Fiesta Tours Peru

Day 1 - Lima - Arrival

Arrival in Lima, the "City of Kings" famous for its Spanish Colonial architecture, extraordinary museums and cuisine. Lima is internationally recognized as the "Gastronomic Capital of the Americas", and its cuisine is considered among the most diverse and exquisite in the world on par with French cuisine. Upon arrival a host will meet and assist you in transferring to the hotel and in registering.

Day 2 - Lima City Tour and Larco Museum (B)

Tour of Modern and Colonial Lima including the world famous Larco Museum - This half-day tour visits both the colonial and modern sections of Lima. Colonial sites include the lovely Plaza Mayor, the Government Palace, San Francisco Church and the exquisite Torre Tagle Palace modern day seat of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. In modern Lima, drive along the exclusive residential areas of Miraflores and San Isidro.

Continue to the Larco Museum, founded in 1926, it displays remarkable chronological galleries providing an excellent overview on 3000 years of development of Peruvian pre-Columbian history. Located in a unique vice-royal mansion of the 18th century built over a 7th century pre-Columbian pyramid is surrounded by beautiful gardens. The Larco Museum also features the finest gold and silver collection from Ancient Peru and the famous erotic archaeological collection, one of the most visited Peruvian tourist attractions.

Day 3 - Lima - Cusco - Sacred Valley (B)

Morning transfer to the airport for a short but spectacular flight over the snowcapped Andes to the oldest inhabited city in the hemisphere, Cusco, at an elevation of 11,440 feet. Upon arrival a host will meet and assist you for immediate transfer to the Sacred Valley at 8,200 feet of altitude.

Visit to Awana Kancha, the living Museum of the Andes
This Living Museum of the Andes showcase the South American Camelids such as llamas, vicuñas, guanacos and alpacas in their native environment. You will also enjoy a spinning and weaving demonstration of ancient techniques on how to make clothing from the wool fibers of these animals. You can also see native flowers and some agricultural terraces from the Inca times.

Day 4 - Pisac Market and Ollantaytambo Archaeological Complex (B,L)

Full Day Excursion to the Pisac Indian Market and the Ollantaytambo Fortress - Morning departure for a drive through the fertile countryside of the Urubamba Valley to the colonial village of Pisac where a unique Indian Market takes place daily. The variety of products offered is overwhelming, from pottery with reproductions of archaeological pieces, to all kinds of textiles, jewelry and Peruvian handicrafts. During your visit to this bustling marketplace you will have the opportunity to bargain with the artisans and indigenous traders. Grab the items you like, you will hardly see the same one again.

Continue to the Ollantaytambo archaeological complex, the Incas built it as a fort that included a temple, agricultural terraces, and an urban area. There are two distinct sectors: The religious and worship zone, and the residential area. Ollantaytambo was an important administrative center with probable military functions if one considers the walls and towers. There are also traces of ancient roads and aqueducts. The town of Ollantaytambo is called a "Living Inca Town" since the inhabitants maintain very old practices and customs. Lunch is at a beautiful country estate on the shores of the Urubamba River.

Day 5 - Moray, Maras and Quechuas (B,L)

Moray, Maras Salt Pools and Authentic Quechua Village - Pass through unspoiled and picturesque Andean communities on your way to the Incan agricultural experimental center of Moray, famous for its sunken amphitheater, made up of four circular terraces, which appear to fade away into the earth like an artificial crater. The site was apparently an Inca agricultural research station filled with fertile earth and watered by complex irrigation systems, designed for experimenting with crops at various altitudes (some of which run down to depths of 100 meters).

Continue to the impressive Maras salt pools formed by water emerging from a lake inside a mountain in the Urubamba Valley. An amazing view of evaporating ponds for the extraction of salt. Learn about ancestral techniques, which are still used, in agricultural, irrigation and salt-recollection tasks, as well as in Andean festivals and rites.
After lunch, visit an authentic Quechua Village to feel the way of life of the Inca's ancestors. The Inca himself was a noble Quechua. They live off the land and are always wearing their colorful ponchos, see Quechua children scamper about while woman are weaving their family's clothes. A meaningful experience! Lunch is included.

Day 6 - Sacred Valley / Machu Picchu with overnight stay and with lunch at Belmond’s Sanctuary Lodge (B,L)

Morning train ride through the sacred valley of Urubamba to the "Lost City of the Incas," Machu Picchu. Perched 8,200 feet above the valley, it was hidden by mountains and semi-tropical jungles for 400 years until discovered by Hiram Bingham of Yale University in 1911. Archaeologists believe that the Inca "Virgins of the Sun" took refuge from the Spanish Conquistadors here. Guided tour of the ruins upon arrival. Lunch is at the Belmond’s Sanctuary Lodge located just a few steps from the Inca citadel. Overnight stay in Aguas Calientes.

Day 7 - Machu Picchu Free Day (B)

Free morning to enjoy one of the most incredible sights on earth, the sanctuary of Machu Picchu. Take as much time as you need to study these magnificent ruins or hike the steep stone-paved trail of Huayna Picchu, the pyramid-shape mountain above Machu Picchu for a breathtaking “condor view” of the citadel (reservation and extra fee are needed). Or stroll to the Inca Bridge a secret entrance used by the Inca's army or walk toward the Inca Trail to find the historic Intipunku or “Sun Gate” or visit Manuel Chavez Museum or hike in Mandor Valley or just enjoy the thermal springs of the town.

Day 8 - Machu Picchu / Cusco (B)

Morning free for a second visit to the thermal springs or for does activities you did not complete the day before. Afternoon return train to Cusco

Day 9 - Cusco - Free morning and afternoon city tour (B)

Wandering through this lovely city, exploring the astonishing narrow streets of this tile roof colonial town will be your unforgettable experience. You will find something astounding at every turn. Great buys are the traditional Peruvian handicrafts, alpaca-wool sweaters and rugs, ponchos, pottery, gold and silver jewelry, leather goods, etc. Because there are such a variety of products, we strongly suggest that when you like any particular item, you should buy it - you may not find the same item in other store. Many visitors to Cusco return home wishing they had some free time in Cusco to discover this imperial city on their own, a free morning in Cusco is a MUST!

Tour of Cusco and Nearby Ruins - Visitors are caught up in the excitement of touring the ancient capital of the Inca Empire, a delightful combination of Inca and colonial architecture. The tour visits important landmarks such us Cusco's Cathedral, Santo Domingo Church, Plaza de Armas and Koricancha “The Temple of the Sun”. This tour of the oldest continuously inhabited city in the western hemisphere also includes the nearby ruins of Kenko, Puca-Pucara, Tambomachay as well as the Sacsayhuaman fortress, an imposing example of Inca military architecture.

Day 10 - Cusco - Lima - Chiclayo (B)

Transfer to the airport for your flight to Lima and on to Chiclayo. Upon arrival a host will meet and assist you in transferring to the hotel and in registering.

Day 11 - Lord of Sipan Archaeological Site - Trujillo (B)

Visit the Lord of Sipan archaeological site. In the fourth century AD, the Moche people buried one of their greatest warlords. He was buried with his head pointing south, his nose and ears covered with gold relics and his feet clad in silver. Also known as The Lord of Sipan, he was accompanied by his sacrificed subjects; women, children and llamas, similar to the way the finest warriors of the era accompanied their overlord on his voyage to the Afterlife. Visit the complex of Huaca Rajada, which comprises two huge pyramids made of adobe mud in front of which there is a platform with two royal mausoleum. The intact remains of this important Mochica ruler were discovered here in 1987.

Royal Tombs of Sipan Museum
Continue to the Royal Tombs of Sipan Museum, rated as one of the most outstanding archaeological museums in South America, the building is modeled after an ancient pyramid of the region. Here you can find a reconstruction of the tomb of Sipan, dubbed the "Tutankhamen of the Americas" because of the golden splendor of hundreds of pieces of pottery and exquisite gold jewelry found at the site.
Transfer to Trujillo. Upon arrival a host will meet and assist you in transferring to the hotel and in registering.

Day 12 - Full Day Chan Chan archaeological site, Sun and Moon Temples, Huanchaco - Lima - Home (B,L)

Visit to Chan Chan, the former capital of Chimu Empire. This Empire reached its apogee in the 15th century, not long before falling to the Incas. The planning of this huge city, the largest in pre-Columbian America, reflects a strict political and social strategy, marked by the city's division into nine 'citadels' or 'palaces' forming autonomous units. This pre-Columbian adobe city is famous for its archaeological site in South America!. From Chan Chan you will visit the seashore village of Huanchaco, known for its totora seahorses - a typical small reed boat used for fishing. Then visit one of the most important centers of the ancient Moche. This pre-Inca civilization, a warrior culture, once dominated the valleys of the northern coast of Peru.
Lunch is included.

Temple of Moon
The Temple of the Moon is a beautifully decorated temple representing the spiritual center of the Moche culture. The monument consists of a series of temples built one above the other along several years. At the top of the ramps of mud can be seen the remains of massive walls decorated with colorful figures of deities, the most important god man Ai-Aipek feline content within sophisticated geometric designs of vibrant colors, yellow, red, ocher, black and white.

Transfer to the airport for your flight to Lima and your connecting international flight. Arrive home full of great memories of the rich tradition of Colonial Lima and the mystical Land of the Incas.