HIGHLIGHTS OF PERÚ 10D/9N

Day 1: ARRIVAL / LIMA

Arrive at Lima Airport by scheduled flight. After proceeding through immigration, please collect your bags and continue through customs. A representative of Swifts travel will be waiting in the arrivals hall to escort you to your driver/vehicle for the transfer to your hotel.

Optional: Dinner at Astrid & Gastón – fusion fare

Web site; https://www.astridygaston.com/

Overnight in Lima

Meals included: — / — / —

Day 2: LIMA: City Tour

Breakfast. At 9.30hs. meet your Swifts travel guide to begin your Lima city tour including the Larco Museum. You will start by visiting the Plaza Mayor, which has been declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. Continue on to the cathedral, with its splendid carved stalls and gold-plated altars, the Government Palace, City Hall and the Archbishop’s Palace. Next, you’ll explore the San Francisco Monastery, which houses the largest exhibition of colonial religious art in America. From the historic center, travel through modern Lima to visit the fascinating Larco Museum, located in a unique 18th-century mansion. Among the many treasures, admire the collection of ancient Peruvian gold and silver and the renowned display of erotic ceramics.

Enjoy an afternoon at leisure in Lima.

Optional: Lunch at CENTRAL – Contemporary Peruvian cuisine

Web site; https://centralrestaurante.com.pe/

Optional: Dinner at HuacaPucllana Rest.

Web site; https://www.resthuacapucllana.com/

Overnight in Lima

Meals included: Breakfast /– /–

Day 3: LIMA – CUSCO – SACRED VALLEY

Breakfast. Meet your Swifts travel representative in the lobby ready for a private transfer to Lima Airport for your scheduled flight.

Upon arrival in Cusco, you will be met after luggage collection by the Swifts travel representative and transferred to the hotel in the Sacred Valley. En route you will enjoy a scenic drive through a stunning landscape to the Sacred Valley of the Incas.

Visit Textil Local Center, where weavers of more than 12 communities of Southern Peru exhibit the spinning, dyeing and weaving of Andean traditional textiles helping to preserve the traditional costumes. Your visit includes the opportunity to observe an exhibition and explanation of the four types of South American camels. Here you will find the finest of the traditional and industrial Andean textiles in South America.

Continue to the town of Pisac, renowned for its colorful market where the local Indians meet to sell their merchandise as they have done for centuries. The handicraft market is open every day and is famous for its ceramic beads made into necklaces, earrings and other Peruvian artifacts.

Overnight in Sacred Valley

Meals included: Breakfast / — / —

Day 4: SACRED VALLEY / FD Chinchero – Maras & Moras

Breakfast. Today you visit the town and market of Chinchero, a picturesque Indian village located high up on the windswept plains of Anta, 3762m above sea level. It’s one of 12 Andean communities that has retained the traditional social structure and urban design of Inca times. Local weavers have revived pre-Hispanic techniques featuring natural dyes and motifs inspired by daily life and the surrounding natural environment.

Lunch will be served at Local Restaurant. The setting in Maras with stunning views of the Vilcanota mountain range makes this an experience to delight all the senses.

Next, we will head for Maras, driving through a patchwork of fields that blend into the snow-capped peaks of the Urubamba and Vilcabamba mountain ranges. The colonial village of Maras is known for its nearby salt pans, which have been harvested since pre-Columbian times. Today we’ll see locals collecting the salt in much the same way as their ancestors would have done 400 years ago.

We’ll also explore Moray, an intriguing Inca site where terraces are arrayed in concentric circles. It’s believed to have been used as an agricultural laboratory, testing growing conditions for a wide variety of crops. 

Optional: Lunch at MUNDO MIL CENTRO Rest – A journey through ecosystems of heights (direct payment)

Web site: https://www.milcentro.pe

Overnight in Sacred Valley.

Meals included: Breakfast / Lunch / —

Day 5: SACRED VALLEY / HORSEBACK RIDING

Breakfast. Get ready for a unique and unforgettable experience – saddle up and discover the joy of riding a Peruvian Horse, a graceful and friendly horse breed known for its exceptional smoothness and elegance. Your adventure will begin with a brief introduction to these magnificent animals, along with essential safety tips and the necessary equipment. Then, you’ll mount your horse in the stable and take a practice ride to ensure that you’re comfortable before setting off on your journey.

Your route will take you through picturesque fields of corn and sweet-smelling strawberry crops, immersing you in the beauty of the countryside. As you approach the charming village of Arin, located 35-45 minutes away, you’ll feel invigorated by the crisp mountain air and stunning views of the surrounding hills. Once you reach Arin, you’ll find yourself at the foothills of the mountains, where you can set off on an adventure to a nearby, breathtaking waterfall. The ride will take you through winding trails and scenic routes, giving you ample opportunity to take in the mesmerizing views of the Sacred Valley. 

Lunch at Hacienda Huayoccari.

In the afternoon we will have a payment to the earth & coca leaf reading, A coca leaf reading is an age-old Andean ritual that is employed to predict one’s future. This practice remains popular in the Andes to this day, led by shamans who have inherited their knowledge and skills from their forebears.

During this activity, you are free to ask specific questions, but bear in mind that coca leaves are viewed as messengers and the shaman will guide you on the best course of action to take for your future.

Payment to the Earth is another time-honored and revered ceremony that is still utilized by indigenous Andean communities as a way of expressing gratitude to Pachamama, or Mother Earth.

Overnight in Sacred Valley.

Meals included: Breakfast / Lunch / —

Day 6: SACRED VALLEY – MACHU PICCHU

Breakfast. Please meet your Swifts travel representative in the hotel lobby for your private transfer to Ollantaytambo train station, from where you will travel to Machu Picchu aboard the train. Departure: 9. 05hs.Aprox. 

The Vistadome train boasts beautiful panoramic windows, offering unsurpassed views and photographic opportunities as you enter the Inca’s territory in search of Machu Picchu. With glass surrounding you on all sides, you will feel as if you are part of Peru’s remarkable landscape. 

Optional Train: Hiram Bingham, A Belmond Train is the most luxurious way to journey between Cusco and Machu Picchu. Its sumptuous 1920s-style carriages ensure a magical journey never to be forgotten. With two Dining Cars, a Bar Car, open-deck Observation Car and Kitchen Car, the train can carry up to 84 passengers. On the journey to Machu Picchu, a gourmet brunch is served as you gaze through your window at the stunning Urubamba Valley.

Upon arrival in Aguas Calientes at 12.11hs., board the bus to Machu Picchu. Enjoy a delicious lunch at Sanctuary Lodge, A Belmond Hotel.

Enjoy a half-day private guided tour of the Inca citadel and its surrounding complexes. Machu Picchu stands 2,430m above sea level, in the middle of a tropical mountain forest. It was probably the Inca Empire’s most amazing urban creation; its giant walls, terraces and ramps seem as if they have been carved out of the rocky escarpments. The extraordinarily beautiful setting, on the eastern slopes of the Andes, encompasses the Upper Amazon basin with its rich diversity of flora and fauna.

Overnight in Machu Pichu Pueblo.

Meals included: Breakfast / Lunch / —

Day 7: MACHU PICCHU – CUSCO

Breakfast. This morning you will have the chance to hike up on your own to Huayna Picchu mountain which soars 260 meters above Machu Picchu (subject to availability). From here you gain breathtaking views of the surrounding area and the magical lost city. This hike is strenuous and recommended only for travelers comfortable with heights and who have a good fitness level. A fair amount of climbing is required. (approx. 2.5 hours). At the top you’re rewarded with fabulous views of Machu Picchu. Please let us know if you are interested. Or just relax and continue exploring the magnificent Machu Picchu citadel.

Enjoy a delicious lunch in Machu Picchu Pueblo.

At 16.50hs. Approx. you will board the bus to Aguas Calientes, where you will take the Train to Ollantaytambo or Poroy. Upon arrival at train station meet your swifts Travel representative for a private transfer to your hotel in Cusco.

Overnight in Cusco.

Meals included: Breakfast / Lunch / —

Day 8: CUSCO / City Tour

Breakfast. At 9.30hs. or 14.30hs. enjoy a half-day tour of Cusco, which includes a visit to the cathedral on the Plaza de Armas and the Santo Domingo Temple, a Dominican church and convent built on the foundations of the Koricancha, an important Inca temple devoted to worship of the sun. Your tour also includes a visit to the impressive fortress of Sacsayhuaman, which overlooks the city of Cusco.

You will be impressed by the beauty and monumental scale of this important Inca construction. Continue to Qenqo, one of the finest examples of artfully carved rock showing complex patterns of steps, seats, geometric reliefs and a puma design.

The rest of the day is yours to enjoy at leisure in Cusco.

Optional: Dinner at Cicciolina Rest

Web site; https://www.cicciolinacuzco.com/

Overnight in Cusco.

Meals included: Breakfast / Lunch  / —

Day 9: CUSCO / FD Palcoyo – Rainbow Mountain

Breakfast. On a day’s excursion from Cusco to Palccoyo, experience wild, natural and colorful landscapes hidden deep in the Andes. Most of the day’s excursion is achieved by car, as you travel more than 3 hours from Cusco to Palccoyo. It’s the perfect option for those wanting to witness the incredible beauty of these remote mountains, and the people who live there, without the crowds or a strenuous hike.

Be ready for an early-morning pick-up at 6.30am from your hotel. Journey through an undiscovered land of wild desert landscapes, snow-capped peaks and herds of alpaca as you head towards the ultimate destination – the painted hills hidden deep in the Andes.

You’ll reach Chacacupe town at around 9am, from where it is a further 40-minute drive to the starting point for Palccoyo. As you draw closer, you’ll begin to glimpse the first signs of the colored minerals that give the painted hills their distinctive hues and patterns. Set off with your guide for a walk to the rainbow mountains – there are actually three of them – learning about the distinctive geology as you go. You’ll also be able to view towering Ausangate Mountain, the highest in Peru, and explore the Stone Forest, whose incredible natural formations are the result of earthquakes occurring thousands of years ago.

There will be some free time to soak up the scenery before and after your explorations. A delicious box lunch will be served as you admire the breathtaking panoramic views.

Returning back to Cusco, you’ll be dropped off at your hotel at around 5.30pm.

Overnight in Cusco.

Meals included: Breakfast / Lunch / —

Day 10: CUSCO / LIMA / INTERNATIONAL FLIGHT

At agreed time please meet your Swifts travel representative at the lobby for your private transfer to Cusco Airport for your scheduled flight.

Meals included: Breakfast / — / —

Notes:

• Rates listed in American Dollars and include the taxes and service charge for non-residents in Peru
• Tour rates are per person unless we specified a different option.
• Prices are valid until Apr 15th 2024.
• Prices are not valid from Jun 22nd to 26th (The Inti Raymi “Festival of the Sun” – Jun 24th), Christmas and New Year. Ask for prices 
• Prices are subject to change without previous notice
• This is only a quote not a confirmation of services
• Train tickets are not refundable, not endorsable, and not transferable.
• Air tickets are not refundable, not endorsable, and not transferable.
• The reservations can only be confirmed when the tour package will be requested formally
• In the case of non-rooms availability in the hotels mentioned above, we will use hotels of a similar category
• There are not booked services for this quote
• As Peru is becoming a popular country for tourists, we recommend planning your visit in advance
• The present document is only a quote, the confirmation is subject to the availability of places when the reservations are requested.
• Swifts travel reserves the right to alter the program.
• It is important to mention that Swifts travel work by and for the client and it will look for the best for its clients not only when they book or travel also when for a reasonable situation they have to cancel.
• Passport, visa, and health requirements for you and your party is your responsibility. We do recommend you obtain travel insurance against cancellation and medical coverage