11-Day Pure Perú Adventure

Between 9:15 and 9:45 AM, pick-up from the hotel to begin the city tour: panoramic view of the "Pucllana Pyramid," a magnificent ceremonial and archaeological center built in the 4th century AD and considered a "sacred town" by the Incas. Next, a visit to Lima's historic center, where you will see over fifty colonial monuments and buildings, including the Paseo de la República, Plaza San Martín, Plaza Mayor, Government Palace, Archbishop's Palace, Cathedral Basilica, Municipal Palace, among others. Visit to the Central Reserve Bank Museum*, where you can see the "Treasures of Peru Collection," a select exhibition of gold objects, ceramics, and textiles from various pre-Columbian cultures. Then, a visit to the San Francisco Monumental Complex, which is the largest display of colonial religious art in America; highlights include the visit to its underground crypts known as the "Catacombs." Upon returning to the hotel, a panoramic tour of Lima's most traditional residential areas, El Olivar de San Isidro, Miraflores, and Larcomar. In the afternoon, transfer to the airport and flight to Arequipa. Arrival and transfer to the hotel. Meals on your own. Note 1: Shared tour with bilingual Spanish-English guide. Note 2: Central Reserve Bank Museum closed to the public on Saturday and Sunday afternoons. Closed all day on Monday. Note 3: Hotel-airport-hotel transfers in private transportation (with assistance in Arequipa). Overnight in Arequipa: Santa Rosa hotel, Casa Andina or similar. Meals inlcuded: Breakfast

In the afternoon we will visit to the Chilina neighborhood to see the Inca terraces (stepped terraces) built for agricultural purposes, still in use today. Then, a visit to the picturesque and elegant Yanahuara neighborhood, with its Andalusian-style streets and residences surrounded by gardens. From this point, you will have a panoramic view of the city, surrounded by its magnificent volcanoes. Next, a visit to the Main Square with its beautiful arches, considered one of the most beautiful in the country, the Cathedral (exterior), built in the 19th century, the Church of the Company and its cloisters, considered the most perfect expression of seventeenth-century religious architecture, this complex is part of the mestizo baroque. Then, a visit to the famous Santa Catalina Convent, unique in the world with its streets and squares, which have names of Spanish cities. This convent, where Spanish nuns lived for several centuries, has been open to the public since 1970. With its 20,000 m2 of surface area, it is a true sixteenth-century religious citadel that forms an extraordinary architectural complex. Meals on your own. Note 1: Shared tour with bilingual Spanish-English guide. Overnight in Arequipa: Santa Rosa hotel, Casa Andina or similar. Meals included: Breakfast.

In the morning, departure to Chivay and the Colca Canyon. On this route, we will climb a road at the foot of the Chachani volcano to enter the Pampa Cañahuas and Aguada Blanca reserve, where you can observe vicuñas in their natural state. In addition, this reserve is home to many alpacas, llamas, and vizcachas. We will pass by the crater of the Chucura volcano and stop at the highest point also called the Andes Viewpoint, from where you can see the Chachani, Misti, Ampato, and Sabancaya volcanoes. On the way, we will visit different picturesque villages such as Viscachani. Arrival in the Colca Valley and transfer to the hotel. Rest of the afternoon free. Meals on your own. Note 1: 160 km = approx. 4h30. Altitude in the Colca Valley = 3650 meters above sea level. Note 2: Excursion in shared service with bilingual Spanish-English guide. Overnight in Colca Valley: Vita, Colcha Lodge or similar Meals inlcuded: Breakfast

Early departure to the Colca Canyon. Stop at Cruz del Condor. From this place, we will have an impressive view, an abyss 1200 m deep, at the bottom of which runs the Colca River, and, on the opposite side, the walls of the Canyon exceed 3000 m in altitude. If we are lucky, we may see the flight of His Majesty the Condor. The condors use the warm air rising from the Canyon to glide above our heads. This experience is unforgettable and unique in South America. On the way back to the hotel, we will stop to visit small towns such as Maca and Yanque. In the early afternoon, departure across the altiplano to the city of Puno on the shores of Lake Titicaca. Meals on your own. Note 1: 280km= approx. 6h. Altitude in Puno = 3830 meters above sea level. Note 2: Excursion in shared service with bilingual Spanish-English guide. Overnight in Colca Valley: Vita, Colcha Lodge or similar Meals included: Breakfast

Full-day excursion to Lake Titicaca, the lake of legends. According to one legend, the Inca couple Mama Ocllo and Manco Capac emerged from its waters by order of the Sun to found the Inca Empire. First, we will visit the floating islands of the Uros, whose way of life and traditions have always aroused curiosity. Both on the islands and in their cabins, part of their diet and boats are made of totora, an aquatic plant from the same lake. They complete their diet with fish caught with artisanal nets and local ducks. Then, the journey through the lake continues to Taquile Island. From the top of the island, you will marvel at the spectacle in front of you: Lake Titicaca and the surrounding mountains. Approach and contact with the islanders, who are excellent hosts, weavers, and makers of finely tuned sikus (wind musical instruments). Lunch at a local restaurant. End of the excursion and return to the hotel. Dinner on your own. Note 1: Fast boat (shared) for superior categories. Note 2: Accompanied by a private Spanish-speaking guide during the excursion. Overnight in Puno: Sol Plaza Hotel, Sonesta Posadas del Inca or similar Meals: Breakfast, Lunch.

In the morning, departure on a tourist bus to the city of Cusco. The beauty of the landscape deserves this journey full of unforgettable images. The highest point of the journey is La Raya (over 4000 meters high), which is the division between the Andean zone and the altiplano. During the journey, the bus stops in Pucará, to visit its lithic museum, then in Raqchi, ancient Inca ruins with the beautiful temple of Huiracocha, and finally in Andahuaylillas, an opportunity to visit its impressive chapel known as the "Little Sistine Chapel." Lunch at a restaurant along the way. Arrival in Cusco towards the end of the afternoon. Dinner on your own. Overnight at the hotel. Note 1: 389 km = approx. 10h (with stops along the way and lunch). Altitude in Cusco: 3350 meters above sea level. Note 2: Hotel-bus station-hotel transfers in private transportation with assistance. Note 3: Puno - Cusco route by tourist bus with bilingual Spanish-English guide and three stops along the way.

In the morning, departure to the Sacred Valley and visit to the ruins of Pisaq, one of the most beautiful Inca constructions in imperial style. Visit to the Pisaq market; from the main square, the entire town turns into a fair, especially on Sundays, offering visitors a colorful and folkloric spectacle with its displays of fruits and vegetables both on the ground and in stands where it is possible to buy artisanal products brought from all corners of the region: multicolored fabrics, weavings, traditional ponchos, jewelry, antiques, ritual objects, among others. Continue to the Ollantaytambo fortress, which was one of the last Inca constructions. Much of the work was left unfinished, the abandoned stones (Tired Stones) are silent witnesses of the battle between Manco II and the conquistadors. After the visit, transfer to the Ollantaytambo train station and continuation to Aguas Calientes (Machu Picchu town). Arrival and check-in at the hotel. Meals on your own. Note 1: Excursion in shared service with Spanish-speaking guide. Note 2: Ollantaytambo - Aguas Calientes route by tourist class train. IMPORTANT: Train companies only allow carry-on luggage (one backpack or travel bag). Suitcases must be left in storage at the hotel in Cusco. Note 3: Walking transfer in Aguas Calientes (no vehicles circulate in the town). Overnight in Terrazas Luna, El Mapi or similar. Meals included: Breakfast

Early in the morning, ascent by minibus to 2,400m altitude, where the Inca city, intact and long forgotten, is located. It was discovered in 1911 by the American anthropologist Hiram Bingham. The history and function of the citadel remain a mystery to this day. Built on top of a mountain in an absolutely grandiose location, between the peaks of Huayna Picchu "young peak" and Machu Picchu "old peak"; you will be enchanted by the beauty of the place and its mystical character. Guided tour of the citadel and free time at the site. In the afternoon, return by train to Cusco and transfer to the hotel. Meals on your own. Note 1: Private tour with Spanish-speaking guide. Note 2: Aguas Calientes - Cusco route by tourist class train. In case there is no availability on trains to Cusco, the route would be Aguas Calientes - Ollantaytambo followed by a transfer Ollantaytambo - Cusco by private transportation. Overnight in Cusco: Maytaq hotel, Sonesta Cusco or similar. Meals included: Breakfast

Free morning. In the afternoon, departure to the Santo Domingo Monastery built on the imposing "Koricancha Temple" or "golden temple," which during the Inca period housed sacred relics from all over the territory. Today, the Koricancha retains some of its rounded walls of polished stone, considered the finest artwork of the Inca era. Continue to Loreto Street to reach the Main Square. Visit to the Cathedral, built in 1534 with large blocks of red granite extracted from Sacsayhuaman. The Renaissance-style facade contrasts with its sumptuous interior in Baroque and Plateresque style. Continue with the visit to the nearby ruins: Sacsayhuaman. Due to its construction shape, the conquerors thought it was the fortress that defended Cusco. It is composed of 3 terraced walls 300m long. Recent studies suggest that it was a religious center. Tambomachay: Inca construction composed of terraces and stairs, also called "Inca Baths" due to its numerous springs of perfectly polished stone. PukaPukara: which means red fortress due to the color of stones with which it was built and its strategic location (panoramic view from the road). Q'enko, a religious temple with a complex shape carved in rock. It represents the three worlds of Inca cosmology: sky, earth, and underworld. Meals on your own. Note: Shared tour with Spanish-speaking guide. Overnight in Cusco: Maytaq hotel, Sonesta Cusco or similar. Meals included: Breakfast

At the appropriate time, transfer to the airport. Assistance with the boarding procedures for your international departure flight. Meals included: B