TOUR INFORMATION

In this week tour you’ll see all the great highlights that Peru has to offer. Archeological sites, Museums , the Colonial City of Lima the mythical City of Cusco, the Sacred Valley and the most important Inca sanctuary: Machu Picchu.

PLACES VISITED

- Lima, Museums
- Cusco Museums.
- City tour Cusco
- Sacred Valley Tour
- Machu Picchu

WHAT TO BRING

• ATM/ Debit card : In every major and most minor cities in Peru and South America, I've found ATM machines that accept my debit card. Arrange for a fee waiver before leaving and save receipts in case there are errors.
• Teva Sandals: Durable and comfortable boots, and hiking socks. Hiking boots are flexible and can be worn to a show and tough enough for walking through mud. Your feet will thank you when you wear the sandals.
• Money belt for important documents, passport, and money: It is best to use a waist belt.
• Camera: All types of film can be purchased in most major cities.
• Convertible pants : Light, fast drying, and the legs zip off to form shorts.
• Travel vest: hasmany pockets for money, passport, even a small camera.
• Fleece sweater and light rain jacket .
• Hat to block the sun: The Peruvian sun is strong. Consider buying a straw hat when you arrive. It makes a great memory.
• Towel or a Shammy: Shammies dry faster.
• Deodorant : When you can't shower, you can always roll on the Speed Stick!
• Headlamp: It's better than a flashlight because it frees up your hands.
• Extra pair of eye glasses, contact lenses and medications: Peruvian pharmacies sell many of the most common medications without a prescription (including malaria pills).
• Miscellaneous: small pocket dictionary, journal, guide book, and a small backpack.

MAGIC PERU 7D/6N

PLACES VISITED

- Lima, Museums
- Cusco Museums.
- City tour Cusco
- Sacred Valley Tour
- Machu Picchu

DAY 1: ARRIVAL TO LIMA
You will be picked up from the airport and taken to the hotel in Lima so you can rest. Overnight.

DAY 2: LIMA CITY TOUR AND NACIONAL MUSEUM OF ARCHAEOLOGY AND ANTROPOLOGY
After breakfast, we’ll visit the major attractions of the city: the "Plaza Mayor" (Main Square), the Cathedral, the Government's Palace, the Palace "Torre-Tagle" and the church of "San Francisco". Afterwards you'll continue to the residential districts of San Isidro and Miraflores, ending with a panoramic view of the Pacific in the "Parque del Amor" (Lover's Park).
Continuing our tour we will visit the National museum traces the art and history of the earliest inhabitants to the Inca empire, the last before the colonization by the Spaniards, Its sprawling but very wel designed, with scale models of major archaeological sites and great carved totems and textiles.(B), (L).

Note: the National museum is open from Tuesday though Sunday

DAY 3: LIMA / CUSCO CITY TOUR
You will be picked up from the hotel in Lima and taken to the airport so you can take the flight to Cusco. Upon arrival to Cusco reception and transfer to the Hotel (tourist class) (first class hotel and Deluxe available upon request ) where will receive an aromatic coca tea to stimulating for the height, will have the free morning, in the evening we will depart on a City tour (entrance to the archaeological centers and museums including) we will visit to the Main square, Cathedral, the Koricancha (temple of the sun) and in addition we will make a route by bordering archaeological centers like Sacayhuaman, kenco, Pucapucara and Tambomachay, tour finishes 6:00pm, transfer your Hotel and overnight (B).

DAY 4: SACRED VALLEY TOUR.
At 9:00am gather of its hotel to make the trip to the Sacred Valley where We will visit the colorful Indian market in Pisac where a mixture of color, tradition will be able appreciated The Valley has a distance of 31 km (19 miles) of Cusco, and one altitude of 2,970 ms (9,700 p), Pisac where we will visit the market, and is located to the entrance of the Sacred Valley followed by Ollantaytambo, the older town continuously occupied of the American continent. The narrow streets of Ollantaytambo, along with their channels that have not varied from the time Inca, evoke their ancestral inheritance, lunch in a typical restaurant and on the evening . Return to Cusco where we will arrive around 5:00pm transfer to its Hotel (B;L).
Note: this tour only departs on Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday)

DAY 5: MACHU PICCHU TOUR.
Breakfast and at 5:30am transfer to the train station to depart to Machu picchu the trip takes about 4 hours and you will be traveling in vista dome train, upon arrival to Aguas Calientes you will have to approach the bus towards the Ciudadela de Machupicchu (15minutos of trip) will receive tour guided by this Huge Historical Sanctuary follow by some free time, overnight at the select hotel in Aguas Calientes town (B)

DAY 6: BACK IN CUSCO
Morning at leisure by your own - (entrance and bus fee to machupicchu archaeological site not included on the fee) in the afternoon return to Cusco reception at the train station and transfer to the Hotel where it passed the night (B).

DAY 7: TRANSFER OUT.
Breakfast and bus service to the airport and end of our services (B).

Price: Starting at US$ 1200.00 (doesnt include domestic flights in Peru ,with a minimum of 4 persons).

IMPORTANT: For a better service, the company informs you that it has autonomy to change the Hotels mentioned in the itinerary with another one of similar category if therefore sees it by advisable taking into account justifiable availability of spaces or other reasons, if this it is the case you will be notified ahead of time.

Note: first class and Deluxe class hotel for the package available upon reque

FAQs ABOUT THIS TOUR

Peru has one of the most diversified geographical make-ups in South America. It shares borders with Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, and Ecuador. There are three geographical zones in the Peruvian territory: the coastal desert, the highlands made up by the Andes, and the Amazon Jungle. For more info, click here.

WHAT TYPE OF FOOD IS TYPICAL OF PERU?

Staple foods in the highlands include potatoes, corn, rice, and meat dishes, often with a spicy sauce. In jungle areas, fresh fruits, fried plantains, and other vegetables are also common. Though vegetarians can be easily accommodated in all areas, options typically leave out the meat rather than adding vegetarian mainstays such as tofu, beans, or nuts.

HOW DO I GET AROUND PERU ONCE I'M THERE?

With the exception of Nazca, you fly to all the major destinations even if you go between some of them by surface travel.

IS IT SAFE TO TRAVEL IN PERU?

Overall Peru is a safe country. Pickpockets and crazy Lima traffic are typically the biggest problems travellers will encounter. For a detailed list of precautions, click here.

IS GOOD QUALITY MEDICAL CARE AVAILABLE?

Medical care is generally quite good in private health care facilities in urban areas, but less so in the rural parts of the country. Urban facilities usually have modern equipment and someone on staff that speaks English. It is highly recommended that you take out travel insurance before you leave home. However, hospitals and clinics often ask for cash payment up front. Make sure that you keep all receipts so that you can be reimbursed once you return home. Also, make sure that your travel insurance includes medical evacuation. If you plan on doing any "dangerous sports" such as riding motorcycles, scuba diving or even trekking, ask if those activities are covered. They usually aren't, but you can buy supplemental insurance to cover you. For more detailed information about health, vaccinations, insurance and medical facilities in Peru.

HOW CAN I FIND A REASONABLY PRICED AIRLINE TICKET TO PERU?

No matter where you are in the world, the staff in our travel agency can help you find the best airfares and schedules to Peru. They can also assist you with hotel accommodations, tours, plane, train or bus reservations within the country, and much more.

ARE THE TRAINS AND BUSES SAFE, COMFORTABLE AND AFFORDABLE?

Yes, the trains and buses are safe and the service is quite good. In our transport area, we have an extensive list of schedules and fares. By European or North American standards, the prices are very affordable. They are usually 3 different levels of service and the prices vary according to the amenities offered. Some buses even have waitress service and onboard movies. However, a word of caution: keep a close eye on your hand luggage and camera onboard buses, trains, and in the terminals. Pickpockets and thieves often target weary travelers in these places. For more information about transportation,

CAN I RENT A CAR IN PERU?

Yes, you can rent a car in Peru but it is not recommended. Aggressive drivers, poor road conditions, and long distances between tour destinations make taking public transportation a better (and usually more affordable) alternative. However, if you do want to rent a car we have a list of the most popular rental car companies including Hertz, Budget and Avis. Make sure you look closely for hidden charges for items such as mileage and insurance. You may want to make your reservations from your home country. Click here for a list of phone numbers. You should also get an international driver's license in your home country.

HOW CAN I FIND THE PERUVIAN EMBASSY IN MY COUNTRY?

For a list of Peruvian embassies in your country, click here.

WHAT IF I NEED TO CONTACT MY COUNTRY'S EMBASSY IN PERU?

For a list of embassies in Peru, click here.

ARE THERE ANY RESTRICTIONS ON WHAT I CAN BRING IN OR TAKE OUT OF PERU?

You may bring 2 liters of alcohol and 400 cigarettes into Peru duty free. Items for personal use including cameras, laptops, and travel gear can be brought in for personal use. It is illegal to take any pre-Columbian art out of Peru and it is usually illegal to enter into most countries with these artifacts. If you are going to buy reproductions, do so from a reputable dealer and obtain documentation from the National Institute of Culture Vendors to show to customs officials. In the jungle vendors also sell live exotic birds and animals. It is illegal to take these endangered species outside of the country. Bags of cocoa leaves are sold in Peru and are legal, but they are not legal in most other countries. Although it would be impossible to produce any significant amount of cocaine from one of these bags, it's not worth the risk in bringing them back home.

DO I NEED SPECIAL VACCINATIONS?

There are no vaccinations that are required by law to enter Peru. However, there are some that are recommended: Cholera, Hepatitis A, Tetanus, Diptheria, Typhoid and Yellow Fever. Many of these vaccinations are recommended if you are spending any time in the jungle. Malaria is also common in the Amazon region and you can ask your doctor for malaria tablets. Check with your doctor at least six weeks prior to traveling because some shots take time to become effective. Ask them what they recommend and the possible side effects of each vaccination. For further details regarding vaccinations for Peru, visit the U.S. Center for Disease Control's website at:
http://wwwn.cdc.gov/travel/regionTropicalSouthAmerica.aspx 

IS THE WATER SAFE TO DRINK?

The tap water is generally not safe to drink in Peru. Bottled water is readily available at tourist sites, hotels, and restaurants. Don't forget to use bottled water when brushing your teeth as well! Ice is not always made with boiled/ bottled water. Order your beverages without ice ("sin hielo") or ask your tour leader if the ice is safe in a particular restaurant.

DO I NEED TO GET A VISA BEFORE I VISIT PERU?

All persons visiting Peru on business are required to have a visa. For those visiting as tourists, citizens of the US, Canada, most of Western Europe, Australia and New Zealand only need a valid passport. Most visitors are given a tourist card that allows you to stay in the country for up to 90 days. However, for a fee you can extend your stay.

WHAT IS THE BEST TIME TO VISIT PERU WEATHER WISE?

That depends on where you plan on visiting. There are three main zones of Peru: the coast (La Costa), the mountains (La Sierra) and the jungle (La Selva). If you are visiting the coastal desert area, which includes Lima, then it is better to come during Peru's summer months, December-March. Once you enter the mountains or the jungle there are two seasons: wet and dry. If you are planning on visiting La Sierra which includes such tourist spots as: Cusco, the Sacred Valley, Machu Picchu, and the Inca Trail you should come during the dry season which runs from May-September. The best time to visit the jungle is also during the dry months of May-October.

WILL MY CREDIT CARDS, ATM CARD, AND TRAVELER'S CHECKS WORK IN PERU?

The most widely accepted credit card in Peru is Visa. Mastercard is also popular, but American Express and Diner's Club are not that widely accepted. I find ATMs the best way to get money. Most of them work on the Plus system, although you can find ATMs that accept Star, Cirrus and Interlink. The downside of credit and debit cards is that stores, hotels and restaurants will sometimes add an 8% commission to the final bill. Your best bet is to take money from the ATM and pay for your purchases in cash. Traveler's checks are usually good to take as "insurance", but they are often difficult to change and the exchange rate is not as favorable as if you used cash. For a more detailed description regarding money and to see a list of banks and exchange locations (casas de cambio).

CAN I USE MY CELL PHONE?

Check with your cell phone provider. Each company is different and they can give you the most up-to-date information.

DO I NEED A CONVERTER/ ADAPTOR FOR THE ELECTRICITY?

Peru uses 220 volt, 60 cycle electricity. Travelers will require a voltage converter for 110 volt devices. Plugs are typically the 2 pronged flat type found in the US, though some facilities have been noted to use the 2 rounded prongs instead.

WHAT TIME ZONE IS PERU?

Peru is five hours behind GMT (same as EST). They do not observe daylight-savings time so during these months (April-October), Peru is on CST.

TOUR INCLUDES

Transfer in / out Airport / Hotel / Airport. Accommodation in Hotel tourist class (bed and breakfast hostel with private bathroom and hot water) based on double occupancy tourist ticket indispensable for all the circuits, archeological sites, transfers: Hotel/Station / Hotel. Train Ticket to Machupicchu roundtrip. (Travel in vista dome train, the best in this category) bus Ticket round trip. (Aguas Calientes town Machupicchu) entrance ticket to Machu Picchu. Meals as specified in the itinerary (B)= Breakfast, (L)=Lunch, (D)= Dinner.
* Professional bilingual guide.

IT DOES NOT INCLUDE:

International and Domestic fly tickets, reconfirmation of flights, departure taxes , payment by excess luggage (in the airplanes) local or international calls, services of personal order like laundry, and others not specified others in the itinerary.