Andean Highlights: The best of Peru & Machu Picchu

There is an only place in the world that has it all, magic, history, nature and culture; four elements that forges
the spirit of the earth of the sun, a land where gods are hidden in mountains and stones.

Itinerary
Day 01The adventure begins:From Miami to Lima!
Board your overnight flight from Miami to Lima, Peru.
"You need to be at the airport of Miami at least 3 hours before the flight schedule in order to make the
check-in".
Day 02Discovering Lima..!
After your arrival in Lima, a representative of Valencia Travel Cusco will be waiting to pick you up and
take you to your hotel in Miraflores. You will stay in the following hotel or one similar:

(Casa Andina Classic San Antonio) http://www.casa-andina.com/classic-miraflores-san-antonio/

In the afternoon you have a city tour where you will have the opportunity to visit key sites of Lima,
including:
1. "HuacaPucllana" (magnificent ceremonial and archeological center)
2. The historic center of Lima
3. Colonial buildings (Plaza Mayor, the Government Palace, the Archbishop's Palace, the Cathedral,
the City Hall)
4. The Central bank Museum
5. San Francisco
6. The modern Lima
After touring the colonial city of Lima we will rest before travelling to the home of the condor
Day 03On the way to the Andes!
A representative of Valencia Travel Cusco will pick you up from the hotel (time to be confirmed) and
take you to the airport where you will take your flight to Arequipa!
In Arequipa, a representative of Valencia Travel Cusco will pick you up and take you to your Hotel in
Arequipa.
You will stay in the following hotel or one of similar standard:

(Casa Andina Classic Arequipa). http://www.casa-andina.com/classic-arequipa/

You have the opportunity to walk around the white city and its surroundings.
The architecture in the historic center is characterized by the prominence of ashlar, the use of which
begins in the last third of the s. XVI. This volcanic stone, white or pink exceptionally soft, lightweight,
and weatherproof, emerged as a seismic structural solution.

Day 04Time to visit the home of the condor!

We will pick you up 7:30 -8:00am to go to the Colca Canyon.
Colca Canyon trip:
We pick you up between 7:30 and 8:00am. We have a bus journey of approximately 4 hours including
stops along the way with beautiful landscapes and scenery. You will arrive at the town of Chivay and
have time to settle in to your hotel. In the afternoon you can go to the thermal baths, which are 3 km
from Chivay. They cost 10 soles per person (not included in the tour price). In the evening there is a
folkloric show with dinner (dinner is not included in the tour price menu around 20 soles).
You will spend the night at the following hotel or one of similar standard:

(Casa Andina Colca - Arequipa). http://www.casa-andina.com/classic-colca/

Day 05Close to the Condors!

We will have breakfast around 5.30am and then leave the hotel to go to Cruz Del Condor. This is the
point where you can see the depth and beauty of Colca Canyon and where you will hopefully be able to
see condors. After this, we head back towards Chivay, visiting a few small villages on the way.
We will have lunch in Chivay in the afternoon and then begin the journey to Puno.
Once you arrive in Puno, the folklore capital, you will be taken to your hotel where you will stay the
night. You will stay in the following hotel or one of similar standard:

(Hotel la Hacienda Plaza Puno). www.hhp.com.pe/haciendaplaza/en

At night, keep to the main, lit areas. The main street will be obvious and there are lots of little
restaurants there. This would be a good time to buy gifts for your host family on your island trip. Gifts
are not obligatory but recommended. Suggested gifts are: 1 kilo of sugar, 1 kilo of rice, and a bottle of
oil. Practical items such as these are welcomed. Please do not take sweets for the children or give your
host family money.
Day 06Uros - Luquina
The tour begins at 7: am, with the transfer from your hotel to the port of Puno where you will board the
motor boat to take him first to the floating Uros Islands, which are located 25 minutes from the port of
Puno, more of 65 small islands floating living today, but you will visit two, while visiting the guide will
explain a little about the history and lifestyle of the people living in these floating islands, for many
years, you will also have the opportunity to talk with the people of these islands and visit their homes
and learn a little of your lifestyle, you will enjoy one hour of visit floating around these islands.
The tour will continue with a one hour boat ride to the peninsula Chucuito. South of the city of Puno,
where the community is located and Luquina Karina, the remarkable thing about this place is that the
tourist field is new, the inhabitants of this place are very willing to receive visitors in their community,
and definitely you will be received directly by the families, to take them to their homes and spend the
night and where you have 3 meals included with families. Karina community has the white sand beach
of Lake Titicaca larger and hence we have for you, activities as fishing, kayaking, mountain biking, and
also have the opportunity to swim in the crystal clear lake Titicaca that are 10 degrees Celsius, which is
part of the adventure of this tour.

Overnight you have a home stay and will sleep with one of the families at Luquina.

Day 07Luquina Taquile

The second day you take again the motor boat to take to visit the island of Taquile where are "the best
weavers of Peru" this island is also a place rich in tradition and customs that are mixed with the Inca
period and colonial, this tour involves a walk of an hour and a half during which you will visit the main
square of the island where you will have free time to see the fabrics in craft stores, and also visit a local
family where you can have lunch and then return to Puno.

(Casa Andina Classic Tikarani Puno) http://www.casa-andina.com/classic-tikarani/

Day 08On the way to the capital of the Incas!!

We will pick you up at 7:10am and take you to the bus station to catch the bus to Cusco. The bus trip is
more like a tour - it stops at four interesting sites along the way where you have guided tours:
1. Pukara: This is the most important and oldest ceremonial center of the altiplano. There are
interesting sculptures and tombs.
2. La Raya: This is the half-way point between Cusco and Puno and also the highest point (4335
meters above sea level). The landscapes here are stunning and it is common to see typical
Andean animals like the llama, alpaca and vicua. It is also the geographical border between the
two cultures - Quechua and Aymara.
3. Raqchi (Wiracocha God Temple): This was an Inca church of monumental dimensions; 100
meters long, 26 meters wide and 14 meters high. The temple is divided into two naves, and each
nave has eleven giant columns huge!
4. Andahuaylillas: This is the Sistine chapel of South America: this church is one of the most
beautiful examples of Andean popular religious art.
We arrive to Cusco at around 5pm. You will stay in the following hotel or one of similar standard:

(Casa Andina Classic Cusco plaza). http://www.casa-andina.com/classic-cuzco-plaza/

Day 09Open day at Leisure

OPTION 1. Full day Sacred Valley tour (USD 45 extra per person)
You will have breakfast (included) and be picked up from your hotel at 8:15 am. This is a full day
excursion to the Urubamba Valley visiting the colorful Indian market in Pisac where you will be able to
appreciate the mixture of color and tradition. You have the opportunity to test your bartering skills,
interact with the local craftsmen and purchase hand-made souvenirs. Pisac is located at the entrance of
the Sacred Valley. The Valley is 31km/19mi from Cusco, and at an altitude of 2,970m/9,700 ft. After
Pisac we head to Urubamba where we have a delicious buffet lunch at Tunupa restaurant. Then we
continue on to Ollantaytambo, the oldest continuously occupied town on the American continent. The
narrow streets of Ollantaytambo, along with their canals, have not changed much from the time of the
Inca Empire, giving you a feeling of what it would have been like to live during this time. The last visit
will be the Chinchero market. Chinchero is believed to be the mythical birthplace of the rainbow. Its
major claim to tourism is its colorful Sunday market, which is much less tourist-orientated than the
market at Pisac. At the end of the tour, we will return you to the Plaza de Armas in Cusco at
approximately 6:30pm. The night will be free for you to eat in a restaurant of your choice. We always
have plenty of restaurant suggestions for you should you require them.
The full day tour includes:

Private Transport
Professional English speaking guide

The full day tour does not include:

Tourist ticket (ticket for all places on the trip is US$25)

Meals (approximately US$20)
Tips

You will stay in the following hotel or one of similar standard

http://www.casa-andina.com/classic-cuzco-koricancha/ OR Similar standard

Day 10On the way to Machupicchu!!

We will pick you up at 6:45am (to be confirmed) and take you to the train station. The train leaves at
8:20 am (time may change depending on availability and changes to timetable). After a 3.5-hour journey
of majestic views you arrive to Aguas Calientes (Hot Springs Town) where you will spend the night.
There will be plenty of time to relax if you want to have a hot bath in the natural springs!
Things to do in Aguas Calientes:
1. Visit the Machu Picchu 'Manuel Chvez Balln' museum and orchid exhibition. This is open
from 9am to 4.30pm, and is a 35 minute walk down the road from Aguas Calientes to Puente
Ruinas. It is a very illustrative museum that gives an interesting introduction to Machu Picchu.
2. Thermal baths 10 soles per person.
You will stay in the following hotel or one of similar standard:

(Hotel Machu Picchu Green Nature Aguas Calientes) http://www.machupicchugreennature.com/

Day 11Machu Picchu in its Glory big day!

You will have breakfast and then your guide will pick you up from your hotel at 5:40am. You will take
the bus up to majestic Machu Picchu to catch the sunrise, and then begin your walking tour
(approximately 2 hours) with your guide. After this you can explore the mysterious city by yourselves.
You will meet your guide in Aguas Calientes (you can get back by bus or on foot) for lunch and to be
given your train tickets back to Cusco. You will then get the train from Aguas Calientes to
Ollantaytambo, followed by a bus from Ollantaytambo to Cusco.
You will stay in the following hotel or one of similar standard:

(Casa Andina Classic Cusco plaza) http://www.casa-andina.com/classic-cuzco-plaza/.

Day 12Open morning and Fly back to Lima!

You will have the morning to rest and relax and free walking tour. This afternoon transfer to the airport
for your departure flight to Lima.
OPTION 2. Free walking tour

There is an optional free walking tour 10:00am (time to be confirmed) that will show you various parts
of the city of Cusco. We will see the following places:

Plaza de Armas / Main Plaza, which is home to the main cathedral and colonial houses
Plaza Nazarenas (with the convent of Nazarenas)
San Blas neighborhood
The twelve angles stone
San Pedro local market

This afternoon transfer to the airport for your departure flight to Lima.
Day 13Flight to Miami (USA).
After waiting a few hours at the airport, today we will take our connection fly from Lima to Miami.