Andean Beauties (Semi-Private)
10 Days 9 Nights
Lima, Cusco, Pisaq, Ollantaytambo, Maras Moray, Aguas Calientes, Machu Picchu & Lake Titicaca, Uros Island & Taquile Island
Overview:
This tour will take you to the traditional sites and attractions of Peru with an integration of our ´Cultural Immersion` style. You will visit the main sites and attractions of the Incan Empire as well as the highest navigable lake in the world and its very unique floating islands.
Day By Day Itinerary:
Day 1: Welcome to Peru (Private)
Upon arrival into Lima Airport, you can be assured that we will have a private transfer waiting to take you to your hotel in Lima. Your driver and English speaking representative will welcome you into Peru ensuring you with a comfortable and safe ride.
Overnight in Lima. (Altitude: Sea Level)
Day 2: An exciting excursion in Lima (included) (B)
Today you will have a choice of the following half day excursions:
City of the Kings (Shared) – Today in the morning, your private tour guide and driver will take you for a tour of the City of the Kings. You will visit the colonial part of Lima, visiting the Plaza de Armas (Plaza Mayor), San Martin Plaza, San Francisco Church and its catacombs and the suburbs of Barranco. We will take you to the San Martin Plaza, where you will walk through the busy and fascinating pedestrian only Union Street (Jiron de la Union) that leads to the Plaza de Armas. Along this street are a number of shops and restaurants set in a mixture of old and new buildings. We will then make a quick stop at the Plaza de Armas before heading to San Francisco Church, which is said to be one of the most attractive churches in Lima, due to its seventeenth century construction with stone front walls and towers. According to experts in its Catacombs Museum you can find the skulls and bones of seventy thousand people. After visiting the colonial part of Lima, we will head to Barranco, the bohemian district of Lima which is located right on the cliffs and overlooks the Pacific Ocean. Here we will board an old style tram exclusively for tourists. The tram will take you on a short ride to the district of Chorrillos and back, whilst you can relax, take pictures and enjoy the scenery. You will arrive back at your hotel in the early afternoon and be able to have the rest of the day at leisure.
Swimming with Sea Lions (Shared) – In the morning, your driver and tour guide will meet you at your hotel and transfer you to Callao Harbour. At the harbour, you will board a boat and head for the Palomino Islands, whilst getting the opportunity to observe some sea birds, such as pelicans, Inca tern, the Peruvian booby, red legged cormorant, guanay and occasionally the Humboldt penguin. Upon arrival at the Palomino Islands, with your wetsuit and lifejacket (included), you have the opportunity to swim in the Pacific Ocean with the sea lions. This is a truly special experience and perfect for families. After your swim, we take you back to your hotel and you have the rest of the day at leisure.
Tandem Paraglider Flight (Private) – In the afternoon we will pick you up from your hotel and take you to the San Isidro Coastline, where you will take part in a 15 minute tandem paragliding flight with an experience instructor. It is the easiest and safest way to feel the thrill of soaring like a bird and no experience is needed! After your flight, we will take you back to your hotel and you have the rest of the day at leisure.
Overnight in Lima. (Altitude: Sea Level)
Day 3: Lima to Cusco & Sacred Valley (Private) (B)
In the morning you will transfer from your hotel to Lima Airport in time for your hour domestic flight to Cusco. Upon arrival into the Inca Empire of Cusco in the morning, you will make your way via a private van to the Sacred Valley of the Incas, which is located at lower elevation and will help with acclimatization. Along the way you will make a number of stops to some fascinating and photographic view points. One of the stops will be to an animal recovery centre, which houses a number of beautiful animals to include: condors, pumas, macaws, llamas and tortoises. During your time here you can enter into the condor cage and see the flight of this large bird. Another stop will be to a llama and alpaca farm, where you will be able to get real up close and personal with these wonderful creatures and even be able to feed them. At this farm, they also produce high quality pieces from the wool, which you are able to purchase. You will then continue along the Sacred Valley where your hotel is located.
Overnight in Sacred Valley. (Altitude: 2900m, 9500ft)
Day 4: Sacred Valley of the Incas (Private) (B,L)
In the morning, your tour guide and driver will pick you up from your hotel for your private Sacred Valley tour. We will first drive to the Pisaq town, where on Sundays is the big market day when local villagers come from the mountains and sell their home-grown vegetables. In this market it is still possible to see how people practice the trade system used in the Incan times. Here, you will be able to get great prices for goods and souvenirs. We will also have the opportunity to visit the Incredible Pisaq Ruins and then drive to Urubamba to enjoy lunch in one of the best local restaurants in the Sacred Valley. After lunch, we will head to Ollantaytambo, one of the last Inca refuges, where you will notice that the houses and building still preserve a big part of the Inca Architecture. You will enter into an Inca house and see how they used to live. We will then take you to visit the Ollantaytambo ruins, temples and terraces. You will get to witness the abandoned stones and unfinished walls, due to the invasion of the Spaniards. This tour also includes a visit to a “Chicheria”, where you will learn the old Incan technique of producing the most popular drink in the Andes. Here you will also get to see how locals farm guinea pigs in their homes which after a few months becomes a delicious dish. Finally we will return you back to your hotel.
Overnight in Sacred Valley. (Altitude: 2900m, 9500ft)
Day 5: Maras, Moray & Train to Machu Picchu Town (Private) (B,L)
In the morning your private tour guide and driver will drive you off the beaten path to Maras, a typical Andean village. Here you will walk around the streets and get the sense that you have stepped back into time, due to the traditional clothing of the locals and old style buildings. If you have young children, we will surprise them with a short donkey ride around the town. We will then visit the very impressive San Francisco Church to include visits to the baptism room and bell tower, where you will have a great view of the village and its surrounding snow capped mountains. We will then drive you to the incredible Circular Terraces of Moray, which was used an Inca laboratory to acclimatize their crops. After that we will have a picnic lunch at a nearby strategic point with great views of the glaciers and mountains. Then we will head to the Salt Terraces of Maras to see and learn about an ancient pre-Incan method of producing salt. After this visit, you will have the choice of either a short hour trek to the Vilcanota River and then drive to Ollantaytambo or to drive direct to Ollantaytambo. After your Sacred Valley tour you will arrive at Ollantaytambo train station and take the hour and a half train to Aguas Calientes.
Overnight in Aguas Calientes. (Altitude: 2000m, 6500ft)
Day 6: Machu Picchu - Wonder of the World (Private) (B)
Today in the morning, you will transfer from your hotel to the ruins to meet your private tour guide for your tour of Machu Picchu, ´The Lost City of the Incas`. You will learn about the history of this Incan sacred site and the tour will include visits to some temples such as the Sun and the Condor. You will also visit, whilst learn some interesting facts about the Incan sacred terraces, aqueducts and houses. After the tour, you will have plenty of time to explore this truly magnificent site on your own. There are many short trek options, such as a the one to the Sun Gate for an impressive view of Machu Picchu or a visit to the Incan Bridge, a secret entrance for the Inca Army. The most adventurous should not miss the Wayna Picchu ´young mountain climbing, which requires a very early start (5.30am) as only 400 people are permitted on this climb each day. In the afternoon you will transfer back to Aguas Calientes and return to Cusco via the train.
Overnight in Cusco. (Altitude: 3500m, 11500ft)
Day 7: Cusco City & the Incan Empire (Private) (B,D)
In the morning your tour guide and driver will meet you at your hotel to begin your private city tour of this wonderful city. You will visit the well-known and beautiful Incan temple of Sacsayhuaman, where you will be amazed with the great construction work of the Incan empire and there is still mystery of how they managed to move and fit each large and heavy stone so perfectly into each other. As part of your city tour, you will also visit Cusco Cathedral, which has an UNESCO World Heritage status and is located in Plaza de Armas. Here you will see many holy Christian artifacts and artwork derived from the `Escuela Cuzquena´ (Cuzco Art School). Your tour will then take you to the Temple of the Sun, ´Koricancha`, located in the Avenida Sol. This Incan site was one of the most worshipped and most respected temples of the city. Finally we will let you experience the local life by taking you to the San Pedro market, where you will see a whole range of goods, such as gifts, crafts, clothes, meats, juices, fruits, vegetables and more. You will then return to your hotel and have the rest of the day at leisure. During the evening you will be invited to a special dinner in a local restaurant to enjoy some exquisite cuisine.
Overnight in Cusco. (Altitude: 3500m, 11500ft)
Day 8: Cusco to Lake Titicaca (Shared) (B,L)
Today at 7am your driver will pick you up from your hotel and take you to the bus station in time for your 9 hour coach journey to Puno. On the way, we will stop at some fascinating attractions. The first stop will be at the Andahuaylillas Church, (known as the Andean Sistine Chapel) where you see some intriguing 16th, 17th and 18th Century Mural paintings and fully decorated gold altars. You will then stop at Racchi, a small highland town where you will see the Incan temple of Wiracocha and learn about its fascinating construction with adobe brick walls that measure up to 11 meters high. You will then stop at Sicuani to enjoy a great buffet lunch. After lunch you will travel through the highest point of the journey at La Raya (4300m, 14100ft) which is also the halfway point between Cusco and Puno. We will then arrive at Pukara, which is famous for its ceramic production and its most famous figurines (The two bulls) are those that can be found on roofs of the Andean houses to bring luck. At 5pm, you will finally arrive at Puno and one of our representatives will take you to your hotel.
Overnight in Puno. (Altitude: 3800m, 12500ft)
Day 9: Uros Floating Islands and Taquile Island (Shared) (B,L)
Today you will be picked up from your hotel to enjoy the highest navigable lake in the world. During the morning we will visit the highly unique Uros Floating Islands, which have been built out of only totora reeds, a water plant that grows in the lake. You will be amazed at how locals use totora reeds to build canoes, houses, beds and many other things. As part of your visit to Uros, you will ride on a totora reed canoe, which will let you experience a smooth and pleasant trip around the Islands. After this we will relax and enjoy the scenery for approximately 2 hours whilst travelling to Taquile Island via a motor boat. At Taquile Island, you can enjoy a local cooked lunch with one of the delicacies being the very fresh Lake Titicacan trout. After lunch you have an opportunity to take a short hike around the island before heading back to Puno via boat and back to your hotel.
Overnight in Puno. (Altitude: 3800m, 12500ft)
Day 10: Lake Titicaca to Lima (Private) (B)
Today your private driver will pick you up at your hotel 3 hours before your domestic flight to take you to Juliaca Airport. Along the way there is the option of visiting the archeological site of Sillustani. This is a complex that encloses very tall towers made of giant stones that were used in the Incan times as sacred burial places. If you decide to take this extra tour you will also get to visit some local houses where you will learn the daily life in this part of the Andes. Your flight will take approximately 2 ½ hours from Juliaca to Lima in time for your international flight.
Your Cultural Immersion Peru Package Includes:
- All domestic flights in Peru
- All transfers and transportation
- All excursions and tours
- All site and attraction entrance tickets
- A professional English speaking tour guide tour with all excursions
- A professional driver with all transfers
- Meals as indicated (B = Breakfast, L = Lunch, D = Dinner)
- All accommodation based on double occupancy
- Round trip train to Machu Picchu
- Local taxes
Your Cultural Immersion Peru Package Does Not Include:
- International flights
- Airport taxes (US$6 upon arrival, US$30 upon international departure)
- Additional add on activities
- Tips and extras
Hotel & Pricing Information
| Top quality B&B type hotels | Excellent 3* hotels | |
| Lima | Mariel | Casa Andina Classic |
| Sacred Valley | Amaru Valle | Royal Inka |
| Machu Picchu | Presidente | Andina Luxury |
| Cusco | Amaru I | Munay Wasi |
| Puno | Balsa Inn | Royal Inn |
| PRICE PER PERSON 1378.00 USD |
PRICE PER PERSON 1476.00 USD |
- The price quoted above is per person and based on double occupancy. A single supplement will apply.
- In order to secure your trip, we will require a deposit of 60%. The rest of the payment (40%) will be required to be paid locally.
- A 4% fee applies when paying by credit card.
- A US$50 fee applies when paying by wire money transfer.
- We reserve the right to offer an alternative accommodation of a similar standard in the case the accommodation specified in our web site is overbooked or for any reason beyond our control. No changes will be made after payment.
