Best of Peru
19 Days/18 Nights

Day 1: LIMA / TRUJILLO Transfers to Lima airport. Upon arrival in Trujillo transfer to Hotel .Overnight accommodations  A
Day 2: TRUJILLO Tour of the city and its colonial district. See the Plaza de Armas and the Cathedral. Visit the Casinelli Museum which houses unique samples of pre-Inca pottery found excavated in the area. Proceed to Huanchaco beach for lunch. Afternoon visit to the citadel of Chan-Chan, ancient capital of the Chimu Empire (13th Century) and the largest adobe city in the world. Overnight accommodations . AB/L
Day 3: TRUJILLO/CHICLAYO/LIMA Drive to Chiclayo . Visit the Pruning archaeological Museum for an introduction to the history of the Lambaste Area. Lunch at a country-side restaurant. Visit the impressive necropolis of Huaca Rajada, including the Tombs of the "Lord of Sipan" (5th Century) and the "Old Lord of Sipan" (3rd  Century). Transfer to the Chiclayo airport. Upon arrival in Lima , transfer to Hotel. Overnight accommodations. B/A/AB/L
Day 4: LIMA/AREQUIPA Transfer to airport, Upon arrival in Arequipa, transfer to hotel. Tour the quaint " White City ", including the Santa Catalina Convert, Plaza de Armas, La Compañía cloisters and the districts of Yanahuara and Chilina, with a magnificent view of the Misti Volcano. Overnight accommodations.  A/AB
Day 5: AREQUIPA / COLCA VALLEY Drive to Colca Valley , passing through Pampa Canahuas at the Aguada Blanca National Reserve, protected habitat for vicuñas (llama relatives with finer wool). The valley has beautiful Pre-Colombian terraces still farmed by native Collaguas. Box Lunch. Overnight accommodations  B/AB/L/D
Day 6: COLCA VALLEY/AREQUIPA Early departure to the "Condor's Cross" observation point, from where the great Andean bird may be spotted. Enjoy an impressive panorama of The Colca Canyon , deepest in the world. Early afternoon return to Arequipa . Overnight accommodations. B/CB/L
Day 7: AREQUIPA/PUNO Morning at leisure to enjoy the city and pleasant weather of Arequipa . Shopping for Alpaca (llama relative) clothing and textiles is highly recommended. Mid-day transfer to airport. Upon arrival in Puno, transfer to Hotel. Overnight accommodations A/AB
Day 8: PUNO/LAKE TITICACA Motor-boat ride on Lake Titicaca to the unique floating Islands of the Uros. This "Water Tribe" has relied for hundreds of years on the totora reed to build their villages, homes and boats. They also use it in their highly developed weaving techniques. Afternoon visit to the "Chullpas" of Sillustani, where the ancient Aymaras used to bury their high priest in cylinder-shaped tombs. Overnight accommodations  MB/BB
Day 9: PUNO/ CUZCO  Transfer to Puno train station. Embark on an unforgettable train journey to  Cuzco along the dramatic landscapes of the Andean highlands, spotted only by little villages and herds of llamas and alpacas. Evening arrival in  Cuzco , and transfer to Hotel. Overnight accommodations  T/BB
Day 10:  CUZCO Afternoon tour includes Plaza del Regocijo. Plaza de Armas, Cathedral, Santo Domingo Monastery -the legendary Koricancha- and the Old Town . Drive out of the city to visit the Inca sites of Tambomachay, Kenko, Puca-Pucara and the impressive fortress of Sacsayhuaman overlooking  Cuzco . Overnight accommodations  BB
Day 11:  CUZCO At leisure to explore this most magical city, capital of the Inca Empire (15th Century). Colonial churches and mansions built on the original Inca foundations. Beautiful plazas. Artisans workshops in the San Blas District where you can appreciate the local craftsmanship with precious metals, wool, wood and stone. Overnight accommodations BB
Day 12:  CUZCO/URUBAMBA VALLEY Drive to the "Sacred Valley of Incas ". Visit Ollantaytambo, the Inca fortress and walk through the quaint streets of the nearby town. Lunch featuring Andean dishes. Then a drive through the valley and an opportunity to bargain with vendors at the typical market in Pisac. Overnight accommodations B/BB/L
Day 13: URUBAMBA VALLEY/MACHU PICCHU Transfer to Ollanta train station. Railcoach service to Machu Picchu . "The Lost City of the Incas". Guided tour of the marvelous citadel, visiting the main plaza, the royal quarters, the Temple of Three Windows, the circular tower and the sacred Sun Dial and burial grounds. Overnight accommodations  T/BB/L
Day 14: MACHU PICCHU/ CUZCO Early rise is suggested to admire Machu-Picchu at sunrise, a truly mystical experience. For the hiking enthusiast, going up the Huayna Picchu peak overlooking the site or walking on the original Inca trail is highly recommended. Afternoon rail coach service to  Cuzco.  Overnight accommodations   T/BB
Day 15:  CUZCO/PUERTO MALDONADO/TAMBOPATA Transfer to  Cuzco airport. Upon arrival in Puerto Maldonado, transfer to the pier and motor-launch to the selected jungle lodge in the Tambopata Candamo Reserved Zone. This area of the Amazon Rainforest in one of the most biologically diverse on the planet. Enjoy it! Sandoval Lake Lodge or Posada Amazonas Lodge. A/MB/BB/L/D
Day 16: TAMBOPATA Early morning and late afternoon/evening explorations to admire the rich flora and fauna, including: over 20,000 plants species, over 900 species of birds, 91 mammals, 1230 butterflies, 127 amphibians and reptiles, the Giant Otter and the Black Caiman, and 6 species of monkeys. Sandoval Lake Lodge or Posada Amazonas Lodge. MB/CB/L/D
Day 17: TAMBOPATA / PUERTO MALDONADO / LIMA / ICA Motor-launch from the Lodge in Tambopata to the pier in Puerto Maldonado and transfer to the airport. Upon arrival in Lima , transfer to the bus station for motor coach service to Ica . Wine and Pisco Capital of Peru . Overnight accommodations  MB/A/B/CB
Day 18: ICA / PARACAS / NASCA Drive to the Paracas Wildlife Reserve for boat ride to the Ballestas Islands , inhabited. by boodies, pelicans, sea lions and penguins. Afternoon 45-minute flight seeing over the mysterious Nasca Markings (between 3rd  and 6th Centuries) and visit to the Ica Archaeological Museum. Overnight accommodations  MB/A/B/CB
Day 19: ICA / LIMA Morning at leisure to relax by the pool and enjoy the grounds of the oasis resort. Mid-day return to Lima by motor coach and transfer from bus station to airport or hotel. B/CB