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On the route of the Andean Gods

This journey explores the Tiahuanaco Culture. The first great Andean Culture links the highlands between Peru and Bolivia and the legendary Inca Culture developed in the heart of the Andes, Cusco city, whose influence spread to all the Andean countries.

We will start in Peru´s capital, Lima, followed by the Sacred Valley in the Cusco region looking for the magical city of Machu Picchu and then link this experience with some of the most fascinating highlights of Bolivia, including the sustainable project at the Uros Floating Island on the Sacred Lake Titicaca, the Sun Island, legendary birthplace of the Incas and travel to Tiahuanaco, the capital of an early pre-Inca civilization. Finally, La Paz, the highest capital city in the world.

Enjoy the archaeology, history and traditions that the fabulous Andean culture offers to visitors and feel the harmonious environment of this part of the world. Come and enjoy the charm of Andean culture.

Itinerary :  Lima / Cusco / The Sacred Valley/ Machu Picchu/Cusco/ Puno/ Tiahuanaco/ La Paz

1st Day :  Home / Lima . Reception and transfer airport / hotel, accommodation at the Hotel, rest of the day off to rest and adapt to the time change.

2nd Day : Lima City Tour

Departure at 9.00 am. Start guided tour of the historic centre of Lima. Includes the Paseo de la Republica, San Martin square and Plaza Mayor with their various buildings: Palacio de Gobierno, the Cathedral, Plaza de Armas, The Archbishop's Palace and ( ***** the municipal station of the homeless **** not sure what this is and whether the mansions,balconies etc. are part of it ) with colonial mansions and Moorish balconies, the Temple of San Francisco to see the cloister, catacombs and the religious museum, the monumental Convento de San Francisco which has the largest exhibition of colonial art in South America and a tour of the main streets where the colonial mansions are located.  Transfer to Hotel.

3rd Day : Lima/ Cusco

Transfer to Lima airport for your flight to Cusco.
Reception at the Airport "Velasco Astete" and transfer to hotel where you will be served a welcoming coca tea. This first day will be free, to relax and help the body acclimatize to the altitude (3,400 metres).

4th Day :  Cusco City Tour

We start our tour at 09:00 a.m. with a visit to the Koricancha Temple or Temple of the Sun and the basilica of the Cathedral. Following the route we will observe the narrow streets of the city that preserved its ancient Inca planning and is currently surrounded by colonial style buildings, then to Sacsayhuaman archaeological park, followed by the Quenqo amphitheater. Return to hotel.

5th Day : Sacred Valley

Departure at 9.00 am for the Sacred Valley. We can enjoy typical local villages and varied landscapes, the traditional market of Pisac, a colonial town, and lunch in a restaurant setting on the way. Moving on to Ollantaytambo,an inca - colonial town and we will visit  the archaeological zone of the same name. We will visit also Awana Cancha, "Weavers Place, where we will see alpacas, llamas, vicuna and the whole process of obtaining fibres from these animals to convert them into beautiful textiles and clothing. Return to Cusco city.

6th Day : Machupicchu

Transfer Hotel / Train station Poroy, to board the train to Aguas Calientes. During the journey ( approximately 3hrs and 30 mins) we will be able to appreciate the high plateau of Chinchero and the impressive Urubamba river canyon. Once at our destination a short shuttle bus (25min.) will take us to the Machu Picchu archaeological complex where our guide will lead us on an unforgettable ( approximately 3hrs) tour of the ancient Inca citadel where we can appreciate the magnificent social organization and the unique urban architecture of the Inca state. After lunch there will be free time to explore the place on your own.  Hotel in Aguas Calientes.

7th Day : Macchu Picchu / Cusco

Free day to explore the Inca citadel with options to visit Huayna Picchu or Inti Punku or Sun Gate, which affords views of the Inca city of Machupiccu in all its majesty. In the afternoon take the train back to Cusco.
Return to Cusco / Transfer Station / Hotel.

8th Day : Cusco - Puno

Departure at 7.00 am. We board the tourist bus that will take us to the city of Puno, Andahuaylillas, Rachi, La Raya and Pukara. Lunch at the Restaurant The Station. Transfer to Hotel.

 9th Day : Excursion Uros Floating Island.

Early morning after breakfast we embark on an unforgettable motorboat excursion on Lake Titicaca to visit the floating islands of the Uros. The ancient Andean natives, inhabitants of the lake, known as the Water Tribe, built their own islands by periodically adding new layers of reeds, they also use  this material for building houses and boats. In the afternoon we visit the famous Chullpas Sillustani cylindrical stone tombs (12metres in height) where the ancient Aymara culture buried their leaders. At the end of the tour we head into our private transport to Copacabana, Bolivia, to spend the night at a pre- designated hotel.

10th Day : Excursion to Island of the Sun and Moon.

Early morning after breakfast, visit the town of Copacabana and then go to the Island of the Sun and Moon, cross the lake for about an hour and a half to reach the southern part of the Isla del Sol, where we visit the Archaeological remains, "Pillcokaina-Inca Temple, a religious centre, then walk the Inca stairs of Yumani until we reach the Fountain of Youth. There we can cool off with some holy water, ( it is believed that this spring is the source of eternal youth) and also enjoy the beauty of this beautiful Inca garden.
After the visit back to the hotel for the night.
 

 11th Day : Excursion Tiahuanaco - La Paz.

Tour of the archaeological complex of Tiahuanaco. Breakfast in the hotel and then board the bus to Tiahuanaco. This is one of the most important archaeological sites in South America and is located 45 minutes from La Paz, near Lake Titicaca. During the visit we will appreciate the monoliths, the famous Puerta del Sol and the true Bennett Monolith, recently returned from the city of La Paz after nearly 70 years and now in the new archaeological museum in Tiahuanaco. We will also visit the Akapana pyramid, the Temple of Kalasasayala, La Puerta del Sol, the Fraile and Ponce monoliths and the semi-subterranean temple with gargoyle heads. In the museum we can see the excellent work of the famous Keros ceramics, (ceremonial glasses), the huaco-portraits (three-dimensional portraits of a human face in a bowl) as well as textiles and especially architectural constructions, many of which have an astronomical orientation.
After the visit we continue to La Paz to a pre- designated hotel.

12th Day : La Paz City Tour.

Breakfast in the hotel and then visit the city of La Paz returning to it's typical artisan market, the colonial church of San Francisco, the famous Witch Doctor's market and the Plaza Murillo where one can find the Government Palace, Cathedral and Congress, then Calle Jaen where interesting museums are located, followed by the open-air museum of Tiwanaku culture. We will continue with visits to the residential areas of Obrajes Calocoto and Florida and finish with a visit to the Magic Valley of the Moon. Free afternoon. 

13th Day : La Paz / Home

Transfer from hotel to airport in La Paz to take your international flight to home.