Peru Cultural and Landscape | Sample Itinerary
This tour is more complete for those who are interested in the main attractions of the South part of Peru. You will principal highlights of Peru. Visit Arequipa, known as the White City because of their walls made of white volcanic rock called Sillar. This City is surrounded by some peaks but the most important is The Misti Volcano. The Colca Valley with beautiful landscapes is surrounded by terraces ans snow-capped peaks also it has archaeological remains left by the Collagua, ancient inhabitants of the area.
Visit also the historic Inca and colonial city of Cuzco and archaeological sites in the surrounding countryside. The Sacred Valley of the Incas with it pleasant climate and fertile land where Incas took advantage of, Where took place every Sunday the Indian Market, which attracts traditionally dressed locals from miles around. Also Machu Picchu with an spectacular and awe-inspiring location, it is the most spectacular archaeological site in the continent. The highest navigable Lake in the world, with its important Islands. Uros, the floating islands made of Totora where several hundred people still live on the islands and eke out a living with fishing and tourism and Taquile where the main attraction is the beautiful landscape plenty of hills and archaeological ruins. Sillustani Necropolis, built by the Collas, used to bury important personalities. Finally visit of the Lima, the biggest city of Lima, plenty of history.
The Condor’s flightThe Colca Valley was already a very productive agricultural area before it was taken over by the Inca's. You can still see a lot of terraces that date from the Inca period and even some from the pre-Inca period. The inhabitants of the Colca Valley were farmers, but when the valley became a part of the route to the silver mines in the south of Peru, farmers were taken out of their houses and had to go and work in the mines. Later, when the railway led directly to Arequipa, their help was not necessary anymore.
In the valley you have the change to see the famous and with extinction threatened Condor. This enormous bird usually searches for its preys in the morning or late in the afternoon. In the valley they fly along on the currents of the warm air. The best spot to see them is at Cruz del Condor. This is a beautiful viewpoint where you can also see the Colca River flow on a depth of 1200 meters.
Machu Picchu, the Lost Inca City
This spectacular archaeological site is discovered in 1911 by an American historian Hiram Bingham. The site was initially overgrown with thick vegetation, but nowadays you can see most of the stone buildings, which all have their own meaning. You can join a guided tour or walk around the site by yourself, or/ and make a magnificent hiking trip to for example the Intipunku. This is also known as the Sun Gate. Furthermore you can do a hiking to the mountain behind the ruins, Huayna Picchu. You can do different kind of hiking trip to Huayna Picchu, also translated as ¨young peak¨, with beautiful views and you can visit other ruins, such as the Temple of the Moon. Apart from that you can visit the Inca drawbridge, which is a nice and easy walk, where you can see clearly the vegetation of the high cloud forest and a different view of Machu Picchu.
This spectacular archaeological site is discovered in 1911 by an American historian Hiram Bingham. The site was initially overgrown with thick vegetation, but nowadays you can see most of the stone buildings, which all have their own meaning. You can join a guided tour or walk around the site by yourself, or/ and make a magnificent hiking trip to for example the Intipunku. This is also known as the Sun Gate. Furthermore you can do a hiking to the mountain behind the ruins, Huayna Picchu. You can do different kind of hiking trip to Huayna Picchu, also translated as ¨young peak¨, with beautiful views and you can visit other ruins, such as the Temple of the Moon. Apart from that you can visit the Inca drawbridge, which is a nice and easy walk, where you can see clearly the vegetation of the high cloud forest and a different view of Machu Picchu.
Cuzco, the Centre of the World
Situated in the Peruvian Andes, Cuzco developed, under the Inca ruler Pachacutec, into a complex urban centre with distinct religious and administrative functions. It was surrounded by clearly delineated areas for agricultural, artisan and industrial production. When the Spaniards conquered it in the 16th century, they preserved the basic structure but built Baroque churches and palaces over the ruins of the Inca city.
Situated in the Peruvian Andes, Cuzco developed, under the Inca ruler Pachacutec, into a complex urban centre with distinct religious and administrative functions. It was surrounded by clearly delineated areas for agricultural, artisan and industrial production. When the Spaniards conquered it in the 16th century, they preserved the basic structure but built Baroque churches and palaces over the ruins of the Inca city.
The floating Island of Uros and Taquile
Uros floating islands on Lake Titicaca are named after the Indians that live on them. Another name for these islands is kotsuña, which means ´villages on the lake´. In total there are 40 islands, 12 of these are open to the public. Everything on the islands, including the island itself, is made from totora cane. Making an island from cane takes about 3 to 4 months, depending on the family and manpower. It is a bale of cane of a meter thick, which has to be filled up all the time, because the lowest layer will rot slowly. From the same cane they also make houses and boats. Making a boat takes about 3 weeks and lasts 6 to 12 months. The soft roots of the cane are also eaten by the inhabitants. Furthermore the people live from fishing and hunting birds.
Taquile Island, also called the Weavers Island, has a long history. It was once a colonial hacienda, but after Peru regained its independence it was used as a prison. Step by step the original inhabitants took back the land of their ancestors and make sure that the old traditions won't fall through. There are no roads, no cars and no bikes on the island
Taquile is completely dedicated to processing wool. In the streets you see a lot of men knitting, while women are weaving. The colours of the designs also give information on the person who's wearing it. Certain colours represent a marital or social status and some garments are only worn during festivities.
Uros floating islands on Lake Titicaca are named after the Indians that live on them. Another name for these islands is kotsuña, which means ´villages on the lake´. In total there are 40 islands, 12 of these are open to the public. Everything on the islands, including the island itself, is made from totora cane. Making an island from cane takes about 3 to 4 months, depending on the family and manpower. It is a bale of cane of a meter thick, which has to be filled up all the time, because the lowest layer will rot slowly. From the same cane they also make houses and boats. Making a boat takes about 3 weeks and lasts 6 to 12 months. The soft roots of the cane are also eaten by the inhabitants. Furthermore the people live from fishing and hunting birds.
Taquile Island, also called the Weavers Island, has a long history. It was once a colonial hacienda, but after Peru regained its independence it was used as a prison. Step by step the original inhabitants took back the land of their ancestors and make sure that the old traditions won't fall through. There are no roads, no cars and no bikes on the island
Taquile is completely dedicated to processing wool. In the streets you see a lot of men knitting, while women are weaving. The colours of the designs also give information on the person who's wearing it. Certain colours represent a marital or social status and some garments are only worn during festivities.
Lima, a City of KingsLima is the capital of Peru and is by far the biggest city of the country with its 9 million inhabitants. The name Lima comes from the river Rimac, which runs through the city. The Spaniards were not able to pronounce this name correctly, that is why later it was turned into Lima. The city was founded on 18th of January by Francisco Pizarro.
Because Lima is situated by the sea, it was easy to trade with other countries and of course with Spain. In the old centre of the city you can find a lot of beautiful buildings in different styles, for example old colonial buildings, churches and government buildings.
Includes:
- All mentioned transfers
- All hotels based on double room accommodation
- City Tour Arequipa in private service with transportation and English speaking guide.
- Colca 3d/2n excursion in private service with transportation and English speaking guide.
- Uros and Taquile excursion in private service with boat and English speaking guide.
- Tourist Bus Puno/Cuzco with lunch and visits on the route.
- City Tour Cuzco in private service with transportation and English speaking guide.
- Sacred Valley excursion in private service with transportation and English speaking guide.
- Machu Picchu excursion in private service with train Cuzco–Aguas Calientes–Cuzco in backpacker class, bus up/down to ruins and English speaking guide.
- City tour in Lima in private service with transportation and English speaking guide.
Does NOT include:
- Domestic flights Lima-Arequipa (Usd 120.00 pp) and Cuzco/Lima (Usd 120.00 pp). The flights price is subject to availability and tariff changes by airlines.
- Airport taxes domestic flights (aprox. Usd 6 pp per flight) and international flight departure from Lima (aprox Usd 30 pp)
- Entrance fee for City Tour in Arequipa (aprox. Usd 10 pp)
- Entrance fee for Colca Valley (aprox Usd 10 pp)
- Entrance fee for the City Tour and Sacred Valley in Cuzco (aprox. Usd 48 pp)
- Entrance fee for Machu Picchu excursion (aprox. Usd 45 pp)
- Entrance fee on the route Puno/Cuzco (aprox Usd 6 pp)
- Entrance fee for City Tour in Lima (aprox. Usd 6 pp)
- Optional excursions
- Tips
- Extras and items of a personal nature
The Condor’s flight
Machu Picchu, the Lost Inca City
Cuzco, the Centre of the Word
The floating Island of Uros and Taquile
Lima, a City of Kings
Machu Picchu, the Lost Inca City
Cuzco, the Centre of the Word
The floating Island of Uros and Taquile
Lima, a City of Kings
Tour code:
IPUPCL3
Duration:
14 days
Itinerary
1.Arrival to Lima, reception and transfer to your hotel
2.Morning pick up from your hotel and transfer to the airport to take the flight to Arequipa
3.At proper time pick up from your hotel and departure to Colca Valley
4.Morning departure for visiting the Colca Canyon.
5.Morning departure by private car to Puno. Arrival and accommodation in your hotel
6.Uros and Taquile excursion
7.Transfer to the bus station and departure to Cuzco. After 8 hours arrival and transfer to your hotel
8.Morning City Tour of Cuzco
9.Early in the morning departure for visiting the Sacred Valley. After the excursion return to Cuzco.
10.Full Day Tour of Machu Picchu ruins
11.Morning at leisure. In the afternoon return by train backpacker to Cuzco.
12.Day at leisure
13.In the morning transfer to the airport to take the flight to Lima.
14.At proper time transfer to the airport to take your international flight