Peru - Land of the Incas

13 Night Holiday
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Explore the land of the Incas on this incredible holiday to Peru. With a wonderfully varied landscape, including beautiful beaches that snake along the coastline, the towering Andes mountain range that boasts some of the most spectacular scenery in South America, and cities with splendid colonial architecture, Peru is one of the most fascinating countries in the world.

Begin your journey of the Land of the Incas in the bustling sea-side capitcal city of Lima. Towering above a beautiful coastline of crumbling cliffs, Lima is a stunning contrast of high-rise modern buildings erected alongside pre-Columbian temples. Peru's capital is a unique blend of history, culture, natural wonders and gastronomic delights. From the multitude of museums with works of art, beautiful beaches and boardwalks, remarkable archaeological sites and tasty cuisine, you'll be spoiled for things to see and do.

You'll enjoy a unique excursion to Lake Titicaca, South America's largest lake and interestingly the world's highest navigable body of water. While admiring the stunning, shimmering blue waters of the lake, you'll be intrigued by the stories of how this region was at the centre of some of the most influential pre-Hispanic cultures of the Andean Region.

You will have the opportunity to enjoy some time in the cosmopolitan city of Cusco, the undisputed archaeological capital of South America. Prepare to be amazed by the ornate cathedrals, Inca temples and breathtaking ruins of the original city of Cusco, including Kenko, Tambomachay and Sacsayhuaman. Cusco is also the gateway for the awe-inspiring ancient city of Machu Picchu. Despite its popularity among tourists, the UNESCO World Heritage site of Machu Picchu still retains an air of mystery and authenticity.

On this once-in-a-lifetime trip to Peru, you will get to know the true nature of Peru, its people, history, and multi-faceted heritage, an unforgettable adventure awaits you.

Included in your price...

Flights
Hotel Accommodation
Transfers
Guided Excursions

Price based on 2 people sharing.

Currency
Nuevo sol (PEN)
Local Time
UTC – 5. Peru is 5 hours behind Ireland / UK in winter, 6 hours in summer.
Passport/Visa
A visa is not required for Irish/UK passport holders. Non Irish/UK passport holders should check their entry requirements.
Airport
The airport is located 44km from the city centre of Lima. Journey time to the city is around 50 minutes. Please note that an international Departure Tax of approx $31 is payable in Lima airport on departure.
Climate
In general, warm in the north, a little colder to the centre and south. The rains are almost nonexistent, with the exception of the north, where strong rains are present in summer months. In September, the average temperature for both Lima and Cuzco is 22°. Please note: Altitude sickness is common at high altitudes. Some visitors to Cuzco will suffer from symptoms that will generally disappear through acclimatization. If you suffer from high blood pressure, anaemia, respiratory problems or heart disease it is recommended to consult with your doctor before travelling.
Food & Drink
Corn, potatoes, avocados and chilies are mainstays of the Peruvian diet, while pork and chicken are popular meats. Seafood lovers will enjoy ‘ceviche’, raw fresh fish marinated in citrus juices. The national drink is Pisco Sour, a delicious cocktail made with Pisco (a local brandy), lime juice, egg white and syrup. Good wine and beer is also produced in Peru.
Vaccinations
Vaccinations are required before your departure - please consult with your GP or Tropical Medical Bureau.
Average Prices for Region
Coffee: 7.50S Beer: 5.00S Glass of wine: 8.00S Meal: 12S Soft Drink: 2.60S Bottled Water: 2.60S €1 = 3.47S
Packing List
Your valid passport (and a photocopy) Sunscreen A American plug adaptor A rain jacket A small backpack A sun hat Comfortable shoes Camera Insect repellent
Recommended Reading/Viewing
Eight feet in the Andes by Dervla Murphy Temple by Matthew Reilly The Bridge of San Luis Rey by Thornton Wilder

Currency

Nuevo sol (PEN)

Local Time

UTC – 5. Peru is 5 hours behind Ireland / UK in winter, 6 hours in summer.

Passport/Visa

A visa is not required for Irish/UK passport holders. Non Irish/UK passport holders should check their entry requirements.

Airport

The airport is located 44km from the city centre of Lima. Journey time to the city is around 50 minutes.

Please note that an international Departure Tax of approx $31 is payable in Lima airport on departure.

Climate

In general, warm in the north, a little colder to the centre and south. The rains are almost nonexistent, with the exception of the north, where strong rains are present in summer months. In September, the average temperature for both Lima and Cuzco is 22°.

Please note: Altitude sickness is common at high altitudes. Some visitors to Cuzco will suffer from symptoms that will generally disappear through acclimatization. If you suffer from high blood pressure, anaemia, respiratory problems or heart disease it is recommended to consult with your doctor before travelling.

Food & Drink

Corn, potatoes, avocados and chilies are mainstays of the Peruvian diet, while pork and chicken are popular meats. Seafood lovers will enjoy ‘ceviche’, raw fresh fish marinated in citrus juices. The national drink is Pisco Sour, a delicious cocktail made with Pisco (a local brandy), lime juice, egg white and syrup. Good wine and beer is also produced in Peru.

Vaccinations

Vaccinations are required before your departure - please consult with your GP or Tropical Medical Bureau.

Average Prices for Region

Coffee: 7.50S
Beer: 5.00S
Glass of wine: 8.00S
Meal: 12S
Soft Drink: 2.60S
Bottled Water: 2.60S
€1 = 3.47S

Packing List

Your valid passport (and a photocopy)
Sunscreen
A American plug adaptor
A rain jacket
A small backpack
A sun hat
Comfortable shoes
Camera
Insect repellent

Lima
The first destination for travellers to Peru is Lima, the capital city and centre of South America during colonial times. Once called the ‘City of Kings,’ Lima is known for its friendly, lively people, rich culture and superb food.
Lake Titicaca
Lake Titicaca, situated in the Andes Mountains on the border between Peru and Bolivia, is South America's largest lake and the highest navigable body of water in the world. While admiring the stunning, shimmering blue waters of the lake, you'll be intrigued by the stories of how this region was at the centre of some of the most influential pre-Hispanic cultures of the Andean Region.
Machu Picchu
The site of Machu Picchu is located in the district of Cusco, on the eastern slope of the mountain range of Vilcanota, bounded by the rivers Apurímac and Urubamba. It is located at a height of 2,350 metres above sea level and is located in the subtropical zone at the edge of the rainforest.
Cusco
Cusco was once the most important city of the Inca Empire, but it is now the undisputed archaeological capital of the Americas, as well as the continent’s oldest continuously inhabited city.

Currency
Nuevo sol (PEN)
Local Time
UTC – 5. Peru is 5 hours behind Ireland / UK in winter, 6 hours in summer.
Passport/Visa
A visa is not required for Irish/UK passport holders. Non Irish/UK passport holders should check their entry requirements.
Airport
The airport is located 44km from the city centre of Lima. Journey time to the city is around 50 minutes. Please note that an international Departure Tax of approx $31 is payable in Lima airport on departure.
Climate
In general, warm in the north, a little colder to the centre and south. The rains are almost nonexistent, with the exception of the north, where strong rains are present in summer months. In September, the average temperature for both Lima and Cuzco is 22°. Please note: Altitude sickness is common at high altitudes. Some visitors to Cuzco will suffer from symptoms that will generally disappear through acclimatization. If you suffer from high blood pressure, anaemia, respiratory problems or heart disease it is recommended to consult with your doctor before travelling.
Food & Drink
Corn, potatoes, avocados and chilies are mainstays of the Peruvian diet, while pork and chicken are popular meats. Seafood lovers will enjoy ‘ceviche’, raw fresh fish marinated in citrus juices. The national drink is Pisco Sour, a delicious cocktail made with Pisco (a local brandy), lime juice, egg white and syrup. Good wine and beer is also produced in Peru.
Vaccinations
Vaccinations are required before your departure - please consult with your GP or Tropical Medical Bureau.
Average Prices for Region
Coffee: 7.50S Beer: 5.00S Glass of wine: 8.00S Meal: 12S Soft Drink: 2.60S Bottled Water: 2.60S €1 = 3.47S
Packing List
Your valid passport (and a photocopy) Sunscreen A American plug adaptor A rain jacket A small backpack A sun hat Comfortable shoes Camera Insect repellent
Recommended Reading/Viewing
Eight feet in the Andes by Dervla Murphy Temple by Matthew Reilly The Bridge of San Luis Rey by Thornton Wilder

Day 1 – Travel to Peru

Full Day

Travel to Peru

Begin your journey to the Land of the Incas, with flights via Newark. Upon arrival in Lima, you will be met by our local representative in the airport before being transferred to your hotel, where you will have a 2-night stay.

Day 2 – Lima

Morning

Lima City Tour

On this half day excursion, enjoy a city tour of the bustling sea-side metropolis, Lima, with your expert local guide. You will visit sites such as the 16th century Plaza Mayor, the main square that is home to the Cathedral of Lima. With a colonial structure and façade, this impressive building contains the tomb of Spanish conquistador Francisco Pizzaro. You will also visit the 17th century Monastery of San Francisco, a Spanish and Baroque style church and UNESCO World Heritage Site. Famous for its library and catacombs, this convent boasts around 25,000 ancient texts and the catacombs contain around 70,000 burials, where bones line the wall and floors. Your tour will finish in the upmarket San Isidro district, which overlooks the Pacific Ocean and is home to the famous Larcomar shopping centre.

Afternoon

At Leisure

Spend the afternoon at leisure in Lima. Your local guide will be happy to offer suggestions of activities to suit your interests.

Day 3 – Transfer to Arequipa

Full Day

Transfer to Arequipa

After breakfast, transfer to Lima Airport for your internal flight to Arequipa with guide assistance. You will be met by our local representative in the airport before being transferred to your hotel, where you will have a 2-night stay. You will have the remainder of the day at leisure to unpack, relax and explore your surroundings.

Day 4 – Arequipa

Morning

Arequipa City Tour

Depart this morning for a half-day guided tour of Arequipa, one of Peru’s most charming colonial cities known as the White City (Ciudad Blanca). Walk among its beautiful buildings as your guide takes you on a journey back in time through one of the largest holdings of colonial art in the Americas. During this tour you will visit the Convent of St. Catherine and the magnificent Church of the Society of Jesus with its vividly-coloured murals. Continue to the Mirador del Carmen, a natural lookout point, from where you will be able to enjoy a spectacular view of the Chili River Valley and of the majestic volcano, Misti.

Afternoon

At Leisure

Enjoy some free time to explore the beautiful city of Arequipa at your own pace.

Day 5 – Colca Canyon

Full Day

Colca Canyon

Early morning departure from Arequipa to your hotel in Chivay through the Colca Canyon, a stunning natural wonder, including a scenic drive passing between the Misti and Chachani volcanoes. On the way, you will visit the picturesque towns of Callalli and Sibayo, and drive through a vicuña reserve (a relative of the llama). Lunch at a local restaurant is included en-route to your hotel.

Day 6 – Transfer to Puno

Full Day

Transfer to Puno

After breakfast, depart your hotel in the early morning towards "Condor Cross", considered the best location to admire the Colca Canyon and the majestic condors in flight. The condor is a wild bird, so while every effort will be made to see it in its natural habitat, sightings can never be guaranteed. Afterwards, continue overland to your hotel in Puno for a 2-night stay.

Day 7 – Lake Titicaca

Full Day

Lake Titicaca

Start your full day excursion to Lake Titicaca with a visit to the Uros Islands, made of reeds and rising six metres above lake level. They are anchored by logs and connected to each other by ropes. The main activities of the people who live here are fishing and handcrafting several items that they sell to visitors. After lunch, continue to Taquile Island, a small spot of land in the middle of Lake Titicaca. This island has two essential characteristics; its geography, offering a spectacular view from its hills and its standing as a first-rate textile centre.

Day 8 – Transfer to Cusco

Full Day

Transfer to Cusco

In the early morning, travel via coach from Puno to Cusco through the beautiful South Valley of Cusco. Your transfer will include several sightseeing and photo stops including one in La Raya, the highest point on the road between Puno and Cusco. En-route, enjoy lunch at a local restaurant and continue towards Cusco where you will arrive in the late afternoon for a 5-night stay.

Day 9 – Cusco

Morning

Cusco City Tour

Today’s half-day excursion will begin with a guided city tour of the city of Cusco. Here, massive Inca-built walls line steep, cobbled streets and form the foundations of modern buildings. The plazas are thronged with Quechua-speaking descendants of the Incas, and ancient treasures are carefully guarded inside colonial mansions and churches. The Plaza del Armas is a highlight of the city. Afterwards, you will explore the ruins of the original city of Cusco, including Kenko, Tambomachay and Sacsayhuaman. The walled complex of Sacsayhuaman is a magnificent part of the city, while the nearby ruin Kenko is believed to have once been a place for sacrifices and mummification.

Afternoon

At Leisure

The afternoon can be spent at your leisure. Your guide would be delighted to recommend some hidden gems for you to discover.

Day 10 – Pisac and Ollantaytambo

Full Day

Pisac and Ollantaytambo

Enjoy a full day guided tour to a typical market in Pisac, a picturesque town that is home to Inca ruins and a sacred shrine, before visiting the Inca fortress of Ollantaytambo. Perched on a towering cliff top, this ancient site showcases towering pyramids, deep quarries and an ornate fountain called ‘the bath of the princess.’ Lunch at a local restaurant is included.

Day 11 – Machu Picchu

Full Day

Machu Picchu

Prepare to witness one of the most stunning sites in the world on this full day excursion to Machu Picchu – travel to this historic site is by train. Become one with the gods as you stand high among the clouds, surrounded by deep valleys and towering mountain peaks at this 15th century Inca site that sits 2430 metres above sea level. Despite countless studies, knowledge of Machu Picchu remains incomplete. Some believe the citadel was founded in the waning years of the last Incas as an attempt to preserve their culture, while others think it may have been a royal palace, abandoned at the time of the Spanish invasion. Lunch is included during this full day excursion.