PRE - 3 NIGHT CUSCO & MACHU PICCHU - STANDARD
Code: LIML01
Wonder at the beauty of the mysterious citadel, Machu Picchu, known as the "Lost City of Incas". Perched 7,900 feet above sea level on a mountain ridge, this archaeological jewel is the most famous icon of the Inca world. Equally fascinating is nearby Cuzco, the historic capital of the Inca empire, a city that blends colonial Spanish charm with the more ancient remains of the Pre-Colombian glory. Along your journey explore Sacsayhuamán which is a walled complex on the northern outskirts of the city of Cusco, Peru, the former capital of the Inca empire. Located on a steep hill that overlooks the city, it contains an impressive view of the valley to the southeast. Surface collections of pottery at Sacsayhuaman indicate that the earliest occupation of the hill top dates back at least a millennium.
Day 1
This evening you will be met at Lima airport and transferred to your hotel.
Dinner tonight is on your own
Overnight at Casa Andina Private Collection( Superior room)
Day 2
This morning you will be transferred to the airport where you embark on your flight to Cusco, an Andean community and former ancient capital of the Inca Empire. Upon arrival in Cusco, you will be met and immediately transferred to your hotel.
6.55am Flight departure to Cusco 2I 1111 (subject to change)
8.05am Arrival in Cusco
This afternoon you will embark on a city tour of Cusco and the main sights which includes the Korikancha Temple, a Dominican church and convent that was built on the foundations of the Koricancha, or palace of gold, the principal Inca religious building, dedicated to the worship of the sun. You will continue to the beautiful square surrounded by stone arches, a spectacular arcade constructed during colonial times. In this place you will visit the Cathedral whose construction was begun in 1560 and it was consecrated in 1669. Like the Cathedral in Lima, it has had Gothic, Mannerist-Renaissance and Baroque influences.
You will drive then to Sacsayhuaman, an impressive example of Inca military architecture, only 10 minutes from the centre of the city. Strategically placed on a hill overlooking Cusco, this spectacular fortress guarded the capital of the empire, and in the jaguar of Cusco, (the city of Cusco was supposedly built in the shape of a jaguar), represented the head, and its jagged wall formation the teeth. Also you will visit Qenqo ("The Labyrinth"), an Incan shrine dedicated to Pachamama ('Mother Earth'); and the small fortress of Puka Pukara.
Lunch and dinner this day are on your own.
Overnight at Libertador Palacio del Inka Hotel (Superior)
Day 3
This morning you will be driven to the station to take the Vista dome train. On arrival in Aguas Calientes, you will be transported -25-minutes by bus- to the ruins of Machu Picchu to explore this famous "Lost City of the Incas".
Explore the city's ruin with your guide, and feel its pulse as you visualize the lives of the priests, craftsmen and servants who lived in this seemingly uninhabitable citadel. Excavations have only added to the mystery, revealing the skeletons of 173 people (50 of them are women), artifacts and woolen clothing, but no gold. Overlooking the raging Urubamba River, in a hidden tangle of vines and trees atop the mountain, the city of Machu Picchu will forever hold its secret of its destruction since the Incas left no written record. You will enjoy a relaxing buffet style lunch served at Machu Picchu Sanctuary Lodge Hotel at the entrance of the citadel.
Afterwards, you will descend back to the train station where you will join your train to Cusco, where the transport will be waiting for you for your transfer to your hotel.
Dinner will be served at the restaurant in your hotel.
Overnight at Libertador Palacio del Inka Hotel (Superior Room)
Day 4
Today, you will be transferred to the airport for your flight back to Lima. Upon arrival you will be met and transferred to Callao port to board your ship.
8.45am Flight departure to Lima 2I 1112 (subject to change)
10.05am Arrival in Lima
Please note: The order of sites visited may vary to avoid congestion. The timings indicated are only approximate, and are given here for general reference purposes and are subject to change.
Program Includes for guests:
All private transfers and sightseeing, entrance fees, accommodation, meals as indicated in Description.
The porterage of 2 pieces per person, tips at meals, bottled water in coaches, snack in coaches on excursions, tips at meals outside hotel, water and soft drink with meals.
Program Excludes for guests:
Gratuities to local guides, drivers and meals at hotels, Beverages with meals at hotels and personal expenses.
Expected Weather: the beginning months of the year are normally rainy in the highlands. Average temperature in the highland is 65ºF max /43ºF min while in Lima it is 80ºF max/68ºF min.
What to Bring:
o Comfortable, casual clothing in natural, "breathable" fabrics. Temperatures will change as altitudes and time of day change, so it's best to bring shorts as well as long trousers, and clothing you can layer. Cathedrals, churches, and other religious sites require conservative dress. Both sexes should cover their arms, legs and shoulders.
o Local standards dictate a neat, clean outfit for dining in restaurants and touring urban areas. For men: long trousers and a shirt with a collar. For ladies: trousers or a knee-length (or longer) skirt with a modest top. Formal clothing is not necessary.
o A sweater or lightweight jacket for the cooler evening temperatures common in highland regions.
o A lightweight (preferably non-plastic) raincoat or poncho; an umbrella.
o Comfortable walking shoes with low or no heels. Sandals may not be comfortable for some sightseeing activities.
o Sunglasses (with a strap), sun block and a sunhat.
" Insect repellent.
" A walking stick for hikes. (please note that the use of walking sticks is prohibited in Machu Picchu unless they are needed by passengers with mobility problems)
o (optional) A waterproof day pack.
o (optional) A small flashlight.
Currency:
Peru's currency is the Nuevo Sol (S/.). The exchange rate with the U.S. Dollar varies, the current exchange rate is S/. 2.80 per 1 US dollar. Try to carry low denomination bills with you to facilitate the transaction. Most stores and restaurants accept U.S. dollars, but if you want to change your dollars into local currency, we recommend that you do it in a bank or ask the receptionist at your hotel to do it for you; never change dollars with the money changers working on the streets.
Electricity:
The current is 220 volts AC. In most hotel bathrooms, there is an electrical outlet with 110 volts for electric shavers, but this should not be used for travel irons or hair dryers. Most hotel rooms are equipped with hairdryers.
Luggage:
For domestic flights in Peru, it is permitted to check one piece of 23Kg (50 pounds) per person and 1 carry-on of 8Kg (17.5 pounds) per person. Additional pieces can be stored in Lima upon requests for your return.
Documents and Visa Requirements:
According to our Immigration regulations, every foreign passenger entering the Country must have a passport with a time validity of at least 6 months from the day of arrival to Peru. Please make sure your passport is valid for 6 months. No visa is necessary for U.S. citizens or citizens of most other countries. If you are not a citizen of the United States, your requirements may vary - check with your travel consultant. We advise you make copies of all your important documents (visa, passport, credit cards, air tickets, etc.). In case they are lost, it will make replacement much easier.
Accommodation:
Lima - Casa Andina Private Collection Miraflores
Cusco - Libertador Palacio del Inka Hotel