Peru: Land of the Incas

Depart for a morning tour of the ‘City of Kings’. Visit the Casa Aliaga, the America’s best-preserved colonial mansion, and the Convento de los Descalzos, built in 1592 by ‘the Barefooted’, a reference to the Franciscan friars. See the Paseo de Aguas or ‘Avenue of Waters’, a garden built in the 18th century by the Viceroy Amat in honour of his mistress Perricholi, and the Almeda de los Descalzos, Lima’s famous promenade which was built in 1611 by the Marquis of Montesclaros. End the morning with a visit to the San Francisco Monastery, the jewel of colonial Lima, established soon after the foundation of the city with its fascinating interior decorated in Mudejar style and decorative stone façade.

Continue to the Larco Herrera Museum for lunch. Visit this privately-owned museum is housed in an 18th-century viceroyal mansion and contains 45,000 pieces including the finest gold and silver collections from ancient Peru and pre-Columbian ceramics including the famous erotic collection. Dinner at the hotel.

Transfer to Lima Airport for a domestic flight to Cusco. On arrival transfer to the Sacred Valley via Pisac.

Packed lunch en route. Visit Pisac market and interact with the local people and even try your hand at haggling. Check into the Tambo del Inka Hotel in the Sacred Valley, where two nights are spent. The luxury hotel overlooks the Urubamba River on the outskirts of Urubamba town and has an excellent restaurant, spa and heated indoor pool. Dinner at the hotel.

Visit the impressive salt flats of Maras and the Moray terraces which have been in use since the Incan Empire.

Lunch at a local restaurant. Afternoon visit to the Inca fortress and citadel of Ollantaytambo built just as the Spaniards arrived and one stronghold where the Incas were never defeated. Dinner under own arrangements.

Early morning departure for Ollantaytambo station to board the Vistadome train to Aguas Calientes. Visit Machu Picchu, the ‘Lost City of the Incas’, which was discovered by the American explorer Hiram Bingham in 1911. Construction began around 1430 AD but it was abandoned by the Incas a hundred years later at the time of the Spanish Conquest, although it was never discovered by the invaders. Since it was not plundered by the Spanish, it is especially important as a cultural site and is considered a sacred place. Machu Picchu was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1983.

Late lunch at the Sanctuary Lodge Hotel at Machu Picchu. Depart for Aguas Calientes to board the Hiram Bingham, the luxury train service named after the American explorer, Hiram Bingham, who discovered the stunning ruins of the ancient citadel. This spectacular 3½-hour journey takes you through a changing landscape while you enjoy pre-prandial drinks, a four-course dinner and live music as the train descends back to Cusco through the Andes. On arrival, check into the Belmond Monasterio where three nights are spent. The hotel was originally built as a monastery in the 16th-century and converted into a hotel in 1995. It remains a national historical landmark, protected by the INC, (National Institute of Culture), and has retained its characteristics and charm. It is a splendid model of the colonial renaissance style, consisting of three sections on different levels. The heart of the hotel is the central courtyard with its fountain and 300-year-old cedar tree surrounded by gardens and the famous stone cloisters – a unique atmosphere providing the comforts and quality of a modern five-star hotel.

Morning city tour of Cusco, the ancient capital of the Inca Empire, set in a verdant valley high in the Andean mountain range. Placed on the World Cultural Heritage List by UNESCO in 1983, it is undoubtedly one of the most important destinations in Peru. Explore the cobbled streets and Andean baroque buildings from the colonial period such as the Cathedral and the Santo Domingo Church built upon the foundations of the Inca temple, the Koricancha, (the Temple of the Sun).

Lunch at a local restaurant. Afternoon walking tour of the artistic San Blas district with its winding streets and white washed houses. Dinner under own arrangements.

Visit Sacsayhuaman, the impressive Inca ruins above Cusco, an intricately designed walled temple complex built of massive interlocking stones and, like much of the Incas’ stonework, there is still much mystery surrounding how it was constructed. Continue to the red fortress at Puca Pucara, Qenqo, a ritualistic site with subterranean galleries which form an underground maze, and Tambomachay, also known as the Incan baths.

Lunch in a local restaurant. Afternoon at leisure to explore the local markets. Dinner under own arrangements.

Full day train journey on board the Vistadome train to Puno, through the dramatic landscape of the Altiplano or highland plateau, dotted with little Andean villages and herds of llamas and alpacas. Puno is situated on the edge of Lake Titicaca which sits on Peru’s southern border with land-locked Bolivia, and covers some 8,500 square km. The highest navigable lake in the world, its shores are home to the Aymara and Quechua Indians who are amongst the oldest peoples in Peru, predating the Incas by 1000 years.

Lunch on board the train. On arrival in Puno check-into the Posada del Inca Hotel, located on the shores of Lake Titicaca, where two nights are spent. Dinner at the hotel.

Morning boat trip to see the man-made floating Uros islands. Maintained by their inhabitants since pre-Columbian times using totora reeds from the lake. Also visit Taquile Island which is inhabited by Quechua speaking locals who, over several generations, have developed both an efficient and original social system and a fine hand-weaving technique.

Lunch in a local restaurant on the island. Return to the hotel by boat. Dinner at the hotel.

Early morning departure to Colca with a stop at the ‘Chullpas’ of Sillustani on the shores of Lake Umaya, where the ancient Aymaras used to bury their high priests in cylindrical tombs. You will also see the ancient raised bed method of agriculture known as Waru Waru which is still in use today. On arrival in Colca check into the Colca Lodge where two nights are spent. The lodge, situated amidst ancient farming terraces and the Colca River, has been built in the traditional style using stone, mud bricks and thatched roofs in keeping with the natural surroundings. The lodge offers thermal water springs with medicinal properties.

Lunch at the lodge. Afternoon visit to the Colcas at Chininia and the pre-Inca constructions. See the view[1]point at Ocolle and the amphi-theatre followed by a short walk to the ruins at Uyo-Uyo. Dinner at the lodge.

Morning visit to the observation point at ‘Condor’s Cross’, with its panoramic views of the Colca Canyon, twice as deep as the Grand Canyon, and reputed to be the world’s deepest river gorge. Here try to catch sight of the Andean Condor, the largest flying bird in the world. Return to the lodge passing through the local villages of Maca at the base of the Sabancaya Volcano and Yanque with its baroque church from the colonial era.

Lunch at the lodge. Afternoon at leisure. Dinner at the lodge.

Drive to Arequipa across Pampa Cañahuas in the Aguada Blanca National Reserve, inhabited by herds of vicuñas and alpacas. You will also see beautiful pre-Columbian terraces, still being cultivated by the native Collaguas. On arrival transfer to the centrally located Casa Andina Private Collection Hotel, where two nights are spent. Formerly the mint, a historical monument and one of the most beautiful colonial houses in Arequipa, it has been transformed into one of the foremost hotels in the city.

Late lunch at the hotel. Remainder of the afternoon at leisure. Dinner under own arrangements.

Morning tour of the ‘white city’. Visit the Main Square, one of the most beautiful squares in Peru because it is built of sillar (a white volcanic rock) with intricately carved arches. It is next to the impressive Arequipa Cathedral, constructed in the 17th century and fully rebuilt after several earthquakes. Continue to the Church of the Society of Jesus or La Compaña (1590), considered a classical example of the local baroque architecture, which houses an exceptional collection of paintings and murals. The tour ends at the Monastery of Saint Catherine, an authentic medieval cloister and a small religious citadel built in 1579.

Lunch at Chicha Restaurant. Afternoon at leisure. Farewell dinner at Zig Zag Restaurant.

Morning at leisure.

Lunch under own arrangements. Transfer to Arequipa airport for a flight to Lima. Suggested flight (not included in the cost of the tour) Iberia IB 126 departing at 19.55 hrs.

Arrive Madrid at 14.10 hrs and connect to IB 723 departing at 16.50 hrs arriving London Heathrow at 18.15 hrs.