Accommodation based on TWIN in the selected hotel category
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Excursions as noted in the itinerary
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Private services with local German, French, Italian or English speaking guide
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Train ticket Ollanta - Machu Picchu - Poroy in Hiram Bingham Class (Deluxe Class)
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Hiram Bingham Train and tour in Machu Picchu on SIC basis (seat in coach – shared with other travelers, with local English/Spanish speaking guide)
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Meals as noted (B: breakfast, L: lunch, D: dinner)
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Entrance fees to the sites mentioned in the itinerary
NOT INCLUDED:
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International air fares
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Domestic flights (see cost above)
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Airport taxes for domestic flights and international flights (approx. USD 6 for domestic flight departures and approx. USD 30.25 for international flight departures)
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Entrance fees and bus Aguas Calientes-Machu Picchu-Aguas Calientes for second day visit to Machu Picchu
This deluxe journey while offering conventional tours also includes visits to less known attractions in Lima, Cusco and the Sacred Valley of the Incas. Discover Lima’s colonial heritage in the Museum of Colonial Art Pedro de Osma in Barranco the bohemian heart of Lima. Enjoy a private workshop on ancient Andean weaving techniques and designs with a local expert in Chincheros when groups begin to leave the market. Relax and revitalize with an indulgent Andean spa treatment in an incredible environment in the heart of the Sacred Valley of the Incas. The train ride aboard the luxury ‘Hiram Bingham’ assures a magical journey never to be forgotten. You will then stay overnight at one–of–a–kind hotel in Aguas Calientes, just 20 minutes away by bus from Machu Picchu. Pamper yourself at the end of the day in stylish 5* hotels, most of them historic boutique hotels offering exceptional service and amenities. We are sure you will rate this journey to Peru as the 'holiday of a lifetime'.
Itinerary
DAY 1 … – LIMA
You will be met at the airport and escorted to your hotel. Enjoy a typical Peruvian ‘pisco sour’ and some appetizers in the quiet and intimate bar at the hotel. The typical English setting makes it the ideal place for relaxing after a long-haul flight.
DAY 2 LIMA (B,D)
Morning city tour of Lima. The city has always been one of the most important cities in South America since it was founded by the Spanish conquistador Francisco Pizarro in 1535. Your sightseeing tour explores the historic quarter and modern districts of the city: the main square with beautiful buildings. The Government Palace, the City Hall, the Palace of the Archbishop and the Cathedral are still the most important places in town.
You continue on to the San Francisco Monastery and then the most popular place, Plaza San Martin.
We then drive to Barranco, Lima’s traditional ‘belle epoch’ district. This is a pleasant suburb of Lima that has kept its character much better than most of the city and the bohemian heart of the city. Here we visit the Museum for Colonial Art de Osma located in a century-old mansion. The ‘casona’ in neoclassical style was formerly home of the de Osma Family and offers an insight of life in Peru during the Spanish Viceroyalty. Paintings, sculptures, carvings and furniture of the 16th-19th centuries collected by Don Pedro de Osma in 30 years can be observed in this charming mansion.
Fine pieces of silverware are on display in the former dining room. The buildings are surrounded by gardens with marble sculptures, palms and geraniums.
Dinner will be served in the Rosa Nautica one of Lima’s most spectacular restaurants. This unique restaurant in Victorian-style is set on the water with views of the Pacific Ocean as well as the cliffs and provides the scenic location to drink a toast to a memorable trip in Peru. A typical Peruvian ‘Pisco sour’ will be served before dinner. The restaurant's four dining areas, and its sophisticated bar ‘El Espigón’, rising from the midst of the ocean, allow the visitor to enjoy a magical experience, which can only be possible in a place of fantasy, capriciously constructed in the middle of the sea. The menu features both Peruvian and international cuisine; still it is its refined seafood cuisine this restaurant is famous for.
DAY 3 LIMA – CUSCO (B,D)
An early morning flight brings us to the Inca capital of Cusco. Upon arrival, proceed to the hotel to have a welcome coca tea. This should help us to relieve altitude sickness. The remaining of the morning is free to relax, and slowly acclimatize.
This afternoon we walk through the major sites of interest in Cusco. We visit the famed Cathedral with its magnificently carved woodwork, ornate altar and many hundreds of canvases from the 17th-century ‘Cusco Painting School’. We continue exploring the cultural wealth of Cusco at the Temple of the Sun where we witness the incredible masonry of the Incas, an engineering feat that remains an enigma. Afterward we walk along Hatunrumiyoc Street which is named for the 12-angled stone clearly visible in the remaining walls of what was Inca Roca's palace. We make a last stop in San Blas artisan quarter. Its steeped cobblestone alleys not only offer spectacular views of the city but are lined with workshops and galleries, a great way to soak in Cusco’s artistic atmosphere. San Blas church houses an imposing pulpit considered one of New World’s finest woodcarvings.
Our tour ends with a visit to the Museum of Pre-Columbian Art hosted in a beautiful colonial casona, once residence of Count of Cabrera. This ‘casona’ holds the only museum in Peru dedicated to rebound the arts of ancient Peruvian cultures and showcases an astounding pre-Columbian collection dating from 1250 B.C to 1532 A.D. The art and artifacts were made by the Huari, Chimu, Nasca and the Inca cultures. Information labels for every artifact are available in English, Spanish and French allowing visitors to understand in which context of Ancient Peru were developed.
Dinner at ‘La Divina Comedia’. Located next to Las Nazarenas square in the very center of Cusco this restaurant serves original creations with exceptional service. The terracotta painted intimate dining room, illuminated with candle lights and torches, offers capacity for forty-five diners. This restaurant is the ideal choice for couple or small groups looking for innovative cuisine. The chef puts his own personal, distinctive touch on each and every dish included in the varied menu. All are prepared with fresh produce and export quality meat and fish, resulting in a mind- blowing taste and presentation that will make you sample popular, local ingredients in a new and creative way. To name a few: cream soup made with sweet pepper and red wine topped with goat cheese tartar dip, the rolled guinea pig or the grilled ostrich. Among the desserts the one we recommend is the one offering the typical Peruvian chirimoya fruit in three different varieties. Vegetarian options are sparse but mouth watering.
DAY 4 CUSCO – SACRED VALLEY (B,L) (only SUN)
This morning we drive to the charming community of Chinchero. Its main attraction is market (only Sundays) that traces it roots back to the Incas time when barter or ‘trueque’ existed. Today the market, noted for its textiles, takes place in the main square, at the foot of an Inca wall and is real hub of activity, vibrant with color and movement which fascinates tourists with its range of handicrafts. We then join a local weaving family in their courtyard for an overview of the Andean weaving process. We watch as wool is carded, spun, and dyed and learn about the different techniques used to create belts, ponchos and shawls.
Lunch at Hacienda Huayoccari. Nestled in the Sacred Valley, approx. 1 hour from Cusco, the Hacienda Huayoccari is one of the best places to eat and relax. The hacienda owners, the renowned Lambarri Orihuela family, inhabitants of the Sacred Valley for over 350 years, will be your hosts. Experience their warm hospitality, feel the flavor of the past and the history of the haciendas of Cusco, and enjoy an impressive view of the Sacred Valley. After admiring the family’s vast collection of folk art, you savor a meal prepared with fresh products from the plantations around that is served in the hacienda’s garden.
After lunch we drive past ancient farming terraces that are still in use today to grow barley, wheat, and corn to reach the town of Ollantaytambo where the Temple of the Sun (formed of six gigantic monoliths, whose total weight exceeds 50 tons) and the Terrace of the Ten Niches stand out.
Tonight you will enjoy a relaxing and soothing time in the Andean Spa at the hotel with a massage session.
DAY 5 SACRED VALLEY (B,D)
Our guide will take us to visit the age-old terraced salt mines in Maras. The dominant color is an intense white that burns like snow on a sunny day and are an impressive sight for any visitor. Salt was extracted from these mines from Inca times and the same method has been used ever since - all work is done by hand. After stopping to explore, we continue to Moray one of the many little jewels to be found in the Cusco region. It is a complex of four circular terraces which, hidden among the hills, it emerges suddenly into view when the visitor is almost on top of it. The impression created by these terraces like Greek amphitheatres against a backdrop of snow covered mountains is unforgettable.
Even more surprising is the fact that Moray was a sort of open-air agricultural lab, used for adapting plants to new environmental conditions.
Tonight enjoy a sophisticated dinner in the hotel’s restaurant featuring Novo Andina cuisine. The creative menu is a result of fresh produce and contemporary techniques.
DAY 6 SACRED VALLEY – POROY – MACHU PICCHU (B,D)
Early transfer to the Poroy train station to travel to Machu Picchu via the luxurious Hiram Bingham train. This train reflects the 1920s Pullman era whilst boasting elegance and sophistication. You'll enjoy brunch and cocktails in a relaxed atmosphere as the train passes through the Sacred Valley of the Incas. The train will arrive in Aguas Calientes at 12.30 pm when the guides will take you up to the majestic citadel of Machu Picchu by private bus. Get ready to experience one of the most outstanding archaeological wonders of the world on a 2-hour tour. At the end of the day guests gather in Machu Picchu Sanctuary Lodge for late afternoon tea complete with a buffet of tea sandwiches, cookies, and sweets. Afterwards you will be transferred to your hotel in Aguas Calientes.
A la carte dinner will be served at the hotel.
DAY 7 MACHU PICCHU – POROY – CUSCO (B,D)
After breakfast we have the remainder of the morning free to roam around the majestic site of Machu Picchu, climb the Huayna Picchu or to explore the interesting town of Aguas Calientes.
Afternoon transfer to Aguas Calientes station to travel back to Poroy via the elegant Hiram Bingham train. Pre-dinner cocktails will be served on board. A sophisticated five-course meal follows. Upon arrival in Poroy, you will be transferred to your hotel in Cusco.
DAY 8 CUSCO – LIMA (B)
Morning flight to Lima and transfer to Barranco. A bunch of galleries can be found here. One of the classiest art galleries and with a stunning ocean view is definitely ‘Dedalo’. Wander through the gallery’s ample rooms, each one with its very own personality and marvel at the hundreds of modern colorful art objects. Local artists, mostly from Lima and its vicinity, exhibit an astounding variability of jewellery, textiles, pictures, furnishings, clothes and a lot more. Even though art in Dedalo is a bit pricier to buy, it is definitely worth a visit, even if it is only to enjoy the warm inspiring atmosphere the gallery boasts. To relax, the gallery offers a charming little coffee shop in the back yard that serves excellent machine made coffee.
At proper time you will be transferred to the airport for your international flight.
Price per person in USD sharing TWIN Prices valid through December 24th 2010
Hotels
Private Services
SIC*
Single Suppl.
Tourist
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Tourist Superior
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First
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Deluxe
3177
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998
Deluxe superior
3569
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1408
* min. 2 persons
Domestic flights (net price per person in USD)
Lima - Cusco - Lima
320 *
*Air fares subject to change according availability