Peru, In the Footsteps of the Inca
Starting at Lake Titicaca, the tour traces the emergence of the Inca, the last great empire in Peru. Amazing organizational ability and great wealth were the hallmarks of this empire. Tour begins in La Paz, Bolivia and ends in Lima, Peru. Stops along the way include Cusco, Machu Picchu, and Cajamarca.
Day 1
Arrive in La Paz.
Group members will be met at the airport according to their individual flight plans.
Transfer to hotel. Rest in hotel.
La Paz is located at an altitude of 12,000 ft (by way of comparison, Denver is at 5, 280 ft). Lake Titicaca is even slightly higher at 12.300 ft. You might be affected by the altitude, and this is why we include a rest day at the beginning of the tour to allow for acclimating. Most of the altitude sickness symptoms you will experience will disappear after one day.
Please consult your physician before leaving the U.S.
Day 2
Breakfast in hotel.
Travel by road to Lake Titicaca over the Altiplano, the Andean desert-like high plateau to Copacabana, site of an Inca shrine converted into a Christian pilgrimage site by the Spaniards.
Lake Titicaca is the highest navigable body of water in the world, and one of the most sacred sites in the pre-colonial Andes.
Lecture 1: The Origin of the Incas
Overnight in Copacabana.
Day 3
Breakfast in hotel.
Transfer to harbor and board the boat that will take us to the Island of the Sun, mythical place of origin of the Inca Empire. Visit of the various Inca sites on the island and return to the boat to go to the other side of the island, to the village of Challapampa. Visit the village and the Inca temple of La Chinkana.
Return to Copacabana. Night in Copacabana.
Day 4
Breakfast in hotel
Leave Copacabana by road. Cross the border into Peru and proceed to Puno to start the journey towards Cusco. Arrive in Cusco in the afternoon.
Overnight in Cusco.
Day 5
Free morning
Afternoon City Tour (Qoricancha, Loreto, Hatunrumiyoc) Inca ruins of Saqsayhuaman, the fortress overlooking the city.
Lecture 2: Inca Social Structure
Overnight in Cusco
Day 6
Leave Cusco by bus. Visit the Sacred Valley of the Incas, half-an-hour away from Cusco. The valley name derives from the fact the Incas grew there their most sacred crop: corn. On the way, we will stop at the Inca agricultural site of Moray, the pre-historic saltpans of Maras and the town of Chinchero built over the estate of 10th Inca Tupa Yupanqui. We will then continue to the last Inca site at the end of the Sacred Valley: Ollantaytambo.
Lecture 3: The Vilcabamba Incas
Overnight in Ollantaytambo.
Day 7
Leave Ollantaytambo by bus and drive up to the Malaga Pass (4200 mts.). In the afternoon we arrive at Huancacalle where a comfortable camp expects us.
Overnight in camp in Huancacalle.
Day 8
Moderate hike to Ñustahispana and Rosaspata (the ancient citadel of Vitcos). Those are part of the sites collectively known as Vilcabamba, where the Inca resistance established their government in exile for nearly 40 years in the 16th century. In 1572, Viceroy Toledo put a cruel end to the indigenous opposition to the Spanish Crown.
Circuit back to Huancacalle. Overnight in Huancacalle.
Day 9
Return to Ollantaytambo, the only Inca village still lived in by the local population.
Afternoon visit of the site of Ollantaytambo, estate of 11th Inca Huayna Capac and the Inca settlement.
Lecture 4: Inca Architecture: Machu Picchu
Overnight in Ollantaytambo.
Day 10
7 am: A one-hour train rides down the Urubamba Valley takes us to the foot of Machu Picchu. Check into hotel in Aguas Calientes. Bus up to the Archaeological site. Guided tour of Machu Picchu.
Afternoon: Bus ride down to Aguas Calientes. Hot springs (optional).
Overnight in hotel.
Day 11
Breakfast in hotel. Bus up to Machu Picchu. Visit the site on your own. You might want to climb the sugarloaf peak of Wayna Picchu, or go down to the Templo de la Luna (Temple of the Moon) or just sit on the grass and enjoy the view.
Afternoon: Bus down to Aguas Calientes. Transfer to train station and return to Cusco.
Day 12
Breakfast in hotel.
Flight to Lima. Check into hotel in Miraflores.
City Tour: Visit the colonial Old City; see the Plaza de Armas and the Government Palace (known as Casa Pizarro).
Farewell lunch at Rosa Nautica.
Transfer to airport for those leaving for the U.S.
For those continuing on to the Cajamarca extension: Overnight in Miraflores, Lima.
Cajamarca Extension
Day 13
Breakfast in hotel.
Lecture 5: The Conquest
Afternoon transfer to airport and flight to Cajamarca. Check into hotel.
Overnight in Cajamarca.
Day 14
Breakfast in hotel.
City Tour, Museo arqueológico y Etnológico and Atahualpa's Ransom Room (Cuarto del Rescate). Necropolis of Ventanillas de Otuzco.
Afternoon relax in the hot springs of Baños del Inca.
Lecture 6: The Incas in Colonial Times
Overnight in Cajamarca.
Day 15
Breakfast in hotel.
Flight to Lima; Connections to international flights.
Itineraries are samples and may change according to availability of the speaker and locations. All itineraries may be customized and modified to suit circumstances.