Peru Pur - The Essence of Peru in German

Arrive at Jorge Chavez International Airport in Lima. Upon arrival, a representative will be waiting to greet you at the airport and the transportation service will transfer you to your hotel at the scheduled time. Spend the rest of the day at your leisure in Lima, the capital of Peru and a city steeped in history. During Colonial times, the Historic Centre of Lima, known as the ‘City of Kings’, was the political, administrative, religious and economic centre for the Spanish in Peru. The historical centre is a UNESCO-listed World Heritage Site. Lima is now a modern metropolis and is currently undergoing an exciting process of cultural and economic change. Please note that Meet & Greet on Day 1 includes an English-speaking tour representative and a bus ride from Puno to Cusco.  Overnight in Lima.

Wake up to breakfast in the hotel before hitting the streets of Lima’s colonial downtown, a UNESCO-listed World Heritage Site where, among other locations, you will visit the Main Square, the place where the ‘City of Kings’ was founded in 1535 and Peru's independence was proclaimed in 1821. On the way to Lima´s downtown, wander through a typical local market to taste the seasonal fruits. Then walk to the Cathedral of Lima, a beautiful colonial building and an important part of the city's identity. Later visit Casa Aliaga, a colonial mansion granted in 1535 by chief conquistador Francisco Pizarro to Jerónimo de Aliaga, one of his captains. This is the only house from that time that till this day still belongs to the same family that owned it back then. Continue to the Larco Museum, located in the traditional Pueblo Libre district, which is housed in a beautifully restored vice-regal mansion built on a seventh-century pre-Columbian pyramid. The museum boasts the most complete pre-Hispanic collection of gold and silver artefacts, as well as pieces of erotic art: more than 45 thousand archaeological objects that have silently witnessed three thousand years of Peruvian history. When finished, go towards the Miraflores district for a brief visit to the ‘Love Park’. Perched on a series of cliffs, the park offers a spectacular view of the bay of Lima. Paragliders from all over the world gather here to fly over the area. Lastly, you will be transferred to Lima Airport for your flight to Arequipa. A transfer will be waiting for you at Arequipa Airport to take you to your hotel, along with a guide who will tell you about the city's attractions and assist you with your check-in.  Overnight in Arequipa

After breakfast at the hotel, begin your tour of Arequipa with a trip to the Carmen Alto Scenic Viewpoint, located in front of the Chili River, from where you can admire a wonderful view of the city. Then delve into the traditional Yanahuara quarter. Crisscrossed by narrow cobblestoned streets, it houses one of the most emblematic churches of the Cusco School artistic tradition, dating back to 1750. Then, head downtown to visit the Main Square, the Church of the Society of Jesus (1590), the Cathedral (erected in the 17th century and fully rebuilt after several earthquakes) and the Monastery of Santa Catalina, an authentic mediaeval cloister completed in 1579 that is still active to this day. Lastly, visit the most authentic and popular market in the city: San Camilo Market. Here you’ll find underground food courts, butchers, local spices, fresh fruit stalls, and more. In fact, even though the city is a couple of hours from the sea, you’ll also find plenty of seafood among these colourful stands. Once the tour is over, the rest of the day is free for you to spend at your leisure.  Overnight in Arequipa.

Charge your batteries with breakfast at the hotel before leaving the city via Yura, a district characterised by its rugged scenery, hills and cliffs. Then enter the Pampa Cañahuas Reserve, an extensive grass plain where vicuñas (an Andean camelid and a national symbol) can be spotted. Head through Vizcachani and Pampas de Toccra up to the crater of the Chucura volcano. From there, continue one last leg of the way to reach the Mirador de los Andes at Patapampa, a stunning viewpoint 4,800 metres above sea level with impressive views of the volcanoes surrounding Arequipa. Lunch is served in the town of Chivay (not included) and in the afternoon you can rest in a hotel of your choice or visit the local hot springs for a well-deserved rest.  Overnight in Colca.

Once breakfast is over, head to Condor’s Cross, from where you can contemplate the view of the Colca Valley (one of the world´s deepest canyons) and see the large, majestic condor soaring over the valley, only a few metres away from where you stand. Back in Chivay, visit the towns of Pinchollo, Maca, Achoma and Yanque, and in between snap some more memorable photos at the Antahuilque and Choquetico viewpoints. Then later on, continue to Puno with a detour that takes you through Patahuasi. Along the way, observe the amazing stone forests and sky-blue lagoons populated by cranes that fill this area 4,000 metres above sea level. Arrive at Puno after this amazing journey and end the day relaxing at the hotel.  Overnight in Puno.

Following breakfast at the hotel, travel to the pier in Lake Titicaca where a boat will be waiting to take you to the beautiful Uros Islands. The Uros are an indigenous people of Peru that live on a series of man-made islands, created entirely from the buoyant totora reeds that grow abundantly in the shallows of the lake. The islands are composed of layers of woven totora, which are constantly replenished from the top as they rot from the bottom. The Uros people also use reeds to construct their homes, so cooking is done outdoors to avoid possible fires! After visiting these fascinating floating islands, continue to Llachón, a rural community located on the Capachica Peninsula. This site boasts beautiful views of the lake, picturesque walking trails and hills crowned with viewpoints and ancient archaeological sites. Capachica has a Quechua population of approximately 1,300 inhabitants who live in various towns scattered around the area. Lunch will be served in Llachón before your return trip to Puno.  Overnight in Puno

Have breakfast at the hotel and, at the agreed time, a transportation service will transfer you to the bus station, where a representative will help you catch your bus to Cusco. On the way, you’ll drive by a number of interesting sites, such as the town of Andahuaylillas; the Wiracocha Temple in Racchi, an Inca site built in honour of a powerful Andean god; La Raya, the highest point of the trip between Puno and Cusco, at the dizzying altitude of 4,313 metres above sea level; and Pukara, the first urban settlement on Lake Titicaca, established between 100 and 300 A.D. To ensure a comfortable and entertaining journey, your bus will include heating, guides in English and Spanish, TV screens, an interactive video of the route, GPS, free Wi-Fi and hot drinks (subject to request). We’ll stop for a buffet lunch in a local restaurant on the way. Once in Cusco, you will be transferred to your hotel to check in and spend the night. Lunch included.

After breakfast, kick off the tour of the day with a visit to Coricancha, also known as the ‘Temple of the Sun’. This temple was built by the Inca ruler Pachacuti, and after the arrival of the Spaniards it became the base for the construction of the Santo Domingo Convent. The Incas revered the sun in this building, and there was a time when it was covered in gold. Next, visit the Cathedral, the most imposing monument on the Plaza de Armas. The Cathedral took almost 100 years to complete, with constructions beginning in the mid-16th century. Hundreds of stones were extracted and transported from the Sacsayhuaman fortress by order of the Ecclesiastical Council to erect the holy building. The tour then takes you to said fortress, a magnificent building conceived and built by the Inca ruler Pachacuti in the 15th century. The Sacsayhuaman complex was made with megalithic blocks, the transportation and erection of which continue to be a mystery to this day. The Inti Raymi Sun Festival is re-enacted here every year on 24 June during the winter solstice. Continue to Quenqo, located only four kilometres from the city of Cusco. Quenqo is an archaeological complex where it is believed agricultural rituals were performed. Finally, visit Puka Pukara (‘Red Fortress’), an architectural complex of alleged military use of which many plazas, baths, aqueducts, walls and towers continue to stand. After that, return to the hotel and enjoy the rest of the day at your leisure.

Today breakfast at the hotel is followed by a tour of Chinchero, one of the most important towns of the Inca Empire, located on a terrace at about 3,500 metres above sea level. Surrounded by breath-taking Andean landscapes and framed by the calm beauty of the snow-capped Chicón and Verónica mountains, every Sunday this town comes alive with the bustle of trade as the neighbouring communities flock here to sell their wares. Later, visit the archaeological sites of Maras and Moray. Maras offers a surreal tableau: a canyon filled with geometric salt pools. The Incas extracted salt from these deposits and traded it for other products with different parts of the empire. At Maras you’ll also visit a typical ‘chicheria’, a venue where you can sip the traditional Inca beverage ‘chicha’ and try ‘cuy’ meat (a sort of guinea pig). Moray's archaeological vestiges consist in a series of mysterious concentric circular terraces which, according to some scholars, might have been an agricultural research centre. The higher external terraces would be at a higher temperature than the inner ones, thus simulating the weather conditions of several ecological strata of the empire. When the tour is over, continue to your hotel in the Sacred Valley, where you’ll spend the night.  Overnight in Sacred Valley.

Follow breakfast with a morning in the remote village of Huilloc, approximately 40 minutes from your hotel, where you’ll catch a glimpse of the authentic culture of the valley’s Quechua communities. You’ll be able to interact with the villagers, share lunch with them, and witness their day-to-day life. The women of Huilloc are known for their weaving, a tradition they still practice by hand today. The textiles they produce bear the same images as those of their ancestors: condors, cougars and Huallata birds, and they can all be purchased here. After your visit, leave Huilloc and a transfer will take you to Ollantaytambo train station to catch one of the Expedition trains to Aguas Calientes. This town is also known as ‘Machu Picchu Pueblo’ and it is the last stop before entering Peru's top archaeological complex. You’ll spend the night in Aguas Calientes, which also contains a craft market, several restaurants and different categories of accommodations for people who, like you, are spending the night at the foot of the mountain in order to ascend the next day.

Early in the morning, and after a short transfer, you will finally reach the legendary Machu Picchu, the architectural and engineering masterpiece that once served as a sanctuary and refuge for the Inca ruler Pachacútec. Machu Picchu, which means ‘Old Mountain’, is a UNESCO-listed World Heritage Site and one of the seven new wonders of the world. While you are at citadel, you can join optional visits to the Intipunku (‘Sun Gate’), the Huayna Picchu mountain (subject to availability of space) and the Inca Bridge. At the end of the tour, you’ll be guided back to Cusco by train followed by a private transport.  Overnight in Cusco

After finishing your breakfast at the hotel, a representative will pick you up from your hotel at the established time and transfer you to the airport. Although this is the last day of your journey through Peru, we hope that your memories of this remarkable region, bursting with both culture and history, will last a lifetime.  Breakfast included