Railbookers: 14D13N The Wonders of Peru and The Andean Explorer

Welcome to Peru! You will be met on your arrival at the airport, then transported to your city center hotel for a two-night stay. Spend the remainder of the day relaxing at your leisure. (Overnight Lima)

Today is a day exploring the riches of the city, with your private guide. Visit Plaza San Martin, Plaza Mayor, and the Government Palace. Discover the Casa de Aliaga, the oldest colonial mansion in Lima, with its remarkable interior and rich history dating back to 1535. Then, the Larco Herrera Museum to delve into Peru’s ancient past, featuring a vast collection of pre-Columbian art. Enjoy a delightful meal at Café del Museo Restaurant within the museum complex. Explore the bohemian district of Barranco, known for its artistic history and the iconic Puente de los Suspiros. (Overnight Lima)

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Your driver will meet you at the hotel lobby to take you to the airport, where they will also assist with all check-in procedures and departure formalities. The flight to Cusco is just 1hr and 25mins, and you will be met on arrival, then driven on the 1hr 30min drive to The Sacred Valley. Along the way, you can visit the impressive Sulca Museum, which recreates fabrics from ancient Peru, and lunch at the lovely Hacienda Huayoccari. (Overnight The Sacred Valley)

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After breakfast enjoy a guided journey through the Inca’s Sacred Valley, exploring the ancient Maras Saltpans where salt has been harvested for millennia. Witness the breathtaking array of colors in the salt deposits and visit the enigmatic Moray terraces, considered a colossal agricultural lab, astronomical observatory, and place of worship with its circular terraces nestled in cone-shaped depressions. Enjoy a traditional lunch at the Community of Misminay, and following your tour you will be transferred back to your hotel. (Overnight The Sacred Valley)

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After a brief visit to the historic site of Ollantaytambo, transfer to the train station for a memorable journey. As you travel from the Andean highlands to the jungle, enjoy the scenic transformation before reaching the town of Aguas Calientes. Your luggage will be managed seamlessly as you embark on a short bus ride to the renowned ancient citadel of Machu Picchu. Revel in a guided tour of this enigmatic Lost City of the Incas. (Overnight Machu Picchu)

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Rise and shine early today as the sunrise over Machu Picchu is a sight you don’t want to miss. It’s a day to enjoy unguided, so be it a stroll around the ancient ruins, a climb to the top of Huayna Picchu for even better views, or a visit to the hot springs of Aguas Calientes, it’s up to you. In the afternoon, return to Cusco by scenic train, then you will be escorted to your hotel. (Overnight Cusco)

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Explore the beautiful city of Cusco today. The cobbled streets and original Inca walls are second to now when it comes to archaeological treasures. Highlights of the tour include the Santa Domingo church, which is built on Inca Temple Koricancha’s foundations, the Cristobal viewpoint for some amazing views, Sacsayhuaman Fortress, the Inca baths of Tambomachay, and finally a tour of the magnificent Main Plaza and Cathedral. Head back to your hotel to refresh, then perhaps return to the Main Plaza for dinner. (Overnight Cusco)

You will be escorted to the station with plenty of time for your 11 am departure, and onboard you will quickly settle into the opulent surroundings. Your private suite, the dining cars, and the bar are all beautifully decorated, and the outdoor observatory is the best place to enjoy the Andean scenery. Following lunch, there is a tour of the site of Raqchi – an archaeological site which boasts several architectural gems. Back onboard for afternoon tea, then a brief stop at La Raya to soak up the stunning sunset over the La Raya mountain range – the highest point of the journey at 4,000ft above sea level. Relax with your traveling companions over dinner onboard, then perhaps a nightcap in the lounge car as the train continues its way to Lake Titicaca. (Overnight Onboard)

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An early wake-up is worth it today so you can see the sunrise across the lake with breakfast. Disembark the train for an excursion to the magnificent Uros islands, manmade islands constructed from reeds which are constantly being replenished. Then it’s on to Taquile Island, noted for the stunning agricultural terraces where you will enjoy lunch in a private location by the lake. From here it’s back on the train to enjoy some time to relax in your suite, the bar, or the spa. Enjoy dinner onboard as the train makes its way to Arequipa. (Overnight Onboard)

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Enjoy an early breakfast before heading off for a fascinating excursion to explore the scenery of Lake Lagunillas, then visit the Sumbay caves, home to fascinating paintings estimated to be over 8000 years old. Bid farewell to the train at Sumbay Station, from where you continue your journey to the Colca Canyon by road. The scenery is wonderful as you cross Pampa Cañahuas within the Aguada Blanca National Reserve, where you will come across herds of Alpacas and Vicuñas. Make a stop to refresh with a cup of Coca Tea, then continue over passes offering panoramic views of numerous volcanoes that serve as the origins of the Amazon River. Stop for lunch and perhaps a stroll around Chivay before arriving at your hotel. (Overnight Colca Canyon)

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In the early morning, you will be driven to the ‘Cruz del Condor’ observation point, which offers a magnificent view of the expansive Colca Canyon. While not its deepest point, this spot allows you to marvel at the canyon’s grandeur, and, with some luck, witness the majestic Andean condors – the world’s largest flying birds, soaring above the high plain. On the way back to the lodge, explore villages showcasing ancient terraces built by the Collaguas, a pre-Inka culture. From here take a stroll around the towns of Maca at the base of the volcano Sabancaya, and then Yanque whose beautiful baroque church stands as a a testament to the cultural fusion of the colonial era. Once back at the lodge, relax and enjoy at your leisure. The surrounding area is easy to explore on a gentle stroll, or if it’s the relaxation you need why not enjoy a repairing bath at the nearby hotel springs? (Overnight Colca Canyon)

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Today you will be transferred to Chvay for lunch, then it’s a three-hour drive to Arequipa passing lookouts and villages and crossing Pampa Cañahuas in the Aguada Blanca National Reserve along the way. Once you have arrived in Arequipa settle into your hotel, then enjoy dinner in the evening. (Overnight Arequipa)

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Enjoy a private half-day tour of Arequipa today, exploring its main square—one of Peru’s most beautiful—and the Cathedral, a prime example of 19th-century Peruvian architecture with treasures in gold and silver. Visit the historic La Compañia Church, an important Jesuit temple. Then, explore the Santa Catalina Convent, a 19th-century ‘small town’ opened to the public in 1970 after 400 years as a cloister. Immaculately preserved, it offers a glimpse into the past with spacious patios, gardens, a kitchen, slave quarters, and stone washbasins, still inhabited by about 20 nuns. The evening is yours to enjoy at your own leisure. (Overnight Arequipa)

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A driver will collect you from your hotel at the appropriate time to take you to the airport for your included flight to Lima.

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