PERU EXPLORER

Day 1
Fly to Lima.

Day 2
Early visit to the highlights of modern and colonial Lima. Drive south visiting Pachacamac Fortress, the Incas' largest coastal city at the time of the conquest. A stop at Pucusana for late lunch on fresh seafood followed by a visit to this fishing village where the day's catch is displayed at the market and a boat ride around the bay offer great insights to a contemporary Peruvian coastal town. Drive further south to Ica where we spend the night.

Day 3
A 45 minute drive to Paracas Bay and the Chaco port where we board our launch to visit the world famous Ballestas Islands, a national park which contains the highest concentration of marine birds in the world. There are sea lions, numerous species of birds and the Paracas Candelabra, a curious pre-Inca design on the cliff-face, only recognisable from the sea. We drive on to Nazca in the afternoon, and visit the viewing platforms close to the famous Nazca Lines. These are one of the world's great archaeological mysteries, consisting of enormous figures and patterns etched in the desert sand, best seen from the elevated position of the viewing platforms. There will also be time for optional visits to the nearby Antonini archaeological museum, a pre-Inca cemetery, or the Nazca Aqueduct, which gives an insight into the Nazca civilisation's ingenious subterranean irrigation system.

Day 4
A long day's drive south along the coastal desert and Pacific Ocean, and then turn inland into the mountains to Arequipa.

Day 5
A day in Arequipa, a beautiful colonial city set in a fertile oasis. In the morning we visit the Compania church, the Jesuit monastery and the huge serene convent of Santa Catalina, which retains typical features from the 16th and 17th centuries.

Day 6
Drive to Colca Canyon, one of the world's deepest canyons. On the way we pass volcanoes and will see vicuñas in the highlands before descending into the canyon.

Day 7
Explore the Colca Canyon, including condor viewing site, burial chulpas and other colonial churches. The hot springs in the evening are wonderful.

Day 8
Drive to Puno, on the shores of Lake Titicaca. En route we have opportunities to see vicuñas and possibly flamingos before making a short visit to the unique burial towers (chulpas) of Sillustani. The altitude here makes physical effort very tiring and the evenings very cold, taking time to rest is recommended.

Day 9
A day on and around Lake Titicaca, visiting the descendants of the Uros Indians, who live on islands of floating reeds. An afternoon of exploration along the lake’s shore is designed to highlight the lake’s local culture.

Day 10
Today we take a bus ride across the altiplano, the high plains separating the Andes from the jungles. Although it is quite a long drive, it is interesting and often spectacular. There are scheduled stops along the route to visit some of the most interesting sites to help break up the day and we get a feeling for the immensity of the Andean landscapes. These include Pucapucara, a pre-Inca town, and La Raya Pass, the watershed and geographical shift from altipano to Cuzco Valley where the Raqchi Inca temple is located. We arrive in Cuzco in the evening.

Day 11
We visit the colourful market at Pisac, at the entrance to the Sacred Valley of the Incas, and afterwards the huge Inca ruins above the village. We spend the night near Ollantaytambo after visiting the Inca fortress and this unique village laid out on the Inca city grid.
For those that would like to, we will also visit the Rainbow Centre in Urubamba. This is a centre set up for children with special needs. You will be shown round the school, meet the volunteers and children and get told more about the project. Please note that this is entirely optional and those who don't wish to visit the project could spend a pleasant hour wandering around the charming town of Urubamba. If you would like to bring anything for the children or donate to the project, this would naturally be very well received. For more details on the project, please see the introduction

Day 12
Today the group divides between those doing the Inca Trail and those staying in Cuzco. Please see below for the Inca Trail itinerary. If you are not doing the Inca Trail there is the chance for some optional rafting on the Urubamba River (approx $50), returning to Cuzco for the night.

Day 13 - 14
For those not walking the Inca Trail these days are free in and around Cuzco, which is one of the most pleasant and interesting cities in South America, and an excellent place for shopping, eating and drinking as well as a variety of optional tours like: Pikillacta and Tipon Inca sites south of Cusco, or the colonial religious monuments in Cuzco.

Day 15
For most people the highlight of the trip is the visit by train to the greatest ruin in the world, the lost city of Machu Picchu. This is one of the architectural and engineering marvels of the ancient world, in a mountain setting of staggering immensity. The Spaniards never found it, the Incas left no records about it, so Machu Picchu remains a great enigma, a city lost for centuries in the jungle.

Day 16
In the morning, before the tourists arrive, we return early to have a tour and spend the morning at the ruins, then board the train in the afternoon (though its timings are somewhat erratic) for the ride along the Urubamba River to Cuzco, where we spend the night.

Day 17
We have a full day tour combining the highlights in and around the city. Outside the town are Inca ruins, notably the fortress of Sacsayhuaman where the Inca armies made their last stand against the Conquistadores. In the centre we visit the Plaza de Armas, and many examples of the famous Inca stonework like those of the Coricancha sun temple located in the Santo Domingo church and Monastery.

Day 18
A free day to relax and enjoy the many attractions of Cuzco. For those that would like, it is possible to visit the cathedral, San Blas Church and a religious art museum (sites not visited on previous day) on a combined entrance fee ticket for US$9.

Day 19
Another early start: a short flight to Puerto Maldonado, a small jungle town, then by river to the Jungle Lodge in the Tambopata Reserve. On the way we may see caimans, river turtles and waterfowl.

Day 20
From the lodge we take an extended jungle walk, with one of the Reserve's resident guides. The area is very rich in exotic plants, insects and monkeys, and particularly in birds and butterflies; the resident guides are normally around in the evening to answer questions. At night we go searching for caiman by torchlight.

Day 21
Fly to Lima; guided tour of city. Depart Lima in the evening.

Day 22
Arrive London.