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Train to Machu Picchu Escorted Tour12 night escorted tour of Peru from £3095 staying in 4 and 5 star character hotels
Join the 'Train to Machu Picchu' tour - one of the best escorted group tours of Peru - and visit the very best locations without being rushed, and staying in either 5* or the best available hotels. If you want to see more on your holiday, there are a variety of extensions available. These escorted tours have a maximum group size of 25, and allow you to see all the main sights with enough time spent at each place. Many people also choose to extend their holiday time in Peru with a trip to the Amazon Rainforest - please ask for details. You can also book this itinerary as a private tour for a supplement on any day of the year which gives you more flexibility with your holiday itinerary - please call for details. Key features
Itinerary & main highlights
Lima (1 night) Day 1 Day 2 When you arrive in Lima in the morning, transfer to the hotel where your room will be ready for you for immediate check in. When you have checked in, breakfast will be served. Afterwards, the day is at leisure. Breakfast Day 3 (am) This tour begins with an early morning visit to Surquillo local market in San Isidro. Here you can see many types of fresh fish, as well as a variety of produce from the coast, the highlands and the jungle. You can try fresh fruit juice made from Amazon fruits. Continue to Lima's colonial centre, a UNESCO World Heritage site. Between its foundation in the 1500s up to the 1900s, Lima was the chief city of Spanish South America and known as the 'City of Kings'. You will visit the magnificent 17th century San Fransisco Monastery with its cloisters and catacombs, an architectural masterpiece. A short stroll leads to heart of the old city and the Plaza Mayor main square, surrounded by yellow edifices, the Government Palace and the imposing and grand Cathedral. End your tour with a visit to one of the oldest traditional taverns in the city, 'Cordano's', where you can taste Peru's famous Pisco Sour. Afternoon flight to Arequipa. Accommodation 1 night at the Casa Andina Private Collection - Miraflores - Click here to visit the hotel's own website Arequipa (2 nights) Day 3 (pm) Situated 1,029 kilometres south of Lima, Arequipa stands in a beautiful valley at the foot of the snow-capped El Misti volcano. You'll see leafy squares, fine colonial architecture and many old and interesting churches built of sillar, a pearly white volcanic stone, all surrounded by a dramatic landscape. Breakfast Day 4 In the morning there is a city tour which begins in the elegant Plaza de Armas, beautifully laid-out with gardens, palm trees and a fountain, and continues to the 17th century La Compania church. The church is renowned for its florid Andean style façade and its gilded main altar, typical of the height of the Peruvian Baroque. Also of interest is the sacristy's ceiling, which is covered with miniature paintings and carvings of crimson and gold. Continue to the Monastery of Santa Teresa, a recently restored colonial masterpiece. The monastery has preserved the best samples of Colonial art in Arequipa, organized in thematic galleries which highlight the use of religious symbols in paintings, murals and sculptures. The tour continues with a visit to the Juanita mummy museum. Juanita (also known as "The Ice Maiden") was discovered on the top of Mount Ampato, near Arequipa, in 1995 by Johan Reinhard. She was 12 to 14 years old when she was sacrificed and is believed to have died about 500 years ago. She has been preserved in a glass box at sub zero temperatures along with displays of amazingly well preserved clothes, jewellery and weavings that provide a vivid insight into the past. Other equally interesting and well preserved locally found mummies are kept in the museum and are periodically exhibited. Juanita is not guaranteed to be on display as she is often taken away for research or for preservation. However other mummies and all the artefacts remain so the museum is well worth a visit at any time. Walk through Arequipa's historic centre with its glorious architecture which is built mostly from pale volcanic rock, hence the city's nickname 'the White City'. Arrive at the 16th century Santa Catalina Convent, which was opened to the public in 1970 after 400 years as a cloister. With its lovely pastel colours and sense of serenity, the convent is made up of a maze of cobblestone streets with spacious patios, gardens, and kitchen and slave quarters. Entrance requirements at the convent were among the strictest in Peru. Novices, daughters of aristocrats, had to prove Spanish origin and come up with a dowry of at least 1,000 gold pesos. Once home to up to 500 nuns, about 20 nuns still remain in one section of the convent, out of sight of the public. Afterwards drive out of the city and explore the countryside around Arequipa, with its picturesque landscapes, history and laid- back lifestyle. Visit the historic town of Quequena, where battles took place during the Pacific war between Peru and Chile (1879-1883). Admire the rock drawings in the town of Sogay and the ruins of a 500 year-old colonial mill. Along the way, the scenery changes from irrigated terraces to desert canyons. Breakfast & Lunch Accommodation 2 nights at the Libertador Arequipa - Click here to visit the hotel's own website Colca Canyon (2 nights) Day 5 The 5-hour journey is spectacular, and as you cross the altiplano, you'll stop along the way different areas of interest, including villages and churches. The scenery on arrival at the Colca Canyon is breathtaking, with snow-capped volcanoes, herds of llama and huge patchworks of pre-Inca terracing. Unspoiled Andean villages lie on both sides of the canyon, inhabited by the Cabana and Collagua peoples. Breakfast & Lunch Day 6 Early morning excursion to Condor’s Cross, where the magnificent condor may be seen flying over the canyon. Visit the town of Maca, famed for its pre- Colombian textiles. Afternoon at leisure to take a walk in the canyon or relax in the natural hot springs. Breakfast & Lunch Accommodation 2 nights at Casa Andina Colca - Click here to visit the hotel's own website Lake Titicaca (2 nights) Day 7 Breakfast & Lunch Day 8 Today you will have a full day tour of the floating islands of Lake Titicaca, inhabited by the Uros Indians, and Taquile Island, with its panoramic lake views. Lake Titicaca has many floating islands which are inhabited by the Uros Indians. For hundreds of years the livelihood of this 'water tribe' has been based on the benefits of the totora reed, which grows densely in the shallower areas of the lake. They use these to build their homes, boats and even the floating islands they live on, compressing them into virtually rigid surfaces which drift around on the lake's currents. The Uros Indians live by fishing and raising domestic fowl and they travel between their islands in tiny reed boats. The tour continues to Taquile Island, situated about 45 kilometres from Puno, with expansive views of the great lake, and inhabited by Quechua-speaking Indians. Taquile is just one kilometre wide and approximately seven kilometres long, but home to Inca and pre-Inca ruins and Inca terracing. Through the generations, the island's inhabitants have developed an efficient and original social system and a fine handweaving technique. Farmers, fishermen and weavers wear distinctive outfits. Visit the quieter southern of the island, from where there are views across to Bolivia on a fine day. The locals will demonstrate their traditional way of life, ancient weaving techniques and music and lunch will be provided from fresh local ingredients. Breakfast & Lunch Accommodation 2 nights at the Libertador - Click here to visit the hotel's own website Cuzco (2 nights) Day 9 Relax over lunch and enjoy a pisco sour and music in the observation car as you pass high Andean peaks, mountain streams and rivers, cultivated terraces and small valley towns. Transfer to the Casa Andina Private Collection Cuzco for 2 nights. This magnificent journey follows in the footsteps of the Incas, from the shores of Lake Titicaca to the ancient city of Cuzco. The first half of the journey is dominated by magnificent Andean Mountains, towering over the deep valleys of the meandering Huatanay River. The journey climbs up to over 14,000 feet at La Raya, the highest point on the route where a stop is made. Here you can see the snow-capped peaks rising to 18,000 feet. It then reaches the gentler, rolling Andean Plains, where vicuna and alpaca may be seen. Cuzco is hidden in a valley high in the Andes Mountains, and 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. Breakfast & Lunch Day 10 Your morning is at leisure. Afternoon tour of Cuzco, including the San Blas district, Koricancha and the cathedral. Begin your tour with a visit to Loreto Alley, an impressive part of the old town with its remarkable Inca Walls. Continue to the Santo Domingo Monastery which was built in the 17th century on the foundations of the Qoricancha Temple of the Sun and using original materials. Excavation is unearthing more of the five chambers of the temple, revealing some of the best Inca stonework to be seen in Cuzco. After this you will visit San Blas with its beautiful colonial church, which houses an impressive pulpit. Stroll through the many handicraft shops and native art galleries in the small square where many local crafts can be found such as earthenware, paintings, ceramics, sculptures, woodcarvings and textiles. Roam the old quarter, which dates back to the 16th and 17th centuries. Return to Cuzco's old town, passing through Hatunrumiyoc street with its famous twelve angle stone. The heart of Cuzco, 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. Breakfast Accommodation 2 nights at the Casa Andina Private Collection Cuzco - Click here to visit the hotel's own website Sacred valley (1 night) Day 11 Gateway to the Sacred Valley, the town of Pisac was of supreme importance in Inca times. It was the site of one of the most important fortresses built to guard the capital of the empire. Today the town of Pisac is a sleepy hamlet of brown adobe buildings with faded red tiled roofs and narrow cobblestone streets. A mixture of Inca and colonial influences, parts of the town date from the colonial era and, in the church Mass is still said in Quechua. The town has a market in the main square every day and this is renowned for its colour and vibrancy. People from the local villages, many of them in traditional dress, travel to the town and the many wares on offer include food items, handicrafts, ponchos and rugs. A buffet lunch will be served at Alhambra restaurant in the Sacred Valley. Continue to Ollantaytambo, a small town built around a superbly preserved Inca fortress. The fortress guarded the entrance to this part of the valley and protected it from possible invasion from the lower jungles. The central part of the ruins is the Intihuatana group of temples and rock outcrops which reveal the most magnificent Inca masonry. The design and foundations of the majority of the buildings in the town also date from the Inca era, when Ollantaytambo was a strategic military, religious and agricultural centre. Breakfast & Lunch Accommodation 1 night at the Casa Andina Private Collection - Click here to visit the hotel's own website Machu Picchu (1 night) Day 12 Enjoy a guided tour of the Machu Picchu ruins and have time to explore on your own. Please note that you will be taken directly to the site, and so will avoid any steep steps. This incredible site 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 unmortared stone. The ruins include baths, temples, altars, and houses constructed in terraces and connected by stairways carved from solid rock. Towering overhead is Huayna Picchu and tropical jungle peaks provide the backdrop for the whole dramatic scene. Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner Accommodation 1 night at Sumaq Machu Picchu - Click here to visit the hotel's own website Cuzco (1 night) Day 13 Transfer to the Casa Andina Private Collection for 1 night. You may wish to spend an extra night in Cuzco (from £60 per person) please advise at the time of booking. Breakfast Accommodation 1 night back at the Casa Andina Private Collection Cuzco. You can collect any luggage that you left here before your journey to Machu Picchu. - Click here to visit the hotel's own website Travel home Day 14 You will be collected from your hotel and taken to the airport. Fly to Lima and on to London, via Madrid with LAN Airlines. You may wish to spend an extra night in Cuzco (from £70 per person) please advise at the time of booking. Breakfast Day 15 Arrive in London in the afternoon. Tour Extensions Tour + Amazon Rainforest £575 per person The Peruvian rainforest has extraordinary bio-diversity, and the area around Puerto Maldonado is an excellent place to see wildlife, birds and flora. Day 14 – To the Amazon: Fly to Puerto Maldonado and transfer by boat to the Reserva Amazonica Lodge for 2 nights. Day 15 – The Amazon: Explore the rainforest, rivers and Sandoval Lake, habitats for macaws, black caimans, giant otters and monkeys. Day 16 – To London: Return to Puerto Maldonado. Fly to Lima and then continue to London, via Madrid, with LAN, arriving the following afternoon. Tour + Nazca & Paracas £395 per person Visit the Nazca lines, huge mysterious drawings in the desert depicting animals and geometric shapes. This extension also includes a visit to the Ballestas Islands to see the seabird and sea lion colonies. Day 14 – To Paracas: After leaving the rest of the group, fly to Lima and drive to Paracas (shared transfer). Stay at the Hilton Doubletree
Paracas Hotel* for 2 nights. Day 15 – Nazca lines: Full-day excursion by road to Nazca to see some of the Nazca lines from viewing towers and visit local museums, including the Maria Reiche museum. Day 15 – To London: Morning cruise to the Ballestas Islands. Return to Lima by road (shared transfer) and fly to London, via Madrid,
with LAN, arriving the following afternoon. Tour + Galapagos £2195 per person This extension offers an opportunity to explore the natural wonders of the Galapagos Islands, a habitat for unique species of animal, bird, plant and marine life. Day 14 – To Guayaquil: Fly to Guayaquil, via Lima. Transfer to the Oro Verde for 1 night. Day 15 – To Galapagos: Fly to the Galapagos. Transfer to the Explorer II for a 4-night cruise (Classic cabin). Days 16-18 – Galapagos: Explore the islands, including Santa Cruz, Santiago, Genovesa, Seymour Norte and San Cristobal. Day 19 – To London: Fly to Guayaquil, then continue to London, via Madrid, with LAN, arriving the following afternoon. Tour + Rio de Janeiro £1145 per person Travel home via Brazil to see Rio’s famous landmarks and perhaps take a trip to the urban Tijuca forest or the colonial town of Petropolis. It is possible to extend your stay in Brazil at the coastal resort town of Buzios. Day 14 – To Rio de Janeiro: Overnight flight to Rio de Janeiro. Day 15 – Rio: Transfer to the Porto Bay Rio International Hotel for 3 nights (Superior Partial Ocean View room). Check in early subject to availability. Day 16 – Rio: Full-day tour of Rio, including Corcovado and Sugar Loaf mountain. Day 17 – Rio: At leisure or optional tours. Day 18 – To London: Afternoon transfer to the airport and fly to London, via Madrid, with Iberia, arriving the following day. Tour + Buenos Aires & Iguazú Falls £1295 to £1345 per person Extend your stay in Latin America with a visit to the vibrant and exciting Argentinian capital of Buenos Aires, known for its seductive culture and excellent food and drink. End with a visit to one of the world’s great natural wonders, the Iguazú Falls. Please note that entry fees at the Iguazú and Iguaçu national parks are payable locally. Day 14 – To Buenos Aires: Fly to Buenos Aires and transfer to the Marriott Plaza for 3 nights. Day 15 – Buenos Aires: Take a morning tour of the city, visiting the colourful port district of La Boca, elegant Recoletta and the city’s palaces and monuments. Day 16 – Buenos Aires: Day at leisure to explore Buenos Aires or take an optional excursion to the Pampas or a boat trip across the Rio de la Plata to Colonia in Uruguay. Day 17 – To Iguazú: Fly to Iguazú and transfer to the Sheraton (Forest View room; upgrade to Falls View room from £65 per person) for 2 nights. Tour of the Argentinian side of the falls. Day 18 – To Iguaçu: Visit the Brazilian side of the falls. Afternoon at leisure for further exploration. Day 19 – To London: Transfer to the airport and fly to Sao Paulo, then continue to London, via Madrid, with Iberia, arriving the following day. Tour + Cuba £795 to £845 per person Spend a few days in Havana, with its colonial architecture and fading grandeur. Explore the sights and sounds of the old town and discover the fascinating Cuban culture and history. Day 14 – To Havana: Fly to Havana, via Lima. Transfer to the Hotel Iberostar Parque Central for 3 nights. Day 15 – Havana: Morning walking tour of Havana, visiting its historic centre and cigar factory. Afternoon panoramic tour in a classic American car. Day 16 – Havana: Day at leisure or take an optional excursion to the Viñales valley. Day 17 – To London: Fly to London, via Madrid, with Iberia, arriving the following day. | Itinerary Map 2012 prices Call 01462 677 111 to book your place today
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The weather in Peru The best time to visit Peru is between April and November, and ideally between June and September. These are the dry months, but also naturally the busiest! There is generally some rain from November to March, and this can cause problems at Machu Picchu, for example a couple of years ago when the rains cased mud slides making it virtually impossible to get there. Cuzco is at altitude, and will be cooler than in Lima. You will need to take it easy for a day or so after arriving, however the itinerary on this page has been designed so that you get a gentle acclimatization to the altitude. Days are mild, typically mid 60's in summer, while nights are cold, sometimes just below freezing, so pack warm clothes.
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Where else can you take a train to one of the world's greatest sites, stand on a floating spongy island, and immerse yourself in spectacular scenery and wildlife in just 2 short weeks? 
Fly from London to Lima, via Madrid, with LAN Airlines, on the overnight flight.
The Casa Andina Private Collection is located in the heart of the Miraflores district of Lima close to Kennedy Park. It is a medium sized hotel with 150 rooms decorated in local Peruvian textiles and art. Facilities include 2 restaurants, a small spa and a heated swimming pool. 
In the afternoon, fly over the Andes to Arequipa, the most strikingly beautiful city in Peru.
The Libertador hotel is just a short walk from the historic centre of Arequipa and set in the middle of the city park with superb views of Misti Volcano. There is a bar and restaurant, plus swimming pool and sauna. 
This morning drive into the Andes towards the 
The Casa Andina, Colca, which opened in September 2003, is a small three star colonial style property. It is located in the centre of the colonial town of Chivay in the heart of the Colca Valley. Here guests can enjoy comfortable heated rooms in addition to typical lunches and dinners, the perfect prelude to a stirring folk show. The property has 52 rooms and all of the modern facilities that you could expect from a three star property. 
Travel by road to Puno and Lake Titicaca (approximately 7 hours). Transfer to the Libertador Hotel, set on the shores of the lake, for 2 nights.
This is a modern hotel located on Esteves Island on the shores of Lake Titicaca. It is ideally situated for excursions out to visit the islands of lake, and is close to the town of Puno. There is a bar and a restaurant which has magnificent views of Lake Titicaca. 
Today you travel on the 
Casa Andina Private Collection Cuzco is situated in a large, renovated 16th century colonial house in the old part of Cuzco, just a few blocks walk from the main square. There are 70 rooms and facilities include a restaurant, bar, colonial terrace and internet access. 
Full day visit to the Indian market at Pisac and the Inca fortress at Ollantaytambo, an astounding feat of construction and ingenuity. Stay overnight in the Sacred Valley at the Casa Andina Private Collection.
The 85 room Casa Andina Private Collection is located in Yanahuara in the Sacred Valley near Cuzco, and is surrounded by Andean peaks. It is part of a small resort offering boutique style rooms, a restaurant with a local ambience, and bar with outside terrace from which one can take in the sights and sounds of the Peruvian countryside. 
Drive to Ollanta and take a spectacular journey by 
Sumaq Machu Picchu Hotel is a modern, comfortable hotel in Aguas Calientes town. It is conveniently located opposite the bus stop from which the buses to the ruins depart. The rooms are tastefully furnished and decorated in a contemporary style, whilst maintaining a Peruvian theme. Facilities include a spa, restaurant and bar, as well as a boutique selling traditional local artefacts. 
