Colours of Peru

DAY 1 LIMA

Upon arrival, on the first day of your trip to Peru, you will be welcomed by our personnel at Lima airport and transferred to the selected hotel. After check in you will have a briefing in which you will be handed your “Travel kit” which includes all your travel documents such as itinerary, flight, train and bus tickets, and hotel information. Accommodation: Lima for 2 nights

DAY 2 LIMA

You will visit the modern and colonial parts of Lima, known as The City of Kings, starting at the districts of Miraflores and San Isidro, and passing along a “huaca” or sacred pre-Inca site, before heading to the Historic Center. There, you will walk along some of the most historically important streets of the city, leading to the Plaza de Armas, where you will have some time to take pictures of the amazing colonial architecture that surrounds it. You will also have the chance to take a peek into an iconic building that has served Lima’s citizens for centuries and continues to be an important landmark. Then you will visit the impressive Convent of Santo Domingo, an astonishing building with colonial style. After exploring the Historical Center, you will head towards the Larco Museum, which houses the incomparable Treasures of Ancient Peru private collection. (B)

DAY 3 LIMA · PARACAS · OVERFLIGHT NASCA LINES

At the coordinated time, you will be transferred to the bus station to board your regular bus to the beachside town of Paracas, located approximately 3 hours 30 min south of Lima. Upon arrival, take the 1 hour and 40-minute flight over the Nasca Lines. A once in a lifetime chance to see and to photograph this immense Pre-Incan astronomical calendar comprised of extraordinary and mysterious designs that were discovered in the 1930’s. After, return to your hotel. (B) **Important: Overflight to Nazca lines is subject to weather conditions. Don’t forget your original passport, which is required.  Accommodation:  Paracas

DAY 4 PARACAS · BALLESTAS ISLAND · LIMA

After breakfast, take your two-hour boat trip to the famed Ballestas Islands to enjoy the sights and sounds of fascinating Peruvian coastal wildlife living there, marine animals like sea lions, Humboldt penguins, and an endless number of migratory birds. Along the way, there will be ample opportunity to marvel at the Candelabro, a mysterious and huge geoglyph that stands watch over the Ica coastline.  At the coordinated time, you will be transferred to the bus station to board your regular bus back to Lima. Upon arrival, reception and transfer to your hotel or airport. (B) Accommodation:  Lima Note: Services in Paracas are always in shared basis (yacht and overflight)

DAY 5 LIMA · CUSCO

At a coordinated hour, you will be transferred to Lima Airport to take your flight to Cusco. On your arrival to Cusco, you will be met and transferred to your hotel. Get to know the city of Cusco, a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage site and possessor of a style all its own. The tour begins at the Koricancha Temple, an old Incan palace and main center for the worship of the sun god, Inti. Once the Spanish conquered Peru, the Dominican order built a church over this temple’s foundations: The Temple of Santo Domingo. Your next destination is the Main Square, then the adventure continues at the Sacsayhuaman Fortress built of enormous stone blocks expertly shaped by the Incas. The tour continues with visits to three archaeological sites: Kenko and Tambomachay, important religious and administrative centers for the Incas. We will close the tour with a visit to the San Blas neighborhood, famous for its artisans. Return to your hotel. (B) Accommodation: Cusco

DAY 6 CUSCO · SACRED VALLEY

Visit Chinchero, a small picturesque Andean village. Enter the home of a textile artisan, where you will see some of his original work and learn about his techniques, as well as his creative process. Then visit its important Inca ruins dating back to the end of the 15th century, as well as you can observe in a panoramic way it’s beautiful and traditional church. Afterwards, on the road to Ollantaytambo, you will stop at a viewpoint, for one of the best views of the Sacred Valley. Lunch will be served at a local restaurant. Then it is on to Ollantaytambo, one of the most representative building complexes of the Inca Empire and site of one of the Spanish Conquistadors’ rare strategic defeats. Famous for its terraced fields, Ollantaytambo was a very effective fortress and also a religious center. (B/L) Accommodation: Sacred Valley

DAY 7 SACRED VALLEY · MACHU PICCHU · CUSCO

In the morning, you will be transferred to the local bus station, to board the regular tourist class bus to the city of Cusco (in group with other passsengers). It is a full day trip starting at 6:45 a.m., crossing the great Altiplano with the ever presence snowcapped Andean Mountains. On route, you will pass by the villages of Pucara, Racchi and Andahuaylillas. Upon arrival, you will be transferred to your hotel, where you will spend the night. (B/L) Accommodation: Cusco

DAY 8 CUSCO · RAINBOW MOUNTAIN

Hike to the Rainbow Mountain with lunch. You will leave your hotel in Cusco early in the morning, crossing the South Valley, towards Cusipata. From there, you will be transferred to Phulawasipata where you will begin your walk. After some time to prepare, you will start with the ascending route to Vinicunca, the Rainbow Mountain. The place will amaze you with its vivid colors and natural beauty. There, you will have time to take photos and fill yourself with the energy of the place. Depending on time, you might continue your walk towards the Red Valley, where you will appreciate a beautiful landscape of mountains of red dirt. There, you will also have time to appreciate the place and take photos. At the end of this visit, you will walk back to the starting point. Finally, you will be taken back to your hotel in Cusco, stopping along the route for lunch at a local restaurant (B/L) Total walking distance: 10 km Minimum height: 4652 m.a.s.l. Maximum height: 5,020 m.a.s.l. Walking hours: 3.5 hours Degree of difficulty: 3 of 5.

DAY 9 CUSCO · LIMA

Transfer to the airport for flight back to Lima (B)