HIGHLIGHTS OF PERU ITINERARY:
DAY 1: USA or Canada/Lima, Peru
Arrive this evening in Lima, the "City of Kings,"
established by the Spanish explorer Pizarro in 1535 on the site
of Incan and other Amerindian settlements.
JW Marriott Hotel
DAY 2: Lima
Today, tour colonial and modern Lima, including the
fascinating Larco Herrera Museum, an 18th-century mansion that
is now home to a collection spanning more than 4,000 years of
pre-Columbian history. This evening, the owner of Casa
Garcia-Alvarado, a splendid example of Lima's early 20th-century
Republican architecture, hosts a welcome dinner. JW Marriott
Hotel B D
DAY 3: Lima/Sacred Valley
Fly to Cusco and continue to the Sacred Valley of the Incas
where you visit Pisac's bustling market. Try your bartering
skills for sweaters, ponchos, wall hangings, jewelry and other
local goods. Lunch is at Hacienda Huayocari, a private residence
with an impressive collection of Incan and colonial art and
artifacts, hosted by the Lambarri-Orihuelas family. Admire the
views of the Sacred Valley of the Incas from Huayocari's
location on the summit of a hill sheltered by Andean mountain
peaks. This afternoon, visit the town of Chincheros where you
learn how wool is shorn from the llamas and alpacas and then
spun, dyed and woven to produce a range of beautiful products.
Later, experience a local ritual that pays homage to Pachamama,
the "Earth Mother."
Casa Andina Hotel B L D
DAY 4: Sacred Valley
Today, visit Ollantaytambo, the site of the Inca's greatest
victory against the Spanish during the wars of conquest.
Constructed of rose-colored granite, this huge installation was
once a thriving complex of baths, temples and military barracks.
This afternoon visit a local ceramics studio, dedicated to the
rediscovery of techniques and designs from ancient Peruvian
cultures. Casa Andina Hotel B L D
DAY 5: Sacred Valley/Machu Picchu
Early this morning, board the Vistadome train bound for
Aguas Calientes, gateway to Machu Picchu. Accompanied by your
A&K guide and the resident archaeologist, explore the citadel's
ruins and feel its pulse as you visualize the lives of the
priests, craftsmen and servants who once inhabited this
seemingly uninhabitable city. Excavations at the site have
revealed skeletons, artifacts and woolen clothing, but no hint
as to the secret of its lost people; the Incas left no written
record. Share your impressions of this extraordinary place with
your fellow travellers back at your lodge.
Inkaterra Machu Picchu B L D
DAY 6: Machu Picchu/Cusco
The morning is free to walk through Machu Picchu at sunrise
before the crowds arrive. If you choose, hike with your guide to
the Huayna Picchu - the highest part of the ruins, offering
spectacular views of the surrounding area and the "lost city."
Alternatively, hike to the Inti Punku (Sun Gate), the entry
point to Machu Picchu on the Inca Trail. After lunch, transfer
back to the Vistadome train bound for Cusco.
Hotel Monasterio B L
DAY 7: Cusco
Embark on a morning tour of colonial Cusco that takes you to
the Cathedral on the Plaza de Armas, and the Santo Domingo
Temple, a Dominican church and convent built on the Incan
foundations of the Koricancha or "place of gold." Later, explore
the ruins of Sacsayhuaman, a testimonial to Incan architectural
skills. Compiled of massive stones, the walls were cut and
fitted together with incredible precision and without a single
drop of mortar to hold them in place; a sheet of paper cannot
slide between them. Enjoy lunch at the Pre-Columbian Art Museum,
a former Incan ceremonial court where nearly 500 masterworks are
on display. The remainder of the day is free to explore or relax
at leisure; other nearby sites you might visit on your own
include Inca Wasi, the highest Incan site; the sculptures of
Chulquipalta; the stunning carved terraces of Moray; and
Vilcabamba, the fortification where the last Incan resistance to
Spanish rule was crushed in 1572. Hotel Monasterio B L
DAY 8: Cusco/Lima
This morning return to Lima and then transfer to your hotel.
The rest of the day is at leisure to relax, do some last minute
shopping or stroll through the city. Tonight's farewell dinner
is at a local restaurant specializing in Peruvian cuisine and
located in one of the biggest pre-Columbian temples of the city.
JW Marriott Hotel B D
DAY 9: Lima/USA or Canada
This morning you are transferred to the airport to board your
international flight. B
Back to
A&K SOUTH AMERICA & THE GALAPAGOS- Menu
Page
Click Here to View Our Selection of
South America Tours
