Peru with Iguazu and Rio

Itinerary

Day 1 ( Arrival into Lima )

Arrival into Lima

Arrival into Lima international airport where you are met and taken by private transfer to your hotel. Evening at leisure.

INCLUDES : Breakfast

Day 2 ( Lima )

City Tour, Larco Museum & Barranco (Private Tour – 4 hours)

Explore Lima old town, a UNESCO World Heritage Site packed with fascinating historic buildings. Start with a scenic tour in the colonial downtown, start with the main plaza before continuing to the Cathedral, which started construction in the 16th century and took 80 years to build. Then visit the Casa Aliaga, a colonial mansion granted in 1535 by chief conquistador Francisco Pizarro to Jerónimo de Aliaga, one of his captains. This is the only house from that time that still belongs to the same family after all these centuries. Continue to the Larco Museum, which is housed in a beautifully restored viceregal mansion built on a seventh-century a pre-Columbian pyramid. The museum boasts the most complete pre-Hispanic collection of gold and silver artefacts, as well as pieces of erotic art. Finally, head to the "Love Park" in the upscale coastal district of Miraflores, where you can admire the cliffs and a spectacular view of the Pacific Ocean.

INCLUDES : Breakfast

Day 3 ( Lima - Cusco )

City Tour and archaeological sites (Private Tour – 4 hours)

Private transfer to the airport for your flight with LAN to Cusco. Once you arrive into Cusco you are meet and taken by private transfer to your new hotel.

Cusco is a colonial gem and one of the highlights of a trip. Cusco is located high in the Andes at 3,300m above sea level and it is important that you spend time adjusting to the altitude. Rest of the day at leisure.

INCLUDES : Breakfast

Day 4 ( Cuzco and Sacred Valley )

Chinchero, Maras & Moray (Private Tour – 6 hours)

You will start your tour visiting the Coricancha, also known as "The Temple of the Sun" which was built by the Inca Pachacutec and at the arrival of the Spaniards became the basis for the construction of the Santo Domingo Convent. Then visit the Cathedral, the most imposing monument in the Plaza de Armas. You will continue your tour to the fortress of Sacsayhuaman, one of the most emblematic buildings of the Incas built by the Inca Pachacutec in the fifteenth century. This is a huge fortress built with large stones whose transportation remains still a mystery. Continue to Quenqo, located 4 kilometers from the city of Cusco. Quenqo is an archaeological complex of mainly religious use where it is believed agricultural rituals were performed. Finally get to know Puka Pucara, located 7 kilometers from the city of Cusco.

INCLUDES : Breakfast

Day 5 ( Sacred Valley )

Sacred Valley

You will start your tour at Awanakancha, a farm of South American camelids and showroom of textiles, where local families show the entire traditional process of weaving and making garments. You will then visit the Pisac market, which has scores of stands that exhibit and sell products manufactured by the residents of the area. It is possible to find textiles, carvings and replicas of old Inca pieces. After having lunch at a local restaurant, you will go to the Ollantaytambo town, a typical example of the urban planning of the Incas, whose residents still live in accordance with their old traditions. Pachacútec (1438-1471) conquered the town, destroyed it and built a new one in the Inca style, to absorb it as part of his expanding empire. Ollantaytambo shows a huge archaeological complex that, considered one of the most monumental works of the Inca Empire.

INCLUDES : Breakfast, Lunch

Day 6 ( Sacred Valley and Machu Picchu )

Visit to the Sanctuary of Machu Picchu (Private Tour – 2 ½ hours)

You will be picked up from your hotel in the Sacred Valley and transferred to the Ollantaytambo train station. Your tour to Machu Picchu begins with a train ride to Aguas Calientes which takes around two hours. This town is also known as "Machu Picchu pueblo" and is the last stop before entering the remains of the most important archaeological site in Peru. Finally, after a short transfer by bus you will reach Machu Picchu, a masterpiece of engineering and architecture. Machu Picchu, which means "Old Mountain", is considered a World Heritage by the UNESCO and one of the new seven wonders of the world. Enjoy a guided tour of the ruins. Dinner is included at the hotel.

INCLUDES : Breakfast

Day 6 ( Sacred Valley and Machu Picchu )

Day 7 ( Machu Picchu and Cuzco )

Optional second visit to Machu Picchu

You will be picked up from your hotel in the Sacred Valley and transferred to the Ollantaytambo train station. Your tour to Machu Picchu begins with a train ride to Aguas Calientes which takes around two hours. This town is also known as "Machu Picchu pueblo" and is the last stop before entering the remains of the most important archaeological site in Peru. Finally, after a short transfer by bus you will reach Machu Picchu, a masterpiece of engineering and architecture that served as a sanctuary and retreat for the Inca Pachacutec (1438 - 1572). Machu Picchu, which means "Old Mountain", is considered a World Heritage by the UNESCO and one of the new seven wonders of the world. Enjoy a guided tour of the ruins. Lunch at Cafe Inkaterra

INCLUDES : Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 8 ( Cuzco )

Leisure

Free day for personal activities.

INCLUDES : Breakfast

Day 9 ( Cuzco - Lima - Iguazu

Flight from Cuzco to Lima and then onto Iguazu Falls

Private transfer to Cusco airport for your flight to Foz do Iguacu via Lima. On arrival you are met and taken by private transfer to your hotel. The Iguazu Falls are straddled on the border between Argentina and Brazil and stretch nearly 3kms with over 275 waterfalls.

INCLUDES : Breakfast

Day 10 ( Iguazu Falls )

Argentina Falls (NO GUIDE)

Free day to visit the Argentinean side of the falls.

The Argentinean side of falls can easily be explored independently and the park has a network of well marked trails to explore. A highlight is visiting the devils throat where you can experience the sheer power and force of the waterfalls close up.

Overnight at the Bourbon Cataratas. Standard room.

INCLUDES : Breakfast

Day 11 ( Flight to Rio )

Brazilian Falls Excursion (Regular Group– 3 Hours)

You are collected from your hotel before crossing the border into Brazil and continuing onto the Iguacu national park. Once inside the park you explore the boardwalks which lead along the side of the Iguazu River for nearly a kilometre. On this walk it is possible to see San Martin Island and some of the 275 different waterfalls including Bossetti and the three musketeers. At the end of the walk you reach an observation deck giving you a unique and close up view of the Devils throat. At the end of the tour you are taken to the nearby airport for your flight to Rio. Once you arrive in Rio you are met and taken to your hotel.

Overnight at Miramar by Windsor. Superior room.

INCLUDES : Breakfast

Day 12 ( Rio )

City Tour (Regular Group – 7 hours)

Today enjoy a full day tour of Rio de Janeiro by jeep. Your day starts with a visit to the Tijuca forest, the largest urban forest in the world before continuing onto one of the 7 wonders of the world – the Christ Redeemer. From here enjoy sweeping panoramas of the city and is a must see on a visit to Rio. After lunch continue by jeep to the Sugarloaf Mountain where you take two cable cars up to the top of the mountain for yet more beautiful views of Rio. The excursion finishes with a visit to Rio’s botanic garden.

INCLUDES : Breakfast

Day 13 ( Rio )

Leisure

Free day in Rio to relax at the end of your holiday.

INCLUDES : Breakfast

Day 14 ( Depart for UK )

Departure for the UK

Private transfer to the airport for your flight back to the UK.

If you are wanting to extend your time in Brazil then why not consider a beach extension to either Buzios or Paraty both of which are a few hours drive from Rio.

INCLUDES : Breakfast