| ALL GAY EXPLORE PERU TOUR |
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| Where: |
Arequipa, the Colca Canyon, Lake Titicaca, Sacred Valley, Machu Picchu, & Cusco - Peru
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| When: |
September 8 - 18, 2008
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| Clientele: |
Men & Women Welcome |
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Arequipa may well be Peru's most elegant and romantic city. It was founded shortly after the Spanish conquest and possesses a wealth of convents, churches, homes, and fine art to prove it. The center of the city is built largely of white sillar, a white and porous volcanic stone that gleams under the bright desert sun. Arequipa has perhaps the most stunning Plaza de Armas in all of Peru, teeming with palm trees, framed by volcanoes, and graced by the huge neoclassical cathedral. And just up the street, the gorgeous 400-year-old Santa Catalina Monastery is a city-within-a-city that could have been lifted right out of southern Spain.
A Peruvian novelist from Arequipa, described Colca as "The Valley of Wonders", and that is no overstatement. The Colca Canyon is one of the most scenic regions in Peru, a land of imposing snowcapped volcanoes, narrow gorges, artistically terraced agricultural slopes that predate the Incas, arid desert landscapes and vegetation, and remote traditional villages. Some of Peru's most recognizable wildlife, including llamas, alpacas, vicuñas, and the celebrated giant Andean condors, roam the region. The Colca River, one of the sources of the mighty Amazon, slices through the massive canyon, which remained largely unexplored until the late 1970s, when rafting expeditions descended to the bottom of the gorge. Reaching depths of 11,150 feet - twice as deep as the Grand Canyon - el Cañón del Colca forms part of a tremendous volcanic mountain range more than 60 miles long.
Lake Titicaca seems more like an ocean than a lake. One sign to the contrary is islanders drinking the lake's clear waters from their cupped hands. This serene expanse of chilly water is not only the highest navigable lake in the world, but it's also, according to legend, the birthplace of one of the greatest empires in history. Here, in the midst of the lake, the children of the Sun and the Moon, Manco Capac and Mama Ocllo, stepped forth from the sacred rock that still stands near the northwest tip of the Isla del Sol (the Sun Island). This sacred rock has the shape of a puma, and the island, covered in Inca ruins, was revered by the Incas. Indeed, it is the spiritual center of the Andean world.
Some say that the heart and soul of Peru is the Cusco area, which was the Inca homeland for two centuries before the Spaniards built Peru's first capital here in the 16th century. The Incas were a people every bit as advanced s the ancient Egyptians, with the most intricate stone construction in the history of the world and an abundance of what the Spaniards most wanted: gold. Despite the conquistadors' toll, Peru's people and their connection to the land have remained remarkably intact over the centuries. On this tour we will journey back in time to the stone huts, the fields of quinoa, and the brightly clothed Quechuan people first encountered by the Spaniards.
The Incas considered the Sacred Valley paradise on Earth for its sunny weather, rolling rivers, and fertile earth. This Inca breadbasket produced food for over 100,000 people. The Incas built a string of sacred temples and fortresses up and down the valley. The valley is cut by the Río Urubamba, which tumbles from here through steep gorges and toward the most fabled achievement of the Incas: Machu Picchu. It's hard to resist the magnetic pull of Machu Picchu, "discovered" by American explorer Hiram Bingham in 1911, and which he thought was the lost city of the Incas. Nearly nine out of ten foreign visitors make it to this citadel of sculpted stone, cloaked in clouds high on a jungle ridge. It is the clearest example of how the Incas built in harmony with extraordinary natural settings.
We are then primed for Cusco, an imperial city that is still caught in a tug of war between the New World and European mindset. Atop the flawless stone walls the Incas had built, the Spaniards erected more than a dozen baroque churches and filled them with religious paintings and gold-plated altars. Here we can admire Inca stonework and colonial architecture, tour museums, and enjoy great food and lodging.
Join us for this fascinating cultural adventure!
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| ITINERARY |
| Date |
Description |
| Sep 8 |
Arrive in Arequipa, Peru. Transfer on your own to the group hotel in the lovely historical center of Arequipa. This evening we'll enjoy a welcome drink and orientation prior to going out for our welcome dinner at a nice restaurant in the center of town. After dinner you might wish to check out one or two of Arequipa's lively bars. Meals: D. |
| Sep 9 |
After breakfast in our hotel we set out to explore this attractive city with one of the highlights being without a doubt the Santa Catalina Monastery. It's a beautiful step back in time - about 400 years - when entering this city-within-a-city. We will also take in the city's central square, the Plaza de Armas, one of the most wonderful city squares in Peru. Just across the Río Chili, not far outside of Arequipa, we will enjoy lunch at a fine restaurant in Yanahuara, followed by a digestive stroll to the town's central plaza graced with stone archways, a view of Misti volcano, and the 18th-century church of San Juan Bautista. We then stop off at the Mirador de Carmen Alto, which offers views of all the volcanoes, the city of Arequipa, and a sillar quarry used by the Spaniards. Back in Arequipa the rest of the afternoon and evening are free. You may wish to browse the numerous shops; visit the museum of Santuarios Andinos (with its mummies discovered on top of volcanoes in Peru, Chile, and Argentina); or stroll the Plaza de Armas. Overnight in Arequipa. Meals: B, L. |
| Sep 10 |
We set out from Arequipa today, crossing a sort of lunar landscape in our private coach. This is very high desert country with rocks, ichu grass, and the blob-like yareta plant, which looks like a moss-covered boulder. This is part of the Reserva Nacional Salinas y Auguada Blanca, which teems with flamingos, geese, and a hearty population of vicuñas (a camelid related to alpacas and llamas). Lunch will be at good place in the little village of Coporaque set on the north rim of the canyon. From here it's a bit of a bumpy ride to our remote, riverside lodge but entirely worth it. Here on the property we have the best thermal springs in the Colca Valley sitting by the river. The tubs are a real delight. For those who wish a little more activity, there's hiking, fishing, and horseback riding (extra cost). Dinner is at the lodge. Overnight in the Colca Canyon. Meals: B, L, D. |
| Sep 11 |
After a very early breakfast we'll be on our way to soak in more of the stunning beauty of the Colca Canyon, making our way eventually to the Cruz del Condor - the best lookout point for observing the awesome Andean condor, the largest flying bird in the world. While we can't guarantee sightings of this amazing creature, the chances of seeing some are good. Later we begin the next phase of our Peruvian adventure as we drive back to Arequipa and then take a short flight to Juliaca, the airport gateway for reaching Lake Titicaca. A one-hour transfer takes us to the city of Puno where we'll check into our charming lakeside hotel. Dinner this evening will be in one of Puno's best restaurants. Overnight in Puno. Meals: B, L, D. |
| Sep 12 |
Another special treat is in store for us today. We start out by land along the shore of dazzling Lake Titicaca with its calm, clear water and ringed by snow-capped mountains. From the town of Juli a hydrofoil awaits us to whisk us off to the Isla de la Luna (in Bolivian waters). The main site on the island - and one of the best-preserved Inca complexes in Bolivia - is a temple known as Iñak Uyu (Court of Women), probably dedicated to the moon and staffed entirely by women. We then move on to Isla del Sol (in Bolivian waters). The "Sun Island" is the legendary birthplace of the Inca empire and is covered in Inca ruins. This is followed by a "llama trek" where we walk up to our very charming, unique accommodation on the island (30-40 minutes) while llamas or donkeys carry our overnight bags. After lunch the afternoon is free to explore the surroundings with breathtaking panoramas. Dinner and overnight on Isla del Sol, Bolivia. Meals: B, L, D. |
| Sep 13 |
After breakfast we'll visit the Inca staircase and walk up to a sacred stone fountain with three separate springs, which are said to be a fountain of youth. It is believed that drinking this water gives eternal youth and happiness. Worth a shot. After lunch we'll visit a small handicraft market before returning to the mainland by hydrofoil to the Bolivian town of Copacabana. From here we return to Puno by land. Overnight in Puno. Meals: B, L. |
| Sept 14 |
This morning we'll take a short flight from Juliaca to Cusco and then head straight down by private coach to the Sacred Valley, sliced by the Urubamba River. The Incas believed this to be paradise on earth, and it's easy to see why. The Sacred Valley is a breathtaking landscape of snow-capped mountains, red granite cliffs, and lush green terraces. Inca temples, fortresses, and palaces are dotted throughout this valley, along with charming Andean villages that produce and sell some of the country's finest handicrafts. After the most amazing buffet lunch you're ever likely to have, we'll board Peru Rail for the ride into Aguas Calientes, the town that sits beneath Machu Picchu. Here we stay on the edge of town in one of Peru's most delightful accommodations, beautifully landscaped and decorated, with an excellent restaurant. Overnight in Aguas Calientes. Meals: B, L, D. |
| Sep 15 |
We have a full day to appreciate the stunning Inca citadel of Machu Picchu, most visitors' primary reason for coming to Peru. Since our lodging is in Aguas Calientes we can rise early, go up to the site, and take advantage of beginning our Machu Picchu visit in the calm early-morning hours before the day trippers arrive en masse from Cusco around 10:00am. There are some beautiful hikes away from the main grounds depending on your interests and energy level, including the one to Huayna Picchu (the peak towering over the citadel) and the Temple of the Moon. Overnight in Aguas Calientes. Meals: B, L, D. |
| Sept 16 |
This morning is at leisure. Our lodge offers numerous themed walks with their own naturalist guides around the extensive grounds: birdwatching, orchid tours, nature walks, etc. There is also a hike through the forest to waterfalls and pre-Inca stone carvings. Or perhaps take advantage of the spa with a variety of soothing treatments on the menu. We'll depart after lunch, taking the train to the town of Ollantaytambo where we'll return to our usual mode of private coach transport. On our way to the city of Cusco we'll stop off at a couple of the Sacred Valley's more unusual sights: the agricultural laboratory of Moray, and the salt pools at Maras. Then it's up to Cusco, the ancient capital of the Inca Empire and one of Peru's most vibrant cities today. The evening is free. Overnight in Cusco. Meals: B, L. |
| Sep 17 |
Today we have a full day to explore the wonders of this ancient city, including the wonderful main square, the Plaza de Armas; the cathedral, the looming fortress of Sacsayhuamán; and the sun temple, Coricancha. Cusco also has some fine museums, excellent shopping, and nice cafes. This evening we'll come together to enjoy our Farewell Dinner and look back on all the amazing experiences of this trip. It will be hard to believe that it's already come to an end. Overnight in Cusco. Meals: B, D. |
| Sept 18 |
Depending on your flight arrangements, you may have a good part of the day to take in more of Cusco's sights, finish your shopping, or simply relax at the hotel. Transfer on your own to Cusco airport for your homeward-bound flights (via Lima) or wherever your continuing travels may take you. Meals: B. |
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| RATE |
$2,995 (14-16 participants)
$3,195 (11-13 participants)
$3,295 (8-10 participants)
Single Supplement: $595
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Price includes: all accommodations in beautiful, charming, upscale properties; all meals except for 1 lunch and 3 dinners; tour escort traveling with the group for the duration of the tour; ground transportation in comfortable minibuses; round-trip train transportation to and from Machu Picchu by Peru Rail; all entrance fees for sights visited as a group; local guides' services at some of the sights and at some of the lodges. Price does not include: international airfare to meeting point in Peru (Arequipa) and from departure point (Cusco) ; 2 domestic flights: Arequipa to Juliaca and Juliaca to Cusco - Allow approximately $275 in total; extra hotel nights that might be desired or needed (Lima, Arequipa, Cusco); wine, beer, and other alcoholic beverages at most group meals; pPersonal expenses such as laundry, phone calls, minibar, etc. |
| ACCOMMODATIONS |
Arequipa: Just opened in 2008 this tastefully renovated building was the old Mint House and is a national historic monument. Two large colonial-style courtyards, wireless internet service in the entire hotel, gourmet restaurant and bar, and even a small museum illustrating how coins were minted in the past. Just 3 blocks from the main square, in the thick of all the restaurants and bars, and around the corner from the Santa Catalina Convent.
Colca Canyon: We stay at a unique lodge, stunningly situated across the river from Yanque, and it has one feature no other lodge can match: its own private thermal baths, carved in stone and secluded along the banks of the river. This is a very comfortable, eco-style hotel with adobe, stone, and thatched-roof architecture, and solar power. The views of the valley are excellent from nearly everywhere. The hotel also has a sophisticated lodge-style restaurant. A peaceful and beautiful atmosphere prevails.
Puno: Our hotel is located right on Lake Titicaca with great views, beautifully decorated rooms, a good restaurant, cozy bar, and wireless internet service. This is part of the same hotel company as our accommodation in Arequipa. They have a nice flair for design and comfort.
Machu Picchu: This accommodation lies in a peaceful patch of rainforest echoing the tumbling of the nearby Río Urubamba and the song of some 150 different kinds of birds. The secluded bungalows are beautiful and very comfortable. The hotel has progressed with an eco-philosophy that includes building its furniture on site. It was the recipient of the Sustainable Travel award from National Geographic Traveler. The hotel’s nature walks include the biggest orchid collection in Peru (372 species), and the hotel has re-introduced the Andean spectacled bear to the area. They have an excellent restaurant, bar, spa, and a spring-fed pool.
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