ITINERARY

Day 1: LONDON – LIMA

Depart from London Heathrow to LIMA

Day 2: ARRIVE LIMA (L)

Upon your arrival in Lima, you will meet with our local English speaking guide and will assist you to transfer from airport to your hotel.
Lunch in the hotel.
In the afternoon, visit Lima's Downtown, declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO where you will know the Cathedral of Lima, located in the Main Square, the most important church in Peru built between 1542 and 1622, and one of the several beautiful colonial buildings, which constitutes an important part of the identity of the city. Continue your tour by visiting the Museum of the Church of San Francisco, built in the late seventeenth century and very famous for its Catacombs. Then you will be transferred to the districts of San Isidro and Miraflores for a panoramic view, and make a brief stop at the Love Park before moving on to your hotel.
Dinner will be served at the local restaurant and transportation service will be provided. You will enjoy a most relaxing sea view and discover the culinary creativity of Mangos Larcomar which offers a varied Peruvian and international buffet that will satisfy the most demanding palate.
Overnight at the Hotel Jose Antonio.

Day 3: LIMA - AREQUIPA (B/L/-)

After breakfast, transportation service will transfer you to Lima airport. (Includes the assistance of an English-speaking representative).
Upon your arrival to Arequipa, you will be transferred to Restaurant Sol de Mayo which is undoubtedly one of the best restaurants in Arequipa, backed by more than 100 years of culinary tradition. Excellent food in a colonial atmosphere and exclusive service to delight you with typical Arequipa specialties as well as a variety of Creole and international dishes. After lunch, you will start your tour to the Main Square, one of the most beautiful squares in Peru because it is built of sillar (a white volcanic rock) and has carved arches. It is next to the impressive Arequipa Cathedral, built in the 17th century and fully rebuilt after several earthquakes. You will then visit the Church of the Society of Jesus (1590), considered a classic example of the local baroque architecture, which are the houses of the exceptional collection of paintings and murals. You will then visit the Carmen Alto Scenic Viewpoint, located in front of the Chili River, from where you will have a scenic view of the city before passing by the Yanahuara Scenic Viewpoint. You will continue the tour at the Monastery of Santa Catalina, built in 1579, which is an authentic medieval cloister and a small religious citadel used to date. Our next point will be the Museum of Andean Sanctuaries where you will visit the Juanita Mummy, a 14-year-old daughter of an Inca dignitary mummified by cold. She was found at the snow-capped Ampato Mount in 1995 and was exhibited at the National Geographic Society in Washington. After the tour, you will be transferred to the hotel.
In the evening, transportation (with a guide) will pick you up to take you to a restaurant where you will enjoy a delicious dinner. The White City offers interesting options to enjoy its flavors. Located in a cozy house in Arequipa, in front of the beautiful square of San Francisco, this restaurant offers diners an attractive fusion, product of the creativity and the experience of its creator.
Overnight at the Hotel Casa Andina Standard Arequipa.

DAY 4: AREQUIPA - CUSCO (B/-/D)

Breakfast at the hotel. You will be picked up from your hotel at the agreed time and taken to the Arequipa airport accompanied by a guide. Help will be provided with your check in. Upon your arrival to Cusco, a guide will be waiting for you to start the tour. You will start your tour at the Coricancha, also known as the "Temple of the Sun", the construction of which was ordered by Inca Pachacútec (1438-1471) and was used as a base for the construction of the Santo Domingo Convent upon the arrival of the Spaniards. You will then go to the Cathedral, one of the most splendid Spanish colonial churches in America, which is shaped as a Latin Cross and houses about 400 colonial paintings from the Cusco art school, and impressive goldsmith, silversmith and precious stones works. Its construction lasted almost a century, it started in 1560 and ended in 1654. The Ecclesiastical Chapter ordered to extract and transport hundreds of stones from the Sacsayhuamán fortress for this purpose with the hard work of thousands of Indians. You will continue your tour at Sacsayhuamán, one of the emblematic Inca constructions (located a few minutes away from the built-up area), built by Inca Pachacútec in the 15th century. Then you will arrive in Qenqo, located four kilometers from Cusco City. Etymologically speaking, Qenqo means "labyrinth", and it is an archaeological complex mainly used for religious purposes, and it is believed that agricultural rituals took place there. You will finally visit the vestiges of Puka Pukara, which means "red fortress" and was an architectural complex presumably used for military purposes; it has many rooms, squares, bathrooms, aqueducts, walls, and towers, and it is believed that the Inca's entourage used it while he rested at Tambomachay. After enjoying your snack, you will visit the Ollantaytambo town, a typical example of the urban planning of the Incas, whose residents still live in accordance with their old traditions. You will find a large archaeological complex which is called a fortress although it was actually a Tambo, a leisure city used to accommodate the delegations that travelled long distances. During the tour, we will make a stop to have lunch at a local restaurant.
In the evening, transportation will transfer you to the restaurant where you will enjoy the best panoramic view of the marvellous Main Square of Cusco and the ancestral music and folk dances, together with Novo-undine buffet and international cuisine.
Overnight at Hotel Novotel.

DAY 5: CUSCO – SACRED VALLEY (B/-/D)

After breakfast, you will start your tour in the village of Chinchero, which was one of the most important populations during the Inca Empire. However, as much of its annexes, it was also a victim of the "extirpation of idolatries" action that replaced the traditional deities by Catholic ones, in order to transform popular beliefs. Then visit the archaeological remains of Maras and Moray. Maras is a surreal sight. It is close to Moray and is an impressive complex of salt mining. They are large deposits of salt used for exchange for other products with other regions of the empire. On the other hand, the archaeological site of Moray consists of mysterious concentric circular terraces that for some investigators would be an agricultural research center. Enjoy lunch at local restaurant and then visit Ollantaytambo, a typical example of urban planning of the Incas still inhabited like in the past. You will find here a great archaeological complex called "fortress" although it was a "Tambo", a resting and lodging place for long distance travelers. Finally visit the citadel of Pisac, a town built in the form of partridge known for two reasons: the crafts market, established between colonial buildings, and for hosting one of the most impressive complexes of terraces in the valley. The market has dozens of stalls displaying and selling goods crafted by residents of the area. After the visit, you will be transferred to your hotel in Sacred Valley Cusco.
Dinner and overnight at Hotel Posada del Inca Yucay.

DAY 6: SACRED VALLEY – MACHU PICCHU - CUSCO (B/L/-)

Breakfast at the hotel. A transportation service with a guide will pick you up from your hotel in Urubamba at the established time and will drive you to the Ollantaytambo train station. The guide will assist you at the station. Your tour to Machu Picchu begins with a train ride to Aguas Calientes in approximately two hours. This town is also known as "Machu Picchu Pueblo" and is the last stop before the entrance to the remains of the most important archaeological site in Peru. In Aguas Calientes, you will find the railway station, a crafts market, restaurants and accommodation of different categories for those who prefer to spend the night at the foot of the mountain and climb it early. Finally, after a short transfer, you will reach Machu Picchu, a masterpiece of engineering and architecture that is believed served as a sanctuary and retreat for the Inca Pachacutec (1438 - 1572). Machu Picchu, which means "Old Mountain", is considered a World Heritage by UNESCO and one of the new seven wonders of the world. Once in the citadel, you may optionally also visit the Intipunku (Sun Gate), the Wayna Picchu (subject to space availability) and the Inca Bridge. After the tour, enjoy a delicious lunch and in the afternoon, you will take the train back to Ollantaytambo train station. Upon the arrival to the station, a transfer (with a guide) will take you back to Cusco. Overnight at Hotel Novotel.

DAY 7: CUSCO - PUNO (B/L/-)

A transportation service with a guide will pick you up from your hotel, to transfer you to the Train Station. It will take about twenty minutes. Then you will board the impressive Titicaca Train to go to Puno on a journey of 10.00 hours around. Once you reach Puno, you will be picked up from the railway station, accompanied by a guide and taken to your hotel.
Overnight at Hotel Posada del Inca Puno.

DAY 8: PUNO (B/L/-)

Early morning, transportation (with guide) will pick you to take you to the lake pier. Then, a vessel will take you to the floating islands of the Uros which is an ancestral society that inhabits a series of artificial islands built with totara, a reed that grows in the lake. The islands are built by weaving this reed in the places where they grow the thickest and form a natural layer. They build their totara houses over it and cook in the open air to prevent possible fires. After a one and a half-hour tour, you will continue your trip to the Taquile Island. Unlike other islands, inhabited by Aymara-speaking people in the lake, its residents speak Quechua. It was part of the Inca Empire and it is possible to note vestiges of said culture in their buildings. Upon your arrival, you will receive a brief explanation on the island and will attend a cultural activity. You will return to Puno after lunch in a local house. Dinner and overnight at Hotel Posada del Inca Puno.

DAY 9: PUNO - LAKE TITICACA: SUN ISLAND (B/L/D)

Overland journey from Puno (Peru) to Copacabana (Bolivia), located at the shores of Lake Titicaca. Once in Copacabana, visit the shrine and the Dark Indian Virgin. Hydrofoil cruise to Sun Island, to visit the Pilcocaina Sun Temple. Enjoy a llama trek to the hotel. Lunch upon arrival; the afternoon is at leisure to explore the bucolic surroundings. Dinner and overnight at the cosy “Posada del Inca” Eco Lodge.

DAY 10: SUN ISLAND – HUATAJATA (B/L/-)

Breakfast at the hotel. Morning at leisure. Around noon, visit the Inca “Grand Stairs” and the Sacred Fountain; taste the water believed to give eternal youth and happiness. Lunch will be served at the Uma Kollu archaeological Restaurant Hydrofoil cruise to Moon Island, visit the Sun Virgins Temple “Iñak Uyu”. Hydrofoil cruise to Copacabana and overland journey to Huatajata. On arrival, visit the Andean Roots Eco Village: The Altiplano Museum; Handicrafts village, the Mud Igloos and the mortuary towers of the Urus Chipayas. Meet the Limachi family, builders of the RA II and Tigris for epic expeditions across the Atlantic Ocean. See our elegant vicuñas, llamas, alpacas and the mythical Suri. Audiovisual and night experience of "The Mystic World of the Kallawayas", natural healers of Bolivia. They believe that you first have to heal the soul in order to heal your body. Tata Benjo, -our Kallawaya- will bless visitors and answer questions by casting his sacred coca leaves. By night, visit the Native Observatory Alajpacha. Learn from the Aymaras Cosmo vision and watch the southern constellations.
Overnight at the Inca Utama Hotel & Cultural Centre.

DAY 11: LA PAZ CITY (B/L/-)

Half day City Tour of La Paz and Moon Valley - AM. The City of La Paz and its surroundings can transport you to a mysterious past in which any corner, any street, is a hidden treasure where the adventure begins; a living history which treasures the pre-Hispanic times with all their traditions and magic rites on its streets. The indigenous, colonial and modern areas, Indian Market, Witch Doctor's Market & breath-taking panoramas are all framed by the majestic "Illimani" mountain. Visit the Moon Valley, a clay formation resembling the face of the Moon. The cable car rides from one point of the city to another and enjoy the view.
Overnight at Europa Hotel.

DAY 12: LA PAZ - UYUNI SALT LAKE (B/L/D)

Breakfast at the hotel. Transfer from hotel to the airport (Night time). La Paz Airport is located at 25 minutes from downtown.
Service Includes transportation, bilingual guide assistance and porterage tips at the airport. Arrival to Uyuni and immediately start an excursion to the Salt Lake and Isla Pescado. Uyuni is the largest salt flat on Earth, located on the Bolivian Andean Altiplano with over 10.000 square Km; the Bolivian Andes offer stunning sceneries which can be hardly matched. The sound of silence makes the heart beats faster and the surreal pentagons of crystalline salt, the pure sky, and the cacti, certainly make you feel that there is no other place like this in the whole world. Lunch at Isla Pescado also called “Incawasi”, an oasis with formations of algae and fossils. It is covered by thousands of giant columnar cacti, which can be more than a hundred years old, growing to a height of over 12 meters. The landscape against the background of the salt pans extending to the horizon makes it an ideal place for photography hunters. Return to your hotel. Dinner and overnight at Luna Salada Sat hotel located on the shores of the Uyuni Salt Lake.

DAY 13: UYUNI - LA PAZ (B/-/D)

Transfer to the airport for your flight back to La Paz; upon arrival, transfer to your hotel. Flight La Paz – Uyuni. Transfer from airport to hotel in La Paz (Day time). La Paz Airport is located at 25 minutes from downtown. Service includes transportation, bilingual guide assistance and porterage tip at the airport.
Free time at leisure.
Farewell Dinner at a local restaurant and Folklore show accompany with the tour guide. Overnight at the Hotel Europa.

Day 14: LA PAZ - LONDON (B/-/-)

Transfer from hotel in La Paz to an airport (Day time).
La Paz Airport is located at 25 minutes from the hotel. Service includes transportation, bilingual guide, assistance and porter tips at the airport.

Costs are From (Fr.) £ Per Person based on twin sharing.

SERVICES INCLUDED:

§ International and domestic flights
§ Transportation as mentioned in the itinerary.
§ Excursions as mentioned in the itinerary.
§ Meals as mentioned in the itinerary (B-Breakfast/L-Lunch/BX-Box Lunch/D-dinner).
§ Accommodation as mentioned in the itinerary
§ Local English speaking guide
§ Entrances to the mentioned attraction spots in the itinerary.

SERVICES NOT INCLUDED:

§ Personal expenses.
§ Alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages during meals.
§ Meals not mentioned in the itinerary.
§ Personal expenses (laundry, telephone calls, travel insurance, etc.)
§ Meals not mentioned in the program.