Essence of Peru 14d/13n (ECMIT14)
Lima - Arequipa - Colca Canyon - Puno - Lake Titicaca - Cusco - Machupicchu - Lima

Southern Peru offers a unique combination of stunning natural sites and cultural heritage. The charming colonial city of Cusco, the world wonder Machupicchu, spotting the Andean condor in one of the deepest canyons on earth, a stay on a private island on Lake Titicaca and gourmet meals in Lima have all been put together in this amazing 2-week program.

Itinerary

Day 1 Arrive Lima

You are met upon arrival and transferred to your hotel.

Day 2 Lima

Today we embark upon a full day guided tour of Lima, visiting the historical center, the Plaza de Armas and the San Francisco Monastery. Lunch at Restaurant Malabar where Pedro Miguel Schiaffino, one of the most renowned chefs in the country, will delight us with some of the finest examples of the new Peruvian gourmet cuisine. In the afternoon, we visit the impressive and world-famous Gold Museum, including one of the largest collections of gold pieces beloging to ancient cultures of Peru, as well as fine examples of textiles and weapons.
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Day 3 Lima - Arequipa

This morning we fly to Arequipa, where we check in to our chosen hotel upon arrival. The afternoon is devoted to exploring Arequipa, also known as “the White City” due to the predominance of the white volcanic rock called “sillar” used in its buildings. We start our visit in the beautiful Santa Catalina convent, founded in 1580, and located in the historical center of Arequipa, including houses for the nuns, cloisters, narrow streets, kitchens, old ovens and laundry areas that are magnificently maintained. From here we continue to visit the impressive mummy Juanita, a young Inca girl sacrificed as an offering to the Gods in Inca times, found only about 10 years ago in the Ampato volcano after the eternal snows of the glaciers were shaken by an earthquake. We follow to the Compañía Church, built by the Jesuit Order, with a beautiful mestizo baroque style façade, an impressive cupola and a famous cloister. We end our visit at the residential districts of Yanahuara and Chilina, offering spectacular views of the Misti volcano in the late afternoon, before returning to the hotel.
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Day 4 Arequipa - Colca Canyon

After breakfast, our private transport picks us up from the hotel to start our overland trip towards the Colca Canyon, one of the deepest canyons in the world. On the way we go through Pampa Cañahuas and several villages such as Pulpera, Callalli, Sibayo and Tuti, reaching an altitude of 3400 meters above sea level (11,152 ft). We will very probably have the chance to spot herds of alpacas and llamas, and maybe vicuñas as well. Inactive volcanoes as well as geological formations featuring curious shapes caused by erosion are also characteristic along our route. We finally arrive in Chivay, the biggest and most populated village in the Colca Canyon, near which most hotels are located. In the afternoon we may enjoy a relaxing dip in the lovely hot springs of La Calera, whose waters come naturally hot due to the volcanic presence in the area.
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Day 5 Colca Canyon

Today we leave our hotel very early in the morning. We drive across the left side of the canyon to the Condor Cross lookout, where we may have the chance to spot the Andean Condor, considered the biggest bird in the world, with a wing span over 3m wide, and also appreciate the impressive depth of the canyon. On our way back to the hotel, we drive through beautiful typical towns, like Yanque and Maca, with charming colonial churches, and we have the opportunity to meet local people with typical needlework dresses. On the sides of the road we can also appreciate hundreds of pre Inca terraces, where people still grow Andean products like corn, quinoa, kiwicha and others. This afternoon we have several options, from hiking with our guide to continue visiting the Colca Valley or just relaxing at our hotel.
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Day 6 Colca Canyon - Sillustani - Puno

After breakfast we begin our overland trip towards Puno. We start driving on a dirt road until we reach the paved road that connects Arequipa with Puno. From here, we continue towards Lake Titicaca, stopping at the Chullpas de Sillustani, an archeological area only 34 km (21 miles) from the city of Puno and one of the most important necropolises in the world. Built by the Collas, the chullpas are gigantic funerary monuments, which stand at 4,000m (13,123 ft), in a plain surrounded by the beautiful Umayo Lake. Upon arrival in Puno, we check in to our chosen hotel.
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Day 7 Puno - Lake Titicaca Islands - Suasi Island

Today we board a boat to travel to Suasi Island, one of the most special places on Lake Titicaca. From every corner of this small private island we can appreciate the vastness of this impressive lake. The island is 106 acres and hosts the Casa Andina Private Collection Hotel, the only on the island. The hotel has been built with local materials such as stone, adobe and totora reeds and has a charming and cozy rustic architecture. On the way to Suasi, we first stop at the amazing Uros Islands, which are man-made from totora reeds, where the inhabitants continue to live as their predecessors have done since pre-Columbian times. We then disembark at Taquile Island, inhabited by a well-organized Quechua community known for its fabulous textiles, among others. Upon arrival in Suasi, we check in to our room with lakeside views.
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Day 8 Suasi Island

Suasi Island is a fabulous spot to relax and enjoy: its views, the restaurant’s gourmet food and the activities on offer. These range from canoeing around the island, to short hikes to lookouts during the day or at sunset, walking along the beach or just relaxing at the sauna or massage room. Martha Giraldo, the welcoming owner of the island lives next to the hotel and has a charming little museum in her house that can also be visited.
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Day 9 Suasi Island - Cusco

After breakfast we depart by road towards Cusco enjoying the magnificent scenery, first dominated by “pampas” or plains where llamas and alpacas can be spotted and then by the mighty Andean mountains as we approach Cusco city. Arrival and accommodation at our chosen hotel.
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Day 10 Cusco

Free morning to wander around the charming colonial streets of Cusco and maybe shop for souvenirs or the beautiful alpaca textiles found in several shops around the city. In the afternoon we explore the city, starting our visit in the Temple of the Sun (Qoricancha), whose walls used to be covered with sheets of gold during the Inca Empire, and then became an important convent with the Spanish colonization. We then continue with a visit to the Cathedral in the Plaza de Armas, which houses some of the most important examples of the famous Cusco school of painting. We finally conclude in the bohemian quarter of San Blas, home to the workshops and stores of the most renowned artisans in Cusco, including Mendivil and Merida. At dinnertime, you may enjoy any of the plenty attractive and delicious gourmet restaurants the city offers.
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Day 11 Cusco - Sacred Valley - Cusco

Early in the morning, we are driven to the Sacred Valley, visiting the archaeological site of Sacsayhuamán on the way. We also stop to learn the ancient weaving techniques used to create Andean clothing at Awanacancha, a breeding center for South American camelids. We visit Pisaq archaeological site and its colorful market, before we enjoy lunch at Casa Hacienda Orihuela, a private residence with an impressive collection of Inca and colonial art and artifacts, where the Lambarri-Orihuela family will be our hosts. In the afternoon, we visit Ollantaytambo, a still-thriving Inca village set below an ancient Inca fortress and temple with stunning views over the valley that makes us feel as if we have stepped back into the 15th century. Return to Cusco in the evening.
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Day 12 Cusco - Machu Picchu

Early this morning we board the Vistadome train to Machu Picchu, the "Lost City of the Incas”. We spend the rest of the morning visiting the Sacred Inca citadel, exploring its main temples and hidden corners. We enjoy a delicious buffet lunch at the famous Machupicchu Sanctuary Lodge Hotel, in its unequaled location at the entrance of the Inca Citadel ruins. In the afternoon, we may choose to continue visiting the main ruins, the fabulous Inca Bridge or climb the Huayna Picchu, offering impressive views over Machupicchu.
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Day 13 Machu Picchu - Cusco

Free morning to relax in Aguas Calientes or return to Machupicchu for an optional second visit. In the afternoon, we depart by Vistadome train from Aguas Calientes arriving in Cusco in the evening.
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Day 14 Cusco - Lima

Enjoy a free morning in Cusco before you are transferred to the airport for your flight to Lima. Continuation of your journey home or connection with another extension.
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