International group Peru: Highlights of the Andean state

Verlauf:

Day 1: Arrival in Lima
Unterkunft: Dazzler by Wyndham Lima Miraflores (oder ähnlich)
Individual arrival in Lima. Welcome by your guide and transfer to the hotel. The rest of the day is free for you to explore on your own. 

Day 2: Lima
Unterkunft: Dazzler by Wyndham Lima Miraflores (oder ähnlich)
Morning at leisure; Lunch at Café del Museo restaurant. Known as the city of the kings, Lima was founded in 1535 by the Spanish conqueror Francisco Pizarro. Lima is one of the very few South American cities that has preserved its colonial past. In 1991 its colonial center was declared a World Heritage site by UNESCO. Visit of the Cathedral of Lima and  to the Convent of San Francisco. Visit of Larco Herrera Museum that displays more than 45 000 pieces of the private collection of Rafael Larco Herrera (1901-1966).
Verpflegung: 1x Frühstück, 1x Mittagessen

Day 3: Lima – Arequipa
Unterkunft: Casa Andina Select Arequipa (oder ähnlich)
Transfer to the airport and flight to Arequipa and transfer. The city tour of Arequipa begins with a tour to the El Carmen viewpoint before continuing to the traditional Yanahuara neighborhood, located 2km away from the downtown. Visit of La Compañia de Jesus church and its cloisters and visit of the Convent of Santa Catalina. The convent was opened to the public in 1970 after the Pope’s visit to Arequipa and it’s today one of the most important tourist attractions of the white city of Arequipa.Visit of the Santuarios Andinos Museum, where is exhibited Juanita, a young Inca girl who was sacrificed in 1450s and buried in the snow-capped volcano Ampato (6,380 m).
Verpflegung: 1x Frühstück

Day 4: Arequipa – Chivay
Unterkunft: El Refugio (oder ähnlich)
Departure to Chivay, in the Colca Valley crossing an astonishing landscape. We take the way to Chivay as the track goes up to the Pampa Cañahua where on the way, we see alpacas and llamas (a species of camels). With some luck we can see herds of vicuñas, admire the volcanoes of Misti, Chachani among others. In the nearby ponds, see how the migratory birds rest before returning to the mountains where they stay rooted during the dry season.  Lunch at local restaurant. Arrival to Chivay and transfer to the hotel.
Verpflegung: 1x Frühstück, 1x Mittagessen

Day 5: Chivay – Cruz del Condor – Chivay – Puno
Unterkunft: Hotel Xima Puno (oder ähnlich)
Morning departure along the Colca Canyon to reach the Cruz de Condor. At this site the mirador affords a superb view. Downwards curves the Colca River. The abysm reaches a depth of 1200 meters. Otherwise, the walls of the canyon exceed the heights of 3000 meters. With a little luck, we can spot condors flying overhead. These birds, which spread wings that can extend to 5 meters, leave early in the day to search for food. Depart to Puno. Arrival and accommodation.
Verpflegung: 1x Frühstück

Day 6: Puno
Unterkunft: Hotel Xima Puno (oder ähnlich)
Boat excursion on the Titicaca Lake, the highest navigable lake in the world (3810 m). The legend tells that Mama Occlo and Manco Capac, the founders of the Inca empire, emerged from its waters. The first stop is on the floating island of the Indian Uros, indigenous people of Aymara origin whose way of life and strong tradition are the matter of admiration for many visitors: also called water tribes, they live in small straw houses, which they use also for their huts and their boats;  they live from fishing and hunting. Continuation to the Taquile Island, whose inhabitants of Quechua origin are known for their skilled weaving skills. From the top of the island you will be surprised by the wonderful spectacle that will present to you: the bright blue of the Titicaca Lake surrounded by high mountain ranges.
Verpflegung: 1x Frühstück, 1x Mittagessen

Day 7: Puno - Cusco
Unterkunft: Xima Cusco Hotel (oder ähnlich)
Departure to Cusco. The beauty of the landscape justifies this journey. During the trip you will be amazed by the wonderful landscapes: the altiplano and Andean mountains. You will pass through some Andean villages such as Urcos, San Pedro, Tinta, Sicuani. The highest pass of the trip is La Raya (altitude: 4312 m), which is also the highest point between the Altiplano and the Andean mountains. Visit the Site of Pucara located at 106 km or 66 miles north of City Puno. Pucara is famous for its pottery, especially the well-known “Toritos de Pucara” (Little Bulls of Pucara). This site has pyramidal platforms and temples with semi-subterranean courtyards. Lunch at a local restaurant. Visit to the archaeological site of Racchi. This site featuring a remarkable extension is composed by many buildings made of adobe among which the highlight it is the Wiracocha Temple.
Visit of Andahuaylillas, whose main attraction is its Baroque church known as "The Sistine Chapel of America", because of the magnificent frescoes that decorate its walls.  Arrival and transfer to the hotel.
Verpflegung: 1x Frühstück, 1x Mittagessen

Day 8: Cusco – Chincero – Maras or Moray – Ollantaytambo – Aguas Calientes
Unterkunft: Hotel el Mapi (oder ähnlich)
Departure for Chinchero. On Sundays, the town of Chinchero hosts a still authentic market joined by the inhabitants of the surrounding areas to barter (exchange) their products with the locals. From this village you have spectacular views of the Sacred Valley mountains and there is a small but interesting colonial church (not always open to the public). In addition to the market, we will visit the beautiful archaeological site and be able to attend a demonstration on wool processing; the kind ladies of Chinchero will introduce us to this real art: from washing the wool to its spinning, the coloring process with natural dyes obtained from local plants and finally the weaving with an artisanal loom. (The Chinchero market is only open on Sundays) Later, we will have the opportunity to see the Maras salt mines located at the slope of a mountain and divided into numerous pools that receive salt water coming from underground. This salt mine is one of the oldest in Peru, it is known that  they were exploited before the arrival of the Incas in the region. For environmental protection it is no longer possible to visit the pools, so the visit will consist of admiring the salt mines from the Viewer.
Continuation to visit the village of Ollantaytambo to visit the impressive archaeological site. Pachacutec, one of the most representative protagonists of the Inca era, conquered the region and built the village and a large ceremonial center which served as a fort for the resistance during the era of the Spanish conquest.
Transfer to Ollantaytambo train station to take the train line Expedition** to Aguas Calientes (Machu Picchu).  Arrival and accommodation. Dinner at the hotel.
**Hand luggage allowance in train: 5 kg/11 lb per passenger, 62 linear in long/157 cm (height+length+width). The remaining luggage may be left in custody at the hotel in Cusco, free of charge.
Verpflegung: 1x Frühstück, 1x Mittagessen, 1x Abendessen

Day 9: Aguas Calientes – Machu Picchu – Poroy – Cusco
Unterkunft: Xima Cusco Hotel (oder ähnlich)
Ascension by minibus from Aguas Calientes by a vertiginous climb that will lead you to the site. Guided visit to the site Machu Picchu, "The lost city of the Incas" at 110 km of Cusco, discovered in 1911 by Hiram Bingham. Departure by train towards Poroy train station.  Arrival and transfer to Cusco.
Verpflegung: 1x Frühstück

Day 10: Cusco
Unterkunft: Xima Cusco Hotel (oder ähnlich)
Visit of the city and its most important monuments: the Koricancha, a famous temple dedicated to the Sun God. The main square, where according to the legend, Manco Capac's gold stick digs into the earth by itself, showing him where to set up the city; and the Cathedral, built on the XVI century over the Inca palace of Wiracocha.
Departure to visit the surrounding ruins of Cusco:  Kenko, a religious center of complex form, with a semicircular amphitheatre, which has about twenty stone seats and an idol at the center;; Tambomachay, also called ·The Inca's Bath, owing to the canalization of water, and Sacsayhuaman: a cyclopean fortress built in order to defend Cusco against the enemies. And San Pedro Market where the tour will end. Afternoon at leisure. Dinner with folkloric show at a local restaurant.
Verpflegung: 1x Frühstück, 1x Abendessen

Day 11: Cusco – Lima – Departure
Morning at leisure. Transfer to the airport and flight to Lima for individual international flights.
Verpflegung: 1x Frühstück