Saturday, November 8, 2014

Get Lost Amongst the Ancient Ruins of the Incas


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See below for an example of a full itinerary prepared exclusively by us for one of our client's visiting this magnificent area of the world... 


Day
Destination
Experience
Hotel
Included Meals
Day 1
Lima
Arrive in Lima and enjoy a good night’s rest

N/A
Day 2
Lima, Cusco, Sacred Valley
Fly from Lima to Cusco. Drive with your private guide to the Sacsayhuaman ruins and the Awanakancha Living Museum to meet Peru’s famous llamas and alpacas

Breakfast
Lunch
Day 3
Pisac
Ollantaytambo
Tour the artisan market, the Incan terraces at Pisac, and the Inca fortress at Ollantaytambo

Breakfast
Lunch
Day 4
Moray, Maras, Andean Community
Visit the mysterious Inca terraces at Moray, marvel at the ancient salt pans of Maras, and connect with locals in a small Andean village

Breakfast
Lunch
Day 5
Sacred Valley, Machu Picchu
Machu Picchu- take in the mystery and history with your private guide.

Breakfast
Lunch
Dinner
Day 6
Machu Picchu, Cusco
Explore the Inca site on your own and then enjoy an incredibly scenic train ride back to Cusco.

Breakfast
Day 7
Cusco
Soak in the unique history as your private guide walks you through the capital of the Inca Empire.

Breakfast
Day 8
Cusco, Lima
Fly back to Lima for an afternoon tour of colonial Lima before your international flight home.
N/A
Breakfast







Day-by-Day Detail


Day 1: Welcome to Peru!
Arrival in Lima
You will find us waiting for you when your international flight arrives in Lima- look for the sign with your name and the smile. We will escort you to your hotel, check you in and help you get settled. You’ll then be able to rinse away the feeling of a long flight and enjoy a good night’s rest!


Accommodation: 2 Double-Occupancy Standard Rooms
Meals: None

Day 2: Over the Andes to the Sacred Valley
Flight from Lima to Cusco – Private Car to the Sacred Valley

You will wake up refreshed and enjoy a complimentary buffet breakfast in the hotel before we escort you to the airport for your morning flight to Cusco. Watch the windows as the desert coast rises into the snow-capped peaks of the Andes! We will be waiting for you when touch down at our small Andean airport and will take you for a lovely lunch. Then, before you can even feel the altitude change, we’ll whisk you into the Sacred Valley. 

Just 45 minutes outside of Cusco, the true Peruvian countryside will stretch away on both sides of you, with cows and sheep grazing tranquilly roadside and impossibly steep peaks rise in the distance.

Your journey will take you first to the impressive Sacsayhuaman ruins above the city of Cusco, and then to the Living Museum of Awanakancha where you will see traditional weavers at work and come face to face with llamas, alpacas and other Andean camelids. Your final stop will be at your hotel for the evening.

Remember, your Kuoda guide and driver are at your disposal – please feel free to stop for photos, stretch your legs and breathe in the clear air!

Accommodation: 2 Superior Double-Occupancy “Casitas”
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Day 3: Delving Into Past and Present in the Sacred Valley
Private Tour of Pisac’s Inca Ruins and Ollantaytambo’s Inca Fortress

Today you will experience the wonderful combination of past and present that makes Peru so fascinating. We will take you to the small valley town of Pisac where you will visit the incredible Inca ruins perched on the ridge over the town.  You will be able to gaze down upon agricultural terraces where the Incas cultivated c orn and developed thousands of varieties of potato. After, stroll through the native village and its colorful artisan market; from hand-made textiles to exquisite ceramics, there is something for everyone. 

You will enjoy a Sacred Valley lunch, lovingly made with fresh local ingredients, before continuing on to the pueblo of Ollantaytambo.  Here, you will stand where the last great Incan emperor stood on horseback during a pivotal battle during the Spanish Conquest. You will also learn about Incan archaeology and city planning, as Ollantaytambo is one of the few remaining towns that maintains their original Inca planning – cobblestone streets, trapezoidal doorways, and water  canals.

Upon conclusion of your tour, you will return to your hotel for an afternoon of relaxation.

Accommodation: 2 Superior Double-Occupancy “Casitas”
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Day 4: Visiting Curious Ruins and Our Friends in a Local Community
Private Tours of Moray and Maras and Off-the-Beaten Track Stop at a Local Community

After breakfast in your hotel we will visit the Inca ruins at Moray. Some experts still believe these ancient amphitheaters served as an agricultural laboratory, though nobody has been able to confirm their true purpose! Form your own hypothesis as you peer into these beautiful concentric circles.  We will continue through the small town of Maras before arriving at the unbelievable salt pans. Still in-use, each of thousands of flat white pools that terrace the hillside has been passed down through families since pre-Incan times. The intricate network of waterways and white evaporation pools seem like a work of modern art. We will then pause for a locally prepared lunch.

After lunch, we will take you to visit our friends in a small Sacred Valley village. Surrounded by towering mountains and hugging the shore of the breathtakingly blue Lake Piuray, agriculture dominates life in this close-knit place. The women of the village are weaving masters, using Incan techniques, materials and patterns. You will also meet some of the local children who attend after-school program. The kids love to show off their drawings and computer skills!

This town is far off the beaten-track, so you won’t see other travellers here. You will get to meet some of the friendliest people in Peru and to glimpse a more traditional way of life. At the end of the day, we will return to your hotel.

Accommodation: 2 Superior Double-Occupancy “Casitas”
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Day 5: The Lost City of the Incas: Machu Picchu
Private Tour of Machu Picchu

Prepare for a climactic day! In the morning, we will board the train in Ollantaytambo for our journey to Machu Picchu. After a bus ride to the gates of this wonder of the world, we will fortify ourselves with a savory lunch at the Sanctuary Lodge.


You will then ascend the stone steps, through heavy tree cover to finally emerge at the top of the world – Machu Picchu!  The incredible Inca stone construction will be spread below, alternately hidden and revealed by clouds. Your expert guide will give you a private tour of the ancient city.

You will return for an evening in Aguas Calientes and your guide will give you advice and answer questions about how you might use your following free day. Enjoy an excellent dinner on-site at your hotel and fall asleep to the sounds of the Urubamba River.

Accommodation: 2 Double-Occupancy Superior Deluxe Rooms
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 6: Machu Picchu on Your Terms
A Free Day to Explore the Ancient City at Your Own Pace

This is your day to relax and enjoy Machu Picchu. The adventurous can hike the steep Machu Picchu Mountain for the postcard view of the city, or those wishing to go at a calmer pace can continue to explore the far reaches of the citadel.  Your guide from the previous day will have left you with plentiful suggestions for how best to fill your day exploring this wonder of the world.  Machu Picchu entrances, Machu Picchu Mountain hike entrances, and round-trip bus tickets are included today.

In the afternoon, you will descend to Aguas Calientes for your return train. We will be waiting in the station for you and will bring you to your hotel in Cusco for a night’s rest.

Accommodation: 2 Double-Occupancy Garden-View Suites
Meals: Breakfast

Day 7: Exploring the Imperial City of Cusco
Private Walking Tour of Cusco

Your guide will meet you after breakfast and proceed to illuminate the glorious past of Cusco!

From the Santo Domingo monastery, built on top of the ancient Inca temple of the sun to the fascinating Pre-Columbian Art Museum, you will learn about the astonishing mix that is Cusco. You will visit beautiful Bohemian San Blas, see where the locals shop at the open-air San Pedro market and pass the famous 12-angled Inca stone that has become the brand symbol for Cusqueña beer.

Your afternoon is free to explore, stroll and relax as you wish!

Accommodation: 2 Double-Occupancy Garden-View Suites
Meals: Breakfast

Day 8: Bidding Farewell to Peru
Fly From Cusco to Lima: tour Colonial Lima and fly Home

Today after breakfast, we will bring you to the Cusco airport for your return flight to Lima. Your Kuoda Lima host will be waiting for you at the airport and will help you store your luggage at the Lima airport should you choose.  They will then transfer you to the beautiful colonial center of the city.

You will visit the Lima Cathedral and the Convent of San Francisco. The catacombs under the convent house the skeletal remains of much of colonial Lima! We will also visit Casa Aliaga, built in 1535, making it one of the oldest mansions in the New World and has been occupied by the Aliaga family since its construction.

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