Six Faces Of Peru

We depart from London our direct British Airways flight to Lima. On arrival we transfer to the Lima hotel where we stay for one night. Dinner is not included tonight but the leader will point out options to those that wish to eat.

After breakfast we will have a day’s sightseeing in Lima including the Plaza de Armas and the Church of San Francisco. We will visit the Larco Museum and take lunch at the museum restaurant. Late afternoon we fly to Arequipa (two nights) situated 2,335m above sea level, the most "colonial" city in Peru. It is a good place to begin our acclimatisation to high altitude. Please note dinner is not included this evening but the town square, a short walk from the hotel, has plenty of eating options. Your tour leader will advise.

This is the desert or arid region, some 600 miles south of Lima. Arequipa is known as the ‘White City’ because many of its buildings have been made from sillar, the white volcanic rock quarried locally. This morning we will take a bus to Carmen Alto for a morning walk. We start walking down from here, to the viewpoint of Yanahuara.  We have a quick stop for some Queso Helado, an Arequipa classic treat. We continue to the Alpaca Workshop: “Mundo Alpaca”. After that we will keep walking to the first “Barrio” of Arequipa, Barrio San Lazaro, where we can appreciate all the architectural beauty of its mansions, temples, museums, theatres and the Plaza de Armas, built of ashlar. In the afternoon, we will visit the monastery of Santa Catalina to see the architecture, art and furniture of a world that has stood still since 1570, hotel is within walking distance of the square so we can return to the hotel on foot. 

This morning we depart by coach on the road through the magnificent scenery of the high pampa and over the 4,900m Patapampa Pass. This will be the highest altitude we reach on our holiday. This is the place the affects of altitude are most likely to be felt so we will not stop at the pass this time but descend to Chivay village and our hotel for an afternoon of rest and relaxation. On the journey herds of vicuna, lama and alpaca are often seen along with Andean bird life.

We visit the valley of the Colca Canyon, setting out early in order to see condors. On a good day these huge birds fly astonishingly close. Later we can walk to Cabanaconde village for lunch where we can also enjoy the beautiful view from “The Mirador”. You will visit the typical villages of Pinchollo and Maca, visit the church and the village of Yanque. We will walk to the ruins of Uskallaqta, that are on the way between the villages of Yanque and Chivay.

From Colca we take the road back over the Patapampa Pass and continue to Puno arriving late afternoon for a two night stay. The journey takes about 6hrs. This time, being better acclimatised, we can stop to sample life at high altitude. It is likely there will be patches of snow at the pass. We will stop briefly at in the town of Coporaque. Before arriving at Puno, we will visit the funerary complex of Silustani where you can see a series of impressive tombs, known as ‘chullpas’. 

Puno lies on a bay of Lake Titicaca, the highest navigable lake in the world at 3,827m. It sits amidst bleak, almost treeless countryside, with the peaks of the Cordillera Real in the far distance. The local people have retained many ancient customs, which with the existence of pre-Hispanic and colonial monuments make the area another fascinating region to visit. We will visit the Island of Taquile in Lake Titicaca the home of skilled weavers and knitting men. The walk across Taquile Island for many will be the most spectacular walk of the holiday. It takes about an hour to walk up from the jetty to the town where we can take lunch is a local cafe, we then descend back down to the boat. We also stop to see some of the ‘floating’ islands of the Uros Indians in the lake. 

We travel by road the 250 miles from Puno through mountainous country to Cuzco (approx. 8 hours) for one night. Today lunch is included in local restaurant on route. Close to Cuzco we stop at Piquillacta for our walk to Huacarpay Lagoon. The area includes four permanent lagoons, a seasonal lagoon and marshes that connect the bodies of water. We visit Cuzco for several reasons not least for its Inca and Spanish colonial remains and the local people who have retained their original clothing and customs but also for the outstanding beauty of the scenery. This region has a strong character of its own. The city is sited at over 3,000m in the Andes. Little is known of its history before the arrival of Pizarro’s rampaging armies. During our stay here we have an opportunity to see the magnificent architecture of the convents and churches.

We leave Cuzco early and drive out to the Sacred Valley to walk down from the ruins above Pisac into the market, another walk with spectacular views. We descend on a good path but there is some exposure The walk takes about 2hrs at a gentle pace with plenty of time to enjoy and photograph the view. The market in Pisac at the end of the walk is probably the best place to buy local crafts on the holiday. We stay one night in the Sacred Valley.

This morning, we will visit Ollantaytambo, a typical example of the extraordinary urban planning of the Incas. The town offers cobbled and winding streets, the ruins scattered everywhere, and agricultural terraces above. Among the ruins, we will visit the old fortress and the temple, from where we can enjoy magnificent views of the Sacred Valley of the Incas. Later, we take an afternoon train for Machu Picchu. We travel the 70 miles by train for a night in the village of Machu Picchu Pueblo (one night) below Machu Picchu. The train journey takes about 90mins through spectacular scenery and is another highlight of the holiday. On arrival in Machu Picchu Pueblo it is short walk to the hotel. Tonight, dinner is included at the hotel.

We have an early start and take minibuses up to Machu Picchu to enjoy the early morning light and a full guided tour of the ruins before the midday crowds arrive. We will have plenty of time to take in the site, undoubtedly one of the wonders of the world. There is a very good reason why Machu Picchu is a world renown tourist site. We should also have time to walk up to the Inti Punku gate. This is the end of the Inca Trail and offers a great view over the site. The walk climbs on a well trodden, if rocky, trail. We catch the early afternoon train back to Cuzco and to our hotel where we stay three further nights.

We begin with a coach journey to Qenqo 20 minutes outside Cusco, this place of worship is located at what is now known as the Socorro hill. We will start walking down from here, to the viewpoint of Cristo Blanco, this statue is 8 meters high and is located on the Pukamoqo hill (Red Hill), stop for some pictures and keep going to Sacsayhuaman. This is an enormous construction on the outskirts of Cuzco of whose walls Pedro Sancho wrote in 1534: "Spaniards who have seen them say that not even the Bridge of Segovia nor any construction of Hercules or the Romans can be compared to this". It is possible for clients to walk back down to Cusco from Sacsayhuaman for those who would like. Back in Cuzco we will spend time with our local guide taking the myriad city sights.

This is planned as a free day for you to relax or explore Cuzco in more depth. There are plenty of options to consider.

We fly from Cuzco down the Andes to Puerto Maldonaldo. We will be welcomed at the airport in Puerto Maldonado and taken to the boat dock on the Tambopata River. Here we board a motorized canoe and head towards the nearby confluence of the mighty Madre de Dios River. We travel about 30 minutes down river to the landing stage where we disembark. We will walk about 3km (2 miles), stopping to watch birds and butterflies, before reaching another pier where we take boats to the lodge. We navigate the flooded forest of palm trees that leads to Lake Sandoval. The crew will row the boats across to the lodge as engines are prohibited on the lake. Along the way look out for the huge paiche (an Amazonian fish that can weigh up to 100Kg/220lbs) and the giant otter. After arrival at the lodge and a brief rest, we set out by boat to explore the eastern end of the lake, hopefully encountering hundreds of blue-and-yellow and red-breasted macaws as they return to the palm forest for the night. From the boats we should get some great views of the wildlife. We return to the lodge at dusk for dinner. After dinner we take the boat out again, in search of caiman. These can grow up to 4m long. They are now extremely rare in the Amazon but are still common in this protected lake. On clear nights we travel further by boat for a view of the vast southern sky, unobstructed, with its magnificent views of constellations and the Milky Way.

Just before dawn we will go out on the lake for what is often a spectacular sunrise; and hope for an encounter with the giant otters who active at this time of day. Most of the birds that inhabit the lake are also very active. Later we will walk the trail through the understory of primary rainforest that surrounds the lake. We will see the great Chestnut trees that abound here. After lunch we rest for an hour and then explore the west side of the lake where we will have chances to observe different species of monkey. Before dinner there is a video presentation on the Peruvian Jungle. After dinner those who would like will have the opportunity to go caiman spotting on the lake.

After breakfast we make a final paddle through palm swamps on the west end of the lake. On the clearer mornings a glorious sunrise and its reflection can be seen in the lake. We return to the Madre de Dios River and head towards Puerto Maldonado and from there we travel on to the airport from where we fly back to Lima for our last night.

We have free time in Lima, before transferring to Lima airport and flying direct overnight to London.

We arrive back in the Uk.

We depart from London our direct British Airways flight to Lima. On arrival we transfer to the Lima hotel where we stay for one night. Dinner is not included tonight but the leader will point out options to those that wish to eat.

After breakfast we will have a day’s sightseeing in Lima including the Plaza de Armas and the Church of San Francisco. We will visit the Larco Museum and take lunch at the museum restaurant. Late afternoon we fly to Arequipa (two nights) situated 2,335m above sea level, the most "colonial" city in Peru. It is a good place to begin our acclimatisation to high altitude. Please note dinner is not included this evening but the town square, a short walk from the hotel, has plenty of eating options. Your tour leader will advise.

This is the desert or arid region, some 600 miles south of Lima. Arequipa is known as the ‘White City’ because many of its buildings have been made from sillar, the white volcanic rock quarried locally. This morning we will take a bus to Carmen Alto for a morning walk. We start walking down from here, to the viewpoint of Yanahuara.  We have a quick stop for some Queso Helado, an Arequipa classic treat. We continue to the Alpaca Workshop: “Mundo Alpaca”. After that we will keep walking to the first “Barrio” of Arequipa, Barrio San Lazaro, where we can appreciate all the architectural beauty of its mansions, temples, museums, theatres and the Plaza de Armas, built of ashlar. In the afternoon, we will visit the monastery of Santa Catalina to see the architecture, art and furniture of a world that has stood still since 1570, hotel is within walking distance of the square so we can return to the hotel on foot. 

This morning we depart by coach on the road through the magnificent scenery of the high pampa and over the 4,900m Patapampa Pass. This will be the highest altitude we reach on our holiday. This is the place the affects of altitude are most likely to be felt so we will not stop at the pass this time but descend to Chivay village and our hotel for an afternoon of rest and relaxation. On the journey herds of vicuna, lama and alpaca are often seen along with Andean bird life.

We visit the valley of the Colca Canyon, setting out early in order to see condors. On a good day these huge birds fly astonishingly close. Later we can walk to Cabanaconde village for lunch where we can also enjoy the beautiful view from “The Mirador”. You will visit the typical villages of Pinchollo and Maca, visit the church and the village of Yanque. We will walk to the ruins of Uskallaqta, that are on the way between the villages of Yanque and Chivay.

From Colca we take the road back over the Patapampa Pass and continue to Puno arriving late afternoon for a two night stay. The journey takes about 6hrs. This time, being better acclimatised, we can stop to sample life at high altitude. It is likely there will be patches of snow at the pass. We will stop briefly at in the town of Coporaque. Before arriving at Puno, we will visit the funerary complex of Silustani where you can see a series of impressive tombs, known as ‘chullpas’. 

Puno lies on a bay of Lake Titicaca, the highest navigable lake in the world at 3,827m. It sits amidst bleak, almost treeless countryside, with the peaks of the Cordillera Real in the far distance. The local people have retained many ancient customs, which with the existence of pre-Hispanic and colonial monuments make the area another fascinating region to visit. We will visit the Island of Taquile in Lake Titicaca the home of skilled weavers and knitting men. The walk across Taquile Island for many will be the most spectacular walk of the holiday. It takes about an hour to walk up from the jetty to the town where we can take lunch is a local cafe, we then descend back down to the boat. We also stop to see some of the ‘floating’ islands of the Uros Indians in the lake. 

We travel by road the 250 miles from Puno through mountainous country to Cuzco (approx. 8 hours) for one night. Today lunch is included in local restaurant on route. Close to Cuzco we stop at Piquillacta for our walk to Huacarpay Lagoon. The area includes four permanent lagoons, a seasonal lagoon and marshes that connect the bodies of water. We visit Cuzco for several reasons not least for its Inca and Spanish colonial remains and the local people who have retained their original clothing and customs but also for the outstanding beauty of the scenery. This region has a strong character of its own. The city is sited at over 3,000m in the Andes. Little is known of its history before the arrival of Pizarro’s rampaging armies. During our stay here we have an opportunity to see the magnificent architecture of the convents and churches.

We leave Cuzco early and drive out to the Sacred Valley to walk down from the ruins above Pisac into the market, another walk with spectacular views. We descend on a good path but there is some exposure The walk takes about 2hrs at a gentle pace with plenty of time to enjoy and photograph the view. The market in Pisac at the end of the walk is probably the best place to buy local crafts on the holiday. We stay one night in the Sacred Valley.

This morning, we will visit Ollantaytambo, a typical example of the extraordinary urban planning of the Incas. The town offers cobbled and winding streets, the ruins scattered everywhere, and agricultural terraces above. Among the ruins, we will visit the old fortress and the temple, from where we can enjoy magnificent views of the Sacred Valley of the Incas. Later, we take an afternoon train for Machu Picchu. We travel the 70 miles by train for a night in the village of Machu Picchu Pueblo (one night) below Machu Picchu. The train journey takes about 90mins through spectacular scenery and is another highlight of the holiday. On arrival in Machu Picchu Pueblo it is short walk to the hotel. Tonight, dinner is included at the hotel.

We have an early start and take minibuses up to Machu Picchu to enjoy the early morning light and a full guided tour of the ruins before the midday crowds arrive. We will have plenty of time to take in the site, undoubtedly one of the wonders of the world. There is a very good reason why Machu Picchu is a world renown tourist site. We should also have time to walk up to the Inti Punku gate. This is the end of the Inca Trail and offers a great view over the site. The walk climbs on a well trodden, if rocky, trail. We catch the early afternoon train back to Cuzco and to our hotel where we stay three further nights.

We begin with a coach journey to Qenqo 20 minutes outside Cusco, this place of worship is located at what is now known as the Socorro hill. We will start walking down from here, to the viewpoint of Cristo Blanco, this statue is 8 meters high and is located on the Pukamoqo hill (Red Hill), stop for some pictures and keep going to Sacsayhuaman. This is an enormous construction on the outskirts of Cuzco of whose walls Pedro Sancho wrote in 1534: "Spaniards who have seen them say that not even the Bridge of Segovia nor any construction of Hercules or the Romans can be compared to this". It is possible for clients to walk back down to Cusco from Sacsayhuaman for those who would like. Back in Cuzco we will spend time with our local guide taking the myriad city sights.

This is planned as a free day for you to relax or explore Cuzco in more depth. There are plenty of options to consider.

We fly from Cuzco down the Andes to Puerto Maldonaldo. We will be welcomed at the airport in Puerto Maldonado and taken to the boat dock on the Tambopata River. Here we board a motorized canoe and head towards the nearby confluence of the mighty Madre de Dios River. We travel about 30 minutes down river to the landing stage where we disembark. We will walk about 3km (2 miles), stopping to watch birds and butterflies, before reaching another pier where we take boats to the lodge. We navigate the flooded forest of palm trees that leads to Lake Sandoval. The crew will row the boats across to the lodge as engines are prohibited on the lake. Along the way look out for the huge paiche (an Amazonian fish that can weigh up to 100Kg/220lbs) and the giant otter. After arrival at the lodge and a brief rest, we set out by boat to explore the eastern end of the lake, hopefully encountering hundreds of blue-and-yellow and red-breasted macaws as they return to the palm forest for the night. From the boats we should get some great views of the wildlife. We return to the lodge at dusk for dinner. After dinner we take the boat out again, in search of caiman. These can grow up to 4m long. They are now extremely rare in the Amazon but are still common in this protected lake. On clear nights we travel further by boat for a view of the vast southern sky, unobstructed, with its magnificent views of constellations and the Milky Way.

Just before dawn we will go out on the lake for what is often a spectacular sunrise; and hope for an encounter with the giant otters who active at this time of day. Most of the birds that inhabit the lake are also very active. Later we will walk the trail through the understory of primary rainforest that surrounds the lake. We will see the great Chestnut trees that abound here. After lunch we rest for an hour and then explore the west side of the lake where we will have chances to observe different species of monkey. Before dinner there is a video presentation on the Peruvian Jungle. After dinner those who would like will have the opportunity to go caiman spotting on the lake.

After breakfast we make a final paddle through palm swamps on the west end of the lake. On the clearer mornings a glorious sunrise and its reflection can be seen in the lake. We return to the Madre de Dios River and head towards Puerto Maldonado and from there we travel on to the airport. We fly back to Lima for our last night.

We have free time in Lima, before transferring to Lima airport and flying direct overnight to London.

We arrive back in the Uk.

We depart from London our direct British Airways flight to Lima. On arrival we transfer to the Lima hotel where we stay for one night. Dinner is not included tonight but the leader will point out options to those that wish to eat.

After breakfast we will have a day’s sightseeing in Lima including the Plaza de Armas and the Church of San Francisco. We will visit the Larco Museum and take lunch at the museum restaurant. Late afternoon we fly to Arequipa (two nights) situated 2,335m above sea level, the most "colonial" city in Peru. It is a good place to begin our acclimatisation to high altitude. Please note dinner is not included this evening but the town square, a short walk from the hotel, has plenty of eating options. Your tour leader will advise.

This is the desert or arid region, some 600 miles south of Lima. Arequipa is known as the ‘White City’ because many of its buildings have been made from sillar, the white volcanic rock quarried locally. This morning we will take a bus to Carmen Alto for a morning walk. We start walking down from here, to the viewpoint of Yanahuara.  We have a quick stop for some Queso Helado, an Arequipa classic treat. We continue to the Alpaca Workshop: “Mundo Alpaca”. After that we will keep walking to the first “Barrio” of Arequipa, Barrio San Lazaro, where we can appreciate all the architectural beauty of its mansions, temples, museums, theatres and the Plaza de Armas, built of ashlar. In the afternoon, we will visit the monastery of Santa Catalina to see the architecture, art and furniture of a world that has stood still since 1570, hotel is within walking distance of the square so we can return to the hotel on foot. 

This morning we depart by coach on the road through the magnificent scenery of the high pampa and over the 4,900m Patapampa Pass. This will be the highest altitude we reach on our holiday. This is the place the affects of altitude are most likely to be felt so we will not stop at the pass this time but descend to Chivay village and our hotel for an afternoon of rest and relaxation. On the journey herds of vicuna, lama and alpaca are often seen along with Andean bird life.

We visit the valley of the Colca Canyon, setting out early in order to see condors. On a good day these huge birds fly astonishingly close. Later we can walk to Cabanaconde village for lunch where we can also enjoy the beautiful view from “The Mirador”. You will visit the typical villages of Pinchollo and Maca, visit the church and the village of Yanque. We will walk to the ruins of Uskallaqta, that are on the way between the villages of Yanque and Chivay.

From Colca we take the road back over the Patapampa Pass and continue to Puno arriving late afternoon for a two night stay. The journey takes about 6hrs. This time, being better acclimatised, we can stop to sample life at high altitude. It is likely there will be patches of snow at the pass. We will stop briefly at in the town of Coporaque. Before arriving at Puno, we will visit the funerary complex of Silustani where you can see a series of impressive tombs, known as ‘chullpas’. 

Puno lies on a bay of Lake Titicaca, the highest navigable lake in the world at 3,827m. It sits amidst bleak, almost treeless countryside, with the peaks of the Cordillera Real in the far distance. The local people have retained many ancient customs, which with the existence of pre-Hispanic and colonial monuments make the area another fascinating region to visit. We will visit the Island of Taquile in Lake Titicaca the home of skilled weavers and knitting men. The walk across Taquile Island for many will be the most spectacular walk of the holiday. It takes about an hour to walk up from the jetty to the town where we can take lunch is a local cafe, we then descend back down to the boat. We also stop to see some of the ‘floating’ islands of the Uros Indians in the lake. 

We travel by road the 250 miles from Puno through mountainous country to Cuzco (approx. 8 hours) for one night. Today lunch is included in local restaurant on route. Close to Cuzco we stop at Piquillacta for our walk to Huacarpay Lagoon. The area includes four permanent lagoons, a seasonal lagoon and marshes that connect the bodies of water. We visit Cuzco for several reasons not least for its Inca and Spanish colonial remains and the local people who have retained their original clothing and customs but also for the outstanding beauty of the scenery. This region has a strong character of its own. The city is sited at over 3,000m in the Andes. Little is known of its history before the arrival of Pizarro’s rampaging armies. During our stay here we have an opportunity to see the magnificent architecture of the convents and churches.

We leave Cuzco early and drive out to the Sacred Valley to walk down from the ruins above Pisac into the market, another walk with spectacular views. We descend on a good path but there is some exposure The walk takes about 2hrs at a gentle pace with plenty of time to enjoy and photograph the view. The market in Pisac at the end of the walk is probably the best place to buy local crafts on the holiday. We stay one night in the Sacred Valley.

This morning, we will visit Ollantaytambo, a typical example of the extraordinary urban planning of the Incas. The town offers cobbled and winding streets, the ruins scattered everywhere, and agricultural terraces above. Among the ruins, we will visit the old fortress and the temple, from where we can enjoy magnificent views of the Sacred Valley of the Incas. Later, we take an afternoon train for Machu Picchu. We travel the 70 miles by train for a night in the village of Machu Picchu Pueblo (one night) below Machu Picchu. The train journey takes about 90mins through spectacular scenery and is another highlight of the holiday. On arrival in Machu Picchu Pueblo it is short walk to the hotel. Tonight, dinner is included at the hotel.

We have an early start and take minibuses up to Machu Picchu to enjoy the early morning light and a full guided tour of the ruins before the midday crowds arrive. We will have plenty of time to take in the site, undoubtedly one of the wonders of the world. There is a very good reason why Machu Picchu is a world renown tourist site. We should also have time to walk up to the Inti Punku gate. This is the end of the Inca Trail and offers a great view over the site. The walk climbs on a well trodden, if rocky, trail. We catch the early afternoon train back to Cuzco and to our hotel where we stay three further nights.

We begin with a coach journey to Qenqo 20 minutes outside Cusco, this place of worship is located at what is now known as the Socorro hill. We will start walking down from here, to the viewpoint of Cristo Blanco, this statue is 8 meters high and is located on the Pukamoqo hill (Red Hill), stop for some pictures and keep going to Sacsayhuaman. This is an enormous construction on the outskirts of Cuzco of whose walls Pedro Sancho wrote in 1534: "Spaniards who have seen them say that not even the Bridge of Segovia nor any construction of Hercules or the Romans can be compared to this". It is possible for clients to walk back down to Cusco from Sacsayhuaman for those who would like. Back in Cuzco we will spend time with our local guide taking the myriad city sights.

This is planned as a free day for you to relax or explore Cuzco in more depth. There are plenty of options to consider.

We fly from Cuzco down the Andes to Puerto Maldonaldo. We will be welcomed at the airport in Puerto Maldonado and taken to the boat dock on the Tambopata River. Here we board a motorized canoe and head towards the nearby confluence of the mighty Madre de Dios River. We travel about 30 minutes down river to the landing stage where we disembark. We will walk about 3km (2 miles), stopping to watch birds and butterflies, before reaching another pier where we take boats to the lodge. We navigate the flooded forest of palm trees that leads to Lake Sandoval. The crew will row the boats across to the lodge as engines are prohibited on the lake. Along the way look out for the huge paiche (an Amazonian fish that can weigh up to 100Kg/220lbs) and the giant otter. After arrival at the lodge and a brief rest, we set out by boat to explore the eastern end of the lake, hopefully encountering hundreds of blue-and-yellow and red-breasted macaws as they return to the palm forest for the night. From the boats we should get some great views of the wildlife. We return to the lodge at dusk for dinner. After dinner we take the boat out again, in search of caiman. These can grow up to 4m long. They are now extremely rare in the Amazon but are still common in this protected lake. On clear nights we travel further by boat for a view of the vast southern sky, unobstructed, with its magnificent views of constellations and the Milky Way.

 

Just before dawn we will go out on the lake for what is often a spectacular sunrise; and hope for an encounter with the giant otters who active at this time of day. Most of the birds that inhabit the lake are also very active. Later we will walk the trail through the understory of primary rainforest that surrounds the lake. We will see the great Chestnut trees that abound here. After lunch we rest for an hour and then explore the west side of the lake where we will have chances to observe different species of monkey. Before dinner there is a video presentation on the Peruvian Jungle. After dinner those who would like will have the opportunity to go caiman spotting on the lake.

After breakfast we make a final paddle through palm swamps on the west end of the lake. On the clearer mornings a glorious sunrise and its reflection can be seen in the lake. We return to the Madre de Dios River and head towards Puerto Maldonado airport. From here we fly back to Lima for our last night.

We have free time in Lima, before transferring to Lima airport and flying direct overnight to London.

We arrive back in the Uk.