Explorer Line Special - Peru & Ecuador: Andean Faces

Arrival in Lima and transfer to your hotel.

Market visit and cooking class with the Peruvian specialties Ceviche and Lomo Saltado, followed by lunch. City tour through the colonial and modern parts of Lima with visit of the San Francisco Monastery.

Flight to Cusco. Transfer to the hotel in the Sacred Valley. On the way, visit to the ruins of Sacsayhuaman and the Andean community Amaru to learn about the traditional textile processing. Lunch prepared with the best regional ingredients. 

Excursion to the ruins of Ollantaytambo, the agricultural terraces of Moray and the salt pans of Maras. Participation in two workshops in the Maras community.  

Day at leisure. Optional: Half day tour to the Urubamba market OR Visit of Chinchero and the lookout of Raqchi:

Full day excursion by Vistadome train to Machu Picchu inclusive guided visit of the Inca site. In the afternoon, transfer by bus and train to Cusco. 

City tour with visit to the cathedral, the sun tempel Qoricancha and the San Blas neighborhood. Introduction of how to play the typical panpipes and visit to the colonial church.

Flight via Lima to Quito and transfer to the hotel.

City tour with Equatorial monument, Ethnographical Museum and walk through the historic center. Visit to the church La Compañia. Tour through the street „La Ronda“ with chocolate tasting.

Transfer to Ibarra for a 2-hour train ride aboard the „Tren de la Libertad“ to reach the warm Salinas. In Salinas you’ll discover colorful murals commemorating the history and culture of Afro-Ecuadorian people.

Excursion to the famous handicraft market of Otavalo and visit of the rose hacienda „La Compañia de Jesús“ where lunch will be served. Transfer to the Cotopaxi region.

Visit to Cotacachi , Ecuador’s leatherwork center and Cuicocha lagoon. Visit a Kichwa family and their Kawsaymi project to attend a cooking class.

Excursion to the volcanic lake Quilotoa (3.900m) with visit of a typical Andean market.

Visit to the Cotopaxi National Park with a short walk along the lake Laguna de Limpiopungo (4.000m). Transfer to Papallacta followed by relaxation in the hotel´s hot springs. 

Transfer to the airport of Quito. End of the roundtrip and departure flight.