13 Night Cultural Tour of Peru

VISIT TO LIMA CITY AND A MUSEUM (5 hours)

Private Services

Experience the capital of Peru through a diverse tour including the old center of Lima with the beautiful decorated squares surrounded by architecture from the colonial age.As Peru is one of the oldest civilizations in the world, the visit to the museum will make you appreciate the Andean and pre-Columbian art even more.

Cathedral of Lima

Construction for the cathedral began in 1535, the same year the city of Lima was founded. Throughout the years it withstood various earthquakes and underwent a lot of renovations. It is also where the conqueror Francisco Pizarro is buried, and the visit you will have the chance to visit its religious museum.
Today it stands towering over Lima’s main square and is one the main attraction of the colonial city center.

Larco Museum

Continue your visit to the “Larco Herrera Museum”, founded in 1926, this museum shows impressive galleries arranged chronologically with more than 3000 years of development history of pre-Columbian Peru. It has the finest collection of gold and silver from ancient Peru and the famous erotic art collection.
The Larco Museum is one of the few museums in the world where visitors can also access the storage area, with more than 45,000 properly classified archaeological objects. His masterpieces are considered icons throughout the world of pre-Columbian art, having been exhibited in the most important museums in the world.

The San Francisco Church

The construction of the convent began in the mid-sixteenth century; today, it remains one of the most exceptional legacies of the Viceroyal period. The monastery has a library that features twenty-five thousand ancient texts, an Islamic inspired dome, carved in wood and, the most chilling aspect, a series of catacombs that have on display the bones of more than twenty-five thousand people.

After being forgotten for a long time, the catacombs were rediscovered in 1943 and some believe they are connected to the city’s cathedral and other churches through a network of underground tunnels. At the time of their construction, the crypts were the burial grounds for members of guilds and brotherhoods. Now visitors can observe them through the floors of the church of San Francisco, held together by nets. The bones are laid out in geometric shapes, especially in mandala patterns, suggesting that whoever placed them favored a metaphysical purpose before a useful one.

You will spend the night at Hotel JW Marriott Lima (Deluxe Room).

Included: private transportation, entrance to Lima Cathedral, entrance to Larco Museum, entrance to San Francisco convent, English speaking guide, breakfast, room at your selected hotel

Transfer from your hotel to the airport in Lima. The airport is located in the district of Callao, about 16km from Miraflores and it will take approximately 45 minutes to one hour to arrive.

Domestic flight by client. The flight ticket is quoted separately.

Transfer from airport to your selected hotel in Arequipa. At your arrival, look for a sign with your name on it.The airport is located in the town of Arequipa, about 8.3 km from main square and it will take approximately 30 minutes to arrive.

AREQUIPA CITY TOUR AND SANTA CATALINA CONVENT (Half day)

Private Services Arequipa is a charming city in the Peruvian Andes. Thanks to its white colonial buildings, Arequipa is also called the ‘White City’. It is the second city in Peru and even has been the country’s capital from 1835 until 1883. This city tour lasts approximately three hours and begins when your guide picks you up at your hotel in town. You visit the viewpoints of Yanahuara and Carmen Alto, after which you start wandering through the colonial streets. Your guide takes you to San Francisco, Santo Domingo, and the beautiful monastery of Santa Catalina (entrance of the Santa Catalina Convent is included). The monastery was built in the 16th century and opened to visitors in 1970. Nowadays, it is one of the most important attractions of the city.

You will spend the night at Hotel Casa Andina Premium Arequipa (Superior room).

Included: departure transfer, arrival transfer, English speaking guide, entrance to Santa Catalina convent, private transportation, breakfast, room at your selected hotel

COLCA CANYON PROGRAM

Private Services

FIRST DAY: AREQUIPA – COLCA CANYON

After breakfast, you set off to the spectacular Colca Valley to travel up the foothills of Chachani Volcano and admire the Misti and Picchu Picchu Volcanoes. Subsequently, you cross the vicuña reserve of Pampa Cañahuas, where you can see the smaller version of the llama roaming freely in the Andean highlands.

The next stop is at a restaurant called the Chinitos, located at an altitude of 4000 meters. Here, passengers can use the restrooms and drink the traditional ‘Mate de Coca’, helping you to get used to the altitude. Continuing the trip, you make a stop at Toccra Pampa, where you can see llamas, alpacas, and different species of birds near the crater of the Chucura Volcano, to subsequently reach the scenic viewpoint Los Andes in Patapampa (4910 meters). From here, you have a breathtaking view of various volcanoes surrounding Arequipa.

You have lunch (not included) in the legendary town of Chivay, after which you go to your hotel.

You will spend the night at Las Casitas, A Belmond Hotel, Colca Canyon (Casita Garden View Room).

Included: English speaking guide, private transportation, entrance to the Colca Valley, breakfast, room at your selected hotel, Activity, dinner

SECOND DAY: COLCA CANYON – PUNO

Early in the morning, you will go to the famous viewpoint Cruz del Condor. In the stunning landscape of the canyon, you have the opportunity to see condors, the impressive Andean birds that are on the brink of extinction and the symbol of the Andes. It is a once-in-a-lifetime experience to see these majestic birds floating in the air, with the Colca Canyon in the background. Before you return to Chivay, you head to the small town of Yanque, to visit its well-kept colonial church. Once back in Chivay, you visit Maca, Antahuilque, and Peña Blanca, to enjoy even more of this beautiful rural area.

After lunch (not included), you travel to Puno located at the banks of Titicaca Lake. This is a four to five hour ride taking you through amazing landscapes. Your guide drives your through the Peruvian highlights and makes some stops allowing you to stretch your legs and have a short break. Most are just bathroom stops, but you do visit Chinito shortly to admire its lagoon and birds. Around 18:00 hrs. you arrive in Puno.

You will spend the night at Hotel Casa Andina Premium Puno. (Superior Room)

Included: English speaking guide, private transportation, breakfast, room at your selected hotel

UROS & TAQUILE TOUR (Full day)

Private Services

A 35-minute boat trip from the port of Puno brings you to a group of very special islands. Here, the Uros people made not only there boats and houses out of totora, they also made their islands out of this strong type of reed! The Uros people do not only stand out because of their unique way of life, they are also a very hospital people and are happy to share their beautiful culture with visitors.

After learning about the Uros’ traditions and daily life, you head to Taquile, a ‘real’ island and another highlight of Titicaca Lake. You walk uphill for about an hour until you reach the central square of the village, where you enjoy a local lunch (not included). Subsequently, you head further uphill climbing the 535 stone steps of Taquile. In the afternoon, you return to your hotel.

Lunch in Taquile.

You will spend the night at Hotel Casa Andina Premium Puno. (Superior Room)

Included: Boat, English speaking guide, entrance fee to the mentioned services, entrance to Taquile, entrance to Uros islands, private transportation, breakfast, room at your selected hotel

Transfer from your hotel to the bus terminal in Puno.

Public bus from Puno to Cusco. The journey takes about 10 hours.

Bus schedule: 07h00 – 17h30

On route we you be amazed by the impressive Altiplano landscape, dry and barren scenery with wide views, lots of vicuñas and local communities. The first place to visit is Pukara, the stepped pyramid elaborated by the villagers of Pukara, 106 km to the north of Cusco, whose antiquity surpasses 3.500 years, it is impressive and enigmatic.

You will cross La Raya pass at an altitude of 4319 m. From here on you will be descending through a marvelous valley cultivated with lots of crops such as corn and potatoes. Buffet lunch en route.

Before arriving to Cusco you will visit Andahuaylillas, whose famous colonial church is known as the “Sixtine Chapel of the Americas” because of its beautiful painted ceiling and other art treasures and we will visit Raqchi, a great temple complex and your first encounter with Inca Ruins also known as the Temple of Wiracocha on route.

Transfer from the bus station to your selected Hotel in Cusco. Please be aware of the sign with your name on it.

You will spend the night at Hotel Palacio del Inka Luxury Collection (Classic Room).

Included: departure transfer, bus ticket, English speaking guide, lunch, entrance to Andahuaylillas, entrance to Pucara museum, entrance to Raqchi, arrival transfer, breakfast, room at your selected hotel

CUSCO CITY TOUR & SURROUNDINGS (Half day)

Private Services

Time to explore magical Cusco! This beautiful city has an interesting history, both from Inca and colonial times. You start this half-day tour at Cusco’s main square, which was called Huacaypata (Warriors Square) by the Incas.

While the guide tells you more about the history of this special place, you can admire the city’s cathedral that was built between 1560 and 1664 with the red granite stones from the Inca Fortress of Sacsayhuaman. The cathedral is without doubt one of the most impressive buildings in Cusco, and not only from the outside: the historical buildings hosts one of the most significant collections of gold and silver work of the colonial period.

Next, you continue to Koricancha and the Convent of Santo Domingo. The convent was built on top of the most important Inca temple dedicated to the worship of the sun, with walls covered with gold leaf. Wandering through the streets of what once was the capital of the Inca Empire, you feel like you are traveling through time.

After exploring Cusco, you head to the nearby ruins, such as the Sacsayhuaman Fortress with its immense temple walls made out of huge stones constructed in a zigzag pattern; the red fort Puca Pucara; the Qenko Amphitheater, and Tambomachay, the Inca baths. Full of new knowledge about the history of the Incas, you return to your hotel in Cusco.

You will spend the night at Hotel Palacio del Inka Luxury Collection (Classic Room).

Included: private transportation, English speaking guide, entrance to Cusco Cathedral, entrance to Koricancha temple, entrance Touristic General ticket, breakfast, room at your selected hotel

TRADITIONAL SACRED VALLEY TOUR (Full day)

Private Services

The Sacred Valley, located between Cusco and Machu Picchu, was unquestionably an important area for the Incas. Its agreeable climate and fertile plains create the perfect conditions for growing crops. For the Incas, this region was also on the route to the jungle and had therefore a key role in trading fruits and plants of the tropical lowlands. Today, the Sacred Valley remains a lush agricultural region supplying the city of Cusco with many agricultural products.

With this full-day tour, you start the day with visiting the Pisac Andean market, where thousands of people from the region come to sell and/or buy agricultural products and handicrafts. It is an interesting experience offering you new insights in the cultural of this region and, of course, you also have time to do some shopping!

In the afternoon, you visit the Ollantaytambo Ruins. These famous ruins are named after Ollanta, a warrior who fell in love with an Inca princess but was not allowed to marry her. One of the best preserved sites of this area is known as Hanan Huacaypata and is north of the main square. These ruins exist out of elegantly crafted stone walks.

The tour is concluded with a stop at Chinchero, a village specialized in textile products that also has an interesting Inca history. Afterwards, you are brought to your hotel.

You will spend the night at Hotel Hotel Inkaterra Hacienda Urubamba in a Superior Deluxe Room

Included: private transportation, entrance to Ollantaytambo, entrance to Pisac, English speaking guide, breakfast, room at your selected hotel

Private transport from Urubamba to Ollantaytambo.

VOYAGER TRAIN (OLLANTAYTAMBO – MACHU PICCHU)
Train schedule: 06h40-08h01.

Begin your journey enjoying our comfortable seats with foldable tables in front, panoramic windows and our excellent on board service that will maximize your experience. Delight in the incredible landscape along the route to Machu Picchu and try our selection of complementary natural drinks, prepared using Andean essences representative of the region.

Note:*Train schedule is subject to availability.*Luggage allowed: A daypack with 8 kilos per person. Rest of luggage, must be left at your hotel.

You will meet your guide in Aguas Calientes, who will then take you to Machu Picchu and give you a guided tour through the archeological site.

Walk to the bus station to take your bus up to Machu Picchu.

Shared transfer from Aguas Calientes to Machu Picchu and from Machu Picchu back to Aguas Calientes.

TOUR MACHU PICCHU (3 hours)

Private Services

Machu picchu was only re-discovered in 1911 by the explorer Hiram Bingham, this citadel is considered to be one of the most extraordinary examples of landscapes architecture in the world. Located in an enclave on the saddle of a mountain overlooking the deep canyon of the Urubamba River, in an area of lush tropical forest, it served as a place of worship, a site for star-gazing and a private hacienda of the family of the Inca Pachacutec. It consists of two main areas one agricultural, formed mainly by mountains and food stores, and the other urban, which is noted for its sacred zone with its temples, squares and royal tombs. The stairways and canals carved out of stone are recurrent throughout this remarkable archaeological site.

Machu Picchu was declared a Peruvian Historical Sanctuary in 1981 and a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1983. In 2007, it was chosen as one of the New Seven Wonders of the World.

In the morning / In the afternoon / In the night, you will take the Voyager train down from Aguas Calientes to Ollantaytambo.

VOYAGER TRAIN (MACHU PICCHU – OLLANTAYTAMBO)

Train time: 14h30-15h56.

Train time: 19h00-20h41.

Note:*Train schedule is subject to availability.

You will have a private transport from Ollantaytambo station to Cusco.

You will spend the night at Hotel Palacio del Inka Luxury Collection (Classic Room).

Included: private transportation, snack, train ticket, English speaking guide, bus ticket, entrance to Machu Picchu, arrival transfer, breakfast, room at your selected hotel

Transfer from your selected hotel to the airport in Cusco.

Domestic flight by client. The flight ticket is quoted separately.

3D JUNGLE PROGRAM INKATERRA RESERVA AMAZONICA

Shared services

DAY ONE – WELCOME TO PUERTO MALDONADO

Begin to experience the enchantment of the rainforest, as you take a 45-minute boat ride along the Madre de Dios River to arrive at Inkaterra Reserva Amazonica lodge. On your first day, we recommend a guided walk along the Trail system, into the Inkaterra Reserva Amazonica natural area, where you will discover the Amazon Basin.

This trail offers an excellent introduction to the jungle environment, winding past impressive trees such as the Shihuahuaco, and the strangely beautiful strangler fig, offering excellent opportunities for bird watching and observing exotic insects.

We also recommend on the first night our Twilight River excursion — a guided afternoon boat ride on the Madre de Dios river. Witness the transformation from a diurnal to a nocturnal world: animals and birds of the daytime give way to species specially adapted to the night. After dinner, you may retire early to your own cabaña, or join us to talk about your experience in the rainforest, as you listen to the intriguing sounds of the jungle at night.

You will spend the night at Reserva Amazonica Lodge (Standard Room).

Included: departure transfer, dinner, English speaking guide, entrance fee to the mentioned services, lunch, arrival transfer, accommodation, shared excursion, boxed lunch, room at your selected hotel

SECOND DAY – INKATERRA RESERVA AMAZÓNICA PROGRAM

Breakfast begins at 5h30, for those who want to avoid the heat and enjoy nature at its fullest. A full buffet breakfast is served from 5h30 a.m. to 9h30 This morning you may visit the Lake Sandoval excursion into the Tambopata National Reserve. Glide in a wooden canoe, across a beautiful, mirror-like oxbow lake that is home to the endangered giant river otter, as well as red howler monkeys, red-bellied macaws, anacondas, side-neck turtles and black caimans. Return to the Inkaterra Reserva Amazonica for lunch.

After lunch, consider visit the remarkable Inkaterra Canopy Walkway and Anaconda Walk. Ascending the first tower, 29 meters above the forest ground, you begin your encounter with the treetop realm. For more than a quarter of a mile, you will literally walk through the rainforest canopy on a suspension bridge network linking eight observation platforms. During this hour-and-a-half expedition, be on the lookout for bright toucans, woodpeckers, trogons, monkeys and the three-toed sloth. If you wish you may extend your excursion and appreciate the sunset from one of the towers.

After your descent from the Canopy, experience the Anaconda Walk for about 30 minutes along the 200-meter wooden bridge over the Aguajales swamps. In this lush eco system, you may observe the various species of amphibians, birds, mammals, abundant flora, trees and there is a possibility to see snakes of this flooded marshland. The walk finishes by returning to the lodge.

You will spend the night at Reserva Amazonica Lodge (Standard Room).

Included: English speaking guide, all meals, accommodation, entrance fee to the mentioned services, shared excursion, breakfast, dinner, lunch

THIRD DAY – INKATERRA RESERVA AMAZÓNICA PROGRAM

Enjoy a full breakfast before departure. A 45-minute return trip by boat on the Madre de Dios River takes you to Puerto Maldonado, where you will visit the Butterfly House. Peru boasts the greatest variety of butterflies in the world, with 3,700 known species. Many of these can be seen at the Butterfly House, a showcase for the variety, beauty and adaptability of these fascinating insects.

You will have a shared transfer to the airport.

Domestic flight by client. The flight ticket is quoted separately.

You will spend the night at Hotel JW Marriott Lima (Deluxe Room).

Included: breakfast, English speaking guide, departure transfer, room at your selected hotel

Transfer from your hotel to the airport in Lima. The airport is located in the district of Callao, about 16km from Miraflores and it will take approximately 45 minutes to one hour to arrive.

International flight by client.