Machu Picchu and Easter Island

Arrival into Lima, the capital of Peru and we will meet and transfer you to the hotel located at Miraflores Distric.

The day begins with an excursion to the Historic Center of Lima, the famous “City of the Kings”, declared Cultural Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO. We will visit the Plaza Mayor, surrounded by the Government Palace, the Municipality, the Cathedral and the Archdiocese. You will continue with a visit to the Santo Domingo Convent, an architectural jewel of the 16th century, where you will learn the history of two of our patron saints: Santa Rosa de Lima and San Martín de Porras.
Later on, we will visit Miraflores, where we will make a stop at the well-known “Parque del Amor”, to obtain the best views of our coast, bathed by the Pacific Ocean. afterward we go to Lima airport for our flight to Cusco.

Today our guide will meet you to start our visit the famous Imperial City, a cosmopolitan city and heir to a great past. The tour will begin at the Santo Domingo Convent, built over the Koricancha temple, an ancient Inca palace dedicated to the Sun God. You will return to the Plaza de Armas, visit the Cathedral and then, we continue up to the hill to visit Sacsayhuaman, an imposing sample of Inca architecture, the same one that dominates the city. Nearby, to the northeast of the city, you can visit the archaeological sites of Qenko, Puca-Pucará and Tambomachay. Return to Hotel.

Early morning, you will leave for the Urubamba Valley, also known as the “Sacred Valley of the Incas”. Picturesque place, full of tradition and surrounded by typical villages, such as Pisac, where you will make a stop to see its traditional market, the ideal time to take a souvenir of the place. Finally, you will visit Ollantaytambo, an attractive town of Inca origin, which maintains its past almost intact in its streets and cobbled walls, and soak up a little more with the local history. On the way back to Cusco we stoop at Chinchero and back to Cusco.

Early breakfast and transfer to Poroy station to aboard the Vistadome train to Machu Picchu. Arrival to the city of Aguas Calientes, from where you will start the ascent to Machu Picchu by bus. You will have a guided tour and have free time to explore the area on your own. At the agreed time, you will descend to the town of Aguas Calientes, where you will board the return train to Cusco.

This morning after breakfas we will transfer you to Cusco airport for your flight back to Lima and connection flight to Santiago de Chile.

Overnight at Santiago

Transfer from Hotel to Santiago International airport.

Fly from Santiago to Easter Island, considered the world’s largest open-air museum, boasting over 400 moai, ruins, and temples.

TOUR HIGHLIGHT
HISTORY & MYSTERY Check off this bucket list destination when you travel to the most remote island in the world. Located 2,200 miles off the coast of Chile, this island is a territory of Chile but, feels more like Polynesia. At the time of the arrival of the Europeans in the 18th Century, the island had been completely decimated of all resources, the population was no larger than 700 people, the now famous moai toppled, and history forgotten. Many mysteries endure around the island’s history.

EASTER ISLAND Curious Quarries
Your first stop on your private tour will be Ahu Vaihu, where eight large moai lie in ruins. Continue on to Ahu Akahanga. According to legend, this is the burial site of the first king of Easter Island (Hotu Matu’a). Next, at the Rano Raraku quarry, you’ll find 394 statues in various stages of completion. It appears that the moai production was abruptly abandoned, leaving us a frozen snapshot that reveals how the moai were carved out of volcanic rocks. At Ahu Tongariki, see 15 beautifully restored moai, and at Ahu Te Pito Kura, see the largest moai ever transported and erected. Last stop is the beach of Anakena, where King Hotu Matu’a first landed on Rapa Nui. (B,L)

TOUR HIGHLIGHT
LEGENDS & LORE Over 600 massive volcanic rock sculptures pepper the island, with many dating back to 700 AD. Each of these structures, some close to 40 feet tall and 80 tons, were carved from one single rock. If an imperfection was found, it was abandoned. It remains an enigma how these massive moai were transported from there quarries. Now you get the opportunity to stand next to one and come up with your own theory!

EASTER ISLAND Cauldrons & Cryptic Carvings
This morning, your private tour visits the Rano Kau Volcano, with a caldera that contains one of the island’s freshwater lakes. At the nearby ceremonial village of Orongo, see the restored houses and remains of an ancient Ahu. Head to Ana Kai Tagata, an ancient cave with wall paintings on the rock. This afternoon, visit Ahu Akivi, with seven restored moais in the middle of the island. According to legend, the statues represent the seven scouts sent to Easter Island by King Hotu Matu’a. Finally, visit the Puna Pau topknot quarry with its red scoria stone, where the Pukaos on top of the moai were made. (B)

TOUR HIGHLIGHT
HISTORIC SPOT Hear the legend of The Birdman Competition on an excursion to the sacred site of Orongo, where an ancient annual competition began at the sacred site of Orongo and was used to determine the Birdman, a sacred position, for the year. The challenge required contestants (appointed by a sponsor) to descend the steep cliffs from Orongo, swim offshore to an islet, and wait for the first tern egg of the season, and then return it safely to their sponsor at Orongo. Upon delivery of the egg, the sponsor became a leader of the island for the year.

Before departing from the island, you will be provided breakfast at the hotel. According to your flight schedule you will be transferred to the airport where you will board your plane and say goodbye to this special place. Flight back to Santiago de Chile and connecion flight back home.