From the coastal desert and valleys to the highland mountains and plateaus, you will find fascinating places where past and present hold on to each other to preserve the centuries-old legacy of art, culture, beliefs, wisdom and skills; you will marvel at the sight of the great achievements of Peruvian civilizations that found no limits to overcome adverse geographic and climate conditions. Finally you will meet the people of Peru, the real descendants of a glorious past that is kept alive through traditions, festivities, rituals and hard work.

Day 1 Lima

Greet and meet at the Lima Airport upon arrival. Transfer to your hotel. Overnight.

Day 2 Lima-Paracas-Nazca (B.L)

Transfer to the bus station and board early morning VIP Class service bus to Paracas Bay (04.30). Breakfast on the bus.  The Paracas National Reserve (166 mi. south of Lima), in which the Paracas Bay is located, was established to protect the biodiversity and the dynamic ecology comprised between the Pacific Ocean and the tropical coastal desert. When you arrive in Paracas (07.40), you will board the boat (08.00) for the 2-hour tour during which you will be able to see migratory birds such as American flamingos, Guanay cormorants, Inca terns, Peruvian boobies, Black skimmers among others. Also see friendly sea lions and Humboldt penguins that will fearlessly approach your boat swimming from the rocky shores. During the summer time (Jan-Mar), the Paracas Bay often receives another visitor, the magnificent Andean Condor that flies down from the mountains in search of food (dead porpoises or seals). Return to the wharf and board the VIP Class service bus to Nazca (10.30). Transfer to your hotel in Nazca. Lunch at a nearby restaurant and later, tour to the Chauchilla necropolis, an ancient burial site (1 A.D. to 500 A.D of the Nazca civilization where you will see a display of authentic Nazca mummies and funerary artifacts unearthed from this site. Return to your hotel. Overnight.

Day 3 Nazca-Arequipa (B)

Breakfast at the hotel. In the morning, you will be transfer to the aerodrome where a small plane will be waiting to overfly the mystifying Nazca Lines. During toverflight time (approximately 30 minutes) you will be able to see the 2.000-year old figures made of straight lines and geometric shapes, supposedly built by the ancient Nazca civilization, though its purpose is still unknown. These geoglyphs have inspired all kinds of explanations from celestial calendars used to predict the seasons and insure crop fertility to landing strips for alien spacecrafts.  Return to the Nazca where you can have lunch, visit the town and/or spend some time at the hotel's pool while you wait until transfer time to be transferred to the bus station where you will board the VIP Class service bus to Arequipa (15.00). Arrive to Arequipa and transfer to your hotel (22.00). Overnight.

Day 4 Arequipa (B.D)

Breakfast at the hotel. City tour of Arequipa (09.00) known as "La Ciudad Blanca" (The White City) for its colonial buildings built of "sillar", a whitish volcanic stone. You will visit exquisitely Baroque decorated colonial churches and mansions in the historic centre; you will enter the 16-Century Santa Catalina Monastery -actually a small citadel surrounded by imposing high walls- and walk its narrow streets and passages; you will also visit the Yanahuara Lookout Point from where you can see Arequipa's beautiful countryside with the imposing Misti, Chachani and Pichu Pichu volcanoes on the background. Afternoon at leisure to rest or go shopping. Dinner at one of the city's finest Novo Andean restaurants (Arequipa is renowned for its delicious gastronomy). Overnight.

Day 5 Arequipa-Colca (B)

Breakfast at the hotel in Arequipa. Overland trip to the village of Chivay, gateway to the Colca Valley and Canyon (09.00). On the way to Colca you will pass by the "Valley of the Volcanoes" and the Salinas/Aguada Blanca National Reserve where you will see Andean camelids (alpacas, vicuñas and llamas) gracing on its plains. The mountain landscape is fantastic with several snowy peaks glittering under the sunlight. You will arrive to Chivay and check-in your hotel (13.00). After lunch, you will enjoy a comforting bath at the hot springs in "La Calera". Overnight.

Day 6 Colca-Puno (B)

Breakfast at the hotel in Chivay. Colca Tour (07.00). You will see the world's deepest canyon (10.725 ft) amidst an incredible scenario of snow-capped peaks, cacti and ichu grass covered hills, agricultural terraces that predate the Incas and 16-Century colonial villages dotted along the valley. Stop at Condor Cross look-out, where close sightings of the giant Andean Condor flying through the canyon are possible. Return to Chivay and transfer to the bus station for the trip to Puno (13.30) which takes approximately 7 hours. Stops along the way will be made at look-out points to see the Valley of Volcanoes, Andean camelids and other local fauna. Arrive in Puno, where local tour operator personnel will transfer you to your hotel. Overnight.

Day 7 Puno (B.L)

Breakfast at the hotel in Puno. Taquile and Uros Tour (07.00). You will motor boat to the floating Uros Islets, made of totora reeds which grow in the lake. The Uros, descendants of a group of pre-incan people, built their settlements on this fashion as a defensive measure against their enemies, if they were threatened they could easily move to another spot on the lake . Approximately 3000 legitimate Uros still exist, and just a few hundred live on and maintain these islets. The islets' residents fish, raise cattle and hunt birds as means for living, and they also make and sell handicrafts to tourists. Their homes, churches and small buildings as many of their boats are all made of totora reed also used as part of their daily diet.  You will then proceed to Taquile Island, a place where time seems to have stopped in the colonial times when the Spanish conquistadors forbade traditional dress and the islanders adopted the Spanish peasant dress that they are still use today, combined with finely-made Andean-style garments. Island inhabitants known as Taquileños, are descendants of the Incas and thus they are quechua speakers. Taquileños are famous for their fine handwoven textiles and clothing. Taquileños in recent years have created an innovative, community-controlled tourism model, in which they offer homestays, transportation, and restaurant services to tourists. Set lunch served in Taquile. Return to Puno. Transfer to your hotel. Overnight.

Day 8 Puno-Cusco (B.L)

Breakfast at the hotel in Puno. Transfer to the bus station (06.30). Tourist bus Puno to Cusco departure (07.00). The trip takes about 8 hours  and includes a buffet lunch stop at restaurant (in Sicuani Village). Three more stops will be made along the way for guided visits to the Pucara  and Piquillacta archaeological complexes and the San Pedro de Andahuaylillas Church built in the 1580 decorated with fine Colonial Baroque murals and paintings . Arrive in Cusco and transfer to your hotel (15.00). Overnight.

Day 9 Cusco (B)

Breakfast at the hotel. Morning at leisure. City tour in the afternoon (13.30). Visit the historical Inca and Spanish Colonial Monuments: the Main Square, the Cathedral originally built on the site of the old temple of Suntur Wasi (House of God), the Church and Convent of Santo Domingo, built upon the foundations of the Inca Temple of Koricancha or Temple of the Sun. Later, you will visit the surrounding ruins of the city of Cusco: Sacsayhuaman, this huge Inca fortress built on three overlapping platforms, each of them over 1.000 ft. long; Tambomachay, site known as the "Inca baths" and apparently dedicated to the worship of water and a resting place for the Inca monarch; Q'enqo, another worship site where a huge 18 ft. high stone block in the shape of a puma is found; finally, Puca Pucara, which was an administrative and military centre formed by terraces, stairways, passages, turrets and vaulted niches. Return to the hotel. Overnight.

Day 10  CUSCO - PISKACUCHO - WAYLLABAMBA (B.L.D)

Breakfast at the hotel. Overland transfer from your hotel in Cusco to Piskacucho (Km 82) where the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu begins. Lunch in Miskay at 8,100 feet above sea level. Visit the Llactapata archeological site. Set the campsite. Dinner. Overnight.

Day 11 WAYLLABAMBA - WARMIWAÑUSCA - PAQAYMAYU (B.L.D)

Breakfast early in the morning. Hike to the highest point of the Inca Trail, the Warmiwañusca pass at 13,780 feet above sea level. The hike will take you through a unique area with a variety of ecosystems and microclimates. After lunch you will continue to the Pacaymayo campsite. Dinner. Overnight.

Day 12  PAQAYMAYU - CHAQ´ICOCHA - WIÑAYWAYNA (B.L.D)

Breakfast. Hike to the second highest pass found on the Inca Trail (12,631 feet above sea level). Visit the Runcuracay, the Sayacmarca and the Phuyupatamarca archeological sites. Lunch. Proceed to the Wiñaywayna ruins. Last campsite set. Dinner. Overnight.

Day 13  WIÑAYWAYNA - MACHU PICCHU - CUSCO (B)

Early morning breakfast. Proceed to the final stage of the trek and reach the Inti Punku ("Sun Gate"), the stone archway to the citadel of Machu Picchu, laying magnificently staicases below. Enjoy the 3-hour guided tour of Machu Picchu and feel the solemnity of this extraordinary place. Take the bus to Aguas Calientes where you will have some time to rest, lunch and shop for souvenirs. Board the train to return to Cusco. Transfer to your hotel. Overnight.

Day 14  Cusco (B)

Breakfast at the hotel. Day at leisure to rest or visit the city of Cusco on your own. Overnight.

Day 15 Cusco-Sacred Valley-Cusco (B.L)

Breakfast at the hotel. Full day tour in the Sacred Valley: the village of Pisac, where you will visit its traditional market in which artisans and traders from the surrounding communities, dressed in their colourful attires, gather every Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday to offer visitors their hand-made crafts; the ancient Ollantaytambo village with its streets, plazas and houses built on top of Incan foundations; visit Ollantaytambo's archaeological complex located on a hill overlooking the village and the valley. Lunch in a countryside restaurant in Urubamba. Transfer to your hotel in Cusco. Overnight.

Day 16 Cusco-Lima (B)

Breakfast at the hotel. Transfer to the airport to board the flight to Lima. Arrive in Lima and transfer to your hotel. Lima city tour in the afternoon. See the Cathedral, the Government Palace and Municipal Hall in Lima`s Main Square; visit the San Francisco Church, its convent, museum of colonial art, cloisters and the catacombs, a burial ground for priests and city principals in colonial times; see the Desamparados Train Station and vice royal mansions with Moorish style balconies. You will also tour the traditional residential and commercial areas of modern Lima and amidst the contemporary buildings you will see a pre-Columbian archaeological site that dates back to the beginning of the Christian era. The city tour ends with a spectacular view of the Pacific Ocean. Return to the hotel. Overnight.

Day 17 Lima (B)

Breakfast at the hotel. Transfer to Lima Airport to board your international flight to return home.

Includes:

• 2 Nights at hotel of your choice in Lima
• 1 Night at hotel of your choice in Nazca
• 2 Nights at hotel of your choice in Arequipa
• 1 Night at hotel of your choice at Chivay (Colca Valley)
• 2 Nights at hotel of your choice in Puno
• 5 Nights at hotel of your choice in Cusco
• 3 Nights outdoor camping along Inca Trail to Machu Picchu
• Meals: 16 breakfasts, 7 lunches and 4 dinners (includes meals during Inca Trail Trek)
• Guided excursions in English: Ballestas Islands in Paracas Bay (sea boat ride); overflight of Nazca Lines and visit to the Chauchilla Necropolis; Arequipa City Tour, Calera Hot Springs and Full Day Tour of the Colca Valley and Canyon (Condor  sightings); Full Day Tour on Lake Titicaca and visit to the Uros floating islets and Taquile Island; visit to Piquillacta and Pucara ceremonial complexes and to the Andahuaylillas church; Cusco City Tour, Full Day Tour to the Sacred Valley including Ollantaytambo and the Pisac Market; Inca Trail Trek as detailed in itinerary; Full day Tour to Machu Picchu Citadel; Lima City Tour
• Transportation in all the excursions and as part of the Inca Trail Trek including overland transportation from Cusco to Piskacucho (Km. 88) plus Tourist Backpacker Class train service from Machu Picchu village to Cusco; bus from the village to Machu Picchu Citadel and viceversa; motor boat on Lake Titicaca Full Day Tour.
• Overland transportation (VIP and Tourist Class buses) from Lima to Cusco.
• Transfers from hotels to bus stations in the Lima-Cusco route and hotel-airport-hotel in the route Cusco-Lima
• Entrance fees to all sites to be visited including Paracas National Reserve and Machu Picchu Citadel; Colca Valley and Cusco tourist tickets
• English speaking guides including IT Trek guide.
• Cook and porters (to carry limited 5 kilos per hiker plus camping equipment during IT Trek)
• Camping equipment for Inca TrailTrek (tents, air-mattresses, dining tent, tables, stools)

Does not include:

• Airport tax or gratuities
• Air ticket Cusco-Lima (Approximately US$200-250 per person. Varies according to lowest fares availability, please indicate trip dates in order to verify)
• Meals and drinks not indicated in the tour program
• Other expenses of personal nature at hotels, en route or during the excursions

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