Panoramic Peru

Fly to Lima, Peru’s historical capital, arriving the same or following day. On arrival, you will be welcomed at the
airport by your Wendy Wu Tours representatitve and transferred to your hotel. The transfer time is
approximately 1 hour 30 minutes. Tonight, enjoy your first taste of Peruvian cuisine at a local restaurant a pisco
tasting, Peru’s national beverage.

Destination Information
Lima – Sat overlooking the Pacific in Peru’s central region, Lima is a huge city of 10 million people. It was
founded by conquistador Francisco Pizarro in 1535 and became the capital of the Viceroyalty of Peru,
remaining as capital after the War of Independence gave Peruvians their freedom. The historic centre of the
city is beautiful and was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1988.

Originally named the City of the Kings, Lima is rich in heritage,
which you’ll see for yourself today. Start in the UNESCO World
Heritage-listed historic centre to admire the colonial
magnificence. Explore the 17th century San Francisco
Monastery. Visit Casa Aliaga, a beautifully preserved colonial
mansion, and finish the day at Huaca Pucilana archaeological
centre.

Destination Information
San Francisco Monastery – The monastery complex, complete with church, monastery, library and
catacombs, was completed in 1774 and is a prime example of Spanish Baroque architecture. Keep an eye
out for Moorish designs in the central and two side naves of the church vaults.

Fly to Cusco and transfer to the Urubamba Valley. Also known as the Sacred Valley, it is home to Incan citadels
and beautiful landscapes. Beginning in the charming town of Pisac, visit the colourful market to both mingle
with the locals and to browse the plentiful Peruvian handicrafts, then see fascinating terracing at the Pisac
ruins. Later, meet a typical Inca community at Ollantaytambo. The town has some wonderfully-preserved
Incan houses, whilst above it there is an old Incan fortress, both of which you can explore. Travel 20 minutes to
your hotel for the night. Today’s sightseeing is around 8 hours in total. This day is at altitude.

Destination Information
Pisac – Situated on the Willkanuta River, Pisac is a colonial village famous for its Incan ruins and its
triweekly market. The market takes up the Plaza de Armas and surrounding streets with stalls selling
ceramic, jewellery and textiles.
Ollantaytambo – Ollantaytambo was once the royal estate of the Emperor Pachacuti and is the starting point
for the famous Inca Trail. The Incan ruins here are huge, whilst the town itself is a prime example of an Incan
city – it is still laid out as it was when it was built by Pachacuti in the 13th century.

Spend the day in the remote village of Huilloc, approximately
40 minutes’ transfer from your hotel, where you’ll catch a
glimpse of the authentic culture of the valley’s Quechua
communities. You’ll be able to interact with the villagers, share
lunch with them and witness their day to day life. The women
of Huilloc have a rich tradition of weaving which they still
practice by hand today. The textiles they produce bear the
same images as those of their ancestors; condors, cougars and
Huallata birds, and can be purchased here. You’ll aslo enjoy a
cooking demonstration of a typical Quechua dish before enjoying lunch with the locals. This day is at altitude.

Destination Information
Huilloc - This is a community of 200 families and a total of 1,500 inhabitants. The principal activity of the
men is farming, and in the dry season they work as porters on the Inca Trail. The women preserve their
unique and ancient tradition of weaving fabric of the highest quality, which they sell to travellers visiting
their community.

From Ollantaytambo board the panoramic Vistadome train to
travel through the mountainous landscapes to the small town
of Aguas Calientes in approximately 1 hour and 40 minutes.
From here, you will hop on the bus to the magnificent Machu
Picchu. Long abandoned by the Inca, it came to international
attention when it was stumbled upon by Hiram Bingham in
1911. It is now considered one of the new 7 Wonders of the
World. A guided tour will provide you with some insight into
the Inca Empire. This includes up to four hours of sightseeing
with walking on uneven terrain. Return to the village of Aguas Calientes (also known as Machu Picchu Pueblo)
for your overnight stay. This day is at altitude. Please see IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT MACHU PICCHU
in this document

Destination Information
Machu Picchu – One of the world’s great archaeological discoveries, Machu Picchu sits on a mountain ridge
2430 metres above the Sacred Valley. Built around 1450, it was abandoned about 100 years later, and left
‘undiscovered’ (the local people knew of it) until 1911 when it was brought to international attention. A
classic example of Incan style, there are three main structures – the Temple of the Sun, the Inti Watana and
the Room of Three Windows.

Enjoy the morning at leisure or choose one of these optional tours: take a challenging hike up to Huayna Picchu,
a viewpoint overlooking Machu Picchu; visit Aguas Calientes’ thermal baths for a relaxing soak; or a second
entrance to Machu Picchu for further explorations - perhaps even venturing up to the Intipunku or Sun Gate.
This afternoon, return to Aguas Calientes and take a 3 and a half hour train to Poroy. Then, transfer 2 hours by
road to Cusco. This day is at altitude.

Home to an incredible Incan legacy, Cusco has some of the
richest heritage in Latin America and is a UNESCO World
Heritage Site. The tour will include visits to the Plaza de Armas,
once the heart of the Incan capital of Huacaypata; and
Qoricancha, the temple of the sun. Head just out of town to
the ruins of Sacsayhuaman and Puka Pukara, the ‘Red Fortess’.
This day is at altitude. In the afternoon, you will have the
option to take part in a chocolate-making tour, followed by a
Peruvian dinner and folklore dance show.

Destination Information
Cusco – Home to an incredible Incan legacy, Cusco has some of the richest heritage in Latin America and is
a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Cathedrals and Inca temples overlook the narrow streets where alpaca
knitwear can be bought for a fair price. For anyone interested in the Incan civilization, Cusco is the mustsee destination.
Plaza de Armas – Huacaypata as it was known was the heart of the Incan capital and remains so today. The
plaza is surrounded by colonial arcades, whilst the colonial cathedral and several other ornate churches stand
imposingly around the edges. It is a vibrant and fascinating place to spend some time.
Qoricancha – Once one of Cusco’s, and the whole Incan Empire’s most important temple, Qoricancha’s walls
were once covered in sheets of solid gold. Although the temple was demolished to make way for a colonial
church, the Incan foundations remain and incorporates original Incan stonework.
Sacsayhuaman – Just north of Cusco, on top of a steep hill, some sections of the citadel of Sacsayhuaman
date from around 1100, whilst others are 13th Century. The complex stone walls are fascinating – huge
boulders were carefully cut out and fitted tightly together without the use of mortar.

Today take a train from Cusco to Puno. Journey through amazing Andean landscapes to Puno on the shores of
Lake Titicaca, passing through the spectacular Peruvian highlands. The train has 4 dining cars, a bar car and an
observation car. Along the way you will enjoy a gourmet lunch prepared with exquisite Andean ingredients and
there will be music and dance shows on board. Arrive at your hotel this evening.

Destination Information
Puno – A beautiful and charming town located on the banks of Lake Titicaca. The town is home to
traditional Andean architecture which spreads down from the sides of the hill to the banks of the lake.
Lake Titicaca – The largest lake in Latin America, it is surrounded by a slow pace of life where crops are still
harvested by hand and vast plateaus stretch for miles.

This morning, you will be picked up from the port of Puno and
taken to the floating islands of Uros on Lake Titicaca,
approximately 25 minutes by boat. Visiting two of these
floating islands, your guide will explain to you the history of
the area. You will also have the opportunity to speak with
some of the residents, which will help you to understand their
way of life and gain a cultural insight into this fascinating place.
After, you will continue to the island of Taquile. Protected as a
UNESCO World Heritage Site and once a stronghold of the Inca,
you’ll find wonderful textiles made by the island’s men here. You will tour the island and enjoy lunch before
transferring back to Puno. Today’s sightseeing is a full day. This day is at altitude.

Destination Information
Uros - The Uros are an ancient culture that inhabits a series of artificial islands built with reeds growing
from the lake itself. These are constructed by weaving reed in the areas where it grows thicker and thus
forming a natural layer.

Today travel to Colca, approximately a 5 to 6 hour drive,
passing through Lagunillas and Tocra along the way. Keep your
eyes peeled for flamingos, Andean ducks and llamas. Reach
Pata Pampa at 4,820 metres altitude, where you can admire
the volcanoes Ampato, Sabancaya, Hualca-Hualca and Mismi
(the source of the Amazon River), as well as views of the
Cordillera de Chila. Once in Chivay, enjoy the view of the
terraces of the Colca Valley before time to bathe in the natural
hot springs. This day is at altitude.

Destination Information
Colca - Best known as one of the world's deepest canyons at nearly 11,000 feet (twice as deep as the Grand
Canyon), the area offers breath taking scenery and is home to the giant Andean condor. It is Peru’s third
most visited destination and is surrounded by stunning Andean peaks.

After an early breakfast, depart Colca and travel to Arequipa,
approximately 5 hours’ drive including stops. En route, stop at
Condor Cross for a picturesque view of the canyon, and
hopefully a few sightings of the native condors gliding on the
thermals. Enjoy a short walk here with your guide. Hopping
back in the bus, you’ll also visit the villages of Maca; an
Andean community that experienced an earthquake in 1991,
and Yanque; a settlement that contains arguably the most
beautiful church in the valley. This day is at altitude.

Destination Information
Arequipa – Known as ‘The White City’ due to many of its buildings being constructed from sillar (smooth
white volcanic stone), Arequipa is the colonial-era capital of the region. The city stands at 2300 metres
above sea level and is overlooked by the dormant Misti Volcano.

Peru’s spectacularly situated second city is surrounded by
volcanoes and boasts some beautiful colonial architecture. Start
to explore the city at the Carmen Alto viewpoint before visiting
Yanahuara Quarter and admiring the UNESCO-listed Plaza de
Armas and the Monastery of Santa Catalina. Continue on to the
San Camilo market to buy ingredients with which you’ll cook a
traditional dish with a local family and then dine together. Today’s
sightseeing is about 1 hour 30 minutes on foot. Fly from Arequipa
to Lima this afternoon, with a farewell dinner in Lima.

Fly to the UK, arriving home the following day.