PERU
Lima | Machu
Pichu | Map
GENERAL INFORMATION
Peru is located in the central
part of the Pacific coast in South America. Peru, land of contrasts, has a
history going back 8,000 years B.C. The land was unified under the Incas,
whose capital was Cuzco. The country is divided into three natural regions:
the Coast - with its beaches and its beautiful cities, such as Lima, Tnijillo,
Chiclayo, Paracas, Tumbes and Piura; the Sierras territory within the Andes.
High mountains and the important Titicaca Lake, on the border with Bolivia,
world’s highest lake. Important cities, such as Arequipa, Puno, Cuzco,
Huaráz, Cajamarca and Huancayo. The Jungle - called "selva", is
mostly the area within the Amazon River basin. Scarcely inhabited, housing
a fauna and flora paradise. The cities of Iquitos and Puerto Maldonado are
the gateways to this region.
LIMA
Services
Capital city of Peru, Lima
was founded in 1535 by the Spanish conqueror Francisco Pizarro. He named
it ‘The City of the Kings’ in honour of the emperor Charles I and
the queen mother, Joanna, then ruling monarchs of Spain. Nowadays Lima is
a bustling city of over 6 million inhabitants, full of contrasts between the
old colonial buildings and monuments and the very modern constructions. Built
right on the sea coast, its climate is mild, cloudy and slightly gray in winter
(June to August) and warm in summer (December to March).
SERVICES IN LIMA
TRANSFER
In private car between airports,
bus terminals and railway station to the hotels.
COLONIAL CITYTOUR
Daily. Afternoon only.
Visit the ‘Plaza de Armas’
with its old fountain, the Cathedral containing the remains of Francisco Pizarro,
the Presidential Palace, Congress Building, San Pedro Church and the Torre
Tagle Palace.
MODERN AND RESIDENTIAL CITYTOUR
Daily. Morning and afternoon.
View of the most important buildings
and monuments in Lima. Drive to the residential districts of San Isidro, the
fashionable Miraflores, Barranco and Chorrillos. Visit the Olive Grove and
Herradura beach.
RUINS OF PACHAMAC & ARCHEOLOGICAL
MUSEUM
Daily at 9:00 AM. Except Mondays.
Approximate duration: 3 hours.
Departure through Arequipa Avenue
to Miraflores, then along the Pan American Highway to Pachacamac, important
pre-inca ruins. The ruins are visited on foot in one hour. It is also included
a visit to the famous Archeological Museum.
CUZCO
and MACHU-PICCHU
Services
GENERAL INFORMATION
The archeological capital of the
Americas, also called the ‘Imperial City’, Cuzco has a charming
mixture of ancient Inca, colonial and modern architecture. It is the oldest
city in the hemisphere, but remodeled by the Spaniards in 1532. The most important
Pre-Inca and Inca monuments are located here and in the Sacred Valley of the
Urubamba river, and towering above all it is the incredible Machu Picchu,
discovered by Hiram Bingham in 1911. Nearby Fortress of Sacsayhuman and Ollantaytambo
with their huge stone constructions are witness to the splendorous past of
the Inca Civilization. The sacred city of Mach Picchu was built 3,400 meters
above the sea level. It has an average temperature between 11-20 degrees Celsius.
The rainy season is from November to March.
SERVICES IN CUSCO AND MACHU PICCHU
CITY TOUR AND RUINS
Daily at 2:00 PM. Approximate duration: 3 hours.
Afternoon city tour, including the Cathedral, the Religious Art Museum, the
typical streets and the environ ruins of Sacsayhuaman Fortress, Quengo amphitheatre,
Puca Pucara and Tambomachay, the Inca Bath.
PISAC AND OLLANTAYTAMBO
Visit will begin with the typical village of Pisac,
where you can attend an Indian mass, famous due to the assistance of the ‘Varayoos’(indian
mayors). Then continue on to the handicraft market and through the indian
villages of Qoya, Calca, Lamay and Urubamba. Continue to the fortress of Ollantaytambo.
Lunch is included.
MACHU PICCHU
Daily. Approximate duration: 14
hours. Transfer to the railway station, then board the train for a breathtaking
ride via narrow-gauge rail and later by mini-bus to the Inca Citadel of Machu
Picchu, also named the ‘Lost City’. Walk its narrow streets, climb
its rock strewn stairways and learn the secrets of this ancient fortress city.
Lunch is included.
OTHER EXCITING PLACES IN PERU
> AREQUIPA
The colonial jewel of South Peru.
Known as the ‘White City’ due to the constructions made of ‘sillar’,
a volcanic rock of white color, Arequipa is an impressive sight.
> PUNO AND THE TITICACA LAKE
The important Pre-Incaic ruins of
Sillustani and the Altiplano culture (high-plateau). Visit the floating islands
of the Uros Indians on Titicaca Lake.
