Sacred Land of The Incas - 13 Days

The first stop off on our Lima city tour is Huaca Pucllana, a huge archaeological site in Miraflores, one of Lima’s most popular districts. After a brief stop here, we will drive to the historic center of Lima, all of which is a designated UNESCO World Heritage site. We’ll go to the beautiful Plaza de Armas (Lima’s main square) which is surrounded by impressive colonial and Republican-era buildings, many of which have ornate wooden balconies. Some of Peru’s most important buildings surround the square, including the Government Palace, Cathedral of Lima, Archbishop's Palace of Lima, the Municipal Palace and the Palace of the Union. The Cathedral of Lima, which was completed in 1649. The cathedral is also home to the tomb of the conquistador Francisco Pizarro. Next we’ll walk one block to the Convent of Santo Domingo. Founded in the 1530s and completed in 1766, it is one of the most important religious buildings in Peru, and its large bell tower is a landmark in the historic center of Lima. As we walk around the interior of the convent, we’ll see the beautiful Sevillian "azulejos" (ceramic tiles) that decorate the walls, dating from 1604 and 1606. There is also a series of paintings that present passages of the life of Saint Dominic, the founder of the Dominican order, which date to around 1608.
Next we’ll head to the private Larco Museum, which is one of the best museums in the country. Here you can see a wide range of pre-Columbian art and artefacts, including ceramics, textiles, metalwork and more. The museum is most famous, however, for its incredible – and quite X-rated – gallery of pre-Columbian erotic pottery. These ceramics display sexual acts between men and women, as well as homosexual acts, in at times explicit detail and in various postures.
At the end of the Larco Museum tour, we will journey by road to Paracas along the Pan-American Highway, which cuts through a barren desert landscape. 

Your trip to the Ballestas Islands begins at 8 a.m. when we meet you at the Paracas Terminal or at the Paracas Explorer Office. We’ll then go to the harbor and head out into the Bay of Paracas. It takes about 30 minutes to get out to the islands.  

On the way, we’ll pass by the famous El Candelabro (Candelabra), a large-scale geoglyph built by the Paracas culture around 200 BC. While its exact purpose is unknown, some theories suggest it represents the trident or lightning rod of the god Viracocha, and it might have served as a sign to sailors, who could easily see it from the sea. 

When we reach the islands, we’ll have about one hour to explore by boat. Going ashore is forbidden, as it could disturb the natural balance of this vital reserve. But we can see plenty from the boat, and you’ll have magnificent views of the islands and their many residents. Your guide will point out the various animals that call these craggy islands home. You’ll see Humboldt penguins hopping around and an incredible amount of seabirds, including gulls, terns, pelicans, guanay cormorants and blue-footed boobies. You’ll also be able to spot hundreds of fur seals and sea lions, and maybe marine otters or possibly a humpback whale, which come to these waters between August and October.

On the road to Nazca we will find the city of Ica well known and popular for its gastronomy and vineyards, undoubtedly, the most popular for national and foreign tourists who visit the lands of Ica.  The tour of the oldest operational distillery in America will be made. Enjoy 333 years of tradition, we will go to our pisco production plant, which is considered the most modern in Peru. We will also make an exclusive tasting with our 5 most awarded Piscos and we will finish with a typical lunch from Los Horcones de La Caravedo. Arrival in Nazca around 18h00.

Optional - Overflight Nazca Line – Cost $ 85 per person; 

Our Nazca Lines adventure begins when we pick you up from your hotel in Nazca or at the bus terminal. We’ll then head to the small Nazca Aerodrome, where we can board a light aircraft for our magnificent flight over the Nazca Lines. 

The light aircraft have seats that guarantee a good view of the geoglyphs, and each passenger has professional noise-canceling headphones through which you can hear the informative narration by the pilot. The pilot will follow a course that takes you over all of the main geoglyphs, which span an area of roughly 50 km2 (19 square miles). The views are breathtaking, and it’s fascinating to think how the Nazca Lines were made – and for whom – as you see these huge shapes and figures from the air.

Pick up at the hotel, visit the Chauchilla Cemetery, we will find the remains of the most important persons in the Pre-Inca period and the Inca civilization’s remains, afterward transfer to Arequipa 

After Breakfast, the visit of convent Santa Catalina, you have the opportunity to walk around the white city and its surroundings. The architecture in the historic center is characterized by the prominence of ashlar, the use of which begins in the last third of the s. XVI. This volcanic stone, white or pink exceptionally soft, lightweight, and weatherproof, emerged as a seismic structural solution.

Afterward, Arequipa Gastronomic Experience:

Our gastronomic tour begins at 8 a.m. First we head to the local San Camilo market, located not far from Arequipa’s Plaza de Armas. San Camilo is a very popular traditional Peruvian market, and arguably the most authentic and most interesting in Arequipa. The lively market is packed with butchers, spices merchants, fruit and veg stalls, souvenir sellers and more, as well as food courts selling a wide range of classic local snacks and dishes. It’s a heady mix of colour and sound, as well as plenty of smells – so get ready to hold your nose, as it can become quite pungent, a certain sign of a truly authentic local market! 

We’ll explore the market and buy all of the fresh ingredients we’ll need to prepare two dishes: an entrée and a main dish. Then we’ll go to a local family home and start cooking! You’ll be given all the necessary instructions by a highly knowledgeable local cook, who will assist you in the creation of your classic arequipeño meal. If you don’t speak Spanish, don’t worry! Your guide will be on hand to translate, so you can understand the cook and ask any questions. Once you’ve finished cooking, you can sit down and enjoy your delicious Peruvian meal. And now that you know how to make it in the most authentic way, you can later prepare it again to wow your friends and family with your newfound culinary abilities.  

Day 1 begins early in the morning as we leave the White City of Arequipa and set off along the route to the Colca Valley. It’s a beautiful drive, passing snow-capped volcanoes, rugged pampas, traditional terraced farms and picturesque villages where the old traditional ways of life are still very much alive. 

We’ll make a few stops along the way, the first at the Aguada Blanca National Reserve, where we can watch innumerable guanacos, alpacas and vicuñas as they graze on the plains. The reserve, which covers almost 366,936 hectares, was created to preserve the local flora and fauna and their natural environment, which was previously deteriorating at an alarming rate. The reserve also protects the local vicuña population through its repopulation program.  

Apart from the vast herds of camelids, the reserve is also home to the southern viscacha (a large and loveable rodent), foxes, condors and Andean flamingos (also known as parihuanas). In total, 169 animal species have been identified in the reserve, including 23 mammals and 138 species of birds, such as blue billed ducks, eagles and kestrels. During their migration period, flamingos also arrive to spend time wading through Salinas Lake. 

Leaving the reserve, we’ll drive around the edge of Chucura Volcano until we reach the Patapampa Andes viewpoint. We’ll now be at 4,900 meters above sea level, and from here we can look out across the beautiful landscape to the peaks of snow-capped mountains and volcanoes in the Arequipa Region, including Hualca Calca, Sabancaya and Ampato. 

Our next stop will be the town of Chivay, where one end of the Colca Valley begins. The traditional terrace systems found here, built by indigenous inhabitants of the area, are remarkable for their scale and precise construction. Chivay itself was founded by the Spanish, a fact reflected in its church and other colonial buildings. You can have a traditional lunch in the town (not included) before we check in to our hotel. 

You’ll then have the afternoon to explore the town on your own, and, if you like, visit the hot springs at La Calera, about 3 km from Chivay. Colca Canyon and the Colca Valley are dotted with natural hot springs and thermal baths, thanks to the seismic activity in the region. La Calera has public thermal baths which are said to have healing properties, with temperatures around 38 C (98 F).

It’s another early start on Day 2, because there’s so much great stuff to see! First we’ll go to the lookout point known as Cruz del Condor (Cross of the Condor), near the small villages of Maca and Cabanaconde. Here, strong winds rise up from the canyon, providing a favourite spot for Andean condors. They soar on the thermals, often in pairs, normally in the early morning and late afternoon. There’s a good chance you’ll see these huge condors, with their three-meter wingspans, flying very close to the lookout point, providing a truly majestic sight. From the lookout point you’ll also have incredible views down into the depths of Colca Canyon.  

We’ll then head back to Chivay, first stopping off at the traditional village of Pinchollo and the Antahuilque viewpoint. This viewpoint (or Mirador, as they are known in Spanish) offers wonderful views of the 1,500-year-old agricultural terraces that curve along the hillsides like an amphitheatre. You can also spot some of the enchanting lagoons of the Colca Valley. We will have lunch in Chivay in the afternoon and then begin the journey to Puno. the Capital of Peruvian Folklore. Along the highway you will stop briefly at Patapampa (4900 m.a.s.l.) which is the highest point of all your journeys in Peru so far. From this mountain, nature will be spread out before you and the views of the volcanoes to the west, Sabancaya, Ampato, Misti, and Chachani, will be excellent. At the same time, you will also be able to appreciate the great pile of stones left here by travelers and pilgrims throughout the centuries. Usually, leaving a stone on the pile is the way of asking deities for a safe and pleasant trip.

Finally, you will arrive in Puno around 18h00. Our team will help you to get settled in your hotel where you can enjoy a well-deserved on Lake Titicaca’s shore.

Our full-day trip begins at around 7 a.m. when we pick you up from your hotel in Puno. We’ll then head down to the port and board our comfortable motor launch to ride out to the island of Taquile. 

Taquile is one of the most beautiful islands in Peru, where the traditional way of life is still very much alive. We’ll meet some of the master weavers of this ancient Andean community, whose textiles are considered among the best in the country. According to legend, the Incas themselves learned how to weave from the artisans of this island. On Taquile, the men are the weavers, and the women spin the yarn.

After seeing the weavers and exploring the beautiful island, we’ll head down to the small port on Taquile at around midday and head by boat towards the Chucuito Peninsula. This is in the Aymara region of Lake Titicaca and it represents the communal identity of the Peruvian-Bolivian altiplano. We’ll visit the small and rarely visited rural community of Luquina, where we’ll enjoy a wonderful buffet lunch at the local fisherman’s house. 

Later in the afternoon, as we begin heading back towards Puno, we’ll visit the amazing Floating Islands of the Uros people. When we arrive at the floating islands, you’ll probably be amazed by the scale of these floating reed constructions. The Uros originally built these islands for defensive reasons: if a threat appeared, they could move their island homes to a safer location. The islands are made from the totora reeds that grow around the lake, and each island is in a constant state of reconstruction, as old reeds are preplaced by new. 

Stepping onto the islands is quite an experience, as the springy reed floor feels strange beneath your feet. We’ll explore the main island, and see the houses, watchtowers and other structures, all built of reeds. One of the locals will then give a brief presentation about how the islands are made, and then you can meet one of the local families to see how they live. 

After visiting the Uros islands, we’ll head back to Puno, where we’ll take you to your hotel.

We will pick you up at 7:10am and take you to the bus station to catch the bus to Cusco. The bus trip is more like a tour - it stops at four interesting sites along the way where you have guided tours:

• Pukara: This is the most important and oldest ceremonial center of the altiplano. There are interesting sculptures and tombs.
• La Raya: This is the halfway point between Cusco and Puno and the highest point (4335 meters above sea level). The landscapes here are stunning and it is common to see typical Andean animals like the llama, alpaca and vicuña. It is also the geographical border between the two cultures - Quechua and Aymara.
• Raqchi (Wiracocha God Temple): This was an Inca church of monumental dimensions; 100 meters long, 26 meters wide and 14 meters high. The temple is divided into two naves, and each nave has eleven giant columns – huge!
• Andahuaylillas: This is the Sistine chapel of South America: this church is one of the most beautiful examples of Andean popular religious art.

Arrival time to Cusco will be around 5pm. 

Our day begins when we pick you up from your hotel, it’s a 1-hour drive to Huilloc. 

Arriving in Huilloc, we’ll be greeted by the friendly locals, and then we’ll begin to see how they have kept their language and customs alive, most immediately evident in the colorful traditional clothes that they wear. This is a cultural immersion experience, and as such you’ll be free to interact with the locals, and choose how you spend your day. You can take part in their collective tasks, working in the fields or making clothing, or seeing how they educate their children or prepare their ancestral ceremonies. We’ll also have a tasty and traditional Andean lunch with one of the local families, providing another great chance to see and experience their daily life. 

Huilloc is particularly well-known for its weaving traditions, passed down through the generations. This work is carried out by the women of the community (the men work the land), often with their youngest daughters or granddaughters sitting next to them, learning the ancient techniques. The textiles they produce on their looms are decorated with the same images used in Huilloc for centuries, including condors, cougars and the local Huallata birds. Their finished weavings, meanwhile, are some of the most beautiful produced in Peru – a country known for its traditional weavers. You can see a demonstration of their weaving process, and then have a go yourself. And you can give back to the community by purchasing some of these wonderful textiles. 

After spending time in Huilloc, we’ll say goodbye to the locals and head back to Ollantaytambo, Ollantaytambo was the royal estate of the Inca emperor Pachacuti, who conquered the region and built the town and a ceremonial center. We’ll spend about an hour exploring these magnificent ruins, visiting the amazing Temple of the Sun and seeing massive blocks of rock that were perfectly carved and polished by master Inca stonemasons. Ollantaytambo is also a fine example of Inca agricultural construction and hydro-engineering, with a complex series of stone water fountains, channels and agricultural terraces, the latter organized by elevation to create different microclimates for crop experimentation.    

We’ll see the extent of the water system when we return to the town, where fast flowing water channels built by the Incas are still in use today. Walking to the town square, we’ll have great views of the ruins above us, as well as Inca granaries and store houses built on the sides of the surrounding mountains. Here we can also watch the daily life of Ollantaytambo, where many of the locals still wear traditional dress. 

After the visit to Ollantaytambo ruins head to the train station to board the train to Aguas Calientes (also known as Machu Picchu Pueblo). The train leaves at approximately 16h30, although the exact schedule does change sometimes. The two-hour train journey is a memorable experience in itself, as we pass through river canyons and rolling hills.  

Aguas Calientes is the gateway to Machu Picchu, sitting in a deep gorge at the foot of the mountain upon which Machu Picchu is located. It’s a pretty town that mixes traditional life with a huge tourism infrastructure, with plenty of markets, souvenir shops, hotels and restaurants. It’s also largely pedestrianized, making it a fun place to explore on foot. Aguas Calientes is surrounded by jungle-covered mountains and cliffs, and the Urubamba River flows right next to the town, sometimes roaring through the canyon. 

Aguas Calientes is also surrounded by thermal hot springs, and when we arrive you’ll have plenty of time to relax and enjoy a dip in one of the steaming natural springs. You’ll also have time to walk around the town, exploring the colorful markets and general buzz of this unique Peruvian settlement.  

It’s an early start the next day, so we’ll make sure you’re settled in to your hotel and all set for the following day and your first glimpse of Machu Picchu!

To best appreciated Machu Picchu, we’ll wake up early in the morning so we can get to the citadel in good time. You’ll have time for breakfast first, and then your guide will pick you up from the hotel at around 05h40. We’ll then walk to the bus departure point for the short but zigzagging ascent up the road to Machu Picchu. 

We’ll then pass through the gates into the Machu Picchu archaeological site. Here you’ll begin your guided walking tour with an experienced and highly knowledgeable guide. Our tour of Machu Picchu will last about two hours, and will take you to all the most famous and most spectacular parts of the extensive archaeological complex. These include the House of the Guardian, Intihuatana, Temple of the Sun, Sacred Plaza and other key locations. And as we walk around, we’ll have spectacular views across the agriculture terraces of Machu Picchu and across to the surrounding mountains and plunging gorges. 

Once we’ve finished our tour of Machu Picchu, we’ll take the bus back down to Aguas Calientes where you can relax and have lunch (not included) before we board the train back to Poroy and Cusco. Upon arrival at the station, we’ll be waiting to take you back to your hotel in Cusco, where you can think back to your incredible tour of one of the world’s most famous and most impressive attractions.

Our Cusco city tour begins in the morning, when we’ll first head to the wonderful Koricancha, next door to Santo Domingo Church. According to the chroniclers who wrote during the period directly after the Spanish Conquest, the Koricancha was the most sacred and most important temple in the Inca Empire. Its walls were covered with gold, and life-size statues of plants and animals – all made of pure gold and silver – decorated its rooms and hallways. Sadly, this wealth was stripped out by the Spanish conquistadors. It remains a magnificent temple, however, and your guide will take you around the Koricancha, showing you details that you almost certainly miss if you visited without a guide. 

After visiting the Koricancha, we’ll head to Cusco Cathedral, located on the Plaza de Armas. Built between 1560 and 1654 on top of the foundations of an existing Inca temple, this spectacular cathedral houses many works of art by the Cusco School of painters, and its main altar and pulpit are covered in gold and silver relief work. Look carefully and you’ll also see elements of indigenous religious symbolism incorporated into the church by the native people who worked on its construction, such as the carved head of a jaguar on the doors. 

Our next stop is the imposing Inca fortress of Sacsayhuaman, which sits on a hill above Cusco. Here you will see some of the finest examples of Inca stonework and construction, including massive rocks that were carefully cut and perfectly fitted together to form the walls. From here you’ll also have beautiful panoramic views of Cusco. 

After exploring Sacsayhuaman we’ll head up the hill to the Tambomachay Archeological Complex. The exact purpose of this site is unknown, but it may have functioned, at least in part, as an Inca spa. Inca hydro-engineering is apparent here, with a series of aqueducts, canals and waterfalls running through the terraced rocks.

Tambomachay is the last attraction on our city tour, after which we’ll head back down into Cusco and drop you off at your hotel.

Afterward, transfer to Cusco Airport for your flight to Lima. On arrival at Lima airport a transfer will be arranged to the hotel.

At 19h00, Farewell Dinner – Mangos Restaurant.

This morning you will be picked up from the hotel and transferred to the airport.