- Folklore
and Traditions - 12 days
- December
2009 - Private
- English-speaking
local
Along the way......
Allow yourself to be seduced by the magic of the end-of-year festivities of the Andes. The excitement of Christmas preparations, the lost city of Machu Picchu at dawn on December 25th, and the rolling waves of the Pacific to welcome you into the New Year… Capture the joy of life while discovering a multi-faceted country of rich customs and surprising diversity.
Day 1:
Reception upon arrival at Jorge Chavez airport, in Lima.
Transfer to the hotel.
Meals open.
Day 2:
Transfer to the Lima airport for a flight with destination Cuzco, heart of the Incan Empire. Reception at the airport and transfer to the hotel. Rest to help acclimatize to the altitude and remainder of the day open. Meals open. Please note: Visitors are not accompanied by a guide on this flight. Timetable and specific airline details to be communicated to visitors upon arrival in Peru.
Day 3:
Day open to walk around the traditional Christmas market of Cuzco: the santuranticuy or “Saints Fair” is a must in Cuscenian traditions to prepare the nativity. Artists are gathered on the Plaza de Armas to sell decoration items as well as ceramic Christmas crib figures essential to the manufacture of cribs. The purchase of the Jesus crib is significant for Catholic families and will be brought forth during the Midnight Church service in order to be blessed. Meals open.
Day 4:
In the morning, departure in a private vehicle for a day dedicated to the discovery of the Sacred Valley. First stop at the ruins of Pisac. Visit of the site and walk around the handicraft market. Typical lunch and continuation of the excursion to the Incan village of Ollantaytambo. On the way, stop in a ceramic workshop in Urubamba (Ayllu if opens). Arrival in Ollantaytambo, visit of the fortress and transfer to the hotel. Lunch included. Dinner open.
Day 5:
In the morning, departure from the train station of Ollantaytambo for the journey to Aguascalientes. Direct connection to the shuttle service that will drive you to the citadel of Machu Picchu. Day dedicated to the visit of the site; one of the wonders of the world, discovered in 1911 by the American anthropologist Hiram Bingham. Meals open. Note: depending on availabilities, the return journey can be done by train to Ollantaytambo and then by private vehicle to Cuzco.
Day 6:
In the morning, transfer to the Cuzco land terminal. Journey by bus to Puno, town located on the shores of Lake Titicaca. Wonderful landscapes along the road. We go over the Raya Pass, at an altitude of 4320 meters. Visits of the Pukara Museum, of the archaeological site of Raqchi and of the “Sistine Chapel” of the Andes in Andahuaylillas. Reception and transfer to the hotel in Puno. Lunch included (buffet restaurant at Sicuani). Dinner open. Note: visitors are not accompanied by a guide on the bus journey. However, a Spanish/English-speaking guide, exclusive to the bus company, participates to the journey and gives information along the way. Option: the Andes Orient Express operates from November to March on Mondays, Wednesdays and Saturdays (and also on Fridays from April to October).
Day 7:
In the morning, transfer to the port of Puno to embark for the islands of Uros and Taquile. After a 25-minute cruise, we visit of the floating islands. These islands are not natural; the Uros tribe, whose main activity is fishing, built them. We then head for Taquile (around 2-hour cruise), an island of great cultural interest, where residents live in harmony with the ancestral traditions. Visit and lunch in a typical restaurant, not included. Back to Puno in mid-afternoon. Transfer to the hotel. Meals open. Please note: Option to plan a two days excursion with one night at a local resident’s place on the island.
Day 8:
Transfer to the land terminal. Departure by coach for Arequipa, the White City. This itinerary allows us to discover the rather unusual landscapes of the Altiplano. Reception at the end of the evening and transfer to the hotel. Meals open. Note 1: visitors are not accompanied by a guide on the coach journey – about 6-hour of travel-time. Note 2: timetable and specific transport company details to be communicated to visitors upon arrival in Peru. Note 3: this journey can also be organized by private vehicle.
Day 9:
Day dedicated to the exploration of the White City. In the morning, visit of the colonial center (Plaza de Armas, Cathedral, church and the Compaña Convent) and of the Santa Catalina Convent, genuine city within the city with its alleys bordered with colored houses. Lunch in a picanteria (included). In the afternoon, excursion to the watchtowers of Yanahuara and Cayma, offering a panoramic view over the fabulous surrounding volcanoes. The end of the day will be dedicated to the visit of the Sanctuarios Andinos Museum, well known for its collection of mummies found in the ice of the surrounding mountains, where they had been preserved for more than five hundred years. Back to the hotel. Dinner open. Please note: visit of the Convent with a specialized guide.
Day 10:
Transfer to the Arequipa airport for a flight to Lima, the Peruvian capital. Reception and transfer to the hotel. End of day open to prepare for the passage to 2008, feet in the water for the most laid back, restaurant or night clubs for the night owls. The choice is wide in the Peruvian capital. At midnight the fire crackers start firing, fires are lit in the popular neighborhoods to burn dolls dressed in the clothing of the year one wishes not to see again in the coming year! Meals open. Note 1: visitors are not accompanied during the flight. Note 2: timetable and specific transport company details to be communicated to visitors upon arrival in Peru. Option: for a city tour of Lima – contact us.
Day 11:
Day open in the Peruvian capital city. Night at the hotel. Meals open.
Day 12:
Three hours before take-off, transfer to Jorge Chavez airport in Lima. Connection with the international return flight. Meals open.
Included:
All tours mentioned in this program
Private English-speaking guide
Aforementioned transport: domestic flights, trains
Private transfer to airport / station / bus terminal / hotel with Spanish-speaking chauffeur
Entrance to sites, museums and natural parks
Hotels with double or triple room including breakfast
Aforementioned meals
Guide expenses (transport, hotels, meals, etc…)
Not Included:
International return flight
Individual equipment (sleeping bag, torch lamp, etc…)
Obligatory travel insurance
Entrance fees if mentioned
Drinks
Tips
Airport tax ($US 6 per person for national flights, $US 30 per person for international flights)
Aforementioned free meals