- Folklore
and Traditions - 14 days
- July 2009
- Private
- English-speaking
local
Along the way.....
The cult of the Virgin of Carmen or Mamacha Carmen, patron of the people of mixed race, expresses itself in colorful representations during the procession taking place in the streets of the village: music, songs in Quechua and actors representing the different stages of Peru’s history. On the main day, the Virgin blesses the people present and drives away the demons, doing dangerous pirouettes on the roofs. The celebration finishes by a war against the demons, in which the faithful are triumphant.
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 Preserve 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 1: visitors are not accompanied during the journey. 5-hour of travel time. Note 2: timetable and specific transport company details to be communicated to visitors upon arrival in Peru.
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). Note: the cruise on the lake cannot be done at night.
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. Note: the cruise on the lake cannot be done at night.
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 :
Day dedicated to the discovery of Cuzco and its surrounding areas. In the morning, visit of the archaeological sites overlooking the city: Tambomachay, Q’enko, Pukapucara and Sacsayhuaman. We then walk down to the San Blas quarter (the artists’ place). We pass by the famous 12 angles stone and continue to the San Pedro market to familiarize ourselves with local products. In the afternoon, visits of the Koricancha (Temple of the Sun), and of the Cathedral, exhibiting some paintings from the School of Cuzco and many goldsmith’s art, silver and precious stones treasures. Transfer to the hotel at the end of the afternoon. Meals open.
Day 10 :
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 11 :
Early morning departure in a private vehicle for Paucartambo (3-hour drive). It is the busiest day of the celebration. Dancers and musicians move from one street to the next to perform 17 different dances. Offering of miniature toys from the balconies. At midday, handing over of bread to the dancers and authorities. At 3 p.m., start of the Virgen de Carmen procession. At the end of the day, continuation of the journey by road to the Tres Cruces for an unforgettable night in a tent to wait for the sunrise.
Day 12 :
Tres Cruces is one of the only places in the world to observe this natural phenomenon. We are on the Andean balcony, at 3740 meters of altitude. Below us is the Amazon Basin still sleepy and covered with a white layer created by rising humidity. Suddenly a ball of fire crosses the clouds and appears to us. The sun continues its trajectory and makes us experience an unbelievable optical illusion: images in several dimensions, a surprising play of colors. After this marvelous show, we go by car towards the Sacred Valley. We reach the ruins of Pisac that were once among the most important fortresses of the Incan Empire, built to serve as food storage for the Empire. Guided visit of the site and walk around the Indian market (on Sundays, Tuesdays and Thursdays). Lunch in a restaurant with typical buffet. In the beginning of the afternoon, we will be driven to Ollantaytambo to visit the fortress that used to be a strategic military, religious and farming base. Back to Cuzco. Lunch included. Dinner open. Note: Bring along warm clothes for the short night at Tres Cruces.
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