THE BEST OF PERU - INCLUDING MACHU PICCHU
16 nights Departures all year round
Itinerary
Day 1  Fly to Lima Day 2  On arrival you will be met and transferred to Casa Andina Lima Hotel for 2 nights on Bed and Breakfast. Day 3  Tour of the Lima including the Government Palace, City Hall, Cathedral and Archbishop's Palace, the Casa Aliaga, a colonial mansion, occupied by the same family since 1535 and the San Francisco Monastery. The tour finishes with a drive through Miraflores and San Isidro with their magnificent views of the Pacific Ocean and a stop at the Huaca Pucllana archaeological center which operated between the 5th and 8th century AD. Day 4 Fly to Arequipa. On arrival you will be met and transferred to the Casa Andina Arequipa Hotel for 1 night bed and breakfast. Arequipa is known as the White City because of the volcanic rock used in its construction. You will see the beautiful Santa Catalina convent, founded in 1580 followed by the Jesuit Church. After visiting the Main Plaza your tour continues to Yanahuara and Chilina, where you will have a magificent view of Arequipa's countryside and the Misti volcano. Day 5 Early morning departure to the Colca Valley. Drive across Pampa Canahuas in the Aguada Blanca National Reserve, the habitat of herds of vicunas. Admire beautiful pre-Columbian terraces still being used by people of Collagua. Two nights will be spent at the Casa Andina Colca Hotel in the Colca Valley. Day 6  "Condors' Cross" observation point where you can view these great Andean birds is the highlight of the day. You will have beautiful views of the Colca Canyon, one of the deepest in the world (9800 ft). Afternoon at leisure to explore the picturesque Andean villages of the Colca Valley. Day 7 Drive to Puno (approximately 7 hours) across the Peruvian high plateau. The views will be magnificent. Two nights will be spent at the Casa Andina Private Collection Puno Hotel. Day 8 Enjoy sailing for the day on Lake Titicaca, the highest navigable lake in the world. You will depart early for the floating islands of Uros, where the inhabitants still live on floating islands made with the totora reeds that grow on the lake as they did centuries ago. Sail to Taquile Island for a hike to its small town inhabited by Quechua speaking people. Lunch will be served in a local house that serves as a restaurant. Day 9  You will be transferred to the station for your train to Cusco. The journey passes through the dramatic landscape of the highland plateau, you will see Andean villages and herds of llamas and vicunas. Lunch on board. On arrival in Cusco you will be transferred to the Casa Andina Plaza Cusco Hotel for two nights. Day 10 Your tour today begins at Awanakancha, where South American camelidae are bred. Learn about the suberb fibres of llamas, alpacas and vicunas as well as ancient weaving techniques which are still used. Next you will visit Sacsayhuaman, strategically placed on a hill, this Inca construction was believed to have been a fortress. Return to Cusco city to visit the 16th century Cathedral and Santo Domingo's Convent, which was also the Koricancha temple, the most important Inca temple devoted to the worship of the sun. Day 11 Morning departure to the Huacarpay Marsh where white-tufted grebes, puna ibis, speckled teals and gulls, as well as other Andean birds may be spotted. After a picnic lunch, you will sepnd two nights at the Casa Andina Private Collection Valle Hotel. Day 12 Depart at dawn to the Abra Malaga. Drive through Urubamba, the"Sacred Valley of the Incas", and continue ascending up to the Abra and its impressive cloud forest, for the best bird watching in the Cusco area. There is a good chance of seeing hawks, condors and American kestrels. Day 13 Transfer to Ollanta train station for your journey to Machu Picchu and the Lost City of the Incas. You will have a guided tour. Lunch is included at Machu Picchu Sanctuary Lodge. The night is spent at Machu Picchu Pueblo Hotel.
Day 14 Morning at leisure before returning by train to the Cusco and the Casa Andina Plaza Hotel. Day 15 Transfer to the airport for your flight to Lima and night at the Casa Andina Lima Hotel. Day 16 Transfer to the airport for your flight to the UK. Day 17 Arrive UK
Departure Dates and Prices
Price is £2140 per person sharing twin room for 16 nights.  Single supplement available on request.
Price Includes: Internal flights, accommodation, breakfast and meals as listed, tours. Price Excludes: International flights, meals not listed, gratuities and items of a personal nature.
EXTENSION TO INKATERRA ECOLOGICAL RESERVE - AMAZON
Day 15 Transfer to the airport for your flight to Puerto Maldonado.  On arrival you will be taken by boat down the Madre de Dios River to Ra (45min).  You will arrive at the Reserva Amazonica Lodge in time for lunch.  Two nights will be spent here.  Walk the trails of the Inkaterra Ecological Reserve.  Cruise the Madre de Dios River in the evening. Dinner at the lodge. Day 16 Visit the Rolin Island and community and the Canopy Interpretation Center where you will walk through treetops and Wetlands. Day 17 Return to Puerto Maldonado where you will visit the Butterfly Farm before transferring to the airport for your flight to Lima and the Casa Andina Lima Hotel. Day 18 Transfer to the airport for your flight to UK.
Departure Dates and Prices
Price is £340 per person sharing twin room.  Single supplement available on request.
Price Includes: Transfer to the lodge, accommodation, meals and activities. Price Excludes: Gratuities and items of a personal nature.
EXTENSION TO NASCA LINES This will be done en route to Arequipa.
Day 4 Morning journey to Nazca (approximately 7 hours).  On arrival take a helicopter flight for magnificent views of the Nazca Lines.  The night is spent at the Cantayo Hotel. Day 5 Take a 2 hour ride on dune buggies to San Fernando Bay.  You may see condors flying from the Andes in search of food.  You will see wild guanaco herds as well as sea lions, Humboldt penguins, Sechuran foxes,and dozens of bird species.  Continue with the rest of the tour from Day 4.
Departure Dates and Prices
Price is £925 per person sharing twin room.  Single supplement available on request.
Price Includes: Transfers, accommodation, breakfast and helicopter flight. Price Excludes: Gratuities and items of a personal nature.
EXTENSION TO GALAPAGOS It is also possible to visit the Galapagos Islands following your trip to Peru.