Paracas Cusco – Rainbow Mountain

Day 1: International Arrival – Lima

Welcome to Lima.

Upon arrival you will be assisted at the Lima airport and then transferred to your hotel.

You will have the afternoon free to rest.

• Accommodation at selected hotel in Lima.
• Food included: None.

Day 2: Lima

Visit the city of Lima: Historic Center, Santo Domingo Convent and Larco Museum (Half day tour)

You will visit the modern and colonial part of Lima, “The City of Kings”, starting with the districts of Miraflores and San Isidro and passing by a huaca or pre-Inca sacred place, before heading to the Historic Center. There, you will go through some of the most important streets in the history of the city, which will lead you to the Plaza Mayor, where you can enjoy and take pictures of some of the main examples of colonial architecture. You’ll also get a glimpse of an iconic building* that has served the people of Lima for centuries and continues to be an important cultural space to this day. In addition, you will visit the Santo Domingo Convent, one of the most important colonial-style religious buildings. After exploring the historic center, you will head to the Larco Museum, which houses the unsurpassed private collection of Treasures from Ancient Peru.

• On Mondays, the House of Literature is closed, so an alternative visit will be provided on those days*
• Accommodation at selected hotel in Lima.
• Meals included: Breakfast.

Day 3: Lima – Paracas

At the agreed time you will be transferred to the bus station to board your bus to the city of Ica.

Regular bus route Lima – Ica

Reception at the bus station and transfer to your hotel.

VISIT TO THE CITY OF ICA (Half day tour)

You will know the most important places of this beautiful city located in the middle of the desert. You will visit the Plaza de Armas of the City and tour the main streets of Old and Modern Ica. Then, you will visit the Ica Regional Museum where you will learn about the evolution of the five most important ancient cultures of the region: Paracas, Nasca, Wari, Ica Chincha and Inca. Next, you will enter an artisan winery, where you will enjoy a tasting and an explanation about the production of wine and pisco, typical drinks of the area. Finally, you will visit the Huacachina lagoon, also called “Oasis of America”, where you will appreciate the beauty of the desert landscape surrounded by impressive dunes.

RECOMMENDED OPTIONAL:

RIDE IN BUGGIES AND SANDBOARD (NOT INCLUDED)

A mixture of adventure, emotion and an unforgettable experience in contact with nature. The buggie is a vehicle whose original chassis has been replaced by a tube structure, eliminating the doors, roof and windows. Resulting in a lightweight vehicle, improving its stability. It has bucket seats with their respective seat belts. Enjoy the sun, the breeze and the landscape; adding the fact that it will be able to move freely on any type of terrain: sand, earth, stone, rock; ascend and descend hills or dunes of different sizes, in addition to handling all kinds of difficulties typical of the desert. Depending on the time, you will be able to enjoy a spectacular sunrise, sunset, or observe a sky full of stars during a night tour.

Finally transfer to bus station.

Transportation by bus from Ica to Paracas

You will be transferred from the bus station to your hotel in Paracas

• Accommodation at selected hotel in Paracas.
• Meals included: Breakfast.

Day 4: Paracas – Lima

Visit of the Ballestas Islands (Half day tour)

You will take a boat excursion to the Ballestas Islands, where you can see thousands of birds, sea lions and seals in their natural environment. The famous design of the Candelabra, a figure from the Nazca culture engraved in the desert, can also be seen from the boat. Then you will be transferred from Paracas to the city of Lima.

• Accommodation at selected hotel in Lima.
• Meals included: Breakfast.

Day 5: Lima – Cusco

Transfer from your hotel in Lima to the airport to board your flight to Cusco

• It is recommended to take a flight that arrives before 11am to Cusco.

Upon arrival you will be assisted at the Cusco airport and then transferred to your hotel

13:00 Half-day visit: San Pedro Market, Korikancha Temple, Cathedral, Sacsayhuamán, Kenko

You will visit the city of Cusco, also known as the Imperial City and declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. You will begin your tour at the iconic San Pedro Market, where you will explore the colors, aromas, and traditions of contemporary Cusco. You will continue to the Koricancha Temple, an ancient Inca palace and center of worship to the Sun god, on which the Dominican order built a church that remains standing to this day. You will continue ascending to the Sacsayhuamán Fortress, an imposing example of Inca military architecture. After this tour, you will delve into Inca architecture visiting the archaeological site of Q’enko, to finally be transferred to the Plaza de Armas, where you will visit the Cathedral, the most important Catholic temple in the city.

• * Accommodation at selected hotel in Cusco.
• * Food included: Breakfast.

Day 6: Cusco – Machu Picchu – Cusco

Visit of the Ballestas Islands (Half day tour)

You will take a boat excursion to the Ballestas Islands, where you can see thousands of birds, sea lions and seals in their natural environment. The famous design of the Candelabra, a figure from the Nazca culture engraved in the desert, can also be seen from the boat. Then you will be transferred from Paracas to the city of Lima.

• Accommodation at selected hotel in Lima.
• Meals included: Breakfast.

Day 7: Cusco

Choose one of the excursions to the mountain of colors according to your physical condition:

Full day excursion to the Rainbow Mountain: Vinicunca * Minimum 2 people*

Pick up from the hotel in Cusco at dawn, you will leave in the direction of the South Valley, driving for 2 hours until you reach Cusipata and from there continue the journey along a trail to the town of Phulawasipata (4,626 masl / 15 177.17ft) where it will begin the walk bordering the path of a beautiful stream, on the ascent you will begin to enjoy beautiful landscapes and you will see groups of herds of Andean camelids such as llamas and alpacas; the highest snow-capped mountain in the region, the “Apu Ausangate” will reveal its majesty and you will be captivated by the mysticism of the place, managing to fill yourself with magic and energy, so we will begin to interact with the community members of the area, knowing a little about their daily lives , you will begin to see various fields of cultivation that are worked in the area, especially potatoes and their different varieties, as well as you will be able to see wildlife such as chinchillas, vicuñas, huallatas and perhaps also the Andean cat.

After walking approximately 1 and 30 hours, you will reach the main attraction of this experience, Vinicunca, La Montaña Arco Iris (5,020 masl / 16466ft), you will have enough time to explore the area, take photos and also take a breath to renew your energy. (Time at the top 30 minutes)

When it is time to begin the descent by the same route where you came, the return walk will take approximately 1 hour until you reach the place where you will board the transport that will take you back to Cusco after 1 hour of travel, we arrive at Cusipata for lunch and continue to Cusco arriving after approximately 2 hours.

• Total Walking Distance: 8 km
• Minimum height of the route: 4,626 masl
• Maximum height of the route: 5,020 masl
• Approximate walking time: 3.5 hours including visits and rest (Determining factor, physical condition of the passenger)
• Difficulty level: 4 out of 5
• Operating restrictions: We do not recommend visits from January to March as it is the rainy season. Operation subject to weather conditions.

Full day excursion to the Mountain of Colors: Palccoyo * Minimum 2 people *

You will be picked up from your hotel in Cusco at dawn to go to the South Valley. After 3 hours, you will arrive at the town of Combapata, where you will begin the journey to Palccoyo. Before starting the walk, while you get ready, your guide will give you a talk with safety instructions. Then, you will start the 1 hour road to Palccoyo, the Mountain of Colors. Upon arrival, the beauty of this mountain and its landscapes will undoubtedly amaze you. Afterwards you will have time to explore the area and take impressive photos. You will continue with the tour towards the stone forest and the viewpoint of the snowy Ausangate. Once in the place, you will have free time to appreciate the place and capture more impressive landscapes with your camera. Afterwards, you will start your way back along the same route. Finally, you will be taken back to your hotel in Cusco, stopping en route for lunch at a local restaurant.

• Total walking distance: 2 kilometers
• Minimum height of the route: 4,202 masl
• Maximum height of the route: 4,980 masl
• Approximate walking time: 2 hours including visits.
• Difficulty level: 3 out of 5
• Operating restrictions: We do not recommend visits from January to March as it is the rainy season. Operation subject to weather conditions.
• *Accommodation in selected hotel in Cusco.
• *Food included: Breakfast and lunch.

Day 8: Cusco – International Departure

At the scheduled time you will be transferred to the airport to board your flight.

Meals included: Breakfast.