PERUVIAN CULINARY TOUR

Your Peruvian DMC

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Peru: Country of Contrasts

LIMA, the country’s capital and largest city, was founded by Spanish conquistador Francisco Pizarro in 1535, and is known as la Ciudad de los Reyes or “The City of Kings”. It is located on a desert coast overlooking the Pacific Ocean. Lima has become a bustling metro-polis with a mix of colonial mansions and modern buildings, beauti-ful parks and bohemian bars. Lima is also known as the culinary capital of South America, featuring a variety of ingredients conside-red unique in our cuisine due to different Chinese, Japanese, Italian, Spanish, Arabic and African influences. Peruvian food is considered some of the best around the world.

In the morning, visit a local market to see a variety of ingredients used in Peruvian cuisine such us fruits, vegetables and seafood. Conti-nue to Rosa Nautica restaurant to learn how to make the typical “Pisco Sour”, spirit produced from grapes and considered the national drink of Peru, or “Ceviche”, fish and shellfish marinated in citrus juice, served with Andean corn and “camote”, a type of sweet potato. After lunch, visit the “City of the Kings” passing by outstanding monuments such as the Government Palace, City Hall, Cathedral (closed on Sundays) and the 17th century San Francisco Convent. Visit the "Casa de Aliaga", the oldest Colonial mansion in Lima. Dinner at Huaca Pucllana restaurant with the view of the impressive ruins for which it is named. Overnight.

DAY 1 LIMA

Transfer to airport to catch the flight to Arequipa. Arrival and transfer to hotel. Lunch included at one of the region’s famous “Picanterias”. In the afternoon, city tour including the Santa Catalina Convent, a beautiful citadel from the 16th century, which was built in the style of Spanish cities of that time. The Main Square, with its three portals, the Iglesia de La Compañía de Jesus (Church of the Company of Jesus) which boasts beautiful examples of Peruvian and Spanish baroque art from the 17th century. Continuing with the trip, visit the typical districts of Cayma and Yanahuara. Overnight

AREQUIPA is the colonial city, founded by the Spaniards at the foot of three volcanoes Misti, PicchuPicchu & Chachani. Arequipa, the “White City”, was built almost entirely of sillar, a kind of white volcanic stone. This beautiful town is particularly known for food that is exclu-sive to the region. The typical dishes such as “Rocoto Relleno”, hot peppers stuffed with ground beef; “Cauche”, boiled potatoes with melted cheese, onions and shrimp; “Chupe de Camarones”, shrimp soup; “Solterito”, fava beans, Andean corn and cheese salad; are enjoyed by locals and tourists. The beer “Arequipeña” combines perfectly for these typical dishes.

DAY 2 LIMA

DAY 3 LIMA / AREQUIPA

DAY 4 AREQUIPA / PUNO

Transfer to airport to catch the flight to Juliaca. Arrival and transfer to hotel in Puno. En route, we will visit the ancient Sillustani cemetery on Lake Umayo. Afternoon at leisure. Overnight

PUNO, on the shores of Lake Titicaca at 3,860 m. (12,400 ft.), the legend states that Manco Capac and Mama Ocllo emerged from its waters to found the Inca Empire. The majesty of the lake and the mixture of races: Quechua, Aymara and Spanish, makes the area a truly mystic place. Nowadays, Puno is considered an important agricultural zone and its people raise a variety of animals such as South American camelids (llamas, alpacas) which feed on the plant life of the region.

DAY 7 CUSCO

Morning tour of the city of Cusco with a stop at the local market to see and sample different fruits and vegetables of the region. Next, visit Koricancha Temple (Temple of the Sun) and the Cathedral with its magnificent chapels, baroque altars, and paintings from the Cusquenian School. The tour also includes the surrounding ruins: the fortress of Sacsayhuaman, the Inca bath of Tambomachay, the military outpost of Puca Pucara and the amphitheatre of Kenko. Gourmet lunch at MAP Café restaurant. Afterwards, visit of the “Choco-museo”, museum of chocolate, to make your own chocolate. Dinner at Cicciolina restaurant owned by the famous Peruvian chef Gaston Acurio. Overnight

DAY 5 PUNO

Full day excursion to Lake Titicaca beginning with a visit to the floating islands of Uros. These islands are built with layers of reeds and used as and trade centers and lived on by the natives of the same name who utilize rafts built by hand. Then visit the Island of Taquile, where the community kindly welcomes tourists, with displays of their traditions, customs and colorful dress. The islanders are skilled artisans; you can appreciate their handiwork and observe techniques developed for centuries by their ances-tors. Lunch based on potatoes, fava beans, local cheese and “chuño”, dehydrated- frozen potatoes.Overnight

DAY 6 PUNO / CUSCO Departure on a regular bus to Puno, bordering the mountains, through landscapes sprinkled with forests, villages and grazing vicunas and alpacas. En route, stop at Pukara, La Raya, Raqchi & Andahuaylillas. Lunch included. Arrival in Cusco and transfer to hotel.Overnight

DAY 8 CUSCO / URUBAMBA

Full day excursion to the Sacred Valley of the Incas. Visit of the Pisaq market where you can witness the exchange of agricultural product and make contact with local artisans too. Buffet lunch at Wayra restaurant and enjoy the Paso Horse show. Later visit Ollantaytambo, a fortress built during the Inca Empire, excellent sample of military architecture. Oovernight

DAY 8 CUSCO / URUBAMBA

Full day excursion to the Sacred Valley of the Incas. Visit of the Pisaq market where you can witness the exchange of agricultural product and make contact with local artisans too. Buffet lunch at Wayra restaurant and enjoy the Paso Horse show. Later visit Ollantaytambo, a fortress built during the Inca Empire, excellent sample of military architecture. Oovernight

DAY 9 URUBAMBA / MACHU PICCHU / CUSCO

Transfer to Ollantaytambo Station. Departure on the Vistadome train which will take you through the Andes to Aguas Calientes (2400 m / 7500 ft) at the foot of the mountains. Arrival and transfer by bus to the entrance of the Machu Picchu ruins where the guided tour will begin. After 400 years hidden by the mountains and tropical jungle, Machu Picchu was discovered in 1911 by the American explorer Hiram Bingham. It was a center of worship and astronomical observation as well as a private haven of Inca Pachacutec. It consists of two large areas, an agricultural and an urban area, where temples, plazas and royal mausoleums built with exquisite perfection outstand. Buffet lunch at the Sanctuary Lodge restaurant. In the afternoon, departure on the Vistadome train back to Cusco. Arrival and transfer to hotel.Overnight.

DAY 10 CUSCO / LIMA

Transfer to Cusco airport to match the flight to Lima. Arrival and international connection

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