Lima, Puno, Lago Titicaca, La Paz, Cusco & Machu Picchu

ITINERARY:

Day 01 LIMA

Arrive in Lima. Reception and transfer to your hotel. Afternoon, visit to Colonial and Modern Lima. Drive through the historic center of the city. Admire the beauty of San Martin and Major squares, the Cathedral, the Government Palace and visit the San Francisco Convent and its catacomb, religious building from the end of the XVI century. Drive through the residential districts of San Isidro and Miraflores.

Day 02 LIMA - JULIACA - PUNO

Transfer to the airport for the flight to Juliaca. Meeting and transfer to the hotel in Puno. Balance of day at leisure to adjust to the high altitude (12,500 feet).

Day 03 PUNO - COPACABANA - SUN ISLAND

Pick up from hotel in Puno and drive to Copacabana. Lunch. Hydrofoil cruise Copacabana - Sun Island including the Pilcocaina sacred fountain and the Inca steps. Short trek with llamas. Overnight at the Posada del Inca Lodge.

Day 04 SUN ISLAND - HUATAJATA - LA PAZ

Hydrofoil cruise to Moon Island and Huatajata. Visit the Andean Roots Complex including the Altiplano Museum. Meet the Limachi brothers, builders of Ra II and Tigris for the Thor Heyerdhal epic expeditions across the Atlantic Ocean. See a full size reproduction of the RA II. Transfer to La Paz ending at your hotel.

Day 05 LA PAZ

"Morning optional excursion to Tiahuanaco, located 72 km/45 miles - 1 hour from La Paz. The trip passes through the Bolivian Highlands, were you can see the Aymara Indians way of life. We pass Laja, the place were the city of La Paz was founded the 20th of October in 1548 with a beautiful old church in the Renaissance style. Tiahuanaco is one of the oldest American cultures, Carbon 14 dating, which gives it an average age of 1580 BC until 1150 AC. It is considered the cradle of the American humanity and one of the most advanced cultures in development for that time. The temples and constructions include: The Kalasasaya temple where you see the main work done by the Tiahuanacotas like the Gate of the Sun, the monoliths Ponce and Fraile, the Akapana pyramid, the Semiunderground temple (a sunken temple whose walls are lined with faces with different expressions).
Afternoon visit to La Paz, including the area of the street markets, rich in handicrafts, weavings and witchcraft artifacts which represent the traditional beliefs of the Ch'alla (ritual of offerings) and Pachamama (mother earth and symbol of fertility). The tour goes through the colonial part of the city, San Francisco Church, Gold Museum, Murillo Square and the outdoor replica of the Tiahuanaco temple. Then continues on to the modern part of the city to witness how it is growing and how much the elevation drops down. Finally you leave the city to enter the Valley of the Moon and enjoy its natural geological formations."

Day 06 LA PAZ - CUSCO (TUESDAY & SATURDAY)

"Transfer to the airport in time for the flight to Cusco. Meeting and transfer to your hotel.
In the afternoon, visit of the city and nearby ruins. Visit Main Square, the Cathedral and its religious Art Museum, the Church of Santo Domingo or Koricancha. This tour includes visits to Sacsayhuaman and Puca Pucara fortresses, the temple and amphitheater of Kenko and the water shrine of Tambomachay."

Day 07 CUSCO - MACHU PICCHU

Transfer to the station for a morning train ride to the unparalleled, Machu Picchu, the "Lost City of the Incas". Machu Picchu was a flourishing ceremonial and agricultural site, probably the gateway to the jungle marches of the Inca Empire. The central buildings were erected with the polished stonework of the Cusco Imperial style, though the site was probably occupied well before the Incas sta?ted their expansion. Machu Picchu was associated with the earth cult revolving around the Coca leaf, which was a privilege restricted to the Inca Royal family and priests. Guided visit to the Sanctuary. Overnight at one of the hotels in the area.

Day 08 MACHU PICCHU - CUSCO

Morning free to explore the ruins on your own or visit the hot springs in Aguas Calientes. Lunch at a local restaurant. Mid-afternoon departure by train to Cusco. Upon arrival transfer to hotel

Day 09 CUSCO - LIMA

Transfer to the airport in time for the flight to Lima. Meeting and transfer to hotel. Afternoon guided shopping tour.

Day 10 LIMA

Transfer to the airport.