Corpus Christi Festival 2011

Designed in celebration of the centenary of Machu Picchu's scientific discovery.

This itinerary is carefully planned to allow you to witness Cuzco's most magnificent Festival: Corpus Christi. You will partake in the preparation of the festival, which is filled with significance for Cusquenians, and enjoy a privileged view of the “Central Day” festivities from a strategic balcony on the Main Square. In addition we’ve incorporated some unique Aracari touches into the itinerary including visits to two spectacular private historic homes in Lima and a private dinner in Cusco.

Day 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10| 11

Thursday 16th June 2011

Transfer to your hotel on arrival from your International flight. Welcome meeting at Country Club and meet your tour leader along with a briefing about the upcoming activities. Enjoy dinner and cocktails at the preserved colonial home of Casa Aliaga, and enjoy an evening cocktail with the group.

Overnight in Lima Country Club Hotel.

Friday 17th June 2011

Visit Lima's Colonial Centre including a visit to the Rafael Larco Herrera Archaeology Museum with a specialist guide. This excellent museum has an extensive collection of pre-Columbian artefacts, particularly pottery and ceramics.

In the afternoon fly to Trujillo to visit the northern Coast, where you will see some of Peru's most fascinating and mysterious ruins along the Moche Route.

To round off the day, we will visit Casa Ganoza. This home is one of the few surviving architectural examples of its time, still lived-in by its original owners. the group will also be treated to a marinera dance display, Peru's national dance, and very seductive.

Overnight at Libertador Trujillo

Saturday 18th June 2011

Morning visit of the Huaca de la Luna (Moche c 100-700 AD) with one of the archeaologists working onsite. This is a superb archaeological site where excavations are currently under way. Lunch in the sea side resort of Huanchaco is followed by an afternoon visit of Chan Chan, the most extensive adobe (mud brick) city in the Americas corresponding to the pre Inca Chimu culture.

Overnight at Libertador Trujillo

Sunday 19th June 2011

The area around Chiclayo is also the home of some of Peru's most important ancient cultures, which emerged much before the time of the Incas, as early as 2000bc. You will visit two museums, including the superb Tumbas Reales Museum which houses the magnificent and now world famous collection of artifacts found in the tomb of The Lord of Sipan, as well as the Sican Museum. This outstanding museum holds the artifacts found in two burials within the adobe pyramid of Huaca Loro, in an area better known as Batan Grande, not far from the Museum. Impressive gold, silver and semi precious stone artifacts and accessories are beautifully displayed.

Transfer to the Chiclayo airport to catch your afternoon flight to Lima and international flight to Lima.

Overnight in Lima Country Club Hotel.

Monday 20th June 2011

Transfer to the airport to take your 1-hour morning flight to Cusco (3,400m/11,220 ft). On arrival into Cusco, you will be transferred to the Urubamba Valley (1 hour drive), which lies at lower altitude and makes acclimatization easier. The Urubamba river valley is dotted with villages, markets and archaeological sites. On the way to your hotel you will visit the wonderful ruins of Pisac before having lunch at a local restaurant. Spend the remainder of the afternoon at leisure in the relaxing environment of the Sol y Luna.

Overnight at Sol y Luna.

Tuesday 21st June 2011

You will be collected by your private guide and driven to the village and Inca site of Ollantaytambo, which boasts some of the finest Inca architecture known. You will then visit the colonial village of Chinchero (3,800m/12,500ft) which has a fascinating history and offers amazing views of the mountains. Chinchero also has Inca ruins and a charming adobe church which was later built atop these ruins by the Spanish.

You will be treated to a textile demonstration in Chinchero by the Center for Traditional Textiles in Cuzco.

In the afternoon you will enjoy lunch at the lovely Hacienda Huayo Ccari, the private estate of one of Cusco's oldest land owning families with a Paso Horse Show.

Overnight at Sol y Luna.

Wedsnesday 22nd June 2011

After transfer to Cusco, you will have a walking tour of the city, taking in key sites such as such as the Cathedral and Korikancha (or Sun Temple). In the afternoon you will head for a gourmet picnic at the temple fortress of Sacsayhuaman overlooking the city.

We also have a special treat in store for the evening before Corpus Christi...

Overnight Monasterio.

Thursday 23rd June 2011

All day to witness the Corpus Christi celebrations with the expert guidance of specialist scholar Lisy Kuon. You will have a privileged position at a restaurant located on the Main Square, where you can have lunch while you watch the processions. Enjoy the pageantry!

The group will also pop off to the Museum of Religious Art, where there are some excellent oil paintings of Corpus Christi's that have gone by.

Overnight Monasterio.

Friday 24th June 2011

In the morning our group will have the chance to witness yet another festival: Inti Raymi. Although this festival has become rather commercialised in recent years and has nothing on the authenticity and splendour of Corpus Christi, we still think it will be worth going to see some of the celebrations before heading off to Machu Picchu.

At around Midday you will be collected by your guide and driven to the Ollantaytambo train station to take the Executive Train to Aguas Calientes, the station that serves Machu Picchu. Train ride is approximately 3 hours through wonderful cloud forest scenery. Upon arrival in Machu Picchu, you will have a guided visit of the ruins. Machu Picchu, also known as "The Lost City of the Incas" is one of the world's most celebrated archaeological sites and rightly so. Its location is spectacular. The mountain scenery surrounding it is magnificent and the site itself is also spectacular, with some of the finest and more complex Inca architecture known. After visiting the site with your guide, you will have the luxury of staying in the Citadel in relative solitude.

Overnight at the Inkaterra Machu Picchu in Aguas Calientes, 30 minutes bus drive away.

Saturday 25th June 2011

Enjoy Machu Picchu almost all to yourself, as you will be able to access the site as soon as it opens, and watch the morning unfold. Machu Picchu at this time is pure magic. Morning at leisure in Machu Picchu. A-la-carte lunch at the Tampu Restaurant in the Sanctuary Lodge. Afternoon return via the Executive Train from Machu Picchu to Ollantaytambo, journey time is approximately 2 hours. At the train station you will be collected and transferred to your hotel in Cusco.

Overnight Monasterio.

Sunday 26th June 2011

Take an early morning flight from Cusco to Lima to transfer to your international flight home.