PAT 1518 - ANCESTRAL CULTURES I

Upon arrival, our staff will be waiting at the airport and transfer you to your hotel. The rest of the day is free to rest or engage in any activity (upon request) if you have enough time available. Overnight in Lima.

Breakfast at the hotel. At 09:00hs, we will start a panoramic tour of the city, where we can see the Colonial Center, the Main Square, the Palacio de Gobierno, the Cathedral, the Archbishop’s Palace and Lima town hall. Also, we will visit San Francisco, a convent with cloisters and catacombs of the Colonial era. The tour will continue through the traditional areas of residential and commercial Lima to end with a spectacular panoramic view of the Pacific Ocean and beaches in the district of Miraflores.

At 14:30hs, transfer to the bus station to travel to Paracas (3.30hs. trip). Upon arrival, reception and transfer to the hotel. Overnight in Paracas.

Breakfast in the hotel

At 07:45 hrs. Transfer to the pier to board the boat in which we will start a beautiful promenade with the direction of the Ballestas Islands. During the tour you can appreciate the Gigantic chandelier delineated in hillside facing the sea and our local guide will introduce you to the various theories that exist around this enigmatic design. When you get to the Ballestas islands, you can see unforgettable sceneries within which inhabit different species of fauna in the area highlighting among them; the Humboldt penguins, fur seals, gulls, birds boobies, tendrils, Pelicans etc. (some of them are in extinction and are unique in their kind). The tour lasts 02 hours approximately.

NOTE: The exact time of departure to the Ballestas Islands are subject to the weather, being that the captaincy of port of the seen for navigation.

After doing the tour of the Islands we will return to the Mainland, and after some time off, transfer to the bus station to continue the trip to Nasca. Upon your arrival, our staff will be waiting at the station to take you to the hotel.

Breakfast in the hotel. At the coordinated hour, meet you at the hotel to transfer to the airfield of Nasca. wait for the corresponding shift board the plane that will fly over the mysterious Nazca Lines

The fascinating lines are located to 419 kms. Of Lima, where you can see diverse geometric designs and animal figures, for some represent a gigantic astronomical calendar with regard to agriculture, or irrigation systems. (There are also theories that it was an airport of aliens). Among the figures that are observed is a monkey, a dog, spider, the hummingbird, the tree, the astronaut, various geometric designs etc.

At the end of the overflight, you can draw your own conclusions.

Trip to the beautiful city of Arequipa by bus. Upon arrival, reception and transfer to the selected hotel.

Breakfast in the Hotel.

Travel by bus to the Colca Canyon depart on a wonderful four hours bus trip to the Colca Canyon, one of the deepest canyons in the world (3,400 mts.). On the trip we drive across Pampa Cañahuas in the Aguada Blanca National Reserve, inhabited by herds of vicuñas and alpacas (South American camelids). We also see beautiful pre-Columbian terraces, still being cultivated by native Collaguas. Lunch on your own.   On your arrival at Colca Valley, transfer to the selected lodge,  we recommend you to rest and get used to the altitude. If you are in good shape, you will have free time to stroll by the lodge surroundings or you could take a repairing bath at the hot springs near the lodge.  Overnight.

Breakfast in the Hotel. Early we will go out with direction to the lookout of the Cross of the Condor, and in the trip we will see the typical villages of Yanque and Maca, as well as also we will also appreciate the hanging tombs and Pre-Inca terraces with Andean crops like potatoes, maize, quinoa, Kiwicha, Olluco, etc.

Finished the excursion we will have a free time to have lunch (lunch not included) and then we will continue trip by bus to Puno. Accommodation in the hotel and spend the night.

Breakfast in the hotel  Early in the morning, we will have an unforgettable motorboat excursion on the waters of Lake Tatiana to the unique “Floating Islands” of the Uros. These ancient inhabitants of the lake, known as the Water Tribe, have built their own “islands” by periodically adding new layers of a type of reed unique to the area called “totora” (Scirpus Totora), vegetable fiber from the Papyrus family. Their homes and boats are also made from this material. The Uros live mainly from fishing, hunting and gathering, as well as the sale of handicrafts and multicolored fabrics.

We continue our motorboat trip to Taquile Island, inhabited by Quechua-speaking natives who have developed efficient and unique social systems, as well as fine hand weaving techniques, down through generations. We have a walk through the various hills and archaeological sites of this 6 km long island. In the afternoon, return to Puno, aprox. Time of arrive to the port is at 05.00pm aprox.  transfer to the hotel.

Breakfast in the hotel. Transfer to the bus station to take the tourist bus destined to the city of Cusco. On the way we will visit the museum of site of Pucará, we will make a brief stop in the “Line”, the highest point of the route (4335 m.a.s.l.), we will visit the Archeological Site of Raqchi (one of the main temples to the God Wiracocha), and we stop in Sicuani to enjoy a pleasant lunch buffet.

Finally, before arriving to Cusco we will visit the church of Andahuaylillas, also known as the Sistine Chapel of South America. Arriving in the city of Cusco, our staff will be waiting to transfer you to the hotel. Overnight in Cusco

Breakfast in the hotel. Free morning.

At 13.00 hrs. Pick up from the hotel to start the tour by the colonial city, built on the foundations of Incas palaces. In the journey we will visit the Temple of the sun, also known as Qoricancha, and the Cathedral of Cusco, where we will observe beautiful paintings and sculptures.

We will visit the nearby archaeological sites of Sacsayhuaman, Q’enco, Puca Pucara and Tambomachay. Return to the hotel and overnight.

Breakfast at the hotel. Today we will start a tour to visit the beautiful town of Pisac, its traditional market, the popular show and its narrow streets (Tuesday, Thursday or Sunday). We will continue the tour through the Sacred Valley of Urubamba, where you can enjoy a nice lunch.

Then, we will visit Ollantaytambo, a still inhabited Inca City where a complex system of irrigation channels and foundations still remain from the Inca time and where much of the town was built. The archaeological site of Ollantaytambo has large groups of terraces, fortresses, squares, channels and

The Real House of the Sun, a megalithic temple of great mysticism. Overnight at Sacred Valley.

Breakfast at the Hotel. Transfer to the train station to begin the excursion to the Sacred City of Machu Picchu declared by UNESCO as Cultural Heritage for Humanity and chosen as one of the modern seven wonders.

The train takes you to the town of Aguas Calientes, where we will ascend by bus up to the archaeological site and begin the guided tour that lasts about 2 hours. During the visit is can appreciate temples, squares, terraces, houses, barns, as well as the great biodiversity that exists in those surroundings. It is worth noting that the beauty of Machu Picchu is exalted by the extraordinary scene where it is located.

Around the citadel, the National Reserve covers an area of 32.500 hectares and includes a constellation of archaeological monuments which we believe that were built as part of the complex of Machu Picchu and not in isolation.

At the indicated time going back to the town of Aguas Calientes, where we have included the lunch. Return to the city of Cusco. Upon arrival, our staff will be waiting to transfer you to your hotel.

Breakfast at the hotel. Transfer to the airport at the specified time to take your flight to Lima.