Escorted Tours 2020 & 2021 - 2nd Edition - Mercury Holidays

70 LATIN AMERICA MEAL PLAN: 10 breakfasts, 6 lunches & 2 dinners ACCOMMODATION Lima 1 night 3 ★ Casa Andina Standard Miraflores Centro Arequipa 2 nights 3 ★ Casa Andina Standard Arequipa Colca Canyon 1 night 3 ★ Casa Andina Standard Colca Puno 2 nights 3 ★ La Hacienda Puno Cusco 1 night 3 ★ Casa Andina Standard Cusco Cathedral Sacred Valley 1 night 3 ★ La Hacienda Valley Cusco 1 night 3 ★ Casa Andina Standard Cusco Cathedral Lima 1 night 3 ★ Casa Andina Standard Miraflores Centro or 3 ★ Mariel Hotel & Boutique Apartments DAY 1: UK TO LIMA Depart London on your scheduled flight to Lima, via Bogotá. DAY 2: LIMA On arrival in Lima, you will be met by your local representative and transferred to your hotel. The rest of the day is at leisure. DAY 3: LIMA TO AREQUIPA B Known as the ‘City of the Kings’, today’s tour combines the culture of historic downtown Lima with the modern district of Miraflores. You will first visit the main square to see the cathedral, government palace and city hall. Next, see one of the best-preserved monasteries in Lima and then continue to Miraflores, a bustling shopping area with stupendous views of the Pacific Ocean. Transfer to the airport for your flight to Arequipa. DAY 4: AREQUIPA B With its large traditional square and colonial buildings, Peru’s second largest city, Arequipa, has a very Spanish feel. Known as the ‘Cuidad Blanca’ (White City) and set against the backdrop of a misty volcano, Arequipa offers some truly wonderful cultural and historic sites, including the frescoes of America’s Sistine Chapel and the Santa Catalina Convent. The tour ends with a relaxed walk around the local areas of Cayma and Yanahuara. The rest of the afternoon and evening are at leisure. DAY 5: AREQUIPA & COLCA CANYON B/L/D Today, the tour moves on to the open plains of the Pampa Cañaguas and Salinas where you will see llamas, alpacas, and guanacos roaming in the wild. The wetlands are teeming with different species of birdlife and Patapampa viewpoint offers stunning vistas of volcanoes. Later, you will arrive at Chivay, your base for the night, where dinner is included. DAY 6: COLCA CANYON TO PUNO B/L/D An early start from Chivay sets you up for a scenic tour of the Colca Canyon with its terraced fields, hanging tombs and deep gorges, all culminating with a chance to see condors rising from the canyon. After lunch, travel to Puno, arriving in the evening for dinner. DAY 7: PUNO B/L Today’s highlight is a trip to Lake Titicaca, the highest and largest navigable lake on earth. The views from Taquile Island, that can stretch to Bolivia on a clear day, are stunning and well worth the hour’s walk to the top from the port. Have a ‘coca tea’ break halfway up before lunch is taken in a restaurant that overlooks the lake. Later, you will board a boat for a brief visit to one of the floating reed islands to visit a local family home. Spend the night in Puno. DAY 8: PUNO TO CUSCO B/L This morning you will be able to appreciate the wonderful landscape of the surrounding valleys en route to Cusco. The journey includes a stop at La Raya pass, 4,300 metres above sea level, from where you will be able to take in some amazing vistas of the Andean snow-capped mountains. You will also stop at the Raqchi ruins and Andahuaylillas village where there is a beautiful church from the 17th century. Enjoy lunch at a local restaurant before arriving in Cusco. DAY 9: CUSCO TO THE SACRED VALLEY B/L Today the tour heads for Urubamba, the Sacred Valley of the Incas, where one of the highlights is a visit to the imposing Inca fortress at Ollantaytambo. En route, you will visit a camelid compound to see these unique animals at close quarters then the colourful Pisac market where local Indians display and sell their handmade artefacts. Lunch is in a comfortable restaurant then the journey continues to your hotel for an overnight stay in the valley. DAY 10: THE SACRED VALLEY TO CUSCO B/L Machu Picchu is one of the New Seven Wonders of the World and this morning you will be taken to the station to board the train to start your adventure to this incredible site. The train will take you to the city of Aguas Calientes where you disembark and board a bus to the archaeological site. After a guided tour Travel into the heart of South America to experience misty volcanoes, llamas, alpacas, hanging ancient tombs and Machu Picchu, one of the New Seven Wonders of the World, all set amidst the backdrop of the spectacular Andes. Cusco SACRED PERU 13 days from £2,149pp TOUR HIGHLIGHTS ✔ City tours of the UNESCO-listed historic area of Lima and the ‘White City’ of Arequipa ✔ Tour the ancient Inca citadel of Machu Picchu, one of the New Seven Wonders of the World ✔ Visit Colca Canyon, one of the deepest canyons in the world ✔ Explore Lake Titicaca, the largest and highest navigable lake in the world ✔ Sacred Valley of the Incas and their fortress of Ollantaytambo ✔ Inca palaces, cathedrals and plazas in Cusco ✔ Journey Pampa Cañaguas and Salinas PACE: To book or for further information visit your local travel agent or call us FREE on 0800 408 0556