Worldwide Escorted Tours

Day 1: UK to Lima Depart the UK on your overnight flight. Day 2: Lima On arrival, you’ll be met 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 historic downtown with modern Miraflores. First, visit the main square to see the Cathedral, Government Palace and City Hall. Next see the beautiful Santo Domingo Convent, before visiting Miraflores, a bustling shopping area. 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 the misty volcano, Arequipa offers some truly wonderful cultural and historic sites including the Church of the Society of Jesus, the frescoes of America’s Sistine Chapel at the San Ignacio Dome and the labyrinth 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 to Colca Canyon B/L/D Today the tour moves on to the open plains of the Pampa Canaguas 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, a high point offers stunning vistas of volcanoes. After about a five hour drive you 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 spectacular scenic tour of the Colca Canyon with its terraced fields, and deep gorges, all culminating with a chance to see the majestic condors as they rise deep from within the canyon. You will then make your way back to the hotel and after lunch, commence your journey to Puno, arriving in the evening where dinner at your hotel is included. 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, on a clear day, can stretch to Bolivia are stunning and well worth the hour or so walk to the top from the port. Have a ‘coca tea’ break half way up before lunch is taken in a simple restaurant that overlooks the lake. Later you will walk back down to the port and board a boat for a brief visit to one of the floating reed islands to visit a local family home. Overnight is in Puno. 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. What you’ll see  Embark on a tour of Lima’s UNESCO-listed historic area and the ‘White City’ of Arequipa  Discover the breathtaking ancient Inca citadel of Machu Picchu, one of the New Seven Wonders of the World  Visit the incredible Colca Canyon, one of the world’s deepest canyons  Explore Lake Titicaca, the largest and highest navigable lake in the world  Marvel at the Sacred Valley of the Incas and the imposing fortress of Ollantaytambo  Explore Cusco’s Incan palaces, cathedrals and plazas  Journey to the majestic open plains of Pampa Canaguas and Salinas Sacred Peru Machu Picchu THIS TOUR EXPLORE 88  The Americas Hundreds of escorted tours are available on our website www.mercuryholidays.co.uk