Massive walls of Kuelap

Lost Cities Highlighting Machu Picchu and Kuelap 14 Days

Locally Hosted Independent Tour Suggested Departure Day: Thursday June - October

ITINERARY (Subject to change without notice):

Thursday - Miami - Lima: Afternoon flight south to Lima, arriving in the evening. Meeting and transfer to new Hotel Miraflores Park Plaza in fashionable Miraflores.

Friday - Lima: Morning visit to the main points of interest in Lima, often called "The City of Kings" and once the seat of the Vice Royalty of Spain, including the Plaza de Armas with government palace and cathedral, the San Francisco or Santo Domingo Convent and the new suburbs of the city. Enjoy lunch at the Rosa Nautica, jutting out into the Pacific Ocean, and then spend the afternoon exploring the new Museum of Archaeology for an excellent overview of  ancient Peruvian cultures. (B/L)

Saturday - Lima - Cuzco: Transfer for early morning flight over the Andes to Cuzco, ancient capital of the Inca empire and considered the oldest continuously inhabited city in the Western Hemisphere. Upon arrival, meeting and transfer to the Hotel Monasterio for overnight stay. Afternoon visit to the main points of interest in Cuzco, considered to be the oldest continuously inhabited city in the Western Hemisphere, and to the nearby ruins of Sacsayhuaman, Kenkko, Puka Pukara and Tambo Machay. (B)

Sunday - Cuzco-Urubamba: Full day excursion through the Sacred Valley of the Incas to the town of Pisac to visit the colorful Indian Market - plenty of time to explore and bargain for textiles and souvenirs, and to roam the produce and animal sections of the market. Then continue through the valley to the ruins of Ollantaytambo, precariously perched on the mountainside, for a visit. Lunch en route and afternoon drop-off at the Posada del Inka for overnight stay. (B/L)

Monday - Urubamba-Machu Picchu: Early morning transfer to the train station in Ollantaytambo for scenic ride via VistaDome rail service to Aguas Calientes for mini-bus 2,000 foot serpentine ascent to the top of the mountain and the entrance to the famed Machu Picchu, Lost City of the Incas. Enjoy a guided tour of these spectacular ruins, never found by the Spanish Conquistadores and only rediscovered by Hiram Bingham in 1911, have lunch and time to explore at your own pace. The ruins remain open until dusk. Dinner and overnight at the Machu Picchu Sanctuary Lodge at the ruins. (B/L/D)

Tuesday - Machu Picchu-Cuzco: Day at leisure to explore at your own pace. You'll want to plan to re-visit the ruins early in the morning so you have plenty of time to explore at your own pace before the day-trippers begin to arrive around 11 AM. The ruins open at 7AM; re-entry tickets are available for purchase at the ruins. Lunch is included at your hotel. Be sure to be back at the train station at Aguas Calientes in time for your return VistaDome rail service to Cuzco, with evening arrival. Upon arrival, meeting and transfer to the Hotel Monastario for overnight. (B/L)

Wednesday - Cuzco - Lima: Morning return flight over the Andes to Lima for overnight stay at the Miraflores Park Plaza.  This afternoon you might want to explore the Indian artisans market in Miraflores or visit the famed Gold Museum. (B)

Thursday - Lima-Chiclayo: Morning flight north along the coast to the town of Chiclayo. Meeting and transfer to your hotel, the Gran Hotel Chiclayo.  In the afternoon visit Sipan "Huaca Rajada" archaeological site where the tomb of the Lord of Sipan was discovered, dating from AD 300. Here there found the warrior priest, called Lord of Sipan, buried with five other individuals, some of them with amputated feet, a sign that they would never abandon their master. Five caskets surrounded the Lord, two containing women, one at his head and one at his feet.  Two men flanked them, one buried with his dog.  The body of the Lord of Sipan was found richly shrouded with luxurious ornaments: feathers of different colors, fabrics with gilded copper and eleven chest coverings, exquisite gold and silver and turquoise ornaments. Then visit the modern Bruning Museum in nearby Lambayeque with more than 1500 pieces from several cultures including objects from Chimu, Vicus, Moche and Lambayeque cultures, including the priceless treasures of the royal tombs of Sipan. (B)

Friday - Chiclayo-El Chillo: Early morning departure for a full day of scenic driving along traditional Peruvian gravel roads crossing two mountain ranges to the Utcubamba River Valley and the charming El Chillo.  Be prepared for a full 8 to 10 hour day.   Box lunch will be provided en route.  Facilities are essentially non-existent except for the great outdoors.  (B/L/D)

Saturday - El Chillo: Today you will visit Kuelap (also spelled Cuelap), Fortress in the Clouds.  The drive is exciting and scenic, taking about three hours, depending on how many times you stop for photography. Then a moderate one kilometer uphill walk via well maintained trails brings you to edge of this huge walled city - and another kilometer of walking along the walls brings you to the entrance. Kuelap is a pre-Inca city constructed over 200 years between AD 1100 & 1300 by the Chachapoyan culture, of which little is known. You'll have about three to four hours to explore - there is one re-constructed traditional round stone house with thatched roof, one "watch tower" offering an overview of the city, and remains of up to 400 other round houses. The whole area is full of trees laden with bromeliads and orchids. Kuelap is monumental in size and scope and spectacular in location.  And chances are you will share it with few others. Mid-afternoon return drive to arrive at the valley by dusk. (B/L/D)

Sunday - El Chillo: This morning you will take an excursion to Revash. First a short drive to the Puente Santo Tomas and then by horseback for about one and a half hours to Revash, an interesting necropolis with tombs suspended in a cliff over the Utcubamba River Valley. Return to El Chillo for lunch and then in the afternoon drive about an hour and a half to the new museum just outside Leimebamba with excellent display of more than 200 mummies and other artifacts taken from the tombs at Lake of the Condors. (B/L/D)

Monday - El Chillo-Chiclayo: Today you will make the return journey back to Chiclayo, leaving in the early morning and arriving late afternoon.  Overnight at the Gran Hotel Chiclayo. (B/L)

Tuesday - Chiclayo-Lima: Early morning visit to Pimentel, traditional fishing village where the fishermen still use the traditional reed boats "cabillitos de tortora", to watch the departure of the fishermen. Then visit nearby Tucume, a complex of more than 26 major pyramids built more than a thousand years ago. A short climb to the top of Cerro La Raya offers sweeping vistas of the area, and the museum on site gives a brief overview of the history of the area.  Lunch en route and late afternoon return drive to the airport for flight to Lima.  Meeting and transfer to the Hotel Miraflores Park Plaza for overnight. (B/L)

Wednesday - Lima-USA: Transfer to the airport for return flight to the USA. Clear immigrations, customs and continue to your home city. (B)

RATES and DETAILS: