Perú Adventure

There will be a driver waiting upon arrival at Jorge Chavez International Airport to transport you to the hotel. Any questions you may have regarding the itinerary may be answered at this time. You will have the afternoon and evening free as we will be waking up early the following morning.

3:40am There will be two modes of transportation used in the journey to Chaco Port. You will be picked up at your hotel and transported to the Cruz del Sur bus station. The buses provide a “Bed Service” with fully reclinable seats which allow for more rest en-route to the destination, if desired. With the completion of the bus service you will be driven the rest of the way to Chaco Port by car.

8:00am A motorboat will be waiting at Chaco Port to take us to the the rocky outcrops, collectively known as the Ballestas (Archers’ Bows) Islands, which are a half an hour away by boat. There will be a stop en route to give you the opportunity to view the mysterious El Candelabro geoglyph before arriving at the islands. This geoglyph (you may want to include what this is) houses an astounding amount of marine life, including large sea lion and Humboldt penguin colonies, fur seals, marine otters, and thousands of migratory and resident sea birds.

11:00am After visiting the Ballestas Islands, we will return to Paracas Bay for the second half of the day’s excursion exploring Paracas National Reserve. We will spend four hours exploring the reserve, which provides refuge to thousands of resident and migratory birds, visiting the reserve‘s Center of Interpretation, and stopping at a lookout on the isthmus that provides fantastic views of neighboring beaches, allowing for the opportunity to take stunning photos of both the desert and Pacific Ocean.

In the afternoon, we will head to the Cruz del Sur Terminal to board a bus en route to Nazca, a 4-hour trip, where we will spend the night.

7:30am You will be picked up at your hotel/hostel to head to the Maria Reiche Aerodrome. Here, you will watch a video introduction to the Nazca civilization before boarding a light aircraft for a forty-minute flight over the famous Nazca Lines. Covering miles of desert floor and only viewable from the sky, the purpose of these lines remain unclear; researchers theorize that they were created to either please the gods as ceremonial pathways, or as the world´s largest astronomical calendar. You will see geometric designs as well as representations of people, animals, and flowers depicted by the lines.

11:00am We will head southeast of Nazca through the desert along the Panamericana Sur en route to the Cemetery of Chauchilla. During our visit you will learn about how the combination of an arid climate and the use of a resin applied during burial rites has left the present-day population with astonishingly well-preserved mummies of the Nazca Civilization. Despite being over a thousand years old, some bodies were found with hair and skin tissue.

12:30am Prior to our return to Nazca we will visit the workshop of a potter to learn about the famously intricate polychrome pottery of the Nazca. We will then make one last stop (where??) to learn about the traditional method for extracting gold for artisanal purposes, through the use of large mortars, water, and quicksilver.

1:00pm You will be taken back to your hotel in Nazca. At a specified time to be determined, we will head to the Cruz del Sur terminal to board a bus to Arequipa. This ten-hour trip also provides “Bed Service.” Upon arrival in Arequipa you will be transported to your hotel in Arequipa.

9:00am You will be picked up at the hotel for a trip through the idyllic countryside of Arequipa. Our first stop will be the Yanahuara District, which contains the elaborately carved San Juan Bautista Church, an excellent representation of the famous white sillar, volcanic ash, and buildings with intricate facades that gave Arequipa its nickname “The White City.” You will be provided with views of the entire city and El Misti Volcano from the 19th century Yanahuara Viewpoint, with its engraved stone arches. You will also be taken to a second looking-point, Carmen Alto, that introduces the Chilina Valley.

Next, we will visit the stately 400-year-old, waterfall-powered Sabandia Stone Mill within the rural area of Paucarpata. We will also tour through a striking set of Inca and pre-Inca terraces still in use today, where alpacas and vicuñas continue to roam. After visiting Paucarpata´s Plaza we will continue to the 16th century Founder´s Mansion (Goyeneche Palace).

You will be given the opportunity to sample traditional Arequipan treats at the Tingo food court before ascending to Sachaca. During the ascent, we will notice houses stacked along the hillside like stairs and pass through the Main Square. One of the highlights of the Main Square is a centuries-old Roman-inspired church with white bellhouse. Our goal in arriving at Sachaca is to obtain one final lookout over the city in its entirety, including the three volcanoes, the countryside, Tiabaya, Goyeneche Palace, and Hunter District.

Our final stop of the day is the 19th century iron Bolívar Bridge, shipped from Europe in peices and designed by Gustavo Eiffel, of Eiffel Tower fame.

8:30am You will be picked up at the hotel to begin the journey along the north road en route to Chivay on the upper Colca River. Despite being a relatively small town, Chivay continues to be the largest in Colca Canyon. Our specific route will border the snow-capped Chachani and conical El Misti Volcanoes. We will briefly stop in the Pampas Cañahuas of the Salinas y Aguada Blanca National Reserve in order to see the grazing vicuña herds this refuge protects. Before arriving in Chivay, we will also pass a hábitat of local and migratory birds called the tocra.

1:00pm We will stop for lunch at a local restaurant before heading to the hotel.

3:00pm You will have personal time to explore. One option is to visit the La Calera Thermal Baths.

7:00pm Dinner with traditional folk music and dance from the area.

5:00am After breakfast we will head towards the most famous viewing platform in Colca Canyon, Condor’s Crossing (Cruz del Cóndor). Here you will be presented with an opportunity not only to appreciate the grandeur and depth of one of the world’s deepest canyons (beaten only by nearby Cotahuasi), but also to observe endangered Andean Condors at close range. These massive birds, the world’s largest birds of flight, rise like clockwork from their nesting colony deep beneath the viewing platform and circle ever higher in search of food. Riding the rising thermals as the sun begins to the warm the canyon air, they gracefully soar without needing to flap their wings. We will stay at this site for about an hour and a half.

10:30am We will visit the canyon towns of Pinchollo, Maca and Yanque, making select stops at colonial churches and agricultural terraces.

12:30am Arrival in Chivay, lunch, and return to Arequipa.

5:30pm Arrival in Arequipa and transfer to the hotel.

8:00am We will take the Cruz del Sur bus from Arequipa to Puno. This bus provides “Bed Service” and takes approximately six hours. You will be picked up at the Cruz del Sur Terminal in Puno and taken to the hotel. In the afternoon you will be given the option of participating in a tour of the Sillustani Chullpas (Burial Towers), or to have a free afternoon.

2:00pm It will take about 45 minutes to reach the Sillustani Tombs from Puno, stopping en route to visit the Yana Mayo look-out and passing the bucolic countryside of Atún Colla District. Upon arrival of the pre-Incan ruins located atop a hill overlooking Lakw Umayo, there will be a guided visit of the burial towers. Here, mummies in the fetal position were housed while awaiting their rebirth. The Chucuito Peninsula area has been populated for over 12000 years from the Caluyo Period through the Lupaca Kingdom of Tiahuanaco and the Inca Empire. Due to the longevity of the span of time it was populated, the funeral towers, cerramics, subterranean tombs, stone baths, and other sights seen here were used by the Aymara-speaking Pucará and Kolla peoples, as well as the conquering Inca.

6:00pm You will return to the hotel.

7:40am You will be picked up from the hotel and taken to the port. After boarding a motorboat we will head towards the Floating Islands of Uros, about 30 minutes away, crossing the massive Lake Titicaca (3821 meters above sea level), which is the world’s highest navigable lake. The famous manmade islands belong to one of America´s oldest cultures, the Aymara-speaking Uros Tribe (kot-suña, people of the lake), and are made from tortora reeds which are also used in providing housing, sustenance and transport.

10:30am You will visit the Island of Amantani, whose Quechua-speaking inhabitants are known for their textiles and ceramics.

1:00pm We will share a traditional meal with a local family.

2:30pm We will hike to either the Temple of Pachatata (Father Earth), or the Temple of Pachamama (Mother Earth), each located on a different hill. There will be a guided tour of the Inca and Tiwanaku ruins of one of these.

3:30pm Folkloric music and dance show.

7:30pm Dinner in the homes of local families, where we will spend the night.

7:30am Breakfast will be our final meal with the Amantani families.

8:00am We will be transported by motorboat to the Island of Taquile where we will hike, then have lunch. Life on the island is simple and collectivist with a large focus on fishing and farming. UNESCO proclaimed Taquile and its colorful textiles“Masterpieces of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity.” These textiles are regarded among Peru´s highest-quality handicrafts.

1:00pm Descending along the opposite side of the island via 530 steps, we will return to the motorboat and begin the return trip to Puno.

4:30pm Arrival in Puno and transfer to the hotel.

7:00am You will be picked up at the hotel and taken to the Inka Express Terminal. Today you will be travelling along “The Route of the Sun,” from the origins of the Inca Civilization in Puno to the location they would eventually settle in and establishing their capital in Cusco.

7:30am We will begin the route to Cusco, stopping first at Pukara for a guided tour of the archeological museum.

8:30am We will arrive at La Raya in Puno which provides excellent views of the snowy peaks of the Andean mountain range, as well as grazing llamas and vicuñas.

12:00pm We will arrive in Sicuani and enjoy a delicious buffet lunch at Las Tunas Restaurant.

2:30pm We will stop in Raqchi to explore the ruins of the Sanctuary of Wiracococha, a supreme Inca deity.

3:30pm We will stop in Andahuaylillas (Copper Field) to visit San Pedro Chapel, a colonial art treasure often referred to as the “Sistine Chapel of America.” Despite its rustic surroundings and simple exterior, this chapel boasts a stunning interior whose every surface is covered in richly colored and ornate murals with Amazonian gold-leaf.

5:00pm We will arrive in Cusco with transportation to your hotel.

1:30pm You will be picked up from the hotel for a tour of Cusco’s historical monuments. Transport between sites will be provided by a tourist bus.

2:00pm We will visit the 17th century baroque Cathedral, which contains: hundreds of paintings by the lauded Cusco School, including Zapata’s Last Supper with Andean guinea pig gracing the table; María Angola, the largest bell in South America; and various chapels filled with masterpieces of precious materials, including the Señor de Temblores (Lord of the Earthquakes) crucifix credited with saving Cusco during the 1650 earthquake. After touring the Cathedral, we will go further back in time to Cusco’s pre-Hispanic religious center, Qoricancha, the Golden Temple or the Temple of the Sun, where offerings were rendered to the supreme Inca deity, Inti.

3:45pm Along the outskirts of Cusco we’ll be awed by the massive stones of Sacsayhuaman Fortress. We will then continue to Qenqo, an astronomical calendar and shrine consecrated to the Pachamama earth deity, the Inca Baths of Tambomachay (Resting Place) with its artificial waterfalls, and Puka Pucara, suspected to have been a fortress guarding the entrance to Tambomachay.

5:45pm You will be transported to your hotel

8:30am We will take a tourist bus to the Sacred Valley, about an hour away.

10:00am On a market day, you will have time to explore the popular Pisaq Artisanal Market before beginning a guided tour of the Inca ruins of Pisaq, which include the Pisaqa agricultural terraces, Intihuatana Sun Temple, and Q‘allaqasa Fortress.

1:00pm We will stop in Urubamba for a buffet lunch.

3:00pm We will visit Ollantaytambo, observing how the town has been built atop original Inca foundations depicting the best-preserved examples of Incan urban planning. We will then visit the ruins and the Fortress of Ollantaytambo, defendor of the strategic entrance to the lower Urubamba Valley and the only Inca stronghold to have successfully resisted Spanish attack.

5:00pm Thought to have been the country resort of Inca Tupaq Yupanqui, the colorful Andean village of Chinchero overlooks the Sacred Valley. Located in the main square of Chinchero, we will explore both the Inca ruins as well as a 17th century adobe church with elaborate murals.

6:30pm We will return to Cusco and transfer to the hotel.

Where will we spend the night?

Lodging in selected Cusco hotel or hostel.

We will begin our day at around 6:00am traveling toward the Small Mollepata Village (2850 m.a.s.l.) on the edge of the Cloud Forest Zone. From this vantage point we are able to appreciate the scenic view of snowcapped peaks that belong to the chain of Salkantay. We are also able to glimpse the beautiful sight of Salkantay (6270 m.a.s.l.). From there, we will begin a five-hour long walk while noting some key vegetation pertaining to the zone. We will stop for lunch during the walk before continuing to Soraypampa, our first campsite.

Night at: Camping.

A continuation of our hike will resume after an early breakfast. This day offers the best views of Salkantay, the second highest mountain in the Cusco department, with the great snowcapped peak not too far away. The first 4 hours of the hike are mainly spent in ascent until the pass at 4500 m.a.s.l., where other majestic snowcapped peaks reveal itself for our vision (Not really sure what this means). From this point on, the trail descends past small lagoons and wetlands towards our camp, Camp Chaullay (2950 m.a.s.l.).

Night at: Camping.

Our trek on this day begins with the beautiful scenic views of various fauna and flora that brilliantly decorate the landscape while we pass the small settlement of Arranniyuc. Later we will arrive at a hot spring, where we can enjoy the warm water before continuing along the Santa Teresa River. This area has a large variation of bird life. Here we will notice an obvious change in climate and vegetation. Playa is the largest village on our route and contains small plantations of coffee and bananas. This village contains a few small shops to buy snacks etc.

Night at: Camping.

We will travel from Playa to the hydroelectric at the Urubamba River and ascend one newly opened Inca trail. This trail was origincally used to transport agricultural products to the population living on Machu Picchu. The trail takes us through an area of coffee plantations and subtropical fruits and crops. As we ascend the trail, the vegetation changes between dry and grassy with flowers and moist cloud forest (this is not a type of vegetation like the former). In the pass, we will suddenly find ourselves in a cool dense wood full of trees covered with thick moss. Shortly hereafter we see, for the first time, the impressive Machu Picchu on a mountain saddle further into the valley. We will arrive at our lunch site, Llactapata, within ten minutes of our first glimpse of Machu Picchu. We will then walk the remaining portion of our hike downhill and along the river to the Hydroelectric. While waiting for the train, we can either visit Intihuatana or continue walking to Aguas Calientes, where we will arrive in the afternoon. We will spend the night in a nice hotel. (Presidente Hotel)

Night at: Presidente Hotel Aguas Calientes.

From Aguas Calientes we can walk or take a bus to Machu Picchu. Upon arrival at Machu Picchu, we will begin with a 2 to 3 hour guided tour. The tour covers the most important locations of the archaeological site. Our guide will tell us about the great importance Machu Picchu built as an astrological and religious center. After the tour, you will have free time to enjoy this wonder. You may choose to climb Wayna Picchu or visit the beautiful Moon Temple. After your visit to Machu Picchu we will meet back up in Aguas Calinetes in order to take the train back to Cusco.

End of service.

You will be picked up at your hotel and transported to Alejandro Velasco Astete International Airport to board your departing flight.