Taste Peru 12D

Day 1 Arrive in Lima

Arrive in Lima and our staff will be waiting to transfer you to your hotel in Miraflores.
Overnight in Lima
No meals

Day 2 Gourmet and City Tour

After a delicious breakfast, we will start the heavenly gourmet tour. Visit the local food market to learn about fresh ingredients of Peruvian cuisine while savoring the aromas and the vibrant colors of the variety of fruits, vegetables, meats, fish and more. Visit the friendly vendors and practice some Spanish while choosing our ingredients. After the market, we will go to a restaurant to delight in trying a small dish of Peruvian Cuisine. We will stroll to another restaurant to start our hands on cooking class using unique fresh ingredients to prepare our chosen dish. The best part is feasting on the mouth watering dish.  After lunch, take pleasure in touring the city of Kings visiting the best combination of the different attractions in Lima and its three historical periods: pre-Hispanic, colonial and contemporary. Return to your hotel for the evening.
Overnight in Lima
Breakfast and lunch included

Day 3 Lima – Cusco

Transfer to the airport for your flight to Cusco. Greetings in Cusco with a transfer to your hotel. Delight in a day at leisure acclimatizing to the high altitude.
Overnight in Cusco
Breakfast included

Day 4 City Cultural and tasteful Tour

Today will be a historical, cultural and tasty experience. We will stroll on the cobble stoned streets to the Plaza de Armas for a tour the Cathedral built with stones from the nearby Sacsayhuaman temple. Then off to the Qoricancha (court yard of gold) the most important Inca Sun Temple, once a glittering palace. We will visit the San Pedro local market, a vibrant place with exotic fruits, vegetables, andean grains, natural medicinal plants, meats and more. Afterwards, we drive above Cusco and visit the impressive Sacsayhuaman a religious sacred site for the Incas but was called a fortress by the Spaniards. Be in awe with the  huge large wonderfully carved granite stones with boulders carefully chiseled to fit together.  Thereafter, continue to Qenqo (labyrinth or zigzag) thought to have been used for rituals and to embalm bodies. We return to Cusco and go to the Casa Qoricancha Restaurant to delight in a cooking demonstration of a typical delicious dish of the region. Savour each bite of its exquisite flavors prepared by you.  Return to your hotel.
Overnight in Cusco
Breakfast and lunch included

Day 5 Sacred Valley

We depart Cusco in the morning and drive to the fertile Sacred Valley of the Incas admirnig the surrounding mountains.  Passing the town of Pisac and up a winding road to the impressive Inca archaeological site of Pisac (2972m/9751ft), overlooking the town and country side, with numerous agricultural terraces. Hike to the Intihuatana (sun temple), a solar clock among a group of temples, ceremonial baths and more. Drive to the town of Pisac or optional hike down enjoying the beautiful views. We will visit the Pisac artisan market where you can buy souvenirs (Pisac market can be replaced with Awanacancha). Thereafter, we will drive to Urubamba (2870m/9415ft) and to the Huayoccari Hacienda, a private estate of the Lambarri-Orihuela tucked away in a beautiful area in nature. Visit the small museum which has an interesting collection of pre- Inca and Inca artifacts. Feast on a delicious Peruvian lunch in a peaceful area. After lunch drive along the Urubamba River in direction to the quaint town of Ollantaytambo (2792m/9160ft) built by the Inca Pachacutec. This lovely town has many water canals running alongside the homes. Visit the archeological site which has many structures such as the Temple of the Sun, the Royal Hall and the Intihuatana. We will check into our hotel in the Sacred Valley to relax.
Overnight in the Sacred Valley
Breakfast and lunch included

Day 6 Urubamba local Market – Chinchero – Pachamanca Lunch –  Moray  – Maras Salt Mines

This morning after breakfast, we will drive up to the highlands, taking in spectacular views of the snow-capped mountains of Veronica and Pitusiray-both over 18,000 feet high. Our first visit will take us to the colorful Urubamba authentic local market to purchase some of our ingredients for the Pachamanca. After, our cultural experience we continue to the town of Chinchero (3772m/12375ft) which has the remains of what was the royal hacienda of Tupac Inca Yupanqui, as well as a beautiful colonial temple built on Inca foundations. Our visit will take us to a local´s home to see a weaving demonstration of the traditional textile arts using natural dyes and ancient techniques. We will drive to Lake Piuray located southeast of Chinchero, only at about 2,5 km (1.5 mi) south from the town. Here we will take part in preparing a traditional Peruvian dish dating back to the Inca times. It is based on the baking, with the aid of hot stones where you will put the meat, potatoes, lima beans and other ingredients. It is intriguing to see the preparation of this deluctable dish. We will enjoy eating this fabulous meal while enjoying the surrounding vistas of the pristine lake. After lunch, drive up a dirt road to Moray located on a high plateau at about (3500m/11500ft) and just west of the village of Maras located below. These are the most stunning agricultural circles which are in a large bowl depression with many terraces. This archeological site is believed (in theory) to have been used by the Incas as an agricultural experiment center. Enjoy the energy from the center of the circle and then climb up the small steps on the sides of the terraces. From here we drive down a dirt road passing the old colonial town of Maras (3380m/11090ft.) until reaching the Salt mines. The small salt pans are built on steep terraces along one side of a narrow valley which is nourished by the salt spring waters that surface from a subterranean stream in the mountain. There are about 3000 wells which are left to evaporate and are gathered by hand without any machinery. Walk along the beautiful salt pans and taste the salty waters while taking in the serene views.  Enjoy lunch before continuing to the town of Ollantaytambo to board the train to Aguas Calientes. There you will be met by our staff and walk to your hotel where you will receive a briefing on your next day´s tour.
Overnight in Aguas Calientes
Breakfast and lunch included

Day 7 Machu Picchu Tour

Early rise and enjoy breakfast before, traveling by train to Aguas Calientes taking in spectacular views. We will check into our hotel and take a bus ride to the Magical Machu Picchu, one of the seven wonders of the world. We will take pleasure of a guided walking tour of the stunning mysterious Santuary. Visit the extraordinary Temple of the Sun with exceptionally carved stones, Temple of the Three Windows features huge trapezoidal windows, Intihuatana the solar clock and more.  We will go to the nearby Sanctuary Lodge to enjoy a delicious lunch in the Tinquy Restaurant near the ruins. After lunch you will have time to further explore Machu Picchu or walk to Sungate or the Inca Bridge. Return to Aguas Calientes to spend the night in a comfortable hotel.
Overnight in Agaus Calientes
Breakfast and lunch included

Day 8  Free Day or optional extra cost Huayna Picchu or Machu Picchu Mountain Peak – Cusco

Today you will enjoy a free day in Aguas Calientes or optional second day visit to hike Huayna Picchu or Machu Picchu Mountain Peak (entrance and round trip bus not included) for magnificent vistas of the Machu Picchu archeological site and valley below. Return to Aguas Calientes to have lunch in the Indio Feliz Restaurant. After lunch we will continue by train to the Poroy station where our transportation will be waiting to take us to Cusco.
Overnight in Cusco
Breakfast and lunch included

Day 9 Cusco – Puerto Maldonado – Amazon

Transfer to the airport for your flight to Puerto Maldonado. Reception at the airport and drive to the Maldonado lodge where you will receive a welcome tropical drink. Then we will board the motorboat for a 3 to 4 hour ride up the Tambopata River to the Wasai Lodge. En route you will see tropical birds, caymans, and other wildlife. We will also pass by typical Amazon communities. We arrive and check into our lodge. Later enjoy a walk through the jungle to learn of its ecosystems.
Lodging
Breakfast in your hotel, lunch and dinner included

Day 10 Amazon

Very early in the morning, we will go upstream to the Macaw Clay Lick ¨El Chuncho¨in the Bahuaja-Sonene National Park. This is where hundreds of macaws and parrots gather every morning and afternoon to feed on the minerals necessary to complement their diet. After a wonderful experience in nature, we return to the lodge for breakfast and enjoy the lodge´s facilities. After lunch, we will take an ethno botanical hike learning about the plants and medicinal trees of the area. At night we do a night walk to spot caiman.
Lodging
Breakfast, lunch and dinner included

Note: Add an extra day in the Amazon at an extra cost.

Day 11 Puerto Maldonado – Lima

A very early start is required for the canoe trip back to Puerto Maldonado, where we catch our flight to Lima. Arrive and our staff will be waiting to transfer you to Miraflores. Rest of the day at leisure.
Overnight in Lima
Breakfast included

Day 12 Lima City Tour  – International flight

Today, enjoy a tour of the of Lima known as the City of Kings. We will visit a combination of pre-Hispanic, Colonial and Contemporary. Our visit will take us through pre-Inca ruins, colonial and Inca architecture, residential neighborhoods, charming churches, and more. We will go to a Picanteria to enjoy the exquisite flavors of northern Peru. Return to your hotel. Later on we will transfer you to the airport for your international flight.
Breakfast and lunch included

End of Services

Optional extra cost: upgrade to a gourmet tour or add a visit of the Larco Museum

• SERVICES INCLUDED

  • Bilingual English/Spanish Guide
  • Transfers IN/OUT
  • Tranfers for tours as per itinerary
  • Walking tour has no entrance fees
  • Standard hotels in Cusco, Ollantaytambo, Aguas Calientes, Lima
  • Tours listed on the program
  • All meals on the itinerary. Vegetarian, vegan, gluten free meals on request at no extra cost.
  • Entrance to ruins for tours on program
  • Bus round trip Aguas Calientes/Machu Picchu
  • Entrance fee to Machu Picchu
  • Expediton train round trip

  SERVICES NOT INCLUDED:

  • Domestic flights. (we can book for you)
  • Hotel in Lima (we can book for you)
  • Entrance Huayna Picchu
  • Any expenses incurred in preparing for the trip, such as, but not limited to, non-refundable airline tickets or travel insurance, nor additional expenses encountered as a result of flight schedule changes, delays, strikes, cancellations, missed connections, acts of God or war.
  • Personal items like medicines, sleeping bag, laundry service, telephone calls, etc.
  • Travel insurance
  •  Gratuities.