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Christmas and New Year celebrations, like across the world, are special in Peru. Peru's Christmas has a strong Catholic overtone, but some extremely unique Andean traditions. We offer three different Christmas and New Year tours to Cusco, designed for the reflective tourist with an interest in Andean culture… and in true Christmas spirit - giving to the less needy.

Prior to reading about these tours, it is useful to read our page about Christmas in Cusco

Specifically, a 'chocolatada' is a distinct aspect of Christmas in Peru where better off people or organisations offer a bit of Christmas cheer to poor children or pensioners. A chocolatada is often organised by churches, businesses or shops and are characterised by giving a cup of hot chocolate, some bread or biscocho (a sweet bread with dried fruits inside), some sweets or maybe a toy.

Enjoy our Christmas in Peru tours! Something totally unforgettable!

top link: Christmas in Cusco - a story

Photos right: pictures from a Christmas Chocolatada in the community of Yanamayoc in 2005. We now support a chocolatada in Chaullacocha, which is geographically quite close to Yanamayoc but in accessible by road. You must hike for two hours to reach the community.

** please note, if you wish a complete package that includes airport transfers and accomodation in Lima, please see our Lima Extensions or our Peru Packages. **

Please note, if you are interested in one of our treks at Christmas time, we always include a few special 'extras'

A very different Christmas

(11 days/ 10 nights)

• A complete and in depth look at Christmas in Peru
• Includes Christmas chocolatada in the community of Ancascocha
• Christmas Day in Cusco
• A guided tour to the unique Santikuraray fair - "buying the saints" or "saints for sale"
• Make your own nativity scene
• Day of adventure around the Sacred Valley or Cusco

Day 1: Arrival and transfer from airport to your hotel
Cusco's sights are all clustered around the Plaza de Armas and it is easy to find your way around. However, we will provide a guide for a city tour in the afternoon, if required.
Be sure to visit the Plaza de Armas in the evening when this historic square is lit up with a host of different Christmas animals - from a camel through to a llama.

Day 2:
Classic Sacred Valley tour: Visit Pisac, Urubamba, Ollantaytambo and Chincheros.
On this tour we will drive through the mountains to the "Sacred Valley of the Incas" - which held great significance in Inca Culture. The Valley has a milder climate than Cusco and we will see a succession of picturesque villages, agricultural terraces, and many archaeological sites.
In the morning we will stop at the market at Corao before continuing to Pisac's lively tourist market and then driving up to its' extensive ruins for a one hour walk. We will have lunch in Urubamba before visiting a traditional ceramics factory where we can purchase beautiful earthenware. We then continue on to Ollantaytambo with its' impressive Inca fortress that guarded the entry of this part of the valley and protected it from possible invasion from the lower jungles. The fortress consists of a series of superimposed terraces of carved stones accessed by long staircases. The design of Ollantaytambo village and the majority of its foundations date from the Inca era when it was a strategic military, religious, and agricultural centre.
We return via the interesting colonial church at Chincheros and have the opportunity to purchase from local artisans.
Sacred Valley Tour, visiting the ruins of Ollantaytambo and Pisac. There are opportunities for hiking during this day. Accommodation, Hotel Sacred Valley (Ollantaytambo, Urubamba or Pisac) depends on your itinerary the next day.

Day three
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
Relax: you will enjoy the restaurants and shopping of the Inca capital, Cusco

Accommodation, Hotel Cusco

Day four - seven
We normally visit the community of Ancascocha during the following trek.
The Ancascocha Alternative is typically a difficult trek - however, in this case we will follow the following route which is much easier.

Day four
We will head out to the "Anta" an area to the north of Cusco We will visit the terraced complex of Zurite, located near the village of Huarocondo. Today we will pass through Parpishu before arriving near to where we will camp. Accommodation: Camping Chilipahua

Day five:
We leave our campsite and head north west, slowly ascending past some small houses at Incaraqay - a community of sheep herders on the high puna. From here a one hour hike will bring us over another Pass at Pampaqasa (4,200 m.) down into the gulley of the Silque river to then reach the Pass a little village called Ancascocha (3,900 m.). Here we are in full view of Mt. Huayanay and the Silque Valley. We will camp in the schoolyard.

Day Six
In the morning we will visit the school in Ancascocha and give the children their annual Christmas Chocolatada and some gifts.

Specifically, a 'chocolatada' is a distinct aspect of Christmas in Peru where better off people or organisations offer a bit of Christmas cheer to poor children or pensioners. A chocolatada is often organised by churches, businesses or shops and are characterised by giving a cup of hot chocolate, some bread or biscocho (a sweet bread with dried fruits inside), some sweets or maybe a toy.

You are also encouraged to support this community by purchasing any weavings or handicrafts that they produce by hand.

In the afternoon, we will head downhill, on a steep trail descends zig-zags, beside a small,fast flowing river. After crossing many little bridges, we'll reach the community of Camicancha, where we will camp in a nice volcanic rock area, with wonderful views of Mount Veronica.

Day Seven
Depending on our train tickets, in the morning we will hike from Camicancha to Chilca and then be transported to Ollantaytambo. Hopefully we will have time to visit the ruins of Ollantaytambo. (Boleto Turistico not included). In the afternoon we will take a train to Aguas Calientes where we can have a well deserved soak in the hot springs.
Accommodation: Hotel, Aguas Calientes

Day Eight
Your start will be early on this morning… about 5am. You will have a 3 hour guided visit of the lost city of the Incas, Machu Picchu and then have the rest of the day free to explore the ruins by yourself. For the fit and healthy, we highly recommend climbing Huayna Picchu. We return to Cusco in the afternoon by the backpacker train, arriving around 8pm.
Accommodation: Hotel, Cusco

Day Nine
Enjoy a well deserved sleep in. Your guide will meet you around 1pm to guide you around the fascinating Santikuraray market. On December 24th, hundreds of artisans coming to Cusco from the surrounding area to lay their blankets (mantas) on the sidewalks -a custom in traditional Andean fairs- and sell carved Nativity handicrafts.
This name translates from quechua to English as "buying the saints" or "saints for sale.
Like most Cusquenos on this day you can purchase the different items you need for a small nativity scene!
Your guide will also take you on a visit to a number of Cusco's churches
This is a very special day to be in Cusco… and the atmosphere only builds, right up to midnight. Christmas Eve is the most important aspect of the Peruvian holiday - celebrated at midnight - literally the beginning of the day of Christ's birth. We will have a special dinner this evening, including traditional Peruvian dishes.
Accommodation: Hotel, Cusco

25th December 2007
Day Ten
Relax and enjoy Cusco, do some last minute shopping. (Yes, many Cusco markets are still open on Christmas day)

A number of well known restaurants - The Real Mc Coy, Sumaq Misky and Greens have Christmas dinners for foreigners on this day. (Peruvians do not celebrate 'Christmas Lunch' like those in the West.

Accommodation: Hotel Cusco

26th December 2007
Day 11
Transfer to your onward flight.

Indicative prices: (THESE ARE NOT FINAL, AND THE ACTUAL PRICE DEPENDS ON YOUR PERSONALISED TOUR)

2 star option - Above mentioned tour with two star accommodation $850 per person based on twin share.

3 star option - Above mentioned tour with three star accommodation $950 per person based on twin share.

Below, children from Agua Buena, an urban chocolatada held in Cusco.

Below, pictures from the Ancascocha Trek

Below, pictures from Santikuraray

A Machu Picchu Christmas
9 days/ 8 nights
Includes Christmas chocolatada in the community of Lares
Christmas Day in Machu Picchu
Day of adventure around the Sacred Valley or Cusco

19th December 2007
Day 1: Arrival and transfer from airport to your hotel
Cusco's sights are all clustered around the Plaza de Armas and it is easy to find your way around. However, we will provide a guide for a city tour in the afternoon, if required.
Be sure to visit the Plaza de Armas in the evening when this historic square is lit up with a host of different Christmas animals - from a camel through to a llama.

Day 2:
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
Relax: you will enjoy the restaurants and shopping of the Inca capital, Cusco

Classic Sacred Valley tour: Visit Pisac, Urubamba, Ollantaytambo and Chincheros.

Accommodation, Hotel Cusco Accommodation, Hotel Cusco, Sacred Valley (Ollantaytambo, Urubamba or Pisac) depends on what your itinerary was this day.

Days 3-7
These days follow the "Lares and Machu Picchu tour" We will include an extra day in this tour in order for you to participate in the chocolatada.

Day 3
We depart Cusco early in the morning by private taxi and travel to the township of Calca (2900m). We will visit traditional markets where people from all over the Sacred Valley trade crops. From Calca we pass Inca burial tombs, local farms and herds of wild llama en route. Just past the highest point of the day, we will stop for a short walk at the Inca ruins of Ancasmarca with views of the surrounding valley. From here we make our way down into the Lares Valley to the small isolated community of Quiswarani (3750m). After lunch we begin to trek, climbing to 3940m before descending to the Queullacocha lagoon. We will camp near the isolated village of Concani. (Approx 5 hrs walking) Accommodation: camping

Day 4
After an early start we will leave Concani via the Wacawasi pass (3820m) and continue upwards to around 4400m. During the day's walk we have breathtaking views of Andean peaks, including the snow capped Mount Veronica and should pass by herds of llama and alpaca. We will continue over a pass, finishing the day near the Chaullacocha community. Accommodation: camping

Day 5
In the morning we will visit the school in Chaullacocha and give the children their annual Christmas Chocolatada and some gifts.

Specifically, a 'chocolatada' is a distinct aspect of Christmas in Peru where better off people or organisations offer a bit of Christmas cheer to poor children or pensioners. A chocolatada is often organised by churches, businesses or shops and are characterised by giving a cup of hot chocolate, some bread or biscocho (a sweet bread with dried fruits inside), some sweets or maybe a toy.

You are also encouraged to support this community by purchasing any weavings or handicrafts that they produce by hand.

Apus Peru Adventure Travel Specialists donate 5% of each trek/tour price to community projects, and one such project is supporting the Chaullacocha community to have a second, bilingual teacher. This teacher teaches 1st and 2nd grade in firstly Quechua and then teaches them Spanish.

After the Chocolatada event, which is anticipated to last most of the day, we will walk two hours to the closest road. Our transport will collect us from here and transfer us to Ollantaytambo, where we will stay the night in a hotel.
Accommodation: Hotel, Ollantaytambo

24th December 2007
Day 6
Depending on our train tickets, in the morning we will hopefully have time to visit the ruins of Ollantaytambo. (Boleto Turistico not included). In the afternoon we will take a train to Aguas Calientes where we can have a well deserved soak in the hot springs and enjoy Christmas Eve. Christmas Eve is the most important aspect of the Peruvian holiday - celebrated at midnight - literally the beginning of the day of Christ's birth. We will have a special dinner in Aguas Calientes this evening, including traditional Peruvian dishes.
Accommodation: Hotel, Aguas Calientes

25th December 2007
Day 7
Enjoy Christmas at Machu Picchu. Your start will be early on this morning… about 5am, but imagine telling your friends that you watched the sunrise over Machu Picchu on Christmas Day!
You will have a 3 hour guided visit of the lost city of the Incas, Machu Picchu and then have the rest of the day free to explore the ruins by yourself. For the fit and healthy, we highly recommend climbing Huayna Picchu. We return to Cusco in the afternoon by the backpacker train, arriving around 8pm.
Accommodation: Hotel, Cusco

26th December 2007
Day 8
Relax and enjoy Cusco, do some last minute shopping. We highly recommend visiting a number of Cusco churches to admire their nativity scenes.

Accommodation: Hotel Cusco

27th December
Day 9
Transfer to your onward flight.

Indicative prices: (THESE ARE NOT FINAL, AND THE ACTUAL PRICE DEPENDS ON YOUR PERSONALISED TOUR)

2 star option - Above mentioned tour with two star accommodation $780 per person based on twin share.

3 star option - Above mentioned tour with three star accommodation $870 per person based on twin share.

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North Coast Party New Year

7days/ 6 nights

Features: Trujillo, Chan Chan and Huanchaco

New Year's Eve in the very fun party atmosphere of Mancora.

27th December 2007
Fly Cusco - Lima - Trujillo (Cusco Lima flight is at your own cost, not included in price of package)

Accommodation: Trujillo

28th December 2007
Relax in Trujillo; enjoy its beautiful Plaza de Armas, Cathedral, the House of Mariscal de Orbegozo, and the Church of La Merced. We will have a tour of the Huacas of the Sol and Luna (Tombs of the Sun and Moon), which are located 3 km out of Trujillo.
Accommodation: Trujillo

29th December
After breakfast we will we have a tour of the archaeological ruins of Chan Chan, the ancient capital of the Chimu Kingdom. After this tour we will continue on to Huanchaco, where you will be able to see the totora boats and enjoy a seafood meal.
Return to Trujillo.
Accommodation: Trujillo

30th December
Bus to Mancora, with a transfer in Piura
Accommodation: Mancora

31st December
A day to surf, swim and enjoy the sun.
Party on the beach in the evening
Accommodation: Mancora

1st January 2008
Day to recover
Accommodation: Mancora

2nd Bus to Piura and transfer to airport
Flight to Lima

Indicative prices: (THESE ARE NOT FINAL, AND THE ACTUAL PRICE DEPENDS ON YOUR PERSONALISED TOUR)

2 star option - Above mentioned tour with two star accommodation $600 per person based on twin share.

3 star option - Above mentioned tour with three star accommodation $775 per person based on twin share.

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A brightly coloured jungle New Year
7 days/ 6 nights
Features:
Amazon jungle at Puerto Maldonado
Macaw Clay lick
New Year in the Plaza de Armas of Cusco

Please note for the adventurous and athletic, you might chose to take on the Mountains to Manu mountain bike tour. Please discuss with us directly.
http://www.apus-peru.com/mountains_manu.htm

27th December 2007 Cusco - Puerto Maldonado - Boca Pariamanu
You will take a flight from Cusco to Puerto Maldonado where you will be met and transferred to the port. You will travel by small motorised boat along the Madre de Dios and Piedra River to the mouth of the Pariamanu River where we will make our first campsite. During the trip we will be able to appreciate a great diversity of flora and fauna like Capybaras, birds like eagles, parakeets, vultures, caimans, giant trees and many other species. At night we will observe caimans in the river.
Accommodation: camping

28th December 2007 Boca Pariamanu - Clay Lick
After breakfast we will travel a further three hours upriver to arrive near to the clay lick, where we make our second campsite. In the afternoon we will have a long walk in the forest where will be able to appreciate great diversity of medicinal plants, for wood as well as trees of chestnut or Brazilian Nut, birds and animals like monkeys, peccaries and other species. In the evening we will go fishing in the river and visit a small mammal clay lick.
the river.
Accommodation: camping

29th December Macaw Lick - River Piedra - Monkey Island
Straight after breakfast we will visit the Macaw Lick where we will have two hours to observe the great diversity of macaws, parrots as they come in to eat the clay which is rich in salt and minerals, and especially calcium which serves to neutralize the toxins that are built up in birds through eating green fruits. We will then visit a small lake that has a variety of birds and other species and if we are lucky we will also be able to observe giant otter. We will return via the river to Monkey Island where we will camp.
the river.
Accommodation: camping

30th December - Monkey Island - Sandoval Lake
We will visit the Monkey Island where we can appreciate different species from monkeys, spider monkey, Brown and White Capuchins, squirrel monkey and other species. We will then travel to Sandoval Lake where we will have our last campsite. We will take a long walk in the jungle and will take canoes to traverse this landscape. There is a great diversity of fauna and flora in this area. We will observe black caimans at night.
the river.
Accommodation: camping

31st December - Sandoval Lake - Puerto Maldonado - Airport
We will return by motorised boat to Puerto Maldonado and then take a flight back to Cusco .

Accommodation: Hotel Cusco.

You should be in the Plaza de Armas at midnight - quite an impressive cultural spectacle.

for a description of the new year festivities in Cusco see New Year's Eve.

1st January 2008
Day to recover - or take one of our unique tours to the Sacred Valley
Accommodation: Hotel Cusco.

2nd January Transfer to airport, return flight to Lima (Lima flight at your own cost)

Indicative prices: (THESE ARE NOT FINAL, AND THE ACTUAL PRICE DEPENDS ON YOUR PERSONALISED TOUR)

2 star option - Above mentioned tour with two star accommodation $620 per person based on twin share.

3 star option - Above mentioned tour with three star accommodation $675 per person based on twin share.

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Lake Titicaca New year

7 days/6 nights

Features
Lake Titicaca - the Floating Islands of Uros, Amantani Island, Taquile Island and the Chullpas of Sillustani.
New years eve in the Plaza de Armas of Cusco

27th December 2007
We will take the bus or the train from Cusco to Puno, passing through the high altiplano of the Andes. A day with spectacular views.

Accommodation: Puno

28th December 2007
Relax in Puno, visit the world famous chullpas of Sillustani.

29th December
We will take a boat to the amazing floating islands of Uros and then continue into Lake Titicaca to Amantani Island. Here, we will 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.

30th December
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.
Included breakfast, lunch

Accommodation: Puno

31st December
Transfer from Puno to Juliaca for a short flight back to Cusco.
You should be in the Plaza de Armas at midnight - quite an impressive cultural spectacle.

for a description of the new year festivities in Cusco see New Year's Eve.

1st January 2008
Day to recover
Accommodation: Cusco

1st January 2008
Day to recover - or take one of our unique tours to the Sacred Valley (extra cost)
Accommodation: Hotel Cusco.

2nd January Transfer to airport, return flight to Lima (at your own cost)

Indicative prices: (THESE ARE NOT FINAL, AND THE ACTUAL PRICE DEPENDS ON YOUR PERSONALISED TOUR)

2 star option - Above mentioned tour with two star accommodation $415 per person based on twin share.

3 star option - Above mentioned tour with three star accommodation $475 per person based on twin share.

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Pictures from the community of Chaullacocha, near Lares, which we support through the part employment of a bilingual (Quechua/English teacher). 5% of your trek price goes to assisting this community and another like it. To visit Chaullacocha, contact us.

below: mancora

below: puerto maldonado

below: floating islands of Uros

APUS PERU Adventure Travel Specialists - Email: apusperu@westnet.com.au

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