Inti Raymi Festival 2009 (7 days - 6 nights)

Inti Raymi Ceremony - resurrection of the sun - this was an important festival of the Inca empire , it is celebrated every year on June 24th in the fortress of Sacsayhuamán

ITINERARY

Lima - Cuzco - Sacred Valley - Inti Raymi - Machu Picchu 

June 21 ...../ Lima

Reception and transfer from the airport to your hotel.

June 22 / Cuzco

Early pick up at Jorge Chávez airport to board your flight from Lima to Cusco. To your arrival in Cusco you will be received and transported to your hotel. 

At 3pm you will be taken to a city tour in Cusco and surrounding ruins like: KENKO, PUCA-PUCARA and TAMBOMACHAY continuing to the fortress of SACSAYHUAMAN.  When the tour finish you will return to your hotel.

June 23 / Sacred Valley / Cusco

Full day tour to the Sacred Valley of the Incas, with a visit to the traditional ANDEAN MARKET in PISAC it's a blend of color, tradition and people. Situated 30 km. (19 miles) from Cuzco and at an altitude of 2,970 meters (9,700 ft.), PISAC is located at the gateway to the SACRED VALLEY. Lunch is included in URUBAMBA. 

In the afternoon you will visit the fortress of OLLANTAYTAMBO which is huge religious, military, social, administrative and agricultural complex from TAHUANTINSUYO times. OLLANTAYTAMBO has narrow streets and canals unchanged since Inca's times, recall its ancient heritage. Return to Cusco and your hotel.

June 24 / INTI RAYMI

This is the central day and the principal party of Cusco. INTI RAYMI means "THE SUN PARTY" it was a celebration day with offers and sacrifices for their sun god evoking the religious ceremonies of Incas times. This ceremony begins in the temple of QORICANCHA then pass to the MAIN SQUARE ending in the esplanade of SACSAYHUAMAN where the central ceremony is developed.

In this party you can appreciate the main person in the tawantinsuyo the INCA. You can see also the clothes that people use to were in those times. After the ceremony you can see folkloric groups of dance. Box lunch included.

June 25 / Machupicchu / Cusco

Early departure from your hotel to the train station for a full day tour in the citadel of MACHUPICCHU, the "Lost City of the Incas", one of the most renowned examples of Inca's architecture. The construction is completely by stones considering in mind the mechanical limit devices available in Inca times; Machupicchu is one of the Seven Wonders of the World.

The citadel is located on a mist-shrouded mountaintop surrounded by lush forest. Lunch is included in AGUAS CALIENTES. Return to Cusco by train in the afternoon. Arrival and transfer to your hotel.

June 26 / Lima

Early departure from Velasco Astete airport to Lima. When you arrive, you will be transferred to your hotel. In the  afternoon you will receive a guided city tour of Lima, visiting its colonial and modern sights.

This tour includes a ride to see LIMA'S COLONIAL CHURCHES AND PALACES, SAN MARTIN SQUARE, THE MAIN SQUARE, THE CATHEDRAL, THE GOVERNMENT PALACE and SAN FRANCISCO CHURCH, among others. Lima's residential areas will be also visited. Among them,  SAN ISIDRO with its OLIVE GROVE, MIRAFLORES with its CENTRAL PARK. You will also enjoy a pleasant ride along of the COSTA VERDE, where you can take a view of Lima coast.

June 27 /…

Transfer to Jorge Chávez airport to board your international flight.