GOLDEN CIRCUIT

13 DAYS: LIMA, AREQUIPA, COLCA VALLEY & CANYON, PUNO, CUSCO, SACRED VALLEY & MACHU PICCHU

Day 01 LIMA

Arrival in Lima. Transfer to the hotel. Afternoon visit to Colonial and Modern Lima. Guided tour through the historic center of the city. Admire the beauty of San Martin and Major squares, the Cathedral, the Government Palace and visitthe San Francisco Convent and its catacombs, religious building from the end of the XVI century. Drive through the residential districts of San Isidro and Miraflores.

Day 02 LIMA – AREQUIPA

Transfer to the airport for the flight to Arequipa. Upon arrival transfer to the hotel. Afternoon city tour. Visit Main Square, the Cathedral, La Compañía Church and its cloisters, the San Francisco complex. Also included is a visit to the Santa Catalina Monastery, a miniature walled town within the city, complete with squared streets, church and museum. It remained unchanged since 1580 and has been recently opened to the public after centuries of cloistered religious life. (Breakfast).

Day 03 AREQUIPA – COLCA VALLEY & CANYON – CHIVAY

Morning drive across the Pampa Cañahuas to the Colca Valley & Canyon. Majestic volcanoes ranging from 5,000 to 6,500 m.a.s.l. surround Colca Valley. The canyon, one of the deepest in the world, has a depth of 3191 m. On the way you will have the opportunity of admiring the spectacular colorful costumes of the people and to enjoy the spectacular scenery. Overnight in one of the nice hotels in the valley. Boxed lunch. (Breakfast – Lunch).

Day 04 CHIVAY – CONDOR CROSS – CHIVAY – PUNO

Morning drive to the Cruz del Condor Overlook to see the majestic Andean Condor and the spectacular canyon. Return to Chivay for lunch.

After lunch departure to Puno, stop in Patapampa for seeing volcanoes,continue passing by close to Chucura Volcano crater. Stop in Lagunillas for bird watching and seeing little lakes. Continue to Puno, arriving late afternoon. Transfer to your hotel. (Breakfast, lunch)

Day 05 PUNO – SILLUSTANI

Visit the Necropolis of Sillustani. These ruins are located about 32 km from Puno, on the road to Juliaca and are one of the most importanta in the region. These circular stone towers, the Chullpas, which overlook a small lake, are huge funerary monuments built by the Collas to keep their mortal remains. Each structure is at least 12 meters high. The way they were built, with a smaller diameter in the base than at the top challenges the laws of equilibrium. (Breakfast).

Day 06 PUNO – UROS – TAQUILE – PUNO

Full day boating excursion on Lake Titicaca visiting the floating islands of the Uros Indians. Continue to Taquile (solid ground), where its hospitable inhabitants have preserved their centuries-old way of life. Lunch on the island. Possibility of staying for overnight at one of the islanders’ homes. (Breakfast – Lunch).

Day 07 PUNO – CUSCO

Transfer to the station for bus or train ride to Cusco. Upon arrival transfer to your hotel. (Breakfast-lunch)

* You may also take the PERURAIL TITICACA TRAIN, from Puno to Cusco, although it operates on Monday, Thursday and Saturday. Fantastic train ride that takes a gentle climb to higher and cooler altitudes. The first half of the journey is dominated by the magnificent Andean mountains which tower over the deep valleys of the meandering Huatanay River. It then reaches the gentler, rolling Andean Plains, where vicuña and alpaca can be seen. The glass-walled observation car provides the perfect opportunity to view the beautiful scenery. The journey is broken by a scenic stop at La Raya, which is also the highest point on the route. Three-course lunch is included.
Restaurant and bar service is available at an additional cost.
Train leaves Puno at 07:30 and arrives in Cusco at 17:50

Day 08 CUSCO

Morning free. Afternoon city tour and nearby ruins. Visit Main Square, the Cathedral and its religious Art Museum, the Church of Santo Domingo or Koricancha. Includes visits to Sacsayhuaman and Puca Pucara fortresses, the temple and amphitheater of Kenko and the water shrine of Tambomachay. (Breakfast).

Day 09 CUSCO –URUBAMBA

Full day bus excursion to the village of Pisac. Visit the authentic and traditional Indian Market, where Indians barter their products. Continue through the Urubamba Valley to Ollantaytambo, favorite residence of the Incas, with its terraces running up the steep slope to the top where a carved stone throne allowed the ruler a magnificent view of his holdings. You will also see the fabulous Inca ruins of Ollantaytambo. Lunch included. Overnight at one of the nice countryside hotels in the area. (Breakfast – Lunch).

Day 10 URUBAMBA – MACHU PICCHU

Transfer to the station for a morning train ride to the unparalleled, Machu Picchu, the “Lost City of the Incas”. Machu Picchu was a flourishing ceremonial and agricultural site, probably the gateway to the jungle marches of the Inca Empire. The central buildings were erected with the polished stonework of the Cusco Imperial style, though the site was probably occupied well before the Incas started their expansion. Machu Picchu was associated with the earth cult revolving around the Coca leaf, which was a privilege restricted to the Inca Royal family and priests. Guided tour. You will have time to enjoy a light lunch or snack and return to your hotel at your leisure. In the evening, we will enjoy a wonderful dinner at the hotel or in Machu Picchu Pueblo. Overnight at one of the hotels in the area.
(Breakfast – Dinner).

Day 11 MACHU PICCHU – CUSCO

Morning at leisure. You may choose to return to Machu Picchu, hike Huayna Picchu or relax in the village of Aguas Calientes and its hot springs. Mid afternoon departure by train to Cusco. Upon arrival transfer to your hotel. (Breakfast).

Note: Entrance tickets to Machu Picchu on this day are not included. Please advise if you go back to the ruins or hike the Wayna Picchu at time of booking (subject to availability)

Day 12 CUSCO – LIMA

Transfer to the airport in time for the flight to Lima. Arrival in Lima. Transfer to your hotel. Guided shopping tour taking you to the famous handicraft markets. (Breakfast).

Day 13 LIMA – HOME

Transfer to the airport for your international departure flight or continue on the extension of your choice. (Breakfast).

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