Itinerary for Sacred Peru - Tour Lima • Expat Explore End ... · Guided tour of Sacsayhuaman ruins. Visit the Inca ruins of Sacsayhuaman, perched 3km above Cusco. See the huge rocks

Expat Explore - Version: Mon Jul 13 2020 09:40:04 GMT+0200 (South Africa Standard Time) Page: 1/9

DAY 1: Arrive in Lima

Hola Peru! Welcome to the first day of your tour through this amazing country. The first stop is Lima, Peru’s capital city. Arrive at the

hotel, check in and freshen up. This evening, meet your fellow Expat Explore travellers and enjoy a welcome dinner. Your Expat

Explore leader will meet up with the group in three days time. An Expat Explore representative will be there to assist you with

anything you need and answer any questions you may have.

Experiences

Arrive in Lima and enjoy a welcome dinner this evening.

DAY 2: Lima - Flight to Arequipa

Itinerary for Sacred Peru - Tour Lima • Expat Explore

Start Point:

Hotel in Lima,

Address to be confirmed

Welcome meeting at 18:00 hrs

End Point:

Hotel in Lima,

Address to be confirmed

10:00 hrs

Included Meals

Breakfast: Lunch: Dinner:

Accommodation

Ibis Larco Miraflores


Fuel up on breakfast before transferring to Jorge Chavez International Airport. Catch a short flight to Arequipa. Located in the south of

Peru, this colonial town is filled with Baroque architecture and bordered by three impressive volcanoes! Arrive and check into the

hotel. Next, explore this charming place on a city tour with a local guide. Spend your free time this afternoon wandering more of the

streets and decide on a place to enjoy dinner. Choose from the variety of local restaurants and enticing street food vendors!

Experiences

Arequipa city tour. Walk along quaint cobbled streets to discover buildings made from a unique, pale-coloured volcanic material

called sillar. Be charmed by the distinct beauty and charm of the lush and well-manicured plazas where all the locals hang out (the

ideal place to grab a bench and enjoy a cup of queso helado, a traditional Arequipan ice cream). See top attractions like the Santa

Catalina Monastery, the Basilica Cathedral of Arequipa, the Museo Santuarios Andinos, and more.

DAY 3: Arequipa - Puno

Take it easy this morning in Arequipa before transferring to Puno at lunchtime. Enroute, make comfort stops at Pampa Cañahuas and

Lagunillas. During the stopovers, sip on local coca leaf tea and keep an eye out for indigenous wildlife and birdlife. See if you can spot

vicuñas (similar to llamas). Arrive in Puna this evening and check into the hotel.

Experiences

Included Meals


Accommodation

Casona Plaza Arequipa


Stretch your legs and do some quick bird watching at Lagunillas, where you can see flamingos, Andean Gulls and Mallards.

Stop at Pampa Cañahuas Natural Reserve and spot some vicuñas (animals similar to llamas) and sample coca leaf tea, as the locals

do.

DAY 4: Puno

Wander Puno’s streets at your own pace this morning. Visit the baroque cathedral, the Arco Deustua archway or the Museo Carlos

Dreyer to see a range of archaeological artefacts. At midday, meet your Expat Explore leader and the rest of the tour group who have

travelled from Copacabana. On this afternoon’s excursion, encounter a different way of life on Lake Titicaca. Board a traditional reed

boat and visit the Uros Islands - floating islands hand made by the Uru people. Learn more about the Uru people who have been

living off the lake for centuries. Return to Puno and the hotel in the late afternoon. Spend the evening as you wish.

Experiences

Uros Islands Tour: Catch a traditional reed boat to the Uros floating reed islands. The islands are a top tourist attraction in Peru as

they offer insight into a unique, survivalist way of life. The Uru people chose to create these floating islands away from the mainland

and have been living here for many generations. Tour the islands and learn more about the way of life here. Meet the locals dressed

in colourful traditional clothes, watch crafts being made by hand, see lively folk dances and taste some local food!

DAY 5: Puno - Sacred Valley

Included Meals


Accommodation

Hacienda Puno

Included Meals


Accommodation

Hacienda Puno


Travel to Peru’s Sacred Valley today! Enjoy the views of the Peruvian countryside along the way. First stop of the day is Pucará. Explore

the ancient Incan ruins - there is something noticeably spiritual about the many Inca sites! Pass through La Raya, sitting at 4300

meters above sea level, and enjoy the panoramic views. Do some shopping with locals at roadside markets. Next, visit Raqchi which

was an Inca fortress in the past. The last stop is Urubamba. Here, see the “Sistine Chapel of Latin America”. Arrive in the heart of El

Valle Sagrado (Sacred Valley) and check into the hotel this evening. Enjoy an included dinner with the group tonight.

Experiences

Pucara. Visit Pucara and its small but exquisite architectural sight of Inca significance. Pucará, as it’s also known, is known for it

pottery, the Pucara Stone Museum with its selection of original and replicated ceramics, sculptures and other objects from pre-Inca

culture.

Raqchi. Raqch'i is home to one one of the biggest archaeological sites in the area. The ruins of Raqchi are mostly known as the

Temple of Wiracocha that was built in honour of Wiracocha, a deity believed to be the giver of all life. Outside of the temple, there’s

also the living quarters, ceremonial baths and a natural lake fed by spring water through stone fountains.

The Church of Andahuaylillas. Taking our eyes off the Inca ruins for a moment, visit the Andean village of Andahuaylillas and its

baroque church. Named the “Sistine Chapel of Latin America”, or “The Sistine Chapel of the Andes”, this church was built according to

Spanish traditions and dedicated to Saint Peter the Apostle. Expect painted ceilings, a gold-leaf altar and a shimmering, colourful

display of murals.

DAY 6: Sacred Valley

Included Meals


Accommodation

San Agustin Urubamba


Tour the Sacred Valley today. Travel deep into the area, past local villages and striking mountain ranges. Learn about intriguing Incan

history and culture on the way. Visit the town of Ollantaytambo and see the incredible Incan fortress. This was once a royal estate for

an Incan emperor. Enjoy a look into local life during a stop at a local marketplace. Keep an eye out for llamas, alpacas, goats and

sheep grazing lazily along the roadside. Experience the essence of the Sacred Valley! Arrive at the hotel in Urubamba at the end of

the day and get some rest this evening.

Experiences

Guided Tour of the Sacred Valley. Follow a local guide and explore the Sacred Valley of the Incas. There are loads to see in the valley

outside of Machu Picchu (the crown jewel!). We take you out into the valley to do just that, stopping at the most significant Inca sites

up the mountain. Also stop at a local marketplace for lunch and do some souvenir shopping while mingling with the locals. This is the

ideal spot to get a behind-the-scenes look at the art of Peruvian weaving and perhaps buy your own woven blanket or scarf. The

locals you meet here might be descendants of the Incas, the sophisticated Andean tribe of South America. The language they speak is

called Quechua and is mainly spoken here in the Andes mountains of Peru.

Guided tour of Ollantaytambo Archaeological complex. Ollantaytambo is one of the most important towns in the Sacred Valley and

the last major town before Machu Picchu. Built on the site of ancient ruins, it’s impressive terraces were the base for Incan

ceremonies and the royal estate of the Incan Emperor. It was also the stronghold of the Incan resistance against the Spanish. Explore

with a local guide and learn more about the history of the architectural sites and incredible vistas around Ollantaytambo.

DAY 7: Sacred Valley (Machu Picchu optional excursion): Free Day

Included Meals


Accommodation



Join the optional excursion to Machu Picchu today! Enjoy a full day at the complex, on a fully-guided tour with a local expert. As it is

nestled in the Andean mountains, the journey to Machu Picchu is quite a trek but definitely worth it! Travel by bus, train and on foot

to reach the enthralling heritage site. Learn more about Machu Picchu’s intricate buildings and the mysterious history behind its

creation. After being forgotten for many years, Machu Picchu was rediscovered in 1911 by American archaeologist Herman Bingham.

Since then, it has drawn countless visitors from across the globe. After a day filled with exploration and discovery, return to the hotel.

Guests not visiting Machu Picchu have a free day in the Sacred Valley.

Optional Excursions

Machu Picchu Day Trip: US$ 330

* Stated prices and availability are subject to change.

DAY 8: Sacred Valley - Cusco

Enjoy the last few views of the Sacred Valley en route to the next stop - Cusco. During the road trip there, see an excellent example of

ancient Incan architecture at Sacsayhuaman. This fortress-temple is made of enormous, intricately stacked rocks. Next up is Cusco,

the former capital of the Incan empire. For lunch, try something local. Any restaurant packed with local Cusqueños guarantees a

Included Meals


Accommodation



delicious meal. Explore Cusco with a local guide this afternoon. The city has the title of being inhabited for the longest continuous

time in all of South America! Looking to experience some local flavour and culture tonight? Join in the optional buffet dinner and local

dance show excursion!

Experiences

Guided tour of Sacsayhuaman ruins. Visit the Inca ruins of Sacsayhuaman, perched 3km above Cusco. See the huge rocks stacked

with impressive precision. Don’t forget to take in the amazing views of Cusco and surrounds!

Cusco City Tour with a local guide. Some call Cusco the bellybutton of the Earth due to the reach of the Incan Empire. Others have

called it the Rome of South America. It was once the capital of the Incan Empire, making Cusco an intriguing city to explore. A local

guide will share insights on the local history and culture. Find out how the Quechua and Spanish cultures met to create a truly

unique destination.

Optional Excursions

Cusco Dinner & Peruvian Dance Show: US$ 25


DAY 9: Cusco - Flight to Lima

Travel to Peru’s capital city Lima this morning. Catch a short flight and arrive in the bustling city home to over 10 million people! A

local expert will familiarise you with Lima on a city tour. See the city’s highlights including the Plaza de Armas, the Cathedral of Lima

and the Covent and Plaza San Francisco. Complete the tour with a stroll through the Miraflores neighbourhood for stunning views

over the ocean. This afternoon, check into the hotel before heading out for a group dinner.

Experiences

Lima city tour: Lima is a striking city, built along the coastline on top of jagged cliffs. Join a local guide and discover Lima’s highlights,

its riveting history and its cultural scene. Explore the colonial city centre and see the Presidential Palace, Archbishops Palace and City

Hall on the Main Square. See the Basilica and Convent of Santo Domingo, San Francisco and De Armas Plazas as well as the modern,

upmarket district of San Isidro. The tour also includes Miraflores - a charming coastal suburb with great views of the Pacific Ocean.

Included Meals


Accommodation

San Francisco Cusco Plaza

Included Meals Accommodation


DAY 10: Lima: Free Day

Enjoy everything that Lima has to offer at your own pace today. Or choose to join an unforgettable full-day trip to Ballestas Islands

and the Nazca Lines. Depart early for Paracas on the southern coast. From here, set out on a leisurely boat tour of the amazing

Ballestas Islands. This area is home to pristine beaches, sparkling blue waters and incredible marine life. You could see dolphins, sea

lions and penguins up close! Next, head to Pisco airport where you’ll catch a flight over the mysterious Nazca Lines. Experience the

impressive scale of these massive shapes etched into the desert sand. At the end of an excitement-filled day, return to Lima for a

final group dinner.

Optional Excursions

Nazca Lines and Ballestas Island Day Trip: US$ 390


DAY 11: Lima - End of tour

Breakfast: Lunch: Dinner: Ibis Larco Miraflores

Included Meals


Accommodation

Ibis Larco Miraflores


After 11 incredible days on tour, this Sacred Peru trip comes to an end this morning. Enjoy breakfast at the hotel and say farewell to

your fellow travellers. Don’t forget to take down your new travel friends’ details to share mementoes and swap photos! If you would

like to extend your stay in Lima, please contact our team and we will confirm with the hotel.

Experiences

If you would like to extend your stay in Lima after the tour, please contact us to confirm the hotel. By this point you will have enjoyed

11 incredible days exploring the very best of Peru. A true delight!

Included Meals


Documents

Itinerary for Sacred Peru - Tour Lima • Expat Explore End ... · Guided tour of Sacsayhuaman ruins. Visit the Inca ruins of Sacsayhuaman, perched 3km above Cusco. See the huge rocks