Peru Tour 9 Days / 8 Nights (Lima-Ica-Cusco)

Description

Discover the cultural and natural richness of Peru on an exciting 9 days and 8 nights tour from Lima to Cusco. Immerse yourself in the history of Lima, getting to know it in its 3 stages: ancestral, colonial and modern. On the next day, marvel at the diversity of marine life in the Ballestas Islands and discover the oasis of Huacachina and practice adventure sports on the desert sands: buggy rides and sandborading. Then, dazzle yourself with the archaeological treasures of Cusco and its surroundings, including the mystical Sacred Valley, the majesty of Machu Picchu, the dazzling Humantay Lagoon and the imposing 7 Colors Mountain.

An unforgettable experience awaits you every step of the way!

DAY 1: ARRIVAL TO LIMA / CITY TOUR LIMA

Pick up from the airport. Accommodation at the hotel in Lima.

At 14:30 hrs we will start with the City tour, for which the pick up from the hotels starts at 14:00 hrs.

We will enjoy a tour knowing Lima in its three stages: Ancestral, Colonial and Modern Lima. We will start the tour with a panoramic view of the “Pucllana Pyramid”, ancient ceremonial and archaeological center built in the 4th century A.D. and considered the Sacred Town of the Incas.

Then we will go to the Historic Center of Lima where we will observe what was the old Lima Cuadrada, and appreciate more than fifty monuments and colonial buildings among which are the Paseo de la Republica, the Plaza San Martin, the Plaza Mayor, the Government Palace, the Municipal Palace, the Archbishop’s Palace, the Cathedral Basilica, among others. Continuing the tour we will visit the Museum of the Central Reserve Bank where we will appreciate the Collection of Treasures of Peru within which we will find ceramic objects, gold and textiles of various pre-Columbian cultures. We will also visit the Monumental Complex of San Francisco, which is the largest sample of colonial religious art in America where its main attraction are the subway crypts known as “Catacombs”. Finally we will go to the Contemporary Zone of Lima where we will see the main buildings and residential areas of Lima: El Olivar de San Isidro, Miraflores, Larcomar and Parque del Amor.

Our tour ends at 18:00 hrs. Overnight in Lima.

DAY 2: BALLESTAS ISLANDS AND HUACACHINA OASIS

At 04:30 a.m. you will be picked up from the hotel and then head to the city of Paracas, arriving in Paracas at 9:00 a.m. approximately. Afterwards you will go to the dock “El Chaco” to embark on a boat that will take us to the Ballestas Islands.

The first stop of our boat will be in front of the enigmatic Candelabro, a huge geoglyph designed in the sandy summit that has the shape of a trident with more than 2500 years old. We will discover the different hypotheses about its origin, which could be linked to ancient pirates or even with the creators of the famous Nazca Lines.

Continuing with our tour we will arrive at the Ballestas Islands. The Ballestas Islands are three small islands where we will discover the impressive maritime and ecological richness of Peru. We will be impressed by immense colonies of sea lions and Humboldt penguins, and by the countless guano birds that fly over the area.

Although it is forbidden to land on the islands so as not to alter the ecosystem or disturb the animals, we will get close enough to see them interacting in their natural habitat. We will skirt the three islands in a crossing of approximately one hour. Then, we will return to the Paracas dock.

Afterwards, we will continue our trip to Ica. We will visit an artisan winery where the Peruvian liquor known as Pisco is made. In this place our local guide will take us on a tour of the winery’s facilities and explain the ancient method of making Pisco and wine. After the tour our clients will be able to taste the different varieties of Pisco and wine that this winery produces, and if they wish, they will also be able to purchase these products.

Afterwards, we will go to the Huacachina Oasis, a place located only 5 Km. from downtown. In this beautiful lagoon visitors can enjoy the tranquility of the place and walk around in search of good photos and / or restaurants (free time).

At 4:00 pm, or coordinated time, the sand buggy ride through the dunes surrounding the Huacachina Lagoon begins. Also, the huge dunes surrounding the lagoon allow visitors to practice one of the most fascinating sports in the area, popularly called Sandboarding, which consists of sliding on a board on the desert sand.

Finally we will return to Lima, arriving at your hotel at 22:30 hrs approximately. Overnight in Lima.

DAY 3: ARRIVAL TO CUSCO / CITY TOUR CUSCO

Arrival to the city of Cusco, reception at the Velasco Astete International Airport and transfer to the hotel.

13:00 hrs, start of the city tour. Our tour begins with a visit to the Temple of QORICANCHA, and then we will board our mobility to go to the archaeological centers as SAQSAYWAMAN which has a strategic location from where you can have a panoramic view of Cusco, this is very famous for the huge polished and molded stones. Then we will go to a mystical temple of the Incas known as QENQO where in Inca times religious sacrifices were made. Then, we will visit the control and military center of the Incas called PUKA PUKARA, finally we will visit the Temple of TAMBOMACHAY where the water fountains stand out. Return to the hotel around 18:30 hrs. Overnight in Cusco.

DAY 4: SUPER SACRED VALLEY (VIP VALLEY)

This tour starts at 06:30 am, first we will go to the town of CHINCHERO to visit the church and the archaeological park of the place, we will also have the opportunity to enter a textile production center where they still use ancient techniques of weaving and dyeing of wool. Later we will go to the archaeological park of MORAY famous for its circular terraces, then we will visit the SALINERAS de Maras which are about 5000 small ponds that are still exploited for human consumption.

Then, we will go to the city of Urubamba where you will enjoy a delicious buffet lunch. After lunch, you will go to the town of OLLANTAYTAMBO nominated as “living Inca city” for preserving the original urban design of the Inca period, in this town you will visit the archaeological park that awaits the temple of the sun composed of a megalithic construction, also highlights the temple of the 10 niches, sacred fountains, the face of the Andean god Tunupa, etc..

Later, you will go to the train station in Ollantaytambo to board the train that will take you to the town of Aguas Calientes, the train ride lasts 1 ½ hours, there you will be picked up by our staff that will take you to your assigned hotel. That same night you will be visited by our local tour guide to coordinate the next day’s tour. Overnight in Aguas Calientes.

DAY 5: MACHUPICCHU

At the coordinated time, you will board the bus for a 25 minute ride to the entrance point of the Inca citadel of Machupicchu. We will visit the Inca citadel for about 2 hours, during which time our guide will show and explain everything about this world wonder.
The work of our guide ends when you have completed the tour of the circuit inside the Inca citadel, then you will have the afternoon free so you can have lunch on your own, until the departure time of the train.

To return to Cusco it is necessary to be half an hour earlier at the train station, according to the schedule assigned on the ticket. Then you will board the train that will take you to the town of Ollantaytambo, where you will be picked up by our bus that will take you back to the city of Cusco. Overnight in Cusco.

DAY 6: HUMANTAY LAGOON

Our tour starts at 04:30 am. First we will pick you up at your hotel; Then we will start our journey on a paved road until we reach the town of Mollepata where you will have breakfast. After breakfast we will continue our journey through a dirt road until we reach the town of Soraypampa, from this point we will start the hike for an hour and a half until we reach the Humantay Lagoon (4,200 meters above sea level). At this point we will have enough time to enjoy the scenery and take pictures. The degree of difficulty of this tour is MEDIUM and the tour requires an acceptable physical condition.

After the visit to Humantay, we will descend to Soraypampa to take our vehicle that will take us to the town of Mollepata where we will have lunch for the day. Then we will continue with our return trip to Cusco city, we will arrive around 05:30 pm. Overnight in Cusco.

DAY 7: SOUTH VALLEY

At 08:30 a.m. you will start the tour towards the southern valley of Cusco, where you will find two important archaeological complexes: “TIPÓN”, which is a unique example of the hydraulic engineering of the Incas, and then “PIKILLACTA” considered as an archaeological group of Pre-Inca period. They will also visit ANDAHUAYLILLAS where the picturesque church known as “The Sistine of America” is located.

In a complementary way, you will also visit the viewpoint Cielo punku de Huaro, place where the sculpture GIGANTINE HAND is located. During the trip you will observe the towns of Saylla, Tipon and Oropesa, the latter town famous for its large breads called “chutas”, Tipon for its dishes based on guinea pig (guinea pig), and Saylla famous for its delicious pork rinds. On the way back you will have enough time to have lunch in one of the places mentioned above. We will return to Cusco at 04:00 pm. Overnight in Cusco.

DAY 8: 7 COLORED MOUNTAIN VINICUNCA

At 04:30 a.m. we will pick you up at your hotel, and then we will start our trip following a paved road towards the town of Cusipata. Then, we will enter by a dirt road until we reach the town of Paucarpata, where we will enjoy our breakfast. After breakfast we will continue our journey to Qomer Qocha, there you will have enough time to get ready, also our tour guide will give you recommendations before the walk. The trek on foot has an average duration of 1 hour with an average degree of difficulty whose route requires an acceptable physical condition, since the arrival point of Vinicunca has an altitude of 5,200 meters above sea level.

Arriving at the mountain, you will have an ideal time to take pictures of the memory; then return to Qomer Qocha, there we will board our vehicle that will take us to the restaurant to have lunch for the day, and after a short rest we will return to the city of Cusco, this tour ends at 05:00 p.m. approximately. Overnight in Cusco.

DAY 9: CUSCO / DEPARTURE

At the coordinated time, departure transfer to Cusco airport. End of service.

Transfer Airport – Hotel – Airport (in Lima and Cusco).
02 nights accommodation in Lima.
05 nights accommodation in Cusco.
01 night accommodation in Aguas Calientes.
01 Buffet lunch in the Sacred Valley tour.
01 breakfast, 01 lunch in the tour of the Mountain of Colors.
01 breakfast, 01 lunch in the tour of the Humantay Lagoon.
Tourist transportation in the tours.
Professional guide in the tours.
BTG (General Tourist Ticket) in Cusco.
Entrance ticket to Qorikancha.
Entrance ticket to Machupicchu.
Bus ticket Aguas Calientes – Machupicchu – Aguas Calientes.
Tourist train ticket VOYAGER or EXPEDITION (Ollantaytambo – Machupicchu and vice versa).
Entrance fees to the tourist sites in Lima.
Buggie ride and Sandboarding (Ica).
Ride on the sliders (boat in Paracas).
Tax in Paracas.
Tax in Huacachina.
First Aid Kit; Oxygen Balloon in the tour of the Mountain of Colors and the Humantay Lagoon (Group Use).
Orientation and permanent monitoring to the passenge

International air tickets.
Internal air tickets Lima – Cusco – Lima.
Meals not mentioned.
Entrance to the park of the mountain of colors (30 soles).
Entrance fee to the Humantay Lagoon Park (25 soles).
Entrance fee to the Maras salt mines (20 soles).
Entrance fee to the church of Andahuaylillas (15 soles).
Consumption or personal expenses of the passengers.

Wear comfortable clothing suitable for the weather, with layers to adapt to temperature variations.
Don’t forget your sunscreen, hat and sunglasses to protect you from the sun during outdoor activities.
Stay hydrated throughout the trip, especially in high altitude areas such as Cusco and the Seven Colors Mountain.
Have cash on hand in Peruvian soles for small purchases and tips.
Be sure to carry your passport and any necessary documents to enter the archaeological sites.
Book your tickets for Machu Picchu and Seven Colors Mountain in advance to avoid disappointment.
Be respectful of the environment and follow the instructions of the guides to preserve the natural beauty of the places you visit.
Enjoy every moment to the fullest and take lots of pictures to create unforgettable memories.

PRICES PER PERSON IN SHARED TOUR ACCORDING TO HOTEL CATEGORY

DESCRIPTION (Hotels and similar)	Prices in dollars
With Hotel ★★★	USD. 980
With Hotel ★★★★	USD. 1,180

Prices are based on double, matrimonial or triple rooms. Those who wish to occupy a single room will have to pay the corresponding difference, according to the category of the selected hotel.
Children from 3 to 17 years old enjoy discounts, please consult with our reservations department.
Children from 0 to 2 years old do not pay, as long as they share the services with their parents.
To enter the Waynapicchu circuit, reservations must be made 3 – 4 months in advance (the cost of the ticket is 210 soles).
This tour package is flexible, at the request of the client it is possible to modify both the itinerary and the hotel, for which it will have to be re-quoted. Also, you can request a quote in private tour service if you prefer.