Itinerary

Day 1 Lima

Limais situated halfway alongPeru’s desert coastline, literally stuck between the desert and the deep blue sea. The valley was once dominated by hundreds of pre-Inca temples and palaces. Pizarro chose the palace of local chief Taurí Chusko as the site of the city’s inauguration on January 6, 1535, and thus beganLima’s colonial history, reflected in the opulent mansions with Moorish latticed wooden balconies that graceLima’s plazas. The main square, Plaza de Armas, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, complete with paths, gardens and an elegant bronze fountain. Surrounding the main plaza are the Cathedral, Archbishop’s Palace, the Town Hall and the impressive Palacio de Gobierno (GovernmentPalace). Cultural attractions aside, areas such as Barranco, Miraflores andSan Isidrohave much to offer the visitor in the way of shopping, restaurants and nightlife.

Upon arrival you will be met by our local representative who will help you locating your vehicle.

Includes airport transfer with private vehicle, professional driver and local representative.

With a prime spot in an exclusive area of Lima, not far from the capital city's commercial hub, the Miraflores Park Hotel is an exquisite hotel that has made its mark on Peruvian hospitality. The 82 suites are refined, with specialty linen and fixtures, all embodying a tasteful elegance valued by luxury travelers. It is hard to resist the hotel's restaurants and the medleys of international and local, authentic Peruvian flavors. Take a walk through this area of the city, which showcases historic avenues and modern successes of Lima. Let your daytime be filled with the hotel's leisure activities, such as tennis and swimming.

Overnight at Miraflores Park Plaza Hotel.

Day 2 Lima

Gateway for all international flights, Lima is located in the central coastal area, founded in 1535 by Francisco Pizarro. Today, with a population of over 8 million people, Lima is a bustling metropolis with a mix of colonial mansions and modern buildings, art galleries and baroque churches, restaurants, beautiful parks, bohemian bars and discotheques. Start your day with a sightseeing tour of Colonial and Modern Lima in the company of your private vehicle, driver and English speaking Guide, passing by outstanding monuments such as the Government Palace, the City Hall and the Cathedral (closed on Sundays) at the Plaza Mayor. Visit the 17th century San Francisco Convent. Take a short tour of the modern districts of San Isidro and Miraflores where there is a magnificent view of the Pacific Ocean. After lunch (included in tour) visit the Larco Herrera Museum- Since 1926 the world’s largest private collection of pre-Columbian art with a unique assortment of erotic pottery, genuine and rich jewels in gold, silver and semi-precious stones. The museum holds 45,000 pieces of ceramics plus genuine mummies and marvellous Paracas textiles.

Overnight at Miraflores Park Plaza Hotel.

Day 3 Puno

Puno is the center of Peruvian folklore and hosts some of the best festivals. Spaniards were lured to the region by the vast mineral wealth and the area is dotted with both colonial churches and pre-Columbian ruins. Lake Titicaca, the highest navigable lake in the world, is the home of the Uros people who have for centuries built their homes and boats out on the lake using Totora reeds. Around the lake can be found pre-AD 1000 remains from the Pucara and Tiahuanaco cultures.

Includes airport transfer with private vehicle, professional driver and local representative.

Fly from Lima to Juliaca. The flight duration is approximately 2.5 hour. Flight times are subject to change based on seasonality and availability.

Airport transfer with your private guide and vehicle, including a visit en route to the impressive Sillustani tombs. Sillustani sits on a small hilltop overlooking Lake Umayo. There are about 100 burial towers, demonstrating complex engineering challenges, more than other Incas constructions. The more important people were buried in the towers. Visit this unique site en route.

Enjoy time at leisure to explore at your own pace, or relax at your hotel.

Enjoy dinner at your hotel (included in the tour price).

Peering onto the banks of Lake Titicaca in Puno, the largest lake in South America, the Libertador welcomes guests to discover this region. Its 123 rooms provide delicious panoramic views of the lake and all its activity. Rooms are equipped with all the amenities of home plus all sorts of toiletries for convenience. Dine at Los Uros Restaurant, where one may sample Andean cuisine at its best. Take advantage of this opportunity to truly savor the talents of chefs using traditional ingredients and techniques. Make sure to learn about the unique Uros people that inhabit the manmade islands on these waters. Also take some time to loosen up in the Jacuzzi and sauna.

Overnight at Libertador Lago Titicaca.

Day 4 Puno

Enjoy a Full day shared tour to visit Uros and Taquile Island on a shared boat with a private English speaking guide. A Quechua speaking population developed an efficient and unique social system that continues to be passed from generation to generation in these parts. The islands are also famous for one of the world’s finest hand weaving techniques. Board a small boat and venture out onto the waters of Lake Titicaca. Visit one of the native Uros communities located on a man-made floating island in the lake. The Uros people live totally interwoven with the "Totora" reed which grows abundantly in the shallows of the lake. This way of life began over 500 years ago when the Uros built the islands in an effort to isolate themselves from the Coyas and the Incas. From here, continue onwards to visit Taquile. The community here lives in perfect harmony with the environment. The locals wear colorful traditional clothes which they make themselves and maintain a strong air of group individuality. Men always seem to be walking around the island knitting the woollen caps they wear. Women weave traditional clothes, which are among Peru's most beautiful. Enjoy a great lunch on Taquile and then return to Puno in the afternoon.

Enjoy dinner at your hotel (included in the tour price).

Overnight at Libertador Lago Titicaca.

Day 5 Cusco

Cuscowas the former capital of the Inca Empire (founded AD 1100). The city today is a fascinating mix of Inca and colonial Spanish architecture and was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1983. Almost every central street has remnants of Inca walls, arches and doorways that serve as the foundation for the colonial and modern buildings. Narrow alleys of whitewashed houses with sky-blue and bottle-green shutters open out onto elegant squares with stone-hewn fountains and elegant restaurants and posadas (inns). Colorful murals depicting historical scenes can be seen on countless walls, and indigenous women with braids and embroidered shawls set up makeshift stalls selling woven blankets and handmade crafts and jewelry. The elegant Plaza de Armas, or main square, is lined with arcades and houses with ornately carved wooden balconies and terracotta tiled roofs.

Airport transfer with private vehicle, driver, and English-speaking guide.

Flight from Juliaca to Cusco. The flight duration is approximately 1 hour.

Our local representative will meet you for an airport transfer, with private vehicle and professional driver .

Enjoy time at leisure to explore at your own pace, or relax at your hotel.

Cusco, the capital of the Incan empire, plays host to the wise and elegant 16th century Hotel Monasterio. The 126 rooms share a window into this fascinating world, for the hotel is not far from high mountains that rise on the horizon and its surrounding rooftops. The rooms are not especially large, as they were once home to monks. However, the building itself is akin to a museum. Guests are privy to cuisine offered by talented chefs at the hotel, who dabble in Andean spices, mostly organic produce, and traditional treats fused with international specialties. For a more relaxed atmosphere, one may try any of the restaurants in the heart of the city. The main square of the town is just a short walk away, and one may pass the time at the local bars, markets, and shopping sites.

Overnight at Hotel Monasterio.

Day 6 Cusco

Includes tourist ticket and entrance fees.

Enjoy a full day private excursion to theSacredValleywith your own private vehicle, driver and English speaking guide. Traveling north ofCusco, enjoy a visit to Ollantaytambo, a fortress built during the Inca Empire that is an excellent example of military architecture. Enjoy a buffet lunch (included) at a restaurant. Afterwards, visit thevillageofPisacand attend the local agricultural open-market where artisans from all over the area congregate to sell their crafts.

Overnight at Hotel Monasterio.

Day 7 Machu Picchu

For most visitors, the Inca city of Machu Picchu is the highlight of their visit. Revealed to the Western world by the American Hiram Bingham on July 24 1911, and declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1983, it is probably the most important archaeological site in South America and requires at least one day to explore fully. Buried beneath jungle vegetation for centuries, excavations revealed a myriad of staircases, terraces, temples, palaces, towers and fountains. Highlights of the site include the ceremonial baths, the Temple of the Sun, Temple of the Three Windows and the Intihuatana, or carved rock pillar used by Inca astronomers to predict the solstices. A 30-minute walk south from the main complex takes the visitor to the Inca Bridge, carved into the vertiginous cliff face. Climb the peak of Huayna Picchu that towers over the city and from the summit, it is a breathtaking experience to watch the mist roll back to reveal the architectural marvels of the Inca citadel.

Includes transfer to/from the train station with private vehicle, professional driver and local representative.

The Hiram Bingham is a luxury train between Cusco and Machu Picchu. Depart 9 am from Poroy Station and enjoy a spectacular journey through the Andes. Brunch is served on board and guides explain points of interest along the 3.5 hour route.

Enjoy the exclusive Hiram Bingham tour In the Urubamba Valley jungle. The Inca Citadel lies between Huayna Picchu and Machu Picchu (“Young Peak” and “Old Peak”). The Inca Pachacutec built the Citadel using sharp stone blocks, fitted together perfectly. Houses, temples, a public square; all connected by narrow roads and steps cut into the mountainside. There are many theories as to the purpose of Machu Picchu; a temple to the sun? A fortress against jungle inhabitants? A sanctuary for the Incas? The mysterious lost city awaits you. (Note: This tour is shared among other Hiram Bingham passengers).

The Sanctuary Lodge in the Machu Picchu region embodies all things relaxing and tranquil, with unparalleled botanical gardens and mountain views. The 31 rooms are well-maintained and offer gorgeous views of the surroundings. Friendly and helpful staff help provide a positive experience in Machu Picchu. A delicious menu is offered to travelers to choose from, with all sorts of South American culinary enterprises listed, as well as conventional favorites. Visit the ancient extravaganza that is Machu Picchu. If you are looking for a relaxing time, a deck allows guests to lounge in the presence of these spectacular sights. The hotel also offers massages and a videotape library.

Overnight at Sanctuary Lodge.

Day 8 Cusco

The entrance ticket to Machu Picchu is provided for your convenience.

Return to Cusco on the Hiram Bingham train. Departs 5:45pm from Machu Picchu and takes 4 hours to return to Cusco. A pre-dinner cocktail is served, accompanied by live entertainment and a 4-course gastronomic menu.

Enjoy time at leisure to explore at your own pace, or relax at your hotel.

Includes transfer to/from the train station with private vehicle, professional driver and local representative.

Cusco, the capital of the Incan empire, plays host to the wise and elegant 16th century Hotel Monasterio. The 126 rooms share a window into this fascinating world, for the hotel is not far from high mountains that rise on the horizon and its surrounding rooftops. The rooms are not especially large, as they were once home to monks. However, the building itself is akin to a museum. Guests are privy to cuisine offered by talented chefs at the hotel, who dabble in Andean spices, mostly organic produce, and traditional treats fused with international specialties. For a more relaxed atmosphere, one may try any of the restaurants in the heart of the city. The main square of the town is just a short walk away, and one may pass the time at the local bars, markets, and shopping sites.

Overnight at Hotel Monasterio.

Day 9 Iquitos

Iquitos is Peru’s largest jungle city. Once a booming rubber town in the late 19th century, tourism and oil are now Iquitos’ main industries. It is a major base for excursions to the Amazon basin and has numerous hotels of varying standards as well as nearby jungle lodges and camps. The river provides excellent opportunities for traveling down the Amazon to Brazil or crossing the river to and from Colombia.

Our local representative will meet you for an airport transfer, with private vehicle and professional driver .

Flight from Cusco to Iquitos with a connection in Lima. The flight duration is approximately 3 hours and 10 minutes.

Transfer between airport and your Amazon Resort, includes boat ride and road transfer.

This afternoon, enjoy a hike in the beautiful primary rainforest reserve surrounding Ceiba Tops which includes many huge trees festooned with epiphytes.

After dinner there may be local flute or guitar music at the El Toucan Bar or the guides are always ready to relate some of the many legends of the Amazon forest.

Ceiba Tops Lodge is perched on the shores of the Amazon River, not far from Iquitos. It is a true jungle getaway, with all rooms offering air conditioning and delicious views of the surrounding rainforest and river. Meals are served buffet style. The Amazon Rainforest never seems to run out of activities, and so the days and evenings are spent on excursions and boat rides, visits to the local village and guided tours of the area. Relax in a hammock or take in the pool when in need of rest.

Overnight at Ceiba Tops Lodge.

Day 10 Iquitos

Morning boat ride, spotting for dolphins, to visit a small village of Yagua Indians where your guide will explain the Yagua Indian culture and how it was affected by the arrival of Europeans and the passing of time. There will also be an opportunity to see some of the local crafts and for a demonstration of the blowgun which some of the Yagua elders still use for hunting.

Afternoon walking excursion to the neighboring town of Indiana. Originally a Franciscan mission, Indiana has grown into a large river community with its own market, high school and small hospital.

Overnight at Ceiba Tops Lodge.

Day 11 Iquitos

This afternoon, enjoy a hike in the beautiful primary rainforest reserve surrounding Ceiba Tops which includes many huge trees festooned with epiphytes.

After dinner there may be local flute or guitar music at the El Toucan Bar or the guides are always ready to relate some of the many legends of the Amazon forest.

Overnight at Ceiba Tops Lodge.
    
Day 12 Iquitos

This afternoon, enjoy a hike in the beautiful primary rainforest reserve surrounding Ceiba Tops which includes many huge trees festooned with epiphytes.

After dinner there may be local flute or guitar music at the El Toucan Bar or the guides are always ready to relate some of the many legends of the Amazon forest.

Direct flight from Iquitos to Lima. The flight duration is approximately 1 hour and 45 minutes.

Transfer between airport and your Amazon Resort, includes boat ride and road transfer.

Kensington Tours donates a portion of proceeds to our charitable initiative www.kensingtoncares.com which supports education-based initiatives in disadvantaged communities.

Depart from International Airport. End of itinerary.

Overnight at Depart (Int`l Airport) (standard).

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