History, Culture and Nature Tour - 14 days
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A 14 day tour of southern Peru and the various cultures found there, including a 4 day visit to a private Amazon reserve with a canopy walkway.
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Day 1: Arrive to Lima
When you arrive at the Lima airport, you will be welcomed by one of our representatives, who will give you a brief introduction to the city and what will happen while en route to the hotel. You will have the afternoon free. Day 2: Lima city tour Breakfast, At the scheduled time, we will pick you up at the hotel to begin a tour of the city's main avenues, boulevards, and squares. The tour will begin with an exploration of Colonial Lima. First, we will stop off at the Main Square, to get a chance to explore the square on foot and admire the exteriors of the Government Palace, the Cathedral of Lima, and the City Hall, all examples of Lima's still-present colonial architectural opulence. Next, we will make our way to Santo Domingo Convent a religious and architectural gem that houses holy paintings, images, and relics of Peruvian saints, as well as written accounts of the endeavors of the Dominican Order across the country. Then, we will visit Casa Aliaga, a colonial mansion that currently holds the distinction of being the oldest continuously inhabited private residence in the Southern Hemisphere. Afterwards, we will visit to the Bohemian neighborhood of Barranco, an area called home by countless artists, photographers, and authors. Walk along peculiar streets lined with Republican houses, admire the splendid views, and visit the Puente de los Suspiros (Bridge of Sighs), witness to untold numbers of past and present romances, and source of inspiration for one of Peru's great composers, Chabuca Granda. B Day 3: Flight Lima – Arequipa and city tour breakfast, then at the scheduled departure time, you will be met and escorted to the airport to board the flight to Arequipa. There you will be met and transferred to your hotel. Today we will visit the Colonial District of San Lázaro, the Main square and the Municipal Palace, the Cathedral, The Church of the Society of Jesus, founded in the 17th century, highlighting its cloisters, the Church of San Francisco dating from the 16th century with its beautiful square. Then, we will visit the Convento de Santa Catalina (Convent of St. Catherine). Founded in 1579 as a cloister, in its early days the convent was home to a small group of clergy who came from the local elite. We will walk through its beautiful buildings as our guide takes us on a journey back in time through one of the largest holdings of colonial art in the Americas. Finally, we will visit the colonial district of Yanahuara, famous for its churches built in the Andalusian style and its viewpoint and the District of Carmen Alto with its beautiful landscape of agricultural fields. B Day 4: Arequipa to Colca Valley breakfast. Early in the morning, we will depart Arequipa to embark on a journey across a land of snow-covered volcanoes, inhospitable pampas, and incredibly beautiful quaint villages, arriving finally in the Colca Valley. Our first stop will be in the Aguada Blanca National Reserve, whose rugged plains are home to vast herds of Guanaco, Alpaca, and Vicuña. We will continue the journey as riding along the edge of the crater of the Chucura Volcano, until reaching the Mirador de los Andes (Lookout Point of the Andes) in Patapampa. This lookout point, 4,900 m.a.s.l, will offer us spectacular views of the snow-capped peaks of the various volcanoes surrounding Arequipa, including the Hualca Calca, the Sabancaya, and the Ampato. Next, we will head to the town of Chivay (close to where the Colca Valley begins) for a closer inspection of the impressive system of platforms and terraces built by the ancient Collagua and Cabana inhabitants. We will enjoy a nice lunch before heading to our hotel. We will have the rest of the afternoon free to take advantage of the hotel's amenities, enjoy the tranquility of the surroundings, or simply rest and recover for the next day. BL Day 5: Road trip from Colca Valley to Puno Breakfast , then early in the morning, we will travel to the Mirador de la Cruz del Condor (Condor Cross Lookout). With its incredibly vast and breath-taking expanses, it is the best spot in the world to see the majestic Andean Condor in flight. Be on the lookout for the sudden appearance of this emblematic bird on the verge of extinction. With a little luck, we will enjoy a truly awe-inspiring experience as we watch this awesome bird soar, almost magically, ever higher into the infinite blue sky. From this vantage point, we will be able to look out across one of the world's deepest canyons. On the way back to Arequipa, we will stop to visit three great villages: Maca and Yanque. One more must-see stop includes the Miradores de Antahuilque (Lookout points of Antahuilque), where we will be able to appreciate the sheer magnitude of the region's terraces. We will make a short stop in Chivay and then continue our trip to the city of Puno. On the way we can appreciate a beautiful high Andean landscape, with fauna and flora of the area and rock formations that resemble a forest of stones. We will pass through the villages of Pillones, Imata, Alto Cruise until we reach Lagunillas with its impressive natural lagoon. We continue the tour until we reach the city of Puno. B Day 6: Uros & Taquile Island excursion
Breakfast, then you will enjoy an extraordinary journey across the world's highest navigable lake, Lake Titicaca. Travel to legendary places where time seems to have stood still. Your first stop will be the Uros floating islands. These are a peculiar grouping of around 40 small islands made totally of totora, a natural reed that grows around the lake. The cheerful inhabitants will invite you to get to know their traditional lifestyle and customs. You will continue your voyage across the placid waters of the lake until you come to the picturesque island of Taquile, a peaceful place where old Quechua traditions live in perfect balance with modernity. Discover a landscape distinct from the other islands thanks to the Incan terraces filled with local flowers and crops. The rich colors of the clothing worn by the local inhabitants will amaze you; admire their beautiful hand-made fabrics. Most importantly, enjoy the unbelievable hospitality of the islanders, known as Taquileños, who will make your visit to the island a memorable one. Before making your way back to Puno, you will have lunch at a local home. (quoted with shared boat, but with private guide) BL Day 7: Puno to Cusco Breakfast. Private transfer from Puno city to the airport. Flight to Cusco (not included). Upon your arrival in Cusco, we will meet you at the airport to transfer you to your accommodation in Cusco. Can also take a tourist bus with sightseeing along the way or a private transfer. Takes all day. Day 8: Cusco - Sacred Valley Today we will visit Awanacancha. Here, we will learn about the various types of camelids (Llamas, Alpacas, Vicuñas, and Guanacos) that live in the Andes region. Additionally, the local villagers will teach us about the ancestral methods and techniques used to produce their textile art. Then, we will continue the trip toward the Sacred Valley; a few miles farther along, we will reach Pisac, a beautiful place where Incan and Colonial influences have reached a perfect balance and created the unique way of life of the local inhabitants. We will get a chance to explore this quaint town, famous for its artisan markets where we can find extraordinarily fine jewelry and ceramic and textile craftwork. We will enjoy our lunch at a local restuarant. Finally, we will visit one of the last remaining Incan towns, Ollantaytambo, which was once fiercely guarded by a massive fortress. We will discover the large archaeological complex of what used to serve as a wayside inn for royal delegations on long journeys. Surviving structures here include multiple walls and towers that were used to protect the citadel from possible invasions. BL |
Day 9: Sacred Valley - Machu Picchu - Cusco
Breakfast. We will pick you up from your hotel at the scheduled time and go to the train Station. The comfortable train ride from there to the station at Aguas Calientes is packed full of spectacular vistas. On our arrival, we will take a bus that will drop us at the admission fee to the citadel of Machu Picchu itself. Unearthed for modernity by Hiram Bingham more than a century ago, Machu Picchu is considered one of the seven wonders of the world. Its architectural beauty, spectacular natural setting, and the energy that radiates from its enigmatic buildings will take your breath away. We will follow in the footsteps of the ancient Incas as we take a tour of the magical citadel led by one of our guides. We will enjoy a delicious buffet lunch. Finally, we will return to Aguas Calientes train station and catch the train back to Cusco. Upon arrival, private transfer to the selected hotel BL Day 10: Cusco tour Breakfast. We will visit the Fortress of Sacsayhuaman a colossal structure built with huge carved rocks jointed with absolute accuracy, this astounding sample of the Incan military architecture is, undoubtedly, the greatest architectonic work of the Tahuantinsuyo. We will make a short stop at Cristo Blanco, a large statue where we will enjoy a panoramic view of the city.Then, we will explore the San Pedro Market, Cusco’s main street market, inundated with aromas, tastes, sights, and colors of the local products of the Cusco region. Afterward, visit the Qoricancha (which means room of gold in Quechua), a temple dedicated to the Sun god. Legend has it that its inner walls were once completely lined with gold. Finally, will head to Cusco Cathedral. We will take a guided tour to discover the mysteries of it and admire its lovely atria and priceless 17th and 18th century paintings of the Cusco school. B Day 11: Flight Cusco – Puerto Maldonado Breakfast, then at the scheduled departure time, you will be met by the transport service and escorted to the airport to board the flight to Puerto Maldonado. Upon arriving in Puerto Maldonado, you will be greeted by one of the lodge's representatives, who will welcome you and take you to the Inkaterra offices. There, you will go through the simple check-in process and will be able to store any extra luggage you might have. With your group, you will head to the river port to board the boat that will take you to Reserva Amazónica, one of the best lodges in the region. Upon your arrival, you will be welcomed by the staff, who will give you a brief tour of the lodge and will explain the schedule of meals and excursions. On the first day, we recommend that you discover the jungle through a guided tour along the trail network of the Inkaterra Nature Reserve, where you will discover the marvelous Amazon River Basin and have excellent opportunities to see some of the birds and insects that live in the area. Once the guided tour ends, you will be invited to take an evening boat tour on the Madre de Dios River and experience nightfall on the river. Witness the fantastic transformation of the jungle as the various creatures active in daylight are replaced by new species, totally adapted to the night. Enjoy lunch, dinner, and an excellent night's sleep at the lodge. Day 12: Reserva Amazonica - with regular services After breakfast, you will have a chance to visit Lake Sandoval in the Reserva Nacional de Tambopata (Tambopata National Reserve), a nature lover's paradise. Enjoy exceptional views on the lake as you canoe across its waters. In the afternoon, visit the Canopy walkway . Here you will be able to observe the many animal species that make their home in the treetops as you climb the first tower, 95 feet (29 m) above the ground. Get ready to walk through the treetops of the tropical forest for more than a quarter of a mile on the extensive network of suspension bridges that connect eight observation platforms. After descending from the canopy, you will experience the Anaconda Walk (650 feet [200 m] of wooden bridges spanning the Aguajales Swamp), where you will be able to observe different species of amphibians, birds, mammals, and tropical plant life. Once more, enjoy lunch, dinner, and an excellent night's sleep at the lodge. 
Day 13: Reserva Amazonica
You will journey along a portion of the Madre de Dios River to reach your next destination: Gamitana Creek, home to piranhas, caimans, turtles, and a large variety of birds. After exploring the creek, you will return by river and stop to visit the Gamitana Model Farm, where you will get an idea of how a farm operates in the jungle and will get to see the products produced there. In the afternoon, you will journey to the Hacienda Concepción, an incredible botanical garden home to more than 200 species of plants native to the rainforest. Then, you will take an amazing 30 minute canoe trip in search of turtles, nightjars, and exotic herons. After dinner, you will go on a nighttime trek on the trail network at the Inkaterra Reserva Amazónica Lodge and will enter into the secondary forest. For around two hours, you will enjoy the concert of natural sounds created by the jungle. Prepare yourself to encounter new animals that are only active at night. Return to the lodge. You will have dinner and spend the night at Inkaterra Reserva Amazónica. Day 14: Depart Enjoy a delicious breakfast before you leave. You will travel 45 minutes upstream to Puerto Maldonado on the Madre de Dios River. On the way, you will visit the Butterfly House, a nursery where you will be able to observe various native species of butterflies in their natural habitat. You will be met by the transport service and escorted to the airport. Upon arrival in Lima, you will be meet by our representative who will assist you to board the international connecting flight. Sample rice per person double occupancy, with 2 people: US$3360 (can quote with more people) quote is with these hotels: Lima - Britania Crystal Collection Room Type: Standard Arequipa - Casa Andina Standard Arequipa Room Type: Traditional Colca - Casa Andina Standard Colca Room Type: Traditional Puno - Casa Andina Standard Puno Room Type: Traditional Cusco - Abittare Room Type: Superior Valle Sagrado - Hatun Valley Room Type: Standard Amazon - Reserva Amazonica can quote with 3-5* hotels, can make other changes prices include:
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