Peru – 9 days through valleys and deserts

Flight from Costa Rica or wherever your home is, to arrive at Jorge Chavez international airport in Callao.  After a short transfer, we will check in at the hotel. For those arriving early, we will then travel to Lima and Miraflores to spend the afternoon.  We will visit the June 7 Park, better known as Kennedy Park or the Cat´s Park, since there is a huge number of cats living there. Tourists feed them, play with them and pet them! We will then visit the artisan´s street to see the type and quality of the crafts and souvenirs that you can find in Peru.  In Lima, we will visit the “Parque de La Reserva” or Magic Water  Circuit: this is a big park with an enormous amount of fountains, lighted up by night so when the jetstreams are working you get an amazing show of moving shapes and music: you will get to watch them, play and even get wet.

Night: Callao

We will have an early fligth to reach Cuzco, the city that was considered the center of the world by the Incas. After checking in to the hotel, we will visit the archaeological site Sacsayhuaman, just 3km north from Cuzco.  This park has some 3000 hectares, and it will give you the first impression of the inca architecture, and on top of that you will enjoy an amazing view from atop of the city; but also and if you are lucky, you will see your first llama or alpaca.  Then, we will visit the Qoricancha Temple, the ancient Temple of the Sun in Cuzco, and after the spaniards came it became the christian monastery of Santo Domingo.  This is a wonderful structure, as the base of the building is Inca, and the top of it is colonial.  The exhibits inside show the chronological evolution of the civilization in Cuzco.  To wrap up the day, we will spend some time in the main Plaza – Plaza Mayor – and we will have a taste of the famous peruvian cuisine.

Night: Cuzco

Today we will board an early train to Aguas Calientes, right at the base of Machu Picchu.  We will use the VistaDome train, with big panoramic windows on the sides and on the roof, so your ride actually gets you closer to nature and the rural environment. As you lay back comfortably, you will enjoy andean music and typical peruvian snacks. Once we reach Aguas Calientes, and after having lunch, we will visit either the Manuel Chavez Ballon Museum, to learn and better understand the discovery of Machu Picchu and the culture that once lived there, or the hotsprings that give name to this little village.

Night: Aguas Calientes

Today will be devoted to one of the 7 wonders of the world and one of Unesco´s world heritage site, the Inca city of Machu Picchu.  We will enter the park early in the morning so we can climb Huayna Picchu first, which´s peak is at 2720 meters over sea level, and some 360 meters higher than the city of Machu Picchu. The views from up there are just breathtaking, but you will also see some old buildings that were used as a lookout point. Then, a local guide will explain all the details about the culture, architecture, ceremonies and other important sites for the “quechuas”, those who followed the Inca.  After this, you will have some free time to go visit other locations within the Machu Picchu complex, like the Inca bridge or the Gate of the Sun. Once we return to Aguas Calientes, a nice dinner will help you recover from this amazing day.
Noche: Aguas Calientes

Early in the morning we will board the train once again, this time to visit Ollantaytambo.  This Inca city is a great example of urban planning and inca architecture. The ruins of the temple are just amazing, and from the highest point you can enjoy excellent views of the Urubamba Valley! After the tour in Ollantaytambo, we go back to Cuzco, but we make some must-do visits on the way, to explore the Salt Mines in Maras, or the archaeological sites of Moray or the old city of Chinchero with the oldest church in the Sacred Valley.

Night: Cuzco

Today we will have a very long transfer, travelling by plane from Cuzco to Lima, and then driving south to Ica. On the way, we will drive through the small towns of Chincha and Pisco, right in the middle of the peruvian grape farming area to produce wines and piscos. We will visit one of the many cellars where we will taste local food and beverages and buy  some of the famous peruvian pisco. Additionally we will visit the most famous vineyard in Peru, Tacama where you can learn more about wines and piscos in a very interesting tour in the cellars and the production plant. Finally, we will arrive to Ica for a well deserved rest after a long day!

Night: Ica

After a light breakfast, we travel to Nazca desert.  Once we arrive at the local airport, we will board the small plane to fly over the main geoglyphs, known as the Nazca Lines.  The most popular geoglyphs are: the spider, the monkey, the parrot, the whale, the astronaut, the hummingbird…between all the geometric lines and all the zoomorphic shapes, there is an enormous quantity of other glyphs. Once we return to Ica, we will visit the Ica desert and the Huacachina oasis for a great and fun buggy adventure! We will also do some sandboarding on the sand dunes, until the sunset!

Night: Ica

Finally you get a well deserved recovery day from all the adventures! Today, we will have all the time to have breakfast and then start the return trip to Lima and Miraflores. In the afternoon, we can enjoy some of the attractions of Lima like Plaza de Armas, the Cathedral or the San Francisco Monastery and its catacombs.

Night: Lima

After the breakfast today, you will return to the airport so we can fly back home, say good bye to your new friends from Peru, and then tell everybody about the great adventure you lived with Elemento Natural.

• All transportation in Peru.
• 8 nights lodging with breakfasts included.
• Air tickets Lima-Cuzco-Lima.
• Train tickets Poroy-Aguas Calientes-Ollantaytambo.
• Tourist ticket with the entrances to the archaeological parks.
• Entrance fees to Machu Picchu.
• Flight over the Nazca Lines.
• Tour in buggy on the Ica desert.
• Group leader.