Peru Roots of the Inca Empire

Arrival, reception and transfer to your hotel.

In the morning, visit of the ancient pre-Inca civilisation of Tiahuanaco, cradle of the Inca empire, which dominated the Collao plateau between Peru and Bolivia, and expanded to the north of Argentina and Chile. We will appreciate the remains of the temple of Kalasasaya, the monoliths and the Sun Gate. All these constructions are made of finely carved stone with reliefs and figures that show us the great splendour they had. Return to La Paz.
In the afternoon, we will start our tour of the city with an authentic view of the local culture in the typical market of the witch doctors. We will pass in front of the colonial church of San Francisco. We continue to the Plaza Murillo, where we will find the Metropolitan Cathedral, the Government Palace and the Parliament. Then, we will stroll along the famous Jaén Street, where the most important museums of La Paz are located. Our visit will continue through the residential areas of Obrajes, Calacoto and La Florida to finish in the spectacular Moon Valley, a nearby geological formation that has always attracted the interest of visitors to this city.

Departure by bus to the pier of Chua. Catamaran trip on the Sacred Lake of the Incas "El Titicaca". We will sail through the strait of Tiquina and continue to the island of the Sun. Lunch on board. Upon arrival at the island, we will visit the Inti Wata cultural complex, where we will appreciate the cultivation of plants native to the Altiplano and the Andes in the still preserved Inca agricultural terraces. Here we will have the opportunity to see Andean camelids such as llamas, alpacas and huanacos. The complex has a site museum with remains of the cultures of the area. We will receive a blessing according to an ancient Kallawaya tradition. We will continue to the northern part of the island to visit the village of Challapampa, the DINAAR Archaeological Museum and the pre-Inca temple of Chincana. We will take a short walk along an ancient path. Overnight on board the catamaran. Dinner and typical demonstration of dances of the local people.

After breakfast on board the catamaran, we will continue sailing towards the city of Copacabana. Arrival and visit of the Sanctuary of the Virgen Morena, place of worship and pilgrimage of the Aymara people. Departure by bus to the city of Puno. On the way we will cross beautiful landscapes and Andean villages. Arrival at the hotel and rest.

In the morning, we will embark on a boat to visit a people who fled from the different cultures that came to dominate them and took refuge in Lake Titicaca, the Uros. This community continues to build their islands following the ancestral techniques, and they welcome us to pass on their knowledge. A people who live off their visitors. We will have time to sail on the totora reed rafts that they build. Return to the port of Puno. In the afternoon, the necropolis of Sillustani, on the shores of Lake Umayo. The so-called chullpas are funerary towers that housed the remains of the ancient Qollas who inhabited the Andean Altiplano. We will be surprised by their semi conical inverted construction. Return to your hotel in Puno.

Transfer to the train station to board the Peru Rail Titicaca train to the city of Cusco. This train crosses the Andean altiplano, and is the second highest in the world, reaching the highest point at 4,319 m.a.s.l. in La Raya. Here we will make a stop to buy local handicrafts and observe the snow-capped mountains of the Chimboya range. This mountain range divides the waters that flow into Lake Titicaca and the Vilcanota River, which then flows into the Ucayali River and then into the Amazon. From the train we will have a unique view of the high Andean landscapes and small villages. Enjoy the panoramic carriage and the typical dances. Lunch on board. Arrival, reception and transfer to the hotel.

In the morning, we will get away from the crowds to visit Sacsayhuaman, an impressive citadel full of colossal constructions surrounded by beautiful landscapes in total communion with the environment. Then, we continue to the Inca shrine of Q'enqo, amazing will be the altar for sacrifices embedded in the inner part of its rock formation. Finally we arrive at the watchtower of Puca Pucara and Tambomachay, a monument of remarkable architectural excellence, considered one of the pillars of the Andean cosmovision. Free afternoon to enjoy the city. In the afternoon, exclusive tour of the city that begins with a visit to the Plaza de San Cristobal to enjoy a panoramic view of the city. Then, we will visit the San Pedro Market, where we will soak up the local flavour and get a closer look at the local products in this market that has everything and supplies the whole city. Then, the Temple of Qorikancha welcomes us with all its magnificence and magnificence, walls that were once covered with gold. From San Blas, the artisans' quarter, we will walk down the Hatun Rumiyoc street, passing by the Inca Roca palace, today the Archbishop's Palace, where we will have time to admire the world famous Stone of the Twelve Angles. We will continue to the Plaza de Armas to visit the Cathedral which houses colonial works of incredible value.

This day we will visit the most outstanding sites of the Sacred Valley of the Incas. We will depart to the village of Chinchero, the most typical and picturesque of the Sacred Valley. This village is famous for its women weavers. Brief stop at a textile centre to appreciate the ancient Inca techniques for dyeing and spinning alpaca wool. We will visit the Inca square with its beautiful colonial church. Continue to Moray, a beautiful Inca archaeological site composed of concentric agricultural terraces that served as a laboratory to recreate microclimates. Lunch. We will continue to visit the last living village of the Incas, Ollantaytambo.
We will visit the Temple of the ten windows, the baths of the ñusta, and the Temple of the Sun. Postcards from the heights of Ollantaytambo will close this magical day in the Sacred Valley of the Incas. Overnight in the area.

The long awaited day to visit one of the 7 Wonders of the World. Boarding at Ollantaytambo station. Departure by selected train. Arrival at Machu Picchu station. Assistance from our staff to board the bus that will ascend a winding road, with a spectacular view of the Urubamba River and shape a deep canyon. The Lost City of the Incas, Machu Picchu, will welcome us with its incredible terraces, staircases, ceremonial precincts and urban areas. Energy emanates from all over the place. Lunch. At the coordinated time, return by train and transfer to the hotel in Cusco. Lodging.

Free day. Lima offers a variety of cultural, archaeological and adventure activities. Book activities in advance. We suggest:
Vinicunca, Rainbow Mountain. Located at 5,000 m.a.s.l. in the heights of the Vilcanota River Valley in the mountain range of Ausangate, this beautiful mountain has become one of the attractions and great wonders of Cusco.
Kayaking in the Huaypo Lagoon. A day of getting in touch with our self, paddling a kayak across the Huaypo Lagoon with the snow-capped mountains in the background of the landscape. A moment to relax and let the silence invade and renew our energy. Lunch on the shores.

Transfer to the airport. Departure to Lima. Arrival, assistance and transfer to the hotel.
An exclusive and intense tour of the Historic Centre of Lima, will take us to know and admire the architectural relics that are part of this ancient Lima, which has been recognized by UNESCO as Cultural Heritage of Humanity. The Convent of Santo Domingo is the beginning of this magnificent experience. It was built during the foundation of Lima. The Universidad Mayor de San Marcos, the oldest university in America, was founded here. Inside, the choir with the oldest choir stalls in the country; and the library, with 25,000 books, some printed in the 15th century, have an invaluable historical value. The remains of San Martín de Porres, San Juan Masías and Santa Rosa de Lima lie inside. Crossing the Plaza Mayor, the Government and Municipal Palace, we will enter the Cathedral, a jewel of Lima's history, with works of art that will bring us closer to colonial Lima. We will leave the Centre and we will go to the Larco Museum, place where we will have a clear vision of the Cultures that populated the Ancient Peru. We will be surprised by the pieces of gold, textiles and erotic ceramics that are part of the collection that will introduce us to the cosmovision of the ancient Peruvian. The Museum's storeroom will be open during our visit to appreciate the expressions of art that they captured in their ceramics.

Transfer to the airport. Departure to Lima to connect with your flight back home.