9 DAYS / 8 NIGHTS PROGRAM
Essential Peru
Our Peru Essential tour allows you to discover the most remarkable destinations in the Andes of southern Peru, Lima, the current capital of Peru with its historic city and its museums, Cusco, the capital of the Inca Empire and finally Puno and the majestic Lake Titicaca, the highest navigable lake in the world.
The strong points :
*Colonial Lima, capital of the viceroyalty known as the City of Kings, the Larco Herrera Museum and the port and seaside district of Lima.
*City of Cusco, and its Inca and Spanish buildings
* The impressive Machu Picchu and the archaeological sites of the Sacred Valley
*The majestic Lake Titicaca, its nature and its traditional communities and a Pachamanca lunch
*Cheese & Wine around the archaeological site of Sillustani.
*Lunch in front of the sea
Arrival in Lima, reception at the airport and transfer to the hotel.
Free dinner.
Overnight at the hotel.
*Duration of the transfer : Airport/Hotel 1h15 approx.
Breakfast at the hotel.
Visit to the historic center of Lima (cultural heritage of humanity – UNESCO). Tour of the Plaza de Armas and its main attractions, then visit the Convent of Santo Domingo which was built in the 16th century.
Then visit the modern part of the city: the district of San Isidro, the financial center of Lima and Miraflores, a tourist district with a view of the sea.
Then, visit the Larco Museum, which is located in a beautiful colonial mansion in Lima surrounded by gardens, where you can appreciate a careful collection of ceramics, textiles and pieces of goldsmithery from the most representative cultures. from Peru.
The visit ends with the discovery of one of the most complete collections of pre-Columbian erotic art.
Lunch at the restaurant of the Larco Museum.
Transfer to the airport to take the flight to Cusco. Arrival reception, transfer and installation at the hotel
Free dinner.
Overnight at the hotel.
* Duration of the visit: City tour + Larco Museum 4h30 approx.
Breakfast at the hotel.
Departure to the Sacred Valley and visit of Maras and its salt mines, composed of approximately more than 3,000 basins each arranged in a terrace and layers of salt are naturally present in the rock.
Continuation with the visit of the enigmatic terraces of Moray concentric constructions similar to a Greek amphitheater; the terraces were used for agricultural experiments. Appreciating the terraces in the distance shows Moray as one of the most dazzling Inca works.
Lunch included.
Finally, visit the Archaeological Park of Ollantaytambo, a marvelous Inca archaeological complex that served agricultural, religious and military functions.
Return to the hotel
Free dinner.
Overnight at the hotel
*Duration of visits: FD Sacred Valley 9h (including travel time).
Overnight at the hotel.
Breakfast at the hotel.
Transfer from the hotel to Ollanta station to board the train to Aguas Calientes station.
Arrive at Aguas Calientes and ascend by non-private bus (25-30 min) to the Historic Sanctuary of Machu Picchu (UNESCO – World Cultural and Natural Heritage).
A visit to the citadel of Machu Picchu with a private guide is considered one of the Seven Wonders of the Modern World. During the walk, you will make several stops where you will appreciate the perfect harmony between the natural environment and the majestic Inca construction.
After the visit, descend by non-private bus (25–30 min) to the town of Aguas Calientes.
Lunch included.
At the appropriate time, transfer to the train station for a departure to Poroy Station (3h15 approx.). Arrival and transfer to the city of Cusco (approx. 20 min.).
Duration of visits: FD Machu Picchu 9h approx. / Guided in Machu Picchu 2h30.
Free dinner.
Overnight at the hotel.
*The train travel ticket grants the passenger the right to carry only one carry-on baggage (backpack, purse, or briefcase) weighing no more than 05 kg with a maximum measurement of 62 linear inches/157 cm) (height + length + width).
Breakfast at the hotel.
Visit the historic center of Cusco (UNESCO World Heritage Site). Visit the Gothic-Renaissance Cathedral (16th century) which has a large collection of works of sacred art; walk through the streets of the city of Cusco and visit the Koricancha, an Inca temple on which the convent of Santo Domingo was built.
Visit to the nearby archaeological sites, Sacsayhuaman, Qenqo, Puca – Pucara and Tambomachay.
Free lunch
Afternoon at leisure.
Free dinner
Overnight at the hotel.
Duration of Visits: City Tour + Surrounding Sites 4h30.
Breakfast at the hotel.
Transfer to Puno in a tourist vehicle, located in the Peruvian Altiplano at an altitude of 4,800 m.
The route will have several tourist stops. The first stop is the church of Andahuaylillas, 39 km south of Cusco. This beautiful colonial temple (17th century) is known as the Sistine Chapel of America for its exceptional murals and its beautiful architecture.
Then departure to the town of Raqchi 110km south of Cusco. Visit the archaeological park of Raqchi where the famous Wiracocha temple is located, an imposing Inca construction whose adobe walls have stone bases that reach a height of 20m. Stop in the town of Sicuani to have lunch on route at a local restaurant.
From there we can observe the change of landscape, going from the majestic Andes to the silent Altiplano. Arrival at La Raya passes at 4,388 m., the highest point of the route, and at the same time the border between the departments of Cusco and Puno.
Last stop at the archaeological site of Pukará at an altitude of 3,910 m.
Arrival in Puno.
*Duration of the transfer including visits and lunch : 10h00 approx.
Dinner not included
Overnight at the hotel
Breakfast at the hotel.
Excursion to Lake Titicaca, the highest navigable lake in the world, located at 3,812 m above sea level.
Transfer to the pier in Puno and departure by boat to the island of Taquile (2h30 of navigation), (UNESCO World Heritage Site). Arrival around noon. Opportunity to appreciate the textile and colorful art of the community. Walking on a white sand beach.
Continuation of the navigation towards the peninsula of Capachica and visit of the community of Santa María to learn about Pachamanca, an ancestral cooking technique. Then, visit the Bio Interpretation Center “Balsero del Titicaca”.
Typical Pachamanca lunch with the locals.
Finally, visit the floating islands of the Uros, artificially built with reeds (reeds), an opportunity to learn about the way of life of this community.
Return to Puno at the end of the afternoon.
Free dinner.
*Duration of the excursion: including navigation time, visits and lunch 10h00 approx.
Overnight at the hotel.
Breakfast at the hotel.
At the appropriate time, transfer to the airport to take the flight to the city of Lima.
On the way, visit the site of Sillustani with its funerary tombs that can reach up to 12 meters in height. Discovery also of Lake Umayo which borders the site. Sillustani, belonged to the Kolla culture, between the 1200 and 1450 B.C, has around 90 inverted cone shaped chullpas. According to history, before the corpses of the highest Kolla authorities were placed in the tombs, they were mummified in a fetal position.
Cheese & Wine on site.
Free lunch.
*Duration of the transfer Hotel / Apto Juliaca . visit Sillustani and Cheese & Wine: 3h30 min.
Arrival to Lima , reception, and transfer to the hotel
Free dinner.
Overnight at the hotel.
Breakfast at the hotel.
Departure towards Callao, the most important port of Peru, located at the extreme point of Lima.
Thanks to a major renovation, this popular district is once again valued. You will discover beautiful buildings, small cafes and shops. Along its streets, you will have the opportunity to appreciate around 60 murals by national and international artists.
Continuation of the discovery of Callao and departure towards the district of Punta, a charming seaside resort with magnificent residences. The pebble beach offers a soothing panorama of great beauty.
Lunch included with view of the sea.
Duration of the tour including lunch : 4h30 approx.
At the appropriate time, transfer to Jorge Chávez airport