DAY 1- WED. Dec. 1: SANTIAGO/ PUNTA ARENAS
Welcome at Santiago airport and connect with flight to Punta Arenas. Punta Arenas is a city near the tip of Chile’s southernmost Patagonia region. Located on the Strait of Magellan, which connects the Atlantic and Pacific oceans, it’s the base for excursions to the surrounding wilderness and Antarctica. Meeting assistance on arrival and transfer to Hotel. Rest of the day is at leisure. This evening meet fellow tour members for a tour briefing, followed by welcome dinner. CABO DE HORNAS HOTEL- DINNER
DAY 2- THU. Dec. 2: PUNTA ARENAS
After Breakfast, we will be picked up and whisked away to explore the cultural and natural wonders of this southern city. An attractive tour of the Plaza de Armas surrounded by historic buildings, next to the monument to Hernando de Magallanes. Depending on the chosen option you can visit one of its very complete museums such as the Braun Menéndez Palace to learn about the lifestyle at the beginning of the 20th century or the Salesian Museum with exhibitions of culture, history, religion, art, flora and fauna. We will visit the municipal cemetery of beautiful gardens and mausoleums. Then the traditional monument to the Ovejero. You will cross the coast of the Strait. We will finish at the Cerro de la Cruz Viewpoint with a beautiful panoramic view of the city centre, the Strait of Magellan and Tierra del Fuego Island. Enjoy lunch at local restaurant and rest of the afternoon is free. CABO DE HORNAS HOTEL- BREAKFAST & DINNER
DAY 3- FRI. Dec. 3: MAGDALENA & MARTA ISLANDS
The trip starts early in the morning as you are transferred out of Punta Arenas to the small Laredo Dock where our zodiac boat awaits. After we board the zodiac, the captain briefs us on safety procedures, the weather, and the itinerary. We start our bi-oceanic adventure heading north towards Magdalena Island. We’ll start to see different types of marine life hopefully including austral dolphins and whales swimming on the surface. We’ll also have a great view of Tierra del Fuego, Contramaestre island, and Isabel island. Arriving at the Isla Magdalena we witness the incredible scene of more than 150,000 penguins on this small island. We’re free to wander around and observe the penguins in their natural habit. Board the zodiac again and continue our journey to Marta Island. The ecological environment of this island is so fragile that we don’t disembark but get close enough to its shores to see a beautiful colony of sea lions and other species. We circle the island admiring the marine fauna, then head south back to Punta Arenas past the same stunning scenery which welcomed us en route. Once we arrive at Laredo dock we’re driven back to our hotel in Punta Arenas. Rest of the afternoon is free for independent activities. This evening join for a pre-eclipse dinner & briefing on flight and eclipse viewing by our Astronomy expert. CABO DE HORNAS HOTEL- BREAKFAST & DINNER
DAY 4- SAT. Dec. 4: ECLIPSE FLIGHT Option. Free day or take an optional tour
Early wakeup call and transfer to airport to board a specially chartered Eclipse flight departing well before dawn from Punta Arenas in southern Chile. We’ll fly eastbound to a location near the at-altitude sunrise point on centerline over the ocean. More details will be advised as they become available. This evening join fellow tour members for a celebratory Dinner & a report by our Eclipse experts. CABO DE HORNAS HOTEL- BREAKFAST & DINNER
Note: Eclipse flight briefing and celebratory dinner is for participants taking the Eclipse flight.
DAY 5- SUN. Dec. 5: PUNTA ARENAS / SANTIAGO/ LIMA- PERU
Breakfast at Hotel and time free until transfer to airport for your flight to Lima connecting via Santiago. Arrive at Lima Airport. The Peruvian capital is a modern metropolis full of history, currently undergoing an exciting process of cultural and economic changes. Meeting assistance and transfer to Hotel. JOSE ANTONIO DELUXE HOTEL – BREAKFAST
DAY 6- MON. Dec. 6: LIMA TOUR
After breakfast we will begin our tour with Lima’s old town; a UNESCO-listed World Heritage Site packed with fascinating historical buildings. Start with the Larco Museum, located in the traditional Pueblo Libre district, which is housed in a beautifully restored vice regal mansion built on a pre-Columbian pyramid. The museum boasts the world’s most complete pre-Hispanic collection of gold and silver objects, as well as pieces of erotic art. Next visit Casa Aliaga, a colonial mansion granted in 1535 by chief conquistador Francisco Pizarro to Jeronimo de Aliaga, one of his captains. This is the only house from that time that to this day has always been owned by the same family. Continue to a scenic tour in the colonial downtown, which originates and spreads out from the Main Square. Here you can appreciate the grandiose architecture of the Spanish Empire and be amazed by Lima´s Cathedral. erected in the 16th century, this building took more than 80 years to complete. Enjoy lunch at the local restaurant. Rest of the day is free for independent activities. JOSE ANTONIO DELUXE HOTEL – BREAKFAST & LUNCH
DAY 7- TUE. Dec. 7: LIMA / PARACAS
Breakfast at the hotel, We leave Lima towards Pisco, a ride of approximately three and a half hours along the Panamericano Highway. Arriving at the airport of Pisco, board a high-wing light aircraft over the Nazca Lines (subject to weather conditions). Continue to our hotel in Paracas. LA HACIENDA BAHIA PARACAS HOTEL– BREAKFAST & LUNCH
DAY 8- WED. Dec. 8: PARACAS – ISLAS BALLESTAS / LIMA
After Breakfast, we travel to El Chaco pier for a boat ride to the Ballestas Islands. The Ballestas, are a collection of rocky islets with beautiful geographical formations, just a few kilometers off the western coast of Peru. The islands are the ideal habitat for various species of birds and an eclectic mix of wildlife like seals, boobies, pelicans, sea lions and the endangered Humboldt penguin. Cruise around the islands’ dramatic cliffs and watch large herds of noisy sea lions relaxing on the rocks, birds stretching their wings and if you’re lucky, dolphins near to your boat. From your boat you will get startlingly close to this impressive array of wildlife. As you sail, you will also pass the Paracas Candelabra, a huge geoglyph that has been dated to around 200 BC, although the purpose and the creator of this three-pronged carving remain a mystery. Following the boat tour, you will be taken to cruise the huge sand dunes of the desert in buggies. These lightweight but powerful four-wheel drive cars are capable of climbing slopes of loose sand and offer an experience full of adrenaline. The pilots and their machines will take you places where other vehicles do not reach, turning the ride into a real adventure. You can also try sandboarding, an exciting sport that will test your balance and skills on a board while riding over the dunes. We return back to Lima in the evening. WYNDHAM COSTA DEL SOL LIMA AIRPORT HOTEL- BREAKFAST & DINNER.
DAY 9- THU. Dec. 9: LIMA – AREQUIPA: CITY TOUR Y MONASTERY OF SANTA CATALINA
Enjoy breakfast at hotel before transfer to the airport for flight to Arequipa. Lunch at a local restaurant before the city tour. Start your journey in the main square, called ‘Plaza de Armas’. Admire its elegant neo-Renaissance basilica cathedral and the sensational Monastery of Santa Catalina, which for centuries was a ‘forbidden city’ in the heart of Arequipa, closed to prying eyes and the influence of the outside world. The convent was founded in the 16th century, and it was an almost self-sufficient town, made up of houses for nuns and their servants, cloisters, squares and narrow streets, kitchens and refectories, among others. The families of the nuns paid large sums of money for their daughters to be admitted, which increased the wealth and prestige of the place. Strolling through its colorful streets is like going back in time and better understanding of colonial Peru. Next visit the Church of the Company, perhaps the greatest masterpiece of Peruvian baroque, where you can analyze its fascinating facade. The sacristy is exceptionally beautiful, thanks to its dome and walls covered with murals that show tropical flora and fauna. The Jesuit seminary is well known for its beautiful main cloister. Our last stop is in the neighborhoods of Yanahuara and Carmen Alto, where you can enjoy a magnificent view of the Misti volcano, which rises above the city. In the end, you will be transferred to your hotel. CASA ANDINA SELECT AREQUIPA HOTEL.- BREAKFAST & LUNCH
DAY 10- FRI. Dec. 10: AREQUIPA
Day free to explore the city on own. CASA ANDINA SELECT AREQUIPA HOTEL.- BREAKFAST & DINNER
DAY 11- SAT. Dec. 11: AREQUIPA – COLCA
After breakfast, we will travel to the Colca Valley. The route will take us through the Yura district, an area characterized by impressive geographical features, ranging from deep ravines to high mountains, waterfalls and lush vegetation. The route continues to the Pampa Cañahuas. This extensive Andean plateau is home to the vicuña, an indigenous Andean camelid that is closely related to the alpaca, guanaco, and llama. Cross the pampas of Viscachani and Toccra and skirt the crater of the now-extinct Chucura Volcano to reach the Mirador de los Andes at Patapampa, 4,910 meters above sea level. This viewpoint offers impressive views of the numerous volcanoes surrounding Arequipa. Enjoy lunch in the picturesque town of Chivay before continuing to the hotel in the Colca Valley. COLCA LODGE HOTEL – BREAKFAST & LUNCH
DAY 12- SUN. Dec. 12: COLCA VALLEY – Spa day
Thanks to the seismic activity of the region, the Colca Canyon and Valley are sprinkled with natural hot springs, or thermal baths, where locals and tourists alike can relax in the warm embrace of Mother Nature. The hot springs vary in temperature, and are rich in sulfur, lithium, or iron, and thought to have medicinal healing properties. The best natural, private hot springs Colca are located at our Hotel. The grounds boast four natural, hot thermal baths and in this bucolic setting, exclusively reserved for guests at the hotel, these hot springs Colca are well maintained, clean, and situated in an incredibly intimate natural setting. They are perched a few meters above the river built into the stone shore and overlook the terraced valley and the property’s camelid farm. The hot springs at Colca Lodge are also conveniently equipped with a nearby bar so you can sip on a cocktail while sat in the thermal baths, as well as changing rooms and nice bathrooms. Round off a long soak at Colca Lodge’s indulgent spa. Enjoy a free day to enjoy hot springs or spa on your own. Dinner & overnight at Hotel. COLCA LODGE HOTEL – BREAKFAST & DINNER
DAY 13- MON. Dec. 13: COLCA VALLEY AND CANYON– PUNO
After breakfast, head to Condor’s Cross, from where you can contemplate the view of the Colca Valley (one of the world´s deepest canyons) and see the large, majestic condor soaring over the valley, only a few meters away from where you stand. Continue to Chivay and visit the towns of Pinchollo, Maca, Achoma and Yanque, Time to take scenic photographs stopping at the Antahuilque and Choquetico viewpoints. After the tour we continue to Puno via Patahuasi. Along the way, observe the amazing stone forests and sky-blue lagoons populated by cranes that fill this area 4,000 meters above sea level. Arrive at Puno after this amazing journey and enjoy a free evening. HOTEL JOSE ANTONIO PUNO – BREAKFAST & LUNCH
DAY 14- TUE. Dec. 14: LAGO TITICACA: UROS Y TAQUILE EXCURSION
After breakfast at the hotel, travel to the port of Puno for a boat ride to the beautiful Uros Islands. The Uros are an indigenous people of Peru that live on a series of human-made islands, created entirely from the buoyant totora reeds that grow abundantly in the shallows of the lake. The islands are composed of layers of woven totora, which are regularly replenished from the top as they rot from the bottom. The Uros people also use reeds to construct their homes where cooking is done outdoors to avoid possible fires! After visiting this fascinating island, sail to Taquile, a small slice of heaven that once belonged to the Inca Empire. Look around and notice traces of its Incan past in the ruins that still exist around the island. Learn about the local community, their customs and traditions with a cultural show. Lunch is served on the island before the return trip to Puno. HOTEL JOSE ANTONIO PUNO – BREAKFAST & LUNCH
DAY 15- WED. Dec. 15: PUNO / LIMA
Breakfast at Hotel and time free for independent activities. Transfer to airport for an evening flight to Lima. & connect with your international flight homewards. – BREAKFAST
DAY 15, WED. Dec. 15: PUNO – CUSCO – SACRED VALLEY
After breakfast transfer to the airport & board flight to Cusco the Imperial City. From the airport, begin your short tour to Awanakancha, an exhibition centre of textiles and South American camelids located at kilometer 23 of the road to Pisac. It is considered a living museum and here you can see Andean camelids, learn about the techniques to take their wool and finally acquire finely spun garments. Enjoy lunch at Rancho Wayra. Delight yourself with the surprising variety of recipes prepared under the careful tutelage of renowned chefs. The ingredients used come from the fertile Sacred Valley of the Incas and are rich in nutrients and flavour. Witness the Peruvian Paso horse show, renowned for the smoothest gait in the world. Stunning equestrian demonstrations, to the rhythm of marinera music will render the environment favourable for tasting the quality of their cuisine. Continue to your hotel in Sacred Valley. Rest of your evening is free. SONESTA POSADA DEL INCA HOTEL – BREAKFAST & LUNCH
DAY 16. THU. Dec. 16: SACRED VALLEY – CHINCHERO, OLLANTAYTAMBO AND LIVING MUSEUM OF YUCAY
After breakfast visit the town of Chinchero, a traditional Cusco urban centre located at an elevated point with a beautiful view of the valley. The inhabitants of this area preserve the artisan traditions and the inherited knowledge of the Incas and display them in their clothes and customs. In Chinchero there are also archaeological remains and a beautiful seventeenth-century church, one of the first Catholic buildings in Peru. Next viist the Living Museum of Yucay, a centre Andean traditions interpretations, where demonstrations of the elaboration of textile work, adobe, pottery and silverware are carried out in the same way in which they used to in antiquity; an original recreation of Inca traditions. Also, residents of the museum include llamas, sheep and alpacas, and they can be fed! Upon arriving in Ollantaytambo visit its town, inhabited uninterruptedly since Inca times, and have a superior Andean gastronomy experience in a restaurant, where the true spirit of the Sacred Valley is transmitted in a cosy atmosphere! Later, climb the iconic fortress, built next to a mountain. Return back to hotel in the evening. SONESTA POSADA DEL INCA HOTEL – BREAKFAST & LUNCH
DAY 17, FRI. Dec. 17: SACRED VALLEY – MACHU PICCHU – AGUAS CALIENTES
After Breakfast transfer to the Ollanta Station to board the train to Aguas Calientes, the nearest town to Machu Picchu. Following a scenic journey through dramatic Andean landscapes. Upon arrival arrive at the station in Aguas Calientes. board a bus for a 25-minute ride to Machu Picchu. The ‘Lost City of the Incas’ is believed to have been built in the 1450s by Inca emperor Pachacuti as a holiday retreat, yet within a century the city would be abandoned following the Spanish conquest. The Spaniards never found it, so it was spared the destruction they brought on other Inca sites. Instead, it was slowly swallowed up by the jungle and hidden from harm. A guided tour explains the origins behind this awe-inspiring citadel, presenting its most prominent landmarks such as the monumental Main Square, the Royal Quarters, the Temple of the Three Windows, the Circular Towers, the Sacred Sun Dial, and the Burial Grounds. Return to Aguas Calientes for lunch at a local restaurant and enjoy the rest of the day free. EL MAPI HOTEL IN AGUAS CALIENTES- BREAKFAST & LUNCH
DAY 18, SAT. Dec. 18: AGUAS CALIENTES – CUSCO
Morning at leisure or take an optional tour of Machu Pichhu. In the afternoon, transfer board the train to Ollanta station. Transfer to hotel in Cusco where rest of the evening is free to acclimatize. Enjoy Dinner with folklore show. SONESTA COSTA DEL SOL HOTEL- BREAKFAST & DINNER
DAY 19, SUN. Dec. 19: CUSCO / CITY TOUR & ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITES
Breakfast at hotel. Enjoy a guided tour of this charming city, which was the capital of the Inca Empire. The tour starts with a visit to Santo Domingo Convent, a large Renaissance-baroque complex, which was built over the Inca Coricancha temple. It was one of the most important temples dedicated to worshipping of the sun, and its foundations are still prominent at the base of the convent. Ancient chronicles say the temple was covered in gold leaf and filled with golden representations of nature. Next visit the Cathedral, the most imposing monument of the Main Square. Head to the hills above Cusco to visit the remains of the fortress of Sacsayhuaman, whose imposing ramparts offer a stunning panoramic view of Cusco, and the ruins of the temple and amphitheatre of Qenqo, where it is believed the Incas practised agricultural rituals. Admire Qenqo and finally visit Puka Pukara (‘Red fortress’ in Quechua) an Inca military complex located on a prominent hill. Its dwellings squares, bathrooms, aqueducts, walls, and towers can still be appreciated. After lunch, time free to explore Cusco on your won. Farewell Dinner this evening accompanied by local music and dance presentation. SONESTA COSTA DEL SOL HOTEL- BREAKFAST & DINNER
Day 20. MON. Dec. 20: CUSCO/LIMA DEPART
Breakfast at Hotel and time free until late afternoon flight to Lima and onward connection to your hometown. BREAKFAST & LUNCH
CASH/ CHECK PAYMENT PRICE:
$ 4,335.00 per person sharing
SINGLE ROOM- $ 5,365.00
Supplement for Pre Eclipse flight briefing, Post eclipse celebratory dinner- $ 50.00 per person.
TERMS & CONDITIONS: per person
Cancellations must be made in writing and sent by email, fax, or mail. Terms are applied effective date of receipt by A Classic Tours Collection. We reserve the right to treat the reservation as cancelled if payments are not received when due. No refunds will be given in such case.
Payments are refundable in full (less $350.00 administrative fees), if ACTC is unable to deliver the tour up to 31 days prior to start of tour. Travelers are strongly recommended to purchase travel insurance to protect their travel investment.
PLEASE NOTE: Group air rates from major US cities will be negotiated with the airlines and offered to participants (usually 11 months prior to departure). Airlines may require purchase of International air to receive low domestic travel (internal Chile) rates or rates may be combined for both International and Domestic Chile travel.
First arrival transfer and final departure transfers are included for participants arriving on group travel flights or at same time as group travel airline. Those making own International & Internal Chile flight arrangements can either join at Hotel on own or purchase a private transfer. Additional costs apply.