DETAILED ITINERARY

A great adventure that will take you to the enigmatic Nazca Lines and ending with a hike on the world famous Royal Inca Trail.

Day 1: Arrival in Lima, reception and transfer to your Hotel.

Day 2: CITY TOUR OF LIMA
After breakfast, we will pick you up from your hotel for a city tour of colonial and modern Lima, including the cathedral, dating from 1654, the main square, which still houses the original bronze fountain built in 1650, and the San Francisco Convent and its catacombs. Lima was founded in 1535 by Pizarro and rebuilt in 1991, the same year that UNESCO declared it a world heritage site. Lima was home to the Spanish viceroy during the time of the Spanish colonialists. The tour also includes a visit to the residential areas of San Isidro and Miraflores, stopping at Larco Mar to enjoy a view of the beautiful Pacific Ocean. Return to your Hotel.

Day 3: PISCO
After breakfast, we will transfer you to the bus station for your first class bus to Pisco. Reception and transfer to your Hotel.

Day 4: PISCO-PARACAS-NAZCA
After breakfast, transfer to the port for the boat to the Ballestas islands. Commonly referred to as the "little Galapagos", here you will see a massive concentration of sea birds and sea lions in their natural habitat. After the boat tour, we will return to the mainland for an trip to the Paracas National Reserve, the only coastal reserve in Peru. Here you will visit several museums showing the natural history of Paracas and also the ancient Paracas culture in addition to the beautiful "cathedral", a natural rock formation. After lunch, return to Pisco. In the afternoon, we will transfer you to the bus terminal for the 3 hour first class bus ride to Nazca. Arrival and transfer to your Hotel.

Day 5: NAZCA-LIMA
Before breakfast, a flight tour over the enigmatic Nazca Lines; gigantic drawings and geometrical figures engraved in the driest desert of Peru and dating back to 250 AD. Drawn throughout over 1000 Km of desert on the Pampas of San Jose in Ica, and due to their enormous size and largely unknown origin, leaves an impression on all who visit this mysterious archaeological site. With representations of animals, such as a spider, a monkey and several birds, they are believed to be an enormous astronomical calendar or possibly an offering to the gods. First discovered in 1550 it was not until the advent of flight, in the 1920's, that the lines were first realized for their significance. After breakfast, a private tour of the ancient Cantalloc aqueducts and the ruins of a recently discovered Inca town nearby. Transfer to the bus station for the first class bus back to Lima. Transfer to your Hotel.

Day 6: CUSCO-CITY TOUR
After breakfast, we will transfer you to the airport for your flight to Cusco. Upon arrival in Cuzco, we will meet you at the airport and transfer you to your hotel. Afternoon guided city tour of the four ruins nearby; the Sacsayhuaman Fortress overlooking the city of Cuzco, a pre Inca architectural masterpiece; Kenko, a rock sanctuary whose main attraction is the monolithic altar representing a puma, the red Fortress of Puca-Pucara and Tambomachay, a beautiful fountain fed by a spring forming a series of basins continue to the city of Cuzco; the Main Square, the Cathedral and the Koricancha or Temple of the Sun.Spend the night in your Hotel.

Day 7: SACRED VALLEY TOUR
After breakfast, we will pick you up for a full day tour of the Sacred Valley of the Incas. Visit the village of Pisac, founded during colonial times and set at the foot of a hill crowned by the remains of an Inca city. On Sundays, Tuesdays and Thursdays, in the main square, Indians barter their products and artisans from all over the area sell their woven alpaca wool blankets and ponchos, engraved gourds, antique reproductions, jewelry, etc. On Sundays it is also the meeting place for mayors from all the villages in the region, dressed in their traditional costumes to attend morning mass. After lunch, we will visit Ollantaytambo, the only Inca town which was not overthrown by the conquistadores, and explore the ruins which tower above it.Spend the night in your Hotel.

Day 8: THE ROYAL INCA TRAIL
we will meet the Quechua porters and have an opportunity to eat breakfast and buy a walking stick for your trek. Crossing over the turbulent Vilcanota River, with magnificent views of Nevada Veronica (5,900m/19,000ft) we will continue the trek admiring the Llactapata archaeological site, and stopping at the Huayllabamba River for lunch. We will visit the archaeological sites of Patallacta, Qente, and the valley of Cusichaca. Today the hike will last about 7 hours.

Day 9:
Today is the most demanding days of the trip as we gain a lot of altitude. We will see outstanding views east to the Huayanay peaks and west into the Vilcabamba Range. After breakfast, we will climb up through the first pass at 4,200 m/13,750 feet at Warmiwanusqa (dead woman’s pass). We will pass 3 ecological areas such as the Yunga, Quechua and Puna. We will climb 1000 meters in 5 hours. Arriving at our camp, we will have lunch and dinner near Pacaymayu.

Day 10:
After breakfast, we will trek down through the valley of Pacaymayu to the famous archaeological sites of Runquraqay and continue to the second pass and the site of Sayaqmarka ("Town in a Steep Place") and explore the Sayaqmarka ruins. The Inca Trail in this section is a white granite roadway, traversing a thickly forested mountainside. We will then descend to the magnificent archaeological site of Phuyupatamarka ("Cloud Level Town") and have lunch. We will then begin the decent to Winaywayna where a visit of the ruins, have dinner, and camp nears the ruins.

Day 11:
Early morning wake up at 4:30 a.m. for breakfast and to begin the trek to be the first at the archaeological site of Machu Picchu for the sunrise. We will descend rapidly from cloud forest into high jungle habitat. Orchids and hummingbirds are commonly seen along this spectacular section of the trail high above the river. We will arrive at Intipunko "Gate of the Sun" to observe the sunrise over Machu Picchu from an elevated vantage point. We continue down to the royal road and at last the "Lost City of the Incas". Upon arrival in Machu Picchu, we will walk down to the entrance gate to drop off our packs. We will the begin a guided tour of the timeless citadel, visiting the Main Plaza, the Royal Quarters, the Temple of Three Windows, the Circular Tower and the Sacred Sun Dial and Burial Grounds. After the guided tour, we can enjoy an afternoon of self-exploration and discovery. In the afternoon, we will take the bus back to Aguas Calientes and your Hotel.

Day 12: AGUAS CALIENTES-OLLANTAYTAMBO-CUSCO
Free day in Aguas Calientes to return to Machu Picchu, relax at the hot springs, or take the short hike to the private waterfall reserve of Mandor Pampa. Afternoon train back to Ollantaytambo town and then to Cusco by car,transfer to your Hotel.

Day 13: Transfer to the airport for your return flight to Lima and then home.

NOTE: Prices are subject to change based on current Hotel and airfare rates. Please ask your sale ejecutive for details.

OUR PRICE INCLUDES:

• 9 nights double accommodation
• Transfers, tours and excursions as per itinerary
• Tourist Guide
• Flight: Nazca overflight, Lima-Cusco, Cusco-Lima
• Ground transport to the Start of the Inca Trail
• Backpacker Train: Aguas Calientes-Ollantaytambo
• Porter for Inca Trail
• All entrance fees.

OUR PRICE DOES NOT INCLUDE:

• International air tickets to South America and associated taxes.
• Meals not specified on the itinerary.
• All domestic flights require a US$5.00 charge (airport tax), payable at the airport.
• Personal expenses such as telephone bills, laundry expenses, alcoholic and bottled beverages, etc.
• Insurance against theft, loss, illness and/or accident.
• Sleeping Bag