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Machu Picchu

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Inspiration & Fellowship In The New World

A Pilgrimage To Peru

10 days

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From the ancient legacy of the Incas to the colonial impact of the Spanish Conquerors to the influences of indigenous cultures, our pilgrimage to Peru will be fascinating and inspiring. Christian shrines, monasteries and churches dominate the modern urban landscapes of Lima and Arequipa while ancient Inca temples dominate the historical centers of Cusco and Machu Picchu. We will experience not only these ancient cultures but also learn how Christianity has developed and flourished since the Spanish Conquests.


Day 1. Fly North America to Lima

Arrival in Lima, the "City of Kings" famous for its Spanish Colonial architecture, extraordinary museums and cuisine. Lima is internationally recognized as the "Gastronomic Capital of the Americas", and its cuisine is considered among the most diverse and exquisite in the world on par with French cuisine. Upon arrival a host will meet and assist you in transferring to the hotel and in registering.

Overnight: Jose Antonio Hotel

Day 2. Lima – Churches Tour (BLD)

Tour of Colonial Lima - This half-day tour visits the colonial section of Lima. Colonial sites include the lovely Plaza Mayor, the Government Palace, San Francisco Church, Lima's Cathedral, Santo Domingo convent, La Merced church, Santa Rosa church, Las Nazarenas church and the exquisite Torre Tagle Palace modern day seat of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Overnight: Jose Antonio Hotel

Day 3. Pachacamac Temples & Peruvian Paso Horse Show (BLD)

A drive along the Pan-American Highway with its views across the beautiful Pacific beaches will take you years back. Visit to the pre-Inca ruins of Pachacamac considered by many to be the most important archaeological site near Lima. Four hundred years before the Incas, the Ishmay culture developed a major ceremonial center, featuring streets, dozens of temples fitted with ramps and the Painted Temple.

Continue to a delightful demonstration of the skills of the Peruvian paso horse, a unique member of the horse kingdom. "caballo de paso” known worldwide for their smooth gaited movements and unusual spirit. No other horse combines strength, intelligence and beauty so perfectly as the Peruvian paso horse. The particular characteristic of the paso horse is precisely the reason for its name: the sublime charm of its typical step. As it walks, its front legs step very high and forward while the hooves sway to the sides in a graceful and synchronized movement.

Overnight: Jose Antonio Hotel

Day 4. Fly Lima to Arequipa (BLD)

Transfer to the airport for your flight to Arequipa at an elevation of 7,300 feet. Upon arrival a host will meet and assist you in transferring to the hotel and in registering. Also known as the "White City" for its many constructions built of white volcanic stone, Arequipa is at the foothills of the Misti Volcano (the guardian of the city) and it has a splendid Cathedral that is considered one of the first seventeenth century religious monuments of the city

Overnight: Casa Andina Arequipa

Day 4. Excursion to Caral (BLD)

Early departure to Caral, The Oldest Citadel in the Americas. Much earlier than the Incas and while civilizations like the Mesopotamian, Egyptian, Indian, and Chinese (3000 and 2000 B.C.) flourished, the city of Caral, located north of the city of Lima, was built; this was the first American expression of a Pre-Ceramic urban settlement with monumental architecture in an area greater than 10 hectares.

Caral features pyramid temples, an amphitheater as well as housing complexes. Lunch is included.

Arequipa City Tour and Santa Catalina Convent

ArequipaYour half day sightseeing of this beautiful city, placed on the World Cultural Heritage list by UNESCO, features Mixed Baroque churches and mansions from the colonial period like the Monastery of Santa Catalina, The Main Square is bordered by various arched walkways and the Cathedral, it showcase a beautiful bronze fountain of three plates crowned by the figure of a sixteenth century soldier. Around the square, you see three granite portals with brick and lime bases.

The Santa Catalina Convent is called "a city within a city", a Spanish city in miniature with stone streets, beautiful patios, and plaza, it is a masterpiece of colonial architecture, and houses some of the finest examples of Spanish American religious art. Since 1970 visitors have been able to stroll through the streets and cloisters that during colonial times were the refuge of female nobility who had decided to isolate from the world and dedicate entirely to prayer.

Day 5. Fly Arequipa to Cusco (BLD)

Early morning transfer from the hotel to the airport for a short but spectacular flight over the snowcapped Andes to the oldest inhabited city in the hemisphere, Cusco, at an elevation of 11,440 feet. Upon arrival a host will meet and assist you in transferring to the hotel and in registering.

Cusco City Tour And Nearby Ruins

Tour of Cusco and Nearby Ruins – Visitors are caught up in the excitement of touring the ancient capital of the Inca Empire, a delightful combination of Inca and colonial architecture. The tour visits important landmarks such us Cusco's Cathedral, Plaza de Armas and Koricancha "The Temple of the Sun”. This tour of the oldest continuously inhabited city in the western hemisphere also includes the nearby ruins of Kenko, Puca-Pucara, Tambomachay as well as the Sacsayhuaman fortress, an imposing example of Inca military architecture.

Overnight: Casa Andina Cusco

Day 6. Pisac Market & Ollantaytambo Archaeological Site (BLD)

Full Day Excursion to the Pisac Indian Market and the Ollantaytambo Fortress - Morning departure for a drive through the fertile countryside of the Urubamba Valley to the colonial village of Pisac where an Indian Market takes place Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays. Other days you will tour the religious nucleus and archaeological site of Pisac. During your visit to the bustling marketplace you will have the opportunity to bargain with the natives for many different types of Peruvian handicrafts and jewelry. Continue to the Ollantaytambo archaeological complex, the Incas built it as a fort that included a temple, agricultural terraces, and an urban area. There are two distinct sectors: The religious and worship zone, and the residential area. Ollantaytambo was an important administrative center with probable military functions if one considers the walls and towers. There are also traces of ancient roads and aqueducts. The town of Ollantaytambo is called a "Living Inca Town" since the inhabitants maintain very old practices and customs. Lunch is at a beautiful country estate on the shores of the Urubamba River.

Overnight: Casa Andina Cusco

Day 7. Rail to Machu Picchu (BLD)

Morning train ride through the sacred valley of Urubamba to the "Lost City of the Incas," Machu Picchu. Perched 8,200 feet above the valley, it was hidden by mountains and semi-tropical jungles for 400 years until discovered by Hiram Bingham of Yale University in 1911.

Archaeologists believe that the Inca "Virgins of the Sun" took refuge from the Spanish Conquistadors here. Guided tour of the ruins upon arrival. Lunch is at the Orient Express' Sanctuary Lodge located just a few steps from the Inca citadel.

Overnight: Inkaterra Hotel in Aguas Calientes

Day 8. Rail Machu Picchu to Cusco (BLD)

Free morning to enjoy one of the most incredible sights on earth, the sanctuary of Machu Picchu. Take as much time as you need to study these magnificent ruins, hike the steep stone-paved trail of Huayna Picchu, the pyramid-shape mountain above Machu Picchu for a breathtaking view of the site, or stroll to the Inca Bridge a secret entrance used by the Inca's army or walk toward the Inca Trail to find the historic Intipunku or Sun Gate. Afternoon return train ride.

Overnight: Casa Andina

Day 9. Cusco – Free Day (BLD)

Wandering through this lovely city, exploring the astonishing narrow streets of this tile roof colonial town will be your unforgettable experience. You will find something astounding at every turn. Great buys are the traditional Peruvian handicrafts, alpaca-wool sweaters and rugs, ponchos, pottery, gold and silver jewelry, leather goods, etc. Because there are such a variety of products, we strongly suggest that when you like any particular item, you should buy it - you may not find the same item in other store. Many visitors to Cusco return home wishing they had a free day to discover this imperial city on their own, a free day in Cusco is a MUST!

Overnight: Casa Andina

Day 10. Fly Cusco To North America Via Lima (B)

Transfer to the airport for your departure to Lima and your connecting international flight. Arrive home full of great memories of inspiration and fellowship in the midst of the rich tradition of Colonial Lima and the mystical land of the Incas.

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