Highlights of Peru

This morning after breakfast, you will be transferred to Lima Airport in time for your flight to Arequipa.  Upon arrival, you will be picked up and taken to your hotel before setting off to explore this most beautiful city.  Get a birds-eye view of the city from Yanahuara Viewpoint before taking a tour around the Cathedral, Andean Sanctuaries Museum and the cultural hearts of San Francisco and Santo Domingo heartlands.

A lovely day to spend the morning exploring the stunning views which you get across the Colca Canyon and seeing 'Cruz del Condor', the flight of the Condors.  In the afternoon, spend at leisure or we can arrange exciting optional tours which include a visit to an Alpaca farm, trekking through the Uyo Uyo Ruins or exploring the active Sabancaya Volcano. 

Transfer to the shore of Lake Titicaca after breakfast to enjoy a motor boat cruise, alighting at a number of the islands in the lake. The first stop is at the unique Uros Islands. There are more than 40 of these floating islets, which are made entirely from totora reeds plucked from the lake. Meet the Aymara-speaking islanders, learn all about the making of the islands, their lifespan and upkeep while exploring these marvels of engineering made using only primitive materials and methods. Board the boat again to continue the voyage of discovery at timeless Taquile island, where the Quechua-speaking residents have maintained their ancient social system and earned a reputation for their fine hand-weaving technique. The island’s history is also as fascinating as its people, having been a penal colony during Spanish colonial times.

Morning to rest and relax in Cusco. In the afternoon, enjoy a guided tour of the charming city of Cusco. The tour starts with a visit to Santo Domingo Convent, a large Renaissance-baroque complex, which was built over the Inca Qoricancha temple. It was one of the most important temples dedicated to the worship of the sun and its foundations are still prominent at the base of the convent. Continue to the Plaza de Armas to visit the cathedral. It features an elaborate Renaissance façade and, like other important monuments in the city, was built over a demolished Inca temple. Head to the hills above Cusco to visit the remains of the fortress of Sacsayhuaman, whose imposing ramparts offer a stunning panoramic view of Cusco, the ruins of temple and amphitheatre of Qenqo, where it is believed the Incas practiced agricultural rituals. Finally, visit Puka Pukara (‘Red fortress’ in Quechua) an Inca military complex located on a prominent hill.

Today you will visit Chinchero, a small traditional village located on the way to Urubamba from Cusco. At Chinchero you will visit a traditional weaving workshop were you will be given a very interesting presentation on how the local artisans use natural products such as various plants, minerals and even insects, to obtain the varied selection of colours used to dye their textiles.

Additionally, only on Sundays, there will be some time to visit Chinchero Market.  

Later you will have the opportunity to visit Moray and the Maras Salt Mines which are built into the mountainous surrounds.