South America Experience The Land of the Incas
NEXT DEPARTURE JUNE 2011

Peru is a country of many extremes. This country is difficult to describe; it is a package of fascinating culture, adventure, music and laughter.  All of this together with the  scenery of the Andes, the vast steaming Amazon Jungle, and aqua blue lakes and tropical beaches have the making of a wonderful holiday. You will marvel at the wondrous contrasts from ancient lost cities to ultra modern splendor of the twenty first century. This is truly a trip of a lifetime.

Here at Lyn Taylor's Adventure Travel we have put together an itinerary that will not only suit your budget, but give you a tour that will satisfy special interests. Whether that be majestic scenery, learning a language, visiting the vast dynamic cities of today, the ruined and well preserved cities of the lost civilizations, or meeting new friends. Or just having a great time.  We do all this and more, because our tours have been planned and operated by experienced people who not only love this country but also live in it.

The accommodation we have chosen for our clients is immersed in local culture. No fancy five star hotels, but we do provide private facilities and all rooms centrally located within short walking distance to shops restaurants and popular local attractions. Each hotel has its unique quality.  Our inclusions on each trip is a continental breakfast, sometimes you will be lucky enough to score eggs any way, or if you prefer you can purchase local tropical fruits, the hotel  kitchen staff will even  be happy to slice it for you. Where could you do this in a 5 star hotel.  On some of the long day tours lunches are included with a selection of local cuisine which include beef and seafood some of the worlds best, with more varieties than we have ever dreamt of. You will find the food excellent and contrary to what you may have imagined nothing is spiced with chilli.

Your highly qualified tour escort will ensure that you are treated as VIP throughout your tour, with the best service provided, such as priority service at airports immigration points, restaurants, transport, everything will operate like clockwork. Just sit back and enjoy your trip.

If anyone is unfortunate to become ill there are some of the best hospitals in major cities, these doctors have been trained in the USA and Europe and are of world class standard

Today some tour operators work on a minimum or of 15 passengers We realize this does cause problems, as clients need to know in advance to organize their leave. We at Lyn Taylor's Adventure Travel with operate on a small group of 10 passengers Therefor your departure is pretty much guaranteed.

There are also many optional extras on each departure which include the Galapagos Islands, Brazil etc., You can even lengthen or shorten our scheduled 3 weeks trip, for example if you feel that you cannot manage the 3 day trek to Machu Picchu we will offer an easy day hike and overnight stay at a village near the Sacred Valley. The other days will be spent sightseeing and staying at a hotel in the Sacred Valley before taking the train to Arguas Caliente where we will meet up with the Inca Trail group for our visit Machu Picchu.

Whatever your desire we can organize custom made or adventure programs. We specialize in designing a tour to suite your budget and time frame, just contact us on info@tayloradventure.com

We will spend several days in Cuzco during the Inti Rami Festival. We will also have first class seats at the festival which is held on the 24th June every year. After Cuzco we will then fly to Puerto Maldonado where we will spend 3 nights in the Amazon Jungle before returning to Lima, and then it is onto Iguazzu Falls via Buenos Aires. In Iguazzu we will stay 2 nights at the wonderful Sheridon Hotel situated inside the National park. Our trip ends with 2 nights in the exciting city of Buenos Aires

 PROPOSED ITINERARY  2011

Day  01 Tuesday June 7th- Lima (via New Zealand and Buenos Aries). Depart Sydney 1145 on Aerolines Argentinas arrive Buenos Aries 1520. Depart Buenos Aires/Lima 1900 arrive Lima 2225. Met and transferred to your hotel in Miraflores. (B)

Day 02 Wednesday June 08th : Lima City Tour Lima (03 1/2 Hrs aprox) 09:00 Hrs. Guided tour of the more important and characteristic parts of Lima: the Monumental Center, where we will admire the colonial architecture of the Main Square (Plaza Mayor), the Government Palace, the Cathedral, the Archbishop Palace, and some old streets with viceroyal mansions and balconies of Moorish style. We will also visit the Convent of San Francisco and its catacombs. Continuing with the tour we will visit the more traditional and residential parts of Lima to end with a spectacular view of the Pacific Ocean and Miraflores beaches (B)

Gold Museum (03 1/2 hrs aprox.) 14:30 Hrs. A spectacular collection of Peruvian Ancient Gold and the Arms of the World Collection. Peru`s Gold Museum. Ancient Peruvians were master metalworkers. The “cire perdue” or lost wax process, known across the Orient and lost in the West until the Renaissance, was the most frequent technique used by master ancient Peruvian gold and silversmiths. On our tour of Peru’s Gold Museum, visitors will appreciate a dazzling collection of gold artefacts from various pre-Colombian civilizations, some more than 3,000 years old. Metal pieces and jewellery of incalculable value in gold, silver and precious stones used by the Incas—the children of the Sun God and monarchs of the vast Inca Empire—are shown in this collection. Five hundred years ago, the gold of Peru attracted many European adventurers who conquered the Inca and founded the Vice-Royalty of Peru under the Spanish Crown.  Peru’s Gold Museum also houses a valuable collection of old and modern weapons that ranks among the best in the world. The halls in this section show the Arms of the World Collection of armour, uniforms and various ancient war artifacts and weapons from various time periods around the world, some dating back to as long ago as 1300 B.C.

Day 03  Thursday June 09th : Lima – Arequipa After breakfast transfer to the airport for our 0900 flight to Arequipa at an elevation of 7,300 feet. Upon arrival at 1025 host will meet and assist us in transferring to the hotel and in registering. Our 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 where the Main Square is bordered by various arched walkways and the Cathedral, which show cases a beautiful bronze fountain of three plates crowned  figure of a sixteenth century soldier. Around the square will see three granite portals with brick and lime bases. 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 Arequipa. (B)

Day 04 Friday  June 10th : Arequipa Breakfast, free day at leisure. Overnight Arequipa. (B)  

Day 05 Saturday June 11tArequipa – Colca Departure towards the highlands passing through Yura-Pampa Cañahuas and La Pulpera with good possibility of observing groups of wild vicuñas and fighting cattle. The road to the Colca Canyon reaches a high point of 13,000 feet before dropping down to the valley, an area of breath taking landscapes surrounded by terracing and snow-capped peaks. Far below, at a depth of 10,000 feet, the Colca River winds along the bottom of the canyon, the world's deepest. Stop en route to see petroglyphs in the Caves of Mollepunco and in the town of Callali to see natural hill formations with the appearance of enchanted castles. Continue to La Calera to enjoy the thermal baths under the stars. Overnight in Colca Canyon

Day 06 Sunday June 12th : Colca To maximize our probability of seeing condors we depart very early towards a superb natural lookout point “Cross of the Condor” from where one can watch condors wheeling across the Colca Canyon, at about an altitude of 15,000 feet. The valley also features pre-Inca ruins, pre-Inca burial grounds and archaeological remains left behind by the Collagua, the ancient inhabitants of the area. Drive further in to the canyon to observe the way of life in this remote land and to admire the impressive irrigation system and the fertile mountains terraced for farming of the Colca valley. Our guide will take us to one of the many workshops in which close to a thousand artisans, scattered throughout the towns in the canyon, turn their ancient sewing and weaving machines into paint brushes to give life to impressively intricate and colorful embroidery and shawls. On our return to the hotel we will take time to visit La Calera to enjoy the thermal baths under the stars.  Overnight in hotel Colca Canyon area (B)

Day 07 Monday June 13th : Colca – Puno After breakfast we will depart by vehicle for a 4 hour overland trip to Puno. The trip will features unique natural scenery of the Peruvian Highlands.

Day 08 Tuesday June 14th : Puno Boat excursion to Uros and Taquile Islands on Lake Titikaka. This full day excursion will take you to the highest navigable lake in the world to the floating islands of the Uros Indians, man-made islands by tying totora reeds. The Uros considered themselves Lords of the Lake; they hunt wild birds and maintain traditional fishing methods. The men have developed an extraordinary skill in weaving reeds; producing houses, boats and handicrafts, and the women are expert knitters. Taquile island has a community of 400 native families who still live with the traditions and high principals of the Incas. Taquile is a very important site on Lake Titikaka for its archeological remains, the sacred and ceremonial sites, the festive activities and their rituals. Taquile is characterized by its friendly inhabitants, who maintain their customs and traditional clothing. They distinguish themselves by their detailed, fine, and colourful textiles with symmetrical decorations and symbols that reflect their way of life and Andean beliefs. Lunch is

Day 09 Wednesday 15th June  Today we will enjoy a wonderful journey through the Peruvian Andes from Puno to Cusco - Today one of South America's most extraordinary overland trips takes you by coach to Cusco passing through striking highland scenery and picturesque Andean villages. Brief stops at Raqchi to see the remains of the remarkable temple of Viracocha, considered by the historians an important Inca construction, and at the town of Andahuaylillas, a showcase of the colonial art in Peru, sometimes called "the Sistine Chapel of America". Lunch is included. Overnight Cusco. (BL) Breakfast, free day at leisure to wander around this fabulous city.  

Day 10 Thursday June 16th Free day Cuzco  

Day 11 Friday June 17th : Cusco 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 some free time in Cusco to discover this imperial city on theirown, a free morning in Cusco is a MUST! Today we will tour 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, Santo Domingo Church, 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 Cusco. (B)

Day 12 Saturday June 18th : Cusco – Sacred Valley of the Incas 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. After lunch at a beautiful country estate on the shores of Urubamba River we will 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..  Overnight in the Sacred Valley. (BL)

Day 13 Sunday June 19th : Sacred Valley of the Incas Breakfast, Free day to enjoy organised optional  activities. Overnight Hotel. (B)

Day 14 Monday June 20th  : Sacred Valley of the Incas - Misminay After breakfast we will transfer from Ollantaytambo along the route Cusco - Urubamba - Cusco to the small town of Chequerec, located in a branch of this main road heading west. From this small town will begin the walk through an extensive area, but without climbs and descents, and finally arriving at the rural community of Misminay. The trek is about 4 to 5 hours Lunch at the Community Misminay. Afternoon visit the community and participation in basic activities of harvesting crops and preparation of bricks for houses. Dinner Overnight camp matts and sleeping bags provided

Day 15 Tuesday June 21st : Misminay – Ollantaytambo – Aguas Calientes After breakfast you will have the option of hiking the 1 hour to Moray or going by vehicle. On arrival we will visit the archaeological site of Moray and the subsequent visit to the salt mines of Maras, total time of an hour and a half. Then transfer to the town of Ollantaytambo and our hotel where we will collect our main luggage freshen up before departing at 18:20 Hrs Train Ollanta to Aguas Calientes. Arrive 20.10 Transfer to our Overnight Hotel. (B)

Day 16 Wednesday June 22th : Aguas Calientes – Machu Picchu – Aguas Calientes After breakfast you will 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. We will meet up with the group doing the trek and after lunch take a full guided tour of Machu Picchu. Overnight Hotel Arguas Calientel (B)

Day 17 Thursday June 23rd : Aguas Calientes – Cusco After breakfast we will depart at 09:00 Hrs. Train to Cusco. Transfer to our hotel (B)  

Day 18 Friday June 24th Cusco – Inti Rami Festival After freakfast we will be Participating in most impressive festival of the Inti Raymi at the Sacsayhuaman fortress. We will experience  this ritual celebrated since Inca times. Box lunch. Full day tour. Overnight Cusco. (BL)

Day 19  Saturday June 25th : Cusco – Puerto Maldonado - Tambopata Breakfast time. Then you will be transferred to the airport to take the 1000 flight Cusco/Puerto Maldonado. On arrival 1055 at Puerto Maldonado's airport we will be met by our naturalist guide before being taken on a 2 hour trip by boat on  the Bajo Tambopata River to our accommodation.  Lunch time.  After lunch we will have a expedition. After dinner there will be a night walk into the jungle. (BLD)

Day 20 - 21 Sunday - Monday June 26-27th  The next 2 days we will visit to the parrot clay lick  visit to the beautiful Tres Chimbaadas Lake. Here we will look for giant river otters, turtles, hoatzin, and wading birds. Then we will return to the lodge for lunch before embarking on our afternoon outing. Dinner time and then a night walk into the jungle. (BLD)

Day 22 Tuesday June 28th : Tambopata – Puerto Maldonado – Lima Retrace your river and road journey back to Puerto Maldonado and on to the airport for your 11.30 departure flight to Lima arrival time 1410. We will have 2 rooms available at the hotel in Lima to leave our luggage. You will then have time to visit Miraflores do some shopping before our 2330 flight to Buenos Aires.  

Day 23 Wednesday June 29th Arrive Lima 0630 transfer to your hotel to rest. Afternoon city sightseeing tour of Buenos Aires (B).

Day 24 Thursday June 30th Buenos Aires After breakfast you will enjoy a full day sightseeing tour taking in the famous Recoletta and enjoy a cruise on the Delta. In the evening we will enjoy a wonderful dinner and Tango Performance. Overnight hotel (B)

Day 25 Friday July 1st Buenos Aires –– Iguazu Falls. After breakfast we will depart for the airport to connect with your 0830 flight to Iguazu Falls Arrive 1000 met and transferred to the Sheraton Hotel which is situated inside the national park. (B)

Day 26  Saturday 2nd July Full day sightseeing on both the Brazil and Argentina side of the falls. Overnight Sheraton Hotel (B)

Day 27 Sunday 3rd July Free morning before departing to Buenos Aires at 1800 Arrival time 1950.  Transfer to the International Airport for your flight to Auckland/Sydney departs at 0215 Monday 4th July so unfortunately we will have a  5 hour transit before boarding our flight.  Arrival day in Sydney + 1 days           

 Minimun 10 passengers Prices in PRIVATE service (except Tours in Puerto Maldonado and Bus Cusco – Puno)

The tour includes:
02 hotel Buenos Aires                        
02 Hotel nights in Lima.                       
 01 late check out Lima 2 rooms available.                        
02 Hotel nights in Arequipa                        
02 Hotel nights in Colca.                        
02 Hotel nights in Puno.                        
05 Hotel nights in Cusco.                       
02 Hotel nights in the Sacred Valley.                        
02 Hotel nights in Aguas Calientes.                        
03 Lodge nights in Puerto Maldonado – Tambopata.                        
20 breakfasts.                        
2 Lunch + 02 dinners in Puerto Maldonado.                        
01 Buffet lunch in the Sacred Valley of the Incas.                        
01 Buffet lunch on the way Cusco – Puno.                        
01 Misminay trek breakfast/lunch/dinner

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