Best of Peru Journey - 11 Days

Arrival at Jorge Chavez Lima airport welcome by Sunny Land Host and transfer to your respective category hotel.

Afternoon Tour of Modern and Colonial Lima including the world famous Larco Museum – This half-day tour visits both the colonial and modern sections of Lima. Colonial sites include the lovely Plaza Mayor, the Government Palace, San Francisco Church and the exquisite Torre Tagle Palace. Continue to the Larco Museum, founded in 1926, it displays remarkable chronological galleries providing an excellent overview on 3000 years of development of Peruvian pre Columbian history. The Larco Museum also features the finest gold and silver collection from Ancient Peru and the famous erotic archaeological collection, one of the most visited Peruvian tourist attractions. Welcome dinner with Folkloric show. (B-D)

Transfer to the airport for your flight to Arequipa. Transfer to your hotel upon arrival. Arequipa City Tour and Santa Catalina Convent, features Mixed Baroque churches and mansions from the Colonial Period like the Monastery of Santa Catalina, called “a city within a city”, a Spanish city in miniature with stone streets, beautiful patios, and plaza. It is a masterpiece of colonial architecture, and houses some of the finest examples of Spanish American religious art. (B)

Early departure towards the highlands passing through Yura-Pampa Cañahuas and La Pulpera with good possibility of observing groups of wild vicuñas and fighting cattle. Stop en route to see petrogliphs in the Caves of Mollepunco and in the town of Callali to see natural hill formations with the appearance of enchanted castles. Continue to La Calera to enjoy the thermal baths under the stars. (B,L,D)

We depart very early towards the “Cross of theCondor” at about an altitude of 15,000 feet which grants visitors spectacular views of condors wheeling across the Colca Canyon, the world’s deepest. Drive a little further in to the canyon to see some pre-Inca ruins, pre-Inca burial grounds, to watch the way of life in this remote land and to admire the impressive irrigation system and the fertile mountains terraced for farming of the Colca valley. The afternoon ride to Puno features unique natural scenery of the Peruvian Highlands. (B-L)

This morning excursion will take you to the highest navigable lake in the world to the floating islands (made of totora reeds) of the Uros Indians, considered themselves Lords of the Lake. The Uros have developed an extraordinary skill in weaving reeds; producing houses, boats and handicrafts. Afternoon Visit the Sillustani burial towers known as chulpas, ancient and impressive tombs from the pre-Inca period. (B)

Bus journey through the Peruvian Andes from Puno to Cusco – Today one of South America’s most extraordinary overland trips takes you by bus to Cusco passing through striking highland scenery and picturesque Andean villages. Brief stops at Raqchi to see the remains of the remarkable temple of Viracocha, one of the most audacious Inca constructions, and at the town of Andahuaylillas, a showcase of the colonial art in Peru. (B,L)

Tour of Cusco and its Ruins – This afternoon’s tour of the oldest continuously inhabited city in the western hemisphere includes important landmarks of enchanting Cusco and also the nearby ruins of Kenko, Puca-Pucara, Tambomachay as well as the Sacsayhuaman fortress. Once the center of the Inca civilization, modern Cusco is a delightful combination of Inca and colonial architecture. During the tour, you will visit Cusco’s Cathedral, Santo Domingo Church and the Plaza de Armas.(B)

Excursion to Machu Picchu – Early wake up for a train ride through the sacred valley of Urubamba to the “Lost City of the Incas,” Machu Picchu. Perched 8,200 feet above the valley, it was hidden by mountains and semi-tropical jungles for 400 years until discovered by Hiram Bingham of Yale University in 1911. Archaeologists believe that the Inca “Virgins of the Sun” took refuge from the Spanish Conquistadors here. Guided tour of the ruins upon arrival. Lunch is at the Orient Express’ Sanctuary Lodge located just a few steps from the Inca citadel. (B, L)

Enjoy a free morning to explore one of the most incredible sights on earth, the ruins of Machu Picchu. Afternoon return to Cusco. (B)