Nazca-Cusco-Machupicchu-Amazon 11 Days 5 Stars

DAY 1.   FLIGHT FROM HOME TO LIMA, PERU.

You will arrive ¡n Lima in the evening. You will stay right- at the airport. Welcome to Perú!

DAY 2.   LIMA – NAZCA LINES – HUACACHINA

Our driver will pick you up at your hotel at 6am sharp to begin your next adventure. You will drive along Peru’s scenic Southern coast, until you arrive at the small fishing town of Paracas. There, you will pick up a local guide and continué on to the nearby airport in lea, to experience a fantastic 70 minute flight over the Nazca Lines onboard a 12-passenger Cessna. Every passenger is guaranteed a seat with a window, and you will see 12 of the Nazca Lines. Flight leaves about 12:00 noon. After your flight, you will eat lunch in a local restaurant, then drive to visit the Oasis of the Huacachina that is located just 4 miles from lca City. Here you will start your next adventure – the sand buggy on the incredible desert. Drive and enjoy the sun set and amazing views that have not changed with time. Arrive back to Paracas for a great night at your. (B, L)

DAY 3.   BALLESTAS ISLANDS – LIMA – SACRED VALLEY

We will pick you up at 7:40 AM from your hotel for your two hour boat tour to the Ballestas Islands. During this tour, which is completely onboard a boat, an English-speaking tour guide will teach you about the mammals that live in this bio diverse nature reserve. You will come face-to face with endangered Humboldt penguins, colonies of sea lions, and huge flocks of seabirds. Don’t worry – the animals here are accustomed to seeing humans, and you won’t disturb or annoy them at all. Get a great view of the enigmatic Paracas Candelabra, – a wellknown prehistoric geoglyph found on the northern face of the Paracas Península. The design is cut two feet into the soil, with stones possibly from a later date placed around it. The figure is 595 feet tall, large enough to be seen 12 miles at sea. After the boat returns to the port in Paracas, you can explore the town and enjoy a seaside lunch. Then embark on your scenic drive back to Lima. Check in to your flight to Cusco, where you will be met by Elite Travel staff who will bring you to the Sacred Valley. (B,L)

DAY  4.   SACRED VALLEY-MORAY AND SALT MINES

After breakfast you will begin your day by boarding a private van with your local guide and dríving for 45 minutes to visit the circular terraces of Moray – the Navel of the Earth. At this sacred site you will feel the connection with the three worlds represented by the sacred animals of the Condor, Puma and Snake. See how our ancestors built an amphitheater-like structure to study different microclimates. You will also visit an amazing salt flats operation en route. Buffet lunch at an original Hacienda plantation, Tunupa Restaurant, at the Sacred Valley. Then, we head back to Ollantaytambo and see many temples of pink granite stone and the famous Princess’ Bath at this archaeological site. Learn more about the history of the Incas, their lives and culture, and their battles with the Spanish that were conducted from this famous site. Take the rest of the day to enjoy the mountain views and the local town -the only Incan town that has been continuously inhabited since Incan times! (B,L)

DAY 5.  INKA TRAIL HIKE TO MACHU PICCHU

Begin today with a walk to the train station at Ollantaytambo. We will leave on the train at 6.10 am from Ollantaytambo. Along the way, the train follows the Urubamba River until we reach Km104 where we’ll begin our trek. You will be able to see spectacular views of farmlands, snowcapped mountains and the mighty Urubamba River; one of the sources of the Amazon River. At 104km (2000m) we begin our trek, once we’ve made sure you have everything you need. We will provide you with a packed lunch and drinks for energy. We will also take the chance now to have a group photo before visiting our first Inca site together. After an informative tour of the Inca site, we begin gradually ascending as we head for the classic Inca Trail far above. If we have clear weather, we’ll have tremendous views of Macchu Picchu, the Urubamba River and other surrounding Inca sites.

After hiking for 3 hours, we will reach the most beautiful Incan site on the Inca Trail – Wiñay Wayna (Forever Young) at 2600m. This is a wonderful Inca site that many people never get to see. There is an elaborate water fountain, temples, and some agricultural terraces which provide a perfect opportunity to learn more about the way of the Incas. The scenery truly must be seen to be believed! A steep drop off, vertical cliff face, and dramatic mountains surround you. It really demonstrates of the importance of location to the Incas. From Wiñay Wayna we walk to the Sun Gate where we see the pictures landscape of Machu Picchu below. After taking in the once in a lifetime views and getting your photos, we begin our descent to Machu Picchu for sunset.

One of the advantages of this hike is that by the time we reach Machu Picchu, most of the day travelers will have airead y returned home and you will have it almost to yourself. After taking photos, we’ll take the bus to Aguas Calientes and check-in to the fabulous Sumaq Hotel, where dinner is included at the hotel. (B,L,D)

DAY 6.  MACHU PICCHU – CUSCO

The morning is dedicated to exploring the lost city of Machu Picchu on your own. For those looking for the picture perfect view of the ruins, getting up early is essential as sunrise is not to be missed! You’ll have all morning to explore, and perhaps do a hike to the Inca Bridge or Guard House. Enjoy a sumptuous lunch at the Belmond Sanctuary Lodge. Then, the afternoon train takes you back to Ollantaytambo, where you will meet your private driver and travel to Cusco. Night in Cusco. (B,L).

DAY 7.  CUSCO – CITY AND SURROUNDS

Today you will spend the day learning about the region’s rich cultural history. First, you will start with a visit to the local market, and interact with local sellers of fresh food and flowers. Then you will visit the colonial cathedral and Koricancha. the Inca’s Temple of the Sun. You’ll take prívate transportaron with your guide to the other significant Inca ruins in the vicinity of Cusco including: the mammoth fortress of Saqsayhuaman above the city, noted for its megalithic stone terraces; Kenko with its distinctive zig zag – patterned carved stone and subterranean altars; the hillside outpost of Puka Pukara, a small fortress that formerly protected the royal capital; and the Tambo Machay water temple that served as royal batns. Spend the rest of the afternoon on your own exploring the city. Tonight, you’ll have time to enjoy live Latin music in one of the many lively Pisco Bars close to your hotel.  (B,L)

DAY 11.  ARRIVE HOME
The end of Elite Travel services on your Perú tour.