Our oldest and most complete exploration of the cultures, archaeology, and mysteries of Peru and part of Bolivia. Visit Lima and Cuzco, spend the night at Machu Picchu, see Arequipa, Pisac and the Urubamba Valley, Puno, and Lake Titicaca. Optional excursions are available to Northern Peru and Paracas/Nazca.

Day 1: Arrive in Lima. You will be met at the airport and transfered to your hotel for overnight.

Day 2: Transfer to Lima Airport for the flight to Arequipa, then transfer to your hotel. Home to volcanoes and the Earth's deepest canyons Arequipa is Peru’s second largest city. It was founded in 1540 and is full of colonial churches and mansions, including Santa Catalina, a restored convent established in 1579 and now open to the public after being closed for 400 years, Arequipa is known as the White City because much of it is build of ashlar, the smooth white building stone carved from volcanic lava quarries. Three volcanoes dominate the skyline: Misti, Chachani and Pichu Pichu. North of Arequipa lies the spectacular Colca Valley, a picturesque andean valley dotted with towns founded in colonial times. The canyon is one of the deepest in the world and home of the majestic condor. Arequipa’s mild climate and altitude (2,300 meter above sea level – 7,500 ft.) make in the perfect place to acclimatize before continuing the trip to Cusco or Puno. In the afternoon, take a guided tour of the exquisite "White City", including a visit to Santa Catalina Convent, the Plaza de Armas, the Jesuit church of La Compania and its beautiful painted chapel, and the districts of Cayma and Yanahuara. (B)

Day 3: Early pick up from the hotel for a scenic bus ride passing between the Misti and Chachani volcanoes. On the way to the picturesque towns of Callalli and Sibayo, you will ride through a vicuņa reserve, and then continue via the hot springs of La Calera to a local lodge for overnight. (B)

Day 4: Full day exploring the marvels of Colca Canyon. Overnight in a local lodge. (B)

Day 5: Early departure to the "Condor Cross", the best vantage point to admire the Colca Canyon and the majestic condor in flight. On the way back to the lodge, you will visit the picturesque towns of Pinchollo, Achoma and Yanque. After lunch, return to your hotel in Arequipa visiting Patapampa and the "volcanoes lookout" on the way. (B)

Day 6: Transfer to the airport for your flight to Cuzco the Navel of the World. Upon arrival, transfer to your hotel. Four roads once led from Cuzco's main square to the four corners of the Inca empire that extended from what is today Ecuador and part of Colombia to northern Chile and Argentina, including all of Peru and Bolivia. Due to its position as the capital of the Inca dynasty, contemporary Cuzco, a city 3,300 meters above sea level (10,500 ft.) is a showcase of several different cultures: Pre-Inca, Inca, Colonial and republican. But Cuzco was more than just a capital city. The Inca's most sacred building in Cuzco, the Korikancha (Temple of the Sun), today forms part of the Spanish church of Santo Domingo. Ruins, temples, churches, and mansions make this a memorable destination, full of history and culture. A city with a splendid legacy, Cuzco's winding cobbled streets transport visitors through its rich and beautiful past. In the afternoon you will have a guided tour of Cuzco and its surrounding ruins. (B)

Day 7: Visit the colourful Indian market in Pisac to see a blend of colour, tradition and people. At a distance of 30 km. (19 miles) from Cuzco, and an altitude of 2,970 meters (9,700 ft.), Pisac is located right at the entrance to the Sacred Valley. After lunch, continue to Ollantaytambo, the oldest continuously occupied settlement in the Americas. Ollantaytambo's narrow streets, complete with canals unchanged since Inca times, recall its ancient heritage. Return to Cuzco for overnight. (B, L)

Day 8: Morning transfer to the train station for the scenic ride to Machu Picchu, the lost city of the Incas. The ruins are situated on the eastern slope of Machu Picchu in two different areas: the agricultural and the urban. The latter includes the civil sector (dwellings, canalizations), and the sacred sector (temples, mausoleums, squares, royal houses). Although constructions show different levels of architecture, religious buildings exhibit a high degree of perfection. From the peak of the Huayna Picchu, situated opposite Machu Picchu, there is a prodigious panoramic view of the imposing mass of ruins and the Urubamba valley. The breathtaking views from this mountain-top citadel and its well-preserved ruins are a photographer dream. You will have a guided tour of the ruins. Overnight in Augas Calientes. (B,L)

Day 9: Morning free to explore the ruins on your own, then return to Cuzco by train. Transfer to your hotel for overnight. (B)

Day 10: Leave Cuzco by bus for a day of stunning Andean scenery as you travel to Puno on the Shores of Lake Titicaca. Custodian of legends and treasures, perched at a breathtaking 3,800 meters (12,400 ft.) above sea level, Puno and the surrounding countryside are the cradle of the Aymara civilization and the legendary birthplace of the founders of the Inca empire. Puno lies on the shore of Lake Titicaca, the world’s highest navigable lake, from whose waters the Inca believed Manco Capac, their cultural founder, emerged. Many ethnic groups like the Uros still depend on the resources of the lake for their living. The Uros themselves dwell on the floating islands they build with the lake’s reed vegetation. Near Puno, overlooking Lake Umayo, are chullpas, or burial towers, that once served as the tombs of high-ranking Aymara Lords. Puno is famed as the folklore capital of Peru. Be sure to take in at least one of the innumerable folk festivals that punctuate Puno’s festival calendar. The Virgen de la Candelaria, held in February, its a three-day spectacle rich in traditional folklore. Overnight at your hotel. (B)

Day 11: Morning excursion on Lake Titicaca to the remarking floating reed island – built on layers of totora reeds – home to the Uros indians, who still live as their ancestors did a thousand years ago. Then on to Taquile Island. Three and a half hours by boat from Puno, this remote island is a remarkable community where Quechua, the language of the Incas, is kept alive by the islanders. Life has remained unchanged for centuries, and weavers still craft traditional textiles. Return to Puno for overnight. (B,L)

Day 12: Transfer to the airport for the flight to Lima. Founded by Spanish conqueror Francisco Pizarro, Lima is known as the City of Kings for its founding at Epiphany in 1535. For more than 300 years, Lima was the most important city and the greatest metropolis in South America. Vestiges of Lima's colonial heyday remain today in downtown Lima. Dozens of Lima's colonial churches are gems of Ibero-American architecture, such us San Francisco, founded in 1535, and La Merced, whose earliest construction pre-dates the founding of Lima. Modern Lima is a mix of architectural styles and beautiful gardens, especially Miraflores and San Isidro, popular commercial districts with excellent shops, art galleries and restaurants. Barranco, home to Lima's best known artists and writers, is filled with bars and night clubs. Remainder of day free in Lima. (B)

Day 13: Morning sightseeing tour of the best of colonial and modern Lima. Included are Lima's most imposing colonial churches and mansions such as the Government Palace, the Plaza Mayor, the City Hall and the Cathedral, including 17th century San Francisco Monastery. The tour ends with a visit to the modern suburbs of San Isidro, where a visit to the pre-Inca pyramid of Huaca Huallamarca (closed Mondays) and on-site museum is included before continuing to Miraflores, which overlooks the Pacific Ocean. After lunch at your hotel, visit the Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology. This small but well laid out museum offers one of the best overviews of ancient Peruvian archaeology. The museum houses the Raymondi Stone Slab, the Tello Obelisque, outstanding examples of Paracas and Nazca pottery, together with other major collections, which can be appreciated in chronological display. Return to your hotel for overnight. (B)

Day 14: After breakfast, transfer to the airport for your departure flight. (B)

Prices & Departures for 2004:

Available on request (min 2 people)	14D/13N
Per Person in Double, Cat A
Per Person in Single, Cat A
Per Person in Triple, Cat A
Per Person in Double, Cat B
Per Person in Single, Cat B
Per Person in Triple, Cat B
Category A Hotels	Category B Hotels
Lima	Lima
Swisshotel	Posada Miraflores
Arequipa	Arequipa
El Cabildo	Posada Arequipa
Cuzco	Cuzco
Novotel	Casa Andina Cuzco
Machu Picchu	Machu Picchu
Machu Picchu Pueblo Hotel	Hatuchay
Puno	Puno
Posada Puno	Eco Inn

(Subject to change)