Print Full Itinerary
Itinerary:(Subject to change, though not dramatically)
Day 1: US departure, land in Lima
Our adventure begins as we depart our NYC gateway airport, arrive at Lima International Airport and transfer to accommodations. We will arrive later in the evening, after check-in we will offer suggestions for you to find some delicious dinner and enjoy your first taste the Peruvian national drink, the Pisco Sour!
Day 2: Museo Larco, Cathedral of San Francisco
In the morning a local expert guide will take us on our walking tour of this fascinating city, rooted as it is in the far mysterious Incan past. Thereafter we will head out to visit the Museo Larco for a more visual introduction to the history and archeology of the city, and some very, very interesting relics from past cultures. We will also stop by the Cathedral of San Francisco to experience the delight and dismay of the various aspects of this staggering edifice. After it will be time to unwind and take in the street scenes with a Pisco Sour!
Daily walking total (all totals are approximate!): 5 miles, city streets.
Day 3: Getting to know traditional cuisine and local spirits
We will begin our day with a delightful food walking tour during which we will sample the delicious local Peruvian cuisine with our expert guide. Peru is one of the world’s top food destinations and today we will find out why!
Thereafter we will enjoy a visit to the Parque del Amor, a lovely park that hugs the coastline and is dotted with benches in the style of Antoni Gaudi that may make you think you’re in Barcelona. Sweeping views of the Pacific and authentically delicious restaurants for more substantial Peruvian food are a bonus.
Please consider taking any partying very easy tonight: our arrival in Cusco the next day will put us at a high elevation and being dehydrated will potentially amplify any side effects from the altitude.
Daily walking total: 6 miles, city streets, parks, unless you elect to do more on your own.
Day 4: Lima to Cusco
We will say a temporary farewell to Lima as we jet over the Sierra Nevada mountains to arrive at the city of Cusco, the once (and perhaps future!) capital of the Incan Empire. We will spend a few days here before our visit to Machu Picchu in order to acclimate to the elevation. Upon our arrival we will get settled in our accommodations, then our expert guide will take us on a walking tour of the city where we will investigate Korikancha Temple, the Inca Museum, the Cusco Cathedral, to delve into the past, architectural and otherwise, the religious, and the delicious!
Daily walking total: 6 miles, city streets, museums.
Day 5: Sacsayhuaman, Mercado Central de San Pedro
Today we will continue to explore this ancient Incan capital with a visit to Sacsayhuaman (pronounced Sexy Woman lol) thus come to understand the amazing architectural and building capabilities of the Inca. Thereafter we will head over to the Mercado Central de San Pedro to see how the local Peruvians shop, eat and drink. There you can try out some of the delicacies the locals enjoy!
Daily walking total: approximately 4 miles.
Day 6: Cusco to Ollantaytambo
We are off to charming Ollantaytambo this morning, via train, entering the Sacred Valley of the Incans. This very well-preserved city illustrates the urban building skills of the Incans nearly as much as does Machu Picchu does. The Romans take up all the credit for their building skills, and for good reason, but the Incans were just as amazing. For the adventurous eaters, it’s an opportunity to try Cuy, also know as Guinea Pig, a dish that has been sustaining locals for something like 5000 years! After our exploration today it will be time to enjoy the local beer, Chicha de Jora, or if you like your drinks a little sweeter, the Chicha de Fruitilla.
Daily walking total: 5 miles, city streets, countryside, ruins
Day 7: Aguas Calientes
We will be up this morning for another relatively short train ride to the town of Aguas Calientes. This town exists exclusively to get through it to visit Machu Picchu, which is our purpose as well. But will take a walk to the Museo de Sitio Manuel Chavez Ballon which will give us an excellent preview of Machu Picchu. We should all consider an early night tonight given the very early hour we’ll begin the next day!
Daily walking total: 4 miles, city streets, country roads.
Day 8: Machu Picchu
Today we visit the incomparable, staggering, mind-blowing Machu Picchu. We will depart early, 4:30 am, to take the hour or so hike to the entrance. For those that really cannot do that hike, there are shuttle busses that leave every 20 minutes or so. Leaving this early will allow us to enter the site just as it opens at 6 am, and we will get to experience it with much smaller crowds, and imagine ourselves as finding these ruins for the first time!
We will descend and be back in Aguas Calientes by midafternoon, where you may wish to take advantage of the town’s namesake – hot springs to soothe sore muscles!
Daily walking total: 9 miles, city streets, hiking trials, ruins; ascending Huayna Picchu requires no technical skills but is nevertheless very steep.
Day 9: Aguas Calientes to Cusco by train, then to Lima by plane
We’ll do a fair amount of travel today as we take the train from Aguas Calientes to Cusco, then catch our flight to Lima. Back in the capital we will indulge ourselves in a Pisco Sour or two and talk over our experiences and observations of this amazing country!
Daily walking total: 3 miles, city streets, train station, all with our luggage
Day 10: Free in Lima
Our final full day in Peru is for you to reflect upon what you’ve done, how the experience has impacted you, your encounter with history, with culture and with the wondrousness of the world around you. Of course, shopping, eating, drinking and spending time with new and old friends is all definitely on the schedule as well! For the adventurous you can try your hand at paragliding or surfing for a different and unique last view of the city.
Daily walking total: it depends upon your chosen activities.
Day 11: Depart Lima for US
Our last sunrise in Peru and we will need to be up early for a quick coffee before boarding our transportation to the airport.
Pricing: $3595 which includes airfare, accommodations, all tours, taxes and admissions fees (except where noted as optional), tour guide tips, train and bus travel within the travel destination. Please note that this amount is subject to change, though not drastically until you make your deposit.
Payment Plan: You may pay for the trip either in one payment or you may pay in installments beginning with a $500/person nonrefundable deposit upon your decision to travel with us. If you would like to avail yourself of an installment plan, please send us an email at laura@educatedwanderer.com or creed@educatedwanderer.com and we will provide that information to you.
Methods of Payment:Venmo @educatedwanderer, PayPal creed@educatedwanderer.com, Call 610.285.1775 to pay by credit card over the phone (Credit Card payments have a 4% surcharge). Please contact creed@educatedwanderer.com for details on how to send Cash or Check. Please contact us with any questions regarding your payment.
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