Pre‐tour Nazca 5 days / 4 nights (August 15 – August 19)

Day 01 Lima (arrival) ‐ Transfer to Hotel – Briefing Welcome to Lima, “the city of the kings”. At your arrival you will be received by us at the airport and brought to the hotel. After your check‐in you have a little welcome snack and a short introduction to the itinerary. On demand we can also take a little walk through the quarter where our hotel is.

Overnight at Hotel 3*** Meals: Welcome Snack

Day 02 Lima ‐ – Paracas – Paracas National Reserve – History Museum After breakfast, we drive on the “Panamericana” to Pachacamac and then continue to the bay of Paracas. Our first stop is the ruins of Pachacamac from where we have a great view over the Pacific Ocean. Pachacamac with its oracle was an important cultural and spiritual center before and during the . It is the location in which the priests communicated with the gods with a holy piece of wood. After the visitation we continue our trip to the bay of Paracas where we will visit the National Park of Paracas. This nature reserve is the only one of its kind at the Peruvian coast and is considered by UNESCO as one of the most extraordinary and richest ecosystems. Here were also found the vestiges of a “Quena” flute, the first Peruvian musical instrument. You will be enchanted by impressing steep coasts, bizarre coast deserts and spectacular views to the peninsula of Paracas. Enjoy this unique landscape under bright sunshine and the extensiveness of the Pacific Ocean. The modern world already marvels at the legacy of the Paracas culture which inhabited this coastal region more than 2000 years ago: a diversity of color and the finest woven textiles which were found in their burial places as well as the famous elongated skulls.

After having visited the nature reserve we continue to the Paracas History Museum where there are plenty of deformed and elongated skulls, which allegedly cannot be assigned to any human species. The highlight of this museum is that these skulls will be taken out of their glass cabinets, which doesn’t happen in any other museum!

Overnight at Hotel 3*** Meals: Buffet Breakfast / Lunch

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Day 03 Ballestas Islands ‐ Ica ‐ Regional Museum ‐ Cabrera Museum – Huacachina Oasis ‐ Nazca After breakfast, we drive to the Ballestas Islands aboard a comfortable speedboat which is also called “Little Galapagos”. We first behold the oversized geoglyph “El Candelabro”, the symbolism and cultural affiliation of which still puzzles experts to this day. We continue with our boat trip and will see dozens of sea lions which swim around the boat or bathe in the sun. Furthermore, we will see a variety of seabirds, for example the Guano Cormorants, Peruvian pelican, blue‐footed boobies, Atlantic puffins or the famous Humboldt Penguins. We return to the hotel and continue our journey to Ica.

In Ica, we visit the Regional Museum with its extraordinary collection of deformed and trepanned skulls of the Paracas and the Nazca culture. After lunch, we visit the private Museum “Museo Gliptolitico” of Dr. Cabrera including a private guidance. The museum became world‐ famous by “The Stones of Ica” and the controversies which were caused by this and which last to this day. Form your own opinion about this in the Huacachina Oasis, where we can relax or experience desert adventures such as riding on a sand buggy through the dunes or sandboarding (optional). In the late afternoon, we continue to Nazca where we spend the night.

Overnight at Hotel 3*** Meals: Buffet breakfast

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Day 04 ‐ – Cantayoc Aqueducts ‐ Antonini Museum After breakfast, we view the stepped pyramids of Cahuachi clouded in secrecy. There is controversy as by whom and exactly when these adobe pyramids were built. The 30‐km² archaeological site is officially assigned to the Nazca culture and should have served as a cultural center from about 500 BC to 500 AD. It is one of the greatest ceremonial sites known from pre‐Columbian times. The whole area viewed from the air is suggestive of once being flooded by a huge mud inundation which resulted from a catastrophic event in the past. Could it be connected to the weird “Cemetery of the Whales” in the Ocucaje desert about 300 km south of Lima on which surface the mortal and petrified remains of 15 whales are beached? Subsequent to this we see the Aqueducts of Ocongallo.

In the afternoon, we have a flight over the mysterious and world‐famous Nazca lines and the geometric earth figures of Palpa. During the 45‐minute‐long sightseeing flight you can take unforgettable photos of the world‐famous geoglyphs: amongst others, the condor and the hummingbird, but also the so‐called lines and earth roads or “runways”, the “artificially cut” ridges with an airstrip or the Palpa Mandala. The figures can only be viewed from the air.

After this impressive flight, we visit the Antonini Museum, which holds in readiness some surprises. Our last stop today is the Aqueducts of Cantalloc (still working today after more than 2000 years) which spiral downwards into the desert soil and on the other hand consist of canals up to 11 km long, which run under the desert surface about 12 meters in depth and also puzzle mine engineers today.

*Remarks: Due to unforeseen weather conditions the flight over the Nazca Lines cannot be guaranteed and in case of poor weather we’ll try again next day. In case of a delay in the overflight, Cahuachi will be visited the next day

**Remark:

Overnight at Hotel 3*** Meals: Buffet breakfast

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Day 05 Nazca ‐ Lima ‐ Afternoon free We leave Nazca and visit the open‐air cemetery of Chauchillo where we stand face to face with mummies and mummy bundles. Our next stop is the Maria Reiche Museum before we return to Lima. The afternoon is free. In the evening, we have a welcome snack and briefing

Lodging in Lima included in the Main program Meals: Buffet Breakfast

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Main tour 14 days / 13 nights (August 19 – September 02)

Day 01 Lima (arrival) ‐ Transfer to Hotel – Welcome snack and briefing Welcome to Lima, the city of kings. At your arrival you will be received by us at the airport and brought to the hotel. After your check‐in, you have a little welcome snack and a short introduction to the itinerary. On demand we can also take a little walk through the quarter where our hotel is.

Overnight at Hotel 3*** Meals: Welcome snack

Day 02 Lima City tour ‐ Historic Center – Gastronomic Museum of Peru ‐Modern Lima ‐ National Museum for Archaeology – Larco Herrera Museum

The city tour will guide us through Miraflores and San Isidro, the modern quarters of Lima, and through the historic center of the city which was declared a World Heritage site by UNESCO. The tour includes a visit of the Monastery of San Francisco, the most visited church of the city (1674). Its subterranean tunnels lead to catacombs which served as burial sites to the year of 1808. Then we visit the Gastronomic Museum with its exhibitions covering a period of 8,000 years. Our next stop is the Archaeological Museum, which especially distinguishes itself by its exhibition of textiles and where you can admire the famous Raimondi Stela. The museum offers a good overview of the early advanced cultures before the Incas, their development and chronological order. Subsequent to this we go to the Larco Herrera Museum. The collection there covers the 3000‐year‐old before the arrival of the Spaniards. Its masterpieces are considered worldwide as icons of pre‐ Columbian art and have been exhibited in the most renowned museums. Objects finely processed with gold and adorned with semi‐precious stones are appealingly exposed in the rooms of the museum.

Overnight at Lima 3*** Meals: Buffet Breakfast

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Day 03 Flight to Ayacucho – City tour ‐ Ciudad Wari ‐ Huanta / Huanta Valley ‐ Lauricocha – In the morning, we have a flight to Ayacucho and transfer to the hotel. We make a City tour in the town of the 33 churches. After the City tour we visit the Huari Archaeological complex north of Ayacucho. The capital of the Huari‐culture dates from 600‐ 1000 AD, when the Huari culture spread across most of Peru. It was the first urban walled center in the Andes and was used for, administrative, ceremonial, residential and productive purposes. Up to 4m high stone walls, rectangular houses and streets can be seen. There are tombs with perfectly shaped stones, which were supposedly there long before the Huari, as well as subterranean canals and tunnels.

The Huari complex is divided in several sectors and we will explore the most important. The Cheqowasi area consist of multi‐level underground chambers with rectangular, quadrangular and circular mezzanines, which were possibly mausoleums for rulers and nobles. The nearby Moradochayoc area reveals evidence of close contact with Tiwanaku, located some 1500km away in the Lake Titicaca basin. Amazing stone masonry reminds of the ones in Puma Punku near Tiwanaku, while its semi‐subterranean patios correspond to the Tiwanaku semi‐subterranean temple. In Capillapata, we see well composed trapezoidal and rectangular structures up to 400 meters in length and endowed with stone walls more than 10m in height.

In the nearby Ushuaqoto, molded human figures have been found, indicating that it was an industrial or workshop center with its corresponding warehouses.

If time is left, we will continue to Huanta. The present village with its pleasant plaza, is the place where the Pokras and Chancas warriors put up their last brave fight against the Inca invasion.

This area is notable as the site of perhaps the oldest known culture in America, 20,000 years old, evidence of which was found in the cave of Pikimachay. All the remains are in Lima’s museums.

Overnight at Hotel 3*** Meals: Buffet Breakfast

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Day 04 Ayacucho ‐ Andahuaylas ‐ Laguna Pacucha ‐ Sondor – Early in the morning, we drive to Andahuaylas where we take lunch. This town with its colonial houses, which contrast with modern buildings, is the commercial center of the region. After lunch, we visit the nearby Pacucha lagune and the Archaeological complex of Sondor. In the caves of the nearby Muyumuyu mountain we are able to see offerings to Pachamama. The Muyumuyu Mountain is located within the huge Sondor‐site with its Inca and Pre‐Inca structures. We will climb up the 500 steps to the top of the Pyramid from where we have a breathtaking view over the Pacucha lagune and the spectacular landscape. According to local legend, the waters of the lagoon are trapping a once beautiful village which had been a paradise on earth because of the beauty and humanity of its habitants. But it was invaded by strange beings who brought corruption and evil, so the gods decided to submerge the town. After exploring Sondor we continue to Abancay where we spend the night.

Overnight at Hotel 3*** Meals: Breakfast / Lunch

Day 05 Abancay ‐ Saywite ‐ Tarawasi ‐ Quillarumiyoc – Cuzco Early in the morning, we continue our tour in the direction . Our first stop is , known for its monolith, which measures about 4 x 2.5m, in whose surface one can see more than 200 engraved images of buildings, mountains, rivers and animals. This unique andesite stone, whose age is unknown, is the outstanding object of interest of an archaeological site comprising 60 hectares that contains megalithic structures with evidence that an unknown high technology was used for stone cuts and holes, as well as ruins of cult places, dwellings and irrigation plants, which are assigned to the Inca culture.

We continue our trip in order to visit the sites of Tarawasi and Quillarumiyoc. Tarawasi is said to have been a ceremonial site of the Incas. In Quillarumiyoc, we marvel at megalithic structures, among them a moon sanctuary carved in rock to which is assigned extraordinary forces and where the number 7 is clearly epitomized. According to traditions, it is a “star gate”, moon portal, a portal to other dimensions or a “devils gate”. After an extensive viewing, we continue our trip until we reach Cusco in the evening where we spend the night.

Overnight at Hotel 3*** Meals: Breakfast

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Day 06 Cuzco Citytour ‐ Ruins (Saqsayhuaman, Quenko, Puca Pucara, , Lanlakuyuk, etc.) After breakfast we explore Cusco, the former capital of the Inca Empire. We visit the bohemian town of San Blas, the Hatunrumiyoc street with its famous block of the 12 corners, the Plazoleta Nazarenas, the Plaza de Armas (the central place of Cusco), the Regional Historic Museum, the market of Cusco, the cloister and the golden monstrance of La Merced, the Loreto street, the cathedral and the sun temple . The Coricancha holds some surprises such as worked ashlars with core drillings or structures which commemorate “spaceship doors”.

In the afternoon we’ll visit the surrounding ruins. First we visit the legendary fortress of Saqsayhuamán, whose cyclopean walls challenge our understanding. It is unsatisfactorily explained to this day what kind of technology was used to transport the stones and create the walls. Our next stop is Quenko, an exciting site with riddles, be it canals which run in zigzag lines, stairs carved in the rock, tunnels with strange structures or the “amphitheater”. The megalithic construction method indicates an origin long before the Incas. One legend reports about the mythological origins before the foundation of Cusco when there was a lake in the valley of Cusco (scientifically proven) under which there was a huge temple (this is evocative of the legends of tunnel systems beneath the Lake Titicaca which many Bolivian people tell). But it experienced an explosion, which resulted in the destruction of the temple as well as the lake. The massive debris flew through the air and struck the ground, sometimes a few kilometers away, partially upside down, and burst apart, whereas some greater boulders stayed unchanged in their location to this day. From Quenko on we move to the fortress Pucapucara and the water sanctuary Tambomachay, which is also called “the bath of the Incas”. From a spring framed by stones, water with curative qualities is drained by artificial canals. We then return to Cusco.

Overnight at Hotel 3*** Meals: Breakfast Day 07 Cuzco ‐ Chinchero ‐ Maras ‐ ‐ Naupa Iglesia ‐ After breakfast, we travel to the of the Incas to the Andean village of Chinchero, where we turn our attention to the gigantic temple of the Pre‐Inca and Inca period on which there is a church which keeps a special secret. We’ll explore the nearby megalithic structures which predate the Inca by thousands of years.

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We continue our journey to the Salt Terraces of Pichingote near Maras of which around 3,000 are situated on a steep slope and have been worked now for over 2,000 years. After this we visit the archaeological agricultural center of Moray whose round terraces are unique. On these stepped terraces, arranged one upon the other, it is alleged that over 20 different microclimates could be achieved. The powerful place also has extraordinary acoustic properties.

Thereafter we visit the little‐known, mystical Moon Sanctuary of Naupa Iglesia, “the old temple in which shines the gold”, where we discover a complex of buildings of the Inca period as well as a trapezoidal portal carved out of the rock to which is assigned supernatural powers. It is known that sacrifices are still made here in honor of the moon, the sun and the Apus (mountain gods).

We continue our journey to Ollantaytambo with its archaeological site comprising 600 hectares. We go to the fortress which gave the town its name and we visit the Sun Temple (consisting of 6 gigantic monoliths, as well as the “terrace of the 10 niches”). Shortly after passing the entrance, we find to the right a strange granite block whose workmanship is as precisely manufactured as the famous stones of Puma Punku. In this fortress took place the only successful fight of the Incas against the Spanish conquerors and this town is the only one which has kept its original Inca layout. Overnight in the Sacred Valley.

Overnight at Hotel 3*** Meals: Buffet Breakfast

Day 08 Ollanta ‐ – Ollanta Very early in the morning, we have a train ride through the Sacred Urubamaba Valley to Aguas Calientes. There we take a bus up to the citadel of Machu Picchu, the crown jewel of South American Archaeology. We have a guided tour through the archaeological site. Machu Picchu was never discovered by the Spaniards. It was not until 1911 when the American investigator Hiram Bingham re‐discovered the weathered walls of the mighty construction that it became famous worldwide. We will assert that the Inca built here atop existing megalithic structures. Among these is a barely known boulder with more than 30 angles. The megalithic structures and the geometry of Machu Picchu suggest that there was a connection between ancient Peru and ancient Egypt. After the official guidance through the citadel we will have enough time to explore it for ourselves. We then have a bus ride back to Aguas Calientes. After having

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had lunch in this hospitable village, we have free time to roam over the market or to enjoy the goings on of this enclave. At a time to be specified, we have a train ride to Ollantaytambo and transfer to the booked hotel in the Sacred Valley.

Overnight at Hotel 3*** Meals: Buffet Breakfast Day 09 Pisac ‐ Andahuaylillas ‐ Museo Ritos Andinos ‐ Huaro (Museo) ‐ Piquillacta ‐ Tipon – Cuzco After breakfast we drive to Pisac which is directly situated at the Urubamba River in the Sacred Valley of the Incas. The ruins of Pisac were constructed 600m above the village and are among the best preserved and most important ones of Peru. The site, constructed on a crest, comprises a fortress and also some dwellings, palaces and temples. The artificially constructed terraces on the slopes are still in use today. After we enjoy spectacular views into the Sacred Valley, we continue our journey to Andahuaylillas where we visit the Museo Ritos Andinos and examine the “Human‐Hybrid Mummy” also known as “Alien Baby”, which caused a worldwide stir in 2014. Thereafter, we drive to the nearby Waro Museum, where we'll see a controversial collection of stones with petroglyphs. Our next stop is the 50‐hectare‐wide archaeological complex of Pikillacta, an extended city of the Huari culture. The exact planning of the city, as well as the cultural connection to the Tiahuanaco culture, is very interesting. We continue to Tipon, a masterpiece of hydrologic engineering with an efficient network of aqueducts and irrigation canals that are still working to this day. We continue to Cuzco where we spend the night.

Remark: Due to unpredictable weather conditions the visit of Tipon cannot been guaranteed

Overnight at Hotel 3*** Meals: Buffet Breakfast Day 10 Cuzco ‐ Yaurisque ‐ Maucallakta ‐ Puma Orqo ‐ Raqchi ‐ Sicuani – Yauri Very early in the morning we start our tour off the beaten tracks to the Paccariqtambo district, south of Cusco, where we visit the town of Yaurisque. Our first stop is the church in Yaurisque, which was built using stones from ancient buildings. Some of these stones have carvings from pre‐Inca times. Thereafter we visit the archaeological sites of Maucallakta and Puma Orqo, the home of the Paccariqtambo origin myth of the Inca. According to legends, the four Ayar brothers and their sisters emerged out of four caves located underneath the huge rock of Puma Orqo. One of them Ayar Manco, later known as Manco Capac, was the founder of the mythical Inca‐Empire together with his sister Mama Occla. On the summit of Puma Orqo we see perfectly shaped megalithic stones and engraved pumas, which may predate Inca‐times. From here we enjoy spectacular views into the valley and the Andean panorama. On the opposite side of the valley is the Archaeological complex of Maucallakta. This large site with over 200 masonry structures is closely associated with the nearby rock outcrop and caves of Puma

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Orqo. Both were among the most sacred temples of the Inca. After exploring the site and enjoying the beautiful landscape we continue our trip, visiting the ruins of Raqchi, which lie at the feet of the volcano Quinsachata. On the continuation of our trip, we turn right off from Sicuani to Yauri. This town is the home of the nearby Tintaya zinc and copper mines and our starting point to explore amazing archaeological sites embedded in one of the most spectacular landscapes all over Peru, which are rarely visited by tourists. Hostel in Yauri.

Overnight at Hostel 3*** Meals: Buffet Breakfast

Day 11 Yauri ‐ Mauca Llakta – T’aqrachullo (Maria Fortaleza) – Three Canyons After breakfast we start the Sukuytambo‐expedition. Our first stop is the Machupuente with its nice colonial bridge. We then drive to Paris Pucara, an archaeological site with a big rock and stone gate. The origin and function of this site is still unknown. From here we continue to Maukallacta and Pukara T’aqrachulla, both located in the Sukuytambo valley, better known as Three Canyons. Maukallacta lies at the riverbed of the Apurimac River and consists of 75 round and oval structures and several rectangular and quadrangular buildings. The acropolis on the top of the hill was dedicated to Pachamama. The most beautiful building is the , the most perfect funerary tower in Peru. Before the Inca, Maucallakta was a Huari and Kana site. The Rock art sites in the Sukuytambo valleys date back at least 8,000 years. We then reach T’aqrachullo or Maria Fortaleza, a site that used to be a Huari fortress, as well as a pre‐ Incan ceremonial site. There are no less than around 100 funerary structures predating the Inca. From here we have a nice panoramic view over and into the Sukuytambo valley. We then continue to the Sukuytambo‐lookout point from where we have a magnificent and well isolated view over the Three Canyons, a canyon where the Callumani and Cerritambo creek meet the Apurimac river, flanked with up to 130‐meter‐high stone walls. After enjoying these impressions, we drive back to Yauri where we spend the night.

Overnight at Hostel 3*** Meals: Breakfast

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Day 12 Yauri ‐ ‐ Ayaviri ‐ Tinajani Canyon ‐ Pukara – Chucuito After breakfast we continue our journey to Lake Titicaca. Our first stop is Kanamarka a large pre‐Inca site built by the Kana culture around 1,500 years ago. Here we’ll find the typical Machu Picchu style but bigger thatched roof houses and an oval, windowless, stone bungalow. There are also perfectly shaped stones and irrigation systems. The Kana had a close connection to Tiwanaku. We continue to the Tinajani Canyon near the small town of Ayaviri. According to local legends, Tinajani is the place where the devil took his bath. In the rainy season it is told that you can still hear his voice. Today this amazing place is also called The Devils Canyon. Other legends say that the devil is jailed in the “stone needles”. In this Petrified Forest we see some rocks eroded into fantastic shapes, some up to 60m high. There are a few funeral sites within caves that predate the Inca era. After this spectacular and breathtaking view, we continue our tour to the famous potter village of Pucara, in which a pre‐Inca temple site is situated. This site is very close to the Tiwanaku cultures with the same elements such as semi‐subterranean patios and well‐shaped stones. It is said the tunnels at Pucara belong to a network of tunnels that originate in Cuzco, go under Lake Titicaca, until they reach Tiwanaku. In the Museo Lítico (Stone Museum) we marvel at sculptured monoliths and stelae of this cultural epoch. We continue our journey to Chuquito at Lake Titicaca where we stay overnight.

Overnight at Hotel 3*** Meals: Breakfast

Day 13 Titicaca Lake ‐ Uros ‐ ‐ After breakfast we enjoy a breathtaking view over Lake Titicaca where there is a legend that Manco Capac and Mama Ocllo descended from heaven in order to create the Inca empire. From Puno we go by boat to the floating islands of the Urus and receive the impression of how the contemporary dwellers live on these reed isles. We then return to Puno, where we have lunch.

In the afternoon, we visit Cutimbo, an archaeological site which barely is in the focus of tourism and is mostly deserted. Here, there are several grave towers, so‐called “”. On the outer wall of the Chullpas you can see stone works that look very similar to those of Gobekli Tepe in Turkey, ancient Egypt and Tierradentro in Columbia.

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Back in Chuquito we visit Inka Uyu. In this rectangular temple is situated a huge mushroom or phallus made of stone surrounded by about 80 smaller ones.

Overnight at Hotel 3*** Meals: Buffet Breakfast

Day 14 Chucuito ‐ – ‐ Lima – Connection to international flight Today we visit the Chullpas of Sillustani in the surroundings of Lake Titicaca. The oversized towers, constructed with polygonal architecture, are believed to have been erected some thousand years before the Inca. The highest of them is the “Chullpa del Largato” (Chullpa of the Lizard) which stands at 12 meters and is the highest in America. The damage of the towers suggests a cataclysmic event. The remnants of two stone circles are interpreted as an observatory. The partial extraordinary magnetic anomalies which we measured on the pyramid stone in the sector of the rising route are astonishing. Sillustani has an idyllic and impressive location on a peninsula of the Umayo Lake. In the Local Museum we can see elongated skulls and some monoliths that show tool marks that closely resemble those at Gobekli Tepe (south east of Turkey). The agricultural irrigation system is also fascinating. It dates from a time before the Incas and still works today.

Participants who will not undertake the Bolivia extension will be taken to the Juliaca Airport to catch their flight to Lima with connection to their international flight. For the participants attending the the Bolivia extension, we continue the tour after we’ve said goodbye to our friends from the Main tour.

Meals: Buffet Breakfast / Box Lunch

Post‐tour Bolivia 6 days / 5 nights (September 2 ‐ September 7)

Day 01 Chucuito ‐ Sillustani – Juliaca – Amaru Muru ‐ Copacabana Today we visit the Chullpas of Sillustani in the surroundings of Lake Titicaca. The oversized towers, constructed with polygonal architecture, are believed to have been erected some thousand years before the Inca. The highest of them is the “Chullpa del Largato” (Chullpa of the Lizard) which stands at 12 meters and is the highest in America. The damage of the towers suggests a cataclysmic event. The remnants of two stone circles are interpreted as an observatory. The partial extraordinary magnetic anomalies which we measured on the pyramid stone in the sector of the rising route are astonishing. Sillustani has an idyllic and impressive location on a peninsula of the Umayo Lake. In the Local Museum we can see elongated

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skulls and some monoliths that show tool marks that closely resemble those at Gobekli Tepe (south east of Turkey). The agricultural irrigation system is also fascinating. It dates from a time before the Incas and still works today.

In Juliaca we say good bye to our guests who had booked the 14‐day Tour. We then continue the journey along the shores of Lake Titicaca to Copacabana in Bolivia. The impressive basilica in which the black Madonna is venerated is one of the most important places of pilgrimage of South America. On the way we stop to visit the “Star Portal” of Amaru Muru, lying on the west shore of Lake Titicaca. This gate carved out of a sandstone rock is also called “The Devil’s Gate”, “Interdimensional Gate” or “Star Gate”. According to legends an Inca nobleman with his entourage disappeared through this gate escaping from the Spaniards. It is told that he opened the portal by means of a golden disc. Hotel in Copacabana.

Overnight at Hotel 3*** Meals: see day 14 of Main tour Day 02 Copacabana ‐ Sun Island ‐ Copacabana After breakfast, we go by boat to the Sun Island which we explore on foot. We visit the Pilcocaina ruins and the Sacred Rock “Titi Khar’ka”, (the stone of the wildcat), which gave the sea its name. According to the Inca legend of creation, the god Viracocha sent brother and sister Manco Capac and Mama Ocllo to this place in order to find an appropriate location for the chosen people of the Incas. We continue our trekking to the Inca fountain before we drive back to Copacabana.

Overnight at Hotel 3*** Meals: American Breakfast / Lunch

Day 03 Copacabana ‐ Santiago de Ojje – Tiquina – La Paz After breakfast, we continue our tour to Santiago de Ojje, where you will be astonished by the shaped stones of a temple complex excavated in 2013. It’s theorized that this site formerly was a serpent‐temple. Afterwards we will cross the narrowest gap of Lake Titicaca on a rustic ferry. Then we drive over the to La Paz. We check into the hotel and then the rest of the afternoon is free for exploring the city on your own.

Overnight at Hotel 3*** Meals: Buffet Breakfast

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Day 04 La Paz – City tour ‐ Tiwanakumuseum ‐ Gold Muesum ‐ Whiches market After breakfast, we start the sightseeing of La Paz. We visit the colonial center of the city and some museums such as the Museum of Precious Pre‐Columbian Metals (Gold Museum) and the Tiwanaku Museum. Furthermore, we visit the “semi‐ subterranean Temple” in the quarter of Miraflores, where we can marvel at some sculptures of Tiwanaku. The temple itself is a reconstruction, which is geared to the original temple in Tiwanaku, however, the objects within are original pieces. We then visit the amazing Moon Valley, followed by the famous Witches Market, which is unique in the world. The rest of the day is free for optional activities.

Overnight at Hotel 3*** Meals: Buffet Breakfast Day 05 La Paz – Tiwanaku – Puma Punku ‐ Khonko Whankane ‐ La Paz In the morning we drive to the village of Tiwanaku, after which the famous ruins are named. Tiwanaku is an enigmatic complex of temples, pyramids and strange objects. At the Sun Temple of Kalasasaya, we marvel at the “Ponce Monolith” and the “El Fraile Monolith”, which are remind us of astronauts, and the famous Sun Gate, which is unique in the world. Next to the Kalasasaya is the Akapana Pyramid. On the upper platform of this stepped pyramid are some monolithic blocks, where we can detect magnetic anomalies by means of a compass. Next to the pyramid is the Semi‐subterranean Temple, where hundreds of stone heads are embedded in the walls.

We then get to Puma Punku, which is older than Tiwanaku and arguably one of the most mysterious sites on the continent. Furthermore, we visit the Lithic Museum where we marvel at the 7m high Benneth Monolith among other artifacts, and the church in the village of Tiwanaku, whose entrance is flanked by two stone statues wearing turbans! In the church’s interior are stelae which represent deities and are venerated to this day.

Finally, we drive to Konko Whankane, a small and almost unknown site with unique and amazing carved stelae. After investigating this site we return to La Paz.

Overnight at Hotel 3*** Meals: Buffet Breakfast / Lunch

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Day 06 La Paz ‐ … Origen After breakfast we have a last get together before you will be transferred to the airport for a return flight to your home country.

Meals: Buffet Breakfast

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