A Cultural Tour especially created to visit the most enigmatic cities of Perú: Nazca, Cusco & Machu Picchu. We’ll feel the mystery of the huge engravings made by the Nazca Culture hundreds of years before Christ, then we’ll continue with our journey and fly to Cusco, where other mysteries will be waiting for us to be witnessed, culminating with the citadel of Machu Picchu, most likely a royal estate and religious retreat, with its unique and captivating beauty.
Your Itinerary
Day 1: Arrive in Lima
Upon our reception at Lima International airport, we’re transferred to the hotel. Welcome to Peru and let’s have a toast with Pisco Sour. Pisco is the most famous, typically Peruvian drink it is a quebranta grape liquor that comes from a city called Pisco, which is located at 250 km south of Lima.
Pisco Sour has become known worldwide, just like Tequila in Mexico. Lima, located on the central western coast, is large, noisy and shrouded in a misty coastal fog for much of the year. Despite the unimpressive landscape, the friendly people, important historical sites, quality museums, and variety of dining places make Lima a very interesting place to visit. Overnight: Hotel Sheraton, Lima (2 nights)
Day 2: Lima
Today we visit Lima and start with the old city of Viceroys, going along the main streets, avenues and the residential districts. See the Main Square, the Cathedral, the Presidential Palace and The Church and Convent San Francisco – the most important religious monument of Lima, built in 1542 in Baroque style, of great aesthetic beauty.
It also houses a "Museo de Arte Religioso" (religious art museum) and the room Zurbarán with the collection of the Apostles. This site UNESCO declares as a Cultural World Heritage Site. In the afternoon we will visit the residential districts of San Isidro and Miraflores until we arrive at the viewpoint from where we will enjoy the wonderful view of the Pacific Ocean. Included: B.
Day 3: Lima / Nazca (drive)
After Breakfast we are transferred to the bus station, where we’ll board the Executive Class Bus, departing to the city of Nazca. En route we’ll have a lunch aboard our luxurious bus and enjoy the journey ‘spiced’ with several stops. Upon arrival, we’re taken to our hotel for check-in and the rest of the day is free. Overnight: Hotel Nazca Lines, Nazca (1 night). Included: B.
Day 4: Nazca / Paracas (drive)
In the morning, we are transferred to Nazca Aerodrome to get aboard an aircraft and fly over the mysterious Nazca Lines. The huge drawings that only can be seen from air are thought to represent different insects and animals such as the Monkey, Humming Bird, Condor, Lizard, Spider, Seal, also a Tree, Hands, an Astronaut, etc are crossing the desert of Nazca.
The way they were made it is still a mystery. In accordance with a theory they formed a Huge Astronomical Calendar representing constellations. The pilot of the aircraft will give us a brief explanation about the different lines. After we return, we’ll be taken to the bus station and depart by bus to the Bay of Paracas. Overnight: Hotel Paracas (1 night). Included: (Breakfast).
Day 5: Paracas / Ballestas Islands / Lima (drive)
Early in the morning we will board our boat to visit the Ballestas Islands. On our way we will see the famous "Candelabra", drawn in the sand and oriented to Nazca desert. On the islands we will enjoy a walk in the Nature, while listening to the sound of the Sea Lions, Humboldt penguins and sea birds that nest on the island.
After we return to the Paracas Port, we'll depart in an Executive Class Bus to Lima. Upon arrival in Lima we're transferred to our hotel. Overnight: Hotel Sheraton, Lima (1 night). Included:(Breakfast).
Day 6: Lima / Cusco (flight)
In the morning we are transferred to the airport and depart to Cusco. After our reception and transfer to the hotel, we’ll have a welcome gathering with “coca tea” that will help us to get used to the local altitude. In the afternoon we will visit the city, going through its streets and enjoying the view of the fusion between the Inca architecture and the Colonial architecture.
We’ll visit the Temple of the Sun or “Korikancha” and the Cusco Cathedral. The Korikancha is a classic example of the fusion of Inca and Western cultures, and was one of the most important temples in the Tahuantinsuyu. Later we will also visit the Archaeological Park of Sacsayhuaman.
Here we’ll see Q’engo - one of the finest examples of an artfully carved rock, showing complex patterns of steps, seats, Geometric Reliefs and a puma design, Tambo Machay - commonly referred to as the 'Baños del Inca' or Inca baths, Tambomachay was a site for ritual bathing. The excellent quality of the stonework suggests that its use was restricted to the higher nobility, who maybe only used the baths on ceremonial occasions.
Puca Pucara - situated on a hill with superb views over the surrounding countryside, Puca Pucara was more likely a tambo, or kind of post house than an actual fortress. And last, but not least, we will see the Fortress of Sacsayhuaman. Overnight: Novotel, Cusco (1 night). Included: B.
Day 7: Cusco / Machu Picchu / Cusco (train & bus)
Early in the morning (with our packed Breakfast and Lunch) we are transferred to the Railway station to get aboard the train to the town of Aguas Calientes. Upon arrival we’re transported to the minibuses to ascend the citadel of Machu Picchu, the Sacred City of the Incas. Machu Picchu is probably the most familiar symbol of the Inca Empire.
Since 1983 the site has been designated as a United Nations Educational World Heritage Site. It is thought that the city was built by the Sapa Inca Pachacuti, starting in about 1440, and was inhabited until the Spanish conquest of Peru in 1532. Archaeological evidence (together with recent work on early colonial documents) shows that Machu Picchu was not a conventional city, but a country retreat town for Inca nobility (similar to the Roman villas).
The site has a large palace and temples dedicated to Inca deities around a courtyard, with other buildings for support staff. It is estimated that a maximum of only about 750 people resided in Machu Picchu at one time. It is thought that the site was chosen for its unique location and geological features.
It is said that the silhouette of the mountain range behind Machu Picchu represents the face of the Inca looking upward towards the sky, with the largest peak, Huayna Picchu (meaning Young Peak), representing his nose.
We will go through the corridors, visiting the ceremonial centers and terraces. We will return by bus to Aguas Calientes and from here by train to the Sacred Valley, for our overnight stay. Overnight: Posada del Inca Yucay (1 night). Included: B, L.
Day 8: Sacred Valley / Cusco (train)
We’ll have another real Incan experience today and take an excursion to the Sacred Valley of the Incas. En route we visit the Artisans Market of Pisac, where colorful local clothing is shown and we will also get familiar with old manufacturing techniques and traditions, which are still alive. We’ll have some time to do shopping, followed by a buffet lunch.
In the afternoon, we will visit the ruins of Ollantaytambo, where we will see techniques used by the Incas to sculpt stones. Ollantaytambo is an attractive little town located at the western end of the Sacred Valley and has been built on top of original Inca foundations and is the best surviving example of Inca town planning.
There is a local saying: ‘There’s only one place on the Land of the Incas, where the time took a rest…’ We’ll take our train back to Cusco, late in the afternoon. Overnight: Novotel, Cusco (1 night). Included: B, L.
Day 9: Cusco / Lima / Homebound (flight)
After Breakfast we are transferred to the airport, in time to reach our flight to Lima, the Capital city of Peru and from here to connect with our homebound flight. We’ll leave today the ‘Land of the Incas’ and return home with strong memories to last over a lifetime. Included: B.
Price includes:
- Hotels as mentioned or similar category
- Meals as per itinerary (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)
- All transfers, tours and sightseeing specified in the itinerary
- Domestic flights: Lima / Cusco / Lima (except local airport taxes!)
- All the boat & train rides as mentioned in the itinerary
- Entrance fees to all Sites, Museums and Performances as mentioned
- Services of English-speaking local guides
- Road taxes, parking fees, drivers’ wages
Price does not include:
- International flight tickets and airport taxes
- Excursion not included in the itinerary
- Visa fee and any kind of insurance
- Personal expenses, bar-bills, laundry or phone bills
- Any drinks or beverages with meals
- Tips or other such costs
- All other services not mentioned
Notes:
Airfare is not included in the tour price.
USD: 1,640.00 / CAD: 1,725.00 - per person in double occupancy.
Single supplement USD: 390.00 / CAD: 410.00.
Also see tour packages in:
South America
Peru
Cultural Journey
Archeology/History
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