• City tour through the lively Peruvian capital of Lima including a visit to the famous “Museo de Oro” (Gold Museum)
• Romantic boat tour on Lake Titicaca to the Floating Islands of the Uros Indians
• City tour through Cuzco – the former capital city of the Incas, including the solar temple of
Koricancha, also Ruins of Kenko, Tambomachay and Sacsayhuaman
• Exciting ride on the Andean train through the splendorous Urubamba Valley to Aguas Calientes and from there by bus on to the mysterious Ruins of Machu Picchu

• Guided city tour through the colonial center of Quito (UNESCO World Heritage Site), among others, including visits to these sites: the Parliament of Ecuador, the Independence Square, Cathedral (16th century), Presidential Palace, the Baroque La Compañía de Jesus Church, the church of San Francisco (16th century), Panecillo Hill

• Ride up Mt. Cotopaxi until 4,500 m above sea level, the world’s highest active volcano; hike to the José Rivas refuge at almost 5,000 m and Lake Limpiopungo

• Three-day excursion with native guides through the dense Amazon Jungle near Tena

• Stay at Papallacta including a bath in the hot thermal springs

 

 

Day 1: Arrival Lima, Peru
Welcome to Peru. You arrive in Lima and are welcomed by your Spanish-speaking guide who will take you to your Hotel Casa Andina***. Here you can spend the rest of your day quietly and relax from the long journey.
Lima is the capital of Peru and the biggest city of the country. Every neighborhood has its own history and attractions. Only a couple of years after its foundation Lima has become the most important metropolitan city of the Spanish colonies in America. This city can be recognized by the visitors as one of the richest cities of the world because of its many buildings from the colonial time – city palasts, churches, universities, elegant villas etc. This city offers an interesting blend of modern spirit and tradition.  (-/-/-)

 

Day 2: Lima & Ride to Puno
After breakfast, you start your exciting tour through Peru! First you undertake a half-day city tour through the colonial and modern neighborhoods of Lima in order to get a first impression of the giant city. In the old town you can marvel at the beautiful colonial architecture around Plaza Mayor.
The imposing cathedral and the church of San Francisco, the city hall and the palace of the archbishop at the Plaza Mayor are especially worth seeing. Your city tour also leads you through the lovely neighborhood of Miraflores which attracts you by its several restaurants, shops, parks and gardens. In the afternoon, you are taken to the airport and you head towards Juliaca to your next destination: Lake Titicaca.  This night you stay in the lovely Hotel Casa Andina *** in Puno.

 

Lake Titicaca

The legendary Lake Titicaca is located on a multiple-basin plateau, known as the Altiplano. With a size of approx. 8,300 km², it is the largest lake in South America. It is situated at an altitude of approx. 3,820 m above sea level, a fact that makes it the highest navigable lake in the world.

The Titicaca Lake reaches its greatest depths with 284 m in its northeastern section. Five tributaries and rainfall feed the lake. With 97% of total water withdrawals, the evaporation adds to the largest loss of water of the lake. Despite high water levels on short term the lake level declines continuously.
The Aymará is an Indian tribe which have been living in the surroundings of Lake Titicaca for a long time. Until today, they have been able to maintain their own language and their culture, especially the distinctive dances. (B/-/-)

 

Day 3: Lake Titicaca - Excursion to the Uros Islands and Isla Taquile
After breakfast, you enjoy a romantic boat ride across the deep blue Lake Titicaca with its mythical history.
After one hour the boat arrives at the floating Uros Islands, made of a local grass type. The islands are unique since their bottom is made completely out of slowly rotting Totara reed. This is why new reed layers are constantly put on top of the old ones. Also houses, boats, observation towers, schools: pretty much everything is made out of reed here. You can also go a bit by a reed raft which is pushed forward by a man using a long stick.  Then you get back on the boat again and ride across the gigantic lake to Isla Taquile, where a little walk of 45 minutes within a picturesque landscape awaits you.

On Taquile there are no roads and no cars. Every day stocks are delivered from Puno. The islanders carry heavy bundles and bales uphill for hundreds of stairs.
The village square is not only the meeting place of the local population but also football ground and public meeting hall. The population is known for its colorful costumes and, above all, for their knitting men. Then you head back to the port of Puno by boat. From here, your driver takes you to the hotel Casa Andina***. (B/-/-)

 

Day 4: From Puno to Cuzco
Today morning a private bus takes you across the Altiplano to Cuzco. Underway you have several stops in order to visit the Ruins of Raqchi and the church of Andahuaylillas, also called the Sixtine Chapel of Peru.
Along the evergreening landscape you will head to the impressive former Capital City of the Inca Empire: Cuzco. This night you spend at the Hotel Casa Andina San Blas ****. (B/L/-)

 

Day 5: City Tour Cuzco – Train Ride to Aguas Calientes

After breakfast, you go for a half-day walk through the ancient Incan capital. Here you visit the Ruins of Kenko, Tambomachay and Sacsayhuaman apart from the cathedral and the impressive Solar Temple of Koricancha. After prostrating and conquering the Inca Empire in 1533, the local population was humiliated by the Spaniards. All Inca buildings, especially the sanctuaries, were demolished and replaced by colonial buildings, especially churches. By bringing in even more pomp and gaudiness, they tried to convince the Indians that the Spaniards’ religion was mightier than that of the locals. After your city tour you will be taken to the station. By train (Vistadome) you cross the wonderful Urubamba Valley to Aguas Calientes. Here you will stay at the Hotel El Mapi ***. (B/-/-)

 

Day 6: Machu Picchu

Early in the morning you go by bus to the mysterious Ruins of Machu Picchu (2,300 m), the world famous city in the clouds. On this steep and windy path up there you will be impressed by the beautiful views.
As soon as you arrive in Machu Picchu, your local cultural guide takes you to the archaeological zone of this unique Inca city. Here you are shown the most important sectors of Machu Picchu. The attraction that emanates from this place, is also due to the exceptional location, high between the peaks of the Andes. For more than four centuries the city has been forgotten until the American Hiram Bingham rediscovered it while searching for the last city of the Incas, Vilcabamba, in 1911.

Machu Picchu

The ruins are situated approximately 112 km north west of Cuzco, at an altitude of 2,450 m between two mountain peaks, that of Mt. Huayna Picchu ("Young Summit") and Mt. Machu Picchu ("Old Summit"). On three sides, the mountain faces steeply decline on 600 m toward Rio Urubamba, which surrounds the rock in a u-shaped slope. No one knows the Incan name of this old town. Especially in Machu Picchu the fate of the Inca architects to adapt their settlements to the topographical conditions can be seen. There are approximately 200 buildings, which are arranged on large, parallel terraces around a large central square.
One district of the city was probably the residential area whereas the others were used for religious and ceremonial purposes. In the ceremonial district in the west, "El Torreón" is located. This is a massive round tower, which probably served as an observatory. Furthermore one finds the main temple, the temple of three windows, the sun temple and the famous Intihuatana. The residential areas are narrow and long. Thereby the space on the terraces is used optimally. There are streets, stairs, small squares and a remarkable water supply system. Here you can also find the typical Inca architecture: trapezoidal windows, niches and pegs in the walls.

You dedicate the entire day to this fascinating place, exploring the ruins extensively. After an impressive day, you head back to Aguas Calientes and Poroy by train. Here you will spend the night in Hotel Casa Andina San Blas ****. (B/-/-)

 

Day 7: Flight to Ecuador – Arrival Quito, Ecuador
Today morning you are taken to the airport of  Cuzco to fly to Lima. From there you will travel on to Ecuador (international flight not included).
Welcome to Ecuador! You arrive in the bustling capital of Ecuador: Quito. The city of Quito is surrounded by snow-capped volcanoes and is located only 22 kilometres from the equator. Besides that it is the highest located capital of the world with an altitude of 2,850 m. Quito was also given the nick name “Monastery of America” because of its many churches and abbeys. At the airport your Spanish-speaking guide welcomes you and takes you to the Hotel Mercure **** where you will spend the following nights. (B/-/-)

 

Day 8: Quito City Tour & Equator Monument  
After breakfast, we enjoy a city tour through the colonial neighborhoods. Quito’s historic center was declared as one of the UNESCO World Heritage Sites in 1978. The city is considered as the location with the largest accumulation of art treasures in South America. You visit Plaza de la Independencia, view the unique Jesuit Church La Compañía de Jesús, and those among us free from giddiness have the opportunity to scale the basilica’s tower over ladders – a braveness rewarded with a legendary view over the entire city of Quito!
Then you head to the Panecillo which is a 200 m high volcanic hill. Here you also have a breathtaking view over Quito and if the sky is clear you can even marvel at the volcanoes Pichincha, Cotopaxi, Cayambe and Antizana. The statue of the Virgen de Quito with its 45 m is also located on top of the Panecillo. We ride on to Mitad del Mundo, the equator monument a few kilometers north of Quito. There we also pay a visit to the near-by Museo Intiñan. In this museum you have the possibility to check and prove the position at the zero line. Then you return to Quito and stay at the same hotel as the day before. (B/-/-)

 

Day 9: Cotopaxi National Park
Right after breakfast, you start your trip to the Cotopaxi National Park, which awaits you with an overwhelming view of imposing mountain scenery. On your way driving on the Panamericana down south you already cross fascinating landscapes. The famous volcano Cotopaxi (5.897 m) is the highest active volcano of the world, however it is also one of the most ascended mountains of the country.
After paying a visit to the National Park Museum, you pass Lake Limpiopungo and ride up the active volcano. From the parking space at 4,500 m a. s. l. you walk up to the José Rivas Refuge at 4,800 m. Provided with good weather conditions, you will enjoy a truly unique view. After a short side trip to the volcano glacier and a packed lunch, you ride back to Quito. The night you will spend again in the Hotel Mercure ****. (B/BL/-)

 

Day 10: Ride to Tena in the Amazon Basin
Today an exciting trip (in private vehicle) awaits you. You cross the High Andes (at an altitude of more than 4,000 m) and ride down into the steaming Amazon basin, to Tena. The Amazon Basin covers one-fifth of the South American continent. It consists of more than 1.000 tributaries and streams besides the main Amazonas river. From there, you continue, by private vehicle, to Puerto Barandilla, where you take the boat to get to the Liana Jungle Lodge ***. There you stay the following adventurous nights of your jungle excursion. (B/-/D)
 

Day 11: Amazon Jungle
Let the jungle adventure begin! Guided hikes immerse you in the alien and fascinating world of the earth’s largest natural reserve. The Amazon jungle is the world's largest contiguous tropical rain forest and has a biodiversity that has still not been fully discovered. Another secret of the Amazon jungle tracks are suggestive of an ancient, sophisticated culture that should have existed in the depths of the forests. This unique landscape is home to about 10% of all animals and plants occuring on earth. Well-known species include more than 400 mammals, more than 1,000 bird species, 3,000 species of fish and 100,000 insects and at least 40,000 plant species. You undertake jungle excursions (in primary and secondary rainforests), watch birds and insects, and an indigenous expert explains medicinal plants and the unique vegetation. You also visit an Indigena family that lets you have a glance at its way of living and culture. You undertake exciting trips in a dugout, spying out monkeys and other animals. You live in perfect harmony with nature and in the nights you are caught by the mysterious sounds of the jungle. Overnight stay in the same jungle lodge. (B/L/D)

 

Day 12: Return to Tena & Papallacta
After breakfast, you leave the jungle with many unforgettable impressions. Once again, you are taken back to Puerto Barandilla by boat. From there, you head towards Papallacta, which is renowned for its hot springs. The small town of Papallacta is approx. 65 km away from Quito and is located at an altitude between 3.330 and 3.500 m, in a region known for its stark, bizarre Páramo landscape. These hot springs belong to the most beautiful and cleanest of the entire country. The hot springs are fed by the volcanoes Cayambe and Antisana, creating a unique water composition. The area is composed of several pools where the water temperature is between 30 ° C and 70 ° C. This sulfur-containing water is enriched with sodium, chloride, magnesium and calcium. Furthermore it is colorless, odorless and has a slightly salty taste. You can relax in the hotel’s private springs with a breathtaking view on the 5,705 m Antisana. Beside the hot springs there is a Spa-area with sauna or massage treatments (which are not included in the price). Enjoy a trout from the rivers nearby in the hotel's restaurant. Today you spend the night in the Hotel Termas de Papallacta ****. (B/-/-)

 

Day 13: Return to Quito
After breakfast you can spend the morning on your own. You can either relax in the hot springs, or hike in the nature reserve Cayambe-Coca (entrance fee not included). The natural reserve of almost 400,000 hectares consists of so-called Paramos, a heath, which is typical of the Andes, as well as forests, rivers and lagoons. In the afternoon you return to Quito. Here you stay again at the Hotel Mercure ****. (B/-/-)

 

Day 14: Quito – Departure
Today the time has come to say goodbye. Your guide accompanies you to the airport. And you will bring unforgettable memories back home. (B/-/-)

 

 

Services Included

 

• English-speaking guides from Lima to Quito

• All rides (partially in public busses), and transfers, excursions, etc.

• Accommodation in good 2-3 star hotels & hostels typical for the countries as well as a jungle lodge (2 nights)

• Natural guides in rain forest expeditions

• Meals as stated in tour description

 

Not Included

 

• Meals not listed and all drinks

• National park fees and other entrance fees (approx. 30 USD) as well as international exit and airport tax (approx. 45 USD)

• Personal expenses and optional activities

 

Please note

• Participants must have a valid international health insurance.
• We reserve the right to change the tour program due to force majeure, weather or organizational reasons.