Lima • La Merced • Villa Rica • Satipo • La Merced • Lima • Cusco • Sacred Valley • Machu Picchu • Cusco • Lima

12D – 11N

	… / LIMA Welcome to Peru! Arrival at the Lima airport, assistance from one of our representatives at the airport. Then transfer to the hotel, located in the residential district of Miraflores. Hotel arrival and check – in (3:00 pm). Services: Overnight. (–) Height: Lima: 154 masl
	LIMA – LA MERCED Breakfast in the hotel. At 6:00 am departure to La Merced, 8:30 am breakfast in San Mateo restaurant “Chez Vitor”, 2:00 pm Lunch in the country estate of San Jose. Check in and accommodation, 4:00 pm visit the Cooperative Agraria Cafetalera Perene, where you will learn about the operation carried out by the Association. You will also be able to taste the different types of Coffee that the Cooperative collects and sells. 6:00 pm visit to Chanchamayo Highland Coffee, the company that works directly with 16 Associations of Coffee Producers, which includes 1,740 farmers that are registered in the Organic Certification Program for Fair Trade. They export 46 varieties of products which include coffee, cocoa, sacha inchi, banana chips, juices, jams, candied and dried fruits, and exotic liquors to France, Switzerland, Finland, Denmark, Italy, and the North – American market. 8:00 pm dinner in the estate of San Jose. Note: Seasons to make the Coffee Route. April to July (harvest season). August to March (season of pruning trees, flowering, maintenance of coffee plantations, maintenance of drying and processing plants. The establishments of the sale of coffee products can be visited year round. Services: Overnight. (B, L, D) Height: La Merced: 751 masl
	LA MERCED Breakfast in the hotel. At 9:00 am departure to the Cooperative Processing Plant Agraria Cafetalera Perene in Alto San Juan – Yurinaki, where you will be able to observe the collection, pulping, fermentation, and washing of the coffee, as well as hear an explanation of the whole process by a plant expert. 12:00 am Box Lunch 12:30 pm departure to the Community of Cerro Picaflor, where you will observe coffee plantations between 1,000 and 1,300 meters above sea level. 2:30 pm departure to the Cooperative Drying Plant Agraria Cafetalera Perene in Marankiari where you will observe the process of drying coffee beans in specialized machines. 5:15 pm visit to Green Gold Coffee, a handmade producer and seller of Coffee, where you will observe the different ways that this small family business presents coffee: candies, coffee flavored chocolate, coffee with ginger, liquors, and caramel spread. As well as the direct sale of roasted and ground coffee beans. 8:00 pm dinner. Services: Overnight. (B, L, D) Height: La Merced: 751 masl

LA MERCED – VILLA RICA – LA MERCED Breakfast in the hotel. 8:30 am departure to Villa Rica, visit to the native community of Yánesha Ñagazú. They are composed of approximately 90 families, some 450 inhabitants, who are dedicated mainly to coffee farming. They are currently working with the NGO Ecoselva and the export company Volcafe and Italian roaster Lavazza for their special line of coffee “Tierra” (Land), with the seal from the Rainforest Alliance Certification TM, which exports an average of 600 quintals of parchment coffee per year since 2005. 11:30 Visit to Villa Rica Highland, a private company composed of 10 partners, producers and exporters of high quality coffee who share a vision focused on increasing productivity, continually improving the quality as well as expanding markets. You will also visit the quality control laboratory and selection processing plant and the threshing of green gold coffee beans for export. 1:30 pm lunch in the estate of Santa Rosa. 2:30 pm visit the estate of Santa Rosa in Villa Rica, an old estate constructed in 1927 by the Austrian – German colonists, where you will see the traditional ways of cultivating coffee in the area. In addition, you will be able to appreciate the type of lifestyle that the first Austrian – German colonists enjoyed when they arrived to Villa Rica. 7:30 pm dinner. Services: Overnight. (B, L, D) Height: La Merced: 751 masl

LA MERCED – SATIPO – LA MERCED Breakfast in the hotel. At 6:30 am we will depart to the province of Satipo, and later to the district of San Martin de Pangoa, where we will visit the Agrarian Coffee Cooperative Pangoa, which was constituted on March 19th, 1978 as an organization that brought together small coffee and cocoa producers, whose objective is to improve the quality of life and the level of technology utilized by farmers, increase the production in an organized and disciplined manner in harmony with the environment, without causing imbalances. The Cooperative produces and sells arabic and criollo coffee to the most demanding markets in the world. They have a commitment with their partners; social development focused on gender. We will later visit the Native Community of Nomatsiguenga San Antonio de Sonomoro, who belong to the linguistic family of Arawak, who are located 35 kilometers to the southeast of the city of Satipo, in the district of Pangoa, and is composed of 58 families. This community is located at 691 masl. It is one of the most organized native communities in Peru, and they show visitors their diverse cultural expressions through typical songs and dances as well as their own activities within their community. At 1:00 pm we will have a typical lunch at Nomatsiguenga. In the afternoon, we will visit the cultivation of the Cocoa fields, where you will be able to observe the processes used for native Cocoa. The Community is represented by the Association of Artisan Chocolatiers of the Native Community of San Antonio de Sonomoro, and the Association of Agricultural Producers Nomatsiguengas de San Antonio de Sonomoro (Apanosan), who are endorsed by Fair Trade, and are suppliers of the Cocoa of the chocolate company Di Perugia. Dinner. Services: Overnight. (B, L, D) Height: Chiclayo: La Merced: 751 masl

LA MERCED – SAN JOSE ECOLOGICAL PARK – LA MERCED – LIMA Breakfast in the hotel. At 8:30am visit the Ecological Park San Jose where you will learn about the natural and cultural heritage of the Central Jungle, and at the end of the trip you will participate in the Re-forestation Program “Siembre un Arbol” (Plant a tree) in Chanchamayo and receive a Planting Certificate. 10:00 am departure to La Merced. 2:00 pm lunch in Chez Vitor. 7:00 pm arrival to Lima. Services: Overnight. (B, L) Height: Lima: 154 masl

LIMA – CUSCO – SACRED VALLEY Breakfast in the hotel. At the appropriate time, we will depart to the international airport Jorge Chavez to board the flight to the city of Cusco. Arrival, reception, and transfer to a hotel located in the Sacred Valley of the Incas. In route, we visit the town of Pisac, where we will observe a colorful local market and we will see how until today, the local people maintain their traditions of bartering food and other items, just how they did in the past. Buffet lunch in a local restaurant in the Sacred Valley. Later on, we will continue onto the town of Ollantaytambo, where we will visit the beautiful fortress that carries its same name. Here we will pass by the most important sectors of the complex, and our guide will give a detailed explanation of its history. Arrival to hotel. Services: Overnight. (B, L) Height: Sacred Valley: 2,800 masl

SACRED VALLEY – EL MANGAL LODGE Breakfast at the hotel. At 9:00 am depart to the Tourist lodge El Mangal, which covers an area of over 15 hectares and has a microclimate that favors the diversification of plants such as: coffee, cocoa, annatto, coca, mango, citrus fruits, passion fruit, pacae, yucca, and uncucha; in addition exotic fruits such as, sapodilla, star apple, cassava, carambola, guava, granada and other native plants from the area. Lunch in Lodge. In the afternoon, we will begin our tour of the Tourist lodge El Mangal to observe the different varieties of plants and fruits of organic coffee. We will explain from the point of plantation until the harvest of the fresh fruits (cherries) of the coffee, pulping of the fresh fruit and drying of the coffee beans, peeled, toasted and grounding of the organic coffee grains and enjoy the fragrance and natural aroma of the coffee. Later on, we will taste organic coffee in its natural flavor. Dinner. Services: Overnight. (B, L, D) Height: Quillabamba: 1,120 masl

EL MANGAL LODGE – HIDROELECTRIC – MACHU PICCHU Breakfast in the lodge. At an agreed upon time, we will depart to the station of Hidroelectric to take the train to the town of Aguas Calientes. Arrival and transfer to the hotel, check in. Remainder of the day will be free for shopping or visiting the main square, on your own. Dinner included in the hotel. Services: Overnight. (B, D) Height: Machu Picchu: 2,400 masl

MACHU PICCHU   – CUSCO Breakfast in the hotel. Depart to the bus station where we will board the buses that will take you up to the Historic Sanctuary of Machu Picchu. 10:00 will begin our tour by observing the tremendous landscape that surrounds the historical landmark. The tour is 2.5 hours, at which time we will descend back to the town of Aguas Calientes for lunch. At the scheduled time, we will depart to the train station to board the train to Ollantaytambo. Arrival and transfer to hotel in Cusco. Services: Overnight. (B) Height: Cusco: 3,395 masl

CUSCO Breakfast in the hotel. In the morning, a guided visit to the imperial city of Cusco, the Cathedral, and the Temple of the Sun (Coricancha). We will then visit Qengo (Ceremonial center and ritual where Incan sacrifices took place, Puca Pucara (Incan outpost), Tambomachay (Ceremonial Center of the worship of water), and the Fortress of Sacsayhuaman (place where the principle Incan festivals of Inti Raymi and Warachicuy take place). Rest of the afternoon free. At an agreed upon time, transfer to a touristic restaurant in Cusco to enjoy a farewell dinner show. Return to hotel. Services: Overnight. (B, D) Height: Cusco: 3,395 masl

CUSCO – LIMA / … Breakfast in the hotel. Morning free to visit the city or do shopping on your own. At the scheduled time, transfer to the Cusco airport to board the flight to the city of Lima. Arrival, reception, and international flight connection. Services: (B) Height: Lima: 154 masl

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Southern Peru intensive

15 D / 14 N

Visit the highlights of southern Peru in 15 days. Travel from the peruvian desert and coastline to the Peruvian highlands. Visit the city of the kings, fly over the mysterious Nasca lines and spot the andean condor in the Colca Canyon. Sail across Lake Titicaca, the highest navigable lake in the world and feel the mystery and history of the inca empire in Cusco, the Sacred Valley and world wonder Machu Picchu.

Itinerary

Day 1 – Welcome to Lima

Upon arrival into Lima Airport, our partner travel-team will welcome you and will transfer you to your hotel.

Day 2 – Lima City Tour

Today you have the morning at leisure to recover from your long journey to Peru. In the afternoon, your driver and tour guide will pick you up from your hotel to show you the best sites and attractions of the colonial and modern part of Lima. First we take you to the colonial part, to the Plaza de Armas, the cathedral, the San Fransisco Monastery and the famous catacombs. This monastery is a stunning 17th century example of Spanish Boraque and is listed a World Heritage. After we continue our tour walking through the colonial streets and the historical centre of Lima visiting the San Martin Plaza. After visiting the colonial part of Lima, we head to the modern part to the San Isidro and the Miraflores district. We will enter the Larco Museum and you will see the most extensive collection of pre-Columbian art in Peru, such as mummies, textiles work and gold and silver pieces. After 4 hours of touring the most important sites of Lima, we transfer you back to your hotel.

Day 3 – Lima to Huacachina

In the morning your driver will pick you up to transfer you to the bus station of Lima, where you will take a luxury bus to Ica. After a journey of approximately 4 hours, you will arrive at the desert city Ica. We will transfer you to Huacachina, just 5 kilometers away from Ica. You have the rest of the day at leisure you relax at the Huachachina Oasis with the palm-fringed lake and sand dunes. In the afternoon you can enjoy an optional tour of sand buggy-riding and sandboarding.

Day 4 – Ballestas Islands and to Nasca

In the morning, we pick you up from your hotel in Paracas to transfer you to the Paracas bay, where you enjoy a boat ride to the Ballestas Islands. These are an oasis of rocky islands just offshore Paracas bay and are home to a variety of marine animals, such as sea lions, penguins, pelicans and inca terms. After a boat journey of 2 hours, we arrive back at the Paracas bay. In the afternoon, we head to the Huachachina, an oasis with a palm-fringed lake and sand dunes just 5 km away from Ica. This oasis is an ideal spot for adventure travelers and you can enjoy an optional tour of sand buggy-riding and sand boarding.

Day 5 – Nasca Flight and Chauchilla Cemetery

In the morning we pick you up from your hotel to take you to Nasca Airport, where you will board your 30-minute flight over the mysterious Nasca lines. The Nasca lines remain one of world´s great mysterious; why, how and when the lines were constructed remains a mystery. During your flight, you will be able to see the most fascinating figures. After your flight, you can enjoy a typical lunch, before we take you to the Chauchilla cemetery, just 30 km south from Nasca. At this cemetery, you can witness mummies in their original graves, dating back to 1000a.Chr. At night, you will take your luxury overnight bus to Arequipa.

Day 6 – Arequipa Free Day

Today you have the day at leisure in Arequipa to catch up some sleep and to acclimatize to the altitude. There are plenty of things you can do in this peruvian white city. Make sure to drop by the Santa Catalina Monastery, one of Peru most fascinating religious buildings and to visit the Mirador Carmen Alto, to get an amazing view of the three big volcanoes surrounding Arequipa.

Day 7 – Colca Canyon Tour

Today we will pick you up from your hotel in Arequipa at 7am, to taken on a stunning 3.5 hours scenic journey to Chivay, the main town of the Colca Canyon. Along the way we will pass the National Park Salinas y Aguada Blanca and you might spot some American Camelids, such as vicuñas, alpacas and llamas, so make sure to have your camera ready. You will witness breathtaking landscapes as you drive, such as lakes, glaciers and magnificent volcanoes. Another stop will be at the highest point of the journey (4800 m) at the volcano viewpoint. We arrive at Chivay and we will enjoy a delicious lunch. The rest of the day you have at leisure; you can take a dip at the hot springs, enjoy a short walk around town or go for an alpaca steak.

Day 8 – Colca Canyon to Puno

After an early breakfast, your driver and guide will take you to the most spectacular place of the Colca Canyon, the viewpoint Cruz del Condor. At this viewpoint, the depth of the canyon is at 1200 meter and it is the best place to spot the majestic andean condor flying over the canyon. The condor is the biggest flying land bird on earth, with wingspans that can measure up to 3 meters. Once we have some good pictures of the condor, we return back to Chivay and along the way we will make some stops at typical small villages of the Colca Canyon. After a delicious buffet lunch in Chivay, you will take the luxury guided bus to Puno. Along the way you will make a few stops at interesting places, such as the stone forest and the Lagunillas lake to spot flamingos. Upon arrival into Puno, at the shore of Lake Titicaca, we transfer you to your hotel.

Day 9 – Lake Titicaca

In the morning, your driver and tour guide will pick you up from your hotel to take you to Lake Titicaca, the highest navigable lake in the world. You will travel via motor boat for approximately 20 minutes to the Uros Floating Islands. The native people of Uros live on floating islands; houses, boats and craft are made of the totora reeds that grow in Lake Titicaca. After visiting the floating islands, we will travel via the motor boat another 2 hours to Taquile island. Taquile is a tiny island and the local people still speak the Quechua language and are known for their fine hand woven textiles and clothing. The people of Taquile island´s unique culture, style of dress and lifestyle make for a memorable visit. You will enjoy a locally prepared lunch of delicious fresh trout, before we take a short hike around the island. In the afternoon we head back to Puno via motor boat across the lake. At approximately 5 pm, we arrive at Puno and we will transfer you back to your hotel.

Day 10 – Puno to Cusco

Today we will pick you up at your hotel to transfer you to the bus station for your guided bus tour to Cusco. Along the way you will make some stops at interesting and fascinating places. After 1,5 hour drive we arrive at Pukara, a small town famous for its pre-Inca ruins and pottery. You will notice that the Andean houses have two bulls on the rooftop as they bring good luck. The second stop we will make at the Raya Pass, the highest point of the trip (4300 m) and also the halfpoint between Cusco and Puno. We make a stop at Sicuani for a delicious buffet lunch of typical peruvian food, before we continue our travels to Racchi, to visit the Inca Temple of Wiracocha. Our last stop will be at the 17th century Andahuaylillas Church, with beautiful frescoes, a splendid doorway and a gilded main altar. Your arrival in Cusco will be at approximately 5pm, and your driver will be waiting to take you to your hotel.

Day 11 – Cusco City Tour

In the morning, your tour guide and driver will meet you at your hotel to take you to the most interesting sites and attractions of Cusco. First we take you up to the impressive ruins of Saqsayhuaman, which are a very important religious and ceremonial site for the incan culture. Here you have time to wander around and you will get impressed by the uniquely shaped stones. After, we will visit the main square of Cusco and the UNESCO world heritage cathedral with christian artifacts. Your tour will then take you to Qoricancha, the temple of the sun. This was the most important temple of the incas, dedicated to the Sun god, and it demonstrates the perfect construction technology of the inca´s. After your Cusco city tour, we transfer you back to your hotel and you will have the rest of the day at leisure.

Day 12 – Sacred Valley Tour and Train to Aguas Calientes

Your private tour guide and driver will pick you up from your hotel in Cusco or in the Sacred Valley, to take you to the most interesting places of the Sacred Valley of the incas. First we drive you Pisaq, where you can visit the large andean market and the inca ruins on top of the village. After a delicious lunch, we drive to the Inca village Ollantaytambo. You will feel that you will step back in time as Ollantaytambo has original Inca houses and you will witness unfinished Inca walls. You will visit the impressive Ollantaytambo ruins, temples and terraces. In Ollantaytambo you will depart the hour and a half train with spectacular sceneries to Aguas Calientes, the town below Machu Picchu.

Day 13 – Machu Picchu Tour 

After an early breakfast, your tour guide will meet you at your hotel to take you for your Machu Picchu tour. We will take the 20-minute bus to go up to the archeological site of Machu Picchu, or the adventurous can hike up all the way (approximately 2 hours). Your guide will show you around at this sacred inca site, you will learn about the history and you will visit the most important temples, the temple of the sun and the condor. After the guided tour, you have plenty of time to wander around on your own. In the afternoon, we return back to Aguas Calientes, where we will board the train to Ollantaytambo. Upon arrival at the Ollantaytambo train station, your driver will be waiting for you to transfer you to your hotel in Cusco.

Day 14 – Cusco Free Day

Today you have the day at leisure in Cusco. There are plenty of things you can do, such as climb up to the San Blas district, an artsy area above the central part of Cusco with small galleries, craft shops and restaurants. Visit the San Pedro local market, dedicated to sales of local fruits, vegetables, cheese, meats and artisanal goods or just relax on one of the benches at the Plaza de Armas.

Day 15 – Cusco to Lima

Today your driver will pick you up from your hotel to take you to Cusco Airport for your domestic flight to Lima. You will arrive in time for your connecting international flight. We truly hope you had a wonderful trip in Peru with our partner travel-team.

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Short trip to the south

7 D / 6 N

Discover the best of the Inca Empire on your active Peru vacation. Follow the ancient paths of the Incas to world wonder Machu Picchu with the famous Inca Trail. Feel the mystery and history of the ancient Inca times in the Inca Empire capital Cusco and the Sacred Valley of the Incas.

Itinerary

Day 1 – Welcome to Lima

Upon arrival into Lima Airport, our partner travel-team will welcome you and does your transfer you to your hotel.

Day 2 – Flight from Lima to Cusco and to Sacred Valley

Today your driver will pick you up from your hotel in Lima to transfer you to Lima Airport, where you catch your flight to the inca empire capital Cusco. Upon arrival into Cusco your expert tour guide will pick you up and will transfer you to the Sacred Valley of the incas, for one and a half hour. The Sacred Valley is a stretch of picturesque villages and famous Inca ruins spread across the gentle mountain slopes of Cusco. This area is located a lower elevation (2800 m) and will help you to acclimatize to the high altitude of the Cusco area. Along the way to the Sacred Valley we can make some nice stops for sightseeing and photographing. Upon arrival we transfer you to your hotel.

Day 3 – Sacred Valley Tour

Your private tour guide and driver will pick you up from your hotel in Cusco or in the Sacred Valley, to take you to the most interesting places of the Sacred Valley of the incas. First we drive you Pisaq, where you can visit the large andean market and the inca ruins on top of the village. After a delicious lunch, we drive to the inca village Ollantaytambo. You will feel that you will step back in time as Ollantaytambo has original inca houses and you will witness unfinished inca walls. You will visit the impressive Ollantaytambo ruins, temples and terraces. After a full day of touring the Sacred Valley of the incas, we will transfer you back to your hotel.

Day 4 – Inca Trail

Today you will follow the ancient paths of the Incas to the ruins of Machu Picchu. We will meet you at your hotel to take you for the most famous trekking of the world. We transfer you to the Ollantaytambo train station, where you depart your train to your Inca Trail starting point km 104. From here, you start hiking to the ruins of Chaccabamba and in the late afternoon we arrive at Inti Punku, also known as the Sun Gate and you will get a spectacular view of the entire site of Machu Picchu. You will have a short downhill walk to the ruins to catch a gleam of Machu Picchu and to get prepared for you completed guided tour for the day after. You will overnight in Aguas Calientes, the town below Machu Picchu.

Day 5 – Inca Trail and return to Cusco

After an early breakfast, your tour guide will meet you at your hotel to take you for your Machu Picchu tour. We will take the 20-minute bus to go up to the archeological site of Machu Picchu, or the adventurous can hike up all the way (approximately 2 hours). Your guide will show you around at this sacred inca site, you will learn about the history and you will visit the most important temples, the temple of the sun and the condor. After the guided tour, you have plenty of time to wander around on your own. In the afternoon, we return back to Aguas Calientes, where we will board the train to Ollantaytambo. Upon arrival at the Ollantaytambo train station, your driver will be waiting for you to transfer you to your hotel in Cusco.

Day 6 – Cusco City Tour

In the morning, your tour guide and driver will meet you at your hotel to take you to the most interesting sites and attractions of Cusco. First we take you up to the impressive ruins of Saqsayhuaman, which are a very important religious and ceremonial site for the incan culture. Here you have time to wander around and you will get impressed by the uniquely shaped stones. After, we will visit the main square of Cusco and the UNESCO world heritage cathedral with christian artifacts. Your tour will then take you to Qoricancha, the temple of the sun. This was the most important temple of the incas, dedicated to the sun god, and it demonstrates the perfect construction technology of the inca´s. After your Cusco city tour, we transfer you back to your hotel and you will have the rest of the day at leisure.

Day 7 – Flight Cusco to Lima

Today your driver will pick you up from your hotel to take you to Cusco Airport for your domestic flight to Lima. You will arrive in time for your connecting international flight. We truly hope you had a wonderful trip in Peru with our partner travel-team.

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We go to plan your personal trip

18 D / 17 N to 23 D / 22 N

A tour of the north of Peru planned according to your wishes for about 18 to 23 days. Longer will be possible too, but lower as 15 days the time for a roundtrip is too short.

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