Peru and Bolivia - In Gudrun´s Footsteps
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Datum och pris för denna resa är inte satta ännu.
Join us on a grand trip of Peru and Bolivia in the wake of the ancient Indian cultures from Cuzco, the heart of the former Inca Empire, through the Sacred Valley to the mighty ruins of Machu Picchu. Further south we go by boat on South America's largest lake, to the famous Floating islands of Urus and the island of Taquile where women produce wool for their men, who then knits colorful clothing. In La Paz, we visit neighbourhoods where women compete in the Bolivian wrestling, in traditional clothing, with a large portion of acting. The trip ends with walks and rest in rural surroundings by Coroico, in Bolivia, where the tropical mountain forest and greenery is a contrast to what we have previously experienced in El Altiplano, the high-plato of the Andes. This is a tour made in cooperation with the clothing- and textile company Gudrun Sjödén. Throughout the itinerary we have a focus on crafts and cultural traditions. The price below is in Swedish "Kronor" (SEK).
Some information on this web page is in Swedish. If you have information regarding the tour please call +46 (0)8 6695525 or mail to: pelle@varldensresor.se
Resfakta och pris
- Dag 1 Lima
- Dag 2 Lima
- Dag 3 The Sacred Valley
- Dag 4 The Sacred Valley and Aguas Calientes
- Dag 5 Machu Picchu
- Dag 6 Cuzco
- Dag 7 To Lake Titicaca
- Dag 8 Lake Titicaca
- Dag 9 Tiwanaku and La Paz
- Dag 10 La Paz
- Dag 11 La Paz
- Dag 12 Coroico
- Dag 13 Coroico
- Dag 14 La Paz and return flight
- Dag 15 Back home
All this is included:
- International flight from Stockholm including airport tax. Departure from Gothenburg and Copenhagen, or other locations can be arranged with a possibility of additional costs. Notify when booking which destination you desire.
- Flight Lima to Cusco.
- All transfers and transports according to the program by bus and boat.
- A Swedish tour leader. If there are many international tourists then we provide a tour leader that will speak English and hence make an international group.
- Local English speaking guides
- Shared twinroom at the hotel.
- Breakfast daily and 4 lunches/ dinners.
- All tours and activities which are part of the program.
- Admission fees to the museum Larco in Lima; the ruins in the Sacred Valley, as well as museums and attractions in Cuzco; Machu Picchu, museum in La Paz and other fees and entrance fees as during our on Lake Titicaca.
- Boat trip on Lake Titicaca
- Detailed written participant information and map.
- Gratuities to local guides, transporters and for the meals which are included.
What is not included in the tour price?
- Lunch and dinner the days when it is not included (see above)
- Gratuities to hotel (cleaning staff and such) and for meals which are not included.
- Own activities and personal expenses.
Resplan
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Dag 1 Lima
By plane to Lima, Peru’s capital, and arrival the same day. If you are traveling from a place other than Stockholm, where the group flight departs from, we find alternative solutions, sometimes at the same price, but on occasion it may differ. The last part of the flight will take place over the Andean folded mountain ridges down to Lima, which is located by the Pacific Ocean. Upon arrival we will have a 40-minute transfer to the hotel in the Miraflores neighbourhood.
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Dag 2 Lima
Lima is one of the oldest cities in South America. It was founded in 1535 by Francisco Pizarro and quickly established itself as South America's major trading city, where many of the region's treasures were shipped from. Lima became the capital of the kingdom possessed by the Peruvian viceroyalty, which in 1543 and for 150 years included almost all of South America. Over time other kingdoms formed and Peru reduced in size, but Lima has remained an important city. Today, Lima is the hub of a nation that has seen an positive economical development over the past decade.
Before the Spaniards' arrival there were advanced cultures in Peru, such as the Moche, Nazca, Chimú and Inca and the amazing archaeological museum Larco, has one of the world's largest collections of pre-Columbian art. Beautiful and interesting objects of pottery, textiles, gold and silver tells tales of how the aboriginals lived. We venture around the city of Lima to take a look at both modern neighbourhoods like Miraflores and Lima's old city center with the Cathedral, where Pizarro is buried. We eat a welcome-meal together.
Vi tar oss runt i Limas stad och ser såväl moderna stadsdelar som Miraflores och Limas gamla stadskärna med katedralen där Pizarro är begravd. Vi äter välkomstmåltid tillsammans.
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Dag 3 The Sacred Valley
We leave Lima in the morning, by plane, to Cuzco/Cusco. From Cusco's airport we depart toward the Sacred Valley. The Sacred Valley is located at 2800 meters altitude and we reduce the risk of altitude sickness by staying here before later going to Cuzco, located near 3400 meters altitude. It was in the Sacred Valley the best corn in the Inca Empire was grown, and here the surroundings are dense with different remnants from the Inca Empire.
We visit the village of Chinchero, which is known as the city with great crafts in the area, and learn about its textile production, which includes natural colors and often sophisticated patterns. We are staying at a hotel in the Sacred Valley and in the late afternoon/evening, we have time to recharge the batteries before tomorrow's activities.
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Dag 4 The Sacred Valley and Aguas Calientes
In the morning, we go, first to Ollantaytambo, which is actually built on the ruins of an old Inca palace. It is the, perhaps, best example that can be found of what an old Inca village truly looked like. The Spaniards built a typical Spanish square, but otherwise the street pattern remains intact. On the hill above Ollantaytambo the Inca chief, Pachacuti, built his palace. For those who want to and are able we visit these sites to witness a mighty relic.
Ollantaytambo is said to mean “my rulers storage”. Shortly after lunch we continue, onboard a fine train with large windows, through beautiful valleys to Aguas Calientes located below the ruins of the Inca city Machu Picchu.
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Dag 5 Machu Picchu
We take a bus up to the gem of the Inca Empire, Machu Picchu, at 2400 meters altitude. We visit the mighty ruins during the day. For those who want to, there is an opportunity to get up early and see the sunrise over Machu Picchu. The tour begins a little later.
Machu Picchu was until 1911 an undiscovered city before the American researcher Hiram Bingham undertook extensive work to uncover what the jungle had hidden. It is likely that the site’s purpose was ceremonial, astronomical as well as serving as a private retreat for the Inca Pachacutec. Some parts were urban areas and the rest consisted of farmland. It had a strategic location between the mountains in an area with cities such as Cusco, and the Amazon, close by. This could possibly explain why it became so populated. It was, probably, abandoned completely prior to Pizarro’s settlement, which explains why the Spaniards never discovered the city.
However, one thing is certain; regardless of use it is a remarkable place with beautiful terraces and very well-preserved ruins and our skilled local guide tells us about the Inca’s relation to power, politics, religion and astronomy. At noon, we take the train to Cusco (or a combination of rail and bus making for shorter time).
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Dag 6 Cuzco
Cuzco (Cusco) was the heart of the ancient Inca Empire. It suffered a civil war in the 1500s, which flared up due to the power struggle after the death of Huayna Cápac. Huayna Capac was the vast empires last emperor and unifying factor. The Spanish invaders were quick to seize this opportunity. Despite the destruction and looting, and the fact that several of the former temples and buildings were demolished, there is still amazing constructions preserved in and around Cusco. It is definitely a city to be experienced on foot!
We do a city tour where we take in the most and the best of central Cuzco. The colonial legacy is significant and around the Plaza de Armas, you will find several interesting buildings, with the cathedral and the Coricancha as the main attraction. The city also has fine restaurants, including one by the star chef Gastón Acurio who contributed greatly to why Peruvian food has become very popular in many parts of the world. In 2013 Gastón Acurio received the White Guide Global Gastronomy Award.
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Dag 7 To Lake Titicaca
We travel by bus to Lake Titicaca and the port city of Puno. It is the longest bus journey we will do during the trip and can take up to 9 hours but it gives a chance to see more of the country and the journey south includes visits to several attractions such as the Racchi with its Inca remnants, the Spanish bridge at Checacupe, the excellent Museum of pukara culture (before the Incas) and we also have lunch on the way.
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Dag 8 Lake Titicaca
This day we take a boat trip on Lake Titicaca. The lake is probably one million years old and is a World Heritage Site. It is South America´s highest the fresh water lake. We will step ashore on the famous reed islands that the aboriginal Uros-tribes traditionally inhabit. Here everything is made out of reeds - the ground, the huts, shops and even a hotel. Not surprisingly, the Uros are also behind the famous reed boats.
We continue to the island of Taquile with a population of just over 2,000. Here there are ancient ruins of cultures earlier than the Incas. In Taquile, people live mainly on traditional agriculture, they are islanders and are careful and protective of their traditions. This is seen in their traditional clothing and other crafts. Craft tradition in Taquile is strong and both men and women are knitting. Titicaca is a world heritage site and Taquiles strong tradition of textile production (as well as the residents) is part of what the authorities want to preserve.
From Taquile we have a nice view of the Bolivian snow-capped mountain peaks on the other side of the lake. We also travel to the peninsula Llachon not frequently visited by foreign travelers and here we get the chance to see how the original inhabitants tend to their land.
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Dag 9 Tiwanaku and La Paz
Lake Titicaca is located inbetween Peru and Bolivia, and in the morning we travel by bus along the lake's south side. Bolivia and Paraguay are the only countries in South America that do not have access to the sea but Bolivia has a fleet residing in this great lake.
After border control we will continue the trip to Tiwanaku (Tiahuanaco) which was a city in the kingdom of Tiahuanacota that existed before the Inca and stretched from northern Chile and Argentina to Peru. It is one of the great older civilizations in South America which was probably founded about 3500 years ago and lasted for 500-600 years, making it one of the oldest in South America, and also one of the most influential to its descendant cultures, such as the Inca. This is evident when visiting the big stones and monuments that remain here. The basis for reaching such a prominent position in this culture lay in the development of innovative agriculture, that allowed and secured an excess of food. For millennia their astronomical science developed, primarily as an aid in agriculture; To determine the time of sowing and harvesting, predicting dry years, etc. but also time for religious ceremonies, as an example, fertility ceremonies.
The journey continues towards La Paz, Bolivia's largest city which is magnificently nestled into a ravine with buildings that drops down toward its main street, El Prado. No matter where you are, you can always go down and eventually end up on this street! La Paz was elected one of the worlds seven city wonders. Although it might not be one of the world's seven most beautiful cities it is a very exciting city.
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Dag 10 La Paz
We spend the day doing a city tour on foot. We also take a ride on one of the newly made cable cars to see the city from above.
Today's activities depend largely on the current events in the city and we intend to visit a development project with connection Sweden. Världens Resor supports the NGO, Svalorna´s work here. During the day, we go up to a neighbourhood where women compete in wrestling, in traditional clothing, whilst incorporating a large amount of acting. Luckily it can’t be compared to its American counterparts. In Spanish it is called Lucha libre de cholitas.
We end the day at one of the citys Peñas, musical restaurants where several folk music groups preform during the same evening.
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Dag 11 La Paz
La Paz is undeniably a combination of the modern and the traditional. Between the more affluent parts of the city around 3200 meters above sea level and El Alto at 4000 meters, the differences in lifestyle are great. Bolivia is perhaps the country in the world with the greatest proportion of indigenous people and it shows in La Paz. The higher up in the city you go, the greater the part of the indigenous population.
We live in the center of town, and you have time to explore different areas on your own or with the tour leader. The selection of activities is huge and the distances are relatively short. You can visit the craft market with works from all corners of Bolivia, or go to the wise old women and buy an elixir of physical or spiritual use. You can bargain in one of the many small retailers, maybe purchase a Kena flute or some other Andean things. There is also a variety of museums to visit.
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Dag 12 Coroico
We leave the main luggage at the hotel and travel to the small town of Coroico. It will be a nice change of scenery from the barren and magnificent plateau. Coroico is located on a hill at 1700 meters of altitude in the lush Yunga region. Just below there is a valley at 1000 meters and the landscape is among the most beautiful that can be found in Bolivia.
After the new road opened in 2006, the city has become a major marketplace for goods primarily between La Paz and the Yunga region. Here they grow goods including coffee, citrus fruits, but above all it is one of the main spots for the growing of the coca leaf used traditionally in the country (chewing leaves is of course not same as the highly concentrated and distorted drug, cocaine). We learn more about the plant and fruits produced in the area. Bird life is rich. Bolivia is one of richest countries in the world when it comes to different species.
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Dag 13 Coroico
Day on your own in Coroico and there is the opportunity to relax by the pool and maybe read a book or take a nice walk in the small town. For those who want, there are extra activities that we can book through local small business (let us know latest the day before). There is a possibility to visit a coffee farm to learn about coffee production, go bird watching in the morning or in the afternoon or a visit to the National park Cotapata for trekking in the tropical forest.
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Dag 14 La Paz and return flight
The departure of the return flight begins sometime during the day (flight times still to be determined).
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Dag 15 Back home
Arrival to home destination during the day.
Bilder
Machu Picchu var fram till år 1911 en oupptäckt stad innan den amerikanske forskaren Hiram Bingham genomförde ett omfattande arbete för att frilägga den från djungelns grepp.
Bergen och vegetationen nära Machu Picchu är fantastisk och under den mest lyckade dagen är det både moln och sol!
Det finns 50 grundvarianter av majs i Peru och från dessa skapas nya varianter. Utseende, smak och odlingssätt kan vara väldigt olika.
I Soltemplet Coricancha (Inti Wasi) i Cuzco fanns inkaväldets finaste byggnad och kvarlevor av inkafolkets stenbyggnadsteknik går att se. De släthuggna stenarna är sammanbyggda utan bruk och murarna är jordbävningsresistenta.
Gamla exakta inkamurar återanvändes i Cuzco vid renoveringar av hus så att de skulle få en spansk karaktär.
Hantverkstraditionen i Peru och Bolivia är enastående. Både historiskt och i nutiden.
De berömda vassöarna som urosindianerna traditionellt bor på. Här är allt av vass – marken, hyddorna och affärerna.
På ön Taquile arbetar man efter kollektiva principer. När något ska byggas hjälper alla åt såsom de stenbelagda stigarna.
Tillverkningen av mössor på ön Taquiles sköts av männen och mössan förklarar vem du är. Är du gift eller ogift?
Resväg
Färdledare
Våra resor leds av en svensktalande färdledare med specialkunskaper om just den region dit resan går. Nedan presenterar vi några av våra experter.
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Mats Bertoft
Mats har bott många år i Bolivia och arbetat som volontär för Svalorna och UBV. Mats hyser ett stort intresse för den Andinska indiankulturen och har stora kunskaper i synnerhet om Aymaraindianernas kultur. Musik och dans är övriga intressen, den som följer med Mats på resa kan vänta sig spännande möten och inblick i lokala kulturevenemang.
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Thomas Svarén
Thomas arbetar som pedagog och folkbildare med fokus på internationella frågor och barn/ungas rättigheter. Han kombinerar arbete som pedagog med utbytes- och utvecklingsprojekt i samarbete med organisationer i Latinamerika, framför allt i Bolivia. Han har arbetat som volontär i Bolivia under två år för organisationen UBV.
Kontaktperson
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Pelle Ståldal (föräldraledig tom 15 juli 2019) Reseproducent
Har Latinamerika som sitt stora intresse sedan 1995 och var bl.a. bosatt i Colombia mellan åren 2006 till 2011 då han drev ett eget reseföretag. Pratar flytande spanska och har även arbetat som färdledare i regionen. Pelle har en magisterexamen i företagsekonomi och en kandidatexamen i statsvetenskap. Tillsammans med sin colombianska fru äger Pelle en bit mark i Colombia där han har satt igång en odling av avokado och olika frukter. Just nu tar en bonde från trakten hand om allting men en gång om året ska Pelle i alla fall ned med fingrarna i jorden. Ansvarar för resor till Latinamerika.
pelle@varldensresor.se
Välj din avgång
Avreseort väljer du när du anger dina personuppgifter i nästa steg.