All our programmes can be tailor made according to your requirements, whether regarding the length of your tour, any special interests or specific activities, flight reservations, optional destinations or tours.
December 20: Lima
Upon Arrival in Lima, reception at the airport by an Andean American Tours representative and transfer to the selected hotel. No meals included.
December 21: Lima
Breakfast in your hotel.
After breakfast, a city tour of Lima including a guided visit to the cathedral, the Main Square and the San Francisco Catacombs. Lunch at the International Rosa Nautica. Visit to a museum of your choice. Dinner on your own.
December 22: Lima – Cuzco: Sightseeing Tour and Visit to Nearby Ruins
Breakfast in your hotel.
Transfer to the airport for the flight to Cuzco, the ancient Inca capital. After the one hour flight, reception and transfer to the selected hotel. In the afternoon, we will visit the City of Cuzco on a guided sightseeing tour visiting the Main Square, the Cathedral and the Temple of the Sun or Koricancha. Then, we drive out of the City to visit the Inca sites of Kenko, Tambomachay, Puca Pucara and the impressive Fortress of Sacsayhuaman, strategically built on a hill overlooking Cusco, famous for its enormous carved stones, some of them standing over 9m/30 ft high and weighing over 130 tons. Transfer to your hotel. No meals included.
December 23: Cuzco: Sacred Valley of the Inkas
Breakfast in your hotel.
Full-day excursion to the "Sacred Valley of the Inkas", by the Urubamba River. The tour is best on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays (because the markets are busier) although this tour runs every day of the week. Our first visit will be to Pisac, founded during Colonial times. Free time to shop or simply watch the locals going by their everyday lives. After the visit, we will have a great buffet lunch with emphasis on locally grown organic produce in the Urubamba Valley. After lunch, a visit to Ollantaytambo, the ancient Inca town with impressive ruins built into the mountain side. built to guard the entrance to this part of the Valley, and protect it from possible invasion from the tribes in the lower jungle. The Fortress consists of a series of stepped carved stone terraces accessed by long staircases.Transfer to your hotel. Dinner on your own.
December 24: Cusco - Machu Picchu
Breakfast in your hotel.
An early start by Vistadome train to Aguas Calientes. Arrive at Aguas Calientes Station followed by a 30-minute bus drive, climbing 6km of winding road, to the marvellous Citadel. Upon arrival, you will participate in a guided tour of the Citadel, visiting the Main Plaza, the Temple of the Sun, the Sacred Sun Dial, the Royal Quarters, the Temple of the Three Windows and various burial grounds. After the tour you'll have time to stroll around the Archaeological Site at your leisure. Transfer to your hotel. Special Christmas dinner
December 25: Machu Picchu
Breakfast in your hotel.
Excellent opportunity to wake up early and enjoy with a beautiful sunrise as well as stroll by the Town of Aguas Calientes and visit its hot spring thermal waters. Then, you will have time to perform some of the following activities: (not included in the overall tour price)
1. Visit the Citadel of Machu Picchu for the second time.
2. For the most adventurous people, we suggest to go up the Huayna Picchu (if it is not raining) from where you can appreciate the immensity of Machu Picchu, even more amazing being high and distant. Arriving at the top takes about two hours and a half and it must be before 13:00 hours. It is necessary to register in a office at the beginning of the trail. No meals included.
In the afternoon, back to Cusco by train, and transfer to the hotel.
December 26: Cuzco - Arequipa
Breakfast in your hotel.
Free morning in Cuzco for some last minute shopping or wandering around the streets and visit some of the churches which your tourist ticket will allow entrance. Transfer to the airport at midday for the afternoon flight to Arequipa, the most beautiful city in Peru. After the 45 minute flight, transfer to your hotel whilst enjoying enroute a brief overview of the "white city", including the 16th century convent which is built entirely of volcanic lava. The Misti Volcano stands in the background as a sentinel protecting this colonial city. Overnight accommodation in your selected hotel. Free evening. Wander around this beautiful city and enjoy some local cuisine, renowned as amongst the best in Peru.
No meals included.
December 27: Colca Canyon
Breakfast in your hotel.
After breakfast, we depart Arequipa and drive through some wonderful scenery past the Salinas and Aguada Blanca. This natural habitat has been protected since 1971 as many endangered species of flora and fauna inhabit the area; such as guanacos, vicuñas and over 70 species of bird. We continue the journey towards the Colca canyon, witnessing groups of wild alpacas and vicuñas before first ascending and then descending into Chivay, the main town of the Colca canyon. Stop for lunch and arriving to the selected hotel, set in the very foot of the valley. Complete with its own thermal baths. Lunch and dinner are included.
December 28: Arequipa
Breakfast in your hotel.
An early start to visit the Colca canyon, the second deepest canyon in the world (the deepest canyon lies only a few kilometres from here). We shall witness the incredible pre-Inca terracing all along the valley before arriving to the cruz del condor in order to see the huge condor; the world’s largest flying bird. We shall also visit some small towns in the area, witnessing life as it must have looked several hundred years ago before returning to Arequipa. Lunch in a local Rest. Overnight accommodation in your selected hotel. Dinner on your own.
December 29: Lima
Breakfast in your hotel.
Transfer to the airport for the return flight back to Lima and connection with your international flight back home.
Tour Option: Overnight at the Sacred Valley
Upgrade to the Luxury Hiram Bingham Luxury Train: US$450.00 per person.
Flight tickets: To be quoted on the day of enquiry the tour.
