TEN DAY LUXURY JOURNEY IN PERU

LIMA - CUZCO - SACRED VALLEY OF THE INCAS - MACHU PICCHU – PUNO (LAKE TITICACA)

This is a beautiful trip that will allow you to experience two of the many marvels offered by Peru, the immense Lake Titicaca and the magnificent Inca city of Machu Picchu. You will leave the modern residential neighborhoods of Lima behind, and fly across the Andes to visit Cuzco, the spectacular heart of the Andes. You will thoroughly enjoy visiting Inca archaeological sites and traditional farming communities, live Quechua culture, former colonial life and spectacular scenic landscapes. You will travel in style on board the luxury Hiram Bingham train to Machu Picchu and will stay at the Machu Picchu Sanctuary Lodge. You will have the opportunity to rise early and walk the few short steps to the City's entrance to be one of the first people to enjoy the sunrise over Machu Picchu. You will navigate the spectacular Lake Titicaca, visiting the Uros floating islands to learn the inhabitant's culture, life style and language. At the end of the journey you will lodge at one of the few Eco hotels that exist in Peru,  located in the Suasi island in lake Titicaca, where you can enjoy the beauty of nature during the day and the stars of the southern hemisphere in the night.

ITINERARY

DAY 1: ARRIVAL IN LIMA - TRANSFER TO HOTEL

Upon your arrival in Peru, we will meet you at the airport and accompany you to the hotel in Lima which is located in San Isidro district, one of the most beautiful and prosperous districts in Lima. This district is the home of lovely green park-like areas, luxurious hotels and fine dining establishments.

Overnight    :  Country Club Hotel or Miraflores Park Hotel - Lima
Meals         :  None

DAY 2: FLIGHT TO CUZCO - TRANSFER TO THE SACRED VALLEY OF THE INCAS

You will be transferred to the airport for the one-hour flight to Cuzco. Upon arrival you will be met by our representative and transferred to the Hotel Sol y Luna in the Sacred Valley, outside the city of Cuzco. The lower altitude of the Valley will help you become acclimatized more easily. The drive will be a chance for you to enjoy the surrounding Andean scenery of valleys and high peaks.

Overnight    :  Sol y Luna Hotel - Urubamba
Meals         :  Breakfast

DAY 3: SACRED VALLEY - PISAQ MARKET - OLLANTAYTAMBO

Today you will be able to explore the Sacred Valley of the Incas. You will drive along the Sacred Valley to the town of Pisaq to visit the traditional and colorful market, where the inhabitants of the Valley gather to trade their goods and offer their handcrafts to visitors. You will have lunch at a charming traditional restaurant with a nice exhibition of Peruvian horses (Paso Fino Walking Horses). Lunch is a mix of flavors of different local products planted in the highlands and valleys of Cuzco. Later you will make the short drive to Ollantaytambo, which still retains many of the buildings and the urban lay-out of the original Inca settlement. The ruins of Ollantaytambo’s temple-fortress are located above the village and offer fine views of the village and the Urubamba river valley.

Overnight    :  Sol y Luna Hotel - Urubamba
Meals         :  Breakfast, Lunch

DAY 4: TRAIN TO MACHU PICCHU - TOUR IN MACHU PICCHU

Today you will take the one-hour bus ride to Poroy train station to board the luxury Hiram Bingham train to Machu Picchu. This three and a half hour train ride is one of the most spectacular in the world, passing through valleys, deep canyons and cloud forest vegetation before reaching the village below Machu Picchu. A three course lunch will be served onboard. On arrival at Aguas Calientes train station you will take a 25 minute bus journey to the Sanctuary Lodge Hotel. After check in our guide will show you around Machu Picchu, known as the Sacred City of the Incas, which has fascinated travelers since it was first discovered in 1911.

Overnight    :  Sanctuary Lodge - Machu Picchu
Meals         :  Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

DAY 5: FREE DAY IN MACHU PICCHU - RETURN TRAIN TO CUZCO

We will give you an early wake-up call so that you will be able to experience the sunrise over Machu Picchu. Since the hotel is located just three minutes away, you only have to get your camera ready and start taking pictures! Today, led by our guide, you can choose between hiking the peak behind Machu Picchu known as Huayna Picchu to enjoy the views of the surrounding forest and Machu Picchu itself, or take the 30-minute walk to the Inca drawbridge or the hike up to the Sun Gate above Machu Picchu. In the evening you will take the Hiram Bingham train back to Cuzco. During the journey a four-course a la carte dinner will be served on board. On arrival at Poroy station you will be transferred to the Hotel Monasterio in Cuzco.

Overnight    :  Monasterio Hotel - Cuzco
Meals         :  Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

 DAY 6: CUZCO - CITY TOUR IN CUZCO

Today you will have the morning free to rest. In the afternoon you will visit the main sights of the city of Cuzco and the mountains that surround it. You will begin with the Temple of the Sun, known by its Inca name of Qorikancha, which is situated within the Spanish convent of Santo Domingo. You will then go to the Cathedral on the city’s Main Plaza, which was built in the 17th century and is home to beautiful colonial-era works of art, including paintings, a carved wooden choir stall and altars covered in silver and gold leaf. Leaving the city, in the hills around Cuzco we will visit the monolithic fortified temple of Sacsayhuamán, with its enormous walls, as well as the carved limestone outcrop which is the fertility temple of Qenqo.

Overnight    :  Monasterio Hotel - Cuzco
Meals         :  Breakfast

DAY 7: FLIGHT TO JULIACA - TRANSFER TO HOTEL IN PUNO

You will have the morning free to relax before being transferred to the airport for your flight to Juliaca. You will be met by our local representative at the airport and driven for one hour across the high Andean plains to the Hotel Casa Andina Private Collection in Puno; along the way you will have fine views of Lake Titicaca.

Overnight    :  Casa Andina Private Collection - Puno
Meals         :  Breakfast

DAY 8: LAKE TITICACA - UROS FOATING ISLANDS- TAQUILE - SUASI ISLAND

You will leave the city very early for the port, where you will take the boat for your tour of Lake Titicaca. The boat will take you to Suasi Island (shared service – if you require a private launch let us know in advance). On the way you will visit the floating Uros Islands, where you will be able to observe how this unique people live on reed islands in the bay area. On Uros, totora reeds are used for the construction of the islands, houses and boats, and even as a food source. Next stop will be Taquile Island, which is inhabited by Quechua-speaking people who live under Inca laws and have organized themselves on a communal basis to receive tourists. Local people dress traditionally and the Taquile weavings are of a particularly high quality. After arriving at Suasi you will have a barbecue lunch and then enjoy the rest of the afternoon relaxing or taking part in eco-tourism activities such as visiting the island’s conservation area to observe its flora and fauna, as well as visiting the cultural center, walking on the beach or kayaking along the shore. Suasi is a privately-owned island and its management is fully ecological. Visitors are encouraged to enjoy the region’s unique biodiversity as well as to enjoy the peace of the island’s remote location and the fine views of the surrounding lake. At night it is possible to observe the stars of the southern hemisphere with a computerized telescope and gather around a moonlit bonfire to enjoy the Andean night.

Overnight    :  Casa Andina Private Collection - Suasi
Meals         :  Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

 DAY 9: TRANSFER TO AIRPORT AT JULIACA - FLIGHT TO LIMA - TRANSFER TO HOTEL

After crossing to the mainland for a few minutes, you will journey overland to the airport in the city of Juliaca, eating a box lunch en route. Upon your arrival at Lima airport you will be met by our representative and driven to the hotel.

Overnight    :  Country Club Hotel or Miraflores Park Hotel - Lima
Meals         :  Breakfast, Lunch (box)

DAY 10: LIMA - CITY TOUR IN LIMA

Today you will be escorted on a guided tour of the city, which includes the best attractions of the historic center of Lima, such us the main square, bordered by the government palace and the cathedral. You will also visit San Francisco church and convent, which is the oldest religious building in Lima. In the evening you will have a farewell meal at one of Lima’s fine restaurants before you are driven to the airport for your return flight home.

Overnight    :  None
Meals         :  Breakfast, Dinner

For further information, please write us to