Andean Culture Tour 14d - Departure Dates
As this tour includes a special festival each month, it has specific departure dates that have been carefully picked to include a Peruvian cultural highlight or festival.
January 8th – 21st
Features Festival of San Sebastian in Cusco, January 20th .
January 30th – February 12th
2nd February – Virgen de la Candelaria in Puno
- 25th December – Virgen de Natividad in Chincheros
March 28th – April 10th
The Semana Santa tour.
Features
- 2nd April – Lord of the Tremors
- 8th April – Good Friday
*should be booked well in advance as Cusco’s accommodation books out well in advance around Easter. *
* the dates of this tour change annually, depending on the Easter Dates.
June 12th – June 25th
Features
*should be booked well in advance as Cusco’s accommodation books out well in advance around Inti Raymi. *
July 4th – 17th
Features festival of Virgen de Carmen, in Paucartambo July 16th
September 2nd – 15th
Features Lord of Huanca, in Cusco on September 14th
October 7th – 20th
Features
- 13th October – Virgen of Natividad in Chincheros
- 18th October – Lord of the Miracles in Cusco
December 13th – 26th
Features
- 24th December – Santuranticuy in Cusco
- 25th December – Christmas
Andean Culture Tour 14d - Itinerary
** Note, each month has a different itinerary - and the itinerary varies according to the Cultural Activity on offer. If you are even considering doing this tour, please contact us with your departure dates and we will send you the exact itinerary. **
March – Semana Santa
March 28 - Lima
Arrival in Lima, transfer to hotel. Your activities on this day will be dictated by the arrival time of your
flight. Many flights from North America arrive late in the day. The Fair Trade organisation Bridge of Hope has their shop in the Hotel
Antigua Miraflores and a range of background information on artisans, as well as a range of different products. A great place to start getting a feel for Peruvian artistry, fair trade, and the scope of this field.
www.fairtradeperu.com
If you arrive earlier than the rest of your tour companions, it is possible to visit some Fair Trade artesan groups in Lima’s outskirts. You will need to pay the cost of this tour yourself. This is an eye-opening excursion into some poor parts of Lima.
Included: Airport transfers, accommodation Not included: Meals, because it depends on your arrival time.
March 29 - Lima to Puno After a group meeting in our Lima hotel where we get to know each other, we will go over the itinerary (8:30am -9.30am). From here, we will check out of our hotel and start on our tour of Lima. We will take a city tour including a visit to the Plaza de Armas, the San Francisco catacombs and the famous Lima Gold Museum. Depending on group interests, we will may also visit the Museum of Archeology and Anthropology which provides a good chronological introduction to the most important Pre-Columbian cultures of Peru
We will have a quick group lunch and head straight to the airport in order to take our fternoon flight. Flight LP 2100, is currently scheduled to depart at 3:10pm with stop in Arequipa, landing at the Juliaca airport, and arriving in Puno around 6:00pm (transferred directly to our hotel). *This is our preferred flight but it depends on availability. Booking well in advance is a must to get on this flight *
Included: Breakfast & lunch, Lima City Tour, Entry fee to San Francisco, all transport and transfers, flights to Juliaca.
Not included: Dinner, Entry fee to Gold Museum or Museum of Archeology and Anthropology
Health note
When you fly into the Juliaca airport and then are transferred to the city of Puno, you are going from sea level to an altitude of 3,827 meters (12,628 feet). Most likely, you will feel some symptoms of altitude sickness, ranging from shortness of breath, or headaches to dizziness. As our itinerary is fast paced, we elected for you to spend night two in Puno in a comfortable hotel, acclimatizing a little before heading off to Lake Titicaca on Day 3.
We highly recommend that you speak to your doctor about taking an altitude sickness medication to assist you in your acclimatization.
March 30 - Lake Titicaca / Taquile
This morning we will have an early start as we get picked up at 6:30am from our hotel in Puno and brought to Puno’s harbour to board our boat and to buy any last minute supplies that we may need. From here we depart for the floating Islands of Uros to appreciate their interesting way of life and their skill at working with the few materials at their disposition. After spending half an hour on the islands we will continue on to Taquile Island a UNESCO cultural heritage site renowned for their history of textiles.
We will arrive to the northern dock of the Island at approximately 11:00am and will hike along a gently-inclined path to the island’s main community. Upon arrival we will have approximately 45 minutes to visit the main square and the village’s communal textile shops. We will savour a delicious lunch made with local ingredients before our local guide from the island takes us to the remote and non-touristy side where we will meet our host family for the night.
This afternoon we will visit the community and return home for dinner with the family. There is the option to share a bonfire with some of the community members before going to bed for the night in our local family’s home.
Included: transport, breakfast, dinner and accommodation. Not included: Lunch
Your two day Taquile tour will be operated by Allways Travel, an established Puno company with a social conscience. For more information on this tour, please see: www.titicacaperu.com
March 31 - Taquile to Puno
Wake up to spectacular views of the surrounding lake and enjoy breakfast with our host families. At 9:00am our local guide will give us an overview of weaving on Taquile, the dying traditions, and iconography. This will be your first introduction to Peruvian weaving arts, and in a sensational setting. If there is time after the demonstration, the guides will be able to guide you in finding paths leading to beautiful remote parts of the island. These include the pristine hide-away of the whitesand beach located on the island’s southern side.
We will have our last meal with our families at noon before we start the return towards the main dock of Taquile Island. After a quick walk we will reach a high point of the island from where we will be able to take pictures of both sides of the islands before walking for another hour and a quarter downhill to arrive to the main dock. At 2:00pm we will be picked up and be brought back to the city of Puno arriving around 5:00pm to the main dock before transferring back to our hotel.
Included: Pick-up from hotels, *English-Spanish speaking guide for the first day until 13:00pm and a local guide for the rest of our visit to Taquile Island, entrance fees, boat transportation and lodging in homestay . Included meals are breakfast and dinner on Day 3 and breakfast and lunch on Day 4.
Not included: lunch the first day.
Background information on Taquile. The island of Taquile is located 22 miles (36 km.) away from the city of Puno. It takes a 3 hour boat ride to arrive in the island’s main dock. The island’s highest elevation is 853 feet (4,000 m); it has a length of 3.35 miles (5 km) and a width of 0.8 miles (1.5 km). The 535 stairs that take the visitors to the main village have become very popular among those tourists who like to take over the challenge of exercising at such high altitude. However, we also offer other options following enjoyable paths that gradually take you to the main village or more remote sectors of Taquile. These other options allow you to catch spectacular views of Lake Titicaca.
Taquile has approximately 1,200 inhabitants. The people from this island have a Quechua origin and they are mostly small-scalel farmers. However, since the mid-70s they have also become well known for their firm entrepreneurial spirit. Since the beginning of the tourism flow to the island, some “Taquilenos” have been participating directly with tourism activities. Some of them have organized themselves to provide tourism services such as home stays, restaurants and aquatic transportation.
This tour will take you on an enlightening discovery of the essence of the local culture that includes encounters with local families of non-touristy sectors of Taquile.
Local guides will interpret the textile designs of Taquile, traditional clothing, and their way of life
Recommended Reading Prior to Lake Titicaca: Weaving a Future - Elayne Zorn (Please note, your tour leader will have 1 copy of all recommended reading texts. This text will be shared amongst tour participants. If you wish to have your own copy, you should purchase it prior to the trip to Peru.
April 1 - Puno to Cusco
Today we will leave Puno for Cusco at approximately 8am in our private vehicle, stopping en route at La Raya, the highest point of the trip, and other points of interest. We will stop for a buffet lunch, in the town of Sicuani.
These points of interest will be discussed amongst tour participants and might include some or one of the following:
• A visit to a factory in Juliaca • A visit to the famous weaving villages of Ocongate/Ccatca which
offer beautiful views of Ausangate mountain as well as great weavings. • A visit to the weavers of Pitumarca as they weave with discontinuous-warp scaffolding, a technique dating back to the third century. • A visit the beautiful early colonial church of Andahuaylillas. • A visit to the village of Sallac, one of the newer weaving communities revitalizing their tradition of ikat.
April 2 - Cusco / Lord of the Tremors
Today will provide an opportunity for people to have a sleep in, do their laundry, visit a market, rest a little and also assimilate the information that they have already gathered. (You are about half way through the itinerary!)
In the morning (departing approx. 11.30am) you will have a City tour that points out major landmarks – the Cathedral, the Koricancha and also visit the San Blas artisan’s district. Today is also the celebration of the Lord of the Tremors or Black Christ an icon from the 16th century that was brought in the main square during a devastating earthquake and was said to have saved the city from further destruction. We will be able to witness the procession of this patron of Cusco throughout the city’s streets.
The tour will also visit key weaving enterprises in the city: Casa Ecologica, Manos Amigos (Centro Bartoleme de las Casas), ending with a visit to world famous Centre of Tradtional Textiles of Cusco, which includes a short talk (if available) from Nilda Callanaupa or a representative of this organization. We will end the tour around 5pm, and your evening is free.
En route we will have lunch in the socially conscious restaurant aldeayanapay.org (or another similar).
Included: guide service, breakfast. Not included: Lunch and dinner
April 3 - Cusco & Chincheros
Made famous by Nilda Callanaupa of the CTTC, the high altiplano village of Chincheros is famous for the quality of its weavings. We will travel for approximately 45 minutes to Chincheros and visit an “Awana Wasi” (a weaving house).
After learning about weaving techniques from this area we will have lunch with local families and those that are interested in making a small weaving will spend the rest of the day in Chincheros, working with the local weavers.
Those that do not wish to weave, will either return to Cusco to have the rest of the day free, or can be accompanied by a guide for a visit to the nearby archaeological site and Colonial church.
*Tour participants need to advise your tour leader of your choice for Day 7 by Day 5 of the tour. If you choose weaving, the activity is not included in the price of the tour and the cost of each option depends on the number of people who sign up for each option.
April 4 - Chayhuatire & Pisac - The Sacred Valley
On this trip we visit rural communities to learn a little about their weaving and farming techniques. Though in the Sacred Valley, this is a far cry from the relatively touristed Pisac and Urubamba.
We will depart Cusco at 8:00am in our private vehicle and travel to the Sacred Valley village of Pisac, which is famous for its Sunday market which has now evolved into a daily tourist market. Here we will have an hour to wander the market and to see the wide range of souvenirs (including handmade textiles) that are on sale to the “average” visitor to Peru. From Pisac we will head up into the mountains (by car) to the famous weaving village of Chayhuatire. Supported by the CTTC (Centre of Traditional Textiles of Cusco), Chayhuatire has been developing and improving their weavings for the past 30 years.
Before visiting the village we continue from the village uphill to visit some pre-Inca rock drawings. Chayhuatire weavers will give us a dying and weaving demonstration and you will have the opportunity to buy some of these spectacularly woven items. The quality of the products offered is superb, so you cannot expect to get a “bargain” though you will meet the person who made your souvenir!
From Chayhuatire we will mount our bicycles for a gentle downhill cycling experience (approx. 2 hours) to the ruins of Pisac. By bicycle, you will have time to appreciate the scenery and take in a little of the relaxed lifestyle above the Sacred Valley, having time to see farmers at work and people at their daily business. In the Pisac ruins we will have a short guided tour before descending to the Sacred Valley.
NOTE: If you are uncomfortable riding a bicycle downhill you can ride in the car, which will be going at a slow pace, so you can also appreciate the scenery along the way.
We will be transferred to our accommodation in Urubamba, an example of rural tourism.
April 5 - Ollantaytambo (Sacred Valley) – Inca Fortresses
This morning we will drive into the town of Ollantaytambo and will continue approximately 1 hour more up the hill deep into the mountains above the Sacred Valley. We will visit the village of Rumira Sondormayo, which is one of three villages that the NGO Threads of Peru works with on weaving revitalization with the women. See also http://www.threadsofperu.com/weaving-culture/communities/
The women will prepare a weaving demonstration and also give you the chance to buy their weavings.
We will then have a basic lunch in one of their homes, before heading downhill, turning off the road to visit the little known ruins of Puma Marca. The exact purpose of Puma Marca is unknown, but it may have been a fortress or control point for access into the Sacred Valley.
The pretty walk has us stumbling upon Inca ruins, and with only us and the locals, you feel as if you have discovered them for the first time! We pass by acres of terraces and can appreciate the massive scale of the Inca Empire more than ever before! Most of these Inca terraces are under cultivation today, and we pass by fields of maize, beans, and other crops.
The exact purpose of Puma Marca is unknown, but it may have been a fortress or control point for access into the Sacred Valley. After our descent through farmland we have time to visit the wholly impressive ruins of Ollantaytambo, which share common mysteries with the ruins of Puma Marca.
A good option for dinner tonight is the wholefoods Hearts Café that is not only delicious but helps to support local projects.
Included:English/Spanish/ Quechua Speaking Guide, Lunch, activities, private transport
We will also have one of our meals at the delicious wholefoods Hearts Café. (own cost) www.heartscafe.org
April 6 - Ollantaytambo to Aguas Calientes
You will spend the morning having an opportunity to relax, and do some washing. It’s also time to reflect on your time in Peru so far, and perhaps indulge in a massage or if you feel so inclined take a short hike up into the mountains around Ollantaytambo. Your tour leader can suggest a range of different activities you might like to indulge in…
Or, depending on availability we will have talks & visits with representatives of the following organizations. (There is also an opportunity to talk to have talks with these people on Day 11, if necessary)
Living Heart www.livingheartperu.org
Awamaki www.awamaki.org
Mosqoy / Q’ente www.mosqoy.org
In the early afternoon, (between 2 & 3pm) we will take the Vistadome train to Aguas Calientes, the “service” town for Machu Picchu. After checking into your accommodation, we will have the opportunity to relax at the hot springs and prepare for Machu Picchu. If there is time and the ladders have been repaired after the 2010 floods in Cusco, and for those who like a challenge, there is the opportunity to climb PutuCusi for your first, inspiring look at Machu Picchu. (Round trip 3 hours. Difficult and steep hiking, with a series of ladders. Not recommended for those with vertigo or a fear of heights!)
Included: Vistadome train ticket, Breakfast, accommodation, transfers. Not included: entry ticket to hot springs (optional), Lunch, dinner
April 7 - Machu Picchu to Cusco
Early in the morning (before dawn) we will take a bus up to the ruins of Machu Picchu so that you can appreciate this famous city in the dawn light and before the crowds arrive. You will then have a 2.5 hour guided tour of Machu Picchu with your guide. After your tour you can further explore the ruins by yourself or climb Huayna (Wayna) Picchu* for that classic photo of Machu Picchu.
*It is now required that you purchase your entry for Huayna Picchu at the same time as your Machu Picchu entrance for a fee of $10US. If you are interested in climbing Huayna Picchu you must let us know at time of booking.
We highly recommend walking down from Machu Picchu to get a feeling for the vegetation and also the audacity of its builders. It’s a 1.5 hour walk back to the village of Aguas Calientes. We return to Cusco in the afternoon by the Vistadome train (approx. 4pm) and are met by a driver at Ollantaytambo who will transfer you directly back to your hotel. You will arrive in Cusco approximately 4 hours after your train’s departure from Aguas Calientes.
Included: Train tickets (Vistadome service), Machu Picchu entries, bus up and down, Boxed Lunch, guide service, Accommodation (Cusco) Not included: Dinner
April 8 - Cusco / Good Friday
Today is completely yours. Cusco is a cosmopolitan city that offers a wide range of dining, shopping and historical activities and you will find plenty to occupy your time. Spend your day wandering the cobblestone streets of the city, shopping for souvenirs, enjoy a drink from one of the ornately-carved colonial balconies or visiting the city’s many markets.
As this is good Friday there will be mass in the city’s cathedral and a procession of catholic icons that are paraded throughout the city as well as structures that are positioned throughout the centre for the entire week. It is also tradition in Cusco to eat12 different dishes both sweet and savoury. You can see how many of the twelve you are able to try before the day is done.
April 9 – Free Day
Today is another free day. Take in more of the city’s festivities for Easter or get into nature with a horseback ride just outside of the city or perhaps visit the Inca site of Moray and the salt mines of Maras.
April 10 - Cusco - Lima
Today is free to spend soaking up the ancient atmosphere on our last morning. We will have a final “celebratory” lunch at an exclusive Cusqueno restaurant that specalises in Novo Andino cuisine. You will fly back to Lima unaccompanied on an early afternoon flight, so there’s enough time to connect to your international flight home.
Included: Flights, transfers, breakfast. Not included: Lunch, dinner, airport departure taxes or activities in Lima while waiting for connecting flight.
NOTE: for those with more time, who wish to extend their itinerary, we can organize an extra day for you in Cusco. (at your own cost). You need to advise us when booking that you would like an extra day in Cusco.
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WHAT’S INCLUDED?
• For full inclusions, please contact us directly.
AVAILABLE DISCOUNTS
(these discounts are not cumulative)
• Students: US$ 20.00
(students require a valid International Student Identity Card and must be below 26 years of age. Please beware that Youth Travel Cards are not valid)
•Teenagers: US$ 20.00 (up to 15 years of age, passport copy required for all bookings)
• Children: US$ 45.00 (up to 10 years of age, passport copy required for all bookings)
TO MAKE A BOOKINGPlease visit our Make a Booking page.
You will need to email us to check availability, receive booking forms and then make your deposit. For our payment conditions and booking please refer to our Make a Booking page.
TO MAKE A BOOKING
Please visit our Make a Booking page.
You will need to email us to check availability, receive booking forms and then make your deposit. For our payment conditions and booking please refer to our Make a Booking page.
Andean Culture Tour 14d 
