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Best of the Southern Andes
Lima to La Paz
16 days/ 15 nights

With three day Island of the Sun extension, 19 days/18 nights

(option for Lima to Lima if you wish

Prices

Departs: Any day with two people

Apus Peru provides a completely customised itinerary service - we tailor each tour to the amount of time you have available and your interests, likes and dislikes. Email us for an obligation free quote where we can begin to develop for you an itinerary to Peru that will truly be a trip of a lifetime! Our customised travel packages give you the freedom to explore Peru in the manner that you want - at affordable prices!

Enjoy the benefits of a completely customisable itinerary with Apus Peru!

Full itinerary - Best of the Southern Andes - Lima to La Paz

Day One - Lima

Arrival in Lima, transfer to your hotel. You have the afternoon free to explore the capital. Accommodation: Hotel Lima

Day two - Arequipa
You will take an early morning flight to Arequipa, where you will be met and transferred to your hotel. Arequipa is known as the "White city" due to the many buildings constructed using the white sillar stone. You have the day free (unless a City Tour is requested). We highly recommend a visit to the Santa Catalina Convent (the most impressive religious building in all Peru) which dates back to 1580 and also to the Ice Maiden Museum. The Plaza de Armas of Arequipa is also very beautiful.

Accomodation: Hotel, Arequipa

Day three – Colca Canyon
From Arequipa we will drive for about 2 hours to visit the Vicugna National Reservation (Salinas y Aguada Blanca). The high point on this day is  4,900 metres from where we can have views of volcanoes in the area like Misti, Chachani and Ampato (the mountain were they found the Inca mummy), also we can see mountains like Sabancaya, Walka Walka and Mismi  (in this mountain is located the source of the Amazon river). We will arrive in Chivay the capital of Colca / Caylloma region in time to have lunch in a traditional restaurant. From here we will have a short  Colca trek of 30 minutes and after that, we visit the Calera hot springs
Accomodation: Hotel Chivay


Day four – Colca Canyon
After a very early breakfast we will we  visit the Cruz del Condor in  where we can appreciate the
canyon and the impressive condors flying.  After viewing the condors we will return to Chivay for lunch and visit local traditional villages along the way.   We  will arrive in Arequipa around 5pm in the afternoon.

Accomodation: Hotel, Arequipa

Day five
You be transferred from your hotel  take an early morning flight (6.50am) via Juliaca arriving in Cusco at 8am.
 
3 hour Orientation/ City tour where we will visit the Temple of the Sun (Koricancha), the Cathedral and key plazas with a description of the history of Cusco. We will also visit Hatunrumiyoc street with its famous 12 angled stone.
Accommodation: Hotel Cusco

Day six - Sacred Valley of the Incas
Depending on your interests, you can take one of the following tours:

White water action: Rafting trip on Urubamba River.
Downhill mountain biking and culture: Chaywatiri 'weaving and farming' by bike
Hiking and culture: shapes of the past
Classic Sacred Valley tour: Visit Pisac, Urubamba, Ollantaytambo and Chincheros.
Relax: you will enjoy the restaurants and shopping of the Inca capital, Cusco

In the evening (Tuesday through Saturday) tickets are included to the Peru Spectacular, Kusikay. Contemporary yet with historical elements, with spectacular costumes, vibrant Peruvian music and thrilling dance, Kusikay is without a doubt the best quality performance in Cusco ! Highly recommended as a way of understanding the power and importance of the Apus to the local people, done in a dramatic and exciting way! www.kusikay.com
Accommodation, Hotel Cusco

** please note - for those with extra time you can opt to spend an extra day around Cusco and do two of these options, which is highly recommended for you to truly appreciate the Sacred Valley of the Incas. **

Day seven - ten
You will depart on one of our highly recommended, off the beaten track four day treks that spend the fourth day in Machu Picchu

Suggestions are:
Lares and Machu Picchu, including a visit to the community of Chaullacocha
Tropical Inca Trail
Expreso Salkantay
Classic Inca Trail  (note – if you are booking for the high season spaces are limited and you should book 3-4 months in advance. Please discuss this option with us as it can sometimes be difficult to put into you itinerary due to reservations restrictions.)

**Note: You can chose to list this trek on the 'trekkers wanted' page and if others join you this will reduce the overall cost of your tour **

On the fourth day of the tour you will have a guided visit of the lost city of the Incas, Machu Picchu and can appreciate the sunrise from the Inti Punku (the sun gate.) (Weather permitting). We return to Cusco in the afternoon by the backpacker train, arriving around 8pm. Accommodation: Hotel, Cusco

Day eleven - Cusco
Relax and enjoy Cusco, do some last minute shopping, perhaps have a massage.

Accommodation: Hotel Cusco

Day twelve  - Travel to Puno
Today we will take a deluxe bus from Cusco to Puno passing through spectacular high altiplano landscape, making stops along the way at points of interest like La Raya or the ruins of Ratchi.

Accommodation: Hotel Cusco

Day thirteen - Lake Titicaca
In the morning you will be transferred to your Lake Titicaca tour. We will take a boat to the amazing floating islands of Uros and stay the night with a native family on Amantani Island. Each visitor is billeted with a local family, who offer typical food and very basic lodgings.

Accommodation: Homestay Lake Titicaca

Day fourteen - Lake Titicaca & Puno
After breakfast we say goodbye to our host families and take a one hour boat trip to the lovely island of Taquile. We have the opportunity to observe the famous Taquile weavers at work and their typical clothing. We and arrive back in Puno at approximately 5 pm. Accommodation: Hotel Puno

Day fifteen – La Paz
Today you will take a comfortable tourist bus around the edge of lake Titicaca to the bustling border town of Desaguadero, where you will cross into Bolivia and then continue onto La Paz.

Accomodation: Hotel La Paz

Day sixteen – La Paz
Your tour ends this day.

Three day extension to Island of the Sun
Day fifteen – Copacabana
Today you will take a comfortable tourist bus around the edge of lake Titicaca to a bustling border town of Desaguadero, where you will cross into Bolivia and then continue onto Copacabana. You should visit the church and can wander taking in the ambience.

Accomodation: Copacabana

Day seventeen – Island of the Sun
Today you will take a short boat trip across to the Island of the Sun, arriving at the furtherest point of the island where you can then visit some Inca ruins and walk for several islands to return to the port

Accomodation: Copacabana

Day eighteen – La Paz
You will take the bus to La Paz, and have the rest of the day free to explore this diverse and colourful city.

Day nineteen – La Paz
Your tour ends this day.

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Prices 2009

Please contact us directly for prices.

Please note
This itinerary is indicative only and specific hotels, flight days/times/prices cannot be confirmed until a deposit is received and we make the subsequent booking. Flight tickets are particularly susceptible to demand, and therefore we cannot guarantee your seats on a flight until a deposit is received and we make the subsequent booking.

Also note that the best "value for money" hotels book up months in advance and so in order to get the best "value for money" trip its advisable to book at least several months in anticipation.

Itinerary notes
Meals included as indicated

Not included
All domestic airport taxes

APUS PERU Adventure Travel Specialists - we support sustainable, responsible and ethical tourism...

366 Cuichipunco, Centro Historico, Cusco, Peru- Email: apusperu@westnet.com.au

© A.Svenson 2005 - 2009. The design, content and photographs (except where noted) are 100% original. The majority of our treks were designed by Apus Peru.