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DAY 1 LIMA
PICK UP
Pick up upon arrival and overnight at the Marriot hotel,
in Miraflores, Lima
and overnight.
DAY 2 AREQUIPA
You will be picked up from your hotel in the morning,
transfer to the airport to take the flight to Arequipa (airfare
included). Upon arrival reception and transfer to the
hotel. In the afternoon around 3 pm you'll take the
Arequipa half day city tour that includes the visit at
the Santa Catalina monastery. The city has fine Spanish
buildings and many old and interesting churches built of
sillar, a pearly white volcanic material almost
exclusively used in the construction of Arequipa. The
Santa Catalina Convent is by far the most remarkable
sight, opened in 1970 after 4 centuries of mystery.
Overnight at the Hotel. (B)
DAY 3 COLCA CANYON
At 08:00 a.m. leave Arequipa towards nor west direction
behind snow-covered Chachani, Yura, small valley with
thermal springs, see wild vicuñas in Pampa Cañahuas
national reserve, Alpacas & llamas in Tocra, some birds
like flamingoes, ibis, Andean goose, ducks, Andean eagle
"Kara Kara" view point of the Volcanoes and snow covered
mountains in Patapampa (4,800 m. - 15,000 ft.). See the
Ampato, Sabancaya, Walca Walca, etc. Chivay, capital of
the valley. Afternoon visit to the thermal springs &
pools in La Calera. (Admission to the pools not included,
about $2 per person). Overnight in Colca. (B, L, D)
DAY 4 COLCA CANYON
Early morning after breakfast leave for a full day
excursion in the left shore, beautiful typical towns,
like Yanque & Maca, colonial churches, gently people
with typical needlework dresses, hundreds of pre Inca
terraces still in use with Andean growings like corn,
quinoa, kiwicha (Amaranto), etc. Lookout of the cross of
the condor: see the deep of the canyon and if we have
good luck we will see the flight of the Condor. Stone
scale models, some pre Inca graves. Time for lunch.
Return to Arequipa. (18:00 hrs. approx. in Arequipa.)
Overnight (B, L)
DAY 5 PUNO
In the morning transfer to the airport to take flight to
Puno (airfare included), upon arrival transfer to the
hotel, rest of the day at leisure to become acclimatized
with altitude and overnight. (B)
DAY 6 UROS AND TAQUILE ISLANDS
You will be picked up from your hotel at 6:40 a.m.
aprox. after a 2 hour motorboat
ride, you will arrive at the Uros island in the Titicaca
lake. Fishermen and hunters inhabit the floating islands
of the Uros. The residents of the Uros use the cattail,
a type of rush, which grows in the lake, to create the
conditions that ensure the islands stay afloat. The
dense roots that the plants develop support the island.
The roofs are waterproof and the houses are extremely
humid because of the surrounding water. At present, they
speak Quechua and Aymara. Then we will visit the Taquile
island, where we will have lunch in the cooperative
restaurant. There is also a cooperative shop on the
plaza that sells exceptional wool goods which are of
very fine quality and somewhat expensive. Taquile Island
is famous for its craft production, particularly for its
beautiful textiles. The island is narrow at about 1 Km.
wide and 6 to 7 Km. long. The visit could be exhausting
because of the 533 steps on the stone stairway to climb
to get to the village and because of the altitude
(13,000 ft above sea level). On Taquile there are
numerous pre-Inca and Inca ruins as well as Inca
terracing. We will return to Puno in the afternoon,
overnight. (B, L)
DAY 7 CUSCO
Transfer to the train or bus station. Ten hour bus or
train ride to Cusco*, across the scenic high Andes
landscapes only dotted by small villages and herds of
the llamas and vicuñas. Upon arrival, transfer to hotel
for overnight. (B, L) *Additional fare of $250.00 per
person if travelling by train. Ask for availability.
DAY 8 CUSCO CITY TOUR
In the afternoon pick up between 1:15pm and 1:30pm. This
tour includes the Qoricancha (temple of the sun) and the
Cathedral. The tour drives along the Circunvalacion Road
up to famous fortress of Sacsayhuaman, then to Q’enqo,
Puca Pucara and Tambomachay Including Spanish and
English speaking guide. Also included in this is a
tourist card, giving you access to all the sites in the
Cuzco area as a whole (i.e., including outside of the
City itself). This tour finishes at 18:00, Overnight.
(b)
DAY 9 MACHU PICCHU FULL DAY TOUR
private transportation from your hotel to the Poroy
train station. The Hiram Bingham departs from Poroy
Station (20 minutes outside Cusco) at 9am which gives a
more leisurely start to the day than the traditional 6am
departures of other train services to Machu Picchu.
Brunch is served on board the train whilst passengers
watch the spectacular scenery unfolding before them.
From the agricultural plains of the Sacred Valley, to
the crashing waters of the Urubamba river, and as you
get closer to Machu Picchu the soaring mountains, the
scenery is constantly changing, and the Hiram Bingham
travels at a speed where this can be appreciated. The
train arrives into Aguas Calientes where private
minibuses await passengers to escort them on the fifteen
minute journey up to the citadel, avoiding the queues.
Upon arrival at the Machu Picchu entrance, passengers
can go straight into the citadel as tickets will have
been pre-purchased for all guests. A guide will escort
you around the citadel in small groups, pointing out the
best of the ruins and recounting the history of this
Inca settlement. After the guided tour, guests are given
the choice to wander alone through this fascinating
World Heritage site, or to enjoy Afternoon Tea at the
Machu Picchu Sanctuary Lodge, the Orient-Express hotel
located right at the entrance to the citadel. The Hiram
Bingham departs at 18.00. Guests are welcomed back on
board with pre-dinner cocktails served in the Bar Car
with live musical entertainment. Later a 4-course, à la
carte dinner is served in the dining cars. The train
pulls into Poroy station just outside Cusco at 21.25.
private transportation from Poroy train station to your
hotel in Cusco city. (breakfast, brunch, optional
afternoon tea at Macchu Picchu sanctuary lodge hotel,
4-course, à la carte dinner)
DAY 10 SACRED VALLEY TOUR (DEPARTURE DAYS: Tuesdays,
Thursdays, and Sundays)
after breakfast at your hotel, You will be picked up
between 8.15am and 8.45am. Full day excursion to the
Sacred Valley of the Incas, visiting: the village of
Pisac, a picturesque town of Creole and colonial aspect
and its Indian market and craftfair. Lunch provided. In
the afternoon you'll visit to the fortress of
Ollantaytambo, an architectural group that in the days
of the Tahuantinsuyo empire was a gigantic agricultural,
administrative, social, religious and military complex,
then the Chinchero market. At the end, return to Cusco
arriving at 6:30pm approximately (B, L)
DAY 11 TRANSFER OUT
In the morning transfer to the airport to take the
flight to Lima (airfare included) in time to get your
international flight connection and end of our services.
(B)
INCLUDED IN THE FEE
All hotel and lodge accommodations based on deluxe
accommodations. All scheduled transportation. All
transfers. All scheduled excursions with
English-speaking guide services. All entrance fees.
Meals and domestic airfares as specified in the
itinerary.
NOT INCLUDED IN THE FEE
International airfares, airport departure taxes or visa
fees, excess baggage charges, additional nights during
the trip due to flight cancellations, alcoholic and
non-alcoholic beverages or bottled water, snacks,
insurance of any kind, laundry, phone calls, radio calls
or messages, reconfirmation of international flights and
items of personal nature
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