Many of us who’ve grown to know and love alpacas have also developed an interest in their history and homeland. DreamWeaver Travel Company (and The Dream Farm) has designed this trip specifically for alpaca and llama owners and other interested parties so that they may experience the truly wonderful world of traditional and modern Andean culture, including present-day camelid ranching. A highlight of the trip will be participation in the world’s largest vicuña roundup, or “chaccu,” held bi-annually on October 15 near Mallkini Ranch, a state-of-the-art alpaca farm run by Mitchell Fiber Mills. DreamWeaver Travel has been fortunate enough to be invited to participate in this once-in-a-lifetime experience. This is not an event sponsored for tourists, but is at the invitation of a community near Mallkini who are responsible for the management of the largest vicuña herd in South America, and thus the world! We will also be visiting Lima, Lake Titicaca, Machu Picchu, the Sacred Valley of the Incas, and Cusco.
Itinerary
Day 1, Oct. 10 – Arrival, LIMA
Arrival in Lima, transfer to the Hotel España, and overnight. (D)
Day 2 - Oct. 11 LIMA, PUNO
City tour, National museum, flight to Juliaca, transfer to Puno and the Hotel Q’elqatani (B,L,D)
Day 3 - Oct. 12 PUNO, LAKE TITICACA, TAQUILE ISLAND
You’ll leave some of your luggage at the hotel and start a private tour of the north end of Lake Titicaca, including the Uros Islands, and an optional overnight with local villagers on Taquile Island. (B,L,D)
Day 4- Oct. 13 TAQUILE ISLAND - PUNO – MALLKINI ALPACA RANCH & RESEARCH CENTER
Morning return to Puno by boat (arrival by around noon), lunch, and afternoon transport to Mallkini Ranch (B,L,D)
Day 5 – Oct. 14 MALKINI RANCH
Full day tour of ranch and description of programs; time for horseback riding or just a stroll around the premises (beautiful!) (B,L,D)
Day 6 - Oct. 15 MALLKINI, CHACCU, MALLKINI
Starting early in the morning, you’ll be transported to a local village about an hour from Mallkini Ranch, where our group will be among the only Westerners to ever participate in what is arguably the largest vicuña roundup (CHACCU) in the world. The community of
Day 7 – Oct. 16 MALLKINI RANCH
Day 8 - Oct. 17 MALLKINI – CUZCO
Private transport from Mallkini Ranch to Cuzco (approx. 7 hours), with stops at points of interest along the way; overnight at Hotel Los Apus, a quaint little hotel w/in walking distance of the central square and the shopping and restaurant section of Cuzco. (B,L)
Day 9 – Oct. 18 CUSCO
Morning free for resting or strolling around to get your bearings; afternoon tour of Cuzco and 4 Inca ruin sites in and around the city. Overnight at Hotel Los Apus. (B)
Day 10 – Oct. 19 AGUAS CALIENTE/ MACHU PICCHU
Morning train ride from Cuzco to Aguas Caliente and guided visit of the incredible Machu Picchu; in the afternoon, descend to Aguas Caliente and the Hotel Machu Picchu Inn for your overnight. (B)
Day 11– Oct. 20 MACHU PICCHU – SACRED VALLEY
Early morning bus ride up to Machu Picchu and a relaxed tour of the ruins on your own, then back down to Aguas Caliente again for your train ride to Ollantaytambo where you’ll check into the Hotel Pakaritampu for the night (B)
Day 12 - Oct. 21 SACRED VALLEY TOUR - CUZCO
Full day in the Sacred Valley, with visits to the ruins of Ollantaytambo and Pisac and the Inca ruins of Pisac; on the return to Cuzco, we’ll stop and visit the Awana Kancha alpaca project (http://www.awanakancha.com/ ) Overnight back at the Hotel de los Apus in Cuzco. (B)
Day 13 - Oct. 22 FREE DAY IN CUZCO UNTIL DEPARTURE
(Optional rainforest extension – please ask for further info!)
LAND COST : to be determined
AIRFARE : approx. $850 per person from Miami to La Paz or Lima and return (we'll be happy to help you with airfare to La Paz or Lima, if you wish, or you can do it on your own)
Comfortable private transportation will be provided throughout (except a public train is required for the 3 hour trip from Ollantaytambo to Machu Picchu - this is an experience you'll never forget!); Dudley Parkinson, owner and operator of DreamWeaver Travel (www.dreamweavertravel.net ), and The Dream Farm will accompany the trip.
Note: We will need a minimum of 6 people to make this trip go.
Notes:
Airfare is not included in the tour price.
Price includes lodging, transportation, guides, entry fees, and most meals!
Also see tour packages in:
South America
Peru
Cultural Journey
Farm Stay & Ranching
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