Tour in Peru of 18 Days 

Arrival in Lima. You will be picked up from the airport and taken to the hotel. The rest of the day and evening you are free. Located in Lima's most touristic and secure district, called Miraflores, your hotel is within walking distance of central Parque Kennedy, the heart of this lively district. There are many restaurants, shops and bars nearby.

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For several years in a row, Peru has been the winner of the World Travel Awards in the category 'best culinary destination in the world' hence one can find in Lima no less than three restaurants that are in the Top 50 of the best restaurants in the world, namely Central by top chef Virgilio Martinez, Maido of Mitsuharu Tsumura and Astrid & Gaston of Peru's most famous top chef Gaston Acurio.

Well worth combining your stay in Lima with a visit to one of the above restaurants or perhaps one of the many other restaurants nearby. You will be amazed by Peruvian cuisine, where one can eat delicious food at a very reasonable price.

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Overnight stay in Lima: 3 star Hotel (Upgrade possible)

You will be picked up from your hotel around 09:15 - 09:45. Please be ready in the hotel lobby.
This excursion offers you a perfect combination between the different cultures and periods (precolonial, colonial and modern Lima) that have influenced Lima throughout its history. Route: We drive along the Huaca Pucllana, built in the fourth century before our era by the Lima Culture, and today lying in the middle of the modern Miraflores district.

Then we will visit the historic center of the city where you will see, among other things: the Plaza de Armas, built in 1535 by Francisco Pizarro - the Spanish conqueror of Peru, the Governoral Palace where today the President of the Peruvian Republic sits, the Town Hall, the Cathedral and beyond, The House of El Oidor, Furthermore, we see architectural gems such as Palacio Torre Tagle , an impressive Baroque-style palace from the eighteenth century. Then we will visit the church San Francisco (1673) with its monastery and Catacombs, where we will take a tour and see the bones of tens of thousands of wealthy Limeños - in the period of the Viceroys - neatly sorted buried. This monastery, known for its impressive dome made of cedar wood from Nicaragua, walls tiled with mosaic stones imported from Seville and arches and columns with an obvious Moorish relief, has weathered several major earthquakes.  In the beautiful chapel there is a collection of paintings by the apostles and there is also an impressive library.
 

Then we continue via the business district of Lima called San Isidro to the most touristic district, namely Miraflores where your hotel is also located. Before we drop you off at the hotel again, the bus will first pass the Kennedy Park and Larcomar. The Kennedy Park is the central park of the Miraflores district and is surrounded by many restaurants, bars and shops and forms the heart of this cosmopolitan district. Larcomar is a large shopping mall located on a cliff, which overlooks the Pacific Ocean. Here too you can find many shops, restaurants and bars with often a beautiful view over the ocean. If desired, you can get off at the Kennedy Park or Larcomar to stroll around here on your own. In that case, this tour ends here and you go back to the hotel on your own.

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Overnight stay in Lima: 3 star Hotel (Upgrade possible)

You will be picked up at 06:45 and taken to the bus terminal, departure 07:30.
 

The Paracas Reserve is a barren but beautiful desert landscape located on the coast with beautiful and extraordinary beaches. One of the most beautiful beaches is Playa Roja (the red beach) where the sand has an almost red color and is formed by the detractor of a nearby rock formation of pink granite with a core of lava. Over the centuries, the grit has washed up here and shaped this unique beach. It is a desolate landscape where little grows but due to the contrast with the blue sea and the many birds on the coast, it is an absolute must to walk around here and enjoy the landscape and the many birds.

As the only organization we go to Playa Mendieta, a beautiful beach located in the lake Southern part of the Paracas Reserve. Here you will almost certainly not encounter any other tourists. An ideal place to unwind and enjoy the sun, wind and the wide surroundings. Then we stop at Lagunillas where you can have lunch (not included).

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Overnight stay in Paracas: 3 star Hotel (Upgrade possible)

You will be picked up around 07:50 and taken to the port of Paracas, then we leave in boat at 08:15 to the Ballestas Islands in the Paracas Reserve.

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The Ballestas Islands is an archipelago where one can be seen the largest concentration of seabirds in the world. It's a deafening spectacle. In addition, seals, sea lions, the Humboldt Penguin and with a bit of luck and depending on the time of year one can sometimes even see dolphins. Furthermore, on the coast we see the so-called Candelabro. The Paracas candlestick, also known as the Candlestick of the Andes, is a well-known prehistoric geoglyph located on a northern sand ridge in the Paracas Reserve. As we sail out of paracas bay, we see this huge 'candlestick' on the left. Pottery found nearby is dated 200 BC so the time the so-called Paracas Culture was in development in this area. Like the famous Nasca lines, it is a 'drawing in the sand' that can only be seen from a great distance. The Candelabro is 180 meters in size and can still be seen up to 16 km away from thesea.

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Around 10:00 we are back in the harbour of Paracas. Then you pick up your belongings at the hotel and you will be taken in a taxi to the Huacachina Oase. Here you do a tour with Sand Dune Buggies where there is the possible to sandboard (included) – VIDEO IMPRESSION

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Overnight stay in Ica: 3 star Hotel (Upgrade possible)

You will be picked up and taken to the bus terminal for the ride to Nasca. Upon arrival, you will be picked up and taken to the hotel. After lunch at 14:00 you will be picked up for the tour to Chauchilla Cemetery: Near Nazca was the place where the Nazcas buried their dead. The Nazcas lived before the Incas and are also responsible for the mysterious lines in the desert. Unfortunately, these graves have all been opened and robbed of their valuables by grave robbers, the mummies were left in the desert for old dirt and have been exposed to sunlight and wind for more than 80 years. Yet some are still in good condition.

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Overnight stay in Nasca: 3 star Hotel (Upgrade possible)

You will be picked up at 08:00 and taken to Nasca Airport for the Nasca Lines Scenic Flight of more or less 25-minutes ($12 airport tax not included).

 

After the scenic flight you will be dropped off at the hotel again. At 13:45 you will be picked up and taken to the busterminmal for your drive to Arequipa. Arrival in Arequipa around 23:50 and transfer to the hotel.

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Overnight stay in Arequipa: 3 star Hotel (Upgrade possible)

We will visit the monastery of Santa Catalina, where you can appreciate four centuries of Arequipeña architecture. We will walk through the small streets of this Monastery which is like a city within a city filled with colorful flowers on the walls painted in fresh dyes. Narrow alleys lead us to the various parts of the convent that traverse picturesque open spaces and living and sleeping areas with original furnishings. Then we will visit the Plaza de Armas of Arequipa which is probably the most beautiful Plaza (square) in Peru. At the Plaza we will have a guided tour of the Cathedral. Furthermore we will visit the Jesuit Church La Compañia, with its beautiful façade in the mestizo architecture, its cloisters and dome. Finally we will visit the house of Tristan del Pozo. The building is a remarkable example of civil architecture of the Viceregal era and a key milestone to understand the historical process of Peruvian architecture. Its design and dimensions correspond to the mestizo baroque style, mixed with typical architecture from Arequipa.

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Overnight stay in Arequipa: 3 star Hotel (Upgrade possible)

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Arequipa or also called 'The White City' is surrounded by spectacular Mountains and the volcano El Misti. A fascinating feature of the city are the many beautiful buildings made of light colored volcanic rock called  Sillar. This tour takes us to explore the beautiful surrounding landscapes. We will visit ruins, churches, colonial houses and lookout points.
 
We will leave the hotel to go to the traditional  district  Paucarpata.  Here we will visit Incas  and pre-Incas  terraces and a beautiful colonial church. Then we go to  Sabandia  Mill where we see grain ground into flour by the power of water. After this we go to Via  Paisajista,which is known for its beautiful landscape and nature. We arrive at La Mansión  del  Fundador  and  Palacio  de  Hausacache, which is a country house built in the16th century. We also visit  Balernio  de  Tingo this is a place with an artificial  recreational  lake. Later we visit  Mirador  de  Sachaca where we have spectacular views over the city, the landscape and three volcanoes (Chachani,    Misti  and  Pichu  Pichu). After this we go to Puente de  Fierro  (the  iron bridge). Then we go to Carmen Alto viewpoint where we have a view over the  Chilina  terraces. From here we visit the  Yanahuara  district where we can enjoy the view, the beautiful church and the square.

Option: This Tour is also possible with mountainbikes (extra cost)

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Overnight stay in Arequipa: 3 star Hotel (Upgrade possible)

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After breakfast at your hotel you will be picked up and we will leave at 07.30 - 08:00 to Chivay. Our first stop is the reserve located at 3900 meters altitude called Salinas y Aguada Blanca also known as Pampa Cañahuas. Then we take the route to the Colca Canyon. The second stop is in a restaurant called Chinitos located at 4000 meters altitude. Here we can use the toilets and drink coca tea. Furthermore, you can see the Misti, Picchu Picchu and the Chachani from the back and see rock formations in the form of trees. Then we continue to the Toccra Plateau. Here we see lagoons and streams fed by underground bubbling water. Furthermore, we see llamas, alpacas and typical birds from the Andes. The fourth stop is a viewing tower called Pata Pampa. It is located at an altitude of 4900 meters and is the highest point of the entire trip where we see 8 volcanoes situated in a circle of fire, as it were. From here we descend to Chivay, the main city of the Colca Canyon.

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Chivay is located at an altitude of 3650 meters (12,000 ft). On arrival in Chivay we have lunch (not included). After lunch you are free or you can walk to the picturesque village called Coporaque or walk alongside the river in this valley with beautiful views, towards the hot springs of La Calera. If you don’t feel like walking our guide can take you there in bus.

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Overnight stay in the Colca Canyon: 3 star Hotel (Upgrade possible)

After having our breakfast, we drive to Cruz del Condor where we can observe the condor's flight. After enjoying the Colca Canyon and the condor flight we will return to Chivay where we will have lunch (not included) and take our bus to Puno at 13:20 and you will be dropped off at the hotel in Puno.

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Two day Colca Canyon Tour included: Transport, English/Spanish speaking guide, 1 x overnight hotel, breakfast day 2, Entrance to the reserve and transport. Not included: 2 x lunch, 1 x dinner and access to the hot springs.

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Overnight stay in Puno: 3 star Hotel (Upgrade possible)

You will be picked up at your hotel and then taken to the harbour where we take the boat (half an hour) to the floating islands of the Uros (reed islands). Here you can walk around quietly, take photos of and with the islanders, buy souvenirs and take a boat trip on a typical thatched raft. Then we set off in boat to the island of Taquile  an island located two hours away. Here we take a nice walk on the beautiful paths overlooking the clear blue waters of Lake Titicaca and snowy peaks of the Bolivian High Mountains on the horizon. In the main square, the residents displayed their wares, known for their high quality. At 13:30 we leave again by boat to Puno where we arrive around 16:00.

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Not included: Contribution Uros and Taquile each about 4 dollars, Lunch
 

Overnight stay in Puno: 3 star Hotel (Upgrade possible)

At 06:20 you will be picked up at your hotel and taken to the bus terminal for the ride to Cusco. During the drive to Cusco, which takes about 10 hours, four short excursions are done in interesting places and stops for lunch (buffet lunch included).

The first stop is the Inca Aymara museum of Pukara. Then we visit the Temple of Inka Raqchi and stop at the mountain pass la Raya (no excursion), located 4335 meters above N.A.P. Then we drive on to Cusco and stop at the church San Pedro Apostel in Andahuaylillas which is sometimes called the 'Sistine Chapel of South America'. Then we continue to Cusco where you arrive around 17:00. You will be picked up and taken to the hotel. The rest of the evening you are free in Cusco.

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Overnight stay in Cusco: 3 star Hotel (Upgrade possible)

 You will be picked up at 12:50 - 13:10 for the Cusco City Tour.

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The Cusco City Tour starts in the main square, the Plaza de Armas of Cusco (Cuzco) with a visit of the Cathedral. Then we visit the Korikancha: The Sun Temple of the Inc'a where the Spanish Conqueror built his church on the foundations of this temple.  Then we visit the Inca ruins of Kenko, Tambomachay, Puca Pucara and the impressive ceremonial Inca complex Sacsayhuaman, which is strategically built on a hill overlooking Cusco; Sacsayhuaman is built with inhuman hand-crafted stones placed with great precision. Some stones are no less than 9 meters high and weigh almost 350 tons.

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Not included: Boleto Turistico $35.00, Entrance Korikancha $3.00 and Cathedral $7.50

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Overnight stay in Cusco: 3 star Hotel (Upgrade possible) 

At 07:50 - 08:10 in the morning you will be picked up at the hotel. We drive to Pisac, about 32 km drive from Cusco. Here we have a nice overview of the Sacred Valley of the Incas and the city of Taray. Here we visit the ruins of Pisac (which are also called the Little Machu Picchu) and the market of Pisac with typical Peruvian souvenirs and products. Then we drive on to Urubamba for lunch and then on to Ollantaytambo where we will visit the impressive ruins.

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From Ollanta we take the train to Aguas Calientes which is at the foot of Machu Picchu. The train ride is described as one of the most beautiful in the world and goes through an increasingly narrow valley along the bustling Urubamba River.  During the ride we see the climate and vegetation change from a predominantly mountain climate with mountain flora to a rainforest climate and corresponding flora. After a drive of about 1:50 hours we arrive in Aguas Calientes where you will spend the night.

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Not included: Boleto Turistico (already purchased for the City Tour)

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Overnight stay in Aguas Calientes: 3 star Hotel (Upgrade possible)

From Aguas Calientes we leave early in bus to Machu Pichu. Guided tour of about two hours in with a bilingual guide.

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MACHU PICCHU:

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The construction of the city of Machu Picchu is believed to have begun around 1440, under the leadership of Pachacuteq. Until the Spanish conquest of the area in 1532, the city was inhabited.

Scientists disagree on the city's function. Because the city is so inaccessible, it is assumed that the city did not have a typical function:

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Machu Picchu is often believed to have been a country retreat for kings and other high-ranking figures. The city has many lodgings for nobles, and a few homes for their servants. Around 750 people could stay in the city. During the rainy season, if there were no kings present, there would have been far fewer people in Machu Picchu. When the Spaniards defeated the empire of the Inca, the regular trek to and from Machu Picchu stopped by nobles and became abandoned.

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According to some, the city would have been a fortress in defense of the Inca Empire. After the Spanish conquest, there was no longer any need for the Incas to keep getting there. Not everyone agrees with this statement, because the location of the city does not make it plausible that from there the Inca empire was defended. Moreover, there were too few houses for foot people.

According to a third theory, Machu Picchu would have been primarily intended for collecting coca leaves because it is at a point from which many plantations could be reached. But even after the Spanish conquest, the coca continued to play an important role in the area, so that this theory does not explain that the city was abandoned.

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It was recently established that in 1867 the German prospector and timber merchant Augusto Berns found and looted the mountain city, with the permission of the Peruvian government. Berns sold the historical treasures to European museums.  In 1911, the historian Hiram Bingham conducted a study of the Inca trails in the vicinity of the city. During this study trip he rediscovered Machu Picchu. The city gained widespread notoriety in 1913 when the National Geographic dedicated an entire story on Machu Picchu. In 1983, the city was included in the UNESCO World Heritage List.

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You will return to Ollantaytambo by train in the evening (other trains possible at an additional cost). In Ollantaytambo you will be met and you go by bus to Cusco (private transport / taxi possible at extra cost). In Cusco you will be dropped off at the main square Regocijo. From there, you can return to your hotel on foot in 5 minutes or by taxi (not included).

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Overnight stay in Cusco: 3 star Hotel (Upgrade possible)

You will be picked up at 08:15 - 08:30 for the Tour to Maras and Moray

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Moray is home to the ingenious Inca-era terraces. These terraces are completely different from agricultural terraces that you may have seen before during your trip through Peru. Moray was an important centre for agricultural experiments in the time of the Incas. The terraced complex you see here is shaped like an amphitheatre.

 

Las Salinas de Maras is an overwhelming spectacle of salt pans with 4000 salt basins. Amazing photos can be taken here. The white color of the salt with different colors because of all the minerals that are in it, together with the mountains at the background, form a beautiful sight. The salt water comes out of the ground and forms puddles that dry up in the sun, causing the salt to be deposited on the surface. The salt is collected and sold by the locals with centuries-old techniques on the many markets in this region.

At 14:30 we drive back to Cusco where we arrive around 15:00.

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Not included: Boleto Turistico (already purchased), Maras and Moray contribution $3 each

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Overnight stay in Cusco: 3 star Hotel (Upgrade possible)

You will be picked up from your hotel in Cusco and taken to the airport for your flight to Lima.

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Domestic flight (included): Flight Cusco - Lima

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Arrival in Lima. You will be picked up from the airport and taken to the hotel. The rest of the day and evening you are free. Your hotel is located in the most touristic and safe area of Lima, called Miraflores. Afternoon and evening off in Lima.

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Suggestion: For several years in a row, Peru has been the winner of the World Travel Awards in the category 'best culinary destination in the world' and not for nothing can one find in Lima no less than three restaurants that are in the Top 50 of the best restaurants in the world. Well worth combining your stay in Lima with a visit to one of these restaurants or perhaps one of the many other restaurants nearby. You will be amazed by Peruvian cuisine, where one can eat delicious food at a very reasonable price.

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Overnight stay in Lima: 3 star Hotel (Upgrade possible)

Pick up at your hotel and transfer to the aiport of Lima.

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