10 Best Full Days PERU Land of Contrasts Day 1 Machu Picchu Day 2 Titicaca Lake Day 3 Highland of Chinchero Day 4 Arequipa Day 5 Colca Valley Day 6 Cusco & nearby ruins Day 7 Tambopata Research Center Day 8 Cordillera Blanca Day 9 Kingdoms of the Moche Day 10 Nasca Lines & Tablazo de Ica 1 MACHU PICCHU AGUAS CALIENTES - MACHU PICCHU - SACRED VALLEY / CUSCO Breakfast in the hotel and early morning transfer by bus to the majestic ruins of Machu Picchu be- fore the arrival of most tourists. The impressive Inca citadel is placed on the side of a mountain. Its Quechua name means “Old Mountain”, but it is also known as “the Lost City of the Incas” since it remained hidden from the West until dis- covered by Hiram Bingham in 1911. It was built in the fifteenth century, and is attributed to the Inca Pachacutec. The archeological complex is divided into two zones that are contained within approximately twenty hectares. On the sides of the mountain, you can see up to four meters high agricultural terraces. Several plazas and build- ings, the most important being the Temple of the Sun, the Intihuatana or solar clock and calendar, the Temple of the Three Windows, the Main Tem- ple and the Condor Sector, make up the urban sector. There is also an impressive monolith of carved stone, three meters high and seven meters wide at the base, named the Sacred Stone. In or- der to build Machu Picchu, the Incas had to use blocks of stone brought from long distances. The finish of the walls features different quality levels and techniques. One of the highest quality walls is the central one of the Main Temple where the stones fit together perfectly. Machu Picchu His- toric Sanctuary in not only a priceless archeologi- cal site, it is also associated with rich animal and plant life. In 1983, UNESCO placed it on the World Cultural and Natural Heritage Lists. Back to Aguas Calientes for luch time, afternoon return train to Ollantaytambo and transfer to the hotel in the Sa- cred Valley of the Incas or continuation to Cusco. Dinner and overnight in the hotel. 2 TITICACA LAKE PUNO – UROS – TAQUILE – SUASI ISLAND Breakfast at the hotel. In the morning we will cruise through the amazing blue waters of lake Titicaca un- til we reach the floating islands of the Uros. Today the Uros people no longer speak their native dialect but rather the Aymara language. While their islands have became somewhat over-commercialised, they are still worth a visit because of their peculiar way of life. We continue to Taquile Island, one of the biggest of the lake where a community of farmers still lives in a very traditional way. After the visit we’ll keep navigat- ing towards the remote Suasi Island. In this occasion you will have the opportunity to fully appreciate the huge extension of the lake, which is more than 170 km in length from north to south and 110 km from east to west. Suasi is a lost heaven of nature and harmony where you’ll find only a cosy small hotel entirely made of wood and stone. Afternoon free to carry out various activities such as visiting a herd of vicunas, the pretti- est of the four Andean camelids, the house of culture or simply relax in this enchanted place. In the late af- ternoon you can hike to the western extremity of the island to enjoy a spectacular sunset over the lake. Lunch, dinner and overnight at the hotel. 3 HIGHLAND OF CHINCHERO CUSCO - CHINCHERO - MARAS - MORAY – SACRED VALLEY / AGUAS CALIENTES Breakfast in the hotel. In the morning excursion to Chinchero, a pretty Andean village with a magical atmosphere, located on the plateau straddling the valley of Cusco and the Sacred Valley of the In- cas. Visit to the ruins of an Inca temple dedicated to Sun God and to the colonial church recently re- stored and completely covered with frescoes. Con- tinuation to the amazing salinas on the plateau of Maras. These salt-mines have been used since the Tahuantinsuyo. The people channel the salt water that bubbles to the surface from a spring called Qoripujio towards men-made wells. From the expo- sure to the sun, the water evaporates and the salt remains on the surface to be transported later to the market to be sold. The view of this complex of nearly 3000 wells is spectacular. A short ride will take us to Moray, a site that contains unusual Inca ruins consisting of several enormous terraced cir- cular depressions, the largest of which is about 30 m deep. The purpose of these depressions is uncertain, but their depth and orientation with re- spect to wind and sun creates a temperature dif- ference of as much as 15°C between the top and bottom. This large temperature difference was probably used by the Inca to study the effects of different climatic conditions on crops. At the end of the visit we’ll continue through beautiful land- sacpes to the Sacred Valley of the Incas. Box lunch, dinner and overnight in the hotel. Notes: - Instead of sleeping in the Sacred Valley, its possible to take the last train to Machu Picchu and overnight in Aguas Calientes. - A nice market takes place in Chinchero on Sundays 4 AREQUIPA AREQUIPA: CITY TOUR Breakfast in the hotel. The very pleasant Arequipa has many colonial-era Spanish buildings built of sil- lar, a pearly white volcanic rock, from which it gets the nickname La Ciudad Blanca. It lies at the feet of the mighty volcanos of Mount Chachani, Mount Misti, and the snow covered peak of Mount Pichu Pichu. The historic centre of Arequipa was named a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2000, in recognition of its architecture and historic integrity. It features mixed Baroque churches and mansions from the Colonial Period like the Monastery of Santa Cata- lina, a Spanish city in miniature with stone streets, beautiful patios and plazas. Constructed to shelter the daughters of the wealthiest families of the city with a religious vocation, the monastery was inau- gurated in 1580, under the name of Santa Catalina of Siena to be a totaly cloistered religious center, and it remained that way until 1970. Dinner in a restaurant and overnight in the hotel. 5 COLCA VALLEY COLCA VALLEY Breakfast in the hotel. Early in the morning we’ll drive along the valley where the tumultuous river has creat- ed a gigantic rift with a stunning drop of 3.000 m, the second deepest Canyon after the Colorado Gran Can- yon and one of the deepest in the world. We’ll have a short walk on a hiking trail which will allow us to ad- mire this huge valley in all its splendor. Arrival at the panoramic point known as “Cruz del Condor”, where, with a bit of luck, we’ll spot condors flying. They are the biggest birds existing in the world and the Andean symbol of peace. In this specific view point, warm as- cending air permits the condors to fly away from the canyon: the way they fly is an amazing gift of nature. From here we continue our journey to the village of Cabanaconde where we could have an easy walk to enjoy a unique view on the canyon over the Colca Riv- er. Back to Chivay, we’ll have free time for lunch and to visit the local market. Don’t miss the big rock at the back on the market; it’s an important map of the area. Afternoon at leisure with the possibility of having a re- laxing bath in the nearby hot thermal waters . Dinner and overnight in the hotel. 6 CUSCO & NEARBY RUINS CUSCO: CITY TOUR & NEARBY RUINS Breakfast in the hotel. This morning we’ll visit the city on foot: the ancient capital of the Inca Em- pire has been declared World Cultural Heritage by UNESCO in 1983 and is without a doubt one of the most important destinations in Peru. There are Inca buildings among its cobble-stoned streets, like the Koricancha and the palace of Inca Roca as well as Andean baroque structures from the Colonial Pe- riod like the Cathedral and the Church of the Com- pany of Christ. In the picturesque neighborhood of San Blas the best artisans have set up their work- shops. After lunch we’ll reach the nearby ruins: the area of Cusco contains thirty-three archeological sites. The most famous is Sacsayhuaman. It might well have been a religious structure, but for its lo- cation and style, the Spanish and the historians believe it was a military construction. It’s a huge complex on three levels with some stones weight- ing between 90 and 120 tons and from its top you’ll have a spectacular view over the city of Cusco. Continuation to the Qenko or “labyrinth” that might date from around 1500 A.D. It is considered a holy place where ceremonies honoring the sun, moon, and the stars used to take place. The nearby com- plex of Pukapukara contains several rooms, inner plazas, aqueducts, vantage points, and pathways. It might have served as a tambo or rest and lodging area. According to the tale, each time the Inca was able to go to Tambomachay, he would be accompa- nied by a large cortège, which stayed at Pukapuka- ra. It is also called a fort because of its fortified-city appearance. Another site is Tambomachay. It might have fulfilled an important religious function linked to water and the regeneration of the land.