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Day 1
ARRIVE LIMA (2 NIGHTS)
Bienvenidos a Lima, founded in 1535 by conquistador Francisco Pizarro who dubbed it the “City of Kings.” A local representative will greet you and take you to your hotel (check in time 3 p.m.) in San Isidro, one of Lima’s exclusive neighbourhoods with modern hotels, restaurants and shops.
M: Moderate, D: Deluxe, SF: Superior First Class, F: First Class. For further details please see the notes section below.
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Day 2
LIMA FREE TIME & SIGHTSEEING
Kick back, relax and enjoy your morning at the hotel, or perhaps venture out to do some exploring of your own: stroll the bustling streets, visit one of Lima’s lovely parks or visit the famed Larco Museum, home to a stunning collection of pre-Columbian art. At lunchtime, meet your Travel Director and head to Casa Diez Canseco, the private home of an illustrious Lima family, and meet the friendly owner for a Welcome Reception and Be My Guest lunch. Learn about the history of your host’s ancestors and visit his historic home before celebrating your arrival in Peru with a sumptuous home-cooked meal of traditional Peruvian delicacies. After lunch, bid farewell to your host and spend the afternoon exploring Peru’s capital with your Local Guide. Immerse yourself in the colonial splendour of Lima’s old section, including the expansive Plaza San Martin with its impressive cathedral and the stately government palace. Then see the Church of San Francisco and discover its splendid architecture. The evening is yours—why not try one of Lima’s renowned seafood restaurants?
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Day 3
LIMA - CUSCO - SACRED VALLEY
Take a morning flight to Cusco where you will join a Local Guide and head for the Sacred Valley of the Incas. Stop at Awanakancha, a living museum of the Peruvian Andes, where you can see and pet llamas, alpacas and vicunas. Learn about the Local Speciality of Peruvian weaving as you observe centuries-old methods of spinning, dyeing and weaving Andean traditional textiles. Enjoy a picnic box lunch before visiting the vibrant market of Pisac where local Quechua people come to sell their produce and handicrafts. Spend some time browsing the stalls, sip a cup of coca tea to help you acclimate to the altitude and keep your ears open for roving bands playing the traditional music of the Andes. Later this afternoon, arrive at your lovely hotel, a former 18th century colonial-style monastery, surrounded by beautiful gardens in the heart of the sacred Urubamba Valley. This evening, enjoy a convivial dinner with your travelling companions at the hotel.
M: Moderate, D: Deluxe, SF: Superior First Class, F: First Class. For further details please see the notes section below.
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Day 4
SACRED VALLEY - MACHU PICCHU
After breakfast, head to Ollantaytambo with a Local Guide to visit this famous Inca stronghold built from immense blocks of stone. Learn about Inca history as you tour the ruins of the hilltop fortress. Board the Vistadome train for the journey up to the great citadel of the Incas. Panoramic windows allow you to appreciate the incredible scenery as you climb toward Machu Picchu. Upon arrival, take a short ride to the entrance gate and begin your exploration of one of the New Seven Wonders of the World with a Local Guide. Visit the ruins of this once-great fortress built in the 15th century and abandoned nearly 100 years later with the arrival of the Spanish conquistadors. See the highlights of this UNESCO World Heritage Site—the great Temple of the Sun, the House of the Priest, the Sacred Plaza and the Intihuatana, an intricately carved rock most likely used as a sundial by the ancient Incans. Dinner is served at the hotel.
M: Moderate, D: Deluxe, SF: Superior First Class, F: First Class. For further details please see the notes section below.
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Day 5
MACHU PICCHU - CUSCO (2 NIGHTS)
Return to Machu Picchu to continue your discoveries on your own. If you’re feeling adventurous, hike up to the Gate of the Sun for stunning views over the fortress and the valley below. Or view the incredible stonework and the amazing feats of engineering required to transport the huge blocks of stone to the top of this isolated mountain. In the early afternoon, descend from your mountaintop aerie and head toward the great colonial city of Cusco. On the way, stop at a local chicheria for a taste of chicha, a Local Speciality, and to learn how this Peruvian corn beer is made by women only. Get together this evening with your travelling companions for a Highlight Dinner at a local restaurant, and enjoy delicious Cuscuenian dishes and ancestral dance performances.
M: Moderate, D: Deluxe, SF: Superior First Class, F: First Class. For further details please see the notes section below.
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Day 6
CUSCO SIGHTSEEING & FREE TIME
This morning, embark upon a tour of Cusco, the “Imperial City,” the capital of the Incas during their reign. This lively city, rich in history, bears marks of both the Incas and the Spanish who came after them. Your Local Guide introduces you to the highlights of the city, including the incredible baroque Cathedral on the main Plaza de Armas at the heart of the city. Delve deeper into the history of this ancient place at the 17th century Church of Santo Domingo, which was built atop the foundations of the Inca Temple of the Sun, or Korikancha. Just outside of town, visit the ruins of the fortress of Sacsayhuaman, perched on a hill overlooking the Sacred Valley and see nearby shrines and warehouses where the Incas stored their grain. Spend the rest of the afternoon on your own in Cusco.
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Day 7
CUSCO - LIMA FREE TIME
Fly back to Lima this morning and enjoy a day on your own to do some more exploring, pick up some souvenirs or just relax. This afternoon, meet a Local Expert, a curator from the Larco Museum, which houses the largest private collection of pre-Columbian art in the world, and learn about the evolution and cultures of Ancient Peru societies. Then gather with your travelling companions for a Farewell Dinner in the museum’s garden restaurant.
M: Moderate, D: Deluxe, SF: Superior First Class, F: First Class. For further details please see the notes section below.
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Day 8
DEPART LIMA
Say hasta luego to Lima this morning and transfer to the airport for your flight home (not included in holiday price).