Culinary and Cultural Tour 14 Days

Enjoy a half-day tour of the modern and colonial city of Lima, known as the “City of Kings.” We will start with the Parque del Amor in Miraflores, which has spectacular views of the Pacific Ocean. We will then continue to the site of Huaca Pucllana, a ceremonial center of Lima culture, later we will visit the main square of Lima, where the Government Palace and City Hall are located. Finally, we will finish our tour by visiting the Convent of San Francisco, built in the 17th century and home to mysterious catacombs.

• Overnight: Lima (Altitude: Sea Level)

Today we will head south of Lima and visit the impressive pre-Hispanic site of Pachacamac, a place that was one of the most important sanctuaries in pre-Columbian times. Then we will visit a Pisco winery and distillery, where you can witness the process of obtaining wine and Pisco (the famous Peruvian drink) in an artisanal way. We will then enjoy a delicious lunch and finally arrive at the city of Paracas for our accommodation.

• Overnight: Lima (Altitude: Sea level)

The Ballestas are three small islands located off the coast of Paracas in the Pacific Ocean. The Ballestas Islands are home to hundreds of sea lions, many species of seabirds including the Humboldt penguin – you are guaranteed to see some amazing wildlife. Along the way you will be able to see the “Candelabro” which is a giant candelabra-shaped geoglyph on the coast of Paracas. In the afternoon, enjoy the sightseeing tour of the city of Ica and the majestic sunset around the oasis of Huacachina. After a great experience, you will return to Lima.

• Overnight: Lima (Altitude: Sea Level)

Upon arrival, you will be transferred to your hotel. In the afternoon, we will begin our tour by visiting the San Pedro Market, a place of colors, flavors, and unique traditions. Get a close-up look at the daily lifestyle of the local people and their culture. Then, we will visit the Temple of the Sun, whose walls and floors were supposedly once covered in sheets of solid gold. The next place to visit is the impressive Inca site of Sacsayhuaman, which consists of individual stones weighing over 100 tons and took over seven decades to complete. Conclude the day at the site of Q’enq’o, a mysterious limestone formation decorated with intricately carved depictions of mythical deities.

• Overnight: Cusco (Altitude: 3,350 m. – 11,055 ft.)

We begin our day by visiting the extraordinary Inca site of Tipón, which stands out for its incredible hydraulic system of aqueducts and irrigation system. We then continue to the picturesque town of Oropesa, where we will experience the tasting of its famous “Chuta” bread, a kind of sweet and oversized bread. We will then make a stop at the pre-Inca site of Pikillaqta, the largest provincial outpost ever built by the Wari Empire based in Ayacucho. Its 47-hectare adobe-walled enclosure may go unnoticed; however, it offers visitors a great opportunity to see pre-Inca architecture. We then end our day by visiting the incredible Inca site of Pisaq, where you can wander around the site while learning about Inca history, taking in the tremendous views of the fascinating agricultural terraces that wrap around the mountain and valley below.

• Overnight: Cusco (Altitude: 3,350 m. – 11,055 ft.)

In the morning we will begin a beautiful hike from the town of Chinchero (12,316 feet), a town famous for its Inca constructions and the Inca trail. Then we will continue along the Inca Trail towards Urquillos. We will see beautiful landscapes and crop terraces, then descend into a narrow valley and continue to the archaeological site of Tambo Inca, a rest stop and supply center during the time of the Incas.

We continue the descent through thick vegetation and crop fields to the town of Urquillos (9,776 feet), where your transport will be waiting to take you to your hotel.

• Overnight: Ollantaytambo Town (Altitude: 2,800 m. – 9,186 feet)

On this day, we will visit the spectacular archaeological site of Moray, a series of concentric circular terraces that were used as an Inca laboratory to carry out the acclimatization, hybridization and adaptation of Andean crops. We will then stop in the town of Maras, which was once the most prosperous town in the area due to the salt trade. We will then head to the Maras salt mines (Salineras) to see and learn about this truly unique place that has been in continuous use since pre-Incan times. We will conclude our day with the great Inca site of Ollantaytambo with its impressive warehouses, astronomical and religious temples.

• Overnight: Ollantaytambo Town (Altitude: 2,800 m. – 9,186 ft.)

In the morning, after breakfast and a 30-minute drive, we begin our llama trek along an ancient pre-Hispanic trail that is located next to a beautiful small river. Our hike will be 1 hour and a half until we reach the home of the local family, the Quispe Huaman family, surrounded by mountains and herds of llamas and alpacas and exceptional landscapes. Upon reaching the local family home and a well-deserved rest, we will immerse ourselves in the local activities that the families will share with us, such as potato planting, puna grass rope making, and the textile weaving process. We end our day with a delicious lunch prepared by our host family.

Hiking Details:

• Difficulty: Easy to Moderate
• Elevation: Starting Point: 3,800 m.–12,507 ft. / Highest Point: 3,950 m.–13,035 ft.
• Total Hiking Distance: 4 km. / 2.4 mi. – 1:20 hrs. Approx.
• Overnight: Ollantaytambo town (Altitude: 2,800 m. – 9,186 ft.)

In the morning, you will travel by train to km 104, where you will begin hiking the Inka Trail. You will first approach Chachabamba at 7,380 feet and then gradually ascend for approximately three hours, towards the fascinating archaeological site of Wiñay Wayna at 8,690 feet, where you can explore the site along with its houses, water sources and cultivation terraces. After lunch, you will continue through the semi-tropical forest towards Intipunku (the Sun Gate), where you will enjoy your first panoramic view of Machu Picchu. After a well-deserved rest with breathtaking scenery, we will take the final stretch of the royal Inka Trail that ends at the lost city of the Inkas and enjoy postcard-like views.

Hiking Details:

• Difficulty: Easy to Moderate | Meals: Breakfast and Lunch
• Hiking Distance: 12 km. / 7.4 mi. | Time: 6 hrs. Approx.
• Altitude: Starting point 2,080 m. / 6,824 ft. Highest point 2,700 m. / 8,858 ft.
• Overnight: Machu Picchu Town (Altitude: 2,000 m. / 6,561 ft)

In the morning, after a 30-minute bus ride, you will arrive at the incredible “Lost City of the Incas” accompanied by your tour guide and you will be able to take a private guided tour of these incredible ruins, enjoying the complicated history of the site, the astonishing degree of technology achieved by its builders, the provision of water channels that reveal a deep knowledge of hydraulics and its exceptionally fine masonry. All this magnificent building allows you to go back in time and, with the help of your tour guide, relive the existence of those truly admirable builders by contemplating the impressive landscape. After a complete overview of the site, we will go down to the city for lunch and return to Cusco.

• Overnight: Cusco (Altitude: 3,350 m. – 11,055 ft.)

Start your day with a tour of Cusco’s most famous market, the San Pedro Market, where you will have an introduction to a large and diverse amount of ingredients from the 8 natural regions of Peru and that make up the important local diet. After this, you will head to a cooking studio, located in the center of Cusco, where you will have a hands-on class and learn how to prepare nutritious and healthy dishes using our most representative ingredients under the guidance of a professional Peruvian chef. Expect delicious Peruvian and local dishes.

• Overnight: Cusco (Altitude: 3,350 m. – 11,055 ft.)

After breakfast, the trip takes most of the day with beautiful scenery along the route, first visiting the Church of Andahuaylillas (known as the Andean Sistine Chapel), where you will be able to appreciate some intriguing 16th, 17th and 18th century wall paintings and fully decorated gold altars. Lunch will be at a local family’s home in the village of Raqchi community, where you will also be able to admire and learn about the fascinating construction of the Inka temple in honor of the God Wiraqocha. An unavoidable stop is La Raya (4,300 m. – 14,289 ft.), which is the highest elevation craft market and the midpoint of the trip. Conclude the day by visiting the fascinating village of Pukará, famous for its figurines (the two bulls) that can be found on most of the roofs of Andean houses.

• Overnight: Puno (Altitude: 3,800 m. – 12,540 ft.)

Today, aboard a private boat, we will visit the floating islands of the Uros, home to the ancient inhabitants of Lake Titicaca. This community has endured for hundreds of years thanks to the continuous renewal of the bottom of the island with totora (a plant that grows in the water and the swamp). Be amazed by the way the locals use totora to build canoes, houses, beds and many other things. As part of your visit to these islands, experience a gentle and pleasant ride in a totora canoe. Then, visit Takile Island, whose residents are known for their kindness and for their weaving. Here, enjoy a typical lunch prepared by local families and delight in their incredible hospitality. Return to Puno.

• Overnight: Puno (Altitude: 3,800 m. – 12,540 ft.)

On the way to the airport, we will visit the Sillustani Tombs, which sit atop a windswept hill and boast stunning views of Lake Umayo. This site is famous for its Aymara burial tombs, whose circular stone towers were built to house the remains of entire family groups, although they were probably limited to the nobility of the ancient Qolla people. The towers are up to 12 meters high and are unique in that the base of each tower has a smaller diameter than the top. The bodies of the deceased were wrapped in cloth and tied into mummy bundles for burial. They were almost always placed in the fetal position, so that they would be ready to be born again. The Incas appropriated, expanded, and continued to use the pre-existing site after conquering the area in the 15th century. We then continue to Juliaca Airport for your flight to Lima.

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