Tour Duration : 11 Nights And 12 Days

Destinations Covered: Arequipa - Lima - Colca Canyon - Puno - Cuzco - Yucay

Package Inclusions:

• Hotel Accommodation at listed hotels or similar

• All transfers

• Meals as indicated on the itinerary

• All sightseeing & entrance fees as per the itinerary

• Cuzco tourist tax

• Return Vistadome Train service from Ollanta Aguas Calientes

• Return Aguas Calientes Machu Picchu by shuttle bus

• Services of local English speaking guides

• All applicable taxes

Package Exclusions:

• Visa Fees

• International/Domestic Airfare

• Travel insurance of any kind

• Meals not mentioned as being included

• Beverages with meals

• Items of a personal nature

• Tips & gratuities

• Optional Tours

• Items not mentioned as being included

• Local Guide on the train from Puno to Cuzco

• Lima Departure tax (approx $31 USD)

DAY 01 TUESDAY LIMA (-/-/-)

Arrival at the airport in Lima and welcomed by your English speaking guide. Transfer to the hotel, where you will check-in and spend the night

DAY 02 WEDNESDAY LIMA (B/-/-)

Today you will embark on a 4-hour tour of Peru's capital city. The Plaza de Armas, surrounded by the Government Palace, the town hall, the Palace of the Archbishop and the Cathedral, still has its colonial-era majesty. After the plaza, you will visit the beautiful San Francisco monastery. Your tour will continue through the ritzy modern districts of San Isidro and Miraflores, and finally to the coastline, enjoying the view of the Pacific Ocean from the coastal cliffs and beaches. Return to the hotel to spend the night in Lima.

DAY 03 THURSDAY LIMA – AREQUIPA (B/-/-) FLIGHT (not included)

After breakfast, transfer to airport for your flight to Arequipa. (Flight not included in package cost). After check-in at the hotel, you will be picked up in a private vehicle to start a city tour through Arequipa. Your tour of the so called "White City" will take you the Carmen Alto district, where you will be rewarded with beautiful vistas of the city, the volcanoes and pre-Inca terraces. Then you will visit the historic neighbourhoods of San Lázaro and Yanahuara, famous for its viewpoint and church. You will continue your visit to Arequipa's Plaza de Armas and Cathedral, with its three portals. After that, you will continue towards the La Compañia religious complex, which along with its Chapel San Ignacio, forms one of the finest examples of Baroque architecture in the Americas. Finally, you will visit the Santa Catalina monastery, a colonial “city within a city.” The afternoon is at leisure. You will spend the night at your hotel in Arequipa.

DAY 04 FRIDAY AREQUIPA – COLCA CANYON (B/L/D)

Today you start your 2-day excursion to the Colca Canyon, one of the deepest canyons in the world. At 4,160 metres from top to bottom, it is roughly twice as deep as the Grand Canyon. You will start your trip in Arequipa and drive up to Chivay, and the road leads you past four volcanoes: Misti, Chachani, Ampatao, and the still-active Sabancaya. You will stop to visit the Observatory of the Cordillera Occidental and to enjoy a box lunch en route. After your arrival in Chivay, you will check in at your hotel. Afterwards, you will have the chance to explore the surrounding towns – passing by the village of Coporaque, visiting the Amphitheatre of Ocolle and the hot springs of La Calera. In the evening you will return to your hotel for dinner (included).

DAY 05 SATURDAY COLCA CANYON – PUNO (B/-/-)

After an early breakfast you will start your trip to the lookout of Cruz del Condor, located at the deepest point of the canyon. The view is fantastic and condors can often be seen flying above the canyon. Afterwards, you will have a private bus transfer to Puno, on the shores of Lake Titicaca. Upon arrival, check into hotel for an overnight stay in Puno.

DAY 06 SUNDAY PUNO (B/-/-)

Embark on full day (roughly 10 hours) excursion on Lake Titicaca to visit the Uros floating islands. The Aymara people built their houses over floating artificial islands on the waters of Titicaca, in which they still live today. You will continue to Taquile Island, where you will find numerous pre-Inca and Inca ruins and Inca terracing. The islanders still wear their traditional clothing, and you will have the opportunity to shop for fine woollen handicrafts produced by indigenous artisans. Return to hotel for overnight in Puno.

DAY 07 MONDAY PUNO – CUZCO (B/L/-)

After breakfast you will embark on a full day bus tour from Puno to Cuzco. The route passes through the Peruvian highlands, amid snow-covered peaks of the Andes and small villages, and it reaches its highest point in La Raya, 4.300 m above sea level. En route you will visit the town of Andahuaylillas, famed for its beautiful church,, as well as the ruins of Racchi and the small town of Pucara. Lunch in a typical restaurant along the way is included. Upon arrival in Cuzco, you will transfer to your hotel. Please note: The Andean Explorer train from Puno to Cuzco, including lunch, can be booked in advance upon request for US $205, depending on availability, in lieu of the public bus.

DAY 08 TUESDAY CUZCO (B/-/-)

Today you will do a half day city tour of Cuzco. You will visit the Plaza de Armas, once the centre of the Inca empire and now a perfectly preserved example of sixteenth and seventeenth-century architecture, including the cathedral built on the ruins of an ancient Inca palace. You will get the chance to explore the rest of the old centre, which today is a maze of ancient streets, Inca walls and colonial churches. You will also have the chance to visit Inca ruins outside the city: Tambomachay, the “Bath of the Inca,” in which crystalline water tumbles through ancient terraces and stonework; Kenko, an amphitheatre used for sacred Inca rites; the “Red Fort” of Puca Pucará, a complex of towers, terraces, stairways, niche-filled halls and access-ways; and the famed Sacsayhuaman, an example of perfect Inca stonework spread across massive walls and three platforms. Overnight in Cuzco

DAY 09 WEDNESDAY CUZCO (B/-/-)

The day is free at leisure to explore the city of Cuzco or book some optional tours on the spot. During the special Inti Raymi departure– Wednesday, 24th June 2009 – the group will visit the traditional Inti Raymi celebrations. Overnight in Cuzco. *Please find detailed information at the end of the document.

DAY 10 THURSDAY CUZCO - YUCAY (B/-/-)

On Day 10, enjoy a half-day tour to the Sacred Valley of the Incas. Visit the famous Indian market in the town of Pisac, where indigenous artisans sell their crafts, including jewellery, alpaca wool textiles, ceramics and wood carvings. Afterwards, continue to the hotel in Yucay, located in the Urubamba Valley. The rest of the day is at leisure, so you can pick your own activities. The following optional tour can be booked with our office: Optional: Half day excursion to the ruin site of Ollantaytambo including a visit to the colonial town and the immense, terraced archaeological ruins.

DAY 11 FRIDAY YUCAY - MACHU PICCHU – YUCAY (B/-/-)

Transfer to the train station in Ollantaytambo, where the train will take you to Aguas Calientes, and a bus will take you to Machu Picchu. You will then receive a guided tour of world-famous Machu Picchu, a dazzling collection of buildings made by expert builders over 500 years ago. You will marvel at the plazas, walls and churches composed of blocks fitted perfectly together, without any mortar. Most spectacularly, all of these structures are perched high atop a misty mountain ridge. After the tour, you will transfer to Ollantaytambo and then on to Yucay. Overnight in Yucay.

DAY 12 SATURDAY YUCAY – CUZCO – LIMA (B/-/-) FLIGHT (not included)

Transfer to the airport in Cuzco for the return flight to Lima (flight not included).

STANDARD HOTELS

Lima
Hotel Jose Antonio
Impressively situated on the shores of Titicaca Lake, this hotel offers contemporary accommodation 10 minutes from Desaguadero. Hotel Jose Antonio features free Wi-Fi in public areas. The spacious rooms of the hotel offer views of the lake and include a marble bathroom with bathtub and hairdryer. The rooms are also equipped with other amenities such as cable TV reception and air-conditioning.

Arequipa
Posada Del Inca Arequipa
Sonesta Posada del Inca is located in the center of the Arequipa's Main Square and next to city's beautiful Cathedral.

Colca Canyon
Hotel Casa Andina Colca
The hotel is located in the heart of Chivay (3,650m/11,975 ft), the main town and gateway to exploring Colca Valley, the hotel is perfectly situated to explore either the right or left bank of Colca Canyon. Chivay is 170 km/104 miles north of Arequipa, approximately 2.5 hours by road from Arequipa.

Puno
Hotel Jose Antonio Puno
Impressively situated on the shores of Titicaca Lake, this hotel offers contemporary accommodation 10 minutes from Desaguadero. Hotel Jose Antonio features free Wi-Fi in public areas. The spacious rooms of the hotel offer views of the lake and include a marble bathroom with bathtub and hairdryer. The rooms are also equipped with other amenities such as cable TV reception and air-conditioning.

Cuzco
Hotel Eco Inn Cuzco
Eco Inn is a short walk from Cusco's main square and just in front of Cusco's largest craft market. Each room is equipped with LCD flat-screen TV with cable channels and some rooms have a balcony. Free wired internet access is available throughout. The Atrium Café has lovely water features and there is also Wi-Fi access.

Yucay
Sonesta Posada Del Inca
The 87-room Sonesta Posadas del Inca Yucay is located in the heart of the Sacred Valley of the Incas, a one-hour drive from the ancient Inca capital of Cusco and close to Machu Picchu. The Sonesta Yucay Posada is a former 18th century colonial-style monastery and is surrounded by beautiful gardens.

SUPERIOR HOTELS

Lima
Sonesta Hotel El Olivar
Sonesta El Olivar Hotel is located in the attractive business and residential district of San Isidro in Lima, Peru. Its unique location provides easy access to important institutions and major corporations as well as boutiques, shopping centers, restaurants and nightlife.

Arequipa
Casa Andina Private Collection

Colca Canyon
Colca Lodge
The Colca Lodge is located 170 Km north from Arequipa City in the middle of the Colca Valley, at 3,250 meters above sea level. The Lodge has comfortable rooms, bar-restaurant service and a special personalized treatment, and also offer you the opportunity to enjoy a marvellous natural environment which includes thermal water springs with medicinal properties ideal from which to observe the impressive star filled sky of the southern hemisphere.

Puno
Casa Andina Pvt Coll

Cuzco
Casa Andina Private Collection

Yucay
Casa Andina Private Col

TOUR RATES & DATES

Currency	From	To	Tour Category	Twin	Single	Single Supplement
USD	04-Jan-12	03-Nov-12	Standard	3,085.00	-	3,610.00
USD	04-Jan-12	03-Nov-12	Superior	3,418.00	-	4,349.00

Essence Of Peru