Peru: Inti Raymi Festival

Day 1: UK/Lima
Depart on your scheduled flight to Peru’s capital, Lima, arriving on the morning of day 2, for a one-night stay.

Passengers on regional flights will arrive at the hotel late evening of day 1 for a two-night stay.

Day 2: Lima
This afternoon we include a tour of Lima, splendidly positioned overlooking the Pacific Ocean. The City of Kings was founded in 1535 by the Spanish Conquistador, Francisco Pizarro, and eventually became the capital of the whole Spanish colony. Much of the city’s colonial influence can still be seen today – beautiful squares, fine churches, palaces and mansions remain little changed from the 17th century, while the architecture and culture of the Incas and the native Indians are also in evidence. Visit the Plaza Major with its splendid arcades and see the cathedral, Archbishop’s Palace and the Presidential Palace.

Day 3: Paracas
Depart Lima for the drive along the Pan American Highway to Paracas, travelling through barren desert and fertile landscape to the site of the ancient Pachacamac Temple, set in the valley of Lurin and overlooking the Pacific Ocean. The ruins date back to before the time of the Incas and consist of adobe walls and pyramids, and the remains of early frescoes. You will overnight at Chincha.

Day 4: Nazca
The morning includes a tour by boat to the Ballestas Islands, a protected area providing shelter for a wealth of wildlife including Humboldt penguins and a wealth of other seabirds, sea lions and, dependent on the season, a variety of dolphins and whales. Continue to Nazca for an overnight stay.

Day 5: Arequipa
Today you continue your journey along the coastline to Arequipa for a two-night stay.

Day 6: Arequipa
The morning includes a tour of the ‘White City’ of Arequipa, which lies in the shadows of ice-capped volcanoes. Narrow, cobbled streets, colonial architecture and one of the most beautiful squares in Peru are some of the hallmarks of the city. Visit the Museum of Santuarios Andinos and the Santa Catalina Convent, a peaceful retreat of red- and blue-walled streets bedecked with geraniums. This afternoon is at leisure for you to explore the city at your own pace, or relax at the hotel.

Day 7: Chivay
You will depart early this morning for the drive to Colca Canyon. Travel through rugged volcanic landscape into lush countryside dotted with small villages, where farming still takes place on the pre-Inca agricultural terraces of the Colca Valley. The steep green walls of the spectacular Colca Canyon are deeper than the Grand Canyon, and are home to South America’s most iconic bird, the Andean condor. This is one of the best places in the whole continent to see this, one of the world’s largest birds of prey. Lunch and dinner are included today. Overnight stay in Chivay.

Day 8: Puno
Depart Chivay this morning for the drive to Puno, set on the shores of Lake Titicaca, for a two-night stay. En route you will visit the remote burial site at Sillustani. These hilltop ruins are set on a peninsula above Lake Umayo. Here we learn about the religious rituals of the pre-Inca Colla people, and see the well-preserved stone towers they used as graves for their chiefs and nobles.

Day 9: Puno
Lake Titicaca, 12,500ft up in the mighty Andes, covers a huge area of 3,500 miles. It was also the legendary birthplace of the Incas. A type of reed called ‘totora’ sprouts up from the waters and plays a huge part in the lives of everybody who lives here – the indigenous Uros Indians harvest them to build their island homes, as well as to make countless other everyday items. Today we include a half-day tour to Lake Titicaca and the intriguing floating islands, while the afternoon is free for you to explore ancient Puno. You can shop for goods made from the totora reeds, as well as the colourful local textiles, and later enjoy a spectacular sunset over the lake.

Day 10: Cuzco
Transfer by road, across the high plateau (or Altiplano) of the Andes, to Cuzco, where we have arranged a four-night stay. The journey is a fascinating experience, giving a close-up view of traditional rural life. You may spot alpacas and llamas grazing on the highland pampas, and Andean condors soaring above the landscape.

Day 11: Cuzco
This morning join our included tour of Cuzco, the ‘Imperial City’, once capital of the Inca Empire and now a fascinating combination of ancient and colonial architecture. See the elegant Plaza de Armas at the heart of the city, and the impressive cathedral. Visit the Temple of the Sun and Moon, the walls of which were once entirely covered with gold. Enjoy splendid views of the terracotta roofs and churches of the city from the Sacsayhuaman Fortress and visit the Inca ruins of Tambomachay. This afternoon why not join our half-day optional excursion to Ollantaytambo, in the Sacred Valley of the Incas. The Incas retreated here after the Spanish took Cuzco and much of it is still laid out as it was in Inca times.

Day 12: Cuzco/Machu Picchu
Today you will visit Machu Picchu, a highlight of any visit to Peru. The ruined city was only rediscovered in 1911, as it is perched inaccessibly above a steep valley swathed in jungle – unsurprisingly it is often referred to as the ‘Lost City’. You will travel to Machu Picchu by narrow gauge railway, and the last part of the journey will be by bus. On the mist-shrouded mountain tops there will be an included guided walk with time to discover the fascinating citadel. Wander through the temples and terraces and enjoy spectacular views into the lush green Urubamba Valley thousands of feet below. Lunch is included today

Day 13: IntiRaymi
Today you’ll enjoy the spectacular Peruvian festival of IntiRaymi, or the Festival of the Sun, which is held each year on Jun 24, the winter solstice. This ancient annual Incan festival is one of the largest and most colourful pageants in South America when you’ll see streets decked with flowers for a parade accompanied by music, prayers and dancing, which ends at Sacsayhuaman – the ancient cultural centre on the hilltop outside town.

Day 14: Cuzco
Today you’ll transfer to the airport for your connecting flight to Lima and on to the UK.

Day 15: UK via Madrid or Amsterdam
Arrive in the UK.

Please note
This holiday includes walking in areas of rough ground, gradients and steps.

During this tour you will travel to altitudes of over 12,000ft where altitude sickness can occur. This should not be a problem, although everyone should take it easy at first. Our tour has been designed to allow a more gradual increase in altitude, giving you more time to adjust to the lower oxygen levels. Other simple measures, such as eating light meals and drinking lots of fluids can also help to alleviate the symptoms. If you suffer from heart or respiratory conditions or have any other concerns please consult your doctor.

Accommodation throughout is in hotels of a comfortable standard, typical of the hotels you will stay in are:

4-star Jose Antonio Lima Hotel in Lima
3-star Hotel Casa Andina in Chincha
3-star Hotel Casa Andina in Nazca
3-star Hotel Casa Andina in Arequipa
3-star Hotel Casa Andina in Chivay
3-star Eco Inn Hotel in Puno
4-star Jose Antonio in Cuzco
All rooms have en suite facilities, TV and telephone. Breakfast is included each day and in the evenings you are free to dine in local restaurants.

All hotels will be confirmed in your final documentation.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION

Included excursions and visits

Machu Picchu tour (full day)
Lima tour (half day)
Arequipa tour (half day)
Cuzco tour (half day)
Ballestas Islands boat tour (half day)
Sillustani burial site guided visit
Uros floating islands tour, on Lake Titicaca (half day)
Pachacamac Temple ruins visit
Colca Canyon visit

Optional excursions

Ollantaytambo tour (half day)

Your holiday includes

Scheduled flights and internal flights
The services of a Travelsphere Tour Manager and Local Guides
Overseas transfers and other transportation
12 nights’ accommodation with breakfast, plus 4 lunches and 1 dinner
Hotel porterage (one bag per person)
All airport taxes and security charges
UK Airline Passenger Duty
All state and local taxes

With 50 years’ experience in arranging escorted tours to exciting destinations across the globe, Travelsphere have built an excellent reputation founded on quality and value.

By choosing a Travelsphere escorted holiday you can travel with confidence, knowing that every aspect of your holiday has been carefully planned and arranged from start to finish. Further to this they are ATOL bonded and members of ABTA.

Travelsphere’s thorough planning of travel arrangements, itineraries and accommodation combined with the unique insight of their knowledgeable Tour Managers and Local Guides will enable you to experience the culture, traditions and hidden away places less accessible to other travellers.

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