful display of water, light, music and images presented at Reserve Park – (Start at: 6:30pm – Duration: 2

½ hours – Open from Wednesday to Sunday)

Day 3 – Lima to Ica & Over flight Nazca Lines

Breakfast at your hotel; pick up service from your hotel will be at 6:00am and transfer to Bus Station the bus depart 7:00am, you will be driven 325 Km. (202 miles) south along the Pan-American Highway from Lima to Ica, through arid desert and lush coastal oasis; we will arrive in Ica at 11:30am approx.

You will over flight the Nazca lines from Ica, the flight will take 1 hour 15 minutes; we offer you a flight over the Nazca Lines aboard a Cessna Caravan plane departing from the city of Ica. This aerial tour will allow you to see the most spectacular Nazca drawings, such as the monkey, the hummingbird, the condor, the spider, the astronaut and many others. In addition you will also see huge geometric designs and hundreds of lines crisscrossing the Nazca plateau; then we will return to the airport of Ica. Upon arrival our representative will be waiting for you and transfer to your Ica Hotel – Overnight at Ica Hotel

Meals Included: Breakfast

Optional Tour in Ica – Dune Buggy & Sandboarding around Huacachina Oasis

For the most adventurous people, we suggest buggy and Sandboarding tour around Huacachina Oasis; our buggy tour around Huacachina’s desert is a great fun and full of adrenaline. Start late-afternoon at 4:00pm is the best time of day to take a tour as the sun is bright enough to illuminate the landscape.

Day 4 – Ballestas Island & Paracas – Back to Lima

Breakfast at your hotel; pick up from the Hotel at 7:00am and transfer to Paracas a 60 Km. (37 miles) drive north to Paracas. On the route is appreciated the fields of crops in some export products such as paprika, asparagus, artichokes, etc. driving north to Paracas for an excursion by boat to the Ballestas Islands to view thousands of birds, sea lions and fur seals in their natural surroundings. The famous candlestick design, a Nazca civilization figure etched on the desert face, can also be seen from the boat and at the end transfer to the national reserve of Paracas. Where we will visit the Interpretation Centre of the Reserva Nacional Paracas, the Cathedral, Lagunilla beach, Red Beach and Yumaque beach to see petrified dinosaur eggs (in studio) and finally the Independence Obelisk. Then at 2:30pm departure Bus time – Bus to Lima arriving at 7:30 pm approx. upon arrival, reception and transfer to your Hotel in Lima – Overnight at Lima Hotel

Meals Included: Breakfast

Day 5 – Flight to Cusco – Cusco Sightseeing Tour

Breakfast at your hotel; transfer to the airport for your flight to Cuzco, the ancient Inca capital of the Incas. Upon arrival to Cusco; reception and transfer to your Hotel – free morning to get acclimatization

After lunch at 1:30pm; Cusco tour including the Cathedral, Koricancha, Sacsayhuaman, Qenqo, Pucapucara and Tambomachay. Our tour will beginning on to the Main Square of Cusco. You’ll enter the Cathedral of Cusco and see the beautiful woodwork and colonial paintings containing extensive Incan iconography. Visit the Korikancha (Temple of the Sun) on which the Santo Domingo Convent was built. Legend says this temple was completely gold coated, which impressed the conquerors upon their arrival.

Ascend to the Archaeological Park of Sacsayhuaman and visit the Cuidadela. This is the royal house where they admired the Sun God but also worshiped younger gods. Admire this large structure and enjoy the magnificent landscape which brings peace and tranquility. Next, visit Qenqo, the old temple of the Puma. Inside you can see a sacrificial altar made of a huge stone. At Tambomachay, you’ll see the sacred fountains of life and health.

Pucapucara safeguarded the city gates and the Fortress of Sacsayhuaman. The tour ends with a detailed visit of the city of Cusco – Overnight at Cusco Hotel

Meals Included: Breakfast

Day 6 – Sacred Valley of the Tour

Breakfast at the hotel; pick up from the hotel at 8:00am for your full day tour to the impressive Sacred Valley of the Incas, explore the beautiful Peruvian countryside with a full-day tour of the magical Sacred Valley. First place, you will visit the town of Pisaq, famous for its bustling market. This native town was once where “exchange transactions” took place. In this type of transaction, customers would exchange one good for another instead of using currency. Visit the market of Pisaq where you can purchase beautifully crafted products hand-made by the locals. On Sunday, the main attraction is a mass celebrated in Quechua and conducted in Spanish. It is attended by the mayors and their attendants who play traditional musical instruments called “pututos.”

Afterwards, you’ll enjoy a typical Peruvian lunch (included in price) before visiting the fortress of Ollantaytambo.

Next, you will visit the impressive ruins of Ollantaytambo fortress. These magnificent ancient ruins serve as great vantage points to look out over the valley.

Originally the royal estate of Emperor Pachacuteq during the Inca Empire, this site later served as a stronghold for Manco Inca Yupanqui in the Inca´s final rebellion against the Spanish.

Stop in Ollantaytambo where you’ll take train to Aguas Calientes; upon arrival to Aguas Calientes, reception and transfer to the hotel – Overnight at Aguas Calientes Hotel

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch

Day 7 – Full Day Machu Picchu & Back to Cusco

Breakfast at the hotel; full day Excursion to Machu Picchu from Aguas Calientes, early transfer at 5:30am to the Bus Stop for the short ride (25 minutes) up to the citadel of Machu Picchu. Upon arrival, you will participate in a guided tour of the Citadel, visiting the Main Plaza, the Circular Tower, the Sacred Sun Dial (the most important preserved Intihuatana), the Royal Quarters, the Temple of the Three Windows, houses, warehouses, a large central square; and all connected by narrow roads and steps that are surrounded by terraces cut into the mountain side. After the tour you’ll have time to stroll around the Archaeological Site at your leisure.

Then, you will have time to perform some of the following activities by yourself (not included in the price):

1. Climb to Wayna Picchu; for the most adventurous people, we suggest to go up the Wayna Picchu from where you can appreciate the immensity of Machu Picchu, even more amazing being high and
2. Walk to Sun Gate; opportunity to walk (approx. 1 hour) up to the Sun Gate (Inti Punku)

Lunch at the Sanctuary Lodge Restaurant in Machu Picchu (included in the price)

Train back to Cusco: In the afternoon you’ll return to the train station in Aguas Calientes for the trip back to Cusco – train departure to Cusco; upon arrival to Cusco reception and transfer to the Hotel

Overnight at Cusco Hotel

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch

Day 8 – Bus to Puno

Breakfast at the hotel; pick up from the hotel at 07:00am and transfer to the Bus Station to head off to Puno. Beautiful scenery all along the way, visit of the Raqchi and archeological sites as well as Andahuaylillas village and its famous “Sixteen Chapel” that was built in the middle of the 17th century. Lunch in Sicuani; upon arrival; reception and transfer to Puno Hotel – Overnight at Puno Hotel

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch

Day 9 – Lake Titicaca – Floating Islands of Uros and Taquile

Breakfast at the hotel; pick up from the Hotel at 7:30am we take a two-hour motor boat 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 unique to the area called “Totora”. Their homes and boats are also made from this material. We continue our motorboat trip to Taquile Island, inhabited by Quechua-speaking natives who have developed efficient and unique social systems, as well as fine hand weaving techniques, down through the generations. Upon arrival at the Town of Taquile we will have a lunch. Then we will walk through the various hills and archaeological sites of this 6km long island. In the afternoon, return to Puno – Overnight at Puno Hotel

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch

Day 10 – Puno Depart – Visit Sillustani – Lima International departure

Breakfast at the hotel; pick up from the Hotel and transfer to the airport and on the way visit the Sillustani tombs. These Tombs or Chullpas are characterized by their round and square bases, as well as the cornice on top. There are several figures and symbols on these tombs, the snake being the most representative. This symbolizes the influence of the jungle and not of the Andes.

Take flight to Lima then connect at home at the same airport – Lima International departure

Meals Included: Breakfast

Services Included

All mentioned land transport (bus, etc.), Hotel accommodation with breakfast, entrance to parks and cultural sights, guided visits and mentioned excursions, English/Spanish speaking guide to accompany visits and excursions, all transfers, meals as indicated in the itinerary, Train tickets Vistadome Class, Over flight Nazca Lines, Visit Lake Titicaca

Services not included

International airfares, domestic flights, airport departure (US$ 30 per person for international flights and US$ 6.5 for national flights) taxes or visa fees, excess baggage charges, additional nights during the trip due to flight cancellations, alcoholic beverages or bottled water, snacks, insurance of any kind, laundry, phone calls, radio calls or messages, reconfirmation of flights and items of personal nature, personal equipment, obligatory personal insurance and meals which are not mentioned, Entrance fee to Wayna Picchu Mountain.

Flights

Domestic flights are not included in the price; you’ll need to book the following

 Day 5 – Flight to Cusco – Cusco Sightseeing Tour

Lima to Cusco in the morning; you can buy with Peruvian Airlines –www.peruvian.pe

Day 10 – Puno Depart – Visit Sillustani – Lima International departure

Juliaca to Lima, you can buy with Star Peru – www.starperu.com

Other companies that you can buy domestic flight tickets will be StarPeru www.starperu.com OR LAN www.lan.com OR AVIANCA www.avianca.com.pe