PAT 1520 - ANCESTRAL CULTURES II

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 13:00hs, transfer to the bus station to travel to Paracas (3hs trip). Upon arrival, reception and transfer to the hotel. Overnight in Paracas.

After breakfast, transfer to the port to board the boat that will begin the tour of the Paracas National Reserve, being Ballestas Islands the main destination. On the way we can enjoy the famous “Candelabro” (Chandelier) outlined in a hillside and our local guide will tell you the various theories that have been woven around this enigmatic designUpon arrival at the Islands you may observe different species that compose the local marine life including Humboldt penguins, Sea Lions, Gulls, Boobies, Inca Terns, Pelicans, etc (some of them are nearly extinct).

NOTE: The departure hour to Ballestas Islands is subject to weather being necessary the port captain approval to navigation.

After the tour we will return to port and after some free time we will transfer you to the ground station to board the bus to Nasca. Upon arrival our staff will transfer you to the hotel. Overnight in Nasca.

Breakfast at the hotel. Pick – up at the hotel to transfer you to the airfield of Nasca. Upon arrival, we will wait for our turn to board the light aircraft and fly over the giant and enigmatic Nasca lines for about 30 minutes. For some, these lines represent a huge astronomical calendar related to agriculture, for others it is a blueprint for alien navigation and an airport. After flying over, you will draw your own conclusions.

At the indicated time, transfer to the ground station to board the bus to Arequipa. Upon arrival, reception and transfer to the hotel.

Breakfast at the hotel. Transfer to the airport to board the flight to the Arequipa, the “white city”. Upon arrival, our staff will be waiting at the airport and transfer you to the hotel. Free morning to rest.

In the afternoon, guided tour of the main attractions of the city. We will visit the Convent of Santa Catalina that was built in the sixteenth century and open to the public in 1970. Santa Catalina is one of the most remarkable and beautiful buildings of the city. Over 400 years of history are kept behind its walls. The city has several Spanish style buildings and ancient churches built upon tuff (volcanic white stone) among which stands out the Cathedral and the Society of Jesus. Overnight in Arequipa.

Breakfast at the hotel. Today we will leave the city from behind the Nevado Chachani in the direction to Pampa Cañahuas, a Vicuña National Reserve, also known as the Colca Window. During the tour we will see the Cave of Mollepunco and we will make a stop in the scenic overview of the volcanoes.

After reaching the town of Chivay, transfer to the hotel. Free evening to visit the hot springs or to rest.

Breakfast at the hotel. We will leave the hotel early in the direction to the scenic overview of the Cross of the Condor. During the tour we will see the typical towns of Yanque y Maca, as well as appreciate the hanging tombs, the pre-Inca terraces cultivated with potatoes, corn, quinoa, kiwuicha, olluco, etc.

After the tour, free time to have lunch (lunch is not included) and then we will continue travelling towards Puno. Hotel accommodation and overnight in Puno.

Breakfast at the hotel. Transfer to the Titicaca Lake pier at the stipulated time to start the tour to Taquile Island, a region of spectacular beauty where its inhabitants have preserved ancient habits and where we will be able to share some typical experiences with them. Later on, we will visit the Floating Islands of the Uros, which are handmade artificial islands made by their inhabitants with dried totora reed, a plant that grows in the lake itself. The Uros live mainly from fishing, hunting and gathering, as well as the sale of handicrafts and colorful textiles. During the tour we will hear the legends of the Uros and we will learn about their customs and folklore. We will do the entire tour sailing up Titicaca Lake, the highest commercially navigable lake in the world. Overnight in Puno.

Breakfast at the hotel. Transfer to the ground station to board the tourist bus to Cusco. On the way, we will visit Pucara site museum, “La Raya” (the highest point on the route, 4335 m.a.s.l), Raqchi archeological site (one of the main temples to the god Wiracocha) and we will have lunch at Sicuani. Finally, before arriving to Cusco we will visit Andahuaylillas church, also known as the South American Sistine chapel. Upon arrival, reception and transfer to the hotel. Overnight in Cusco.

Breakfast at the hotel. Free morning.

In the afternoon, pick up from the hotel to start the tour around the colonial city, built on the foundations of Inca palaces. We will have a city tour, visiting the Main Square and the Cathedral and Santo Domingo, known as Q’oricancha or Temple of the Sun. Also we will visit the nearby archaeological sites of Sacsayhuaman, Q’enco, Puca Pucara and Tambomachay. Transfer to the hotel and overnight in Cusco.

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 Casa del Sol, 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.

Once we reach the archeological site we will begin a guided tour around the citadel that will last about 2 hours. During the tour you will find temples, palaces, squares and streets of military and agricultural areas. 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.

Free time to enjoy the archaeological site. At the scheduled time with the guide, we will descend to the town of Aguas Calientes, where we will have lunch before returning to Cusco. Upon arrival, reception and transfer to the hotel.

(Optional: You can request an extra night in Machu Picchu with an additional payment)

Breakfast at the hotel. Transfer to the airport at the specified time to board the flight and continue your itinerary.

If you want to modify this program in any way for your greater satisfaction, stay more days somewhere in the course of the trip or visit other destinations, do not hesitate to contact us and ask for our advice.