DAY 01 LIMA Arrive in Lima.
Transfer to selected hotel. Rest of the day at leisure. Lima, the capital and largest city in Peru, was founded by Spanish conquistador Francisco Pizarro in 1535, as the “City of Kings”. It is on a desert coast facing the Pacific Ocean. With a population of 9 million, Lima has become a bustling metropolis with a mixture of colonial houses and modern buildings, beautiful parks and bohemian bars. Lima’s historic center was declared World Heritage by UNESCO in1988 because of the many historic buildings dating from Spanish colonial times as the monumental Plaza Mayor, the Cathedral, the Presidential Palace and the catacombs of the Convent of San Francisco. San Isidro is an elegant neighborhood where most embassies have their offices. Miraflores, primarily a commercial area, is the district where you will find most of the hotels and restaurants. Lima is known as the gastronomic capital of the Americas with its Creole cuisine (Peruvian food), Chifas (Chinese food), Cebicherias (seafood) and Pollerias (grilled chicken). The climate is temperate and humid. Temperatures rarely fall below 12°C or rise above 29°C throughout the year.
DAY 02 LIMA / CUSCO
Transfer to the airport for the flight to Cusco. Upon arrival transfer to selected hotel. Rest of the morning at leisure.
Cusco was the capital of the Incan Empire and a very important city during colonial times, Cusco holds a mixed architecture: mansions and monuments with Incan walls and colonial balconies. At 3400 meters above sea level, Cusco is a city which invites the visitors to walk through the narrow streets with houses with red roof tiles and lots of art crafts shops. Located 70 minutes by plane from Lima or 8-9 hours by car or train from Puno, Cusco is the gateway to visit the legendary Machu Picchu or do several other excursions like classic tours, adventure trails, specialized or living tourism.
Afternoon city tour including the surrounding ruins.
You will visit the centre of Cusco, with a professional guide. The Cathedral is one of the amazing buildings you will appreciate (is built in a Baroque style and has paintings of the Cusquenian School) and the temple of Qoricancha. Also will visit the fortress of Sacsayhuaman, located on a mountain overlooking Cusco. Sacsayhuaman, is an Inca construction made of large dry-stones walls, carefully cut to fit together tightly without mortar. Sacsayhuaman, is a huge, stunning site which holds the Temple of the Sun, where the head of the Puma of Cusco is located.
Also visit Qenqo, a temple known as a Labyrinth. Qenqo is a unique center of celebrations and astronomical studies. It has numerous ceremonial carvings, holes and canals cut into the rock. One of its features is a semi-natural underground chamber.
Pucapucara is another of the visits. This fort is made of large walls, terraces, and staircases and was part of defense of Cusco in particular and the Inca Empire in general.
You will go to the archeological site of Tambomachay, also known as “The Inca’s Bath”. It consists of a series of aqueducts, canals and waterfalls that runs through the terraced rocks. The function of the site is uncertain: it may have served as a military outpost guarding the approaches to Cusco, as a spa resort for the Incan political elite, or both.
Overnight. (B)
DAY 03 CUSCO / URUBAMBA / CUSCO
Full day excursion to the Sacred Valley of Urubamba to visit the village of Pisac and its colorful market. After lunch visit Ollantaytambo fortress. Return to Cusco for overnight. (B/L)
Located at 2800 meters above sea level, beautiful colonial towns that reflect their miscegenation in architecture, art and living culture can be appreciated. DAY 04 CUSCO / MACHU PICCHU / CUSCO Early transfer to the station on time to catch the train to Machu Picchu. Upon arrival to Aguas Calientes, bus transportation to the entrance of the ruins where the guided tour of the Lost City will start. Buffet lunch at a local restaurant before returning to Cusco and to the hotel.
Overnight. (B/L)
Considered one of the new wonders of the world, offers to all visitors a unique experience. The Incan citadel at 2400 m. is located at the top of a mountain and can be reached only by train to Aguas Calientes and then bus or, by foot doing the Inca Trail.
DAY 05 CUSCO / LIMA
Transfer to the airport for the flight back to Lima. Upon arrival transfer to selected hotel. Afternoon city tour including the historical centre of Lima: the Cathedral, the San Francisco Convent and the residential districts of San Isidro and Miraflores.
Overnight. (B)
DAY 06 LIMA/HOMEBOUND OR EXTENSIONS
Transfer to the airport for your flight back home or continue with extensions. (B)