Tour: "Beautiful South Peru"

Duration: 15 days
Tourcode: ACT-Z05
Places of interest: Lima, Paracas, Ballestas Islands, Nazca Lines, Arequipa, Colca Canyon, Titicaca Lake, Cuzco, Macchu Picchu

Description: during this tour you will see all the major places of interest that the southern part of Peru has to offer. The route is excellent for getting used to the altitudes in the mountains of Peru.

Itinerary.

Day 1: LIMA
Pick up upon arrival and overnight located in Miraflores.

Day 2: LIMA CITY TOUR (B)
City tour in Lima including a guided visit to the Cathedral, the Main Square and the San Francisco Catacombs, overnight in Lima.

Day 3: PARACAS (B)
Early in the morning transfer to the bus station, at 7:30 am you will take the Royal Class bus to Pisco. Upon arrival transfer to the hotel, then excursion to Paracas. Paracas is one of the best marine reserves, with the highest concentration of marine birds. In the afternoon return to the hotel and overnight.

Day 4: BALLESTAS & NAZCA LINES (B)
At 7:15 a motorboat excursion to the Ballestas islands starts. These islands are spectacular, eroded into numerous arches and caves, which provide shelter for thousands of seabirds and sealions. At the end transfer to Nazca where we will admire the famous Nazca lines. The lines, that represent some sort of vast astronomical pre-Inca calendar, are best seen from the air. We will take a half hour flight above the Lines, afterwards you'll visit to the Chauchilla cemetery, where skulls, mummies and pottery shards litter the desert. Overnight bus to Arequipa and transfer to the hotel.

Day 5: AREQUIPA (B)
In the afternoon, you'll take the Arequipa half day city tour that includes the visit at the Santa Catalina monastery. This monastery is by far the most remarkable sight, opened in 1970 after 4 centuries of mistery. You will spend the night in Arequipa.

Day 6: COLCA CANYON (B)
At 8:00 you leave Arequipa towards the Colca Canyon. During the ride you will see vicuñas, alpacas & lamas, some birds like flamingoes, ibises, andean geese, ducks and andean eagles. We will visit the viewing point of the volcanoes in Patapampa (4.800 m.a.s.l.). After arrival in Chivay there is an optional visit to local thermal springs (entrance fee not included in the tour). Overnight in Chivay.

Day 7: COLCA CANYON (B)
Early morning after breakfast you leave for a full day excursion in the left shore. You will see beautiful typical towns and hundreds of pre-Inca terraces still in use with andean growings like corn, quinua, kiwicha etc. At the lookout of the "Cross of the Condor" you can enjoy the depth of the canyon and we will see the flight of the mighty condor. After lunch you return to your hotel in Arequipa.

Day 8: PUNO (B)
Transfer to the bus terminal to take the bus to Puno. Transfer to the hotel. In the afternoon visit at the Sillustani Chullpas (pre-Colombian funeral towers). Overnight in Puno.

Day 9: UROS AND TAQUILE ISLANDS (B)
You will be picked up from your hotel at 7:30 a.m., to visit the Uros islands in the Titicaca lake. After this you will visit the Taquile island, where we will have lunch. There is also a cooperative shop on the plaza that sells exceptional wool goods. We will return to the hotel in Puno in the afternoon.

Day 10: PUNO - CUZCO (B,L)
Departure by bus to Cuzco, during the ride we visit Inca ruins, the remains of the Viracocha temple and the steaming volcanic pools at La Raya. Overnight in Cusco.

Day 11: CUZCO CITY TOUR (B)
Morning free. In the afternoon a city tour visiting  the major sites of historical interest in Cuzco and  the nearby ruins, such as the famous Inca fortress at Sacsahuaman, and the Sun temple. Overnight in Cuzco.

Day 12: SACRED VALLEY TOUR (B)
Full day excursion to the Urubamba Valley visiting the village of Pisac. In the afternoon you'll visit the fortress of Ollantaytambo, an architectural complex which was a gigantic agricultural, administrative, social, religious and military complex. Also you will visit the Chincero market. Return to Cuzco and overnight.

Day 13: MACHU PICCHU (B)
At 5:45 a.m. you will be picked up from the hotel. At 09:40 a.m. you will arrive by train at the Aguas Calientes Station, from where you will take a short bus ride to the Machu Picchu ruins. Once there, you will take a guided tour. Overnight in Aguas Calientes.
 
DAY 14: AGUAS CALIENTES (B)
Morning at leisure in Aguas Calientes to continue visiting the area and Machu Picchu (bus ticket and entrance fees not included for this day). In the afternoon you will travel back to Cuzco and overnight.

Day 15: TRANSFER TO LIMA (B)
Transfer to the airport where you will take the flight back to Lima.

End of service.