After checking in at Auckland Airport we board our LATAM flight to Santiago.
We transit through Santiago airport and fly on to Lima in Peru.
On arrival we are met and transfer to our hotel in colourful Miraflores.
This morning we have a city tour.
We will immerse ourselves in the colonial history of the city as we walk through its streets and squares, appreciating emblematic buildings such as the Government Palace, the Cathedral, and the Archbishop’s Palace in the Plaza de Armas. We will learn more about the religious history of Lima by visiting the imposing Cathedral that houses beautiful altarpieces and fine works of art and the Convent of Santo Domingo.
Then on to the Rafael Larco Herrara Museum to have lunch and to see the largest private collection of pre-Colombian Peruvian art in the world. Its pieces have toured major world museums.
We take to the air again for our short flight to Cusco with spectacular views of the Andes. On arrival, we’ll be met and transferred to Cusco for lunch at a local restaurant. We then travel to our hotel in the Sacred Valley.
This afternoon is at leisure to relax, acclimatize and enjoy the hotel and its surroundings.
Today we enjoy a full day Sacred Valley tour including the Chinchero community where we’ll see a local weaving workshop and stroll through the famous local market. We also see the wonders of Maras and Moray.
Maras is famous for its salt mines, exploited from Inca times until today; it is worth visiting due to the wonderful sight of hundreds of salt ponds.
Moray is an archaeological site and contains unusual Inca ruins, mostly consisting of several terraced circular depressions, the largest of which is approximately 30 m deep. As with many other Inca sites, it also has an irrigation system. The purpose of these depressions is uncertain, but their depth, design, and orientation with respect to wind and sun create a temperature difference of as much as 15 °C between the top and the bottom.
We have lunch at a local restaurant.
This morning we visit the town of Ollantaytambo, where Manco Inca defeated the Spaniards in 1538 before fleeing into the mountains. We climb the steep stone steps up to the imposing Inca fortress to admire the Temple of the Sun and the view down the valley.
Mid morning we depart on the Vistadome Observatory Train from Ollantaytambo to Aguas Calientes. We travel along the valley, with the river racing beside us, and the snow-capped mountains towering above us.
On arrival in Aguas Calientes we have lunch and this afternoon we have a guided tour of the ‘Lost City’ of Machu Picchu.
Machu Picchu was built in the classical Inca style, with polished dry-stone walls. Its three primary structures are the Temple of the Sun, the Temples of the Three Windows and the Intihuatana. The site is on a narrow saddle between two mountain peaks, Machu Picchu and Huayna Picchu. In the local language between the old and the young peaks.
This evening we enjoy dinner at a local restaurant.
This morning we return to Machu Picchu for a second look and some time to sit and absorb this magical place (a second entry fee is included in our tour price).
Late afternoon we board our train at Aguas Calientes for the ride to Poroy Station. From here we travel by coach to Cusco and check in to our hotel.
Today we stroll through the beautiful rose-tinted city of Cusco, that was known by the Incas as the “Navel of the World”. Much of the incredible stonework making up the foundations of modern Cusco was laid by the Incas themselves. The city is a maze of streets, colour and contrasts.
We first walk the halls of the San Pedro market, the oldest in the city. Designed in 1925 by Gustave Eiffel, today it brings together hundreds of merchants selling local products. We will also visit the Koricancha temple, which during the Inca empire was a centre of worship of the Sun and on which the Santo Domingo convent was later built.
After lunch at a local restaurant we have an excursion to the surrounding ruins of Sacsayhuaman (pronounced “sexy woman”), and the altar to Pachamama, hidden deep under the rocks at Kenko.
This morning we visit the outstanding Pre-Colombian Art Museum (MAP), located in a beautiful Spanish colonial era house. The museum is the first and only to be dedicated to Peru’s ancient cultural arts. Among the exhibits are gold and jewellery, sculptures and ceramics spanning from 1250BC until 1532AD.
After lunch at the MAP Café we have time at leisure this afternoon.
This morning we transfer to Cusco airport and fly to Lima. We transit through Lima airport and fly on to Cartagena in Colombia.
On arrival we are met and transfer to our hotel in Cartagena’s Old Town.
We start a bit later this morning, so we have time to explore the streets nearby before the official tour. Cartagena is colourful and the city walls are something else.
The vibrant streets of Cartagena are made for a walk and so we will explore the walled city to learn about its past and present. Did you know Sir Francis Drake stayed here for over two years? We get to hear about his story and also the slave trade and the colonial settlers.
Some of this history is not pretty but its all part and parcel of the town today. Some of the sites we will pass through include Parque Bolivar, the Palace of the Inquisition and San Pedro Claver Square. The square is dedicated to the Spanish-born monk known as “Slave of the Slaves” for his life spent ministering to African slaves brought to the Spanish colonies.
During the walk, we may notice many influences – Romanesque, Moorish, colonial, military, Arabic, Spanish and North American that have given shape to Cartagena.
Lastly we will visit the Getsemani district, named by Forbes Magazine as one of the coolest neighbourhoods in the world, a place which just delights the eye with its art and vitality.
The rest of the afternoon is at leisure so we have time to revisit some of the interesting places we saw in the morning. There are lots of places to eat in Cartagena so dinner will also be an opportunity to explore the tasty food of the area.
All over Cartagena are reminders of the slave trade which was once here and also the slaves that escaped or were freed; so today we have a Drum Workshop.
La Boquilla is an afro descendant fishermen village that for more than 200 years has looked to preserve ancestral traditions, where drums play a leading role. Today we get to observe and play these Afro Colombian wild drums. As they say: Play it even if you don´t play, dance even if you don’t dance, sing even if you don´t sing.
This afternoon is at leisure.
This evening we have dinner at Café San Pedro.
Late morning we transfer to Cartagena airport for our flight to Pereira.
On arrival at Pereira airport we travel to our hotel in La Tebaida.
This evening we have dinner at our hotel.
We are off to Casa Riviera del Cacao this morning for a unique cocao experience.
Cocao in Colombia is the fruit of a tree called “Cacaotero” which is cultivated in the regions of Antioquia, Arauca, Cauca, Chocó, Quindío, Santander, Huila, Nariño and Tolima. Thanks to the agro-ecological conditions and the country’s location, the cocoa grown in Colombia is characterised by its fine flavour and aroma.
Once you arrive at Casa Rivera del Cacao you will find the beauty and magic of a typical house of the region and hundreds of different varieties of cocao trees.
The tour starts with learning how to evaluate dry beans and so know which makes the best quality chocolate. Next comes the roasting process; from there you will go to the first grinding, then proceed to the shelling and the second grinding to cocoa liquor. With this liquor a 60% chocolate formulation is made to proceed to the assembly of the refining. We need a break to let the grinding do its work so why not lunch.
In fact we have planned a traditional lunch of the region made with local produce and served under the vines. Delicious.
After lunch, we will take a tour of the crops in which all the biological and agronomic aspects of cocoa are explained, as well as the history of chocolate.
Then we will taste chocolate that we prepared in the morning. The paste is now liquid and we have the joy of a chocolate fountain, accompanied by fresh fruits (strawberries, bananas, and pineapple).
We depart Casa Rivera del Cacao late this afternoon and travel back to our hotel.
Yes, its coffee tasting time as we visit Hacienda San Alberto. This coffee farm is the most awarded in Colombia and has been cultivated for more than forty years in the mountains of the Central Mountain Range. It’s famous for the quality of its coffee, and we hear how the farm was established, see how the coffee is grown and of course taste the coffee.
The tour ends with a coffee tasting in the farm’s laboratory, learning how to differentiate the quality of coffee like experts. The farm is on the side of a valley, so we get a huge vista of this area of Colombia. Picture Perfect.
We then head to the village of Pijao for a light lunch. This small village preserves its culture and 19th century republican architecture. There will be free time to take pictures and enjoy the village.
We travel to Finlandia. Finlandia is a traditional little coffee town with particular charm due to its colours and the decorations of the frames of its doors and windows. We visit the basketry museum and make baskets. Baskets were very important in the harvesting of produce from the farms: large and small, for animals to use, for humans to carry (different baskets for men and women) and of course for coffee.
Then we travel to our hotel in Salento. Salento is the oldest municipality in the department of Quindío, therefore its traditional architecture and craft workshops make it an unforgettable place. Here we can see colonial houses painted in colours, balconies full of flowers and even better, we will enjoy the warmth of its people that will make your visit a great experience.
Time for some gentle exercise when we take a walk in the Cocora Valley. The valley is home to the wax palm, the national tree of Colombia. These palms are one of the tallest in the world (up to 70m high) and are now protected. The walk is at a slow pace and takes about two hours as we stroll up for amazing views and the chance to see a Condor in flight and then come down to the park entrance once again.
We enjoy a delicious lunch and then go back to Salento for an afternoon at leisure.
There are lots of small shops in Salento so a few pleasant hours can be spent visiting the village plaza, having a coffee or checking out those numerous shops nearby.
This morning we transfer to Armenia airport and fly to Bogota .
We will be met at Bogota airport and taken to our central city hotel.
Bogota is situated high in the Andes, and as the capital of a diverse country, truly has something for everyone. As we are staying in the old area of the city there is lots to see and explore just outside our hotel. Bogota is a modern city and also a very colourful and artistic one.
We start the day with a walking tour of the local area, Candelaria. In this area Bogota was originally settled so we are going to find glimpses of the colonial past and pre-Colombian times. We will pass many murals and displays of local culture. Our local guide will talk about history, geography as well as the current social and political situation in Colombia.
We get involved in the culture by drinking chicha, a traditional fermented drink that is part of the indigenous heritage. Also, we will try some local snacks (arepas) made with corn, and play the gunpowder game, better known as Tejo; a funny drinking game played in prehispanic times.
We have an independent lunch and then we visit the Gold Museum.
Late afternoon we go back to our hotel.
This morning we travel by coach to Mercado de las Pulgas de Usaquén (an outdoor market where you can buy arts, crafts, food and gifts).
Then late morning we transfer to Chapinero. We visit the Farmers Market (Mercado de la Tierra), where we will enjoy a buffet lunch.
Mid-afternoon we travel back to our hotel.
This morning after an early breakfast and check out we have a private transfer to Bogota airport and fly to Lima. We transit through Lima airport and fly on to Santiago.
Very early Tuesday morning we fly back to New Zealand.
We cross the international dateline … and arrive home on Wednesday morning with a wealth of stories to tell about colourful and vibrant South America.