Day 1. LIMA IS THE CAPITAL OF PERU
Arrival in Lima. Meeting and transfer to the hotel. Vacation.
Day 2. LIMA – CUSCO
Breakfast. Transfer from the hotel to the airport in Lima. Flight to Cusco. Arrival, meet and greet at the Cusco airport. Transfer to the hotel.
Cusco sightseeing bus tour. Visit to the architectural complexes: Saxayihuaman Fortress, Kenko Temple, Puca Pucara Fortress and Tambomachay Water Temple. Continuation of the tour in the palace dedicated to the Sun God – Coricancha. Visit to the Cathedral of Cusco (optional, cost $25).
Day 3. CUZCO – AGUAS CALIENTES – MACHU PICCHU – CUZCO
After breakfast, transfer by train to the small tourist town of Aguas Calientes, which is located at the foot of Machu Picchu. Then climb by bus to the Lost City of the Incas – Machu Picchu, considered the most powerful energy center of South America.
Machu Picchu (Machu Pikchu means “Old Mountain” in Quechua) is a mysterious Inca city built in the mid-15th century. Before that, representatives of another civilization lived here, about which little is known. It is located about 100 km from the capital of the Inca Empire, Cusco, and is so secluded hidden in the Andes that it could not be reached by Spanish colonizers. The world became aware of this city in 1911 thanks to an American scientist from Hiram Bingham. Although the locals have always known about Machu Picchu, but were not in a hurry to share the information with the “aliens”.
Machu Picchu has been listed as a UNESCO Monuments of Humanity Heritage Site since 1983 and as a New Wonders of the World since 2007.
Machu Picchu Tour.
In the afternoon, descent to Aguas Calientes. Lunch at Ayasca Restaurant. Then, return by train to Cusco. Transfer to the hotel.
Day 4: KUSKO
Breakfast. Free day.
Excursion options on this day (optional):
1 option: excursion to the Sacred Valley.
Full day excursion to the Sacred Valley of the Incas with a visit to the fortress of Ollantaitambo is available at extra cost. The cost is $180.
Visit to the art fair in Pisac (here you can buy handicrafts – ceramics, carpets, souvenirs, silverware and leather goods. Visit to the ZOO center “Auanacancha” where tourists admire and participate in the feeding of fascinating animals such as llamas, alpacas, huanaco and vicuñas. Familiar with the process of dressing and natural dyeing of wool. Tour of the archaeological complex of Olantaytambo. One of the most important Incan military installations. Lunch – buffet in the restaurant of national cuisine “Tunupa”.
Option 2: Trekking to the Rainbow Mountains.
Full day trekking to Rainbow Mountains with breakfast, lunch and transfers is available at extra cost. The tour starts at 4 am and back to Cusco at 7 pm. This is a tour for the hardy. (It is possible to ascend the last 300 meters on horseback. The cost of a horse is $40). Group tour $55 per person with an English-speaking guide. Group tour with individual Russian guide from 2 people $150 per person.
The colored layers of these mountains were formed millions of years ago from red sandstone, which under the influence of climatic conditions, underground water and impurities of minerals has colored into yellow, green, white and other colors. The Rainbow Mountains are located 100 kilometers from Cusco in the province of Quispicanchis (Quispicanchis) at an altitude of 5200 meters above sea level. From there you have a magnificent view of the Ausangate Glacier, a sacred Inca mountain where pilgrims gather every year to celebrate Qoyllur Rit’i (Qoyllur Rit’i).
Day 5: KUSKO – PUNO
Early breakfast. At 6.15 transfer to the station “Turismo Mer” . At the station meet with Russian guide and at 7.00 transfer by tourist bus to the city of Puno. Along the way stops: Andahuayilillas – Sistine Chapel of South America, Rakchi – Inca administrative structure. Lunch in Sikuani.
Next stops: La Raya (4400 meters above sea level) a roadside market with beautiful mountains in the background; and Pucara, the center of the pre-Incan culture of the same name. B 18.00 – Arrival in Puno, transfer and accommodation at the hotel.
It is possible to travel by Titicaca Train luxury train from Cusco to Puno on Wednesdays and Sundays (optional). Cost $250.
The luxurious train is equipped with a restaurant car, a bar car and a unique panoramic car, thanks to which the traveler has the opportunity to observe how the natural landscapes and climate change as the train moves along the route. The train runs on one of the highest railway lines in the world (“between the mountains and the clouds”), with an obligatory stop at the highest point of the route (La Raya, 4319 meters), where you can enjoy unforgettable panoramic views of mountain peaks and plains. The trip includes lunch (appetizer, main course, dessert). The Andean Explorer train journey is one of the top twenty-five most exciting rail journeys in the world, and LUH the train and route are considered the best in America by the 2012 World Travel Awards statistics.
Day 6: PUNO – Titicaca Lake – UROS ISLANDS and TAKILE – LIMA
After breakfast transfer to the port on the shores of the legendary Lake Titicaca. Excursion to Uros floating reed islands – these are more than 40 man-made islands created by Uros Indians from reeds growing on the lake. Here you will learn the history of the islands and its people. You will be able to buy numerous souvenirs and ride on a cane boat. Our excursion continues deep into Lake Titicaca to Taquile Island. The island is famous for its ethnic cultural values – the population of the island preserves ancient traditions, especially weaving. The island was proclaimed “Masterpiece of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity” by Unesco in 2005 for its weaving art. Lunch on the island. Return to Puno. Transfer to the airport for flight to Lima. Flight to Lima. Transfer to the hotel in Lima, rest.
Day 7: LIMA
Breakfast. Free day in Lima.
Overnight at a hotel in Lima.
A full day excursion to Lima, the capital of Peru, is available at an additional cost (optional). The cost is $100.
At 9.00 we start the tour from Miraflores neighborhood, which is located on the Pacific Ocean, visit to Lovers Park, panoramic visit to Huaca Puyan, Olive Park, Huaca Yanamarca. We continue our tour of the historic city center – see San Francisco Cathedral, Central Square, the Presidential Palace, the Merion, and Plaza San Martin. A visit to one of Lima’s best museums, the Casa Aliaga Museum, featuring treasures from Peru’s colonial period. Our tour ends in the park of the famous Lima Fountains, which are included in the Guinness Book.
Day 8: LIMA
Breakfast. At the due time transfer to the airport for international departure.
On the way to the airport we offer to visit one of the 25 best museums in the World – Museum “Larco Herrera” (optional). The cost of the tour is $65.
The museum was founded in 1925 and is located in the house of the Viceroy of Peru. Colonial style, 18th century rises at the very top of the pyramid. It houses an unimaginably rich collection of ceramics, fabrics, jewelry, gold, mummies, and also displays a one-of-a-kind and one of the richest collections of pottery with an erotic allusion. The total number of exhibits is 45 thousand. They all tell the history, life and culture of civilizations such as the Inca, Moche, Nazca and Chimu. There is also a very good national cuisine restaurant, Café del Muzeo.
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