- Folklore and traditions
- 14 days
- June 2009
- Private
- English-speaking local
Along the way......
When the Spanish arrived in Cuzco, they were surprised by the Sons of the Sun Ritual, parading their mummies during a procession starting from the Temple of Koricanka. The conquistadors decided to eliminate this Pagan celebration and forced the Incas to replace their idols by their catholic virgins and saints. This is how was born the Corpus Christi in the empire of Tawantisuyo, a catholic celebration with an Andean tradition background.
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 Arequipa, the White City. Reception and transfer to the hotel. Afternoon dedicated to the discovery of the city: visit of the colonial center and the Santa Catalina Convent. Back to the hotel at the end of the day. Meals open. Note 1: Visitors are not accompanied by a guide on this flight. Timetable and specific airline details to be communicated to visitors upon arrival in Peru. Note 2: Visit of the Convent with a specialized guide.
Day 3 :
In the morning, departure in a private vehicle for Colca, whose canyon is one of the deepest in the world, with 3680 meters depth (12073 feet). Crossing of the National Reserve and of the Patapampa pass. On the way, we admire magnificent landscapes and possibly observe vicunas and other camelids. Transfer to the hotel in Colca. Option to take a bath in the village hot springs (not included). Meals open. Please note: 99 miles – around 5-hour of travel time. Option: entrance fees to the hot springs to be paid directly on location.
Day 4 :
In the morning, departure in a private vehicle for Arequipa, the White City. First stop at Cruz del Condor, at the heart of Colca, to observe the condors. Visit of picturesque villages, including Maca. Transfer to the hotel in Arequipa. Meals open.
Day 5 :
In the morning, transfer to the Arequipa land terminal. Journey by bus to Puno, town located on the shores of Lake Titicaca. This itinerary gives you the opportunity to discover the rather unusual landscapes of the Altiplano. Reception and private transfer to the typical village of Llachon, which overlooks Lake Titicaca, at 3820 meters above sea level (12532 feet). Felipe and his family welcome us in their community. Evening meal and night in the community. Lunch open. Note: visitors are not accompanied during the journey. 5-hour of travel time.
Day 6 :
In the morning, transfer to the port of Puno to embark for the islands of Uros and Amantani. After a 25-minute cruise, we visit of the floating islands. These islands are not natural; they have been built by the Uros tribe, whose main activity is fishing. We then head for Amantani (around 2½-hour cruise). Lunch at a local resident’s place. In the afternoon, visit of sites dedicated to the Pachamama and the Pachapapa. Lunch, dinner and night at a local resident’s place (all included).
Day 7 :
In the morning, departure by boat for a one-hour cruise to Taquile, 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.
Day 8 :
Transfer to the Puno land terminal. Journey by bus to Cuzco, Navel of the Inca Empire. This itinerary allows you to enjoy wonderful landscapes along the road, via the Raya Pass, at 4320 meters above sea level (14173 feet). Visit of the Pukara Museum, the archaeological site of Raqchi and the “Sistine Chapel” of the Andes in Andahuaylillas. Reception and transfer to the hotel in Cuzco. Lunch included (buffet lunch 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: Train of the Andes Orient Express. Functions from April to October on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays.
Day 9 :
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 stop in a ceramic workshop in Urubamba (Ayllu if opens). Continuation of the journey to Maras: salt mines in the middle of the Cordillera! Walk down to the Urumbamba River where the vehicle awaits us. Continuation to the Incan village of Ollantaytambo. Visit of the fortress. And return to Cuzco. Lunch included. Dinner open.
Day 10 :
Day dedicated to the discovery of Cuzco and its surroundings. In the morning, visits of the archeological sites around Cuzco (Tambomachay, Q’enqo, Pukapucara and Sacsayhuaman), and of the historical center: Koricancha (Temple of the Sun), and the Cathedral, exhibiting some paintings from the School of Cuzco and many goldsmith’s art, silver and precious stones treasures. On that specific day, Saints from the neighboring churches are carried in on their litters by barefoot believers, sometimes from further than 7 miles away. As tradition belief has it, during the seven days that they spend in the Cathedral, lively conversations occur between divine friends such as the Earthquake Lord, Saint Jerome, Saint Sebastian… We then await the arrival of the Saints coming from several districts of Cuzco, which will spend seven nights in the Cathedral to pay tribute to the Christ body, represented by the host consecrated in the fabulous invaluable solid gold monstrance of 55lb. Transfer to the hotel at the end of the afternoon. Meals open.
Day 11 :
On that day, the fifteen Saints and Virgins are coming out of the Cathedral for a procession animated with canticles and prayers. The crowd of believers is still present on the Plaza de Armas and the adjacent streets. It is very colorful. Typical lunch (included) consisting of the traditional meal of the Corpus Christi “the Chiri uchu”… surprise regarding the content! Transfer to the hotel at the end of the afternoon. Dinner open.
Day 12 :
In the morning, departure from the Cuzco station for a train 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. In the afternoon, return by train to Cuzco. Reception and transfer to the hotel. Meals open. Note 1: train timetables to be communicated upon arrival in Cuzco. Note 2: depending on availabilities, the return journey can be done by train until Ollantaytambo and then by private vehicle to Cuzco.
Day 13 :
Transfer to the Cuzco airport for a flight to Lima, the Peruvian capital. Reception and transfer to the hotel. 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 14 :
Three hours before take-off, transfer to Jorge Chavez airport in Lima. Assistance by one of our representative for your check in and customs formalities. 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