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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)
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