The City of the Gods 14D/13N

Trip Description

Accomodation

Stay program

• day 1

  LIMA / INTERNATIONAL ARRIVAL

  .Arrival in Lima, at Jorge Chavez International Airport, welcome by our local driver and transfer to the accommodation* of our selection. *Room available from 1:00 pm. (In the case of an early morning arrival, the previous night must be booked) .Meals at leisure. .Night at the accommodation of our selection.

• day 2

  LIMA – AREQUIPA / DISCOVERY OF THE WHITE CITY

  .Breakfast. .Transfer to Lima airport and check-in formalities for a scheduled flight to the white city of Arequipa. .Arrival in Arequipa, welcome by our French-speaking local guide and transfer to our selected accommodation. .Lunch in a local restaurant. .2 p.m.: Visit of the white city located at the foot of the imposing Misti volcano, which rises to 5825 m. We begin our tour at the San Camilo Market. The discovery of this covered market, whose structure was designed by Gustave Eiffel, is a special moment. In a setting reminiscent of a gigantic bazaar with organized chaos, you can find almost everything, from multicolored fruit stalls to countless varieties of potatoes. .Walk towards the city center and visit the Church of the Company. This complex consists of several buildings constructed by the Jesuits, both for religious purposes and as housing, and it forms a monument representative of the religious architecture typical of the 17th century (1660). Visit the temple of San Ignacio with its murals illustrating tropical fauna and flora. .Passing by the Plaza de Armas where we will appreciate the Cathedral of Our Lady, then we will visit the Monastery of Saint Catherine. It is an impressive architectural monument of the city that represents a miniature city, in which Carmelite sisters from Arequipa lived for more than 400 years. Return to the accommodation. .Free dinner.

• day 3

  AREQUIPA – PAMPA CAÑAHUAS RESERVE – ANDES VIEWPOINT – CHIVAY

  .Breakfast. .Contact with our French-speaking local guide. .8 o'clock: Route of the South American Camelids. Departure by private transport through the north of the white city to the Pampas Cañahuas reserve. At this place, located at more than 3,900 meters altitude, we will appreciate many wild vicuñas in their natural habitat. Brief stop to observe these animals, then we continue our journey towards the Colca Valley. Along the Andean trails, alpacas and llamas accompany the shepherds' walk, with an admirable grace that nothing disturbs. .Stop at the Andes Mirador, a spectacular site on our way located at 4,910 meters altitude (100 meters higher than Mont Blanc), then descent to the village of Chivay. .Lunch in a local restaurant. .Check-in at our selected accommodation to drop off our luggage before heading to the Calera hot springs, located 4 kilometers from the village, for a relaxing break. The volcanic water emerges at over 80°C, but is tempered to 38°C in the final pool. Return to the accommodation. .Free dinner.

• day 4

  COLCA CANYON / CONDOR CROSS – CHIVAY – AREQUIPA

  .Breakfast. .Contact with our French-speaking local guide. .6:30 am: Discovery of the Colca canyon. Transfer to the Cruz del Condor where we will observe, if weather conditions permit, the majestic flight of the condor, a symbolic bird of the Andean mountains. Return to Chivay and stop on the way at several natural viewpoints as well as the villages of Maca and Yanque. .Lunch in a local restaurant. .Return towards Arequipa. We will pass again by the Mirador of the Andes at the Patapampa pass, the highest point of the journey at over 4910 meters altitude, then through the Pampas Cañahuas reserve, a protected area that is home to many wild vicuñas. .Arrival in Arequipa and check-in at our selected accommodation. .Free dinner.

• day 5

  AREQUIPA – CUSCO / VISIT OF THE SACRED CITY

  .Breakfast. .Transfer to Arequipa airport and check-in formalities for a regular flight to the sacred city of Cusco. .Arrival in Cusco, welcome by our French-speaking local guide and transfer to our selected accommodation to drop off our luggage. (Room available from 1:00 pm) .We will set off to discover the old San Blas district and the typical Cusco streets before heading to the Plaza de Armas, where we can admire the cathedral and the Church of the Society of Jesus. .Lunch in a local restaurant. .Visit of the 4 ruins. Transfer to the site of Tambomachay. Also nicknamed the "Bath of the Inca", Tambomachay has two still-functioning fountains and several niches that may have served as shelters for the Inca's guards. .Next, we will visit the ruins of Puka Pukara, which are believed to be a military construction that was part of the defense system of Cuzco under the Inca empire. .A little further down, we will discover Q’enqo. This monument is often described as an amphitheater, having a semi-circular construction. In fact, the purpose of this construction, which could have been used as an altar, tribunal, or tomb, is unknown. It is presumed to have been one of the most important sanctuaries that existed during the Inca era. .We will finish with a site of great importance for the Incas: the Inca fortress of Sacsayhuaman. Originally built for defensive purposes between the 15th and 16th centuries, the fortress is located at an altitude of 3,700 m. It has the shape of a puma's head, a sacred animal in the Inca tradition. Return to our accommodation. .Free dinner.

• day 6

  CUSCO – PISAC RUINS & MARKET – OLLANTAYTAMBO – AGUAS CALIENTES

  .Breakfast. .Contact with our French-speaking local guide. .8 a.m.: Discovery of the Sacred Valley of the Incas. We will head towards Pisac, a village with many highly fertile circular agricultural terraces, stretching up the mountainside. Perched on a hill, the Pisac archaeological complex is certainly one of the most beautiful sites in the Sacred Valley. Former royal residence of the Inca Pachacutec, it features two different zones. - The residential area, made up of rustic buildings, was intended for farmers, - The ceremonial area was intended for the nobility. .In the upper part of the complex is the Intihuatana, the sacred stone where Inca priests worshipped the sun and which also served as an astronomical observatory. After visiting the archaeological site, we will head to the Pisac Andean market, the largest craft market in the region. .Lunch in a local restaurant. .Transfer towards the village of Ollantaytambo where we will visit the archaeological site that the Spanish conquerors called "La fortaleza" (the fortress). .16:36: Departure aboard Inca Rail train no. 45 to reach Aguas Calientes. .18:09: Arrival at Aguas Calientes, welcome by the accommodation staff and check-in at our selected accommodation. .Free dinner.

• day 7

  AGUAS CALIENTES – THE CITY OF THE GODS MACHU PICCHU – OLLANTAYTAMBO – YANAHUARA

  .Breakfast. .Contact with our French-speaking local guide. .Visit to one of the most beautiful wonders of the world, the city of the gods "Machu Picchu". .Depending on the time coordinated with our guide, we will take a shuttle from Aguas Calientes to the foot of the archaeological site* which we will visit to learn more about this citadel, its Inca people, and its culture. .*Optional: Ascent to Huayna Picchu or Machu Picchu mountain, subject to availability. (Cost of 25 USD / person) The citadel is divided into two sectors: .The agricultural sector is surrounded by a succession of terraces of different types and sizes. It houses 5 magnificent granaries called Colcas. .The urban sector, on the other hand, contains the main architectural elements of an Inca city. The city is U-shaped and, to the north, you can observe a large religious sector while to the south, you find the residential city. In this area, we will be able to see the Intiwatana, considered by many as the Incas' sundial. Given its location, it is thought to have been a sacrificial altar. .Lunch in a local restaurant. .Descent by shuttle to the village of Aguas Calientes. .16:12: Departure aboard Inca Rail train no. 64 to the village of Ollantaytambo. .17:50: Arrival in Ollantaytambo, welcome by our transporter then transfer to Yanahuara to our selected accommodation. .Free dinner.

• day 8

  YANAHUARA – MORAY – MARAS SALT MINES – CHINCHERO – CUSCO

  .Breakfast. .Contact with our French-speaking local guide. .8 o'clock: Discovery of the Sacred Valley of the Incas. Transfer to the Moray site. This site appears as a main amphitheater and two smaller, secondary ones nearby. They consist of several terraces arranged in concentric circles. In fact, it was an Inca agricultural research center where crop experiments were conducted. .Located a few minutes from Moray, we will visit the Maras salt mines, which are salt terraces with thousands of basins fed by two sources with a very high concentration of sodium chloride. .Transfer towards the village of Chinchero, an authentically indigenous village, specialized in the production of textiles and dyes. .Arrival in Cusco and check-in at our selected accommodation. .Lunch in a local restaurant. .Free afternoon. .Free dinner.

• day 9

  CUSCO / FREE DAY

  .Breakfast. .Free day to visit the city as we wish. .Lunch and dinner at your leisure. The city of the gods .Overnight at our selected accommodation. PS: You will have the full Cusco tourist ticket, which will allow you to access certain museums.

• day 10

  CUSCO – PUNO / TITICACA TRAIN

  Breakfast. 6:30 am: Andean Titicaca Train. Transfer to the Cusco station where we will board the Andean Explorer train departing at 7:30 am for the highland city of Puno. (Unaccompanied journey) To the rhythm of traditional music and in a unique setting, you will enjoy the landscapes of the Andean highlands and pass through the Raya Pass, the highest point of the route at 4,335 meters above sea level. Lunch on board the train. Arrival in Cusco, welcome by our local French-speaking guide and transfer to our selected accommodation. Dinner at leisure. PS: This line is only served on Sundays, Wednesdays, and Fridays.

• day 11

  LAKE TITICACA / UROS ISLANDS – AMANTANI ISLAND

  .Breakfast. .Contact with our French-speaking local guide. .7:45 am: Discovery of Lake Titicaca. Transfer to the main port of Puno where we will board a shared boat that will first take us to the Uros islands. .These islands, which number 100, have existed for hundreds of years. The Uros fish, hunt birds, and live off lake plants, especially totora reeds which they use for their boats, their houses, and even in the very foundations of their islands. .After the visit, we will board our boat again towards the beautiful and serene Amantani, located after the Capachica peninsula. Ten associations of inhabitants are present on the island. We will be welcomed by a family who will immerse us in their daily life. .Lunch with the locals. .Depending on our physical condition, we can take a beautiful hike to one of the two summits of the island (Pachatata or Pachamama), a place where we can enjoy extraordinary views and contemplate a magnificent sunset. .Dinner with the locals. The city of the gods .Night at our selected accommodation.

• day 12

  LAKE TITICACA / AMANTANI ISLAND – TAQUILE ISLAND – PUNO

  .Breakfast. .Contact with our French-speaking local guide. .8 a.m.: Discovery of Lake Titicaca. We will board our boat, then sail towards Taquile Island. This island has preserved many pre-Inca remains, as well as Inca ruins and terraces. We will take a hike on an easy path that will lead us to the Plaza de Armas. There, we can enjoy a community shop with typical clothing and a magnificent view of the Royal Cordillera of Bolivia. .Lunch in a community restaurant. .We will descend a little more than 526 steps to the main port of the island, where we will board our boat again to the port of Puno. .Arrival at the port and transfer to our selected accommodation. .Free dinner.

• day 13

  PUNO – SILLUSTANI – JULIACA – LIMA

  .Breakfast. .Contact with our French-speaking local guide. .Return to Lima. Transfer towards Juliaca and visit en route to the archaeological site of Sillustani. This is a funerary site made up of tower-shaped tombs, called "Chullpas." These were built by the Colla people, Aymaras who were conquered by the Incas in the 15th century. They contain the remains of several individuals, certainly grouped by family (up to 10 individuals) and accompanied by offerings. .After the visit, we will continue our journey to Juliaca airport. Arrival and check-in formalities for a regular flight to the city of Lima. .Lunch at leisure. .Arrival in Lima, welcome by our local driver and transfer to our selected accommodation. .Dinner at leisure.

• day 14

  LIMA / INTERNATIONAL RETURN

  Breakfast. Depending on the time of your international flight*, transfer to Lima International Airport and connection with your flight. *Room available until 11 a.m., according to the accommodation policy. Lunch and dinner at your leisure. End of the City of the Gods tour!