This photo essay highlights our tour of Peru, the itinerary which is on the left column. Sadly, Overland Tours is no longer in business as the owner has passed. She was a wonderful person and provided excellent service ensuring we would never face any undue risk.


Peru Itinerary

Lima Ica Nazca Arequipa Chivay Puno Cusco Ollantaytambo Machu Picchu Cusco Lima (30 days / 29 nights) Arrival May 09 - Departure June 07, 2013 ((Blog Posts are inserted for the approximate time periods.))

May
Thu.9

Panamá San José Lima Assistance at Jorge Chavez International Airport upon arrival of TACA # 7033 at 3:15 PM. Transfer to Britania Hotel in Miraflores.(30min) Check in for 3 nights. Briefing at hotel to explain complete itinerary. Rest of day at leisure, overnight (Blog)

Fri. 10

Lima AM City tour of Lima / PM Larco Museum Buffet Breakfast at hotel. This morning half-day tour visits both the modern and colonial sites of Peru’s Capital City: Lima, called "City of Kings." You will start with the modern suburbs, drive along the residential areas of Miraflores with a great view to the Pacific Ocean and San Isidro with its orchard of Olive trees, to arrive downtown and observe the Colonial sites, due to Spanish heritage. Including: Plaza Mayor with its Cathedral and Presidential Palace, San Francisco’s Church and catacombs and the exquisite Torre Tagle Palace seat of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Return to Miraflores. Your guide will drop you in Miraflores for lunch at “Mangos Restaurant” located at LarcoMar, over looking the sea. “Pisco Sour as a welcome drink is included. At 3 PM. after lunch your tour will continue to visit “ Larco Museum” privately owned. This museum is housed in an 18th century vice royal mansion built over a 7th century pre-Columbian pyramid. It showcases chronological galleries that provide a thorough overview of 4,000 of Peruvian pre-Columbian history. It boasts one of the world's largest collections of pre-Columbian art including Moche, Nazca, Chimú, and Inca pieces. Additionally, the Larco Museum is well known for its gallery of pre-Columbian erotic pottery. Transfer back to your hotel in Miraflores. Overnight

Sat. 11

Lima Buffet Breakfast at hotel; day at leisure; overnight

Sun. 12

Lima Ica Buffet breakfast at hotel. 6:30AM your transportation will pick you up from your hotel for your transfer to the bus station. Oltursa bus will depart at 07:30 AM. for Ica. (4:30 hrs) Seats in the lower level. Taking the Panamerican Highway South you will be able to observe our coast with the Pacific Ocean all along, while passing by towns like Cañete, Mala, Chincha. Snack will be served. Short stop over in Paracas, continue to Ica arriving at 12:00 Transfer to your hotel Hacienda El Carmelo. Check in for 2 nights. Rest of the day at leisure; Overnight

Mon 13.

Ica Breakfast at hotel; day at leisure; Optional tour to wineries overnight

Tue. 14

Ica Nazca Breakfast at hotel; transfer to bus station on time to board your OLTURSA bus to Nazca. Departing at 12:15 PM (2:30hrs). Seats in the lower level. Snack on board. Transfer to your hotel Alegria. Check in for 2 nights; Rest of the day at leisure, overnight (Blog)

Wed. 15

Nazca Breakfast at hotel; Optional overflight; optional tour to Cahuachi Rest of day at leisure. Overnight

Thu 16

Nazca Arequipa Breakfast at hotel; Morning at leisure. Please check. on time at Oltursa Bus Station for your departure at 3:00PM for Arequipa. (9hrs) Seats in the lower level. Taking the Panamerican Highway South. Snack will be served,

Fri.17

Arequipa PM City tour of Arequipa Arrival to Arequipa City at 01:00 AM. Upon arrival assistance will be provided and transfer to your Hotel Ensueño. Check in for four nights. Breakfast at hotel; Arequipa is considered Peru 2nd largest city and is called the “white city” due to the white volcanic rock called sillar with which many beautiful buildings have been constructed. Your guide will pick you up at 2PM to visit the most important sites such as the Church of San Francisco, Dome of La Compañía de Jesus, the Plaza de Armas and the unforgettable Convent of Santa Catalina, famous in the 16th century. The Convent of Santa Catalina is one of the most important colonial religious buildings in the country. Return to hotel by midday. Rest of day at leisure. Overnight

Sat.18

Arequipa Breakfast at hotel; day at leisure. Overnight

Sun. 19

Arequipa Breakfast at hotel; day at leisure. Overnight

Mon.20

Arequipa Colca Breakfast at hotel. Early transfer to bus station for your tour to the Colca Valley includes transportation, guide and entrance fees. The Colca Canyon, considered the deepest in the world, has Impressive sights of famous Peru’s volcanoes as well as picturesque pre Inca terracing, friendly Indian villages traditionally dressed. Arriving at Chivay typical Indian town, around midday. Check in for 3 nights at Hotel Casa Andina. Rest of day at leisure.

Tue.21

Chivay Colca Canyon Breakfast at hotel. Morning tour to Cruz del Condor. Time for observation. Returning to Chivay around midday. Rest of day at leisure Overnight

Wed 22

Chivay Breakfast at hotel Rest of day at leisure Overnight

Thu.23

Chivay Puno. Breakfast at hotel. Morning free. Departure for Puno at 1:30 PM. Departing from Chivay, this panoramic trip shows the beauty of the area with a vast display of typical animals of this region like the alpacas and vicuñas. Stopovers on the way for explanations as well as pictures. Soft drinks on board. Arrival in Puno around 6.30 PM. Upon arrival assistance will be provided and transfer to Balsa Inn. Check in for 3 nights. Mate de coca as "Welcome drink" will be served. Overnight

Fri.24

(Blog) Puno Titicaca Lake Tour Full day tour of Lake Titicaca's top tourist attractions. Uros Island inhabited by descendants of Aymaras that build their houses over floating artificial islands as well as Taquile Islands offer to tourists an authentic travel to the past, sharing the life with local natives and beautiful landscapes. A typical lunch will be served. Returning to hotel in the afternoon. Overnight

Sat. 25

Puno Cusco Buffet Breakfast at hotel; 6:45 AM. Transfer to bus station for your trip from Puno to Cusco. Your bus departs at 7:30AM. You will enjoy a 9 hrs trip making stopovers at archeological places such as Pukara including visit to the museum; La Raya with amazing sites, Sicuani for a typical buffet lunch. Continue on to Racchi and Andahuaylillas. On board soft drinks will be available Arriving in Cusco at 5:15PM. Transfer from bus station to Akwis Dream hotel. Check in for five nights. Overnight.

Sun 26

Cusco PM City Tour and nearby ruins Buffet Breakfast at hotel; Afternoon tour of Cusco, the former capital of the Inca Empire, World Heritage Site by UNESCO, visiting the Plaza Mayor, Cusco ́s Cathedral, the Koricancha Temple, of colonial architecture constructed over an Inca temple and other most important sites. Continue on a short drive outside of the city to admire the Fortress of Saysachuaman, Quenko, Puca Pucara and Tambomachay. Rest of day at leisure. Overnight

Mon.27

Cusco Buffet breakfast at hotel. Day at leisure. Overnight

Tue 28

Cusco Sacred Valley Ollantaytambo Buffet Breakfast at hotel. Your guide will pick you up for the Sacred Valley Tour. Crossing Cusco City towards the west side of the Andes Mountains you will arrive to the Urubamba Valley. On the way your guide will brief you about our Inca History and you will observe small Indian towns, their agricultural terraces while viewing the high peaks that surround this area. You will be able to see the colorful Indian Market at Pisac, where locals with typical dressing, bring their crops, as well as hand made products, to sell or exchange as their ancestors did. Continue on by way of the Sacred Valley to enjoy a buffet lunch at Tunupa ́s Restaurant After lunch you will proceed to visit the Ollantaytambo town to visit its famous Fortress. Check in at Sauce Hostal in Ollantaytambo for 2 nights Overnight.

Wed 29

Ollantaytambo Buffet breakfast at hotel. Day at leisure. Overnight

Thu:30

Ollantaytambo to Machu Picchu Early morning buffet breakfast. Your train departs from Ollantaytambo station at 06:40 AM, for Aguas Calientes. Snack on board. The ride takes about 90 min. On the way you will admire the Urubamba River as well as the Andes mountains holding the many secrets left by the Incas. Upon arrival your guide will meet you. Check in for 3 nights to El Santuario hotel In Aguas Calientes. Lunch included

Fri 31

(Blog) Huayna Picchu and Machu Picchu Early morning buffet breakfast Your bus will pass in front of the hotel for the bus ride up hill while admiring the beauty of the scenery with the Andes Mountains surrounding you, to the "Lost City of the Incas," Machu Picchu, proclaim as one of the new Wonders of the World. Located at 8,200 feet above the valley, it was hidden by mountains and semitropical jungles until being discovered by Hiram Bingham, of Yale University, in 1911. Huayna Picchu, unique experience, If possible we will book you on the first shift of tourist. You will be allow two hours to admire the view and then return down for your visit of the Citadel. Your tour guide will give you a wide explanation of the history of the area and then proceed to visit sites as the Temple of the three windows, the Sacred Place, the Intihuatana “ the Sun Stone Clock”, the Royal palace, the Sacred rock, the Temple of the Sun, and many more esoteric and mystic places, enjoying after the guided tour, a buffet lunch at the Sanctuary Lodge restaurant, soft drinks included; After lunch you may stay and enjoy if you wish a 2nd visit on you own to the Citadel and return later down hill by bus to your hotel. Dinner included

JUNE Sat 01

Mandor Falls Buffet breakfast at hotel. Tour guide will pick you up for your tour to a different ambience , a tropical climate where you will admire the bio diversity. If lucky you will see a variety of orchids, butterflies and finally the Mandor falls. Returning to your hotel around noon Afternoon at leisure.

Sun 02

(Blog) Aguas Calientes Cusco Buffet breakfast at hotel. Morning at leisure In the afternoon you will return to Cusco by train. Transfer from train station to your hotel Check in at Awkis Dream for 2 nights. Overnight

Mon. 03

(Blog) Cusco Buffet breakfast at hotel. Last day in Cusco. In the evening you will enjoy a farewell buffet dinner with show at Don Antonio’s Restaurant. Overnight Breakfast at hotel. Early transfer from your hotel to the airport for flight from Cusco to Lima. Star Peru departs at 8:45AM at arriving in Lima at 10:00AM. Assistance upon arrival and transfer to Britania hotel in Miraflores. Check in for 3 nights. Rest of the day at leisure

Tue. 04.

Miraflores, Lima Buffet breakfast at hotel. Day at leisure. Wed. 05 Miraflores, Lima Buffet breakfast at hotel. Day at leisure. Thu 06 Miraflores, lima Buffet breakfast at hotel. Day at leisure. Farewell dinner at "Rosa Nautica" Restaurant

Fri. 07

Miraflores, Lima Panama Buffet breakfast at hotel. 10:30 AM Transfer from your hotel to Jorge Chavez International Airport for your flight Copa departing for to Panama at 1:53PM

PROGRAM INCLUDES:

Services will be provided with official English speaking guides. All transfers are included as mentioned All tours as mentioned will be provided in regular service All entrance tickets to tours mentioned are included Bus tickets Lima Ica, lower level Bus tickets Ica Nazca, lower level Bus tickets Nazca Arequipa, lower level 29 nights sharing double room Inc service fee and. Daily Buffet breakfast at mentioned hotels; 3 nights in Miraflores at Britania Hotel, inc. taxes. (09-12) 2 nights in Ica at Hacienda El Carmelo (American breakfast) (12_14) 2 nights in Nazca at Hotel Alegria (14-16) 4 nights in Arequipa HTl. Ensueño (16-20) Touristic transportation from Arequipa to Colca and Puno 3 nights at Hotel Casa Andina in Colca (20-23) 2 nights in Puno at Hotel La Hacienda (23-25) Touristic transportation from Puno to Cusco inc. lunch 3 nights in Cusco at Awkis Dream (25-28) 2 nights in the Sacred Valley at Sauce Hostal (28-30) 3 night in Aguas Calientes at El Santuario Hotel (30-02) Lunch at hotel on May 30 and dinner on May 31 2 nights in Cusco at Awkis Dream (02-04) 3 nights in Miraflores at Britania Hotel (04-07) Round trip train tickets from Sacred Valley to Aguas Calientes Round trip bus transportation to Machu Picchu Buffet lunch at Sanctuary lodge in Machu Picchu inc. soft drinks Buffet lunch at Tunupa ́s Restaurant in Urubamba, Sacred Valley Buffet lunch at Mangos ́s Restaurant in Miraflores, inc. Pisco sour Dinner and show at Don Antonio’s Restaurant in Cusco Dinner at “ Rosa Nautica" Restaurant, including welcome drink and wine Does not include: Any extras, tips or drinks or services not mentioned. Telephone calls or any other service not mentioned in the program. Air tickets Cusco Lima International Air tickets Please take note. Temperature and weather conditions in the Andes may vary several times during the day, so we recommend that you take layers of clothes that can easily be added or removed.