A Very Different Christmas - Full Itinerary
Day 1: 17th December
Day 1: Arrival and transfer from airport to your hotel
After your arrival and settling into the hotel, you will be met by an English speaking guide who will give you a tour of the major sites of Cusco like the Qoricancha and Cathedral. You will also visit other churches to see their nativity scenes.
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.
- Standard accommodation: Andenes al Cielo or Similar
- Standard plus accommodation: Casa San Blas or Similar
- Deluxe accommodation: Casa Cartagena, Inkaterra La Casona, Monasterio
Day 2: 18th December
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.
- Standard accommodation: Andenes al Cielo or Similar
- Standard plus accommodation: Casa San Blas or Similar
- Deluxe accommodation: Tambo del Inka, Sol y Luna or Aranwa Sacred Valley
Deluxe accommodation: Tambo del Inka, Sol y Luna or Aranwa Sacred Valley
Days 3- 8 19th – 24th December
Your itinerary will follow this trek itinerary.
http://www.apus-peru.com/christmas_chocolatada_trek.htm
** this trek is also offered as “trek only” – so If others join as “trek only”, then the overall price of the tour will be reduced **
Day 7- 23rd December (part of 5 day trekking itinerary)
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 train, arriving around 8pm.
Standard accommodation: Andenes al Cielo or Similar
Standard plus accommodation: Casa San Blas or Similar
Deluxe accommodation: Casa Cartagena, Inkaterra La Casona, Monasterio
Splurge! You might like to celebrate in Cusco in a special way by staying in one of these unique and famous hotels:
Hotel Libertador
Hotel Monasterio.
Or Boutique hotels Casa Cartagena, Inkaterra La Casona
Day 8: 24th December
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.
Accommodation: as per previous night/ or if you want a one night splurge, this might be it.
Day 9: 25th December
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 offer special dinners for foreigners on this day. (Peruvians do not celebrate 'Christmas Lunch' like those in the West.
Accommodation: as per previous night
Day 10: 26th December
Transfer to your onward flight/ tour arrangements
** if you have more time and would like to extend, ask about our unique New Year Extensions **
PRICES
VERY DIFFERENT XMAS - STANDARD, TWIN SHARE, 2 PPL DEPARTING - $1185
VERY DIFFERENT XMAS - STANDARD PLUS, TWIN SHARE, 2 PPL DEPARTING - $1400
VERY DIFFERENT XMAS - DELUXE, TWIN SHARE, 2 PPL DEPARTING - $3395
DESCRIPTION OF STANDARDS
STANDARD
- FULL PRIVATE SERVICE (IE ALL TRANSFERS AND TOURS WITH PRIVATE TRANSPORT)
- QUALIFIED BILINGUAL GUIDE (ENGLISH/SPANISH)
- 3 STAR HOTELS
- STANDARD TREKKING SERVICE (CAMPING ON FOAM MATS ETC)
- MEALS AS DESCRIBED.
** THE APUS PERU STANDARD SERVICE IS STILL A HIGH QUALITY SERVICE **
STANDARD PLUS
- AS LISTED ABOVE
- THE DIFFERENCE IS IN THE ACCOMODATION – THE HOTELS ARE NICER, WITH A LITTLE MORE CHARACTER
DELUXE
- AS LISTED ABOVE
- 5 STAR LUXURY HOTELS, WITH SPECIAL ATMOSPHERE AND UNIQUE TO EACH AREA.
- LUXURY CAMPING – CAMP BEDS, SOFT MATTRESSES, SHOWER… PERFECT FOR THE PERSON NOT USED TO ROUGHING IT.
