Peru Honeymoon Tour

Upon your arrival in Lima you will be received by your guide and will be taken to your beautiful hotel in Miraflores.

*Optional: Fountains of Lima and Dinner Show
Be amazed with the largest electronic water fountains complex in the world, certified by the Guiness Book of Records. You will enjoy a wonderful show of water, lights, music and images presented in the famous ¨Parque de la Reserva¨. Then you will spend an unforgettable evening enjoying a wonderful buffet dinner and spectacular show featuring the most important manifestations of dances, music and Peruvian folklore at Dama Juana Restaurant.
* depends on your hour of arrival in Lima if you can make a reservation for this optional tour

Today you will know Lima in its three historical periods Pre-Hispanic, Colonial and Modern. We will first show you a panoramic view of ¨La Huaca Pucllana¨and then you will visit the impressive Historical Downtown of Lima; its palaces, mansions, churches and squares, ending with a visit to the residential and financial district of San Isidro and an unforgettable view of the Pacific Ocean from the district of Miraflores.

Today you will be transferred to the airport in order to take your flight to Arequipa. On your arrival you will be taken to your hotel. In the afternoon you will enjoy a private city tour.

Arequipa is known as ¨White City¨ because of the many buildings made of volcanic stone. You will go to a local market and get to know about the typical fruits and vegetables and can take a look at some rather odd things on the herbal and witches stands. Then you continue walking through the streets to the Main Square with its Cathedral and Jesuit Church. The highlight of the tour is the controversial visit of the mystical convent of Santa Catalina. Here, over a period of more than 300 years, up to 150 nuns lived with her maid completely closed from the outside world. In 1970, the monastery gates were opened for the first time to the public.

*Optional tour: Cooking at Wayrana´s restaurant
When you are ready your guide will take you to Wayrana´s restaurant where you will recieve an interesting cooking lesson and where you will learn how to prepare ceviche, rocoto relleno and two different types of Pisco Sour. Then you will be able to try what you have cooked.

We will depart at 07:30 am from Arequipa, driving 160km to the town of Chivay, Capital of the Province of Caylloma. At the beginning of our excursion we will enjoy majestic views of the Misti, Chachani and Pichu Pichu volcanoes before approaching the National Reserve of ¨Pampa Cañahuas¨, where our transportation will make a short stop to observe wild vicuñas in its natural habit. At this point we will be about 3400 meters above sea level.

Moving on we will arrive to ¨Pata Wasi¨ an Andean community at the opposite border of the reserve. To prevent the altitude sickness we will have an original Andean ¨Mate de Coca¨ drink or another hot drink in a rustic restaurant on the road (service of bathrooms are here available).

Continuing on the road we will pass ¨Tocra¨, a high plain at more than 4500 meters, where we will observe lakes with migrant birds and get pictures of the ¨Altiplano¨ with its llamas and guanacos. The highest point of our tour will be ¨Pata Pampa¨ located at 4820 meters, where we´ll observe the volcanoes Ampato, Sabancaya, Hualca-Hualca, Mismi (the source of the Amazon River) and the ¨Cordillera de Chila¨. When we are getting close to the town of Chivay (3651 meters) we will start to wonder at the spectacular multicolor view of the terraces of the Colca Valley. After lunch our guide will invite you for a short hike. After this exciting day we will bring you to your lodge.

We will have our breakfast very early in the morning and leave to the famous ¨Cruz del Condor¨ point. Arrive to ¨Cruz del Condor¨ and time enough to have an enjoyable view of the deep of the canyon and if the weather permits; majestic pictures of the flights of the condors. After a coordinated time, our guide will take you for a short walk near the canyon (1 hour approx.). On the way back to Chivay we are going to visit a traditional village of Pinchollo and the ¨Antahuilquile viewpoint¨, where wonderful 1500 years old terraces, constructed by the collagues, a culture well before the Incas´time, can be observed.

We will also make a stop at the look-out point of ¨Choquetico¨with its hanging tombs ¨Tumbascolgantes¨, and take a look to the litomaqueta, a model of the canyon terraces craved in a rock. We will continue visiting Maca, an Andean community that experienced an earthquake in November of 1991 and the village of Yanque with the most beautiful church in the valley. Upon our return to Chivay we will have lunch at a local restaurant, and will then start our way back to Arrequipa arriving at about 4pm.

Today we will have a flight to Cusco. Then you will enjoy a half-day city tour including Tambomachay, an ancient Inca religious site built on a hill around a spring, and the remains of Qenqo, a labyrinth of staircases and channels carved into a rocky hilltop, with a sacrificial altar. Continue on to the formidable Inca fortress of Sacsayhuaman, with its wonderful panoramic view of Cusco. Marvel at the impressive Inca masonry, not least the monumental zig-zag stone walls slotted together like a giant jigsaw puzzle.

Finally visit the Cathedral of the Plaza de Armas and the Koricancha complex, a Dominican church and convent built on the foundations of the Inca´s principal religious building, dedicated to the worship of the sun.

*Optional tour: workshop at the Choco Museo
Your guide will accompany you to the Choco Museo where you will learn how to prepare chocolate truffles and ganache, this workshop lasts two hours. At the end you will leave with your creation. This workshop will teach you efficiently how to prepare truffles so that you can prepare them at home for your family and friends.

Enjoy a full day tour at the Sacred Valley. The Sacred Valley of the Incas is as magical as it name suggests: a winding trail of lush, green slopes lining the Riobamba River. Discover everything from colorful markets to fascinating architectural remains.

Travel to Pisac, a lofty Andean Indian village with its native market. On our way to Pisac, you will stop at the Awana Kancha centre, where all four Peruvian camelids – llamas, alpacas, guanacos and vicuñas – laze in the fields. Weavers from southern Peru exhibit textiles that are spun, dyed and woven using traditional natural products and techniques. This fascinating place has also a shop where you can buy top quality crafts.

We arrive at the town of Pisac, renowned for its huge colorful market. Local indians have gathered here for centuries to sell their merchandise. The daily handicraft section is famous for ceramic jewellery, textiles and other Peruvian artefacts.

This afternoon we continue to the town of Ollantaytambo, one of the oldest continuously occupied settlements in the Americas. Climb the steep stone steps up to the imposing fortress at the top of the mountain for breathtaking views down the valley, and admire the huge monoliths that form the Temple of the Sun.

*Optional tour: renew your wedding vows!
A unique opportunity to renew your wedding vows in the Chapel of Monasterio de la Recoleta in the Sacred Valley. During a mass of one hour with a priest you will bless your marriage in the land of the Incas!

We will transfer you to the train station in order to take the train. After a journey with majestic views you will arrive at Aguas Calientes (Hot Springs Town) where a representative of the hotel will be waiting for you and will assist you taking the bus up to Machu Picchu where you will spend the night. Later, your guide will meet you at your hotel and will give you further information for your tour on the next day.

After breakfast your guide will go with you to the Machu Picchu. Our tour guide will give you a guided tour of approximately 2 hours and 30 minutes, visiting the Inca Terraces, the Agricultural Sector and the Urban Sector. Then you will be able to have plenty of time explore the mysterious city by yourself.

Things to do:

• Walk up to the Sun Gate (45 minutes)
• Walk up to the Inca Bridge (40 minutes)
• Walk up to the Huayna Picchu (2 hours, be sure you booked it in advanced)

In the afternoon, you will take the bus down to the town of Aguas Calientes in order to catch the train back to Cusco. When you arrive in Ollantaytambo or Cusco´s train station we will pick you up and take you to your hotel.

Today you will be taken to the airport in order to take your flight to Puerto Maldonado. Once you arrive you will be received by a representative of the lodge. You may visit Inkaterra Butterfly House near the airport, check-in, and in only 15 minutes you can get to the boarding wharf. Begin to experience the enchantment of the rainforest as you can take a 45-minute boat ride along the Madre de Dios River, to arrive at Inkaterra Reserva Amazonica lodge. After a short briefing, settle into your beautiful cabaña and enjoy your lunch in the dining room. Take a siesta, share a refreshing tea time and get ready for the afternoon excursion.

After gathering with your Inkaterra Explorer guide, choose from 14 different excursions available at the Inkaterra Reserva Amazonica. On your first day, we recommend a guided walk along the trail system, into the Inkaterra Reserva Amazonica natural area, where you will discover the Amazon basin. This trail offers an excellent introduction to the forest environment, winding past impressive trees such as the Shilhuahuaco, and the strangley beautiful strangler fig, offering excellent opportunities for bird watching and observing exotic insects.

We also recommend on the first night our Twilight River excursion – a guided afternoon boat ride on the Madre de Dios River. Witness the transformation from a diurnal to a nocturnal world; animals and birds of the daytime give way to species specially adapted to the night. As you enjoy their paradise, you will learn about their habits, while you search for nightjars, owls, capybaras and up to three different caiman species.

Enjoy dinner served in the main dining room from 07:30pm till 09:30pm. After dinner, you may retire early to your own cabaña, or share your experience in the rainforest with other guests and interpreters, as you listen to the intriguing sounds of the jungle at night.

Wake up late or rise early – the choise is yours. Breakfast begins at 05:30am, for those who want to avoid the heat, and enjoy nature at its fullest. A full buffet breakfast is served from 05:30am to 09:30am.

During the morning you may visit the Lake Sandoval excursion into the Tambopata National Reserve. Glide in a wooden canoe, across a beautiful, mirror-like oxbow lake that is home to the endangered giant river otter, as well as red howler monkeys, red-bellied macaws, anacondas, side-neck turtles and black caimans. Return to the Inkaterra Reserva Amazonica for lunch.

After lunch consider the remarkable Inkaterra Canopy Walkway. Ascending the first tower, 29 meters above the forest ground, you begin your encounter with the treetop realm. For more than a quarter of a mile, you will literally walk through the rainforest canopy on a suspension bridge network linking eight observation platforms. During this hour-and-a-half expedition, be on the lookout for colorful tucans, woodpeckers, trogons, monkeys and sloths. If you wish you may extend your excursion and watch the sunset from one of the towers. Once at the lodge, enjoy the daily nature presentation in the Eco Center and the Happy Hour. Dinner starts at 07:30pm

Enjoy a trip to Gaminata Creek, located 25 minutes by boat from the lodge. For one and a half hours, explore the rainforest along the banks of a winding, dark-water creek that is home to many piranha, caiman, turtles and birds, until the Sanipanga landing point. Navigate your way back downstream, observing the abundant flora and fauna along the way. You will return to Gaminata Farm to do a short guided tour to see how local farmers grow fruits and vegetables. Return to the lodge for lunch.

After lunch, enjoy the Hacienda Concepcion excursion, with over 200 different plant species, and learn about the uses and benefits of local flora and fauna. This is followed by a 30-minute canoe trip to look for turtles, sun grebes, nightjars and exotic herons. Return to the lodge. Then consider the Rainforest by Night excursion through the Inkaterra Ecological Reserve at night for an approximately 2 hours excursion.

Venture into the the forest and experience the mystery of the animal activity that awakens in the rainforest after dark, enchaning animal resources to create new adaptation mechanisms. Listen to nocturnal forest sounds and spot species that only emerge at night. Return to the lodge.

Enjoy a full breakfast before departure. A 45 minute return trip by boat on the Madre de Dios River takes you to Puerto Maldonado, where you may visit Inkaterra Butterfly House. Peru boasts the greatest variety of butterflies in the world, with 3700 known species. Many of these can be seen at the Butterfly House, a showcase for the variety, beauty and adaptability of these fascinating insects. Then you will be transferred to the airport. When you arrive on Cusco you will be received by your guide and taken to your hotel.

Today you will enjoy the mysticism offered by the beautiful Peruvian Andean landscape aboard on a luxury train. Riding the Andean Explorer is a unique experience, a journey between mountains and clouds. A ten hour train journey, which ends at the majestic Lake Titicaca and in whose path, the traveler will see the changing landscapes among mountains, rolling plains, and the various weather of the area.

The Andean Explorer involves you in an exquisitely area decorated with subtle, delicate style of the great Pullman trains of the twenties. It includes dining cars and a car-bar outdoor observatory. The Andean Explorer is one of the most luxurious and different ways of travel between Cusco and Lake Titicaca. You will be welcomed at Puno train station and transported to Titilaka lodge. Upon arrival at the lodge, check-in, rest and enjoy the scenery as you acclimate. In the evening cocktails are served from 6:30pm followed by dinner from 7:30pm to 9:30pm. Then join other guests and interpreters to share highland experiences and tales.

After rising at the hour that suits you, enjoy breakfast in bed if you wish wake at the dawn to a magnificent sunrise. In the morning your guides will take you by car and boat to visit the legendary islands of the Uros and meet one of the traditional families that live there. The Uros floating islands are located near the protected National Reserve of Titicaca. The peoples of the Uros are a proud culture who due to persecution by other groups found refuge by living on manmade islands many years ago. They call themselves kot-suña or people of the lake who claim to have ¨black blood¨ as they are immune to cold and consider themselves to be owners of the lake and its waters. Learn about their history, uses for totora reeds and customs after exploring one of these impressive islands. The site is a must for travelers to the area; thus expect to see many other visitor. Return to the hotel for lunch and a siesta.

After teatime you can bike the fields of Plateria. This biking excursion will become one of your memorable bike rides. The fields of Plateria, the district where Lake Titicaca is located, provide the perfect setting for active exploration. Follow country roads along the grand lake and diverse terrains, where you will observe the local villager´s rural way of life. You will see them washing clothes, herding their animals and tending to their children. These are conditions for a great time outdoors; you set the pace and direction. Return to the hotel for dinner at 7:30pm. Cocktail at 6:30pm followed by dinner.

After breakfast, prepare to checkout and transfer to the airport. On your airport transfer enjoy a guided excursion to Sillustani, a spectacular peninsula facing the Umayo Lagoon and home to the area´s best preserved remains. In addition to its unique photography, this site was a burial ground for the Pucara, Tiahuanaco and Colla pre-Inca cultures long before the Inca expansion. The tower-like structures known as Chullpas, which symbolized life and birth, are ancient and impressive tombs for chiefs and other dignitaries. Later the site was inhabited by the Incas, who made their own version of these towers. The difference in periods and cultures is seen in the two types of Chullpas- the rough, smaller, pre-Inca towers, and the smooth, larger onces made by the Incas. The biggest tower took about 50 years to construct and holds rocks weighing anywhere from 2 to 6 tons. This is an impressive site that combines archaeology, history and an amazing landscape.

*Optional: You can extend this cultural and adventurous honeymoon trip with relaxing at the beautiful beach in the northern part of Peru. After your flight to Lima you will fly directly to Tumbes. Here a guide will welcome you and bring you to your all-inclusive beach resort, Decameron Punta Sal. During your stay you can enjoy the facilities of the hotel, the beautiful beach and think of all the great memories of your honeymoon trip together.