Essential Peru - Inti Raymi Festival Departure

The travelling on the group flights and those who have booked a transfer
through Exodus will be met at the airport and transferred to our hotel in the
Miraflores district of Lima. Your leader may give a short welcome briefing
upon arrival to the hotel, or they may decide to wait until the following day
when everyone is feeling rested after a good night’s sleep.
*Hotel El Tambo 1 (or similar)*

Day 2

We set off very early this morning (around 5.30am) and drive south from Lima
until we reach the port of Paracas (4-5 hours' drive). The Ballestas Islands
lie a short distance off the coast here and are home to one of the highest
concentrations of seabirds in the world - we visit them by boat.

On the outward journey we pass the curious pre-Inca Candelabra geoglyph, a
huge (over 150m high) three-pronged trident shape etched into the sandy
hillside, the origin and purpose of which remains unknown (although there are
many theories). Upon reaching the islands we explore the caves and rock
archways by boat, and observe the Sealion and Fur seal colonies as well as
Humboldt penguins and an array of birds such as cormorants, pelicans,
tendrils, and Peruvian Blue-footed booby birds.

The boats are open-top motorised boats and are shared with other non-Exodus
clients (occasionally the sea is too rough and the boats can't operate). Take
heed of seabirds above - it is advisable to wear a hat! The boat trip lasts
around two hours.

Once back on dry land we drive for an hour or so to Ica, in the heart of
Peru's wine-growing region. At the Huacachina oasis just outside Ica there
are high sand dunes where we may have time to try 'sand-surfing' and ride in
dune buggies (optional). 

*Hotel Vila Jazmin *(or similar)

Day 3

We drive towards Nazca, stopping to visit the viewing platforms overlooking
the Nazca Lines. These are one of the world's great archaeological mysteries,
consisting of enormous drawings and patterns etched in the desert sand.

In the afternoon, for those who wish there is usually time to take a scenic
flight over the Nazca Lines (additional cost), weather permitting. Due to the
small planes used, this is not suitable for those with a fear of flying or
who suffer from travel sickness. Alternatively, your leader can help arrange
optional visits to the nearby burial grounds, Antonini Museum, or the
Planetarium.

*Casa Andina Hotel / Alegria *(or similar) 

Day 4

We turn inland from the coastal desert today, climbing high into the Andes on
today's long (9-10 hrs) but spectacular drive. Vicuñas (a smaller wild
relative of the llama) can be seen along this road, as this area is Peru's
largest vicuña reserve. This region has only recently become easily
accessible to tourists due to an upgrade of the Abancay/Chalhuanca road. The
altitude here can make physical exertion difficult (the highest point we
reach today is Negro Mayu, a high pass at approx. 4600m). It is recommended
to rest in the evening. We overnight a couple of hours before Abancay on the
road to Cuzco.

*Tampumayu Hotel *(or similar)

Day 5

We set off towards Cuzco this morning, stopping to visit the unique Inca
Saywiti stone and Tarawasi ruins. The glaciated summits of the Vilcabamba
Mountain range and the descent into the Apurimac River valley demonstrate the
dramatic contrasts of the Andes Mountains, and we should expect stunning
scenery throughout today's 7-8 hour drive.
It is recommended to take it easy upon arrival into Cuzco and to drink plenty
of water to allow your body time to acclimatise to the altitude (3400m).

*Casa Andina Koricancha (or similar)*

Day 6

To help acclimatise, we have a relaxed walking tour this morning to discover
its historic buildings and winding streets of Cuzco, one of South America's
most beautiful cities. The rest of the day has been left free for exploring
on your own. The Plaza de Armas is a fantastic spot for people watching, and
the Koricancha Sun Temple located in the Santo Domingo Church and monastery
is worth a visit. The Mercado San Pedro is the place to try some local
produce and there are many handicraft markets to shop for souvenirs such as
alpaca jumpers and scarves.

Outside the town are more Inca ruins, notably the fortress of Sacsayhuaman
where the Inca armies made their last stand against the Conquistadores. A
combined entrance fee (Tourist Ticket) for these sites and many others is
recommended - please see the Optional Excursions section below for prices.
Sightseeing excursions to places outside Cuzco, including the Sacred Valley
of the Incas, are also available. Please ask your tour leader.

*Hotel Casa Andina Koricancha* (or similar)

Day 7

The 'Festival of the Sun' is held in Cuzco on 24th June each year. During
this time Cuzco is filled with colourful processions and other festivities
include traditional dances and even animal sacrifice. In the morning we will
walk to Qoricancha Temple (The Sun Temple) to see the beginning of the most
important Andean religious festival in the country. Afterwards, we continue
on to the Plaza de Armas (main square) to witness the first offerings to the
sun while people from the four traditional Inca regions (Suyos) perform
ceremonial dances. Around mid-morning we make the short journey by bus to
Sacsayhuaman archaeological site, located on a hillside above Cuzco. The
atmosphere is particularly evocative here, amidst the Inca ruins, as we see
the most traditional Andean worship rituals in honour of Mother Earth. The
ceremony finishes in the mid-afternoon, after which we will return to our
hotel.

There can be quite a bit of waiting around for the festivities to kick off
today and you may want to buy a packed lunch to take with you - your leader
can help arrange this if you request it the night before. 

*Hotel Casa Andina Koricancha* (or similar)

Day 8

For most people, the highlight of the trip is the visit by train to the
greatest ruin in the world, the lost city of Machu Picchu. This is one of the
architectural and engineering marvels of the ancient world, in a mountain
setting of staggering immensity. The Spaniards never found it; the Incas left
no records of it, so Machu Picchu remains a great enigma, a city lost for
centuries in the jungle until it was rediscovered in 1911 by the American
historian Hiram Bingham.

We transfer to Ollantaytambo train station and catch a train to Aguas
Calientes (the town below Machu Picchu). The railway line follows a beautiful
route through the Urubamba River Valley. In the afternoon we take a short bus
ride up the winding road to Machu Picchu for a guided tour of the ruins. 

Having been trialled in 2017, new regulations for visiting Machu Picchu will
be fully enforced for 2018; you will be limited to a maximum of four hours
within the site and must be accompanied by a guide. There will also be three
set routes to follow around Machu Picchu; Exodus selects the most
comprehensive route. Please note that exploring the ruins involves a
reasonable amount of walking, including up and down steep and uneven stone
steps. 

Visiting in the afternoon tends to be quieter than the mornings and the mist
which shrouds the ruins at dawn has usually dispersed. 

*Inti Punku El Tambo *(or similar)

Day 9

A free morning to enjoy the buzz of this little town in the jungle below the
ruins. There are some hot springs nearby, however, they tend to suffer from
overcrowding and therefore poor water quality, so are not recommended.

Should you wish to visit Machu Picchu again this morning, your leader will
help you to purchase a second entrance ticket (subject to availability) which
will allow you a further four hours to explore the 'Lost City' - for the
second visit it is not mandatory to have a guide. At the time of writing a
morning ticket costs PEN152 (approx. US$47).

In the afternoon we board the train back to Ollantaytambo and then continue
by minibus to Cuzco, arriving in the late evening.

*Hotel Casa Andina Koricancha *(or similar)

Day 10

A final chance to enjoy the sights and shopping of this beautiful city. If
you fancy something more active then there is an array of optional activities
available from Cuzco that your leader can organise. These include
paddle-boarding on a lake, mountain biking, or a combination of via ferrata
and zip-lining in the Sacred Valley.

*Hotel Casa Andina Koricancha* (or similar)

Day 11

Today we travel for 8-10 hours along the Vilcanota River and onto the
altiplano, the high plains separating the Andes from the jungle. Although it
is quite a long drive, it is interesting and often spectacular. There are
scheduled stops at interesting sites to help break up the day and we will get
to appreciate the immensity of the Andean landscapes. This afternoon we
arrive at the shores of Lake Titicaca (3800m) and board a boat for our trip
to Amantani Island. Hiking around the island offers great views across the
lake, whilst the night spent with a local family offers fantastic cultural
insight into lives very different to our own. (A packed lunch is included
today).

*Amantani Island homestay *(Basic)

Day 12

We explore the island in the morning before boarding our boat for the
three-hour journey to Puno on the lakeshore. On the way, we visit the Titinos
Indians, who live on islands of floating reeds and, save for a few modest
concessions to the modern world, still live as their ancestors would have
done centuries ago. Most tours visit the Uros islands closer to the shore but
we visit the more isolated Titinos Islands for a more authentic experience.

*Casona Plaza Hotel *(or similar)

Day 13

Today we head off across the altiplano again. This time we cross to the
south-west, heading back towards the coast to the high Colca Canyon (5-6
hours' drive). En route we have opportunities to see vicuñas and possibly
flamingos before descending into what is considered to be the second deepest
canyon in the Americas (the deepest, the Cotahuasi Canyon, is also in Peru).
There is time in the evening for a visit to the hot springs near the main
town of Chivay (3635m) - a warming pleasure after the chill of Lake Titicaca.

*Hotel Pozo del Cielo *(or similar)

Day 14

An early start to view condors soaring on the morning drafts rising out of
the canyon. Extensive terraces, stunning colonial churches, and burial tombs
are viewed before we ascend out of the canyon and cross Patapampa Pass
(4910m) on our way to Arequipa, known as the 'White City' due to the pale
volcanic stone used to construct many of its colonial buildings.  The
picturesque city enjoys a year-round pleasant climate and is surrounded by
6000m volcanoes, including the near-perfect cone of El Misti.

*Ensueño Hotel or *Su Majestad Hotel* *(or similar) 

Day 15

In the morning we visit the huge and serene convent of Santa Catalina. Built
in 1580 and only opened to the outside world in the 1970s, it offers a rare
insight into the lives led by the nuns and has changed little through the
centuries. There are still around 20 nuns living in the northern corner of
the complex. In the afternoon or evening we fly to Lima where will transfer
to our hotel in Miraflores.

*Hotel El Tambo 1 *(or similar)

Day 16

There is time today for optional tours of Lima including visits to the Gold
Museum and tours of the historic downtown before we are transferred to the
airport in the afternoon for the overnight flight to London.

Day 17

The group flights arrive back into London this afternoon.
**