TOTAL Peru,

The” 7 wonders”of Peru tour.

Group with tour leader !!!

START: 27 June 2008

FINISH :22 July 2008

Fixed departure out of Lima ,minimum 8 persons ,maximum 20 persons

From Lima  to ---Lima

We promote a lot of freedom and flexibility in our tours, we call it alone in group, you do your thing with the comfort of a group while de tour leader arrange your excursion or bus ticket. Freedom is one of the big points in this tour!

Minima 1 month before departure we inform you if the tour have enough clients to start, yes or no .If not, than we can arrange the same tour for the same price all arranged with small changes ,all individual.

This is an easy tour but more adventures!, for all ages .Open  young minded persons is what we are looking for .Leave your western look home and just enjoy the beauty of this Andean country .Accept that its different ,we come to admire the country , not to change it !Some of our bus rides can be hard because its not all paved road .People who like to be active, can do 2 or 4 days trekking or the chavin trek 3 days in this tour ,for the others there is enough to see around ! We use good 3 *** hotels and hostels .We’re going slowly to high altitudes ,so you get easily used to it ,together with a coca thee !In this tour its possible to do 2 trekking, but if you don’t like to walk , there are many other options !

What is included?

v     All bus transport , and 2 national flights

v     All hotels in good 3*** hotels and hostels with private bathroom all very clean and central located.

v     All hotels are based on double room ,if you are single and don’t mind to share the room with a man or women from an other sex ,there is no surcharge ,if you like a single rooms there’s an extra cost and you have to tell us in advance

v     All buses are based on good local buses, sometimes private if written in the program, there’s also an luxe night bus from Nazca .

v     In all the hotels is breakfast included!

Not included ,

v     Your food, in the hotels is breakfast included.

v     The entry fees and taxes, like airport tax, colca canyon entrée.

v     The excursions , everything with the blue excursionin front , below there is a list of all the estimated prices

v     Insurance, everybody is obligated to have there own travel insurance from home, before starting this trip.

v      Colca canyon tour 2 days

v      The islands on Titicaca

v      Cusco , the Inca empire with Machu Picchu 

v      Huaraz and cordillera blanca and Chavin the oldest culture

v      Trujillo and Chan Chan

v      Chiclao and the lord of sipan  and Tucume pyramids

v      Kuelap fortress at the border of the jungle

v      The  Inca bath at Cajamarca

Arrive at Lima airport, someone from Peru planet pick you up from the airport and bring you to our first hotel in Lima or Miraflores ,you have to tell us your flight number and hour of arrival .In the hotel you get the first information over Peru and meet the tour leader ,depending on the arrival hour

After breakfast the tour leader welcomes you all and gives a general briefing over what you can aspect from this tour. After that we take a transfer to the airport from where we fly to Chiclao .Transfer to our hotel .If there is time left you can visit the witches market in Chiclao or depending on the H of arriving the grave tomb of the lord of Sipan as excursion. 

This day its possible to go in an excursion to one of the most important and beautiful museums of Peru .We charter as excursion ,a mini bus to go to Lambayeque. Here is the highly recommended Bruning Archaeological museum and the New Museo de las Tumbas Reales de Sipan ,where is the magnificent treasure from the tomb of a Moche warrior/ priest , discovered in 1987.This museum has more than two thousand pieces made of gold. The access to the museum is through a ramp, similar just as it was the access to the ancients Moche Temples.. In the second floor you could appreciate a replica of the funeral chamber for a Moche noble warrior called The Lord of Sipan. Also you can appreciate the ornaments how they were recovered in the tomb .If you have time left you also can visit the museum of Sican or 35 km further the ruins of the 26 pyramids of TUCUME as excursion .At night we take the local luxury bus to Chachapoyas .

We arrive very early in chachapoyas. Transfer to our hostel. The rest of the day we have time free to wonder around in this nice village or to rest a bit after the long bus ride, or walk to the viewpoint.

Today we visit the surroundings of Chachapoyas . We go as excursion to Pueblo de las muertas and pass by the small village of Lamud .Here we can do a small trekking in amazing nature. At the same excursion we can visit Karajia, Famous for their guards in front of the graves .Or you can visit a cave with stalactites. Hostel in Chachapoyas.

This morning we start our next adventure. We have our private transport to go to Kuelap ,the big Pré Inca fortress at the border of the jungle. Discovered around 1843 and it’s situated at 3000 mt altitude. At this part of the tour we don’t meet many tourist !Leave your western glasses home and enjoy the scenery. If you like you can get extra a guide. After this visit we drive further to Leymabamba .Here you can visit the famous museum over the last discoveries at Laguna de Condores .In this museum are more than 200 mummies.Basic overnight in Leymabamba.

This morning we drive furthers thru stunning nature on the way to Cajamarca. Its a long ride .First we go down in a canyon to climb up to the mountaintop from the other side.At the end we reach Cajamarca .Here we have a nice hostel with hot shower.

Today we have time to discover this area .In the morning we take as excursion , taxi’s to “ventanillas de Otusco “. This is a Pre Inca rock with many holes .After this visit we start a walk in this area for about 2 h to the “Banos de los Incas “ Inca bath hot spring . In these clean bath we can enjoy the hot water. Hostel in Cajamarca .

This morning you can visit the local market .Than we take the local bus for about 6 h to Trujillo .In Trujillo we take some taxi,s to Huanchaco. This small village is situated at the Peruvian Coast .We have a hostel with swimming pool about 20 m from the beach.

This day we have the excursion , Chan Chan , the capital of the Chimú Empire, It extended over more than 18 km2.The Tschudi Palace, placed in the southwest of Chan Chan, is one of the most well-preserved and well-decorated palaces. It is decorated with geometric shapes and low-relieves animal draws. You’ll also visit the ceremonial places, the grain stores and the cemetery. It’s a huge urban complex made of a kind of mud called adobe. The greatness and perfection of this city is expressed in its high decorated walls, long passages, ceremonial squares, palaces, workshops and warehouses. There was room for 100,000 people, virtually a city-state.After this we drive to the pyramids of “Arco iris” ,also known as “Huaca El Dragon”, built by the Chimu culture between the 11th and the 15th century and surrounded by a 6 meters high wall. and “Huaca de la luna and sol “, here the archaeologists still do every day new discoveries .In the afternoon we take the night bus to Huaraz .

Today we can discover this scenic city ,in the morning you can visit the busy market ,in the afternoon we can take excursion, local transport ,up to the ruins of willkawain from the Huari empire ,from there we have a beautiful view over Huaraz ,than we walk down , about 2 ½ h to Monterrey from where we take a local bus back to Huaraz , Hostel Huaraz .

Today you can take an excursion to Laguna de llanganuco ,you drive thru thebeautiful valley and pass by Yungay , the village who was completed destroyed by a massive earthquake and mudslide in 1970 , 20.000 people lost their lives. Or you can go to the glacier of Pastoruri.

Hotel in Huaraz

This day you can do the excursion to the Fortress temple of Chavin de Huantar ,this is the oldest and one of the most import cultures of Peru from 800 BC ,the tour takes a whole day ,people who do the Chavin de Huantar trekking meet again with the group in Chavin . Arrive in the afternoon in the hotel in Huaraz.

This afternoon we take the bus to Lima .This ride takes about 7 h. Ones in Lima the transfer wait for us to bring us to our hotel in Lima.

After breakfast we will take transfer to the airport and we fly to the white city of Arequipa .

In Arequipa we have the other transfer to our hotel .

Arequipa ,the white city with his amazing “MISTI volcano ,transfer to our hotel. Here we can relax ,after our night bus ,its also good to get used to the altitude before we go to the canyon .Free to visit this beautiful city , or as excursion in a city tour ,visit the star of Arequipa “The MUMMY JUANITA “  or the” Santa Catalina monastery” in the evening you can try in one of the many restaurants the local “CUY” or marmot ,1 night hotel

Today you can sleep some longer, relax , or Excursion visit the reality tour , the market ,silar stones ,and the poor surroundings of Arequipa to see the real Peru .Or you can do some rafting,Or just relax on the square with a coffee .

Hotel Arequipa

Start of the 2 days 1night “Colca canyon tour” included in this tour .

After breakfast we start with our private bus .We take many photo stops to see this beautiful canyon, with many vicunias/Lamas /volcano’s .We arrive in the small Village of “Chivay “were we take lunch, in the afternoon there is an excursion,you can swim in the nice hot spring , and in the evening its possible to take a meal with folkloristic dances . 1 night hostal in the small village of Chivay

After early breakfast we leave to the condor cross to see this amazing bird “The CONDOR , its still nature , so we cant promise you anything , but the Canyon is real worth a visit also without the condor . If you see one, just take it as some extra !! Its  the best point for a breathtaking view of the Colca Canyon with the Colca river flowing 1.200 meters below. Visit the Hanging Tombs at Choquetico before continuing to the towns of Maca,

Achoma and Yanque with its lovely white church.We return back to Chivay for lunch before driving with our private bus over a nice road to Puno 6 to 7 h .Nice hotel in Puno

After breakfast, as excursion , we go by boat for a visit to the Uros floating reed islands ,the guide explain everything over the islands and the Titicaca lake .These ancient inhabitants of the lake, known as the Water Tribe, have built their own "islands" by periodically adding new layers of a type of reed unique to the area called "totora". Their homes and boats are also made from this material. We take the boat to Taquile island, here they have there own way of live. Men’s are knitting the clothes, no animals or cars allowed on the island, here we have some lunch, most of the time trout from the lake. Than we take the boat back to Puno. You can choose also for the option Uros and grave towers of Sillustani.Hotel Puno .

After breakfast we take around 8 AM the local morning bus to Cusco, its 6 to 7 h over beautiful road and views over the sacred valley, mountain passes from more than 4300mt. Optional we can take the first class bus or Inca express with different stops ,guide and lunch included or the train. Transfer to our hotel in Cusco.

PEOPLE WHO LIKE TO WALK THE 4 DAYS INCATRAIL HAVE TO MAKE RESERVATION FAR IN ADVANCE!

Cusco ,here you can do many things. Explore the most magical city, capital of the Inca empire (15th century). This day you can sleep some longer, and in the afternoon you can do the excursion  city tour , here you visit the cathedral /temple of the sun /saqsaywoman /quenca/puca pucara , the ruins above Cusco  additional you can also visit these Ruins by horse to see the beautiful surroundings of Cusco  /hotel Cusco  .

This morning we take the backpacker train to Aqua Calientes ,this is the village close to Machu Picchu ,there’s also a big tourist market and its much warmer than Cusco, because it’s the border of the jungle .The active persons can climb the mountain Pastorouri to have the first views over Machu Picchu or walk to a waterfall 

We stay overnight in nice hostal in Aqua calientes.

This morning you can go on excursion, we go very early by bus to Machu Picchu, this to see the sunrise over these amazing ruins,here you go with a English speaking guide , in the afternoon  we will take the train back to Cusco ,where we arrive in the evening /hotel in Cusco.

Today there’s market in the sacred valley . We visit the markets and ruins of Pisaq /

Ollantaytambo /Chinchero , this takes a whole day. Excursion to the "Sacred Valley

of the Incas", over Urubamba River. We visit a lively and colourful Indian market of Pisac ,where locals sell or exchange their products, as the ancestors did hundreds years ago. After lunch, passing through the towns of Calca and Urubamba, we visit the Inca Fortress and Citadel of Ollantaytambo, built to guard the entrance to this part of the valley, and protect it from possible invasion from the tribes in the lower jungle. The fortress consists of a series of stepped carved stone terraces accessed by long staircases./hotel in Cusco.

This is a day of transport .Transfer to the airport and morning flight to Lima, in Lima we have transfer a hotel where we have 2 rooms to store the luggage. You can wonder around by yourself in Lima , or take as an excursion the City tour in Lima for a half day .In tha afternoon transfer to the airport to take your international flight back home after an fantastic trip around Peru .

Back home

End of our Service!

People who like to do the very famous INCATRAIL , the 2 or 4 days (look at this website for the program ) have to make reservation for this ,together with the reservation of this tour .This Inca trail is so popular that it need more than 60 days reservation in advance !

This tour you can use as a base, you can stay some longer or extend this tour wit a visit to the jungle in iquitos

GENERAL INFORMATION

 Indication prices  for the excursions ,these are subject to change !

Lima city tour 20 USD / /Arequipa rafting 30 USd ,Arequipa tour 20  Usd /Cusco ,citytour 10 USD ,horsride 15 USD  , sacred valley 15 USD  ,rafting 25 /35 Usd , guide in Machu picchu 15 Usd  /Incatrail  250 euro in the tour .Chavin trek 180 Euro  Chan Chan , Chiclao , depending the transport

Indication of entree fee

Colca canyon 35 SOL /cusco visitor ticket 130 Sol/Machu picchu 126 sol /airporttax cusco and Chiclao 6 USD /airporttax Lima international 32USD

What to bring with you

v     We advice to travel as light as possible, around 15kg a person, we prefer a backpack or travel bag, we don’t like suitcases while they are hard to travel in local transport and buses.

v     Clothes , in this tour we go from the coast to the highlands , in June its Winter ,so it can be cold at night and at high altitudes , so prepared for cold and warm , good walking shoes ,sunscreen, waterproof clothing ,alarm clock ,lip salve, personal medication, travel dictionary and don’t forget , if there is something you miss , you always can buy it  cheaper in Peru ! 

Money and Passport

v     We advice to bring with you around 700 EURO pocket money, this in a combination of travel cheques/cash/and credit card. This money is for the cost of the excursions and the meals in the restaurants, not included your souvenirs, its just an indication to eat normal and do the indicated excursions, everybody spend different!

v     The money in Peru is the Nuevo sol ,EURO is widely accepted around Peru , you better bring around 150 USD to pay the excursions /airport tax and entrée fee ,the rest in Euro .(not included Incatrail )

v     Credit cards like Master card /Visa are widely accepted, every place we go have ATM machines.

v     No visa is necessary for countries of Western Europe /Asia/North or South –America/Australia/New Zealand/South Africa. With a valid passport the tourist card allows you up to 90  days in Peru

Climate

The Andes mountains have a lot of influence at the climate in Peru .The coast is one big dry desert ,the Andes have high temperatures in springtime/daytime if the sun shines ,In the evenings it can be cold .The best  time to travel :dry season , from  may till October , The temperatures are some lower , but the sky is mostly clear with less rain . But be prepared, showers of rain , can be all year around ! 

Medication 

Altitude sickness can appear, but after 2 days you get used to the altitude, you feel some headache, but we climb slowly .

PS: People who have hart or Long problems, better contact first a doctor before travelling to high altitudes .

Peru don’t ask officially vaccinations, exception for Manu:  for Manu  you have to take against yellow fever .We advice that you take some vaccinations like :

- Hepatitis-A

- DTP (diphtheria, tetanus, polio);

You have to start with these vaccinations about 6 weeks before departure .

Don’t drink tap water!

For more info ,look at  www.doh.gov.uk/traveladvice    www.fitfortravel.scot.nhs.uk  

Travel information
This information makes part of the contract with Peruplanet .Read it well before booking! Clients must be in possession of, and are responsible for arranging a valid passport. Information about these matters or related items (climate, clothing, baggage, etc) is given in good faith but PeruPlanet can not be held responsible for any of this information.

How to make a reservation ?
The easiest way to reserve a Peruplanet tour is by filling in the reservation form at this website.Some days after we received your reservation, we confirm if there are still some places available on the date of your choice .Than we ask 30 % deposit of the total amount ,the other 70% , you can pay 5 weeks before departure .This payment you can do at our Belgian or Peruvian banc account .After payment you receive a paper with confirmation of your payment . After full payment you receive the address of the first hotel in Lima. A booking is accepted and becomes definite only from the date when Peruplanet sends out a confirmation invoice (once we have received your deposit) at which point a contract exists and the deposit becomes non-refundable and non-transferable. Give us also your telephone number to contact you if there are last minute changes.

Ones you find the tour of your choice, don’t wait to long to make a reservation! We only do 1 tour a month, so there are not many spaces each month! Its also cheaper for yourself, as far in advance you buy your international flight ticket to Peru, as cheaper it gets!

Departure of the tour
A tour of Peruplanet in general always start, but its possible that we don’t get minima amount of clients for a tour , what is 8 bookings .In that case we contact you minima 4 weeks before departure to tell you .No message means automatically departure of the tour .If the tour don’t go , than Peru planet can make a special alternative program to your needs on individual base.

Changes and extension possibilities

§    It is possible to arrive earlier than the group, also to depart later than the group. This you have to tell us  in advance together with your reservation ,so we ca arrange something for you .

§    We can arrange some extra nights, before or after the tour .Let us now your date ,time ,flight number and carrier of arrival , so we can arrange the transfer in Lima to the hotel ,always included .

§     You can extend your trip with a jungle arrangement in Manu or Puerto Maldonado /Tambopatta .

Insurance
Clients are obligated and responsible for ensuring that they have adequate cover for the full duration of the tour in respect of medical expenses, injury, death, repatriation, cancellation. It is our policy to check the validity and cover of your insurance policy and we hold the right to refuse travel to anyone whose insurance does not satisfy these criteria..

WE HOPE THAT YOU ENJOY THIS COUNTRY JUST AS MUCH AS WE DO!