Peru & Bolivia - In the footsteps of the Incas

With the Belmond Andean Explorer train ride between Puno and Cuzco!

 

Machu Picchu landscape format 1 2000

 

15 days from € 3.399 pp

 

Our new tour concept provides the possibility to choose the hotels in three variants:

Economy: *** Casa Andina Hotels and comparable standard, see on the Internet at https://www.casa-andina.com/

Comfort: **** / ***** Casa Andina Private Selection Hotels and comparable standard, see on the Internet at https://www.casa-andina.com/private-collection-cusco/

Deluxe: ***** Like comfort only with Hotel Monasterio in Cusco, which is located in a former monastery,
see below https://www.monasteriohotel.com/web/ocus/hotel_monasterio.jsp

 

as well as the Hotel Sancturay Lodge, which is exclusively located directly next to the ruins of Machu Picchu, see below https://www.sanctuarylodgehotel.com/web/omac/machu_picchu.jsp

 

Note:

The overnight stay right next to the ruins of Machu Picchu is only possible in the deluxe class, as the Sanctuary Lodge costs a very high price due to its exclusive location, see price button deluxe! In the economy and comfort class version, the overnight stay is in Aguas Calientes, ie in the valley of Machu Picchu.

Description

Day 2 New Peru trip Low

Day 1

Arrival in Lima

Welcome to Peru!

On arrival you will be picked up by your German-speaking driver guide, who will accompany you to your *** Hotel Casa Andina.

In the hotel you can relax from your journey or you can already explore Lima's streets.

Lima is the capital of Peru and by far the largest city in the country. Each district has its own history and charms.

Just a few years after it was founded, Lima developed into the most important metropolis of the Spanish colonies in America.

The many houses from the colonial era - city palaces, churches in Renaissance and Baroque styles, universities, elegant villas - show you that the city was once one of the richest in the world.

The city offers an interesting mix of modernity and tradition. (- / - / -)

 

 

Lima Plaza De Armas Plaza

Day 2

Lima city tour

After breakfast, your great trip through Peru begins with a half-day city tour in a van.

You will discover the colonial and modern districts of Lima with your German-speaking tour guide to get an impression of the huge city.

In the old town you can admire the beautiful colonial architecture around the Plaza Mayor.

Particularly worth seeing are the cathedral, the town hall and the archbishop's palace on the Plaza Mayor. Your sightseeing tour will also take you to the beautiful Miraflores district with its numerous restaurants, shops, parks and gardens.

You will then be taken to the bus station and take the public bus from Lima to Paracas.

Once there, a German-speaking driver guide awaits you and takes you to the *** Hotel Paracas. (F / - / -)

 

 

Day 3 New trip to Peru

Day 3

Islas Ballestas and drive to Nazca

In the morning you undertake a two-hour trip to the Islas Ballestas archipelago in a small boat in an international group with a German-speaking tour guide.

Sweet fur seals, dozing seals, cormorants, boobies and pelicans await you.

After circumnavigating the beautiful island, it goes back to the mainland. In the afternoon you will be brought back to the bus station and take the public bus to Nazca.

Once there, a German-speaking transfer driver will take you to the *** Hotel Nasca, where you will spend the night. (F / - / -)

 

 

Day 4 new Peru trip Nazca1 low

Day 4

Nazca Lines / Arequipa

This morning you will dive into the mysterious world of the scribble pictures of Nazca on a flight, whose origin is still puzzled today (arranged overflight of the Nasca by propeller plane included, international small group, attention: depending on the weather!).

The pictures show images up to 100 m long on a huge area, which cannot be seen from the ground due to their enormous size.

Afterwards, an excursion to Chauchila to the impressive Inca cemetery with countless mummy tombs of the Nazca culture is on the program with a local German-speaking tour guide, before you are brought to the bus station by a German-speaking transfer driver and the public bus (from 6 participants private vehicle, otherwise transfer in international group on the bus) to Arequipa.

Once there, a driver will take you to your Arequipa hotel. (F / - / -)

 

Day 4 new Peru travel Nasca2

 

Day-5-new-travel-to-Peru-Arequipa

Day 5

Arequipa city tour

After a delicious breakfast, take a tour with a local German-speaking tour guide through the colonial center of the city, which is embedded between ice giants, and visit the cathedral, the San Camillo market and the Santa Catalina monastery.

A visit to the Santa Catalina Monastery, built in the second half of the 16th century, is one of the most impressive experiences that the Arequipa region has to offer.

The monastery, which has only been open to the public since 1970, is an independent city in miniature size, in which up to 400 nuns once lived. During the time of the viceroyalty, the architecturally impressive monastery functioned almost independently of the outside world.

After the informative city tour, the afternoon is free and you have enough time to explore the small town on your own.

As in the previous night, you will spend the night at the Hotel Arequipa. (F / - / -)

 Day 6 New Peru travel Arequipa low

 arequipa volcano low

 

 

Spa and Springs at Colca Lodge low

Day 6

Colca Canyon

After breakfast, you will go on an exciting journey across the Altiplano to Chivay in a private vehicle with your German-speaking tour guide.

After you have checked in at the accommodation, the Colca Lodge and unloaded your luggage, you take a short hike to adjust the altitude to Calera, where you have the opportunity to take a relaxing bath in the hot thermal springs (admission not included). (B / L / D) Lunch and dinner (each menu) included!

 

 

Teaser Peru

Day 7

Cruz del Condor / Puno

This morning you set off for Cruz del Condor, a lookout point on the edge of the spectacular Colca Canyon, from where you can see a dozen condors rise from the depths of the canyon when the thermals are good.

After this spectacular natural spectacle, a Spanish-speaking driver will bring you to the *** Hotel Casa Andina in Puno in a private vehicle (from 6 participants private vehicle with a German-speaking guide throughout), where you will spend the night. (F / M / -)

 

 Day 7 new Peru trip Colca Canyon low

 

 

Day 19 new Peru trip Isla del Sol low

Day 8

Puno-Isla del Sol (Sun Island)

After breakfast you travel in a private vehicle with your German-speaking tour guide to the Bolivian side of Lake Titicaca, to Copacabana.

You will get to know this small but beautiful place better in a short tour. You can also enjoy a romantic boat trip across the deep blue Lake Titicaca to Isla del Sol.

Here you stay in the fantastically located *** Ecolodge La Estancia and have dinner there (included). (FA)

 

 

 

Day 9 new Peru trip Uro Islands low

Day 9

Isla del Sol & Reed Island, return to Puno

Today is the very interesting excursion to the famous floating island of the Uros, a small community that has lived on this reed island for decades.

Centuries ago, the small Uros tribe discovered the island as a way to seal themselves off and protect themselves from rival tribes like the Collas and Inca.

In the late afternoon return to Puno, where you will be brought to the *** Hotel Casa Andina in Puno, where you will spend the next night. (F / - / -)

 

 


 

 

 

Train ride Puno Cuzco At La Raya Pass

Day 10

With the Andeanexplorer train from Puno to Cusco (2 days / 1 night program)!

This morning you will be taken to the train station.

You will travel to Cusco on the Andean Express, a luxury train in the style of the 20s.

The journey over one of the highest railway lines in the world is a unique experience: Among other things, you will pass the La Raya train station at an altitude of approx. 4.630 meters. 

From April 2017 there will be a new train program "Belmond Andean Explorer" with an overnight stay on board the train and an extended 2 day / 1 night program between Puno and Cuzco! Accommodation in cabin with bunk beds (better cabin possible for an extra charge!), Own washroom / toilet, 5,5 square meter cabin. F / - / -

 Train ride Puno Cuzco Train interior shot

stepmap map frobeen adventure travel train journey to cuzco 1218164 1 low

Puno (3.828 m) Km 0
Juliaca Km 109
La Raya (4.630 m) Km 210
Urcos Km 331
Cuzco (3.300 m) Km 390 

 

 

 

 


 

 

nice picture of houses in Cuzco low

Day 11

Arrival by train in Cuzco, afternoon tour of Cuzco city

During the day arrival of the Belmond Andean Explorer train in Cuzco and transfer to the hotel in Cuzco.

In the afternoon there is a tour through the old capital of the Inca. After the defeat of the Inca Empire and its conquest in 1533, the native population was humiliated by the Spaniards. All Inca buildings, especially the sanctuaries, were largely demolished and replaced by colonial buildings, especially churches. An attempt was made to convince the Indians through even more pomp and show that the Spaniards possessed the more important religion.

Overnight at the hotel in Cuzco. (F / - / -)

 Cuzco Very nice masonry picture

 

Moray

Day 12

Maras & Moray

In the morning you start with a local German-speaking tour guide (from 6 participants continuously German-speaking guide!) Into the fantastically beautiful Urubambatal, the sacred valley of the Inca.

You will get to know two special Inca sites in the Sacred Valley near Cusco:

Moray, an agricultural test facility from Inca times, as well as the Salineras of Maras, on the mountain slopes of which salt has been mined in the original way for centuries.

The scenic backdrop is spectacular on this excursion - several 6000-meter peaks with their snow-capped peaks soar into the blue Andean sky.

You will spend the night again in the *** Hotel Casa Andina in Cuzco. (F / - / -)

 

 

View from train Peru low

Day 13

Sacred Valley of the Incas

With a German-speaking tour guide and one, we go to the Sacred Valley in the morning.

You will make the first stop in Pisac, where you will visit the local market, which is especially famous for its large selection of handicrafts.

Then it goes along the Urubamba River, towards Ollanta. On the way, have lunch in a nice restaurant (optional).

Ollantaytambo is the last place in the Sacred Valley that is accessible by car. From there you only have to take the train to Aguas Calientes and Machu Picchu.

The small village at 2800m, whose structure dates back to the Inca period, also houses a beautiful Inca site, which is particularly impressive due to its terraces.

In the afternoon you will be transferred to the train station and board the train to Aguas Calientes.

You stay overnight in the *** Hotel Inti Inn in Aguas Calientes. (F / - / -)

 110228 aguas calientes peru machu pichu low

 

 

Machu Picchu

Day 14

Machu Picchu

Today a bus takes you on a steep and winding path with impressive views up to Machu Picchu, the world-famous "City in the Clouds" and the most important Inca place of work.

Once in Machu Picchu, a local, German-speaking cultural guide will lead you to the archaeological zone of this unique Inca city and you will be shown the most important sectors of Machu Picchu. 

 

 

 

 

Day 14 Second image MachuPichu

The attraction that emanates from this place is based, among other things, on its exceptional location, high between the peaks of the Andes.

The city had been forgotten for over four centuries until it was rediscovered by Hiram Bingham in 1911 in search of the last Inca city, Vilcabamba.

Why did the Inca build this city in such an inaccessible place, on the edge of the Amazon region?

There are several theories about this.

One says that Machu Picchu was built as a strategic and nearly impregnable fortress to more easily subdue the peoples who lived in the area.

Another theory suggested that Machu Picchu is identical to the last Inca refuge, Vilcabamba.

In the meantime, however, one is of the opinion that this cannot be the case. However, significantly more female than male skeletons have been found in Machu Picchu, which is why some scientists believe that an Aclla Huasi, a "house of the chosen women", was located here.

In recent studies, it is said that this place was a cult center associated with astronomical observations. In Machu Picchu in particular, the skill of the Inca architects is evident in adapting their settlements to the topographical conditions. There are around 200 buildings, which are arranged on spacious, parallel terraces around a large central square.

Presumably, one area of ​​the city was the residential area, while the other was used for religious and ceremonial purposes.

 

Day 17 New Peru trip Third picture Machu Picchu

To the west, in the ceremonial area, there is also "El Torreón", a massive round tower that probably served as an observatory.

There you will also find the main temple, the temple of the three windows, the temple of the sun and the famous Intihuatana.

The residential areas are narrow and long and therefore make optimal use of the space on the terraces. There are streets, stairs, small squares, and a remarkable water supply system. Here, too, you can find the typical Inca architecture: trapezoidal windows, niches and pegs in the walls.

In the afternoon you go back down to Aguas Calientes and take the train back to Cuzco (Poroy), where you will be brought to your famous *** Hotel Casa Andina in Cuzco. (F / - / -)

 

 

 

Peru Day10

Day 15

Departure

After breakfast, a driver will take you to the airport and you will take a flight to Lima, where your international flight is already waiting for you.

 

 

 

Follow-up program, e.g. Manú National Park jungle program, can be booked. Information on request!

 

 

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