Cuzco Spiritual Quest

Itinerary

Day 1 Lima

You are met by our representative and transferred to your hotel for overnight in Lima.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 at noon. 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. 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. 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 Cuzco

Transfer to the airport early this morning for the flight to Cuzco (as early as 4am). In Cuzco you will be transferred to the hotel. Relax or explore the ancient city.Cuzco is the continent’s oldest continuously inhabited city, and the hub of the South American travel network. The city attracts travelers 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 stonewalls 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 3 Cuzco

Enjoy your day at leisure. There are many Inca ruins around Cuzco, including the great sanctuary and temple to the sun, Sacsayhuaman, of ceremonial importance during the winter solstice celebration Inti Raymi.

Day 4 Cuzco

This morning a local guide takes you to visit a community service project and see the efforts G.A.P Adventures is making to help to improve the lives of the numerous homeless children in Cuzco. Spend the afternoon at leisure.HOUSE OF THE PEOPLE OF THE SUNInti Runakunaq Wasin (IRW) is Quechua for House of the People of the Sun. It is a non-profit organization based in Cuzco that acts as a haven for children and adolescents who live in extreme poverty. The home is open during the day and is run by a staff of volunteer teachers and social workers. Children are given the opportunity to voluntarily drop-in to receive help with homework, a warm meal and participate in a variety of classes and workshops that teach them valuable skills including jewelry making, leather working, cooking, music and English. IRW currently rents a small house and supports 50 children through their programs. However, there are still many more children working and living on the streets of Cuzco. The goal of Planeterra together with IRW is to purchase a piece of land and build a bigger home in order provide support to more children and families.

Day 5 Sacred Valley

Travel with a local guide through the Sacred Valley, including the picturesque town and Inca ruins of Ollantaytambo and Pisac. Overnight in the Sacerd Valley.The Sacred Valley of the Incas is a must see for any trip to Peru – from stark Mountain passes to lush green Valleys, the scenery is nothing short of breathtaking and watch out for herds of Llama, that pepper this Andean landscape. Highlights of the area include the impressive Pisac ruins and the town of Pisac with its colorful artisan market (market days only). As well, the town and fortress of Ollantaytambo, which is strategically, situated overlooking the beautiful Urubamba River Valley. This major ruin site is known as the best surviving example of Inca urban planning and engineering. It is admired for its huge steep terraces guarding the Inca Fortress and for being one of the few places where the Spanish lost a major battle during the conquest.

Day 6 Aguas Calientes

Ride a morning train through the urubamba valley towards the colorful town of Aguas Calientes. Enjoy the scenery or the activity along the railway tracks. Free day to explore the town or take an optional visit to the famous natural healing hot baths. This evening, a Coca leaf reading, conducted by a Machu Picchu master shaman is included. Understand those unanswered questions ( a real mind opener) Overnight in Aguas Calientes.This town is the base for all visitors planning on touring the magnificent Ruins of Machu Picchu. Accessible by train that winds through the steep Urubamba Valley of on foot by trekking the Inca Trail, Aguas Calientes is a gem in the heart of the Andes. Visit the town market, enjoy the numerous restaurants or relax in the natural mountain hot baths that gave the town its name. For serious archeology buffs, there is time for an optional independent visit to Machu Picchu before the guided tour the following morning.

Day 7 Cuzco

Rise early to take advantage of viewing Machu Picchu in the early morning light. This is the best time to view the lost city of the Incas. Your cosmic master shaman, will provide a deatiled interpretation mystical tour if Machu Picchu. And a (pago a la tierra ceremonia) meaning: payment to mother earth ceremony! Connect directly with pachamama (mother earth) A spiritual cleansing done with condor feathers. Free time to investigate the mystical phenomenon of Machu Picchu before returning to Cuzco in the late afternoon and transfer to your hotel for the night.Recently voted one of the new 7 Wonders of the World, 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.

Trip Details

Accommodation	Simple Hotel (7nts)
Brochure Notes	Extra nights hotel in Cuzco and return flight to Lima can be arranged.
Departure	Daily
Group Size	No Minimum
Included Highlights	Guided visit to Planeterra Project, Private guided tour of Sacred Valley, Private guided tour of Machu Picchu with Shaman
Meals Included	Allow USD120 for meals not included. For additional expenses, see dossier.
StartFinish	Lima to Cuzco
Transport	Car, Van, Shuttle, Local Flight, Walking
Brochure Intro	A mystical encounter in the Land of the Incas as shamans reveal the hidden mysteries of the Inca and Machu Picchu.

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