Itinerary

1. Day1

   Toronto - Lima

   Make your own way to your Toronto (YYZ)airport for your international flight to Lima. Enjoy in-flight meals and services.

    

    

   
   
2. Day2

   Lima - Cusco (by flight)-Sacred Valley

    

   Upon arrival at the Lima International Airport, you will connect to your domestic flight to Cusco. Embark on a short yet spectacular flight over the snow-capped Andes Mountains to Cusco, the oldest inhabited city in the hemisphere at an elevation of 11,440 feet. Upon arrival, you will be met and transferred to Urubamba in the Sacred Valley where you will visit the Pisac Market and Awanacancha enroute to your hotel.

   Overnight in Sacred Valley

   Optional: Visit to Ollantaytambo Ruins:                                                                         CAD 46 per person

   The Inca Street and town planning are preserved at their finest in the village of Ollantaytambo, surrounded by the neatly terraced hills. Soaring above the town’s cobbled streets, which have been inhabited since the 13th century, lies the magnificent Inca Fortress and the monolithic stones of the Temple of the Sun. Built by Pachacuti in the 1400s, the colossal complex features fine stonework and a ceremonial temple hill area topping the stepped, fortified terrace. Climb more than 200 steps to the top and uncover magnificent views and an up-close look at the impressively hewn masonry. You will also see the remains of several temples and ceremonial fountains. 

    

   
   
3. Day3

   BSacred Valley-Machu Picchu

   In the morning you will travel on the Expedition train through the Sacred Valley to Aguas Calientes, where you will board a shuttle up to the "Lost City of the Incas", Machu Picchu. Perched 8,200 feet above the valley, the city of Machu Picchu was hidden by mountains and a semi-tropical jungle for 400 years until it was discovered by Hiram Bingham in 1911. A knowledgeable tour guide will share the history of this mystical place with you. From there you will be transferred to the hotel.

   Overnight in Aguas Calientes

    

   Optional: Upgrade to Vistadome Train Service                                                   CAD 75 per person

   
   
4. Day4

   BSacred Valley - Machu Picchu - Cusco

    

   In the morning you will travel on the Expedition train back to the Sacred Valley from Aguas Calientes, where you will board a shuttle to Cusco. Upon arrival, you will be transferred to your hotel. Enjoy the rest of the day at leisure.

   Overnight in Cusco

    

   Optional: Re-Entry to Machu Picchu Ruins                                                         CAD 130 per person

    

   
   

    

   
   
5. Day5

   BCusco

    

   Spend your day at leisure. Perhaps book an optional excursion.

   Overnight in Cusco

    

   Optional: Walking City Tour of Lima                                                                  CAD 72 per person

   Explore the spectacular sights of Peru’s captivating capital with a walking tour. Experience the bustling atmosphere as you stroll around the Cathedral and Koricancha and get the chance to see how the Andean and Spanish cultures co-existed and influenced the city. The tour will begin at the Santo Domingo Convent, built on the site of Koricancha, which was a significant ancient Inca Palace and center of worship of the Sun God. The tour will take you to the Main Square, the site of the Cathedral and the La Compañía Church.

    

   Optional: Hiking the Ruins of Cusco (Sacsayhuaman and Tambomachay)            CAD 130 per person

   Sacsayhuaman is the largest and most impressive of four archaeological ruins on the outskirts of Cusco. Built by the Incas, it served as an important military function and was the site of a major battle with the Spanish in 1536. The name itself can be translated as “speckled head” and some say that the city was laid out in the shape of a puma, with Sacsayhuaman forming the head. Tambomachay might not be one of the largest ruins in Cusco, but it is certainly one of the highest, topping out at nearly 13,000 feet. Situated five miles from the city center, Tambomachay is also known as “the Baths of the Inca” due to the various baths which are scattered around the site. The Inca held water in a spiritual regard as one of the sources of life, and the spring waters at Tambomachay are masterfully diverted into aqueducts, baths, and stone-carved waterways which would divert the water through the stone. Given the site’s natural beauty and the spiritual significance of the waters, it is believed by historians that Tambomachay was reserved for Incan royalty. 

   
   

    

   
   
6. Day6

   B, LCusco - Puno

    

   Today one of the most extraordinary overland trips in South America will take you from Cusco to Puno by bus, passing through the breathtaking highland scenery and picturesque Andean villages.  En-route you will stop at the town of Andahuaylillas. The church here was founded in 1580 and is a showcase of the colonial art in Peru, sometimes dubbed "the Sistine Chapel of the Americas” due to its rich interior. You will also stop at Raqchi to see the remains of the remarkable temple of Viracocha, considered by historians to be a particularly important Inca construction, and at La Raya, the highest pass on the route. Enjoy the beautiful views of the surrounding countryside you will see llamas, alpacas, and vicunas wandering the wild. The last stop before Puno will be Pucara, an old ceremonial site that shows evidence of a pre-Incan civilization. You will arrive in Puno later this afternoon/evening.

   Overnight in Puno

   
   

    

   
   
7. Day7

   BPuno

    

    Enjoy your day at leisure. Perhaps book an optional excursion.

   Overnight in Puno

    

   Optional: Uros and Taquile Island on Titicaca Lake                                             CAD 150 per person

   Head on a boat excursion to the Uros and Taquile Islands on Lake Titicaca. This full-day excursion will take you to the highest navigable lake in the world to the floating islands of the Uros Indians, man-made islands created by tying totora reeds. The Uros considered themselves to be the Lords of the Lake; they hunt wild birds and keep traditional fishing methods alive. The men have developed extraordinary skills in weaving reeds; producing houses, boats, and handicrafts, and the women are expert knitters. Continue your tour to Taquile where a native community of about 400 families still live with the traditions and high  principles of the Incas. Taquile is a very important site on Lake Titicaca for its archeological remains, the sacred and ceremonial sites, the festive activities, and their rituals. Taquile is characterized by its friendly inhabitants, who maintain their customs and traditional clothing. They distinguish themselves by their detailed, fine, and colorful textiles with symmetrical decorations and symbols that reflect their way of life and Andean beliefs. See a Shaman make a “Tribute to the earth” in a fascinating pre-Hispanic religious tradition.

    

    

   
   
8. Day8

   BPuno - Lima

   Early this morning you will be transferred to Juliaca Airport (1-hour approx.) for your flight back to Lima. Upon arrival, you will be met and transferred to your hotel for check-in. Enjoy the rest of the day at leisure. The city of Lima, also known as the City of Kings, was founded by Francisco Pizarro on January 18, 1535, on the right bank of the Rímac River due to the excellent strategic and geographic conditions of this valley. Lima, whose name stems from the Quechua word Rimac, which translated into Spanish means talker, began its rapid growth amidst the millenary cultures that developed in the area. During the Viceroy ship, between the sixteenth and seventeenth century, Lima became the most important and powerful metropolis in Lattin America, and the cultural and commercial center of the region, until the creation of the Viceroy ship of La Plata in the 18th century, which took up the famous mines of Potosi. In 1821, following a series of intense political movements, General San Martin proclaimed the independence of Peru. Today, Lima is a modern city that offers a wide range of attractions which, united with its rich past, provides visitors with a harmonious synthesis of all this historic richness in its many museums, traditional quarters, restaurants, handicrafts, galleries, and nightlife.

   Overnight in Lima

    

   Optional: Traditional City Tour of Lima                                                                         CAD 104 per person

   Discover some of the finest sites in Lima such as the 16^th century Plaza Mayor (Main Square), which boasts the Government Palace and City Hall. You will visit the Cathedral and the San Francisco Convent, built in the 17th century, and its “Catacombs” – the ancient underground cemetery of Lima. Your tour will continue through the ritzy modern districts of San Isidro and Miraflores, and finally to the coastline, enjoying the breathtaking view of the Pacific Ocean from the coastal cliffs and beaches

   
   
9. Day9

   BLima

    

   Spend your day at leisure. Perhaps book an optional excursion.

   Overnight in Lima

    

   Optional: Full Day Nazca Lines with Overflight & Lunch                                                CAD 819 per person

   Early in the morning, you will be transferred to the station to hop on your bus to Paracas, driving along the breathtaking Peruvian Coast. The town is situated on a picturesque peninsula known for its wealth of wildlife and beautiful beaches. Once you arrive in Paracas you will be transferred to the Pisco Airport to board your aircraft, fitted with a window seat for every passenger, as you soar into the skies above this enigmatic sight for its incredible views of the various animal designs down below. UNESCO World Heritage Site Experts believe the Nazca Lines were constructed more than 1,000 years ago. Each of the line drawings you will see during your flight serves a special significance. The 300-foot (90m) monkey, for example, has only nine fingers, which site experts believe symbolizes the nine months of drought the Nazca people experienced each year. Meanwhile, the spider is said to represent water and fertility, as the creature is known to appear just before the annual rainstorms. As for the hummingbird, condor, and flamingo, experts suspect the birds’ beaks are aligned to match the angle of the sunrise and sunset during the year’s two solstice events. You will also fly above the Nazca lines lizard, which was unfortunately split in two during the construction of the Pan-American highway in 1937. After your Nazca Lines flight, enjoy lunch at the Hacienda Bahia Paracas Hotel before starting your return trip to Lima by bus. Upon arrival at the bus station, you will be dropped off at your hotel.

    

   
   

    

   
   
10. Day10

    Arrive in Toronto

     

    Today you will be transferred to the airport for your departure flight.