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Peru

When travelling in Peru, no two days are the same. Every time we travel to a new location, the climate, culture, people, landscapes and surroundings change completely, making this trip a kaleidescope of contrasts. We see high plateaus, massive volcanoes, jungles and desert. We hike to Machu Picchu, take a boat out onto Lake Titicaca, visit old Spanish towns, and explore the Amazon jungle. Peru is a destination that has so much to offer, there literally is never a dull moment – come with us and discover its fascinating history, great scenery, fantastic food and lovely people!

Date & Duration:	17th-31st May 2011 - 15 days
Cost:	£2,900 / NZ$5,900 / US$4,300 / AUS$5,100 - What's included?
Arrival & Departure points:	Lima/Lima
Group size:	min 5, max 10
Accommodation:	Hotels, eco lodge
Meals not included:	4 lunches, 2 dinners
Adventures:	day hike to Machu Picchu, Amazon jungle stay

Peru Tour Highlights

• Exploring the Amazon jungle and staying overnight in an eco lodge
• Visiting the beautiful old Spanish colonial towns of Arequipa and Cusco
• Day hike to Machu Picchu and visit of these amazing old Inca ruins
• Exploring the markets/shops of Cusco and Arequipa and buying beautiful Alpacan clothes or rugs!
• Sampling delicious Peruvian food and cocktails
• Learning about the old Inca culture, and the Quechua culture of today
• Taking a boat ride out onto Lake Titicaca and visiting the Uros people on the Floating Islands
• Spending the night in the Sacred Valley, learning about shamanism and taking part in a blessing ceremony

Peru Itinerary

Day 1 - Lima

Welcome to Peru! Today is arrival day – you will be picked up from the airport and transferred to the hotel. You have a free afternoon to recuperate after your flight, maybe go for a stroll along the coast. We will have dinner together tonight to get to know our group.

Meals - D

Day 2/3 - Lima to Iquitos/Amazon Jungle

Today we fly to the jungle city of Iquitos. Situated in the heart of the Amazon jungle, Iquitos is a city of 370,000 inhabitants which is only accessible by boat up the Amazon river, or air – no roads lead here. Upon arrival in Iquitos we take a journey by river boat up the stunning Amazon river to our lovely jungle eco-lodge, where we spend the next two nights in the Amazon jungle.

Whilst in the jungle we partake in a variety of unusual jungle activities which may include the following: guided day/night walks to spot jungle creatures (sloths, monkeys, birds, tarantulas etc), fishing for piranha, swimming in the Amazon, looking for Amazon dolphins, night boat rides.

Meals - B,L,D

Day 4 - Iquitos

Today we return from the lodge and our jungle adventures, back to bustling and fascinating Iquitos. You have some free time after your jungle escapade to relax, to explore the streets with their colonial buildings, or to soak in Iquitos unique atmosphere from a streetside café.

Meals - both B,D

Day 5 – Iquitos to Lima

This morning we pay a visit to a butterfly farm near Iquitos. The farm is run by an Austrian lady passionate about the survival of Amazonian butterflies. She keeps and breeds an amazing array of beautiful butterflies, but the farm is also home to some unusual orphaned characters who you may meet – amongst them are an anteater, sloths, tapir, English monkey, manatee and a croc! Later on we fly back to Lima for the night.

Meals - B,L,D

Day 6/7 – Lima to Arequipa

Peru is huge, which is why we need to fly! Our next flight takes us to the old Spanish colonial town of Arequipa, which is set at 2,325m above sea level in a stunning desertous landscape, with a backdrop of 3 massive volcanoes of over 6000m! Arequipa itself is a lively city, with a beautiful, palm-treed central square the Plaza des Armas, surrounded by wonderful old colonial buildings.

During our stay here we visit two interesting museums. The first is the convent of Santa Catalina built in 1580, and founded by a rich widow. The tradition of the time indicated that the second son or daughter of a family would enter religious service, and the convent accepted only women from high-class Spanish families. Each nun at Santa Catalina had between one and four servants or slaves, and the nuns invited musicians to perform in the convent, gave parties and generally lived a lavish lifestyle.

The second museum is the Museo Sanctuario Andinos. This museum showcases the body of a young girl named Juanita, the Ice Maiden of Mount Ampato. The interesting story of Juanita and her preservation allowed researchers to gain an insight into the Inca culture.

Juanita was just 13 when she died from a blow to her head, as a victim of ritual sacrifice of Inca priests. Found beside the girl are several ceremonial offerings. Juanita laid buried in the snow for about 550 years and was discovered in 1995 when the Sabancaya Volcano erupted, melting the ice on the peak of the volcano. Juanita is now displayed in a glass freezer chamber in the museum.

You will also have time over the next couple of days to check out the interesting shops, and take in the atmosphere on the streets, with one free afternoon and evening.

Meals day 6 - B,L,D, Day 7 - B

Day 8 – Arequipa to Puno

Today we have an early breakfast before departing for Puno, situated on the infamous Lake Titicaca set at around 4000m above sea level! We take an afternoon visit out to the Islas Flotantes, or Floating Islands. These are manmade islands made of matted reeds, and were developed by the Uros people to escape persecution on the mainland – everything on the islands is made of reeds, including the houses, beds . . . everything! Quite incredible to behold! Meals: B,L,D

Meals - B,L,D

Day 9 – Puno to Cusco

Yet another major highlight, our next stop is the amazing old Inca city of Cusco, situated at 3400m. Cusco is the historic capital of the Inca Empire and was declared a World Heritage Site in 1983 by UNESCO. Here you will see lots of colourfully dressed Quechua women, shops stuffed with wonderful Alpaca clothing, incredible old Inca ruins, and beautiful Spanish colonial architecture. In the afternoon we take a city tour to learn about this fascinating old city.

Meals - B,L,D

Day 10 – Cusco to Machu Picchu/Agua Calientes

This morning we take the bus to Ollantaytambo in the Sacred Valley and then take the train to KM 104, where we begin our hike to Machu Picchu. Arriving at Machu Picchu will take your breath away – finally you get to see these amazing old Inca ruins up close! Machu Picchu is set amongst bush and mountains, and the old Inca settlement still stands proud and very much intact. We spend the night in nearby Agua Calientes, and time permitting, go for a swim at the hot pools here.

Meals - B,L,D

Day 11 – Agua Calientes to Ollantaytambo

Today we head to the quaint old Inca town of Ollantaytambo – you will have time to shop at the local Quechua market, stroll around the cobbled streets, enjoy lunch at your choice of local café, and if you like you can also visit the local Inca ruins.

Meals - B,D

Day 12 – Ollantaytambo to Urubamba (Yanahuara)

Today is a very special day spent at a peaceful retreat in Yanahuara, also in the Sacred Valley. Here we meet with some local shamans (traditional healers) and partake in two ancient ceremonies. Shamanism is an intrinsic and interesting part of Peruvian culture. In the first ceremony the shamans will do a coca leaf reading for each of us, forecasting relevant information about our futures.

The second ceremony is an offering to Pacha Mama (Mother Earth), the most important deity in the Quechua culture and many others cultures as well. On completion of this short ceremony you will be protected by Pacha Mama and blessed by the shaman.

OPTIONAL: There is also the opportunity to take part in an Ayahuasca ceremony. This is an intense healing and cleansing ceremony (more information on request). The shamans use it as way of unraveling the self, and it is supposed to be able to cure anything, from physical illness (like cancer) to psychological pain (depression) – or put simply, it is a good way to clean up any baggage, big or small, in your life.

We stay the night in the larger town of Urubamba.

Meals - B,L,D

13 – Urubamba to Cusco

This morning we visit the interesting local Sunday market of Chinchero, where colourful little Quechua ladies in big ruffled skirts, long braids and funny hats sell beautiful handmade clothes and rugs made from Alpaca. Great shopping, but you have to use your bargaining skills! Once we are finished here we transfer to Cusco. You have a free evening to choose from one of the many great restaurants here. And not forgetting to try an infamous Pisco Sour cocktail, of course!

Meals - B,L

Day 14 - Cusco to Lima

This morning there is time for last-minute shopping in Cusco before we take an afternoon flight to Lima for our final night together at a local restaurant, where we will try the Peruvian fish dish of Ceviche.

Meals - B,D

Day 15 - Lima

Sadly it is time to leave this amazing country so rich in history, culture, different peoples, changing landscapes and great food. Hasta la vista Peru!

Join us on:
17th-31st May 2011, 15 days, Cost: £2,900 / NZ$5,900 / US$4,300 / AUS$5,100 - What's included?

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