Spend 12 days witnessing a handful of unique Holy Week processions that take place in Cuzco and the Colca while staying in a wonderful assortment of properties.  In Cuzco, the Urubamba Valley and Machu Picchu we give you two different hotel choices as we believe giving you options in these key places is important to planning the best overall experience for you. In this itinerary, you will witness the amazing Holy Monday procession of “El Señor de los Temblores” (Our Lord of the Earthquakes) in Cuzco from a private balcony on the main town square. And on Good Friday in the evening you’ll see another one of its kind procession in the small Colca village of Yanque. Both events are entirely moving.

Fixed departures: April 1-12, 2009 & March 24 - April 4, 2010

Day 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12

Upon arrival from your international flight you will be met by our representative at the airport and transferred to your hotel which is located about 40 minutes away. The Country Club Lima Hotel is housed in an elegant old mansion that was the most exclusive club and hotel of the Lima elite in the 1930’s.
Overnight at the Country Club Lima Hotel

Start your day with an insider visit of Lima, covering colonial sites as well as the Museo Rafael Larco Herrera Museum in the company of one of Aracari’s erudite guides. In the evening you’ll enjoy dinner and a private tour of Lima’s finest private “lived in” art collection with owner Jim Ciurlizza. Jim opens his doors exclusively for Aracari clients to give you a personal tour of the Collection. After your tour you’ll enjoy a three-course gourmet dinner with drinks, personally hosted by the charming and cosmopolitan collector in this beautiful setting.
Overnight at the Country Club Lima Hotel

Catch your morning flight to Cuzco. At the Cuzco airport you will be met by the Maria del Carmen Vargas, Aracari representative, as well as by your guide. After a short briefing by Mari Carmen you will continue on with your guide for a visit of the Pisac Ruins (1 hour away), an important site in the Urubamba Valley with stunning terracing hugging the contours of the hills. After this visit, enjoy lunch at a local restaurant and continue towards your hotel. Rest of the afternoon at leisure.
Overnight Ticllabamba Maison d'Hôtes or Sol y Luna.

Morning visit to the fabulous ruins of Ollantaytambo, and its town. The latter is unique in that it still preserves its original Inca architectural layout.  Gourmet lunch at Hacienda Huayo Ccari, a lovely traditional hacienda owned and lived-in by one of the oldest land-owning families in Cuzco. You will enjoy a delicious served three-course meal in an elegant wood paneled dining room with views of the valley below.  We recommend that you spend some time looking at the superb pieces of the Hacienda’s folk art collection. After lunch you will visit the Inca site of Moray and the salt pans of Maras. Both are approximately 45 minutes away from the Hacienda. Return to your hotel for a relaxing evening.
Overnight Ticllabamba Maison d'Hôtes or Sol y Luna.

Visit the village of Chinchero (3,800m/12,500ft) which has a fascinating history and offers amazing views of the mountains. Chinchero has Inca ruins and a charming adobe church which was later built on the ruins by the Spanish. You will witness Palm Sunday celebrations and enjoy the fascinating Sunday market where people come to sell and trade valley goods, fruit and vegetables, and handicrafts. A visit to the market gives you fascinating insight into the way the locals live. You will also have a unique textile demonstration from a local, Nilda Callanaupa, who is considered Cuzco’s most accomplished weaver. Return to Cuzco in the afternoon and witness continued Palm Sunday celebrations.
Overnight Monasterio or La Casona.

Day 6 (April 6, 2009 or March 29, 2010)
Holy Monday in Cuzco

Enjoy a half day guided visit of the Inca archaeological sites around Cuzco. You will explore, Sacsayhuaman, the only Inca site known boasting megalithic architecture, and lesser but also very interesting sites such as Tambomachay, Quenco and Puca Pucara. In the afternoon we will witness Cuzco’s most famous procession when the city's most venerated image of Christ is taken out in procession in the afternoon/evening. The entire city participates and you will have a privileged balcony view of all the pageantry.
Overnight Monasterio or La Casona.

Day 7 (April 7, 2009 or March 30, 2010)
Machu Picchu

You will be collected by your guide and driven to the Poroy train station to take the Hiram Bingham luxury train to Aguas Calientes, the station that serves Machu Picchu. Train ride is approximately 3 hours through wonderful cloud forest scenery. You will be served brunch on board, and enjoy a very luxurious journey. Upon arrival in Machu Picchu, you will have a guided visit of the ruins together with other train passengers. 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. It is nestled in the Andean cloud forest on a high ridge straddling between two mountains with the Urubamba River curling like a snake below it. 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, you will have the luxury of staying in the Citadel in relative solitude, since you will overnight at either the Machu Picchu Sanctuary Lodge right by the site, or the Machu Picchu Pueblo Hotel in Aguas Calientes, 30 minutes bus drive away.

Day 8 (April 8, 2009 or March 31, 2010)
Machu Picchu - Cuzco

This morning you will be able to 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. All day at leisure in Machu Picchu. Afternoon return by Vistadome train to Cuzco, journey time is approximately 3.45 hours. At the train station you will be collected and driven to your hotel.
Overnight Monasterio or La Casona

Day 9 (April 9, 2009 or April 1, 2010)
Cuzco – Arequipa (2380m / 7,740 ft)

In the morning transfer to the airport to catch your flight to Arequipa. In the afternoon you’ll enjoy a brief guided visit of the highlights of the city such as the Museo Santuarios Andinos where Inca frozen mummies are kept, the wonderful 16th century Santa Catalina Convent and the new Colonial Art Museum in the Convent of Santa Teresa. 
Overnight Casa Andina Private Collection Arequipa.

Day 10 (April 10, 2009 or April 2, 2010)
Good Friday in the Colca (3400m / 11,155 ft)

Early morning departure with your guide on your 4x4 vehicle to the the Colca. Journey time is approximately 5 hours on a paved (75% of the journey) and unpaved but in good condition (25% of the journey) road. You will go across the high altitude plateau (over 4,000m/13200ft) with its astounding landscapes and see plenty of local wildlife such as the graceful wild Vicuna. On the way, you will stop at the Sumbay caves to observe the prehistoric cave paintings. Box lunch en route. Mid-afternoon arrival at the beautiful Casitas del Colca. In the evening you will visit the local village of Yanque to witness a very unique Good Friday procession.  
Overnight Casitas del Colca.

Day 11 (April 11, 2009 or April 3, 2010)
Colca

Early morning drive to La Cruz del Condor, approximately 1 ½ hours away, to try and get a glimpse of the Condor in flight. You will also visit the village of Cabanaconde. This local village is inhabited by the Cabanas, who are the smaller local ethnic group and have ancient Quechua roots dating to 1400 BC. They identify their ethnic origin by their beautifully embroidered felt hats.  After Cabanaconde, you will return to Las Casitas for lunch. Afternoon at leisure.
Overnight Casitas del Colca

Day 12 (April 12, 2009 or April 4, 2010)
Easter Sunday return to Lima

Enjoy the morning relaxing at Las Casitas including a scrumptious Easter Sunday lunch. After lunch transfer to the Arequipa airport to take your flight to Lima and connect to your international flight home.