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Lima-Paracas-Nazca-Arequipa-Colca Canyon-Puno-Cusco
The Andean Condor, (Vultur Gryphus), the largest flying terrestrial bird in the Western Hemisphere, listed under the endangered species of the world, is a symbol of grace and majesty in Peru and other countries of South America. The Incas revered the Condor as a celestial messenger and the Andean people assign magical properties to its feathers, bones and eyes. It has inspired melodies such as the most famous El Condor Pasa (The Condor Passes Overhead), Yaw Kuntur in Quechua language. Although the Andes Mountains are their natural habitat, these huge birds may cover 150 miles per day in search of food; they are mainly carrion-eaters, and often they descend to the western coastal deserts where large marine life populations can be found, particularly in areas like the Paracas Bay, where these giants can feed on seabird eggs and dead seals, whales or porpoises.
The Yaw Kuntur Route tour offers you the opportunity to follow the route of the Andean Condor as it returns to the highlands of Peru from its food search on the Pacific Coast. |
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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 Cruz del Sur (VIt Class Service) bus to Paracas Bay (04.30 hs). Breakfast on the bus. The Paracas National Reserve (166 mi. south of Lima), in which the Paracas Bay is located, was established in 1975 to protect the biodiversity and the dynamic ecology comprised between the Pacific Ocean and the tropical coastal desert. It is the only protected marine area in Peru, thus Paracas is significant as the primary habitat for unique species as well as for countless marine resources. Bird droppings or guano (used as fertilizer) were in the past of vital importance to Peru's economy; nowadays guano covered islands are the breeding refuge for large shorebird communities. Paracas is also a protected archaeological site with important Pre-Incan relics. When you arrive in Paracas (07.40), you will be escorted to the wharf where you will board the Ballestas Islands tour boat (08.00). The 2-hour tour will allow you to see migratory birds such as American flamingos, Guanay cormorants, Inca terns, Peruvian boobies, Black skimmers among others. You will also see friendly sea lions and Humboldt penguins that will fearlessly approach your boat swimming from the rocky shores. During the summer time, 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 bus to Nazca (10.30). Transfer to your hotel in Nazca. Lunch at nearby restaurant. Later, you will tour the Chauchilla Necropolis, a burial site of the Nazca civilization (1 A.D. to 500 A.D.). Here you will see an exhibit with mummies and ancient funeral rite objects. Return to the hotel. Overnight.
Day 3 Nazca-Arequipa (B)
Breakfast at the hotel. In the morning (09.00), you will be escorted to the nearby aerodrome where a Cessna type plane will be waiting for the overflight of the mystifying Nazca Lines. During the overflight 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 for agricultural purposes to landing strips for alien spacecrafts. Return to the hotel where you relax in the pool or take a walk in town while you wait be transferred to the bus station on time to board the Cruz del Sur (VIP Service) bus to Arequipa (15.00). Arrive to Arequipa (22.30) and transfer to your hotel. Overnight.
Day 4 Arequipa (B.D)
Breakfast at the hotel in Arequipa. 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 to 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 "La Calera" hot springs. 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, Andean ichu grass, agricultural terraces that predate the Incas and 16-Century colonial villages are dotted along the valley. You will be directed to the Condor Cross look-out where sightings of the giant Andean Condor flying at the canyon are possible. Return to Chivay and transfer to the bus station for the trip to Puno (13.30) which takes approximately 5 hours. During the trip you will make brief stops at: the view point of the Volcanoes and snow covered mountains in Patapampa; the view point at Pampa Tojra where a variety of migratory birds gather in the so called "bofedales", some sort of peat bogs; Pampa Cañahuas Reserve where you will see vicuñas in their natural habitat; the view point at Lagunillas Lagoon where you can see Andean Flamingos. Arrive in Puno. The bus will drop you off at your hotel, where local tour operator personnel will meet and greet you. Overnight.
Day 7 Puno (B.L)
Breakfast at the hotel in Puno. Taquile and Uros Tour (06.00). Transfer to the Puno wharf on Lake Titicaca where this tour begins. You will motor boat to the floating Uros Islets, made of totora reeds which grow in the lake by the Uros, descendants of a group of pre-incan people who built their settlements on this fashion as a defensive measure against their enemies, if they were threatened they could easily be moved. Although most of these people have already interbreed with the Aymara, approximately 3000 legitimate Uros still exist, and just a few hundred live on and maintain these islets, most have already moved to the mainland. 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 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 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. Nearly everyone in the island young and old, man or woman, spin and weave beautiful textile articles which have been regarded as highest-quality handicrafts in Peru. 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 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. First class tourist bus to Cusco. 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 Piquillacta,and Pucara 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. Overnight.
Day 9 Cusco -Sacred Valley (B.L)
Breakfast at the hotel in Cusco. Full day tour to the Urubamba Sacred Valley. Visit the village of Pisac with its remarkable Incan farming terraces. Pisac's traditional market gathers artisans and traders from the surrounding communities dressed in their colourful attires on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sunday. Then onto the ancient village of Ollantaytambo with its streets, plazas and houses built on top of authentic Incan foundations. Visit the imposing Ollantaytambo fortress and archaeological complex located on a hill overlooking the village. Lunch in a nice countryside hacienda style restaurant. Transfer to your hotel in Sacred Valley. Overnight .
Day 10 Sacred Valley-Machu Picchu-Cusco (B)
Early morning breakfast at the hotel in Sacred Valley. Transfer to the Ollantaytambo train station to board the Tourist Backpacker service train to Aguas Calientes (Machu Picchu village). The train ride takes approximately 90 minutes to arrive to Aguas Calientes. You will then board one of the buses that will take you to the Machu Picchu Citadel. Once there, an expert guide will lead you into this amazing modern world wonder built by the Incas and hidden on the lower jungle between two mountains, Machu Picchu (Old Mountain) and Huayna Picchu (Young Mountain), and the Vilcanota River which meanders at 1000 feet below. This sanctuary is perhaps the best preserved ruins set in Peru; the perfectly fitted stone block buildings and structures stand magnificently against the luscious green. After a couple of hours of touring Machu Picchu you will bus down to Aguas Calientes. While you wait for the return train to Cusco, you may have lunch (not included in the tour price), walk around the Aguas Calientes, buy souvenirs at the village shops or just relax enjoying the beautiful mountain-jungle landscape. Board the return Tourist Backpacker service train to Cusco. Upon arrival to Cusco you will be transferred to your hotel. Overnight.
Day 11 Cusco (B)
Breakfast at the hotel. Morning at leisure for shopping and/or relax. City tour in the afternoon (1:30pm) includes historical center and surrounding ruins of Sacsayhuaman, Q'enqo, Puca Pucara y Tambomachay. Overnight .
Day 12 Cusco-Lima (B)
Breakfast at the hotel. Transfer to the airport at appropriate time to board your return flight to Lima. Arrive in Lima and transfer to your hotel.Colonial 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 an spectacular view of the Pacific Ocean. Return to the hotel. Overnight.
Day 13 Lima (B)
Breakfast at the hotel. Transfer to Lima Airport to board your international flight to return home.
B=Breakfast L=Lunch D=Dinner
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