Essence of Peru 21d/20n (ECMIT21)
Lima - Chiclayo - Trujillo - Nazca - Ballestas - Paracas - Arequipa - Colca Canyon - Puno - Lake Titicaca - Cusco - Machupicchu - Lima

Peru is a country of astounding contrasts. Depending on which part you choose to visit, the culture and landscapes are dramatically different. On this trip we have the chance to explore the coast along the rich Peruvian ocean, whose low temperatures originate from an amazing desert climate, home to the ancient cultures of the Chimu, Moche and Paracas. We will not leave the coast before visiting the seal colonies on the Ballestas Islands, and flying over the world famous Nazca lines. Leaving the sea behind us, we will visit the White City of Arequipa, see condors fly in the Colca Canyon and go deep into the altiplano (high Andean plateau) to visit the highest navigable lake in the world: Lake Titicaca. Later we will find ourselves enchanted by the magical city of Cusco and above all by the impressive citadel of Machupicchu. The tropical rainforest will be our final destination on this trip. Here we will navigate along the magnificent Tambopata River and walk among colossal Chihuahuacos, while the most exotic and elusive of animals watch us go by.

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. We have lunch at Restaurant Huaca Pucllana, where we can enjoy some of the finest typical Peruvian cuisine in an impressive setting, overlooking one of the nicest “huacas” in Lima. The “huacas” used to be pre-Inca ceremonial sites destinated to the devotion of deities. The afternoon will be devoted to the visit of these spectacular ruins that help us understand more about the amazing cultures that inhabited this region hundreds of years ago.
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Day 3 Lima - Chiclayo - Sipan - Tucume Pyramids

This morning we get up very early, to take a flight to the city of Chiclayo, where our private transport is waiting to take us on a tour with the final destination of the colonial city of Trujillo. The first stop is at the tombs of the Lord of Sipan, considered to be one of the most significant archaeological discoveries of the last century. Unveiled just a few years ago, this archaeological site is only just beginning to capture the attention of visitors from around the world. Afterwards, we visit the Tucume Pyramids, offering a panoramic view of the whole valley of the same name. After lunch we explore the Royal Tombs Museum, an excellent follow-up to our morning excursion as it houses the remains found in the tombs we visited this morning. Overnight in Chiclayo.
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Day 4 Chiclayo - Trujillo

After breakfast we continue our journey to the beautiful city of Trujillo (approximately 3 hours). After being accommodated at our hotel, we leave to visit the impressive archaeological site of Chan Chan, covering an approximated area of 20 sq km, that is presumed to have been the capital of an ancient Chimu civilization, having the particularity of being fully made of adobe, representing America’s largest prehispanic mud brick settlement. From here we continue to Huanchaco Beach, where we can appreciate the totora seahorses skilfully manoeuvred between the waves by the artesanal fishermen, direct descendents of the Moche people. We enjoy a delicious lunch in front of the Pacific Ocean before we return to Trujillo for a walking city tour, visiting old colonial houses (Casa de la Emacipación, Palacio Iturregui and the Archbishop Palace), the Cathedral, San Francisco and Merced churches. Overnight in the charming colonial city of Trujillo.
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Day 5 Trujillo - Lima

This morning is devoted to the visit of the Huacas del Sol y de la Luna (Sun and Moon Huacas), which constituted one of the main centers of the Mochica millenary civilization, containing two pyramids and covering an area of approximately 60 acres. We enjoy a free afternoon inTrujillo before we are transferred to the airport to take a night flight back to Lima, where our private transport is waiting to take us to our hotel.
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Day 6 Lima - Ica - Nazca Lines - Ica

We leave Lima early by private transport, for a 3 to 4 hour drive through the coastal desert to the city of Ica. From Ica, we fly to Nazca in a small plane, which then takes us on a 45-minute flight over the Nazca lines, the drawings that have mystified scientists since they were first discovered in the 1920s: huge geometric patterns and spirals, animal figures including a monkey, a spider and an 'owl man', and thousands of perfectly straight lines are immaculately etched onto the desert's surface. On our return to Ica we have lunch. In the afternoon, we visit the city of Ica, famous for its wine cellars, vine growing and wine making tradition.
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Day 7 Ica - Ballestas - Paracas National Reserve - Lima

Our transport picks us up at 6.45am to take us on the one-hour trip to Paracas, where we embark upon a 2-hour boat tour of the Ballestas Islands. Along the way, we can see the Candelabra, an enormous drawing on the side of one of the immense sand dunes that run along the coast. The Ballestas Islands are a collection of rocks that break the waves and the wind. Here we can observe a seal colony in their natural habitat. We continue at around 10.30am to the Paracas National Reserve, an area constantly beaten by strong winds, which over thousands of years have eroded the stone and the sand, creating incredible formations that we can appreciate today. After the tours, we enjoy a delicious lunch with beautiful views of the Pacific Ocean, before taking our transport back to Lima.
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Day 8 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 9 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 metres above sea level. 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 then pass through Chivay, the biggest and most populated town in the Colca Canyon, before we continue on to our hotel, the Colca Lodge, located in a secluded spot next to the Colca River bank, being the only hotel in the area with natural hot springs, a delicious way to relax after a long day.
B, L (box-lunch)

Day 10 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 enjoying the hot springs or just relaxing at our hotel. Overnight at the Colca Lodge Hotel.
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Day 11 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 necropolis 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 12 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, offering a unique experience. From every corner of this small private island we can appreciate the vastness of Lake Titicaca. The island is 106 acres and the Casa Andina Private Collection hotel, the only hotel on the island, built with local materials such as stone, adobe and totora reeds 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.
B, L, D

Day 13 Suasi Island

Suasi Island is a fabulous spot to relax and enjoy the island; 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 14 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.
B, L (box-lunch)

Day 15 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. Tonight, we enjoy a delicious welcome dinner at one of our favorite restaurants.
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Day 16 Cusco - Sacred Valley

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. We are finally transferred and accommodated at our nice and cosy hotel in the Sacred Valley.
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Day 17 Sacred Valley - Machu Picchu

Early this morning we board the Vistadome train to Machu Picchu, the "Lost City of the Incas”. We visit the Sacred Inca citadel enjoying its main temples and hidden corners. Lunch at the Machupicchu Sanctuary Lodge, next to Machu Picchu ruins, the only hotel which enjoys this unique location. In the afternoon we can choose to visit the fabulous Inca Bridge or climb Huayna Picchu and enjoy the stunning views from this privileged spot until sunset. Accommodation at our chosen hotel in Machupicchu or Aguas Calientes.
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Day 18 Machupicchu - 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 19 Cusco - Puerto Maldonado - Sandoval Lake Lodge

After breakfast, we are transferred to the airport to board a flight to Puerto Maldonado, where we are met upon arrival and again transferred to the river port on the Madre de Dios River. A 30 minutes journey down the Madre de Dios River by motor canoe brings you to the riverside trailhead to Sandoval Lake Lodge. From here the trail takes you on a 2-miles (3,2-kilometers) walk through secondary forest, until we reach a small canal where we board canoes and are paddled 220 yards (201 meters) through a flooded forest of 100-foot (30-meters) tall Mauritia palms.

After lunch and a brief rest to avoid the early afternoon heat, we will learn about the history of the lodge and the philosophy of its founders. Then we once again board our boat and set off to explore the entire west end of the lake. Here, in the flooded palm forest we drift to the sounds of hundreds of Red-Bellied Macaws as they return to the palm forest for the night. This macaw species is found locally in parts of the Amazon, always living in flooded palm forests such as the beautiful palm stand at Sandoval Lake. At 500-800 birds, this flock of macaws at Sandoval Lake is currently the largest reported in the world for this highly specialized macaw.

As night falls we will look for the large and extremely rare Black Caimans. If it is a clear starlit night, we will also be able to float in the middle of the lake to marvel at the brilliance of the sky and listen to the sounds of the forest.

We return to the lodge for a short video or slide presentation and dinner. At any point, you could step out from the bar to admire the wide variety of nocturnal moths, beetles and praying mantis attracted to our black light in the lodge clearing.

For those with lots of energy, our guide will take us on a short night-walk into the forest behind the lodge.
B, L, D

Day 20 Sandoval Lake Lodge

A pre-dawn wake-up call will enable us to be on the lake for sunrise and a hopeful encounter with the family of Giant Otters who frequent the lake and are most active at this time of day. Sandoval Lake offers abundant wildlife including over 40 species of birds resident to its lake margins, most of the fish-eating water birds around the lake actively fish in the early morning as well, and this outing should provide excellent views, of the prehistoric- looking Hoatzins, These are easy to observe and also photograph from the paddled canoes or catamarans.

After lunch and an hour or so to relax we once again board our boat to explore the eastern part of the lake, where we might see one or more of the five species of monkeys who live in the forest near the lake, such as the Brown Capuchin Monkey and Squirrel Monkey.
B, L, D

Day 21 Sandoval Lake Lodge - Puerto Maldonado - Lima

After early breakfast we leave near dawn and we take a final, shorter paddle around the west end of the lake to try and glimpse the Giant Otters before returning by motor canoe for the 35 minutes return trip to the Puerto Maldonado Airport. Return flight to Lima. Continuation of your journey home or connection with another extension.
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