Peru Escorted Escapes Tour 2

Arrival in Lima. Reception and transfer to your hotel.

After breakfast, full city tour of modern and colonial Lima, declared a UNESCO world heritage site in 1991. Tour in an air conditioned bus with a bilingual guide. The tour includes a visit to the Cathedral, Main Square, San Francisco Convent and its Catacombs, and the residential areas of San Isidro and Miraflores. Lunch at the internationally acclaimed Rosa Nautica seafood restaurant, strategically located on a pier and extending into the Pacific Ocean. After lunch, a visit to the Gold Museum. Originally from a private collection, the museum houses numerous gold, silver and copper artefacts from several pre-Hispanic cultures. The most precious piece in the collection is the solid gold Tumi (ceremonial knife) belonging to the Lambayeque culture (350AD). Return to your hotel. Free evening.

Meals: B & L

After breakfast, flight to Cuzco, reception and transfer to your hotel. Afternoon guided visit 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. Dinner and folkloric show in the evening.

Meals: B & D

Full-day excursion to Urubamba, the Sacred Valley of the Incas. Visit the village of Pisac, founded during Colonial times. On Sundays, Tuesdays and Thursdays the Indians barter their products, and artisans from all over the area sell their woven alpaca wool blankets and ponchos, engraved gourds, antique reproductions and jewellery. On Sundays, it is also the meeting place for the local Mayors of the region, who come dressed in their traditional costumes, to attend morning mass. After buffet lunch at the Alhambra Restaurant, a visit to Ollantaytambo, the only Inca town which is still inhabited. Explore the ruins above Ollantaytambo before returning to Cuzco via the traditional market town of Chinchero. Return to your hotel.

An early start by Vistadome train to Aguas Calientes. Guided visit of the most spectacular ancient city in the world. This fabulous city contains houses, temples, warehouses, a large central square; and all connected by narrow roads and steps that are surrounded by terraces cut into the mountain side. After the tour, free time to enjoy this spiritual wonder. Opportunity for a guided trek (approx 1 hour) up to the sungate (Intipunku), which is a part of the Inca Trail, for a magical view of the sanctuary or alternatively an unguided climb to the top of Wayna Picchu, with a magnificent view of the whole Sanctuary (recommended for fit individuals only). Accommodation in Aguas Calientes.

Opportunity to return to the sanctuary for a more personal appreciation of the Eighth wonder of the world. Return in the afternoon by train to Cuzco and transfer to your hotel.

Free morning. Afternoon flight to Arequipa, the most beautiful city in Peru. Transfer to your hotel. A brief overview of the "white city", including the 16th century convent which is built entirely of volcanic lava. The Misti Volcano stands as a sentinel behind this colonial city. Overnight accommodation at your hotel.

After breakfast, we drive through some wonderful scenery towards the Colca canyon, witnessing groups of wild alpacas, vicuñas and guanacos in their natural habitat. Arrival to Chivay, the main town of the canyon in time for lunch at a local restaurant. Transfer to your hotel, located in the canyon itself. Free afternoon for personal leisure.

An early start to visit the Colca canyon, the second deepest canyon in the world (the deepest canyon lies only a few kilometres from here). We shall also have an opportunity to see the huge condor, the world's largest flying bird before returning to Arequipa. Overnight accommodation at your hotel.

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