Peru Tours & Travel - Travel to the Incas - Lima, Cusco, Sacred Valley, Machu Picchu, Lake Titicaca & La Paz

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Following is one of the possible itineraries for your trip. Days may be adjusted due to schedule alterations of Peru Rail / Orient Express Trains.

Day 1: Lima
Upon arrival in Lima, Peru, meet your local 4**** Peru tour guide or representative at the airport and transfer to the Hotel* - centrally located in Miraflores, the modern center of the city, near restaurants, commercial centers, the Indian markets and parks. You will receive a briefing about your travel program and all documents for your trip.
This afternoon, ejoy a tour of Peru's bustling capital is one of the most interesting cities in South America - a potent mix of colonial architecture, superb museums, Inca gold and glamorous shops. It is built on both sides of the River Rimac and was founded by Pizarro in 1535. Having experienced changing fortunes over its history, it is now claiming its place amongst South America's emerging hotspots.
Visit to San Francisco, the greatest monumental complex of colonial art in America. We will see its basilica with 21 altars, convent with a cloister and Clementina and Capitular rooms, choir and monk's library, and the Museo de Profundis that has 111 canvases from the Rubens School. We will also see the Sacristy, with works by Zurbaran and Rivera, the Gran Patio ornamented with XVI century tiles from Sevilla, Moorish arcs and finally the underground catacombs.
Lima - Hotel Country Club *****
Lima - Hotel Thunderbird Las Americas Principal *****
Lima - Hotel Habitat ***

Day 2: Fascinating Cuzco
Transfer to the airport for the flight to Cuzco. After 1 hour flight, arrival in Cuzco and transfer to the Hotel* in Cuzco a new hotel in the city center, a few blocks from the Main Square. The rest of the morning is spent at leisure in order to get accustomed to the altitude. This afternoon, enjoy a visit to the city, the old capital of the Inca Empire, including the Cathedral and the Korikancha (the ancient temple of the Sun), as well as the nearby ruins of Sacsayhuaman, Tambomachay and Qenqo.
Tonight's dinner and folklore show are included!
Cusco - Hotel Monasterio *****
Cusco - Hotel Novotel ****
Cusco - Casa Andina Cusco Catedral ***

Day 3: Market day in Pisak, Sacred Valley (Tuesdays, Thursdays & Sundays only)
Probably the most spectacular market in all of the Andes! But Pisac is also a superb Inca fortress, with temple ruins that still overwhelm with their most magnificent Inca masonry. In the afternoon follow the Sacred Valley along Rio Urubamba down to Ollentaytambo. How to survive under these climatic conditions, feed an enormously numerous population? See the a complete irrigation system in the mountains, canals cut out of the sheer rock. The flights of terraces leading up above the town are superb and so are the curving terraces following the contours of the rocks overlooking the Urubamba.
Sacred Valley - Casa Andina Valle Sagrado ****
Sacred Valley - Hotel Pakaritampu ***

Day 4: Travel to Machu Picchu & Aguas Calientes
Early in the morning transfer to the station for the train travel to Machu Picchu. A scenic train journey brings you to the town of Aguas Calientes, where you will take a shuttle bus up to the entrance of the ruins. Guided visit to Machu Picchu, the “Lost City of the Incas”, with its fabulous architecture and astonishing landscapes. After free time for lunch, return by shuttle bus from Machu Picchu to Aguas Calientes. Tonight choose from one of the many little restaurants for your dinner. Too many different tastes are available, you'll have to decide for yourself! Tonight overnight (please check tour details here) in Aguas Calientes in the shadow of Machu Picchu at the Hatuchay Towers**** Aguas Calientes

Day 5: Return to Machu Picchu on your own or Relax!
This morning, opt to return to the citadel of Machu Picchu. (See all versions here) You are in the village named after it's hot springs. (Aguas calientes = Hot waters). Enjoy the view of the valley while you are getting soaked in one of the pools. In the afternoon take your 1st class train back to Cuzco or Ollantaytambo (depending on the train availability). Transfer to your hotel and have a last stroll over the baroque heart of Cusco, the Plaza de Armas.

Day 6: 1st class Train to Puno! (Mondays, Wednesdays & Saturdays, with occasional service on other days)
Another interesting but relaxing day is waiting for you. As you sink in to your first class seat, watch mountains go by as high as 20 000 feet, snow capped & majestic. As the train stops en route, glimpse out of the window and wonder how the local Indians live here. See potato fields that feed these people and which from here through the Spanish conquerors also became a mainstay for the entire world. (Please note: Train schedule subject to scheduling by Peru Rail; alternatively transfer will be by first class tourist bus including sightseeings and lunch along the route to Lake Titicaca. View All versions here )
This evening, check in to the Hotel* at the shores of lake Titicaca Tonight's dinner is included.
Puno - Casa Andina Private Collection ****
Puno - Hotel La Hacienda ***

Day 7: Lake Titicaca and it's floating islands
You are at 3855 m above sea level! Sounds even more amazing to say you are at almost 12000 feet! See today how the Uro Indian tribe lives on floating islands in the lake as the fish, hunt birds and live of lake plants.

This afternoon have a look at the astonishing pre-Columbian funeral towers of Sillustani in a beautiful setting on a peninsula in lake Umayo. Archeologists attempts to rebuild the towers has been defeated. The engineering involved is more complex then anything the Incas built.

Day 8: Along lake Titicaca to Bolivia
NEW: Alternatively is is now also possible to take a cruise over lake Titicaca, with lunch stop on the Island of the Sun! A visit to Tiahuanaco can then be done on Monday instead of the Moon valley and La Paz city tours.
Continue on to La Paz, the highest capital in the world where you spend your last night in the Andes in the very nice Hotel* in the lower part of the city, where the air is a bit thicker! Tonight's dinner is included.
La Paz - Hotel Camino Real Suites *****
La Paz - Apart Hotel Ritz *****
La Paz - Hotel Presidente ****

Day 9: City Tour of La Paz & Valley of the Moon
Enjoy a city tour of the Bolivian capital, followed by a special excursion to the Valle de la Luna (Valley of the Moon).
This morning we will start our tour of the city with a visit to the Plaza Murillo (the main square) At the Plaza Murillo, originally the Plaza de Armas, it was renamed after General Murillo, one of the heroes of the Bolivian independence movement, we are in the center of La Paz. The square is bordered by the cathedral and by the Government Palace, or the Palacio Quemado for the number of times it has burned. Across the plaza is the Congress building that before 1904 housed a convent, a jail, and a university.
Iglesia de San Francisco - reconstruction from 1784 of the original 1548 church. Note the combination of Christian and indigenous figures and animals carved on the stone facade.
No visit to La Paz is complete without a visit to the Mercado de Hechicería, the Witches Market also called Mercado de las Brujas. On sale here are herbs and magic charms for any occasion, as well as those for love, money or health.
Then for a change of scenery we will travel outside of the capital a few miles to come to the Valley of the Moon. It really isn't a valley at all but a badlands of hills and rock eroded into weird shapes and deep gulleys. The setting is in a rural and peaceful landscape that contrasts wonderfully with the constant hum of the city of La Paz itself. From here there are great views all around including looking down over the city itself. Here we will also visit a ceramic workshop with a demonstration of the art of pottery.
Overnight back in La Paz.

Day 10: Transfer home or continue onwards!
Return today to the airport, or continue with another tour! Example: see our Bolivia to Chile extension

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Our Suggestion for Add-ons:

Bolivia to Chile: La Paz & Atacama Desert

Brazilian Amazon: Peixe Boi-Tour

Iguassu Falls, Atlantic Rainforest & São Paulo (+ Bonus Rio de Janeiro!)