ITINERARY
Day 1 Arrival in Lima
Reception at Jorge Chavez International Airport, assistance and transfer to your hotel.
 Day 2 Lima
Mid morning at your hotel we will introduce our company and present a tour briefing. In the afternoon we join a guided tour of modern and downtown Lima. You will visit the attractive main square (Plaza Mayor), Plaza San Martin and finally the San Francisco Convent with its famous Catacombs and rich architecture from the XVI Century. A visit to The Museum of Anthropology and Archaeology concludes the days’ programme that we hope prepares you for the tour ahead.
 Day 3 Lima to Nasca via Ballestas Islands Lima
At first light we will head out of Lima along the Pan American Highway. Our first stop will be the fishing village of Chaco in Paracas, the starting point for our excursion to the Ballestas Islands. Approaching the islands we can observe Sea lions and Penguins, Boobies, Pelicans, Inca Turns and other marine birds. Back on the mainland we continue our journey south to Nasca stopping for lunch at the attractive oasis of Huacachina. After lunch there will be time to scale the adjoining sand dunes rewarding us with astounding views of the surrounding desert landscape. This harsh environment we now journey through en route to Nasca. On arrival into Nasca we will make available an introductory documentary covering the ancient people of the Nasca Valley with explanations as to how the Nasca lines were made and importantly suggestions as to their possible meanings.
Drive time Lima to Paracas 3 ½ hours
Paracas to Huacachina 1 ½ hours
Huacachina to Nasca 2 ½ hours
Day 4 Nazca to Arequipa - drive time 8 hours.
Weather permitting, you will have the opportunity of a 30-minute flight over the enigmatic Nasca Lines. These enormous lineal drawings of animals, birds and geometric figures, remain etched in the desert and can only be fully appreciated from the air. If time allows we can also visit local ceramists who replicate clay pots found in local burial sites dating from around 200 years BC. We now depart for the White city of Arequipa along the desert and coastal valleys.
Day 5 Arequipa
Arequipa exhibits a delightful colonial past most apparent in its magnificent architecture. Situated under the shadow of volcano El Misti (5822 masl /19213 fasl), you will be able to stroll around the white city appreciating the beautiful buildings made from the locally mined white volcanic rock, sillar. Your guide will meet you in the morning and conduct a tour of the Santa Catalina Monastery followed by a visit to the Museo Santuarios Andinos where “Juanita” the frozen mummy of the Incas is preserved along with other fascinating artifacts from the nearby Snow-capped peak of Volcano Ampato standing proud at 6288masl / 20750fasl. The remainder of the day is free.
Day 6 Arequipa to Chivay - Drive time 6 hours
We now head for the hills – destination Chivay. This is indeed a tough travelling day but the rewards are high. Llama, Alpaca and Vicuna should be appreciated as well as the Vizcacha along with Andean ducks, Ibis and birds of prey, notably the Black Chested Buzzard Eagle. Climbing steadily toward the skies, we reach the highest point of the tour – a breathless 4900 meters above sea level or rather 16,170 feet in altitude! From here we will be entertained by spectacular panoramic views comprising the recently active volcano Ubinas, the staggering volcano Ampato and straight ahead of us, the source of the Amazon, Mt.Mismi. Moving on from this viewpoint, we will descend to a more favourable 3600masl where it is possible to enjoy an afternoon in the hot springs of La Calera, Chivay - highly recommended.
 Day 7 Colca Canyon - Chivay - Puno
At 0500hrs we will give you a wake up call followed by breakfast and then a challenging drive out to the world’s deepest Canyon – Colca. Immediately on depature from the village of Chivay we will be introduced to pre Inca terracing possibly dating back some 2000 years or more. Important burial chambers will also be noted, along with indicative rock carving, decidedly Inca instruction. For most, the day’s main attraction will be the flight of the condor. Watching this magnificent bird in flight is poignant to say the least – time to reflect on this as we now head back to the city of Puno(3855masl / 12722fasl). En route to Puno we will visit the pre Columbian funeral towers of Sillustani situated on a peninsula some 45 minutes north of the town. This site deserves some time and your guide will offer a complete explanation of its history, up to and including the arrival of the Incas..
Drive times: Chivay to Canyon 1 hour 30 minutes.
Canyon to Chivay 2 hours allowing for photographs.
Chivay to Puno 6 hours.
Day 8 Lake Titicaca with visits to Uros and Taquile Islands
We now board our launch bound for the floating reed islands of the Uros Indians. Having encountered life on a floating island, we will then continue our journey to Taquile Island. On arrival we climb the 500 steps to the main plaza where the colourful Taquileños will greet us. The Taquileño speak their native Indian tongue of Ayamara and are very well known by their great weaving skills, this activity only conducted by the men of the community. In the afternoon we continue walking around the island to rejoin your boat back to Puno.
Day 9 Puno to Cusco
In the morning we transfer by private minibus to Cusco. This minibus drive will take you along the Altiplano climbing to the high pass of La Raya at 4350masl / 14335fasl. Then, having passed this watershed and in stark contrast, we ‘race’ down to 3300masl / 10890fasl weaving through the most idyllic of Andean landscapes to the Inca capital Cusco.
Journey Time
10 hours.
Day 10 Cusco
This is a free day to enjoy the beauty of the city with its Cathedral and the convent of Santo Domingo or Q´oricancha (Temple of the sun). You can also visit the surrounding archaeological sites namely the imposing fortress of Sacsayhuaman, Qenqo, Tambomachy and the renowned terraces of Pisac with stupendous views along the Sacred Valley of the Incas.
The Inca streets are well stocked for the shopper and here you will be able to find souvenirs for the most discerning of tastes. If you prefer to get out of the city then a visit to the town of Maras, the nearby earthworks of Moray along with the neighbouring salt pans makes for a great escape rounded off with traditional foods in the heart of the Sacred Valley, Urubamba.
Day 11 Sacred Valley
Depart from Cusco to the Sacred Valley of the Incas.
The Inca streets of Pisac are well stocked for the shopper and here you will be able to find souvenirs for the most discerning of tastes, then stop for lunch in Urubamba and continues with a visit to the beautiful Inca village and fortress of Ollantaytambo located in the the town of the same name, which has been built on top of original Inca foundations and is the best surviving example of Inca town planning.
Finally a quick stop at the quechua village of Chinchero on the way back to Cusco.
Chinchero is a small Andean Indian village located high up on the windswept plains of Anta at 3762m about 30km from Cusco. There are beautiful views overlooking the Sacred Valley of the Incas, with the Cordillera Vilcabamba and the snow-capped peak of Salkantay dominating the western horizon.
Day 12 Cusco - Machu Picchu
Our train departs the station of San Pedro at 0615hrs and carefully shunts its way out of the Cusco basin before finally running along side the banks of the turbulent Rio Urubamba. This is a great journey allowing us views of Snow-capped mountains, rural Andean life and vastly changing flora as we descend to around 2000masl. Having checked in to our hotel, we take a bus along the Hiram Bingham highway to the citadel of Machu Picchu. Your tour will visit the principle areas of the city namely the Main Plaza, the Circular Tower, the Sacred Sundial, the Temple of the Three Windows and various burial sites. After the tour you will have time to stroll around the archaeological site at your own pace or climb the Huayna Picchu Mountain from where you can appreciate views of Machu Picchu from a different perspective. Thermal baths await your return in town of Aguas Calientes.
Day 13 Machu Picchu to Cusco
The morning is free to explore the surrounding area. Less than 2 hours walking will bring you to the Mandor Waterfall surrounded by sub tropical vegetation. Along this walk it is possible to see Peru’s national bird, the Cock of the Rock. Worth the effort is the climb to the summit of Mt. Putucusi from where you can experience a spectacular view of Machu Picchu. Favoured by many visitors is a return visit to Machu Picchu though on this occasion, a very early start with a tough 3 hour hike to the celebrated Sun Gate, Inti Punku. Here you will be able savour the grandeur of this historic site whilst witnessing the high-spirited arrivals of the Inca Trail trekkers, some of whom having been on the go for over 7 days.
Day 14 Cusco to Lima
Transfer to the airport to board your flight back to Lima. Flight time approximately 50 minutes and then onward international connections. A representative of Small Group Adventures will meet you at Lima International Airport for a tour debrief and assist you with any requests you may have.
End of services
Price per person in US Dollars 1320.00 (valid through March 31st 2009)
INCLUDED
13 nights of hotel accommodation, based on double occupancy
All breakfasts
Entry/excursions in private service
- Lima city tour
- Ballestas Islands
- Santa Catalina Monastery
- Museo Santuarios Andinos
- Colca Canyon
- Sillustani
- Lake Titicaca
- Machu Picchu
All the above excursions are conducted with local English speaking guides in private service.
All transport and transfers where noted in the programme in private service.
NOT INCLUDED
- Gratuities (guide line only) USD 20.00
- Nasca Lines flight and tax USD 60.00
- International airport tax USD 30.50
- Domestic airport tax Arequipa USD 3.57
- Domestic airport tax Cusco USD 4.28
- Cusco tourist ticket USD 25.00
- Cusco - Lima Flight USD 130.00 aprox.
Food: The choice of restaurants available is diverse as the country itself. We suggest you budget between USD350 to USD500 to cover all your eating needs and these figures do include beverages.
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