Highlights of Southern Peru 10 Days

Lima Airport Transfer: Arrive in Lima at any time. Our representative will be waiting for you at Lima airport with a customized sign with your name on it and private transfer to your hotel. There are no planned activities, so check into the hotel and rest up. Note: when booking your flight to Lima, try to arrive between 15:00PM to 22:00PM so that you have time to arrive in Lima, transfer to your hotel and have some rest before your Peru Tour next day.

Breakfast at Hotel; pick up from the hotel at 09:00am and transfer to Lima historical center. We'll take you to a fascinating walking tour. We will show you Palaces and castles our city hides, we also going to take you to our great Saint Francisco Monastery and the impressive underground Catacombs!Also we visit "The Main Square", Archbishop's Palace and the Municipal Palace, other great places you will visit are: the Train Station Palace, unique old fashioned "Cordano Bar", colorful mansion palaces, Jiron del Union Pathway, Post Office Palace, Dominicans tower, Historical Rimac Bridge and lovely surrounded wooden Balconies and the next big project in the City the Under river subway. Our historical center is considered a World Heritage protected by the UNESCO; we will show you the Original Spain Mansion Palace and enjoy its great collection of 18th Century paintings, its impressive sculptures, wooden varandas, trendy gilded mirrors and great original terrace. Around 12:30pm back to hotel – lunch on your own. At 15:00pm pick up from your hotel and transfer to Lima airport to take to Arequipa city. Upon arrival to Arequipa, reception and transfer to Hotel in Arequipa. Suggested flight schedule --- Lima (17:52pm) – Arequipa (19:21pm)

Breakfast at hotel; free time in the morning. Hotel pick-up at 14:00pm. The tour will begin in Carmen Alto where we can see the Chili River. Our next stop will be the Yanahuara Viewpoint. This stunning place is famous for its lovely narrow streets. Afterward we will continue on to the Main Square of Arequipa. The scenery here is one of the most important aspects of the White City’s history since Arequipa´s foundation. During our visit to the main Square we will visit The Basilica Cathedral, where the Arch Bishop still resides, and the Jeusit Chruch of the Company of Jesus. We will have the opportunity to gaze upon golden alters, beautifully hand painted Polychrome Cupolas, hand painted stained glass cloistered windows, gorgeous 17th century Inca Art and awe inspiring Bell Towers. Lastly, we will visit the Santa Catalina Monastery. The monument´s foundations dates back to 1579 and is one of the most marvelous, important and religiously iconic monuments in Peru. The Monastery has conserved its traditional characteristics for centuries. Its narrow streets and gardens with typical Spanish names bring back memories of the old quarters of Sevilla and Granada. The tour will end around 17:30pm.

Breakfast at hotel; pick up from the hotel at 07:30am land departure toward your exciting excursion towards the Colca Valley. In the route, we will drive across Pampa Cañahuas at the Aguada Blanca National Reserve. You will be blown away by the magnificent views of the volcanoes named Misti, Chachani and Pichu Pichu. Upon arrival to the reserve, you will be able to first-hand experience the wild vicuñas in their natural habitats, which is considered a national symbol. We then continue on to Vizcachani, Pampas de Toccra, up to the crater of the volcano Chucura and lastly on to the Mirador de los Andes at Patapampa (4800m) from where the volcanoes that frame Arequipa can be seen. Before arriving to Colca Valley our last stop will be at the Mirador, from where gorgeous pre-Columbian terraces that are still being cultivated by native Collaguas can be carefully observed. Once we get to the town of Chivay transfer to your hotel. There are no planned activities so check into the hotel and rest up.

Breakfast at hotel; pick up at 06:00am we will make our way to the awe inspiring Cruz del Cóndor to gaze upon the Colca Valley (the second deepest canyon in the world, 4km at its deepest point!) and be blown away with amazement as we marvel at the great and majestic condors soaring only a few meters away. Afterward we will make our way to the town of Pinchollo as well as the Antahuilque Viewpoint to see an amazing terrace built 1500 years ago. On our way back to Chivay we will stop at the viewpoints of Choquetico and Tumbas Colgantes, meaning ¨hanging tombs¨ where hundreds of Inca & Pre-Inca souls have been laid to rest. The we continue to the towns of Maca and Yanque where you will be able to set eyes upon the valley’s most beautiful church and have lunch the towns’ quaint small-town square. After arriving in Chivay again you can enjoy a hearty lunch at a local eatery. At 13:30pm, take the bus to Puno. On the way, we will see the stone forest and stop at the lagoon called Lagunillas that is home to a great wild variety of birds and flora. This journey will take around 6 hours. After the journey, you will be received and transferred to your hotel in Puno at around 19:30pm. Bus schedule --- Chivay (13:30pm) – Puno (19:30pm)

Breakfast at hotel; you will be picked up from your hotel at 07:00am and transferred to Puno´s port. Our journey will begin with the Uros Floating Islands. The Uros are the native people who live on these man-made islands made with cattail which is grown on Lake Titicaca. The houses are built atop, while the cooking is done outside to avoid fires. After spending an hour on the Island of Uros, you will proceed to the Island of Taquile. Here you will become aware that these locals speak Quechua instead of the predominant Aymara. The Island of Taquile was once a part of the Inca Empire, which still influences the style of the buildings today. Upon arrival to the island, you will receive some brief information as well as a tour until lunchtime. In the afternoon, the boat will take you back to Puno, where you will arrive at 17:30pm. From Puno´s port, you will be transferred back to your hotel.

Breakfast at hotel; you will be picked up at 06:00am from your hotel in Puno and then transferred to the bus station where you will board the bus to Cusco. The trip from Puno to Cusco takes the better part of the day, with stark, beautiful scenery in route as you travel through the high Altiplano region. You will enjoy several shorts stops to take in panoramic views and visit a historical ruin in Pucara, La Raya, Raqchi, Andahuaylillas and Sicuani where you’ll have a delicious buffet lunch and taste its unique Andean flavor. At 17:30pm upon arrival, reception and transfer to your Cusco Hotel. Bus schedule --- Puno (07:00am) – Cusco (17:00pm)

Breakfast at hotel; pick up from your hotel at 07:30am. We will embark on a journey back in time to the Inca´s Sacred Valley beginning in Pisac, 31 km from Cusco. The ancient Incan archeological site and city is located on the top of a mountain. There you will have the chance to witness the impressive stonemasonry skill of our ancient ancestors. Afterward you will go down into the quaint little town and wander through its colorful market where you can buy intricate, beautifully hand-crafted products. Afterward lunch will be served at a local restaurant. Then we will continue to Ollantaytambo, a military, religious, and agricultural center of the Incas located at the top of a mountain. Note: unlike other small towns, this one has maintained its original Incan design including outstanding stone buildings and narrow streets. It was once used as a fortress, administrative and urban center. After the tour we will make our way to the Ollantaytambo train station where we will catch the train to Aguas Calientes. Then, you will be transferred to your hotel at around 20:45pm. Expedition train --- Ollantaytambo (19:04pm) - Aguas Calientes (20:45pm

Breakfast at the hotel; around 06:00am you will ride a bus to Machu Picchu archeological site (2,430m/7,972ft) declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1983 and one of the New Seven Wonders of the World in 2007, the hilltop citadel deserved every bit of its fame. Around 07:30am the guided tour begins, the guide will expertly direct you throughout the astounding ruins and its main streets. You can then wander around the town squares as well as climb the intricately carved stairways made of stone. Machu Picchu is considered to be the world’s spiritual center by esoteric wisdom. The guided tour takes around two hours. From 10:00am to 12:00pm once the guided tour is over, you will have some free time to explore the citadel on your own. From 12:30pm to 13:30pm take bus to Aguas Calientes. From 13:30pm to 15:00pm take lunch on you own. Return to Cusco: later board the train for the return trip to Cusco. You will stop at the Poroy station and then be picked up and driven to your hotel in Cusco, where you will arrive at 20:05pm. Expedition train --- Aguas Calientes (15:20pm) – Cusco (19:05pm) Note about train tickets: We will attempt to book tickets on this train, but if there are timetable changes or trains are fully booked, we may need to book an alternative service.

Breakfast at hotel. Pick up from the hotel at 09:00am – walking tour will begin at Colourfull San Pedro market, there's probably no better market to experience Cusqueñan life. Enjoy a first-hand look at how local residents live day-to-day outside the postcard perfection of Cusco’s main square. The guide will explain the history of this market as you wander through the narrow aisles laden with colorful fabrics, meals, fruit juice, breads, crafts, shaman stalls, etc. After we visit Cusco's main square, a busy and vibrant space that marks the colonial center of the city; which features wide stone pathways and well-kept colorful gardens. Then we walked towards the street of Hatun Rumiyoc. The walls of the palace have a Snake and Puma on it. Moreover, there you can observe the well-known 12 angle stone which is a symbol of perfection in Incan Architecture. After, we will head to the Temple of the Sun (Qorikancha) upon which the Convent of Santo Domingo has been built. Interesting fact: according to a legend, this temple was entirely gold plated which left many conquerors impressed with its magnificence when they came here! Around 13:00pm back to hotel – lunch on your own. At 15:00pm pick up from your hotel and transfer to Cusco airport. Take flight to Lima. Suggested flight schedule --- Cusco (17:05pm) – Lima (18:37pm)