Arrival in Lima, reception and transfer to your hotel.
City tour of Lima for an introduction of the countries
rich heritage including a guided visit to the National Museum
of Archaeology, the Gold Museum and the Larco Herrera Museum.
Return to your hotel.
Full day's guided visit to Caral, the oldest civilisation
in the Americas. Dating back to over 3000BC, this earliest
of settlements developed almost simultaneously with the civilisations
of Mesopotamia, Egypt, India and China. Full day tour before
returning to Lima and your hotel.
After breakfast, transfer to the airport for the morning flight
to Trujillo. Reception and transfer to your hotel. Free day
to explore Trujillo, the third largest city in Peru, at your
own leisure.
After breakfast, a guided visit to the metropolis
of Chan-Chan, the ancient capital city of the Chimu Empire.
It is the largest pre-Columbian city in South America, built
entirely of mud and adobe brick. A stop is made at Huaca Dragon
to visit this restored, pyramidal shaped adobe temple consecrated
to the rainbow, and with beautiful bas-reliefs. A visit to
the small nearby archaeological museum concludes the tour.
Return to your hotel.
Short journey by bus to Chiclayo. Reception and transfer
to your hotel. Trip to the wonderful Brunning museum, housing
artefacts from several cultures. Lunch followed by a visit
to both the Sipan and Sican museums. The day concludes with
a visit to the Tucume complex, where over 26 pyramids are
located. Return to your hotel.
After breakfast, bus journey to Chachapoyas, the
capital of the Amazonas department. Arrival and transfer to
your hotel.
A full day's tour starting in the valley of Utcubamba
heading towards the village of Lamud. From here, at a distance,
you can see the standing mud coffins of Lamud decorated with
anthropomorphic reliefs and with feline paws and human heads.
The Sachapuyans, after placing the coffins in these strategic
locations on the cliffs, destroyed the paths which led to
them thus avoiding any disturbance of their dead. After lunch,
return to Chachapoyas.
Early departure from Chachapoyas to Tingo. Ascent to the ruins
of Kuelap, the huge fortress dominating the skyline above
the Amazonas landscape and hailed as the Machu Picchu of Northern
Peru. To get a good view of the whole complex, a climb to
the Kuelap watch-tower, where the gigantic outer walls and
the whole extension of this former fortress can be fully appreciated.
In the afternoon, return to Tingo and then to Chachapoyas.
Accommodation.
After breakfast, return to Chiclayo by bus. Reception
and transfer to the hotel.
Trip to Trujillo and onward to Huaraz, the capital
of the Peruvian Andes.
Arrival early morning. Free day. Opportunity to visit
the nearby pre-inca Wilcahuain complex.
Trip to Chavin de Huantar, site of the oldest pan-andean
civilisation dating back to 2000BC. Located on the outskirts
of the village of the same name, a tour of the ruins is followed
by lunch. The site has many galleries and subterranean tunnels
and houses many carved stone figures of anthropomorphic semblances
reminiscent of the Maya culture. It is the oldest known pre-Columbian
culture discovered and is known as Chavin-Kotosh. The most
remarkable piece of carving is "El Lanzon", a granite carving
4.5 metres in height. Its head is built into the roof of the
gallery and its base into the floor, making it immovable.
An anthropomorphic figure with feline teeth, it is thought
to indicate an important ceremonial, religious artefact. Return
to Huaraz where the journey takes you over the continental
divide at the high Kawish pass.
Return to Huaraz and then by luxury night bus return to Lima.
Early arrival in Lima. Transfer to the airport for
the flight to Cuzco, the ancient Inca capital. After the one
hour flight, reception and transfer to your hotel. In the
afternoon, a guided tour of Cuzco including the cathedral,
Qoricancha temple, the Inca fortress of Sacsayhuaman overlooking
Cuzco, Qenko and Puka Pukara. Return to the hotel. Dinner
in the evening followed by a folkloric show.
Full-day excursion to Urubamba, the sacred valley
of the Incas and to the ancient Inca market town of Pisac.
Lunch in Urubamba. A visit will be made to Ollantaytambo,
the only Inca town that was not defeated by the Spanish. A
chance to explore the ruins before returning to Cuzco and
the traditional market town of Chinchero. Return to your hotel.
Transfer to the railway station for the train to Aguas Calientes.
Full day's guided tour of Machu Picchu, the most spectacular
ancient city in the world. Accommodation overnight in Aguas
Calientes.
Opportunity to enjoy a wonderful sunrise over Machu
Picchu and some personal time for private reflection. Return
to Cuzco in the evening. Reception and transfer to your hotel.
Trip to Tipon, just south of Cuzco. A walled complex
with many stone aqueducts, Tipon is believed to have been
a refuge for the Inca hierarchy. Return to your hotel.
Transfer to the railway station for the wonderful
trans-altiplano Inca express. Lunch onboard the "Orient Express"
of Peru. Reception and transfer to your hotel in Puno.
After breakfast, a tour by boat to the island's of
Uros and Taquile on Lake Titicaca. A tour of the reed islands
of Uros before continuing to Taquile, where members of this
self-supporting island will welcome you and offer a glimpse
into their ancient traditions and customs. Lunch on the island
and an opportunity for some spectacular views over the haunting
beauty of Lake Titicaca.
Return to Puno and your hotel.
Journey towards Juliaca, and an excursion to the
Silluastani towers. These ancient funereal towers dating back
to pre-inca times are examples of the most ancient cultures
found on the altiplano. Transfer to Juliaca airport for the
flight to Lima. Arrival and transfer to your hotel.
Leisurely day with plenty of opportunity for shopping before
your transfer to the airport and your return flight home.