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Legacy of Ancient Cultures (14 days/13 nights)
LIMA
- NAZCA- AREQUIPA - COLCA CANYON -CUSCO - MACHU-PICCHU - PUNO-BOLIVIA
For itinerary and prices, please
inquire
PRIVATE SERVICES & SHARED SERVICES:
Arrival in Lima, reception and transfer to selected hotel.
Breakfast at the hotel. In the morning guided visit to the Cathedral, Main
Square, San Francisco Convent and its Catacombs, and the residential areas of
San Isidro, Miraflores, and the ocean front to enjoy a magnificent view of the
Pacific Ocean. Return to the hotel around midday. Afternoon at leisure for
personal activities.
Breakfast at the hotel. Transfer from the hotel to the bus terminal. Depart
around noon in tourist bus from Lima to Nazca. (6 hours 30 minutes) Arrival,
reception and transfer to the chosen hotel.
Breakfast at the hotel. In the morning transfer to the Nazca airfield to fly
over the gigantic drawings and geometrical figures, representing animals, such
as a spider, a monkey and several birds, and believed to be an enormous
calendar. (45 minutes). In the late evening, transfer to the bus terminal and
transfer by local bus from Nazca to Arequipa. (8 hours approximately).
Arrival to Arequipa early in the morning. Reception and transfer to chosen hotel
and rest of morning at leisure. In the afternoon visit the city of Arequipa,
starting with the Valley of Chilina and the old district of San Lazaro. Visit to
the mummy Juanita (also known as "The Ice Maiden"). General view of
the city from the Yanahuara Belvedere, visit the Plaza de Armas and its
Cathedral, the Church and Square of San Francisco, the cloisters of the Compañia
Church, and the extraordinary Santa Catalina convent, which is built from
volcanic lava and dates from the l6th century.
Breakfast at the hotel. Depart from Arequipa for an 8-hour journey to the Colca
Valley. On the way you will see the vicuñas, llamas and alpacas in the National
Reserve at Pampa Cañahuas (4,500 meters/14,850 feet). Arrival in Chivay, lunch
and accommodation at a hostel or lodge. Tour to the local market, dinner and
overnight.
Continental breakfast. Drive down the valley and on the way you will see the
beautiful Inca terraces. From the Cruz del Condor you can get a fine view of the
condors flying above and below you as well as of the depth of the canyon.
Further down the valley the view is even more spectacular and you will see the
villages on the opposite side, which seem to be clinging to the very walls of
the canyon. Return to hotel for lunch and early afternoon departure to Arequipa
via Patapampa and stop at Chucura, the viewpoint of the six volcanoes (6 hours).
Accommodation in Arequipa.
Breakfast in the hotel. Early in the morning transfer to the airport. Flight
Arequipa - Cuzco (30 minutes). Reception and transfer to the chosen hotel. Rest
of the morning at leisure. In the afternoon, visit the nearby ruins of Kenko,
Puca-Pucara, Tambomachay and Sacsayhuaman. Continuation to the city to visit the
Main Square, the Cathedral with its religious Art Museum, the Santo Domingo
Church built on top of the Koricancha, the former temple of the sun during the
Inka period. Late in the afternoon return to the hotel.
Breakfast at the hotel. Whole day excursion to the ruins of Machu Picchu. Early
in the morning transfer to the train station. Depart by train to the Aguas
Calientes train station at the foot of the archaeological complex. Transfer by
bus up to the ruins, entrance ticket, guided tour of Machu Picchu which is
totally built of stone blocks, fitted with masterful precision. This fabulous
city has houses, temples, warehouses, a large central square, all connected by
narrow roads and steps, and is surrounded by terraces cut into the mountain side
which were used for agriculture. Lunch. In the afternoon, return by bus to Aguas
Calientes, and by train to Cuzco. Upon arrival transfer to the hotel.
Breakfast at the hotel. Full-day tour to Urubamba, the Sacred Valley of the
Incas and Pisac Market (Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays only) Depart from Cuzco
by bus to the village of Pisac in the Urubamba Valley, where the Indian market
takes place three times a week. After lunch in a countryside restaurant visit to Ollantaytambo, the only Inca town which is still inhabited, and explore the
ruins which tower above it. Return to Cuzco via Chinchero.
Buffet breakfast. Transfer to the train station.
Depart from Cuzco to Puno by the new Andean Explorer Train under Orient Express
Management, which features a deluxe train decorated in the 1920’s style. The
train has a wagon with a bar and an observation deck from where one can enjoy
the scenery as well as a restaurant. All wagons have Pullman style seats, wide
aisles, catering service as well as oxygen available. The wagons are connected
to each other by gangway bellows so passengers and crew can go from one another
safely. The journey takes 10 hours. Upon arrival to Puno, transfer to selected
hotel and accommodation. Overnight.
Departure by bus from Cuzco to Puno (7 to 8 hours), with a stop made at La Raya
Pass, at 4,321 meters to visit the steaming pools of hot water nearby and visit
to the ruins of Raqchi. The remains of the central high wall of the Viracocha
Temple, probably the largest roofed building built by the Incas, are impressive.
On either side of the high wall, great sloping roofs were supported by rows of
unusual round pillars, also of masonry topped by adobe. Nearby are the remains
of large living quarters and many round store-houses. The whole complex is
surrounded by a large stone wall several miles long (entrances are not
included). Lunch en route. Arrival in Puno in the early afternoon and transfer
to selected hotel.
Breakfast at the hotel. Departure from the hotel’s pier or transfer to the
port. A short distance by boat from Puno on Lake Titicaca, are the floating
islands made of reeds, inhabited by the Uros. They live in huts built on
platforms of reeds, not more than 30-40 cms/1 foot thick. Short walk on the
islands. Continue as far as the island of Taquile. Members of this
self-supporting community receive visitors in their colorful national costume
and show them around the island. Taquile is renown for its fine, decorative
weavings. Lunch included. Return to Puno and to the hotel in the afternoon.
Breakfast at the hotel. Early morning departure by bus from Puno to Copacabana
(Bolivia) with a brief look at the famous Colonial stone churches of Juli on the
way. Short visit to Copacabana with its church of the Dark Lady of the Lake.
After lunch, cruise by catamaran to the Bolivian port of Chua, with stop at the
Island of the Sun; short hike at the island; cross the Strait of Tiquina to Chua
and transfer by bus to your hotel in La Paz. Arrival in the late afternoon.
Transfer to the chosen hotel.
Breakfast in the hotel. In the morning visit the city of La Paz, the highest
capital city of the world. Visit the Main Square and the colonial quarter, the
colorful markets and continue to the residential quarters and to the Valley of
the Moon, with its strange rock formations. Transfer to the airport and
departure from Bolivia.
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