Peru is located on the West Coast of the South American sub continent next to the Pacific Ocean, a unique colourful destination full of contrasts. From the great Inca Empire to the Spanish colonial architecture, to the Old Capital Cusco to Lake Titicaca, Peru is the traveler’s delight. Intriguing and fascinating, Peru has an intense past and breath taking natural landscape that will set your soul alight. Machu Pichu, one of the 7 Wonders of the World and hidden from sight for hundreds of years is undoubtedly a highlight as is the Colca Canyon, twice the depth of the Grand Canyon.
Extend your stay and enjoy a Cruise of the Galapagos or the Amazon Rain Forest.
This private Lima city tour begins at the Plaza de Armas, where the Cathedral, Archbishop’s Palace, and Government Palace are situated. Then visit the Monastery of San Francisco, which houses colonial art, impressive architecture, one of the oldest library collections in Latin America, and catacombs. You will also see the San Isidro olive groves, the pre-Inca worship center of Pucllana, the Miraflores Parque Central, and the romantic Parque del Amor. Then visit the Larco Museum, which holds the finest precious metals collection in Peru. Housed in a royal mansion of the 18th-century, the museum is famous for its gold and silver collection, its erotic archaeological collection, and its pre-Colombian art collection. There are over 45,000 objects, all classified by culture and theme in chronological order.
Arequipa is known as `The White City` because many of its historical buildings were constructed using the local pearly-white volcanic sillar stone. It is Peru’s second oldest city and sits triumphantly within a valley at the base of the snowcapped `Misti` Volcano. The city has a long history full of cultural, archictural and natural wealth. It offers amazing landscapes and is a UNESCO Heritage site. Visit the Plaza de Armas, the heart of the city and one of the most beautiful main squares of Peru.
The highlight of any tour in Arequipa is the Santa Catalina Monastery. Maybe the most important religious historic monument of Peru, the convent was founded in 1579. It was opened to the public in 1970. It features a small citadel of 20000 sq./m. in traditional Spanish in style, also built in sillar. In the narrow streets you can find churches, chapels, plazas,
Colca Canyon is a canyon of the Colca River in southern Peru, located about 100 miles (160 kilometers) northwest of Arequipa. It is Peru’s third most-visited tourist destination with about 120,000 visitors annually. With a depth of 13,650 ft (4,160 m), it is more than twice as deep as the Grand Canyon in the United States. The Colca Valley is a colorful Andean valley with pre-Inca roots, and towns founded in Spanish colonial times, still inhabited by people of the Collagua and the Cabana cultures. The local people maintain their ancestral traditions and continue to cultivate the pre-Inca stepped terraces.The canyon is home to the Andean Condor (Vultur gryphus), a species that has been the focus of worldwide conservation efforts. The condors can be seen at close range as they fly past the canyon walls, and are a popular attraction. ‘Cruz del Condor’ is a popular tourist stop to view the condors. At this point the canyon floor is 3,960 feet (1,200 m) below the rim of the canyon.
Perched at water’s edge and taking full advantage of its privileged location on the Puno area of Lake Titicaca, with extraordinary views 3,800m (12,500 ft) above sea level. Built with rustic local materials, stone, wood, and clay, this hotel reflects the natural beauty of its environment.
Soak in the beauty of this high altitude lake that is known in Inca history as the birthplace of the Inca Empire. The lake dwellers of Lake Titicaca are expert reed craftsmen who build reed islands and boats, which you can see during your Lake Titicaca tour. Visit the floating islands of Uros, which are made completely from reeds. Then visit the island of Taquille, which is home to about 1500 Quechua-speaking inhabitants. They are known for their incredible textile weaving skill. In the evening, return to your Puno hotel for the night.
Travel in luxury on the legendary “Andean Explorer” Train from Puno to Cuzco. This spectacular rail journey begins in historic Puno, on the shores of Lake Titicaca, and travels north to the city of Cuzco, the center of Inca civilization. On the journey, the train makes a gentle climb to higher, and cooler altitudes. Out of Puno, the gentle, rolling Andean Plains, are in view, where vicuña and alpaca can be seen. The second half of the journey is dominated by the magnificent Andean mountains which tower over the deep valleys of the meandering Huatanay River. While travelling aboard the Andean Explorer, the glass-walled observation car provides the perfect opportunity to view the beautiful scenery. The journey is broken by a scenic stop at La Raya, which is also the highest point on the route.
Discover the fascinating historical and cultural legacy of the Incas in the capital of the Inca Empire on this private 4-hour Cuzco city tour. Visit Korikancha, known as the Temple of the Sun during Inca Empire, and now the site of the Santo Domingo Convent. You will also see the Cathedral, which faces the Plaza de Armas in the heart of downtown Cuzco. Continuing on, tour the ruins of Sacsayhuaman, located above the city, and you can enjoy spectacular views of Cuzco below. Follow the road up to several other Inca stone ruins, including Q’enqo, Puca Pucara and Tambomachay. At the end of the tour, your guide will take you back to your hotel.
Have an early breakfast in your hotel, and then prepare for the tour of a lifetime to see Machu Picchu, the breathtaking Inca city in the sky. Travel through the Sacred Valley into the cloud forest, where the city of Machu Picchu lay relatively hidden for centuries. The first class Vistadome train, with its glass ceiling, allows you ample room to enjoy the unbeatable scenery as you take the 1 1/2-hour journey towards Machu Picchu. The train will take you to Aguas Calientes, the town at the foot of Machu Picchu. Take a short walk over to the shuttle bus station, which will whisk you up the mountain to the entrance to Machu Picchu. There your guide will take you on a tour of this fascinating city of the Incas. As you gaze in wonder at the expansive stone ruins, steep terraces, and looming cliffs, you will realize why Machu Picchu has been called one of the new wonders of the world. The stonework at Machu Picchu is so well engineered that many of the walls are almost perfectly intact since the days of the Incas in the 15th and 16th centuries. After the tour, wander around the ruins on your own, or return to Aguas Calientes. In the afternoon, meet your train for the ride back to Cuzco and check in to your hotel for the night. An alternative would be to spend the night in Aguas Calientes, and take the train back to Cuzco the next day.
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