DAY 1, Saturday, August 8– Depart for Peru Depart DFW for Peru. Upon arrival in Lima, transfer to your hotel.
Balance of the day at leisure. Overnight: Lima
DAY 2, Sunday, August 9–
Lima City Tour, Half Day Larco Herrera Museum-This morning’s tour of Lima, with its 2000 years of history, begins at he colonial center of the city, declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site, with its historic buildings surrounding the splendid Plaza Mayor.
View the impressive Palace of the Archbishop with its fine carved balcony, the opulent Government Palace, official residence of the President, and the 16th century Cathedral of Lima whose first stone was laid by Pizarro. Continue to the 17th century Monasterio de San Francisco complex with its magnificent tiles, ornate carved ceilings, exceptional paintings and world-renowned library. This afternoon brings you to the Larco Herrera Museum, considered the best museum in Lima, located in an 18th century restored mansion. This museum holds one of the world’s largest collections of pre-Columbian art. This evening, enjoy a Peruvian dinner and musical performance featuring typical dances. Experience the sights, sounds, and flavors of Peru all at once during this fun-filled evening. Overnight: Lima
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
DAY 3, Monday, August 10 – Free Day
Optional Tour to Pachacamac with Lunch. Today will be at leisure to enjoy to enjoy the city at your own pace shopping of visiting places of interest. Those who wish are invited to enjoy an exciting optional tour to Pachacamac. Here
you will explore the spectacular archaeological remains of the citadel of Pachacamac. This sacred ceremonial site dates back to the early days of Christianity. Countless pilgrims have visited to consult the Pachacamac oracle, believed to house the creator of the universe and a divinity worshipped by ancient Andean civilizations. Many who come believe Pachacamac could see the past and what lies ahead in ones future. Your visit is highlighted by the Temple of Pachacamac, the Sun God shrine, and the
Palace of the Chosen Woman or Virgins of the Sun.
Meals: Breakfast
Optional: Half Day Pachacamac $79.00 per person
DAY 4, Tuesday, August 11– Fly to Cuzco, Highlights of Cuzco
This morning, transfer to the airport for your flight to Cuzco, the
ancient capital of the Inca Empire and UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Cuzco is declared the Historical Capital by the Constitution of Peru
and hosts nearly 1 million visitors every year. Today’s tour starts at the
impressive Colonial Cathedral in Cuzco which contains over 400
paintings from the Cusqueña School in addition to an impressive
collection of colonial art, including Marcos Zapata’s depiction of The
Last Supper displaying Cuy, or Guinea Pig, as the main course.
Continue on to visit the Temple of the Sun, whose walls and floors
were allegedly once covered by sheets of solid gold. This temple was
once the most important religious site of the Incas. From here you will
travel to Sacsayhuaman, located on the northern slope of Cuzco. This
impressive fortress, which consists of individual stones weighing well
over 100 tons, took over seven decades to complete and is a prime
example of Incan military architecture. Conclude the day at the Kenko
amphitheater, a mysterious limestone formation decorated by
intricately carved depictions of mythical entities. During the tour, you
will have the opportunity to visit a local shop featuring alpaca clothing
and accessories, and a local jewelry shop, featuring gold and silver
necklaces, bracelets, earrings, and rings.
Overnight: Cuzco
Meals: Breakfast
DAY 5, Wednesday, August 12 – Visit Machu Picchu
Early morning transfer to the Sacred Valley’s Ollanta Station to board the
Inca Rail Executive Train that travels through misty peaks to the
astonishing ancient citadel of Machu Picchu, the “Lost City of the Incas”,
designated by UNESCO as one of the New Seven Wonders of the
World. Machu Picchu was virtually unknown to the western world until
Hiram Bingham’s re-discovery in 1911. Spend the afternoon viewing the
unforgettable wonders of this 15th century retreat, abandoned nearly 100
years later with the arrival of the conquistadors. See the highlights of the
site including the imposing Temple of the Sun, the House of the Priest,
the Sacred Plaza and the intricately carved rock likely used as a sundial
by the ancient Incas. The images of this significant archaeological site
will be a long-lasting memory. This evening, enjoy dinner at your hotel
Overnight: Aguas Calientes (Machu Picchu)
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
DAY 6, Thursday, August 13 – Return to Cuzco
This morning, enjoy a little time at leisure before departing Aguas Calientes for your return to Cuzco where the remainder of the day will be on your own.
Overnight: Cuzco
Meals: Breakfast
DAY 7, Friday, August 14 – Half Day Cuzco Behind the
Scenes Tour, Farewell Dinner Today’s tour will give you a glimpse into the other side of Cuzco, the oldest continuously inhabited city of the western hemisphere. Start the day with a visit to a local fruit and vegetable market and observe the locals shopping for their daily goods. Try the local chuta bread and enjoy this colorful market where you will experience many new things. Later, head to the local Cuzco cemetery, where you will learn about
the Andean understanding of life and see how the locals decorate the graves with gifts and food for their dead. It is traditional belief that the dead eat and drink as they would during life. Following the cemetery, you will have the
opportunity to meet with an Andean shaman or healer and witness a real offering to mother earth & the sacred mountain protectors to thank them for this trip. Conclude this incredible morning with a cooking lesson using the items purchased at the local market. This evening dinner will be served at a
local restaurant.
Overnight: Cuzco
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
DAY 8, Saturday, August 15 – Depart Peru
Enjoy a free morning to explore Cuzco on your own before checking out of your hotel and transferring to the airport for your flight to Lima. On arrival you will be met and transferred for local sightseeing before having dinner at a local restaurant before returning to the airport for check-in for your overnight flight to the United States and Dallas with fond memories of
your trip to Peru with the United Way of Greater Texarkana.
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
DAY 9, Sunday, August 16 – Depart Peru
Post Tour Puno August 15-18, 2015 $495.00 per person
DAY 8, Saturday, August 15 – Raqchi & Puno
Depart Cuzco early in the morning, enjoying spectacular scenery as
you drive through the Andes mountain range and the Andean plains
to Puno on the Peruvian side of Lake Titicaca. En route visit the 15th
century Temple of Wiracocha, with its elaborate stonework, the
largest Inca temple ever discovered. Today, Raqchi remains home to
many farmers, ranchers and artisans. Then, we arrive at pristine
Lake Titicaca sitting majestically at 12,500 feet above sea level,
backed by the snowcapped peaks of Bolivia’s Cordillera Real range.
This is the highest navigable lake in the world and South America’s
largest fresh water lake. A box lunch will be provided en route before
arriving in Puno for your overnight.
Overnight: Puno
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
DAY 9, Sunday, August 16 – Uros Islands on Lake Titicaca
This morning, an excursion by boat transports us from Puno to the
fascinating Floating Uros Islands where the indigenous people of the
area, the Uros, live on islands that dot the lake. The Uros live very
much the same as their ancestors did and still follow the ancient
customs and traditions. These islands are completely man-made
structures, using the totora reeds from the lake to build the islands
and houses. Return to Puno for the remainder of the day at leisure.
Overnight: Puno
Meals: Breakfast
DAY 10, Monday, August 17 – Sillustani Tombs
This morning you will explore the Sillustani Tombs, the pre-Incan
burial ground on the shores of Lake Umayo. The tombs here are
built above the ground in tower-like structures called chullpas,
vestiges of the Colla people before they were conquered by the
Incas in the 15th century. The afternoon will be free to enjoy on your
own before hotel check out and departure to Juliaca International
Airport for check in for your flight to Lima. On arrival you will be met
and transferred for local sightseeing before having dinner at a local
restaurant before returning to the airport for check-in for your
overnight flight to the United States and Dallas with fond memories
of your trip to Peru with the United Way of Greater Texarkana.
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Overnight: Puno
DAY 11, Tuesday, August 18 – Arrive Dallas
Save the date, Wednesday, January 21st, Texarkana College-Levi Hall
6:00-7:00pm
