8 Day – Best of Peru
Visit the best of the peruvian ancient Sitie
INCLUDED:
- 2 Round-trip Internal Peru airfare & tax
- Assistance in all Peruvian airports
- VistaDome train plus bus to Machu Picchu, round trip
- Deluxe ground transportation
- Kuélap’s new cable car
- Entrance fees to all ancient sites and attractions
- 4-and 5-star hotel accommodations, double occupancy
- 3 meals daily
- Fluent English-speaking guides and spiritual shamans
ARRIVE LIMA
On your arrival at any time in the capital city, Lima, you will be taken to your hotel. If you arrive early, optional tours of the city sights, including museums and other attractions may be arranged via Washington. www.costadelsolperu.com DAY 2 LIMA – CARAL FULL DAY ceremony
LIMA – CARAL FULL DAY ceremony
Caral is the OLDEST know city in the Americas. Developed simultaneously with the ancient cultures of Mesopotamia and Egypt about 5000 years ago. The archeological site of Caral is among Peru’s most impressive and makes a popular day trip from nearby Lima. The UNESCO World Heritage listed site covers an area of around 60 hectares in the arid Supe Valley. Although initially discovered in 1948, recent excavations of Caral revealed an elaborate complex of temples, sunken plazas and some of the largest terraced pyramids in the world, leading archeologists to ponder the possibility of Caral being the fabled ‘Mother City’ of ancient civilizations. Now open to the public, the site has garnered acclaim for its beautifully preserved ruins and intriguing collection of artifacts, which include a quipu (a unique knot system used by ancient Andean civilizations) and a number of musical instruments fashioned from animal bones, but significantly, no trace of warfare or weaponry. In the afternoon, return to the hotel for another great night with dinner provided at a wonderful restaurant www.hotelempedrada.com (B, L, D)
CARAL – CHACHAPOYAS (KUELAP)
Enjoy breakfast at the hotel, then drive back to the Lima Airport for your short flight to Chachapoyas, the capital of the Amazon region, with your personal guide. Our driver will pick you up and walk with you through one of the most beautiful colonial cities of Peru, founded on September 5, 1538. After a one hour drive through the jungle you will reach our hotel overlooking the waterfalls of Gocta, the second highest in the world. After a short rest we will have dinner and prepare for tomorrow. www.goctalodge.com (B, L, D)
GOCTA FALLS PILGRIMAGE AND CERERMONY
Pick up at 6:30 AM after breakfast. See the village of Cocachimba from which we will begin our hike to Gocta Waterfall, the third highest waterfall in Peru with 770 m of height. This walk will cross a landscape with a wide variety of fauna and flora (monkeys, toucans, orchids, giant ferns, etc.). We will take the time to admire the impressive show offered by the waterfall before returning to the hotel. Here we will enjoy a picnic lunch with a jungle native ceremony that the ancient Chachas culture used to perform here. This hike will be 4 - 5 hours round trip. Late afternoon dinner is included. www.goctalodge.com (B, L, D)
HIKE TO ANCIENT SITES OF KUELAP – CUSCO
We will leave the hotel and drive to see many archaeological sites and the Mirador de los Cóndor. Be sure to bring your binoculars! We will also see native communities. Arriving at the Kuelap tourist center, we will take the cable car to this ancient citadel built by the Pre-Incan Chachapoyas culture. Our professional guides will show you around the area and give you a detailed explanation of the most important and interesting areas of Kuelap fortress and the ancient city, the second most visited site after Machu Picchu. Box lunch provided at the village of Maria. Afterwards fly to Cusco, connecting through Lima. Check in to your beautiful boutique hotel in Ollantaytambo - the only continuously inhabited Incan village since Incan times! www.pakaritampu.com (B, L, D)
NOTE: We start this part of the tour in the Sacred Valley to help you adjust to the altitude. Ollantaytambo is at 9,160 ft.DAY FREE TO RELAX AND SEE WASHIS PROJECT AND COMMUNITY SERVICE
Breakfast at the hotel late, around noon Watch our professional cook prepare a “Pacha Manca” that includes a variety of meat, fruits, and vegetables. He will use an underground cooking method like our ancestors did in the high mountains. Share the meal with local people as gratitude to them to be in their sacred land. After we will share with the kids some hot chocolatada and sweet bread, afternoon see Washis project and then back to the hotel to relax and enjoy the sunset. www.pakaritampu.com (B, L, D)
TRAVEL TO MACHUPICCHU
Begin today walking to the train station at Ollantaytambo. The train travels along the scenic the Urubamba River before gaining elevation and mountain views and passing through a magnificent cloud forest before reaching the town of Aguas Calientes. From there, we will take the bus to Machu Picchu ruins to see the sun illuminating the walls of this sacred and magical place. We will explore the mountain citadel of Machu Picchu (7,875 ft.) for about 3 hours and spend the rest of the day climbing to the Gate of the Sun or to the Inca Bridge. Great box lunch Included. In the afternoon we will take the train back to the valley and then to Cusco. www.aranwahotels.com/en/hotel-cusco (B, L, D)
CUSCO FREE DAY AND BACK HOME
Spend the day on your own exploring the quaint streets of Cusco and experience its diversity. You may want to visit the famous Museum of Pre-Colombian Art and the Bohemian neighborhood of San Blas with its little shops and cafes. Wander into local galleries. Cusco is a great place to do last minute shopping before you head back to the airport to catch your flight to Lima ad later your flight out of Lima to your home. (B) End of the service.
*Please note that exact pick up times and tour start times will be reconfirmed daily with your Guides.
*For more extended tours, it will be our pleasure to help you, just contact us and we will give you the best option.
*Hotel upgrades are available; please contact us to discuss your best options.
*All hikes will be at a leisurely pace and would qualify as moderate although altitude makes a difference. None are long. You have the option to stay in town instead of participating on any hike.
- Cell Phone, Phone Charger
- Clock/ alarm / lock for your important things at hotels
- ATM card
- Luggage lock
- Passport
- Reading and Sun Glasses
- Cash USD – no wrinkled, folded or torn bills
- Clothes- mostly for mild weather 60-70 degrees F.
- Small day pack
- Battle Water to refill
- Comfortable city walking shoes and shoes you can hike in.
- Waterproof jacket
- Windproof jacket
- Warm jacket, hat and gloves for high altitude evenings.
- Camera and extra battery memory card (unless you will use your phone camera)
- Good flash light
- 220/ 110V ( plug) adaptor
- Insect repellent (you can buy it in country if needed)
- Sun block, sunglasses, hat
- Some school supplies to share with the children while visiting communities. (Pencils, Pens, notebooks etc.)
- International air flights
- Extra beverages
- Gratuities (bellmen, waiters, guides, shamans, cooks, drivers, etc.)
