Inti Raymi Festival 2024 "Inca Festival of the Sun"

Arrival to Lima, reception at the airport and transfer by private vehicle to the 5* Country Club Hotel.

Country Club Hotel

Free day. Accommodation at the Country Club Hotel.

After breakfast, a guided visit 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. Known as the city of the kings, Lima was founded in 1535 by Pizarro and rebuilt in 1991, the same year that UNESCO declared it a world heritage site. One of the very few South American cities that preserve the colonial past, Lima was home to the Spanish viceroy during the time of the Spanish colonialists. The tour will include a visit to the residential areas of San Isidro and Miraflores, before stopping at Larco Mar to enjoy a view of the beautiful Pacific Ocean. Lunch at the internationally renowned Rosa Nautica, the best seafood restaurant in Lima. After lunch, a visit to the Larco Herrera Museum, one of the best private museums in Peru. With a fabulous collection of northern cultures particularly of the Mochica culture. The museum was founded in 1926 in Trujillo but was transferred in the 1950's to Lima. There is a room of mummies, textiles (including a Paracas cloak over 2000 years old), and several gold and silver vaults. Return to your hotel. Country Club Hotel.

Meals: B & L

After breakfast, transfer to the airport for your flight to Cuzco, the ancient Inca capital of the Incas. After the one hour flight, reception and transfer to the 5* Libertador Hotel.
After a recommended light lunch (not included), a guided tour of Cuzco including the Cathedral, Qoricancha temple, the Inca fortress of Sacsayhuaman overlooking Cuzco, Qenko and Puka Pukara. Return to the hotel.

Libertador Hotel  |   Meals: B

This is the day of the Inti Raymi - The Quechua name for the Festival of the Sun. It was a time of offerings, sacrifices, dancing and celebration. In the old capital city of the Incas, this festival continues with all its ancient royal pomp and energy.
Dances and ceremonies are played out at the worship center of Sacsayhuaman above Cuzco.
Attendance with a private guide to the impressive festival of the Inti Raymi at Sacsayhuaman esplanade and experience yourself this ritual celebrated since the Inca times. It is the central act of the celebrations elaborated in Cusco during this month evoking the religious ceremonies of the Inca Empire. The staging begins in the Qoricancha, continuing to the Main Square of the city and ending at the esplanade of Sacsayhuaman. The central most important character is the Inca. When the ceremony ends the presentation of folkloric groups begins. Box lunch included.

Meals: B & L

After breakfast, excursion to Urubamba, the sacred valley of the Incas and to the ancient Inca market town of Pisac. Lunch in Urubamba or a picnic lunch will be provided. A visit will be made to Ollantaytambo, the only Inca town that was not defeated by the Spanish and a chance to explore the ruins before returning to Cuzco. Return to your hotel to relax and unwind.

Meals: B & L

Early transfer to the station for the Vistadome train to Aguas Calientes. Arrival to Aguas Calientes, assistance with your luggage to the magnificent Machu Picchu Pueblo Hotel set in a cloud forest before boarding the bus for the short ride up to Machu Picchu, the ancient Inca citadel. A guided tour of Machu Picchu, the most spectacular ancient city in the world.
Built by the Inca Pachacutec, and comprising stone blocks fitted with masterful precision, Machu Picchu harmoniously blends into the mountain landscape. There are many theories as to the origins behind Machu Picchu but three of the most popular ideas include a temple to the sun, a fortress against the jungle inhabitants or a sanctuary for the Incas. This fabulous city has houses, temples, warehouses, a large central square, all connected by narrow roads and steps, and is surrounded by terraces cut into the mountain side which were used for agriculture. Lunch at the Sanctuary Lodge hotel before returning to the site for further exploration. Return down to Aguas Calientes and transfer to your hotel for dinner and accommodation at the Machu Picchu Pueblo Hotel.

Machu Picchu Pueblo Hotel  |   Meals: B, L & D

After breakfast, early opportunity to return to the site and enjoy a wonderful sunrise over Machu Picchu. Today no guide is provided as we feel that Machu Picchu requires a certain amount of self discovery to be fully understood. Take any of the several paths around various parts of the site (we will provide a map to help you), trek up to Wayna Picchu or walk down to the Inca's bridge. Let Machu Picchu unfold all its mysteries for you, take in the breathtaking cloud forests and jagged mountains, or marvel at the extraordinary Masonic precision of the ancient Incas. Either way, your day of self discovery will be a day never to be forgotten. Return back down to Aguas Calientes by bus. Some free time to visit the colourful town before returning to Cuzco aboard the Vistadome train. Transfer to the Libertador Hotel.

Libertador Hotel  |   Meals: B

After breakfast, visit Pisaq market. Return to your hotel, the Libertador. Free afternoon.

Meals: B

After breakfast, a spectacular train journey aboard the Orient Express Explorer service across the stunning altiplano to Puno. Lying on the shores of Lake Titicaca, the highest navigable lake in the world, Puno is also the folkloric capital of Peru. Arrival and transfer to your hotel, the Libertador with lake view room.

Meals: B & L

Today, a full day excursion to the islands of Uros and Taquile. Uros, a group of islands made entirely of tortora reeds is home to a small community dating back to a pre-Inca culture. The inhabitants of Taquile are more closely related to the Aymara people of Bolivia than the Quechua Incas of Peru. Return to Puno and to your hotel.

Meals: B

After breakfast, journey to the pre-inca Sillustani funeral towers next to the Umayo lake. The towers form part of one of the largest and most important necropolis in the world. Used by both the Altiplano civilisation and the Incas and their wives "Collas" to honour their dead and in preparation for the after-life. It was abandoned when the first Spanish arrived. With over ninety chulpas (tombs), all built from volcanic rock, those for the Incas can be easily recognised by their finer detail. Transfer to Juliaca airport for the flight back to Arequipa. Reception and transfer to your hotel, the Casa Andina Private Collection.

Meals: B

After breakfast, a guided tour of the white city, so-called because many of the buildings are made of volcanic sillar. Visit to the Chilina valley and the old San Lazaro district with a general view of the city from the Yanahuara Belvedere. There are marvellous views including the imposing Misti Volcano overlooking the city. A visit to the Plaza de Armas and its Cathedral, the cloisters of La Compañía Church, the Church and Square of San Francisco and the extraordinary Santa Catalina convent which is built from volcanic lava and dates from the 16th century. A visit will also be made to the museum to see Juanita, the finest-preserved mummy in South America. Return to your hotel.

Meals: B

After breakfast, early departure in your vehicle with a guide, passing the thermal baths of Yura and climbing up towards the National Reserve of Pampa de Cañahuas at 3800m. Here groups of alpacas, vicuñas and sometimes-even guanacos can be seen. After driving several hours more, the descent to the Colca Valley begins. On the way, if time permits, you shall visit some caves to see prehistoric drawings before arriving at Callalli, where huge rock formations resembling medieval castles are found and onward to Sibayo, a small village with a primitive church, on the Colca River. The trip continues down the valley, passing next to several villages until you arrive at Chivay, the most important town of the valley. Accommodation in the Colca Valley itself at the Colca Lodge Hotel Spa.

Colca Lodge Hotel Spa  |   Meals: B

After breakfast an early departure to descend into the valley to visit some of the villages, all of which have beautiful, colonial-style churches. You shall also see the Inca terraces, some of which are still in use and can be seen all along the valley. Start the ascent up to the Cruz del Condor, a few kilometres before Cabanaconde. Here one can appreciate a fine view of the flight of the condors as well as of the depth of the canyon. Return to your hotel in Arequipa, the Casa Andina Private Collection.

Meals: B

After breakfast, transfer to the airport for your morning flight to Lima and return flight home.

Meals: B