JOURNEY TO THE Kingdom of the Sun PERU
To book this trip, call 1-800-648-4856 or 972-233-3300
YES, AN EXCITING TRIP COMING UP. AS YOU WILL SEE FROM THE ITINERARY, WE ARE GOING TO SEE SOME AMAZING PLACES AND SIGHTS. Let me be very specific and say that if you have breathing difficulties, you probably won’t want to do this. The altitude is very high and we wouldn’t want anyone to have problems there. BUT, FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO ENJOY SURREAL ADVENTURES AND EXCITEMENT, THIS IS THE TRIP TO TAKE. We only have 44 spaces so please sign up early.
Peru is also known as The Kingdom of the Sun and is one of the most representative countries of Latin America due to the mix of native Indian, Afro-American and European cultures. Peru is a country where the traditional customs have transcended through the years and are the base for the current way of life. The contrast produced because of the different landscapes and people is the reason why Peru is a country so interesting to visit.
Lima, the City of Kings, was once the scenario of the war against the Spanish conquerors who came in a ruthless search for the gold that was hidden somewhere in Peru. However, their most wanted treasure was the Lost City of the Incas, Machu Picchu, which they never found.
Machu Picchu is not the only highlight of Peru. Peru is also the home of the famous Nazca Lines, a series of geoglyphs located in the Nazca Desert. To this day, nobody knows for sure the techniques that were used or the reason why they were built. The Temple of Pachacamac in Lima, the Titicaca Lake in Puno, the Mud City of Chan, the beaches of Mancora, the Rainforest and the Fortress of Kuelap in Chachapoyas are just a few of the many outstanding places
DATES
June 12-20, 2010
PRICE
$3244 + $255 tax = $3499 per person double occupancy$3944 + $255 tax = $4199 per person single occupancy (limit 3)
*Airline taxes and surcharges etc. are subject to change without notice until time of ticketing. If applicable, additional collection may be required.
PRICE INCLUDES:
- Roundtrip air from DFW/Miami/Lima/Cuzco-Lima/Miami/DFW
- Roundtrip transfers between the airport and hotel
- Flight over Nasca Lines
- Train to Machu Picchu
- 8 night’s hotel accommodations
- 8 breakfasts, 1 lunches, 2 dinners
- Porterage for one bag per person
- Tour Guide throughout
PRICE DOES NOT INCLUDE:
- Meals other than specified
- Items of a purely personal nature (laundry, phone calls, etc)
- Gratuities for guides and drivers
- $45 (estimated) Peru airport departure tax
Please read the full set of terms and conditions before booking this trip.
ITINERARY
Day 1
Lima
Group transfer from Lima airport to your hotel.
Lima, known as The City of Kings, was once the center of the Spanish Empire in the New World for three centuries after Pizarro's conquest. Now it is the capital of Peru and one of the most important cities in South America. It has been declared Humanity Cultural Patrimony and is the main starting point for all programs in Peru. Located in the middle of Peru's coastline, Lima is an economic magnet for struggling highland and Amazonian villagers. A vibrant city with friendly people, it quickly snares the curious traveler with fine museums, striking architecture and richly historical neighborhoods. Lima with its fresh seafood in seaside restaurants also boasts some of the best dining in the country. Peru’s capital has an impressively restored colonial center. Its churches provide welcome respite from the outside clamor and its many markets overflow with handicrafts. There's also a marvelous mix of excellent museums, public plazas, historical buildings and important archaeological sites.
Day 2
Lima - Ica
Buffet breakfast
Early morning departure along the Desert Ocean Highway to Pisco.
The province of Ica is located in the central south coast of the Peruvian seaside. It is considered the center where the important pre-inca civilizations Nasca (300 years B.C.) and Paracas (700 years B.C.) developed. The men of Paracas practiced the trepanation of skulls on living bodies using knives made of "obsidiana", a certain kind of volcano rock. They also reached a great development in the art of weaving. The Nasca culture stood out for its admirable knowledge in hydraulic engineering building, aqueducts and subterranean canals reinforced by inner walls of stone and roofs of huarango.
Ica is known as the region of the sand and sea, oasis and valleys, Pisco wine and popular devotions like the Señor de Lauren or the Sanctuary of Yauca. This morning we will fly over the Nasca lines. Observe the mysterious lines spread out in an area of approximately 500 km2. They were once made by the indigenous (Nasca Culture) but their origin is still not clear. The next place to stop will be a local winery in Ica to taste Pisco (a Peruvian brandy).
After this visit, transfer to the hotel in Paracas. (B)
Day 3
Ica – Paracas – Lima
Buffet breakfast
We will be picked up from our hotel and taken to the pier to depart to the Ballestas Islands. During the two hour boat trip, you’ll appreciate the Paracas Bay, San Martín Port and Candelabro. The Candelabro is a geoglyhps located in the north-west of the Peninsula of Paracas. It is considered to be the starting point of the Nasca lines. The boat will stop a few minutes to take photos of the giant figure.
Continue your trip to the Islands, a beautiful place where you’ll see great colonies of sea mammals like sea lions and seabirds, Inca terns, pelicans, peruvian boobies, humboldt penguins and turkey vultures. After the boat trip, return to the pier and continue the trip to Lima. (B)
Day 4
Lima - Cuzco
Buffet breakfast
In the morning we will be picked up from our hotel and transferred to the airport for the flight to Cuzco
Upon arrival, our group will be transferred to our hotel in Cuzco.
Cuzco is South America's archaeological capital and the oldest continuously inhabited city. It is now an important link in the region's travel network. Its legacy as the hub of the Incan empire is readily apparent. Quechua-speaking Incan descendants crowd the centuries-old stone-walled city streets. Cuzco also boasts magnificent repositories of colonial art. Fine examples can be found in La Catedral and Museo de Arqueologia. West of the city is Machu Picchu, the most spectacular site on the continent. Despite the relentless stampede of tourists, it still retains an air of grandeur and mystery.
The tour will start with a visit to Cuzco's most important landmarks of both the Inca and the Colonial times. During the tour, the guide will show you the Inca street of Loreto which is made of 12 cornered stones, the Temple of the Sun called Ahuajpinta, featuring remains of the outstanding palaces of the ancient city. You will visit the most important Colonial monuments. The Cathedral is famous for its gold and silver baroque style as well as the Museum of Colonial Art.
You will continue with a visit to Cuzco’s Inca Ruins. First you will see the archaeological park of the fortress-temple Saqsaywaman followed by the nearby shrines of Kenqo and the cleansing water rituals at Tambomachay. Afterwards, visit the ancient Inca’s storage palaces Tambo, Pukapukara and the famous Temple of the Sun which was called Korikancha by the Incas. Later group will be transferred back to your hotel. (B)
Day 5
Cuzco – Sacred Valley
Buffet breakfast
Enjoy a tour to the famous Pisac Market located in Pisac in the Sacred Valley. In spite of its great popularity and tourists that arrive every day, the market still retains its local charm. In one par, there are the villagers; some coming from far away, gathering to barter and sell their products. In the other section of the market, you can buy a wide variety of Peruvian handicrafts such as: carved gourds (mates burilados), ceramics, felt hats, alpaca sweaters and mittens, musical instruments, paintings, antiques, a huge variety of trinkets, and, most of all, weavings and jewelry. Even if you are not buying, the café balconies overlooking the market offer superb people-watching. Hundreds of camera-toting tourists, from every conceivable country on earth, haggle with Quechua-speaking merchants all to the beat of drum-and-juggling sessions put on by a band of locals. From the market, depart towards the north of the Sacred Valley. On route cross the plateau, then descend to Urubamba and finally arrive to Ollantaytambo, a typical Inca community. Towering above the town of Ollantaytambo there is the huge Inca fortress of Ollantaytambo. Steep stone terraces rising from the edge of the town lead up to the fortress ruins at the top of the hill. A stone stairway leads up through the terrace walls, allowing visitors to step out on them. One of Ollantaytambo’s best preserved areas, known as Hanan Huacaypata, is located north of the main square and contains 15 statues built with elegantly crafted stone walls. Lunch is included. (B,L)
Day 6
Sacred Valley – Machu Picchu - Cuzco
Buffet breakfast
Machu Picchu means “Old Mountain” in the old indigenous Quechua language and is considered to be one of the most extraordinary examples of scenic architecture in the world. “The Lost City of the Incas” was built around the year 1450 at the top of a granite mountain and is probably the most familiar symbol of the Inca Empire. It was built, but abandoned a hundred years later, at the time of the Spanish conquest of the Inca Empire. Forgotten for centuries, the site was brought to worldwide attention in 1911 by an American historian, Hiram Bingham. UNESCO declared it a World Heritage Site in 1983. It is also one of the New Seven Wonders of the World. Back to that ancient time the Incas, using ingenious engineering techniques, were able to transport heavy stone blocks up the mountain side, and once there, they used their excellent masonry skills to produce amazingly polished stones that fit together perfectly. But the old “Inca Empire” is not only remarkable for its well-balanced architecture that allowed its inhabitants to fit the terrain with an efficient urban planning but also, for the technology achieved to get all kind of services such as food supply and running water. Furthermore, Machu Picchu’s landscapes provide marvelous views of nature, the steep mountains and the deep valleys.
Today group will be picked up from the hotel very early in the morning to be transferred to the Ollanta train station to get the train to Aguas Calientes, a town 20 minutes away from Machu Picchu. There you will take the shuttle bus to ascend to Machu Picchu (approximately 20 minutes). It follows a guided visit to the Machu Picchu Citadel. (B)
Day 7
Cuzco
Buffet breakfast
Day at leisure. Dinner is included tonight. (B.D)
Day 8
Cuzco - Lima
Buffet breakfast
We have an early pick up and transfer to airport for flight back to Lima.
The tour will start with a city tour across Lima and finish with a visit to the impressive Gold Museum. Enjoy a great panoramic view of the ancient districts of Lima. It was the Empire’s capital and therefore there still has a lot of historical architecture and culture to be found in its center. Passing by the old streets, you’ll find them filled with colonial houses decorated with Moorish-style balconies. During the trip, see all of the most important colonial sights such as the Plaza San Martin, the Main Square, the Government Palace, the Cathedral and the Municipal Palace. Then you will be transferred to Lima’s Golden Museum. On tour, appreciate a dazzling collection of gold artifacts from various pre-Columbian civilizations, some more than 3,000 years old. Metal pieces and jewelry of incalculable value in gold, silver and precious stones are shown in this collection. Peru’s Golden Museum also houses a valuable collection of old and modern weapons that ranks among the best in the world. The halls in this section show the Arms of the World Collection of armour, uniforms and various ancient war artifacts and weapons from various time periods around the world, some dating back to as long ago as 1300 B.C.
Farewell dinner. (B,D)
Day 9
Lima – Departure for USA
Buffet breakfast at the hotel
Group will transfer to the airport to take international departure flight.
AIR SCHEDULE
FLIGHT ITINERARY
| Destination | Depart | Arrive |
|---|---|---|
| Dallas-Miami | 9:05AM | 12:50PM |
| Miami-Lima | 4:50PM | 9:30PM |
| Lima-Miami | 9:40AM | 4:30PM |
| Miami-Dallas | 7:00PM | 9:05PM |
HOTELS
All hotel rooms are rated superior tourist class or higher and have private baths. Please remember that hotel check-in time is 3:00PM, thus rooms may not be ready immediately upon arrival in each city. Hotel names and addresses will be provided in final tour documents.OPTIONAL TOURS
TRAFALGAR TOURS WILL OFFER OPTIONAL EXCURSIONS FOR THIS TOUR. SCT DOES NOT ALWAYS RECEIVE INFORMATION OR PRICES ON THESE TOURS BEFORE THE GROUP DEPARTS. THESE TOURS ARE STRICTLY OPTIONAL.
ABBREVIATED TERMS AND CONDITIONS
A VALID PASSPORT IS REQUIRED FOR THIS TOUR AND MUST BE VALID 6 MONTHS AFTER YOU RETURN FROM THIS TOUR
Sharon Carr Travel is not responsible for weather-related or mechanical delays.
A deposit of $700 per person is due with booking. 2nd deposit of $1800 is due before Feb 1, 2010. Final payment no later than March 1, 2010.
If cancelled before Feb 1, 2010, a fee of $500 is assessed. If cancelled before Mar 1, 2010, a fee of $1200 is assessed. If cancelled on or after March 1, 2010, package is non-refundable.
Insurance information will be given with confirmation.
Prices represent a 5% discount for payment by check or money order. Rates are 5% higher if using a credit card and require an authorized signature. We accept MasterCard, Visa, American Express, & Discover.
Legal first and last names (NO NICKNAMES) must be given as shown on your driver's license. Name changes are $200 per name change and may be made up to 70 days prior to departure.
Please read the full set of terms and conditions before booking this trip.