Peru Extension Tours

LIMA - PARACAS - NASCA

• Pick up at your hotel in Lima and departure along the Panamerican Highway to Nazca. (Private vehicle and guide for two days).
• Stopover in Paracas to visit the Ballestas Islands (shared tour, approx. 2hrs, panoramic tour). On the way to the islands you'll be able to observe the "candelabrum", a figure in the sand dunes which resembles a trident. About the origin of this figure exists various contradicting theories. Arriving at the islands, you'll be able to watch sea lions, seabirds ranging from the guanay cormorant to Peruvian pelicans and if we're lucky you might even see one of the famous Humboldt penguins.
• After that, you will continue the trip to Nazca (3 1/2hrs approx).
• Overnight

NASCA - LIMA

• Breakfast
• In the morning, over flight of Nasca Lines (30 minute flight, shared service). The Nasca Lines are gigantic geoglyphs located between Palpa and Nazca desert, there were created by the Nasca culture between 200 BC and 600 AD. There are many of individual figures, ranging in complexity from simple lines to stylized hummingbirds, spiders, monkeys, and lizards. The Nasca lines cannot be recognized as coherent figures except from the air.
• Afterwards, return to Lima (6hrs approx) Arrival and drop off at your hotel.

LIMA / ICA / PISCO – NAZCA – PISCO / PARACAS

• Pick up at your hotel in Lima and departure along the Panamerican Highway to Pisco 3h30m approx (Private vehicle and guide for two days).
• Over flight of Nasca Lines from Pisco (75 minutes flight, shared service). The Nasca Lines are gigantic geoglyphs located between Palpa and Nazca desert, there were created by the Nasca culture between 200 BC and 600 AD. There are many of individual figures, ranging in complexity from simple lines to stylized hummingbirds, spiders, monkeys, and lizards. The Nasca lines cannot be recognized as coherent figures except from the air.
• If time permits, go to Ica to visit the very interesting Regional Museum of Ica, which exhibits objects from the Nasca and Paracas cultures. Also, short visit of the oasis of "Huacachina", 5 km west out of Ica with incredible sand dunes completely surrounding Afterwards, return to Paracas
• Overnight

PARACAS - LIMA

• Breakfast
• 08:00 Stopover in Paracas to visit the Ballestas Islands (shared tour, approx. 2hrs, panoramic tour).
• On the way to the islands you'll be able to observe the "candelabrum", a figure in the sand dunes which resembles a trident. About the origin of this figure exists various contradicting theories. Arriving at the islands, you'll be able to watch sea lions, seabirds ranging from the guanay cormorant to Peruvian pelicans and if we're lucky you might even see one of the famous Humboldt penguins.
• Afterwards, return to Lima (3h30m approx)
• Arrival and drop off at your hotel.

TRUJILLO

• Upon arrival in Trujillo, meet and transfer to selected hotel
• Overnight

TRUJILLO

• Breakfast
• Panoramic visit of the city center surrounded by colonial mansions. We will visit the main square and two colonial mansions: La Casa Urquiaga (now Banco de la Reserva) and La Casa de La Emancipación. Also we will visit to the National University of Trujillo Museum of Archeology, Anthropology and History), which exhibits ceramic objects, jewelry, clothing, and feather mosaic.
• Continue to visit the Huaca del Sol and Huaca de la Luna. Huaca del Sol functioned as the political-administrative center, and Huaca de la Luna as the ceremonial center. The urban zone is located between the two and is composed of houses, large avenues, alleys, corridors, and squares. These components confirm the high level of political, religious, economic, and social organization of the Moches.
• Lunch at Huanchaco, one of the most popular beaches along the coast of Peru for surfers. Here you will see the traditional rafts called the "caballitos de totora" (little horses of totora reeds), used by the fishermen in the north coast of Peru since pre-Columbian times, still navigate these waters.
• In the afternoon we will visit Chan Chan: this pre-Hispanic urban center represents the largest mud city in pre-Hispanic America. In 1986, it was declared a World Heritage Site by the UNESCO. Chan Chan might have been the capital of the Chimu kingdom. Return to selected hotel
• Overnight

TRUJILLO - CHICLAYO

• Breakfast
• Early departure by private car headed to Chiclayo.
• On route stop over at El Brujo Archeological Complex). It is formed by the three following constructions: Huaca Prieta, Huaca Cao and Huaca Cortada. Researchers have found signs of occupation since the pre-ceramic period (5000 years ago). The most famous image is the “Head Slaughterer”, one of the most important polychromatic friezes. The figure of the slaughterer is also to be found in the ritual scenes represented on the pottery.
• On arrival in Chiclayo area, we will visit the Musem of Sica or House of the Moon. It is a museum that exhibits artifacts found in the site digs of Batán Grande and demonstrates how they were used or fabricated. The intention is to model different aspects linked to the Sican culture through the representation of the details of domestic life, the manufacturing processes, or production work. The rooms represent excavated tombs and exhibit the burial paraphernalia discovered there. The museum also
• Lunch at a local restaurant before going to the Royal Tombs of Sipan National Museum: This modern architectural building houses the collection of archeological objects of gold, silver, and copper found in the tomb of the Lord of Sipan. The museum is directed by the archeologist Watler Alva, manager and director of the project, who was also the discoverer of the tomb in the archeological zone of the Huaca Rajada in the town of Sipan. Among the many important pieces are earrings, ceremonial scepte
• Tour ends at the airport to board your flight to Lima

CUSCO - PUNO

• Transfer to bus station
• Leave by regular tourist bus service to Puno. (shared service) This journey features some stops at main interesting places such as: Andahuaylillas, referred to as the Andean Sistine Chapel because of its magnificent frescoes, the church is but one example of the mestizo baroque architecture typical of the Cusco School which was prominent in the 17th century. You will marvel at the ceiling of carved panels covered with gold leaf. Raqchi or the temple of the God Wiracocha) 121 kilometers from Cusc
• Arrival in Puno and transfer to selected hotel
• Overnight

PUNO

• Breakfast
• Full day to visit Uros and Taquile islands (Shared boat with private English speaking guide). We will board a small boat and venture out onto the waters of Titicaca Lake. Visit to one of the native Uros communities located on a man-made floating island in the lake. The Uros people live totally interwoven with the "Totora" reed which grows abundantly in the shallows of the lake.
• Continue to Taquile. The community here lives in perfect harmony with the environment. "Taquileños" wear colorful traditional clothes which they make themselves and maintain a strong air of group individuality. Men always seem to be walking around the island knitting the woolen caps they wear. Women weave traditional clothes, which are among the most beautiful Peru's.
• Lunch based on set menu at Taquile.
• In the afternoon, return to Puno.
• Overnight

PUNO - JULIACA - LIMA

• Breakfast
• Transfer to Juliaca airport to board your flight to Lima

AREQUIPA

• Upon arrival in Arequipa airport, transfer to selected hotel.
• Afternoon city tour. The tour starts with the visit to the Santa Catalina Monastery, a city within the city, founded at the end of XVII century and only opened to the public few years ago. The city tour also includes the Main Plaza or Plaza de Armas, the Cathedral, the Jesuit Cloister and the residential areas of Cayma and Yanahuara to end at the “Mirador de Yanahuara” for a superb view of the volcanoes.
• Overnight

AREQUIPA - COLCA

• Breakfast
• Departure for a two days package to Colca Valley.
• This tour is impressive not just due to the beautiful landscapes and the thermal baths you can appreciate, but also due to the cultural symbiosis of the ancient Andean cultures and the Catholic religion introduced by the Spanish. The people living in the valley today are testimony to this history and the cultures of Collaguas and Cabanas settling there. In the early morning we’ll leave Arequipa and head towards the valley.
• On our way we’ll pass Yura, Pampa de Arrieros, Pampa Cañahuas (where we’ll find the Vicuna National Reserve of Aguada Blanca), Vizcachani and Tojra (all the year we can see here a variety of migratory birds resting in so called “bofedales”, a sort of peat bog). Entering the Colca canyon we’ll arrive at its most important town, Chivay where we’ll also have lunch.
• In the afternoon we’ll visit the local market and the main square.
• Overnight

COLCA - PUNO

• Breakfast
• In the morning we’ll drive to the observation point “Cruz del Condor”. While this is not the deepest point of the Canyon, from Cruz del Condor you can appreciate the grandeur of the canyon and with a bit of luck, you might even spot an Andean condor, the largest flying bird in the world, soaring across the high plain.
• Afterwards, transfer to Puno (with private vehicle and English speaking guide).