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Mysteries of the Inca Empire 2027
11 days from Lima to Lima
Tour Description:
On this Peru tour, delve into the past as you spend time in Lima, the Sacred Valley, Machu Picchu, Cusco, and Lake Titicaca. Along the way, visit ancient ruins, see beautiful scenery, and enjoy guided sightseeing with Local Guides and a Tour Director dedicated to bringing you these destinations and to helping you learn about the local cultures. History comes alive on this tour through Peru. Imagine what life was like in the 15th century as you tour the ancient ruins of Machu Picchu, where you'll see this famous Inca complex of palaces, plazas, temples, and homes set in a majestic setting. More history awaits at Ollantaytambo, the archaeological site of the Incas’ resistance during the Spanish conquest, and the Temple of Sacsayhuaman, a fortress with some of the best examples of Inca masonry. Guided sightseeing in Cusco features the Santo Domingo Monastery, where the Inca foundations remain under the Spanish baroque structures, and the Cathedral, housing a magnificent collection of artwork. On this Peru tour, you'll also learn about the local culture. On your motorboat tour of Lake Titicaca, you'll visit Taquile Island, where you'll see how the local people integrate their Inca and Spanish past, and the Uros Floating Islands, where you'll learn how the Uros people construct their islands, homes, and boats from totora reed, a centuries-old practice. In the Incan town of Ollantaytambo and visit with locals in their homes for insight into their way of life. Spend time at the famous market in Pisaq and learn about the importance of camelids (llama, vicuña, alpaca, and guanaco) to Inca culture. These are just some of the many highlights of this Peru tour. Designed for savvy, value-minded travel lovers, it's a vacation of a lifetime!
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Dates & Pricing
| Wednesday 27 Jan 27 — Sunday 07 Feb 27 | Starting at $2,879 |  SPECIAL | Get a Quote |
| Wednesday 10 Feb 27 — Sunday 21 Feb 27 | Starting at $2,879 | SPECIAL | Get a Quote |
| Wednesday 10 Mar 27 — Sunday 21 Mar 27 | Starting at $2,879 | SPECIAL | Get a Quote |
| Wednesday 05 May 27 — Sunday 16 May 27 | Starting at $2,879 | SPECIAL | Get a Quote |
| Wednesday 19 May 27 — Sunday 30 May 27 | Starting at $2,879 | SPECIAL | Get a Quote |
| Wednesday 30 Jun 27 — Sunday 11 Jul 27 | Starting at $2,879 | SPECIAL | Get a Quote |
| Wednesday 25 Aug 27 — Sunday 05 Sep 27 | Starting at $2,879 | SPECIAL | Get a Quote |
| Wednesday 22 Sep 27 — Sunday 03 Oct 27 | Starting at $2,879 | SPECIAL | Get a Quote |
| Wednesday 06 Oct 27 — Sunday 17 Oct 27 | Starting at $2,879 | SPECIAL | Get a Quote |
| Wednesday 20 Oct 27 — Sunday 31 Oct 27 | Starting at $2,879 | SPECIAL | Get a Quote |
| Wednesday 03 Nov 27 — Sunday 14 Nov 27 | Starting at $2,879 | SPECIAL | Get a Quote |
| Wednesday 01 Dec 27 — Sunday 12 Dec 27 | Starting at $2,879 | SPECIAL | Get a Quote |
Disclaimer: Prices listed are per person, based on double occupancy, and in USD. All promotions are valid for new bookings only, capacity controlled and valid on select dates and departures. Individual Terms and Conditions will apply to all promotions. Any promotion can be withdrawn at any time without notice. Please speak with your Pavlus Travel Planner for complete vendor terms and conditions, including eligible tour and cruise dates.
Destination & Sightseeing
Destination & SightseeingThe world is within reach with everything you need for perfectly affordable touring. Cosmos includes hand-selected accommodations, guided sightseeing, and seamless transportation between destinations—with value-minded travel lovers in mind. Explore with expert Cosmos Tour Directors and Local Guides, and private, first-class, and air-conditioned motorcoach. Enhance your free time to explore like a local with your CosmosGO mobile app!Your Tour Includes:• All internal flights• Guided city sightseeing of Lima• Guided city sightseeing of the Sacred Valley includes a visit to Pisaq village market, Ollantaytambo ruins, a visit to a local Incan’s home, Seminario Ceramics Workshop, and a refreshing chicha tasting.• Tickets for Vistadome train to and from Machu Picchu• Guided walk of Machu Picchu• Guided city sightseeing of Cusco includes a guided walk of the Temple of Sacsayhuaman and a tree-planting experience with the local community• Scenic drive to Puno with visits including the Sistine Chapel of America, the Temple of Wiracocha, and more• Guided visit to Taquile and Uros Islands• Guided visit of Sillustani ruins and a local home
Notes:
Maximum enjoyment of this vacation requires walking on cobblestone streets, uneven pathways, and climbing stairs. Elevations exceeding 10,000 feet can make even modest exertion a challenge. Maximum elevation on this tour is 14,325 ft.
Maximum enjoyment of this vacation requires walking on cobblestone streets, uneven pathways, and climbing stairs. Elevations exceeding 10,000 feet can make even modest exertion a challenge. Maximum elevation on this tour is 14,325 ft.
ITINERARY
ITINERARYDay 1 LIMA, PERU
Welcome to Lima, Peru. Heralded as the “City of Kings” by Spanish conquistadors, Lima retains vestiges of its opulent past with its colonial buildings and world-class museums
Day 2 LIMA
Sightseeing today focuses on Lima’s colonial heritage. Founded in 1535, Lima was once capital of Spain’s South American Empire. Visit the baroque 11th-century San Francisco Monastery, with Spanish and Moorish architecture throughout. Continue to Plaza Mayor, where you will see the Government Palace that houses the presidential palace and was once the home of Francisco Pizarro, founder of Lima and conqueror of Peru. Nearby, see the cathedral where Pizarro’s remains are buried. The remainder of your day is free to explore. Enjoy dinner at a local restaurant this evening. (B,D)
Breakfast Dinner
Breakfast
DinnerDay 3 LIMA–CUSCO–SACRED VALLEY
Fly to Cusco high in the Andes and upon arrival, descend into the Sacred Valley of the Incas. Learn about the importance of camelids (llama, vicuña, alpaca, and guanaco) for Inca cultures. See them up close and learn how their coats are transformed into precious fibers for ancient weaving techniques still in use today. Continue to Pisaq, a charming village with a famous market, where you have plenty of time to browse the many colorful stalls selling handicrafts ranging from alpaca sweaters and blankets to painted vases and sterling silver. Later, arrive at your hotel in the peaceful Sacred Valley. (B,D)
Breakfast Dinner
Breakfast DinnerDay 4 SACRED VALLEY
Start the day with a visit to the village of Ollantaytambo and the Inca ruins of the same name. Explore the archaeological site that was the scene of the Inca resistance during the Spanish conquest—the only place ever to resist Spanish attacks. See how the temple area at the top of the terraces provided the perfect defensive stronghold, then visit a local home in this Incan town to experience life in a traditional village, which has been remarkably well preserved. Next, visit the Seminario ceramics workshop to learn about Peruvian ancient and modern art. End your day at a local chichería for a taste of a chicha, a typical Inca drink in Peru. (B)
Breakfast
BreakfastDay 5 SACRED VALLEY–MACHU PICCHU
Board the Vistadome train that cuts a path through the picturesque Urubamba Valley bound for Aguas Calientes, the quaint town closest to the “Lost City of the Incas.” Ascend the mountainside through tropical forest to the sacred refuge of Machu Picchu. Listen as your guide recounts the many accomplishments of the Incas as you tour the terraced ruins dating back to the 15th century. Abandoned when the Inca Empire fell to the Spanish, these remarkable ruins remained undiscovered for nearly 400 years. Many mysteries surrounding Machu Picchu remain to this day. (B,D)
Breakfast Dinner
Breakfast DinnerDay 6 MACHU PICCHU–CUSCO
Enjoy some free time this morning to explore the mountain town of Aguas Calientes; perhaps visit the local market, quaint boutiques, or take a walk along nearby trails. Later this afternoon, board the Vistadome train to Cusco, the former capital of the Inca Empire. (B)
Breakfast
BreakfastDay 7 CUSCO
Embark on a guided sightseeing tour of Cusco that focuses on the city that was once the political, military, and cultural epicenter of the Incas until the Spanish toppled it. In fact, Inca foundations can still be found in Cusco, with the Spanish baroque structures built on top. Visit the Santo Domingo Monastery, where these two forms of architecture are melded together with the temple of both cultures atop one another. Also, see the Cathedral in the Plaza de Armas, housing a magnificent collection of artwork, including a depiction of The Last Supper that portrays the apostles dining on cuy (guinea pig). Continue to the hillside overlooking Cusco for a visit to the Temple of Sacsayhuaman. Some of the best examples of Inca masonry can be found at this fortress, where stones weighing up to 350 tons are pieced together to form a complex that could house up to 10,000 men. Learn about the ceremonies and battles that took place here on your tour. Roll up your sleeves to participate in a tree-planting project supporting the local community. Return to Cusco for dinner at a local restaurant. (B,D)
Breakfast Dinner
Breakfast DinnerDay 8 CUSCO–PUNO
Today, drive south along the Route of the Sun, one of Peru’s most beautiful scenic drives. Stops along the way include visits to the stunning Sistine Chapel of America, the Temple of Wiracocha and more. Arrive in Puno on the shores of Lake Titicaca where the legend says the first Inca, Manco Capac, arose from the waters of the lake by the power of the sun god to create the Inca Empire. (B,L)
BreakfastLunch
BreakfastLunchDay 9 PUNO. EXCURSION TO LAKE TITICACA
Experience fascinating Lake Titicaca today as you embark on a motorboat tour of the highest navigable lake in the world and its man-made islands. On Taquile Island, see how the local people integrate their Inca and Spanish past. This is evident by the Spanish peasant dresses made of Andean textiles—the islanders make some of the finest in all of Peru. Continue to the Uros floating islands, a group of approximately 40 artificially made islands. Learn how the Uros people construct their islands, homes, boats, and many other resources completely of tortora reed, a centuries-old practice. Enjoy dinner hosted by your Tour Director this evening. (B,L,D)
BreakfastLunch Dinner
BreakfastLunch DinnerDay 10 PUNO–JULIACA–LIMA
Return to Juliaca, where you will be welcomed into a local home for an inside look at life here. Later, a short flight returns you to Lima, where you will transfer to your hotel. (B)
Breakfast
BreakfastDay 11 LIMA
Your vacation ends after breakfast this morning. (B)
Accommodations
Accommodations| Lima | Sacred Valley | Machu Picchu | Cusco | Puno |
Jose Antonio Lima Hotel
First-Class
First-Class
Disclaimer: Prices listed are per person, based on double occupancy, and in USD. All promotions are valid for new bookings only, capacity controlled and valid on select dates and departures. Individual Terms and Conditions will apply to all promotions. Any promotion can be withdrawn at any time without notice. Please speak with your Pavlus Travel Planner for complete vendor terms and conditions, including eligible tour and cruise dates.
