Summary

Enjoy the colour and spectacle of Peru’s Inti Raymi Festival on this unique small group tour. The 12-day tour encompasses the very best of Peru, culminating with the country’s largest festival, Inti Raymi, a once in a lifetime experience!

Explore the historic centre of Lima and taste some Peruvian specialties such as ceviche or lomo saltado. Then fly to Cuzco where you will spend some days exploring the city before Inti Raymi celebrations get started. You will spend time in the Sacred Valley of the Incas. Visit the bustling Pisac markets, the archaeological site of Moray, a traditional Andean community and the ancient city of Ollantaytambo. A visit to Machu Picchu will be one of your highlights. Spend two days exploring one of the Wonders of the World.

Then head back to Cuzco to enjoy Peru’s most important celebration, the Inti Raymi festival, which takes place every year on 24 June. Colourful processions and parades wind their way through the city streets of Cuzco. The main ceremony takes place at the ruins of Sacsayhuaman where hundreds of actors, dancers and musicians, bedecked in bright costumes, re-enact the Inca sun ceremony.
Finally, our tour finishes on Lake Titicaca, where you will see the famous floating islands of the Uros Indians.

This one of a kind small group tour of Peru departs on Tuesday, June 16, 2020, and has limited seats. Book now!

If you are thinking about travelling to Mexico, have a look at our Small Group tour, we’ll be celebrating the Day of the Dead!

Highlights

Participate of the Inti Raymi festivity in Cuzco
Two entries to Machu Picchu
Travel on a small group tour with up to 20 likeminded travellers
Spend three two nights in the Sacred Valley with more time to explore this beautiful region
1st class Vistadome train to Machu Picchu
Full day guided tour of Machu Picchu & 2nd day entrance included to explore at leisure

Inclusions

Accommodation in mentioned hotels with daily breakfast, 5 Lunches and 1 Dinner
Expert English-speaking local guides and tour director
Ground transportation in private A/C vehicles
All entrance fees to local sights mentioned on the itinerary
Unique hand-crafted travel wallets & luggage tags made in Bolivia exclusively for Contours Travel
24 hour assistance by our local offices in South America

ITINERARY

Day 1 Lima

Welcome to South America! Arrive at Lima airport and transfer to your hotel where you will meet your fellow travellers and Tour Director. Tonight gather for a welcome brief.
Overnight at Casa Andina Premium Miraflores (First Class)

Day 2 Lima

Today you will visit the modern districts of Miraflores and San Isidro and the colonial historical centre. Visit the Main Square (Plaza Mayor), which comprises the Government Palace, the Archbishop’s Palace, The Municipality and the Cathedral. Continue to the Choco Museum, where you will see the transformation of cocoa into delicious products. Later on, visit the Convent of Santo Domingo, declared as Intangible Cultural Heritage and house to the remains of our saints, San Martin de Porres and Santa Rosa de Lima.
Meals: B

Day 3 Lima/Cuzco

Fly to Cuzco, the ancient capital of the Incas. Balance of the day at leisure to help you acclimatise to the high altitude.
Overnight at Casa Andina Premium Cuzco (First Class)
Meals: B

Day 4 Cuzco

Enjoy a half-day city tour of Cuzco visiting the Plaza de Armas, Cathedral and Koricancha Temple, walking along the cobblestones streets. Continue by car to visit the ruins of Kenko, Tambomachay and Sacsayhuaman. Rest of the day free to continue exploring this amazing city on your own.
Meals: B

Day 5 Cuzco/Sacred Valley

Depart on a scenic drive through the Andes down to the Sacred Valley of the Incas. En route to your hotel, you’ll visit some interesting places such as Awanacancha, Pisac ruins & Pisac Market. Awanacancha is a weaving centre that keeps the traditional textile arts alive. The scenery around this area is remarkable as the patchworks fields provide a spectacular view. The second stop is at the Andean town of Pisac with its famed market. In Pisac, visit the ruins and wander around the market stalls, which offer a variety of souvenirs and local produce. From Pisac, it is a short journey to your hotel. You have the afternoon at your own leisure to enjoy the beautiful setting of the Sacred Valley.
Overnight at Casa Andina Premium Sacred Valley (First Class)
Meals: BL

Day 6 Sacred Valley

Enjoy a full-day tour exploring some of the highlights of the beautiful Sacred Valley of the Incas such as Moray, an Andean village and Ollantaytambo. Travel to Moray, a fascinating archaeological site; its huge concentric terraces were used by the Incas as a botanical laboratory. Then, visit an Andean community where your local hosts will welcome you and invite you to experience some of their daily life activities. After, continue to Ollantaytambo where you can visit the archaeological complex of the same name. This is one of the largest in Peru, and it is strategically located on top of a mountain. Afterwards, descend to the town of Ollantaytambo, which stands out for maintaining the Inca urban planning as part of its original urban layout. Here you can tour the town and visit the local market.
Meals: BL

Day 7 Sacred Valley/Machu Picchu

Today you will be going to visit the deserted city of Machu Picchu, the most renowned example of Inca architecture. Today’s visit to magical Machu Picchu will undoubtedly be a highlight of your trip! Enjoy a guided tour of the ruins & lunch at Belmond Sanctuary Lodge before taking a mini-bus back to Aguas Calientes where you will overnight.
Optional Express Inca Traill walk from km 104 entering Machu Picchu at the Sun Gate.
Overnight at El Mapi by Inkaterra (First Class)
Meals: BLD

Day 8 Machu Picchu/Cuzco

Today will be your second visit to Machu Picchu (unguided) and you can explore the ruins at your own pace. This afternoon, return to Cuzco by Vistadome train where you will have the opportunity of gazing the amazing landscape of the Valley through the glass ceiling carriage.
Note: as per new regulations, if you want to hike the Wayna Picchu Mountain, we need to pre-pay the ticket. So, please advise us when booking the tour as it is subject to availability.
Overnight at Casa Andina Premium Cuzco (First Class)
Meals: B

Day 9 Cuzco

Today will undoubtedly be one of the most memorable days of your trip! The Inti Raymi festival is performed every year in honour of the Incan sun god, Inti. The climax of the celebrations is held on June 24, during the winter solstice in the Southern Hemisphere, at the Sacsayhuaman archaeological complex. This ritual act of thanksgiving draws people from all over Peru and the world to witness the most important Incan ceremony, faithfully recreated in a spectacular setting.
Meals: BL

Day 10 Cuzco/Puno

Depart on a full-day tour and transfer across the Altiplano to Puno, situated on the shores of Lake Titicaca. The drive from Cuzco to Puno steadily climbs up the Vilcanota Valley towards the headwaters of the Urubamba River and the highest point of the trip, Abra La Raya at 4321 metres above sea level. From Abra La Raya, it is a gradual descent into the opening grassy plains towards Lake Titicaca and eventually down to the lake’s edge where Puno is nestled.
Overnight at Sonesta Posada del Inca Puno (Tourist Superior Class)
Meals:BL

Day 11 Puno

Depart this morning on a full-day tour of Uros and Taquile Islands. Uros Islands is one of Lake Titicaca’s most famous sights. The Uros are the descendants of a pre-Inca group who live on around forty floating reed islands on Lake Titicaca. The Uros use bundles of dried totora reeds to make reed boats and to make the islands. The main island has a school, medical post shops and restaurants. Then continue by speed boat to Taquile Island where the culture dates back to Pre-Incan times. The islanders still live according to the traditions and beliefs of their ancestors and are world-renowned for their traditional textiles. You will have lunch before sailing back to Puno.
Meals: BL