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WONDERS OF LAKE TITICACA, LA PAZ AND MACHU PICCHU
10 DAYS: LIMA, PUNO, CRUISE ON LAKE TITICACA TO LA PAZ, CUSCO & MACHU PICCHU


Day 01 LIMA
Arrival in Lima. Reception and transfer to your hotel. Afternoon visit to Colonial and Modern Lima. Guided tour through the historic center of the city. Admire the beauty of San Martin and Major squares, the Cathedral, the Government Palace and visit the San Francisco Convent and its catacomb, religious building from the end of the XVI century. Drive through the residential districts of San Isidro and Miraflores.

Day 02 LIMA - JULIACA - PUNO
Transfer to the airport for the flight to Juliaca. Upon arrival transfer to hotel in Puno. Balance of day at leisure to adjust to the high altitude (12,500 feet).

Day 03 PUNO - COPACABANA - SUN ISLAND

Pick up from hotel in Puno and drive to Copacabana. Lunch. Hydrofoil cruise Copacabana - Sun Island including the Pilcocaina sacred fountain and the Inca steps. Short Llama trek on Inca Trails. Overnight at the Posada del Inca Lodge.

Day 04 SUN ISLAND - HUATAJATA - LA PAZ
Hydrofoil cruise to Moon Island and Huatajata. Visit the Andean Roots Complex including the Altiplano Museum. Meet the Limachi brothers, builders of Ra II and Tigris for the Thor Heyerdhal epic expeditions across the Atlantic Ocean. See a full size reproduction of the RA II. Bus to La Paz ending at your hotel.

Day 05 LA PAZ
Morning optional excursion to Tiahuanaco, located 72 km/45 miles - 1 hour from La Paz. The trip passes through the Bolivian Highlands, were you can see the Aymara Indians way of life. We pass Laja, the place were the city of La Paz was founded the 20th of October in 1548 with a beautiful old church in the Renaissance style. Tiahuanaco is one of the oldest American cultures, Carbon 14 dating, which gives it an average age of 1580 BC until 1150 AC. It is considered the cradle of the American humanity and one of the most advanced cultures in development for that time. The temples and constructions include: The Kalasasaya temple where you see the main work done by the Tiahuanacotas like the Gate of the Sun, the monoliths Ponce and Fraile, the Akapana pyramid, the Semiunderground temple (a sunken temple whose walls are lined with faces with different expressions).
Afternoon visit to La Paz, including the area of the street markets, rich in handicrafts, weavings and witchcraft artifacts which represent the traditional beliefs of the Ch'alla (ritual of offerings) and Pachamama (mother earth and symbol of fertility). The tour goes through the colonial part of the city, San Francisco Church, Gold Museum, Murillo Square and the outdoor replica of the Tiahuanaco temple. Then continues on to the modern part of the city to witness how it is growing and how much the elevation drops down. Finally you leave the city to enter the Valley of the Moon and enjoy its natural geological formations.

Day 06 LA PAZ - CUSCO (TUESDAY & SATURDAY)
Transfer to the airport in time for the flight to Cusco. Reception and transfer to your hotel.
Afternoon city tour and nearby ruins. Visit Main Square, the Cathedral and its religious Art Museum, the Church of Santo Domingo or Koricancha. Includes visits to Sacsayhuaman and Puca Pucara fortresses, the temple and amphitheater of Kenko and the water shrine of Tambomachay .

Day 07 CUSCO - MACHU PICCHU
Transfer to the station for a morning train ride to the unparalleled, Machu Picchu, the "Lost City of the Incas". Machu Picchu was a flourishing ceremonial and agricultural site, probably the gateway to the jungle marches of the Inca Empire. The central buildings were erected with the polished stonework of the Cusco Imperial style, though the site was probably occupied well before the Incas started their expansion. Machu Picchu was associated with the earth cult revolving around the Coca leaf, which was a privilege restricted to the Inca Royal family and priests. Guided tour and lunch. Overnight at one of the hotels in the area.

Day 08 MACHU PICCHU - CUSCO
Morning free to explore the ruins on your own or visit the hot springs in Aguas Calientes. Mid afternoon departure by train to Cusco. Upon arrival transfer to hotel.

Day 09 CUSCO - LIMA
Transfer to the airport in time for the flight to Lima. Upon arrival transfer to hotel. Afternoon guided shopping tour.

Day 10 LIMA - HOME
Transfer to the airport for your international departure flight or continue on the extension of your choice.

END OF SERVICES
 
Peru Traces Travel & Tours
1167 Pardo Ave., Suite 302, Miraflores, Lima 18, Peru
Phone: (51 1) 242 9408 - Fax:(51 1) 242 9387 - 24 hours Emergency Phone: (51 1) 9975-3183
E-mail: info@perutraces.com - Web Sites: www.perutraces.net - www.perutraces.com