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Andean Service Journey Extension Day 13: Ollantaytambo – Moray & Maras This morning, your guide and transport will take you to Ollantaytambo -- a living Inca village set below ancient ruins retaining the stonework, narrow streets, and family courtyards of pre-Columbian times. Ollantaytambo was an important ceremonial, administrative, and strategic center. You can walk the steps to the Inca archaeological site; this is a steep ascent, offering great views to the valley as a final reward to your effort.
Day 14 - Ollantaytambo – Machupicchu In the morning, board the train from Ollantaytambo to Aguas Calientes. The journey is almost two hours long. Once in Aguas Calientes, your guide will lead you to the bus stop for the 25-minute bus ride up to the ruins. The Incas worshipped nature, and built many of their structures in harmony with the dramatic landscape. Your guide will take you through the lost citadel, explaining different theories surrounding each section. During the afternoon, you will have the time to continue the visit around the citadel, or visit other interesting areas such as the “Inti Punku” or Sun Gate -- the point from where Inca Trail hikers are able to see Machu Picchu for the first time. Depending on your physical condition, this walk may take from 45 to one hour uphill walking, and then from 30 to 45 minutes on the way back to Machu Picchu. Whenever you are ready, you can take the bus back to Aguas Calientes.
Important Notice: Please consider that Peru Rail and Inca Rail don’t allow passengers to travel with large amounts of baggage, allowing only a small piece of hand-luggage that should travel with the passenger.
Day 15: Aguas Calientes – Cusco During this free morning you may be up for a second visit to the citadel on your own (bus tickets and entrance fee to Machu Picchu are not included for this day), or perhaps you would rather stay in Aguas Calientes and relax. The early afternoon train takes you back to Ollantaytambo, where your transport will be waiting to take you back to Cusco.
Day 16: Cusco – Lima In the morning, your driver will pick you up from your hotel and take you to the airport to board your flight to Lima.
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Andean Service Journey Day 1: Arrival in Lima You will be met at the airport and transferred to your hotel in Lima.
Day 2: Lima – Arequipa In the morning you will be picked up from your hotel and driven to the airport for your flight to Arequipa City (one hour), where private transport awaits to drive you to your hotel. Arequipa is a colonial city and is known as the ‘white city’ because its historical center was built using a volcanic stone known as ‘sillar.’ It is located 2400 meters above sea level, therefore, your ascent to altitude will be very gradual. This is very important since Mallkini Ranch and Mirasol are located 4200 meters over sea level; spending a few days in Arequipa beforehand is a good idea for acclimatizing.
Day 3: Arequipa Due to its location, moderate altitude and proximity to the huge former alpaca “Haciendas” -- an initiative of English, Swiss, and Peruvian entrepreneurs, who arrived in the city during the early nineteenth hundreds – the alpaca industry became one of the most important economic activities during the 20th century. One of the largest alpaca companies in Peru is Michell & Co., the main sponsor for the Mirasol Project.
No activities are planned for this afternoon, so you may want to relax, walk the city on your own, or sit in a charming coffee shop. Dinner is planned at a beautiful restaurant overlooking the city.
 Andean Service Journey Day 10: Mallkini – Juliaca – Lima This morning, drive for about two and a half hours to the Juliaca Airport to take the flight to Lima, where you’ll meet your international connection or continue on for your extension to Cusco and Machu Picchu.
Andean Service Journey Extension Day 10: Mallkini – Cusco Early in the morning your transport will be ready to start the full-day drive towards Cusco. A two-hour drive on dirt tracks, followed by a five-hour drive on paved road will take you to Cusco, the ancient capital of the Incas, and once capital of the Spanish Colony. A professional guide will join you for the trip, so you can stop at some interesting points like Racchi Inca Temple, La Raya Mountain Pass, and charming Andahuaylillas Town and Church.
Day 11: Cusco Although Machu Picchu is considered to be the symbol of the Incan Empire -- a reputation earned by its spectacular location and architecture -- the true Incan jewel is Cusco, ancient capital of the Empire, where the Incas once ruled and were considered god-kings. In addition, the arrival of the Spanish Conquerors and the Catholic faith brought another huge architectural transformation, resulting in a completely unique city. Your guide will meet you at your hotel and take you to visit the most representative sites of the city, which will give you the chance to appreciate the complexity of Peruvian history. You will visit the 16th Century Cathedral and the rich colonial treasures it houses; you will also visit the Santo Domingo Convent, once the sacred temple of the sun -- also known as the Qoricancha. The inner walls of the convent were, according to the chronicles, once completely covered in gold, housing natural-size gold statues.
Your guide will be happy to recommend a few excellent and charming restaurants for lunch and dinner.
Day 12: Pisac & Huayoccari Hacienda A 45-minute drive takes you to the Sacred Valley of the Incas, a fertile area formed by the Vilcanota River on its way from the high mountains to the Amazon jungle. Your first impression of Pisac will be from the opposite side of the mountain, when approaching to the valley. Once in Pisac town, and depending on your specific interests, your guide may lead you along the Inca ruins -- a quite impressive archaeological site, where you will find large terraces, ancient cemeteries and a number of buildings formerly used as residences and worship areas. You may also visit the traditional market, where you can admire the typical art-crafts and try some of the local vegetables and fruits. Lunch is the perfect excuse to visit a local hacienda that belongs to an old and traditional Cusqueño family. This beautiful house holds a valuable art collection, and its privileged location will allow you to relax and enjoy the breathtaking views of the Sacred Valley.
Andean Service Journey : Logistics Inclusions:
Exclusions:
Andean Service Journey Day 4: Arequipa – Mallkini Alpaca Ranch Early this morning, leave Arequipa and start your trip towards the next destination: Mallkini Alpaca Ranch. A four-hour drive on paved road and two hours on remote dirt tracks take you to the hacienda. In the afternoon, Moises, the ranch manager and alpaca expert, will give you a short introduction to alpaca breeding.
During this week you will take part in the daily activities of the Mirasol Boarding School. You will be sharing your time with small children, whose ages range from 4 to 12 years old. Considering that they are residents at the school during the week, you will have time to join them for a variety of activities, such as daily classes, playing and having fun, sharing meals, and doing homework. At Mirasol, children don’t receive visitors continuously, so having you with them, sharing your time and experiences, will be very enriching for them, as it certainly will be for you.
Other than the daily activities and finding the means to raise the children in the best possible way, Mirasol has many other needs to be fulfilled, including those which have to do with improving the school and house infrastructure. Projects include:
If planned with enough time in advance, and depending on the size of the group, you may have an option of contributing in some way, or to engage in another specific project like painting a section of the house, working on the garden, or other activities that fit your interests and skills.
At the end of the day you will go back to the privacy of the hacienda-house, where you will find a nice warm dinner, after which you will be able to sit around the fire and share experiences.
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