Peru Uncovered

Itinerary

Day 1 Arrive Lima

Arrive in Lima at any time. As your fellow travellers are arriving at various times throughout the day, there are no planned activities other than a group dinner and info session. Check into our hotel and enjoy the city. Look in the hotel lobby for notices on when and where the group meeting will occur.Peru is frequently referred to as the 'Land of the Incas'. It is true that the Incas formed the greatest empire on the continent and left mysterious cities such as Machu Picchu. However, it is important to remember that the Incas were the only the last in a long series of Peruvian civilizations spanning several thousand years and the ruins of many of these earlier civilizations can also be visited. Peru is made up of three main geographical areas: the Andes, the Amazon and the desert coastal area. On this trip we concentrate on the Andes region of south-central Peru, and the ancient Inca capital of Cuzco.Known as the City of Kings, Peru’s capital city Lima was founded by Francisco Pizarro on the Day of the Three Kings (Epiphany) in 1535. The Plaza de Armas is the heart of old Lima, and it is here you find the Cathedral, Government Palace and Archbishop’s Palace. The Cathedral dates back to the 1700s and houses the remains of the conquistador Pizarro. To get a feel for colonial Lima, take a cab to the Plaza de Armas and watch the changing of the Palace Guard in the afternoon. Walk the streets surrounding the Jirón de la Unión for great examples of Spanish-colonial architecture and to get a taste for life in a large South American city. An optional city tour visits many of the city’s highlights.There are many fine museums in and around the city, including the Museo Rafael Larco Herrera, which houses an equally impressive collection of pottery, mummies and textiles from the Paracas and Nazca cultures. The more affluent districts of Miraflores, Barranco and San Isidro, which are on the coast, offer good nightlife and cafés all within walking distance. Limeños (Lima’s residents) are friendly, and the city is filled with excellent restaurants; seafood lovers in particular should be sure to try a ceviche, for which Lima is well known.

Day 2, 3 Puno

Fly to Juliaca on Day 2 and take a short bus ride to Puno, on the shores of Lake Titicaca. The next morning board a boat to visit the floating islands of Uros and Taquile Island.Located at 3830 m above sea level, Puno is the highest altitude of any place we sleep on the tour. As a result the weather can be extreme with very cold nights and a strong sun during the day (don’t worry, if you get cold, buy an alpaca sweater from the market — they are inexpensive). Puno is also known for its wealth of traditional dances: there are up to 100 different varieties, usually performed in the street processions celebrating Catholic feast days. If you are fortunate enough to be visiting at the right time you may even catch one of these celebrations. Titicaca is also the largest lake in the world above 2000m, and the views from both Amantaní and Taquile Islands are stunning.Our first stop on Lake Titicaca is the floating islands of the Uros people. The Uros began their unusual floating existence centuries ago in an effort to isolate themselves from the Colla and Inca tribes. Sadly, the Uros language has died out, and today the islanders speak Aymara due to intermarriage with Aymara-speaking clans. Today about 300 families live on the islands, however their numbers are slowly declining.The Totora reeds that grow in the shallows of the lake are used for making everything from the islands themselves to the model boats that the islanders sell. The islands are made up of layers upon layers of reeds; as the layers closest to the water start to rot, they are replaced with fresh reeds on top. The reeds are also used to build their boats, which if constructed well will last up to 6 months.The people of Taquile Island’s unique culture, style of dress and lifestyle make for a memorable visit. The men of the community do all the knitting, as this is strictly a male domain, while the women do the spinning. High quality, locally knitted goods are available for purchase at various cooperatives on the island.

Day 4-6 Cuzco

The trip from Puno to Cuzco takes the better part of the day, with stark, beautiful scenery en route as you travel through the high Altiplano region. The next day is free to explore fascinating Cuzco.Cuzco is the continent’s oldest continuously inhabited city, and the hub of the South American travel network. The city attracts travellers who come not just to visit a unique destination but also to experience an age-old culture very different from their 20th century way of life; one could easily spend a week just in and around the area. Inca-built stone walls line most of the central streets and you don't have to go far to see other major Inca ruins. It is a city steeped in history, tradition and legend.Every year Cuzco attracts thousands of travellers who come to delve into its noble but tragic past. It is the perfect base for optional explorations around the city and area as well as a range of outdoor activities. Relax and explore this fascinating city, and take time to acclimatize to the high altitude.Cuzco’s numerous colonial churches are one of the city’s most common sights. The Cathedral was started in 1559 and took 100 years to build; it is also one of the city’s greatest repositories of colonial art. Immediately in front of the entrance is a vault containing the remains of the famous Inca historian, Garcilaso de la Vega. Also worth visiting are the churches of La Compañía, La Merced and San Francisco. While most ruins are just outside of the city, the main ruin within is that of the Coricancha, once the Inca Empire's richest temple. Today the ruin forms the base of the colonial church of Santo Domingo. During Inca times this temple was literally covered with gold, but within months of the arrival of the first conquistadors this incredible wealth had all been melted down. It is left to the individual imagination to envision the magnificence of the original structure. There are several good museums in Cuzco, including the Archaeological Museum, which also houses a small art museum, the Regional History Museum and the Religious Art Museum. Our best advice for exploring Cuzco is to wear a comfortable pair of shoes, arm yourself with a city map and set off to explore!

Day 7, 8 Aguas Calientes/Machu Picchu / Cuzco

Board a morning train that winds through the spectacular Urubamba Valley to the end of the line: the village of Aguas Calientes, a frontier town nestled in the hills beneath Machu Picchu. Enjoy the rest of the day taking advantage of the hikes and hot springs in the area.Early wakeup on Day 7 to take the bus up to the historic spiritual centre of the Incas, the "Lost City" of Machu Picchu. Tour the ruins with our expert guide, explore on your own or hike up spectacular Wayna Picchu to get away from the crowds. In the evening return to Cuzco by train.Machu Picchu is both the best and the least known of the Inca ruins. It is not mentioned in any of the chronicles of the Spanish conquistadors and archaeologists today can do no more than speculate on its function. The local Quechua farmers in the area knew of Machu Picchu for centuries, but it was not until an 11-year-old boy led the American historian Hiram Bingham (who was in search of Vilcabamba) to the site on July 24, 1911, that the rest of the world became aware of its existence. At that time the site was covered in thick vegetation, and Bingham and his team returned in 1912 and 1915 to clear the growth. Over the years, much work has been done on excavating and studying the site. Despite these efforts, many unanswered questions remain.

Day 9 Cuzco / Lima

Time for some last minute shopping in Cuzco before our flight back to Lima and the final stop on our journey. Enjoy one last night out on the town. Overnight Lima.

Day 10 Depart Lima

Today is free to explore some more of the capital's attractions before your flight home.

Trip Details

Accommodation	Simple hotel/guesthouse (9 nts).
Departure	Departs twice per month
DepEnd	Sun-Tues / Fri-Sun
Group Size	Max 15, Avg 10
Included Highlights	- Guided tour of Taquile and Uros Islands on Lake Titicaca - Guided tour of Machu Picchu
Local Payment	USD200
Meals Included	No meals included.
StartFinish	ex Lima
Testimonial	"Truly amazing!!! I've never seen a place on Earth like this!!" - Dan Panko travelled on Peru Uncovered
Transport	Public bus, boat, train and local flight.
Brochure Intro	A condensed tour of the essential Peruvian highlights, culminating with a visit to magnificent Machu Picchu, the "Lost City of the Incas".

When can I go?

Start Date	Finish Date	Places Available
2008-08-17	2008-08-26	5
2008-09-07	2008-09-16	7+
2008-09-14	2008-09-23	7+
2008-10-10	2008-10-19	7+
2008-10-19	2008-10-28	7+
2008-10-26	2008-11-04	7+
2008-10-31	2008-11-09	7+
2008-11-09	2008-11-18	7+
2008-11-16	2008-11-25	7+
2008-11-30	2008-12-09	7+
2008-12-07	2008-12-16	7+
2008-12-12	2008-12-21	7+
2008-12-21	2008-12-30	7+
2008-12-28	2009-01-06	7+
2009-01-02	2009-01-11	7+
2009-01-11	2009-01-20	7+
2009-01-18	2009-01-27	7+
2009-01-23	2009-02-01	7+
2009-02-01	2009-02-10	7+
2009-02-08	2009-02-17	7+
2009-02-13	2009-02-22	7+
2009-02-22	2009-03-03	7+
2009-03-01	2009-03-10	7+
2009-03-06	2009-03-15	7+
2009-03-15	2009-03-24	7+
2009-03-22	2009-03-31	7+
2009-03-27	2009-04-05	7+
2009-04-05	2009-04-14	7+
2009-04-12	2009-04-21	7+
2009-04-17	2009-04-26	7+
2009-04-26	2009-05-05	7+
2009-05-03	2009-05-12	7+
2009-05-08	2009-05-17	7+
2009-05-17	2009-05-26	7+
2009-05-24	2009-06-02	7+
2009-05-29	2009-06-07	7+
2009-06-07	2009-06-16	7+
2009-06-14	2009-06-23	7+
2009-06-19	2009-06-28	7+
2009-06-28	2009-07-07	7+
2009-07-05	2009-07-14	7+
2009-07-10	2009-07-19	7+
2009-07-19	2009-07-28	7+
2009-07-26	2009-08-04	7+
2009-07-31	2009-08-09	7+
2009-08-09	2009-08-18	7+
2009-08-16	2009-08-25	7+
2009-08-21	2009-08-30	7+
2009-08-30	2009-09-08	7+
2009-09-11	2009-09-20	7+

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