The Enchanted Islands of Galapagos - Pre Tour
Day 1
Departure today on another great adventure on Iberia Airlines
(via Madrid) to Lima. Arrival into Lima this evening and transfer
to one of our favourite Hotels the Country Club Lima – This
is an elegant property and sure to exceed your expectations
- from the moment you enter into its welcoming lobby you will
realise that you have arrived at another one of those special
and exquisite properties especially chosen for you by ‘Off
the Beat’.
The Stylish and Elegant Country Club Lima
Day 2
Leisurely breakfast before our early afternoon flight on Lan
Peru to Cusco – Flying over the Andes we arrive in Cusco
and transfer on arrival to the Sacred Valley. The Sacred Valley
is simply stunning and worthy of more than just a fleeting
visit thus the reason that we have chosen to include 2 nights
here in all future itineraries. Our chosen accommodation is
the Casa Andina Private Collection - Strategically located
in a 3 hectares of grounds in the heart of the Sacred Valley
of the Incas, just 10 kilometres from Ollantaytambo train
station. The hotel is closer to Machu Picchu than Cusco and
is close to the archaeological sites at Ollantaytambo, Pisac,
Chincheros, Moray, Maras and more. Breakfast included during
our stay.
Casa Andina Private Collection - Sacred
Valley
Day 3
After breakfast we will continue exploring the Sacred Valley
with its lush green terraces and incredible Inca Fortifications.
We will also visit Pisac which lies to the north of Cusco
in the fertile Urubamba Valley - The town of Pisac is a sleepy
hamlet of brown adobe buildings with faded red tiled roofs
and narrow cobblestone streets. Every day Pisac comes alive
as the Plaza, shaded by enormous trees, becomes the site of
a bustling Indian market. Here you can see the people from
the local villages, many of them in traditional dress, and
you can bargain for the many wares in the market - food items,
handicrafts, ponchos and rugs. Lunch will be at another of
our special ‘finds’ from previous visits the Tunupa Restaurant.
The location is superb, the food exceptional and ambience
truly magical. Overnight at The Casa Andina.
Day 4
Departure this morning from Ollanta Station where we will
board the Vistadome train on its journey through past the
snow capped Andrea Peaks before reaching Aguas Calientes –
where we will transfer the short distance to our chosen Hotel
the Machu Picchu Pueblo Hotel.
The Machu Picchu Hotel - A Member of Small Luxury Hotel
Association
The Hotel’s beautiful setting, just minutes away from the site, will
only enhance your visit to the mystical and mysterious ruins
of the city of Machu Picchu. Designed and maintained with
a keen sense of beauty, The Machu Picchu Pueblo Hotel blends
the simple lines of the autochthonous Andean architecture,
the exquisite handicraft of local artisans, and tasteful furnishings.
Eighty-six rooms, each unique, lie nestled in the spectacular
Andes mountain range. Adobe hand-made bricks, eucalyptus wood
and cut stone are some of the building materials that give
this Andean retreat a feeling of quaint warmth, as well as
mysterious spirituality – Breakfast and Dinner included
during your stay- rest of the afternoon at leisure.
Day 5
Today will be a day of discovery where you will marvel at
this Inca treasure – Machu Picchu. This morning we will
be accompanied by our local guide for a sunrise viewing of
this ancient citadel – the air is still not a sound permeates
the peace and tranquillity – this is the time to visit Machu
Picchu – an incredible experience not to be missed – The
Incas left legends of forgotten cities and treasures, the
most incredible of which was the Machu Picchu. It lay hidden
from the world until its discovery by Hiram Bingham in 1911.
This sanctuary of staggering beauty is located on a narrow
saddle between almost inaccessible mountains and is virtually
invisible from the valley floor. Located in the middle of
a semi-tropical jungle at an altitude of 8,200 feet, Machu
Picchu consists of more than 200 buildings of perfectly chiselled
un-mortared stone.
Machu Picchu - Just an Incredible Experience
So hidden by the Incas high in the clouds, this
monument to their expertise escaped destruction by the empire-raiding
Spaniards. We will enjoy a guided tour of the ruins followed
by lunch at the Machu Picchu Sanctuary Lodge. We will return
to the Hotel to freshen up before we join our afternoon Vistadome
train back to Cusco – on arrival we will transfer to our
chosen accommodation is the superlative Monastario Hotel another
gem from the Orient Express Group.
The Monastario Hotel another Gem from Orient Express
This unique hotel museum is an architectural
treasure built on Inca foundations with a beautiful chapel
adorned with extraordinary gold ornaments. It combines the
solemnity of a colonial monastery with the luxury, elegance,
comfort and excellent quality of a modern five-star hotel
– Our group just loved this property. Cuzco is surrounded
by the wonders of nature and impressive architectural ruins.
Visit the Main Square, where you can purchase colourful crafts
and appreciate the curious and charming design of the stone
walkways and streets, as well as the beautiful arcades where
shops and craft boutiques offer varied souvenirs, designed
by local craftsmen.
Area Information: Hidden in a valley high in the Andes
Mountains, Cuzco was the capital of the mighty Inca Empire.
Located at an altitude of 3,310 metres, it is one of the most
beautiful and enchanting cities in South America with outstanding
natural scenery, ancient ruins and colonial architecture.
The Spanish conquistadors tried to recreate the city in the
grand colonial style, but even today almost every central
street has remains of Inca walls, arches and doorways and
the character of the city remains mysteriously Inca.
Day 6
Today we have included a half day tour taking in the heart
of Cusco, as in Inca days, is the Plaza de Armas. On the northern
side of this, a visit will be made to the magnificent cathedral,
built in the early 17th century on the site of the Inca Palace
of Viracocha. The high altar is made of solid silver and the
altar retablo behind it is a masterpiece of native woodcarving.
In the sacristy are paintings of all the bishops of Cuzco
and a painting of Christ attributed to Van Dyck. Much venerated
is the crucifix of El Senor de las Temblores, the object of
many pilgrimages and viewed all over Peru as a guardian against
earthquakes. The tour also takes in the Santo Domingo Monastery,
built in the 17th century on the walls of the Qoricancha Temple
of the Sun and from its stones. Excavation is unearthing more
of the five chambers of the Temple of the Sun, revealing the
best Inca stonework to be seen in Cusco. After seeing the
most interesting sites in the city, drive into the countryside
outside Cuzco to visit some of the remarkable Inca ruins in
the area. The cult centre of Sacsayhuaman has huge rocks weighing
up to 300 tons, which are fitted together with absolute perfection
including three walls running parallel for over 360 metres
and 21 bastions. Sacsayhuaman was thought for centuries to
be a fortress, but the layout and architecture suggest a great
sanctuary and temple to the Sun, which rises exactly opposite
the place previously believed to have been the Inca's
throne and which was probably an altar. The tour also takes
in the temple and amphitheatre of Kenkko, which are an excellent
example of Inca stone carving and the spring shrine of Tambo
Machay, which remains in excellent condition.
Day 7
Departure today for Cusco Airport and your return flight to Lima where you will
be met on arrival and transferred to the Country Club Lima for overnight.
Day 8
Departure transfer for the airport today for your onward flight from Lima to
Quito where you will join the rest of your fellow travellers at the JW Marriott
– you will be met on arrival and transferred to the Hotel.
TOUR COST AVAILABLE ON APPLICATION
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