DAY 1 LIMA
Pick up upon arrival at Lima’s airport and transportation to the
hotel. Overnight (No meals)
DAY 2 LIMA - CHICLAYO
Early in the morning transfer to the airport where you will take
the flight to Chiclayo (airfare not included).
Upon arrival transfer to the hotel and after some rest time we
set off for the mud-brick pyramid that made world headlines in
1987 with one of the most sensational finds of recent archaeology.
Known as the Huaca Rajada -- the "Cracked Pyramid",
because of the deep gulleys weathered into its flanks -- this
eroded adobe platform yielded fabulous ancient treasures from
a series of deeply buried tombs of the pre-Inca Moche culture,
who lived in the valleys of Peru's north coast 1,500 years ago.
To get there we drive east up the broad, flat Reque valley past
fields of sugarcane studded with varicolored pastel foothills
of the great Andean chain, then arriving at the modern village
of Sipán. Here we see the tombs themselves, with superb
reconstructions of the burials of priests and chieftains, together
with their sacrificed guards and companions.
A highly informative site museum tells the story of this extraordinary
civilization, who created some of the finest pottery, jewelry
and goldworking of the Americas -- while also staging macabre
costumed rituals of combat, sacrifice and propitiation as they
sought to mediate a never-ending struggle between the forces of
Order and Chaos.
We return to Chiclayo for a delicious lunch of Peru's northern-style
cuisine, and then continue on to Lambayeque, where we visit the
Royal Tombs of Sipán Museum. This modern building, representing
the style of a Moche pyramid, was built to house the stunning
and priceless objects unearthed at Sipán. (A single looted
object from the tombs was intercepted at an auction in the U.S.
-- carrying a reserve price of $1.6 million!)
Here we see the incredible array of precious symbols and images,
stones and shell necklaces, ear-plugs and headdresses that were
worn and displayed at Moche ceremonies, and also learn what is
known of their meaning. This astonishing visit ends at an "animated
waxworks" exhibit of the lords and retinue of the Moche court,
allowing us to glimpse and imagine the world of an unfamiliar
but dazzling civilization that thrived here at a time when Europe
was sliding into the Dark Ages after the fall of the Roman Empire.
After these sensational experiences we drive to an oasis of calm
at Tucumé, today's final destination. Here we see the chronological
sequence that followed the fall of the Moche, at a site where
their descendants, the Sicán culture, continued to amass
millions of adobe bricks for the building of mighty pyramids --
including the longest of its kind in the world, at more than 700m/2,300ft
-- but were now influenced by highland tribes, and began to abandon
their old ways. The history of this scenic site -- extensively
investigated by the famed Norwegian explorer Thor Heyerdahl --
leads us all the way to the Incas, who conquered the region not
long before they, in turn, were conquered by the Spanish. We can
climb to a viewing platform with superb views of the surrounding
pyramids and the dry woodland habitat of the Leche valley. We
can also visit the small, intimate and low-tech site museum, to
enjoy the excellent collection of excavated objects, dioramas
of daily life, and models of the pyramids.
We return to Chiclayo for an overnight stay. (L)
DAY 3 CHICLAYO TO TRUJILLO: ACROSS THE NORTH PERUVIAN
DESERT TO TRUJILLO AND THE MOCHE PYRAMIDS OF THE SUN AND MOON.
In the morning, we'll travel with our guide by private car or
bus to Trujillo. This half-day journey south down the Pan-American
highway offers a shifting panorama of scenes from coastal Peru,
alternating irrigated river valleys such as the Jequetepeque and
Chicama, with stretches of arid dune and rocky desert. We make
a stop at pacasmayo to enjoy a delicious lunch.
Upon request optional visit the archaeological site of El Brujo:
This site featured in National Geographic magazine after the sensational
discovery here of the mummy of a tattooed priestess, buried with
a variety of ceremonial and military accoutrements. An extraordinary
array of multicolored murals dating from seven or more phases
of construction depicts both scenes from the daily lives of the
Moche, and gory rituals of sacrifice.
Additional: $76 per person based on single and $46 based on double
We arrive in Trujillo in the early afternoon. This city, founded
in 1534 on the orders of Francisco Pizarro, maintains a colonial
atmosphere, with its spacious main square, and marvelous colonial-period
adobe buildings in the coastal colonial style, featuring huge
barred windows and massive wooden doorways. We continue onwards,
driving a short way from Trujillo, to visit the Huaca de la Luna,
and the Huaca del Sol, two huge flat-topped pyramids built by
the Moche culture between 0 and 600A.D. The Huaca de la Luna is
an extraordinary demonstration of what patient long-term archaeology
can achieve. Here, at a site that has been well known and frequently
looted for centuries, excavations have revealed layer upon layer
of ancient construction, uncovering wall after wall of colorful
friezes that were intentionally buried by the Moche, and had not
seen the light of day for one-and-a-half thousand years. Bloodthirsty
fanged deities and exotic gods in the form of spiders, snakes
felines, octopi and other marine creatures rub shoulders with
lines of dancers, warriors and naked prisoners, and scenes of
ritual combat. One wall is covered with such a multitude of mystifying
symbols that it has been labeled simply "The Complicated
Theme" -- until some future archaeologist can offer a plausible
explanation of them. A site museum to display material unearthed
here is under construction, and when opened it will be part of
this visit.
We return to Trujillo to spend the night. Overnight. (B, L)
DAY 4 TRUJILLO TO LIMA: COLONIAL TRUJILLO, THE PICTURESQUE
BEACH RESORT OF HUANCHACO, AND THE PRE-INCA CITY OF CHAN CHAN.
In the morning we tour the historic center of Trujillo, a city
whose heart still pulses with colonial splendor. We visit the
immense main square and the spacious mansions built by Spanish
and Creole gentry during the 17th and 18th centuries. Then we
make our way through Trujillo towards the coast, arriving at the
great Chimú center of Chan Chan, the largest adobe city
ever built. It was in fact an elite settlement, a series of nine
enormous palaces belonging to successive rulers of the Chimú
realm. At its height the population here may have reached 50,000
people. Many of them were artists and craftspeople, who made the
sumptuous goldwork, textiles and pottery for which the Chimú
were famous. At the Tschudi palace enclosure we enter a labyrinthine
series of courtyards lined with clay friezes of fish and ocean
birds, and walled in places with an open meshwork adobe building
style believed to represent fishing nets. We visit inner patios,
residences, administrative buildings, temples, platforms and storehouses,
and a huge reservoir where "sunken gardens" may have
produced specialized crops for the Chimu nobility.
We continue on to the nearby beach resort of Huanchaco, where
we have a chance to try the superb seafood of Trujillo at a restaurant
overlooking the Pacific Ocean. Here fishermen still paddle out
to sea, kneeling on caballitos de totora -- little one-man reed
rafts which have been used for millennia to collect the abundant
bounty of the Pacific ocean.
In the afternoon we drive to the airport in time for our flight
to Lima (Airfare Not included) Upon arrival transfer to your accommodation.
Overnight (B,L)
DAY 5 NAZCA FULL DAY TOUR
You will be picked up from your Hotel in Lima at 5:00 am, we will
provide a driver and a minivan, the ride will take around 6 hours
each way . On the way we will visit the Museum of the site. The
Maria Reiche tomb and we will stop at the Over view of Nazca.
Cut into the stony desert are large number of lines, not only
parallels and geometrical figures, but also designs such as a
dog, an enormous monkey, a bird with a wing span of over 100 meters,
a spider and a tree. The lines, that represent some sort of vast
astronomical pre-Inca calendar, are best seen from the air, we
will take a half hour flight above the Lines (Airfare included),
after the over flight we will take some time to rest and we will
have lunch (included) before to come back to your hotel in Lima.
(L)
DAY 6 LIMA - CUSCO
Transfer to the Lima airport for the flight to Cuzco (Airfare
Not Included).
Upon arrival to Cusco Airport. Reception and transportation to
the Hotel where you will receive an aromatic coca tea to stimulating
for the height, will have the free morning to rest and also we
suggest you have a light lunch in either your hotel or in one
of the surrounded; in the evening we will depart on a City tour
(entrance to the archaeological centers and museums including)
we will visit the Main square, Cathedral, the Koricancha (temple
of the sun) and in addition we will make a route bordering archaeological
centers like Sacsayhuaman Fortress, Q'enko, Puka Pukara and Tambomachay,
tour finishes 6:30pm approximately at the main square in order
you can take dinner in one of the exquisite restaurants in the
area, then overnight. (B)
*Optional Buffet Dinner with Folkloric Show: Adding $24 per person
DAY 7 FULL DAY SACRED VALLEY TOUR
Breakfast. You will be picked up at 8:15 am. Full day excursion
to the Urubamba Valley visiting: the colorful Indian market in
Pisac where a mixture of color and tradition will be able appreciated
besides will have a good opportunity to try our bargain skills
on the free time to interact with the local craftsmen to purchase
their hand-made souvenirs. The Valley has a distance of 31 km
(19 miles) of Cusco, and an altitude of 2,970 ms (9,700 p), Pisac
is located to the entrance of the Sacred Valley and followed by
Ollantaytambo, the older town continuously occupied of the American
continent. The narrow streets of Ollantaytambo, along with their
channels that have not varied from the time Inca, evoke their
ancestral inheritance, lunch in a typical restaurant and then
the last visit will be to Chinchero market.
Chinchero is believed to be the mythical birthplace of the rainbow.
Its major claim to tourism is its colorful Sunday market which
is much less tourist-orientated than the market at Pisac. At the
end, return to Cusco main square at 6:30pm approx.
The night is free for you to eat in a restaurant of your choice;
although we always have plenty of suggestions for you should you
require them. (B, L)
Note: Take this tour on market days: Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday
Bilingual Guided tour on different days
DAY 8 CUSCO / MACHU PICCHU (*Overnight in Aguas Calientes)
Early breakfast and pickup to go the train station to depart to
Machu Picchu, the trip takes about 4 hours. During the trip we
will have an amazing view of the landscapes of the Sacred Valley
of Urubamba and the Amazon rainforest providing you a small hint
of how much Peru has to offer. Upon arrival to the little town
of Aguas Calientes you will have to approach the bus station towards
the “Ciudadela of Machu Picchu” (Only 20 minutes ride) to receive
a professional guided tour by this Huge Historical Sanctuary follow
by some free time to explore the zone on your own and then take
your buffet lunch at the selected restaurant (included), an according
time, we will go down to the Aguas Calientes town to relax at
the hot springs or just overnight at the select hotel in Aguas
Calientes town. (B,L).
DAY 9 MACHU PICCHU / CUSCO
Breakfast and rest of day at leisure by your own (entrance and
bus fee to Machu Picchu not included on this day) in the afternoon
return to Cusco. Reception at the train station and transfer to
the Hotel where it passed the night (B).
Upon request: You can make a second visit to Machu Picchu and
have the chance to know hidden places, such as the Intipunku (Gate
of the Sun) or for more adventures can take a hike to the top
of Huayna Picchu (Young Mountain) to visit the Temple of the Moon
and enjoy a spectacular view of the city. Or if you have good
physical conditions can take a hike full of adrenaline to the
Putukusi mountain opposite position than Machu Picchu which allows
us to have other unforgettable views from this new wonder.
DAY 10 CUSCO - PUNO
Early breakfast and transfer to the bus station so you can take
the ride to Puno. Depart Cusco on guided bus to Puno, visiting
on the route picturesque towns and archeological sites such as
Andahuaylillas, Raqchi, Sicuani, La Raya and Pukara. Lunch included.
Afternoon arrival in Puno, reception and transfer to your accommodation.
Overnight at the hotel.(B,L)
(*) Additional fare if travelling by train. Ask for availability.
DAY 11 UROS AND TAQUILE ISLANDS
You will be picked up from your hotel at 6:30 a.m., to go to the
port of Puno to take a tourist motor boat and to direct towards
the wonders floating islands of the Uros. After a 2 hour motorboat
ride, you will arrive at the Uros island in the Titikaka lake.
Fishermen and hunters inhabit the floating islands of the Uros.
The residents of the Uros are known as the “water tribe”, because
they must construct its own Islands periodically, adding new layers
of totora reeds, which grows in the lake, to create the conditions
that ensure the islands stay afloat. The dense roots that the
plants develop support the island. The roofs are waterproof and
the houses are extremely humid because of the surrounding water.
They used it as home and trade centers for the natives, who use
hand-made boats of the same material as their means of transportation.
At present, they speak Quechua and Aymara. Following this exciting
tour, you will be led to the Island of Taquile, , place where
the form of typical and rustic experience was appraised, the place
is colorful and landscaping, where they even maintain its customs,
ritual, religious and folkloric traditions, in the town of Taquile
we will taste a typical lunch with fresh fish (trout). There is
also a craft fair on the plaza that sells exceptional wool goods
which are of very fine quality and somewhat expensive. Taquile
Island is famous for its craft production, particularly for its
beautiful textiles. The island is narrow at about 1 Km. wide and
6 to 7 Km. long. The visit could be exhausting because of the
altitude (13,000 ft above sea level). On Taquile there are numerous
pre-Inca and Inca ruins as well as Inca terracing. We will return
in Puno in the afternoon, overnight (B,L)
DAY 12 SILLUSTANI - LIMA
Breakfast. Transfer to the airport to take the flight to Lima
(airfare NOT included). On the route to the airport, we will visit
at the Sillustani Chullpas (pre-Colombian funeral towers). The
scenery is desert but impressive, in a beautiful setting on a
peninsula on Ayumara lake about 32 Km. from Puno. Most of the
towers date from the period of Inca occupation in the 15th century;
the engineering involved in their construction is more complex
than anything the Incas built. Upon arrival Lima’s airport, reception
and transfer to the hotel and overnight (B)
DAY 13 TRANSFER OUT
Transfer to the airport for your international flight and end
of the services (B)
END OF SERVICES |
Click to Enlarge
Lima Plaza de Armas |
