Tour itinerary
Day 1 Arrive Lima
Arrive Lima at any time. There are no planned activities so check into our hotel and enjoy the city.Peru is frequently referred to as the 'Land of the Incas'. It is true that the Incas formed the greatest empire on the continent and left mysterious cities such as Machu Picchu. However, it is important to remember that the Incas were the only the last in a long series of Peruvian civilizations spanning several thousand years and the ruins of many of these earlier civilizations can also be visited. Peru is made up of three main geographical areas: the Andes, the Amazon and the desert coastal area. In this trip we concentrate on the Andes region of south-central Peru and the ancient Inca capital of Cuzco.Known as the City of Kings, Peru?s capital city Lima was founded by Francisco Pizarro on the Day of the Three Kings (Epiphany) in 1535. The Plaza de Armas is the heart of old Lima, and it is here you find the Cathedral, Government Palace and Archbishop?s Palace. The Cathedral dates back to the 1700s and houses the remains of the conquistador Pizarro. To get a feel for colonial Lima, take a cab to the Plaza de Armas and watch the changing of the Palace Guard in the afternoon. Walk the streets surrounding the Jirón de la Unión for great examples of Spanish-colonial architecture and to get a taste for life in a large South American city. An optional city tour visits many of the city?s highlights.There are many fine museums in and around the city, including the Museo Rafael Larco Herrera, which houses an equally impressive collection of pottery, mummies and textiles from the Paracas and Nazca cultures. The more affluent districts of Miraflores, Barranco and San Isidro, which are on the coast, offer good nightlife and cafés all within walking distance. Limeños (Lima?s residents) are friendly, and the city is filled with excellent restaurants; seafood lovers in particular should be sure to try a ceviche, for which Lima is well known. NOTE: Care should be taken when wandering around on your own in central Lima, as some areas can be dangerous and pickpockets are daring.
Day 2 Cuzco
Transfer to the airport for the flight to Cuzco (the flight usually departs early ? we may leave the hotel by 4:30 am). Free day to explore this friendly colonial town with cobblestone streets, nearby Inca ruins, markets, numerous museums and many churches. Cuzco is the continent?s oldest continuously inhabited city, and the hub of the South American travel network. The city attracts travellers who come not just to visit a unique destination but also to experience an age-old culture very different from their 20th century way of life; one could easily spend a week just in and around the area. Inca-built stone walls line most of the central streets and you don't have to go far to see other major Inca ruins. It is a city steeped in history, tradition and legend.Every year Cuzco attracts thousands of travellers who come to delve into its noble but tragic past. It is the perfect base for optional explorations around the city and area as well as a range of outdoor activities. Relax and explore this fascinating city, and take time to acclimatize to the high altitude.Cuzco?s numerous colonial churches are one of the city?s most common sights. The Cathedral was started in 1559 and took 100 years to build; it is also one of the city?s greatest repositories of colonial art. Immediately in front of the entrance is a vault containing the remains of the famous Inca historian, Garcilaso de la Vega. Also worth visiting are the churches of La Compañía, La Merced and San Francisco. While most ruins are just outside of the city, the main ruin within is that of the Coricancha, once the Inca Empire's richest temple. Today the ruin forms the base of the colonial church of Santo Domingo. During Inca times this temple was literally covered with gold, but within months of the arrival of the first conquistadors this incredible wealth had all been melted down. It is left to the individual imagination to envision the magnificence of the original structure. There are several good museums in Cuzco, including the Archaeological Museum, which also houses a small art museum, the Regional History Museum and the Religious Art Museum. Our best advice for exploring Cuzco is to wear a comfortable pair of shoes, arm yourself with a city map and set off to explore!
Day 3-4 Volunteer with Street Children
The next two days will be spent volunteering at Inti Runakunaq Wasin, a drop in center for street children supported by Planeterra ? the G.A.P Adventures Foundation. The home acts as a haven for children and adolescents who live in extreme poverty. The home is open during the day and is run by a staff of volunteer teachers and social workers. Children are given the opportunity to voluntarily drop-in to receive help with homework, a warm meal and participate in a variety of classes and workshops that teach them valuable skills. While volunteering with House of the People of the Sun, travellers will spend time with the staff and children while assisting with various activities. These activities may include teaching English, helping children with their homework, participating in the various workshops provided to the children such as leather working, jewelry making, playing games and helping in the kitchen.
Day 5?9 Choquequirao (4B, 5L, 4D)
Depart Cuzco for Cachora, where we start our trek up to the spectacular and almost forgotten Inca Empire city of Choquequirao. Built atop a mountain high in the Andes, the lost city of Choquequirao is comparable only to Machu Picchu in its beauty, grandeur and architectural accomplishment. Our local guides take care of us while camping and for the duration of the hike. Walk the trail that linked this ancient empire, surrounded by breathtaking views at every step. Following our arrival at Capuliyoc, the final stop on our trek, we head back to Cuzco for some well-deserved showers.Choquequirao, or "cradle of gold" in Quechua, is located almost 1750m above the raging glacier-fed Apurimac River. The ?other Machu Picchu,? Choquequirao is built at the top of an almost untouched mountain in the province of La Convención. Ancient stone walls protect its two-levelled palaces and temples, systems of fountains, canals and aqueducts that fed the fantastic terraces farmed by the Inca during the Pachacutec government (XV century). An important religious, political and economic centre as well as a commercial and cultural link between the Coast, the Highlands and the Jungle, Choquequirao is said to have been the place where the last Inca, Tupac Amaru, was raised among Inca Priestesses. We return to Cuzco for the night of Day 9.
Day 10 Cuzco
Relax or explore the city or shop for souveniers in the colourful Cuzco markets. Other options include visiting nearby spiritual sites of Sacsayhuaman and Tambo Machay, rafting, horseback riding and mountain biking.
Day 11-12 Community Volunteer Project (2B,2L,2D)
Volunteers on this tour will have the experience of true cultural immersion while spending their time participating in the daily life of the men, women and children of the Ccaccaccollo community. This community is home to Inca Trail Porters and a women?s weaving cooperative developed and supported by the Planeterra.Activities on each tour will vary and will depend on the current activities taking place in the community during our stay. These activities may include learning to weave, visiting the local school, helping with basic construction, assisting farmers in the fields with planting, maintaining or harvesting crops.
Day 13 Sacred Valley /Aguas Calientes
Travel through the Sacred Valley of the Incas. An important source of food for the Inca, the Sacred Valley is a lush agricultural region that continues to supply the city of Cuzco with much of its produce. We finish the day in the picturesque village of Ollantaytambo, site of another large Inca ruin. The town and fortress of Ollantaytambo are strategically situated overlooking the beautiful Urubamba River Valley. This major ruin site is known as the best surviving example of Inca urban planning and engineering. It is admired for its huge steep terraces guarding the Inca Fortress and for being one of the few places where the Spanish lost a major battle during the conquest. From Ollantaytambo we catch a train to the small town of Aguas Calientes where we spend the night before our visit to the lost city of Machu Picchu.
Day 14 Machu Picchu / Cuzco
Travel to Machu Picchu for early morning views of the lost city of the Incas. Join a guided tour of the ruins, with plenty of free time afterwards to explore on your own. Machu Picchu is both the best and the least known of the Inca ruins. It is not mentioned in any of the chronicles of the Spanish conquistadors and archaeologists today can do no more than speculate on its function. The local Quechua farmers in the area knew of Machu Picchu for centuries, but it was not until an 11-year-old boy led the American historian Hiram Bingham (who was in search of Vilcabamba) to the site on July 24, 1911, that the rest of the world became aware of its existence. At that time the site was covered in thick vegetation, and Bingham and his team returned in 1912 and 1915 to clear the growth. Over the years, much work has been done on excavating and studying the site. Despite these efforts, many unanswered questions remain.You have the better part of the day to explore the site. In the afternoon, we have the chance to soak in the hot springs of Aguas Calientes before taking the train back to Cuzco.
Day 15 Depart Cuzco