Colonial Arequipa, Colca Canyon and Cusco

Upon arrival in Lima you will be welcomed and assisted with your connecting flight. Following your journey to Arequipa you will be met and shown to your hotel where you will have some time to relax and settle in. In the afternoon you will take a walking tour around town visiting the Plaza de Armas, the Church of the Company and the Church of San Francisco. The highlight of the day will be a guided tour around the 16th century Santa Catalina Convent. This beautiful complex of plazas and buildings is remarkably intact and remained closed to the outside world until 1970. The rest of the day will be free for you to spend at your leisure. In the evening you may choose to dine at one of Arequipa's many fine restaurants. Just ask your CAT Travel Peru travel specialist for recommendations and reservations.

*Int'l & Internal flights quoted separately from land package, we get you flights at wholesale prices!

After breakfast at your Arequipa hotel you will be met for your morning excursion to the colorful local market. With your guide you will select the ingredients for a traditional meal which you will learn to prepare in a nearby family house. Your guide will help translate the cooking process and you'll all sit down together to enjoy the lunch that you helped prepare. The evening is free for you to relax at your hotel or take a stroll around town.

Meals Included:
Comfort Package: Breakfast, Lunch
Superior Package: Breakfast, Lunch
Luxury Package: Breakfast, Lunch

After breakfast in your hotel you'll be picked up for your journey to the Colca Canyon. It's a scenic route and you'll enjoy beautiful views of the Misti, Chachani and PichuPichu volcanoes as you climb to the Canahuas National Reserve. Along the way you'll stop in the town of Sumbay at 3800m to drink some coca tea to counteract the effects of altitude sickness. As you climb yet further up onto the Altiplano you'll begin to spot wild vicunas, llamas and guanacos as well as some interesting birdlife on the lakes. After reaching the highest point at about 4500m you'll descend a little to the town of Chivay. Here you may relax and enjoying some lunch at your hotel, then take an optional walking tour around the area visiting an Indian village before enjoying the nearby hot-springs as the sun sets over the mountains.

Meals Included:
Comfort Package: Breakfast, Lunch
Superior Package: Breakfast, Lunch
Luxury Package: Breakfast, Lunch

This morning you will have an early breakfast at your hotel and set out to the Cruz Del Condor look-out point for spectacular views across the canyon. With any luck we'll be able to spot the majestic Andean condors gliding on the thermals that rise up through the canyon. Be sure to bring your camera as it's often possible to get some dramatic shots. After taking a walk around the area, you'll begin your descent back to Chivay. Along the way you'll make various stops, firstly at the traditional town of Pinchollo with its 1500 year old stone terraces, and later at the Choqetico view point and the Andean town of Maca. Arriving back at lunch time you'll enjoy your last meal in the Colca Canyon before setting off back to Arequipa. The evening is free for you to relax and enjoy dinner.

Meals Included:
Comfort Package: Breakfast, Lunch
Superior Package: Breakfast, Lunch
Luxury Package: Breakfast, Lunch

We suggest you take things slowly today in order to acclimatize to Cusco's altitude. In the evening there are many excellent restaurants to choose from in Cusco. Simply consult your welcome booklet or your Peru travel specialist for details.

Meals Included:
Comfort Package: Breakfast
Superior Package: Breakfast
Luxury Package: Breakfast

*Internal flights quoted separately from land package, we get you flights at wholesale prices! :)

Your Cusco tour will begin with a visit to the impressive colonial cathedral, followed by a guided tour of the Korikancha (Temple of the Sun). Later you'll travel to the outskirts of Cusco for a tour of the Inca ruins of Sacsayhuaman. After your short afternoon excursion you'll be taken back to your hotel to relax for the evening.

Meals Included:
Comfort Package: Breakfast
Superior Package: Breakfast
Luxury Package: Breakfast, Lunch

Today your Peru tour guide will meet you at your hotel in Cusco for your full day visit through the Sacred Valley of the Inca. Your first stop is visiting the local market in a small village of Pisac. After lunch you'll spend the rest of the afternoon exploring the impressive Inca ruins of Ollantaytambo town and ceremonial center, an important archeological site and an Inca stronghold during the Spanish conquest. After a full day of exploration, the evening will be spent at one of our boutique lodges in the Sacred Valley.

Meals Included:
Comfort Package: Breakfast, Lunch
Superior Package: Breakfast, Lunch
Luxury Package: Breakfast, Lunch

After breakfast you will be picked up for your transfer to the train station for your journey to Machu Picchu. Upon arrival in Aguas Calientes you will start with a guided tour of the ruins, in which you will learn all about the origins of this archeological wonder with some free time to explore on your own. Lunch can be taken either before or after your excursion, transportation is provided to your hotel where you can spend the evening at your leisure.

Meals Included:
Comfort Package: Breakfast, Lunch
Superior Package: Breakfast, Lunch
Luxury Package: Breakfast, Lunch

Today you may wish to return to the Machu Picchu ruins for sunrise. Keep in mind that the second entrance to Machu Picchu can be purchased in advance. For those looking for a spectacular aerial view of the ruins, we recommend a short hike to Wayna Picchu (2 departures daily and only 400 visitors per day). It requires approximately four hours to complete, and allows for spectacular views of Machu Picchu and the surrounding area from above. Your return train through the Sacred Valley of the Incas to Cusco will depart in the afternoon and arrive just after sundown.

Meals Included:
Comfort Package: Breakfast
Superior Package: Breakfast
Luxury Package: Breakfast