Day-to-day schedule
Day 1: Lima
Arrive into Lima, Lima is the capital of Peru and was founded in 1535 by the Spanish conqueror Pizarro. The town took the place of Cuzco as the country’s capital and rapidly developed into Spain’s largest and wealthiest settlement in the new world. Presently, the metropolis counts almost 9 million inhabitants. There are various interesting sights in the centre of town, such as the Anthropological museum (Museo Antropología y Arqueología), the Gold Museum (Museo de Oro), the Catacombs of the San Francisco church and the Plaza de Armas and the Plaza San Martín, the two most prominent squares in central Lima.Day 2: Lima - Pisco - Ica
In the morning you will take the bus to Pisco (some 3.5 hours driving). Pisco is a small fishing town near Paracas National Park. There’s time to visit the Islas Ballestas, a paradise for sea lions, penguins, cormorants and gannets. Although you are not allowed to disembark you will see most of them. Curious sea lions swim around the boat while various sea birds fly overhead. On the return trip you will pass “Candelabro”, a drawing of a candle etched in the rocks. The origin like that of the Nazca Lines, is unknown. Then you will go to Ica, a famous oasis surrounded by beautiful sandy dunes. In Ica you can opt the next morning to take a spectacular buggy ride and enjoy a beautiful sunset or go sandboarding, i.e. skiing the dunes on a waxed wooden board. In the oasis you can take a swim. You will stay overnight near the oasis in a hotel with a swimming pool.
Day 3: Ica - Nazca
Today we will proceed to Nazca, famous for its intriguing Nazca lines. The origin and function of which remain a great mystery. Some lines represent animals, a 90-metre monkey and a 180-metre lizard. Others are line patterns, perfectly straight lines, going on for kilometres and huge triangles . Various theories have evolved. Perhaps the most plausible comes from Dr. Maria Reiche, a German mathematician, who has dedicated a great part of her life to studying the lines. She believes that the drawings are part of an astronomic calendar. Equally astonishing is the graveyard of Chauchilla, where sun bleached skeletons of Nazca people guard the ancient cemetery. Weather permitting; it is also possible to book a flight over the Nazca lines. Day 4: Nazca – nightbus to Arequipa
In the evening of day 4, we will leave for Arequipa by comfortable public night bus. The journey takes around nine and a half hours. After a long drive along the coast and through the mountains, we arrive the following morning.
Day 5: Arequipa
Arequipa is a magnificent colonial city at an altitude of 2235 metres surrounded by volcanoes, of which the most famous, 'El Misti' (5822 m) is visible from the Plaza de Armas. Although the city was founded by the Spanish conquerors, there are still many relics left from the Pre-Inca and Inca periods. You have the day to make trips in the surrounding area. In Arequipa the Santa Catalina monastery is worth visiting. For 400 years, nuns lived here in total seclusion. It was only in 1970 that the monastery opened to the public. The Santa Catalina monastery is said to be the most beautiful in the new world. The complex covers about 20.000 sq, allowing you to wander for hours along the picturesque alleys. Visit the mummy of the young Inca girl ‘Juanita’ in the Museum of Sanctuaries Andinos (it might be that this famous mummy is temporarily exhibited elsewhere). The Incas offered her to the volcano to appease the mountain gods. The mummy is well preserved because for all those years she lay frozen under an icecap.
Day 6: Arequipa - Chivay
This morning, we travel to the Colca Canyon . We shall cross the Andes to Chivay, where we stay overnight. The highest point on the route offers a breathtaking view over the surrounding volcano peaks. The tour takes us through the pampas where you will witness the almost extinct vicuña grazing, alongside other llama-like animals. We will pass various traditional Andean settlements. This trip is physically rather demanding due to the altitude, the highest point being 4800 metres. However, the village of Chivay where you will spend the night is an easier 3600 metres high. In the late afternoon you have time for a break in the pleasant hot thermal springs near Chivay.
Entrance fee for the National Park Colca Canyon is included.Day 7 -
8: Chivay - Puno
A highlight of this tour is the visit to the 'Cruz del Condor' from where we enjoy a breathtaking view over the Colca Canyon, one of the world’s deepest gorges. With a little luck, we shall spot a majestic condor gliding around. These large birds live on the bottom of the gorge and ascend on morning thermals. We will visit some neighbouring villages and continue to Puno in the afternoon.
Puno is on Lake Titicaca; the world’s highest navigable lake (3820 m). Visit the Sillustani Tombs. The Colla people, a pre-Inca civilization, buried their dead in these towers. Stroll around Puno and visit the colourful market. You can also visit the Uros Islands, possibly in combination with Taquile Island. The 300 inhabitants of the Uros live on Lake Titicaca, on floating islands made of totora reeds. Their small houses are also made out of reed, as are their boats. The largest island has two-storied houses and a school. Indians, well known for their weaving culture, inhabit Isla Taquile. It is mainly the men who weave and knit. You can buy colourful alpaca woollen goods here. Apart from tourism, the Indians earn a living from fishing hunting and farming.
Day 9 -
10: Puno - La Paz
We travel by bus along Lake Titicaca, then head for our destination La Paz. At the border, we transfer into a Bolivian bus that takes us via the ruins of Tiahuanacu to La Paz (entrance fee not included). The Tiahuanacu culture is one of the Andes’ great pre-Inca cultures divided by 5 periods covering almost 2000 years. Even now little is known about the people that built this grand ceremonial centre. Most of the, still visible, large stone structures originated between 300-700 AD. Only a small part of the ruins has been excavated, the remnants of various basalt and sandstone temples, statues and magical gates. The most famous building is the Puerta del Sol (Sun Gate), carved out of one giant block of anthracite. Despite the fact that many archaeological finds such as earthenware and jewels have been stolen from the site, the museum next to the complex has an excellent collection.
Coming from the heights of El Alto, the first sight of La Paz will stay printed on everyone’s memory. On a beautiful day, you can see the Illimani (6402 m) rising in the distance. The city is located at 3600 metres. The following day you’ll have plenty of time for exploring the town and its surroundings. Narrow, steep streets lead you to awesome colonial buildings, churches, monasteries and market stalls. There is no shortage of museums, such as the Museo de Etnografía y Folklore exhibiting a study of different ethnic groupings and the Museo del Oro exhibiting pre-Columbian silver, gold and copperware.
Pay a visit to the extraordinary Mercado de Hechicería or witch market, where traditionally dressed Aymara women with their typical bowler hats, exhibit all kinds of miracle drugs that will bring you luck. Next to all sorts of herbs and stones, you will discover llama-foetuses that are used as offerings at the time of building new homes. On the border of the town, is a typical Latin American graveyard, where the dead are buried in long rows of stonewalls. Relatives frequently visit the graves and apply colourful decorations. Rich and poor are buried side by side yet the tombstones clearly signal their financial backgrounds. On November 1, the Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) is celebrated and the complete town turns out to commemorate their deceased ancestors. Around La Paz, there are various possibilities for walks. Explore the Valle de la Luna (Valley of the Moon). This area has bizarre eroded rock formations that look like a lunar landscape. The desert scenery is perfect for photography. The valley also houses cactuses that provoke hallucinations when treated and consumed in a certain manner. This trip can be combined with a walk to the Muela del Diablo (the Devil’s molar), a prominent ancient volcanic outcrop near La Paz. Another beautiful viewing point is Chacaltaya Mountain, which has the world’s highest ski slope (5300m.) A primitive mountain refuge is available and you can take a two-hour walk to Chacaltaya’s two summits. If the sky is clear, you will be treated to unforgettable views.Day 11 -
12: La Paz - Uyuni
On day 11, we make our way to Uyuni, (3660 m.). This one day-trip leads us along a rough and desolate landscape. Late in the evening we arrive in Uyuni, our starting point for an adventurous trek in the Salar de Uyuni (entrance fee for the Salar is included).
On day 12, by Jeep, we will cross the extensive surrealistic plains of the Altiplano, framed in the distance by the mighty peaks of the Andes. The Salar de Uyuni is Bolivia’s largest saltpan, covering 12.000 sq.km. and it will not come as a surprise that salt extraction forms the region’s main source of income. We will visit Isla de Pescado, and witness massive amounts of cactuses in the middle of the large plains of salt deposits. This alien scenery is the home of flamingos, alpacas and viscachas, a rodent. The salt plains are at a high altitude and therefore, it can be considerably cool, particularly during our summer months. At night, temperatures may drop to far below freezing point. It is even colder when it is windy. Warm clothing is necessary. Don’t forget to bring along gloves and a hat (or buy one along the way at a market). Consider wearing long thermal underwear or leggings underneath your clothes. The sunshine on these bright white plains is intense. Wear sunglasses during the day and put on a good sun protection cream.
Please note that if there are less than 6 people booked on the tour, transport will be by public bus instead of by private minibus and the itinerary will change slightly, as follows: in the afternoon of day 11 the group will take a public bus from La Paz to Oruro in order to take the night train from Oruro to Uyuni. The group will arrive at 3am the next day (day 12) and will go on an excursion in the Salar Desert during the morning, departing at 9am.
Day 13 -
14: Uyuni - Potosí
It will take us 5 to 6 hours to get to Potosí, the legendary silver town and at 4090 metres, the world’s highest city. It can be very chilly. The Cerro Rico or Rich Mountain, towers even higher than the city. In former times silver was mined in such quantities that the Spaniards could have used it to build a bridge to Europe. The mountain was accidentally discovered in 1544 by the Indian llama-shepherd Diego Huallpa. After having searched in vain for two missing animals until late in the evening, he lit a fire at the foot of the mountain. As the fire became hotter, the soil around began to melt and streams of silver appeared. The Spaniards then claimed the mountain’s vast resources. Indians and later, African slaves were used as forced labour on a huge scale. Sometimes these slaves would not see daylight for 4 months. Many of them died here. Once there were hundreds of silver mines but nowadays, the ‘Rich Mountain’ provides mainly tin and other metals, though silver is still mined on a small scale. Even now miners labour under terrible circumstances in extreme temperatures. Before they enter the mine, they give offerings to El Tío, the god of the underworld. You can visit the mines if you wish. Just put on old clothes and bring a flashlight. Perhaps you would like to bring along some coca leaves as a gift for the miners. Those who suffer from breathing or similar medical problems are strongly advised not to descend into the mines.
In 1987, UNESCO proclaimed the city of Potosí as a World Heritage Site for its tragic history and rich colonial architecture. The Casa Real de la Moneda is certainly worth a visit. In this building, silver coins were once minted. The museum houses an excellent collection of historical objects, such as paintings and furniture. Furthermore, in the city, there are many churches and monasteries to see and it is definitely worth the effort to stroll around the narrow alleys and look out for magnificent old buildings and monuments that still radiate the wealth of the past.
Day 15: Potosí - La Paz
Today we shall have a long but varied ride back to La Paz. We will cross the highlands and arrive late in the evening in La Paz, where you can relax in the comfortable hotel.Day 16: La Paz - Copacabana
Today a short bus ride will take us to the friendly town of Copacabana where you can admire a breathtaking view over deep blue Lake Titicaca. Copacabana is an important pilgrimage town. The brilliantly white Moorish cathedral houses a 16th century wooden statue of the Virgen de Candelaria that is believed to work miracles. It is great walking in the area. Climb the Cerro Calvario and enjoy the fantastic view over Lake Titicaca and the sunset. In the afternoon, you may choose to take a boat trip to Isla del Sol, an island boasting an impressive history and Inca ruins.Day 17 -
19: Copacabana - Cuzco
On day 17, a beautiful 8-hour bus ride over Peru’s Altiplano takes us to Cuzco, where you can start exploring the royal capital city of the powerful Incan Empire. Cuzco has many great monuments and countless Inca ruins. Cuzco means in Inca language: the navel of the world. In former times, the city served as the Inca’s mighty administrative and religious centre. Nowadays it still seems to breathe the mystic atmosphere of ancient times. In 1533, the Spaniards conquered the town, destroyed it and used the foundations of the Inca constructions as the base to build a new colonial town. Most of these foundations can still be seen in the city. It is worth the effort to buy a special Cuzco Visitor Ticket at 70 sols (GB pound 11,50 admitting you to practically all significant monuments, churches and museums in town and all the most significant ruins.
The impressive Cathedral borders the Plaza de Armas. It is connected to the El Triunfo and Jesus María churches. Diagonally across from the churches you’ll find La Compañía church, the most beautiful of them all. The Qorikancha was the most significant and wealthiest temple of the Inca Empire. On top of its foundations the Santo Domingo church was built. Fortunately some of the elaborate brickwork on the ancient temple can still be admired. Outside the city, there are interesting Inca ruins too, such as Tambo Machay (a water temple), Puca Pucara, Qenko and Sacsayhuaman, once a powerful fort and religious centre from where you have a great view of Cuzco. Colossal granite blocks were carved with such precision, that they fit perfectly. You can visit these four ruins in one day on foot or by horse. In the evening, you can eat in one of the many nice restaurants. There are many optional excursions possible such as mountain biking and rafting.
Inca Trail
For the real hikers, nature and culture lovers the 42 kilometre long Inca Trail forms a true challenge. Do not take the ruggedness of this trek lightly, because there are no hotels, you sleep in two-person tents and the weather can change everyday. Moreover, the terrain is everything but flat. Are these reasons not to walk the Inca Trail? No! But prepare yourself thoroughly, because the trek is tough, but thoroughly enchanting. It is best to walk the Inca trail between May and October, although there may be one or two showers.
You will be accompanied by a local guide, who will stay with the group during the entire trek through a number of truly wonderful Inca ruins. Local porters carry the cooking equipment, tents, provisions for two days. You carry yourself a small backpack containing your needs for these two days and a sleeping bag.
In two days, you can walk a shorter version of the Inca trail. The two-day trek starts near the holy Urubamba River. By the end of the afternoon, you arrive at Machu Picchu, where you stay overnight in the village of Aguas Calientes at the foot of Machu Picchu. The following day you have plenty of time to visit the ruins, led by the guide. At the end of the afternoon, you return to Cuzco by train.
If you want to walk the Inca Trail, indicate this on your booking form and book as early as you can. The trek is extremely popular and if you book late, the odds are that there will not be a place left. When booking, give your precise name and passport number (your passport must be valid until 6 months after the tour!) because this information will be printed on the entrance tickets.
The Inca Trail is always in high demand and only becomes fixed upon receiving our confirmation.
It is however strongly advisable to book this well in advance as we are unable to guarantee your space if you book less then 3 months in advance. Before booking an Inca trail excursion please check real time availability http://www.inca-trail.com.pe/dispo/index.php?lg=en. Please note that the Inca Trail is not available during the month of February.
The price per person for the two-day Inca Trail £ 125.00 per person.
Day 20: Cuzco - Aguas Calientes
We travel by train to Aguas Calientes. The 4-hour train ride takes us through stunning scenery. The rest of the day, you are free to explore the village, take a walk or a break in the hot water springs. You could visit the lost Inca city Machu Picchu. The bus ride from Aguas Calientes to Machu Picchu is at your own expense (on day 20 the bus ride is included), and then you will have to pay a 2-day entrance fee
Day 21: Aguas Calientes - Cuzco
This morning you may visit the lost Inca city Machu Picchu, beautifully located on a plateau in the middle of freakish rock formations (entrance fee not included). Due to its unique location, the city was never discovered by the Spaniards and thus, has remained well preserved. It was only in 1911 that the American historian Hiram Bingham, who thought he had found the lost Inca city of Vilcabamba, discovered the ruins. Archaeologists believe it was once a religious Inca town, but its precise function is still unknown. You will have ample time to explore the whole complex of temples, terraces and holy places. The most famous photo of Machu Picchu was taken after a climb up to the Hut of the Caretaker of the Funeral Rock. If you prefer a completely different view of the ruins, a walk to the Into Punku (Sun Gate) is highly recommended. From this point, people walking the Inca trail get their first glimpse of Machu Picchu. A steep climb of around an hour takes you to the top of the Huayna Picchu, where you will be again be rewarded with spectacular views. In the afternoon we travel back to Cuzco by train for an overnight .
Day 22: Lima (arrival by flight from Cuzco)
On day 22 we fly back to Lima for one final evening in this Capital city before bringing the tour to a close at 12 noon on Day 23.Day 23: Lima
It is the last day of your tour but rather than being about ‘Goodbye’ your thought should be ‘Go further’!
Visit your personal ‘my.shoestring’ page on our website. ‘my.shoestring’ is the perfect way to make contact with other travellers before and after your trip. You can read and create journals from trips and upload your photos onto the photo gallery. Visit my shoestring today.
When booking your tour, please check to see whether you need any post-tour nights, bearing in mind that accommodation for the night of the final day of the tour (day 23) is not included.