Peru: From Lima to Lake Titicaca

Welcome to Peru, one of the treasures of South America. Travel through this intriguing land visiting some of the world’s most legendary sites, including Machu Picchu, the "Lost City of the Incas." Arrive late this evening in Lima, the "City of Kings." Due to arrival times, there are no scheduled activities today.
Hotel Name: Hilton Garden Inn Miraflores

Discover Lima’s fascinating history during a colonial tour through the historic city center, a UNESCO World Heritage site. Admire the artwork at San Francisco Monastery and enter the catacombs. View the elegant Cathedral at Plaza de Armas and visit the Casa de Aliaga – former house of the conquistador Jeronimo de Aliaga y Ramirez – where the energy of colonial and republican Lima comes to life. Enjoy some free time this afternoon to discover Lima on your own. Get to know your fellow travelers at a welcome dinner featuring artfully crafted Peruvian dishes.

Breakfast Included
Dinner Included

Visit Area: Pisac Market
Pisac is a small town in the Sacred Valley, known for its markets held several days per week. Villagers from the area come here to barter and sell their wares, varying from foods to woven goods to ceramics. There are also many handicraft shops near the market. Bargaining is possible with the vendors and it is a great place to see an authentic market. The symbol of the market used to be a huge spreading pisonary tree in the main square, but it was struck by lightning in 2003 and destroyed.

Fly to Cuzco, in the heart of the Inca civilization. Journey through the Andes to the majestic Sacred Valley of the Incas, the agricultural center of their grand empire. While en route to your hotel, explore different towns in the valley, each a representation of the region’s unique culture. After a short lesson on the local language, stop in Pisac village to browse the colorful handicraft market. Settle into your hotel nestled in the heart of the Sacred Valley.

Breakfast Included
Hotel Name: Casa Andina Premium Sacred Valley

Visit Area: Ollantaytambo Ruins
Ollantaytambo was the royal estate of an Inca ruler in the 15th century and is still inhabited today. During the Spanish conquest, it was an Incan stronghold, partly defended by steep terraces below the main Temple Hill site. These terraces were also used to farm the steep hillside. Most of the ruins on the Temple Hill are incomplete, so it is believed that the site was still under construction by the Incas when it was abandoned, possibly due to a conflict among Incan groups. Ollantaytambo is the starting point for the Inca Trail hike.

This morning, visit the spectacular Ollantaytambo ruins, the only Incan settlement that has been continually inhabited since its inception. A uniquely terraced complex topped with carved stone panels, these ruins reflect ancient Incan architecture and heritage. Then, head to the Pablo Seminario Ceramic Studio where you’ll get first-hand knowledge of this internationally renowned artist's techniques and designs, inspired by ancient Peruvian cultures. Deep dive into the cultures of modern Andean people and experience an Impact Moment as you mingle with a nearby community. Thanks to their effort and teamwork, tourism has become an additional income to agriculture which has positively impacted their quality of life. You’ll get a true taste of their daily life when participating in small group workshops that teach you traditional methods of growing, harvesting and weaving. Celebrate their culture as you learn their dances and listen to their musical instruments before enjoying a home-hosted farm-to-table lunch featuring local specialties.

Breakfast Included
Lunch Included

Admittance: Pablo Seminario Ceramic Studio
This is a ceramics workshop and studio in the Urumbamba Valley opened by artist Pablo Seminario who has studied ancient Peruvian pottery techniques for almost 30 years. His current works are combinations of traditional and modern styles, and he has pieces displayed in the Field Museum in Chicago. He makes pieces that range from utilitarian, such as bowls and plates, to decorative, such as Peruvian masks and jewelry pieces.

Prepare for an early morning departure as you climb aboard your train to Machu Picchu for breathtaking views through panoramic windows as you ride through the Andes to the “Lost City of the Incas.” Hidden by mountains and semi-tropical jungle, Machu Picchu is considered the most spectacular sight in South America. Spend the afternoon with your guide uncovering the mysteries of these majestic ruins. Tonight, stay at the base of Machu Picchu for a chance to further soak up its atmosphere. Enjoy an exclusive culinary demonstration and learn how to craft the perfect ceviche and pisco sour before your dinner featuring a Peruvian menu.

Breakfast Included
Dinner Included
Hotel Name: Sumaq Machu Picchu Hotel

Admittance: Quechua Community Visit & Lunch

This morning, take advantage of free time and explore the local markets in Aguas Calientes on your own, or you may choose to visit Machu Picchu again this morning. Return to the Sacred Valley by train. Upon arriving in Cuzco this evening, take time to explore the captivating city at your leisure.

Breakfast Included
Hotel Name: Hilton Garden Inn

Admittance: Machu Picchu
This is an Inca ruin dating from the 15th century, located in the Andes in Peru above the Sacred Valley of the Incas. It was thought to have been built as an estate for an Inca ruler and was abandoned after only about 100 years when many inhabitants died from diseases such as smallpox brought by the Spaniards, and transmitted to the site by travelers. The site was discovered by Hiram Bingham, a lecturer at Yale, in 1911 and National Geographic Magazine devoted a whole edition to it in 1913. It is now Peru’s most visited tourist attraction, and numbers have to be carefully controlled to minimize negative impacts on the site by too many people.

Start your morning on a tour of Cuzco, visiting the San Pedro Market, the Koricancha temple, the central Plaza de Armas, and the Cuzco Cathedral. Later, it’s your choice! Travel above the city to discover the important sacred Incan ruins of Sacsayhuamán Fortress -OR- embark on a walking tour through the enchanting streets of Cuzco, going off the beaten path and uncovering the city's best-kept secrets. The rest of the afternoon is yours. This evening, dine at your leisure at a local restaurant featuring the local flavors of Cuzco.

Breakfast Included
Dinner Included

Visit Area: Koricancha Temple

Today, fly to Puno, hugging the shores of Lake Titicaca. Known as the birthplace of the Inca Empire, ancient legends say that life began here. Upon arrival, check into your lakeside hotel. Tonight, enjoy an evening at leisure.

Breakfast Included
Hotel Name: GHL Lago Titicaca

Visit Area: Uros Floating Islands
The Uros are a group of people who were in the region before the Incas, and they live on the lake on 42 floating islands they make from totora reeds, which grow in the shallows of the lake. The islands allowed the Uros people to defend themselves by simply moving them out of danger. Their houses are made of reeds, and some islands also have reed watchtowers. The Uros live as fishermen, catch shorebirds and ducks for meat and eggs, and also sell woven goods. Tourism has become a large part of their economy.

Spend today getting to know the locals. Enjoy a morning cruise to the floating islands of the Uros people of Lake Titicaca. Experience walking on the island’s spongy surface made from compacted beds of tortora reeds and meet the locals, learning about their history and lifestyle. Then, cruise to a local rustic village for a home-hosted meal and swap stories with Peruvian families before visiting the mystical Chullpas de Sillustani – an archaeological area boasting 13th-century funerary monuments.

Breakfast Included
Lunch Included

Admittance: Home-Hosted Lunches
A wonderfully unique way to immerse yourself into a culture. With home-hosted lunches, you are welcomed into a local family’s home for an intimate eating experience feature local cuisine and interaction unlike any other!

As your tour comes to a close, spend the morning relaxing on the shores of Lake Titicaca before flying to Lima. Upon arrival, head to the Larco Museum, a former mansion built on the site of a pre-Columbian temple. The museum offers a collection of over 3,000 years of ceramic, textile, and precious metal artifacts. After this incredible trip through history, your tour concludes with a farewell dinner on the grounds of the museum before departing for Lima’s airport and your connecting flight home.

Breakfast Included
Dinner Included

Admittance: Larco Museum
This privately owned museum in Lima, Peru is in an 18th-century royal building constructed on top of a 7th-century pyramid. It features exhibits of pre-Columbian history and artifacts, including a gallery of pre-Columbian erotic pottery. Rafael Larco Herrera began the collection in 1925 and his son Larco Hoyle created the museum itself. The museum has displays of gold and silver jewelry, ceramics and galleries that depict the chronology of the native people and their conquerors.