Birthplace of the Incas

You will be met and transferred to your hotel.

This morning on your shared tour you will explore the historic heart of the city where the Presidential Palace and impressive colonial buildings surround the main square. Visit the wonderful Santo Domingo Convent which dates back almost to the time of the conquistadors, where you have the opportunity to explore the catacombs. After exploring the historical centre head towards modern Miraflores to make a stop at the Parque del Amor, from where you can take beautiful photographs of the Lima Bay area before returning to your hotel. The rest of the day is at leisure and we recommend you visit the excellent Larco Herrera Museum, which will provide you with an excellent insight into the Inca world you are about to visit.

Fly to Cuzco and transfer to your hotel situated in the old city not far from the main square. During Inca times Cuzco was the ‘capital of the world’ and the walls and foundations for many of the buildings are still of original Inca construction. We suggest you take things a little easy this afternoon adjusting to the altitude. Perhaps stroll to the beautiful Plaza de Armas and soak up the atmosphere of this wonderful city.

Enjoy a Cuzco sightseeing tour that includes a visit to the excellent local San Pedro market. Then you will be taken to see the most exquisite examples of Inca stonework found at Koricancha, in Inca times the Temple of the Sun. Cuzco’s Cathedral, full of priceless art treasures and beautiful altars of silver and precious stones, is one of the most important churches in all Latin America. Continue to the impressive Inca fortress of Sacsayhuaman situated on a hill overlooking the city. Here you can see enormous cut and shaped stones weighing up to 130 tons that fit together so neatly you cannot get a knife blade between them. Admire great views over Cuzco and learn about Inti Raymi, the ancient Inca Festival of the Sun that is held here every winter solstice.

Depart Cuzco on a shared tour and transfer to the beautiful Sacred valley of the Incas, situated some 600 metres lower than Cuzco. Here you will visit the very impressive ruins at Ollantaytambo. It was in this area that the last great battle between the Inca armies and the Spanish conquistadors took place in 1537. Lunch is included and you spend overnight in the Sacred Valley. NB: Your luggage will remain stored at your hotel in Cuzco and you travel with a smaller overnight bag to visit the Sacred Valley and Machu Picchu. It is not possible to take large suitcases on the train to Machu Picchu.

Take a scenic 90-minute train journey this morning to Machu Picchu and on arrival travel by bus with your guide to the ruins. Enjoy a superb buffet lunch at the Machu Picchu Sanctuary Lodge, located right at the entrance to the ruins, then take a guided tour of the ruins. Undiscovered until 1911, Machu Picchu more than justifies its title as one of the ‘New Seven Wonders of the World’. Learn about the history, architecture and lifestyle of the inhabitants as your guide takes you on a full circuit of the site. There will be some free time afterwards for photographs or quiet contemplation before returning to the nearby town of Aguas Calientes for dinner and your overnight stay.

There is time to revisit the ruins this morning (at additional cost) or wander the markets of Aguas Calientes. Later return by train and private vehicle to Cuzco.

Enjoy a full day scenic coach journey from Cuzco to Puno with a number of interesting stops included along the way and with lunch included. You will visit the town of Andahuaylas with its beautiful church, and later stop at the Inca site of Raqch’i, famous for a small market and impressively high Inca adobe walls and mysterious-looking store houses. The scenery changes throughout the day and late afternoon arrive into Puno, situated on the shores of Lake Titicaca.

Visit the floating Uros Islands on Lake Titicaca this morning and learn about the life of the people living there.

Early in the morning, transfer by coach from Puno to Copacabana, crossing the border between Peru and Bolivia along the way. Copacabana is the most important pilgrimage centre for Roman Catholics in Bolivia who come to pray in the Church of the Black Madonna. You will enjoy a guided visit to the Basilica before sailing to the Sun Island, the birthplace of the Inca Empire. On arrival in this legendary island visit the Inca garden which features the traditional food and medicinal crops grown by the Inca, then continue with to the Inti Wata Cultural Complex This attraction includes the Ekako Underground Museum showcasing archaeological treasures, the Titicaca reed boat shipbuilders display, a handicraft centre and a variety of Andean camelids. Later return to the catamaran to enjoy a buffet lunch on board as you sail back towards Copacabana, then continue with a scenic land transfer to Chua where you stay overnight on a comfortable catamaran. Enjoy dinner on board.

At dawn sail to the southern region of Lake Titicaca enjoying breakfast on board during the navigation. Visit indigenous people from to isolated Pariti Island where you are involved in an exclusive community tourism programme, sharing and learning about the daily lives of the people. If the weather is fine, admire stunning views of the impressive ‘Royal Chain of the Andes’ with many peaks soaring above 6,000 metres. In the afternoon travel across the altiplano by coach to the city of El Alto and finally to your hotel in the city of La Paz.

Enjoy a tour of this extraordinary city, visiting the Witches Market to see traditional medicines being sold by bowler-hatted Indian ladies. Take a ride on one of the famous cable-cars that criss-cross the city enjoying panoramic views. Then see the amazing lunar landscape in the Valley of the Moon before returning to your hotel and enjoying the rest of the day at leisure.