TRIP 3 – ANCIENT CIVILIZATIONS

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At a glance

Duration: 22 days

Minimum passengers: 2

Starting: Lima

Ending: Cusco

Tailoring your Trip

The following Trip is designed to give you an idea of what is possible. You can modify any aspect of the program or you can have a tailor-made itinerary inspired on a particular Trip.

The Highlights

• Lima
• Nazca Lines
• Islas Ballestas
• Arequipa
• Colca Canyon
• Urus/Taquile Islands
• La Paz
• Uyuni Salt Lake
• Potosí
• Sucre
• La Paz
• Titikaka Lake
• Cusco
• Machupicchu

Itinerary Route Map

DAY 1 – Lima

Arrival in Lima. Reception in the airport and transfer to the hotel. In the afternoon, enjoy a complete visit to the beautiful cultural/historical city of Lima, well- known as the City of Kings. Tour modern and colonial area, residential and traditional places. Beautiful shrines and churches and incredible panoramic seascapes are part of this exciting tour.

Meals: Breakfast

DAY 02 – LIMA – ICA – NAZCA LINES – PARACAS

Early in the morning, we pick you up at your hotel for your transfer to the bus station heading to Ica. In a comfortable bus we have a 4 hour trip along the Peruvian coast. Reception and transfer to the airdrome for your over flight through Nazca Lines, declared as World Patrimony by the UNESCO. The Nazca lines are enigmatic and a real mystery, done over the sand, covering an extension of 350km represent figures of several animals, plants from 15 until 300 meters. Afterwards, we will drive southwest towards the Oasis of La Huacachina, a gorgeous lagoon surrounded by palm trees and huge sun dunes. At the end of the day, private transportation to Paracas. Overnight.

Meals: Breakfast

DAY 03 – PARACAS – BALLESTAS ISLAND – LIMA

At 08:00 AM we take a boat for the xcursion to Ballestas islands (stony formations that lodge Marine fauna where the big colonies of Guano Birds stands out) . There is a big colony of Marine’s wolfs and other species of mammals. At 15:20 hrs departure to Lima, arriving 19:00 Hrs. Reception and transfer to your hotel in Lima. Accommodation in Lima.

Meals: Breakfast

DAY 4 – Lima – Arequipa

Morning flight to Arequipa. Welcome at the airport and transfer to your hotel. In the afternoon City tour in Arequipa including Plaza de Armas, the Cathedral and of course the Santa Catalina Cloister, Convent & Museum. Overnight in Arequipa.

Meals: Breakfast

DAY 5 – Arequipa – Chivay

Departure from you hotel at 08:00 for your excursion to the Colca Valley. Enjoy the 2 day trip, visiting the National Reserve and observe the camels, llamas, alpacas and vicunas. Located 3 Km from the town Chivay we will visit the hot springs of La Calera for a pleasant relaxing bath. Overnight in Chivay.

Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

DAY 6 – Colca Canyon – Arequipa

Early in the morning we depart from your hotel for our tour to the Cruz del Condor Viewer where we’ll have patiently the chance to appreciate the incredible condor’s flights, which can be seen any time.

In the afternoon return to the town of Arequipa. Overnight.

Meals: Breakfast, breakfast

DAY 7 – Arequipa – Puno

Transfer to the bus terminal and 7 hours trip in a comfortable bus until Puno. Rest and overnight.

Meals: Breakfast

DAY 8 – Urus and Taquile Islands

Full day tour. We start visiting the Urus floating islands, they are unique, interesting, and fascinating, everything is made of reeds, including the island itself. The people maintain their customs living as their ancestors. The island of Taquile, famous for its fine textiles, it’s a place that offers a beautiful country sight, little farmer’s houses, amazing views and of course the knitting men are also quite an experience. Overnight in Puno.

Meals: Breakfast, lunch

DAY 9 – Puno – La Paz

Bus trip from Puno to La Paz, vía Desaguadero (7 hours). Reception at the bus terminal and rest in your hotel. Overnight.

Meals: Breakfast

DAY 10 – La Paz – Uyuni Sal Lake

Early pick up at your hotel for your flight to the town of Uyuni.

Unmistakably the Uyuni Salt Lake is one of the most surreal landscape, the largest salt flat in the world than can even be seen from the space. Exploring the amazing empty white landscape is an incredible experience and a must-do while in Bolivia.

In our first day tour Colchani is the first stop on Salar de Uyuni. Here is observed the factories and the rustic way of table salt production We are also going to see the pyramids of salt, the eyes of salt, big holes in the salt flat. We visit the old salt hotel. Enjoy taking funny pictures. Visit the Inca Huasi island which have a lot of caves and gigantic cactus about 8 to 10 meters. Overnight in the Salt Hotel.

Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

DAY 11 – Uyuni Salt Lake

Driving across the Salar takes us to the base of the incredible and big Volcano Tunupa. In our second day tour we will see the Chullpas (mummies) , then the Cantaros of Valley, Chantani. In our way returning to the town of Uyuni we will stop at the train cemetery. Overnight in the town.

Meals: Breakfast, lunch

 DAY 12 – Uyuni – Potosí

After breakfast we pick you up at the hotel for your trip to Potosí. The 200 kms goes imperceptibly and presents magnificent landscapes. We arrive to Potosí a city full of past splendors, including monument colonial architecture, also declared a UNESCO World Heritage. A walk through the streets offers and interesting glimpse back to the city’s golden age. Our afternoon City Tour includes a visit to the famous National MINT HOUSE, which is the Potosi’s star attraction. Overnight in Potosí

Meals: Breakfast

 DAY 13 – Potosí – Sucre

Start our day with the Mine Excursion. We visit the silver mines learning about the work conditions of Potosi’s mineral extracting activity. We walk up to the foot of the Cerro Rico Mountain where during the XVII century, millions of tons of silver were mined and conveyed to Spain. Feel their exciting myths, hard work, and hopes.

In the afternoon we travel 3 hours through a paved road from Potosí to Sucre. Rest and overnight in Sucre.

Meals: Breakfast

DAY 14 – Sucre

Sucre is the historical capital of Bolivia declared as World Heritage Site by the UNESCO. Also receives the name of White City due to that most of the colonial buildings in the city center are whitewashed. Our full day tour includes visits to the House of Liberty, the museum of La Recoleta, San Lázaro church, the courtyard of the Universidad Mayor de San Francisco Xavier and the Convent of San Felipe Nery from its terraces you can observe the city. The tour is completed visiting the main attractions outside the city like Jatun Yampara. Overnight in Sucre

Meals: Breakfast

DAY 15 – Sucre – La Paz

In the morning flight to La Paz. Welcome and transfer to your hotel.

In the afternoon on our half day tour in La Paz city, we will see the most important and interesting attractions. We visit the main square where is located the government palace, the National Congress, San Francisco Church the Killi Killi viewpoint admiring the incredible panoramic views of the whole city. Heading to the south we’ll see the residential areas in our way to the well-known Moon Valley, a fascinating geology place of astonishing stony formations, that offers a sensation of being in the Moon, besides the amazing views of the Andes Mountains.

We end our tour in the popular Witches’Market located in the center of the city. You can explore this open-air market where the vendors offer medicinal dried herbs, seeds, llama fetuses and many others used in rituals.

OPTIONAL: Teleferico: experience this new attraction, an incredibly ride by first-class cable car system called teleferico, that gets you to the top of the city for fabulous views.

Meals: Breakfast

 DAY 16 – La Paz – Copacabana (Titikaka Lake)

The trip from La Paz to Copacabana takes 3 hours. The Titikaka Lake is located between Bolivia and Peru and is one of the most fascinating lakes in the world. It’s considered a Sacred place for the Inca civilization, the scenery is incredible and the waters are a beautiful blue, reflecting the hills, mirroring the sky and changing color when it’s cloudy.

As soon as we arrive to the town we board our private typical boat for the excursion to the Sun Island, where we arrive after one hour drive. A native delicious lunch is waiting for us. Trekking in the Island visiting some of the remaining Inca’s ruins like the Pilkokaina Palace, the Inca’s Fountain, and the 200 stairs of Yumani. Enjoy the wonderful views of the sunset. Overnight in the Sun Island

Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner

DAY 17 – Copacabana – Puno

Enjoy a magnificent sunrise from the comfort of your own bed. After breakfast return by boat to the town of Copacabana well-known as the main Bolivian town on the shore of Titikaka Lake. It’s also famous because of it’s shrine Basilica where is found the Lady of Copacabana (Dark Madonna). We visit the town and learn about the mystical spiritualism and religion traditions that take place.

After lunch we continue by bus to Puno (Perú). Overnight.

Meals: Breakfast, lunch

DAY 18 – Puno – Cusco

In a comfortable bus we start our 7 hour trip to Cusco. The trip journey seems to be short because we have the chance to visit in the way the Chapel of San Pedro de Andahuaylillas considered as the “Sistine Chapel” of America due to the quality of its art pieces., Racchis currently is one of the most important communities in the production of handicraft, and also visit the site of Pukara. Lunch included. Welcome in Cusco and transfer to your hotel. Overnight in Cusco.

Meals: Breakfast, lunch

DAY 19 – Cusco – City tour

During your afternoon City tour learn about the 6 most important archaeological sites of Cusco: – the Cathedral, Koricancha (Temple of the Sun), Sacsayhuaman Inca Fort, Q’enqo, Pucapucara and Tambomachay. Overnight in Cusco.

Meals: Breakfast

DAY 20 – Excursion to Machupicchu

Be prepared for an early breakfast and wait for your pick up at the hotel. Depart from the Train Station and take the beautiful scenic train journey to Machupicchu until the town of Aguas Calientes. Experience the amazing complete guided excursion to the ancient metropolis and most important archaeological place in Peru named Machupicchu. Return to Cusco in the afternoon and overnight in Cusco.

Meals: Breakfast

DAY 21 – Sacred Valley of the Incas

In the 8 hour tour you can appreciate the fine works of craftsmanship in the native market Pisac. Visit Sacsayhuaman is the largest and most impressive of four archaeological ruins on the outskirts of Cusco. Calca Town, Urubamba and Ollantaytambo are also part of the circuit. Overnight in Cusco.

The Sacred Valley was the agricultural food barn of the Inca’s Empire, a fertile land perfect for growing the Inca staples, corn and potatoes. It also functioned as spiritual and political center.

Meals: Breakfast, lunch

DAY 22 – Cusco – Lima

In the morning pick up at your hotel for your transfer to the airport. Return to Lima and flight connection for your return home

Meals: Breakfast

Includes:

• Arrival and departure transfers in each city
• Transport by bus between cities
• Hotels with breakfast in each city
• Meals mentioned in the program
• Excursions + entry fees in shared services in Perú
• Excursions + entry fees in private services in Bolivia
• Local english speaking guides in each city

Does not include internal flights