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GEMS OF PERU TOUR - LIMA, NAZCA, INCA TRAIL, MACHU PICCHU
Peru
is a land of geographical complexity and striking beauty, with the
marked contrast between the Andes Mountains, the arid Atacama Desert
in the east, and the lush forests of the Amazon.
Part
of this tour to Peru includes the Inca Trail which follows the
ancient Inca Paths through to the complex of Macchu Picchu. Any
reasonably fit person should be able to cover the route. However,
the second day of the trek is quite challenging as one heads up to
an altitude of 4200m to the top of Dead Woman's Pass.
ITINERARY
Day
1. (Sunday) LIMA
Arrival in Lima, reception and
transfer to your hotel.
Day 2. (Monday) LIMA - NAZCA
(B)
After
breakfast, a guided visit of colonial and modern Lima, including the
cathedral, dating from 1654, the main square, which still houses the
original bronze fountain built in 1650, and the San Francisco Convent
and its catacombs. Known as the city of the kings, Lima was founded in
1535 by Pizarro and rebuilt in 1991, the same year that UNESCO declared
it a world heritage site. One of the very few South American cities that
preserve the colonial past, Lima was home to the Spanish viceroy during
the time of the Spanish colonialists.
After lunch at Rosa
Nautica, the foremost seafood restaurant in Lima, private transfer to
Nazca. Arrival and overnight accommodation in Nazca.
Day 3. (Tuesday) NAZCA - LIMA
(B)
Today a
tour flight over the enigmatic Nazca Lines; gigantic drawings and
geometrical figures engraved in the driest desert of Peru and dating
back to 250 AD. Drawn throughout over 1000 Km2 of desert on the Pampas
of San Jose in Ica, and due to their enormous size and largely unknown
origin, leaves an indelible impression on all who visit this most
mysterious archaeological site. With representations of animals, such as
a spider, a monkey and several birds, they are believed to be an
enormous astronomical calendar or possibly an offering to the gods.
First discovered in 1550 it was not until the advent of flight, in the
1920’s that the lines were first realised for their significance. The
drawings are not in actual desert sand but on small rock debris, varying
in length from 150m to 300m and with a depth of 20cm.
A tour of Chauchilla cemetery before
transferring to Lima and your hotel in the late afternoon.
Day 4: (Wednesday) LIMA – PUNO (B)
Flight to Juliaca, before transferring to Puno visiting en route the
Sillustani funereal towers. Arrival to Puno for overnight accommodation.
Day 5: (Thursday) LAKE TITICACA (B)
After breakfast, transfer to the port for the boat trip on Lake Titicaca
to the reed islands of Uros. A visit to the Aymara island of Taquile
before returning in the afternoon to Puno. Overnight accommodation.
Day 6: (Friday) PUNO
– CUZCO (B)
Departure by private vehicle to Cuzco visiting en route several Inca
ruins and the remains of the great Viracocha temple, Raqchi. We shall
also stop at the highest point along the way, La Raya Arrival to Cuzco
and transfer to your hotel for overnight accommodation.
Day 7.
(Saturday) CUZCO (B)
Afternoon
guided visit of the four ruins nearby; the Sacsayhuaman Fortress
overlooking the of Cuzco, a pre Inca architectural masterpiece; Kenko, a
rock sanctuary whose main attraction is the monolithic altar
representing a puma, the red Fortress of Puca-Pucara and Tambomachay, a
beautiful fountain fed by a spring forming a series of basins continue
to the city of Cuzco; the Main Square, the Cathedral and the Koricancha
or Temple of the Sun. Return to your hotel.
Day 8. (Sunday) SACRED VALLEY-PISAC-OLLANTAYTAMBO
(Breakfast & buffet lunch)
Full-day
excursion to the beautiful Urubamba, the Sacred Valley of the Inca
situated between Pisac and Ollantaytambo. It is an exceptionally fertile
valley that was and still remains the larder of Cuzco. Visit the village
of Pisac, founded during colonial times, and set at the foot of a hill
crowned by the remains of an ancient Inca city. On Sundays, Tuesdays and
Thursdays, Indians barter their products in the main square and artisans
from around the area sell their woven alpaca wool blankets and ponchos,
engraved gourds, antique reproductions, jewellery, etc. On Sundays it is
also the meeting place for Mayors from all the villages in the region,
dressed in their traditional costumes to attend morning mass. After a
buffet lunch, a visit to Ollantaytambo, the only Inca town which was not
defeated by the Spanish with an opportunity to explore the ruins which
tower above. Overnight accommodation in
Ollantaytambo.
INCA TRAIL TO MACHU PICCHU STARTS
(Breakfast, lunch & dinner included – only breakfast
on the final day)
Day 9. (Monday)
CHILCA - WAYLLABAMBA
After an early morning
breakfast, you will be transferred to Chilca by bus, where you will meet
the Quechua porters and have breakfast. Crossing over the turbulent
Vilcanota River, with magnificent views of Nevado Veronica
(5,900m/19,000ft) we will continue the expedition admiring the
Llactapata archaeological site, and stopping at the Huayllabamba river
for lunch. We will visit the archeological sites of Patallacta, Qente,
and the valley of Cusichaca and the magical Polylepsis forest. Today the
hike will last approximately 7 hours, arraign in camp around 17h00. Camp
and dinner at 3,800 meters. Overnight on the trail.
Day 10. (Tuesday)
WAYLLABAMBA - PACAYMAYU
Today is one of the most demanding days of the trip as we gain a lot of
altitude. We will see outstanding views east to the Huayanay peaks and
west into the rugged Vilcabamba Range. After breakfast, we will
continuously climb up through the first pass at 4,200 m/13,750 feet at
Warmiwanusqa. Passing 3 ecological areas such as the Yunga, Quechua and
Puna. we will climb 1000 metres in 5 hours. On the descent to the lunch
spot, we will encounter a large number of stairs. After lunch, we will
again climb about 500m in altitude before dropping again, about a
further 400.Today camp and dinner near Pacaymayu. Overnight on the
trail.
Day 11.
(Wednesday) PACAYMAYU – WINAYHUAYNA
Today is a much easier and
shorter day. After breakfast, we will trek down through the valley of
Pacaymayu to the famous archaeological sites of Runquraqay. We will
continue to the second pass and the restored town site of Sayaqmarka
("Town in a Steep Place") and explore the Sayaqmarka Ruins. The Inca
Trail in this section is a white granite roadway, traversing a thickly
forested mountainside. We will then descend to the magnificent
archeological Phuyupatamarka ("Cloud Level Town") and have lunch. We
will then begin the decent to Winaywayna where a visit of the ruins and
have dinner will conclude the day.
Day 12.
(Thursday) WINAYHUAYNA – MACHU PICCHU – CUZCO
(B)
Early morning wake up at 4:30 a.m. for breakfast and to begin the trek
to be the first at the archaeological site of Macchu Picchu for the
sunrise. We will descend rapidly from cloud forest into high jungle
habitat. Orchids and hummingbirds are commonly seen along this
spectacular section of the trail high above the river. We will arrive at
Intipunko "Gate of the Sun" to observe the sunrise over Macchu Picchu
from an elevated vantage point. We continue down to the royal road and
at last the "Lost City of the Incas". A guided tour of the marvelous
citadel, visiting the Main Plaza, the Royal Quarters, the Temple of
Three Windows, the Circular Tower and the Sacred Sun Dial and Burial
Grounds. After the guided tour, transfer to Aguas Calientes onto
the train station for your return train to Cuzco. Arrival and transfer
to your hotel.
Day
13: (Friday) CUZCO – LIMA (B)
Return flight to Lima and transfer to your hotel. Last night’s
accommodation in Peru.
Day 14:
(Saturday) LIMA (B)
Depart Lima
End of services
Prices are available on request with discounts for large groups. We
can also tailor make a tour to suit your needs. Optional add on
tours in Lima as well as extra night accommodation.
E-mail us via the link
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