PERU TEXTILE AND ALPACA TOUR 2010

This journey has been designed to focus on the Peruvian textile-art and its most important sources, Alpaca and Vicuna. You will not only learn about the pre-Columbian textiles, but will also have the opportunity to see how the techniques, used by the Peruvian’s ancestors, have been preserved and are still used by many local communities and artisans. You will even have the opportunity to take part in a private textile workshop, where local experts will explain some of these techniques. During the tour, you will be in contact and even be hosted by art collectors, hacienda owners, and other fascinating individuals, providing you with a glimpse at the true “Peruvian lifestyle”.

The journey will not be complete without the visit to some of the most important archaeological and historical sites in Peru, including Machu Picchu, one of the recently elected Seven Wonders of the World. Its worth mentioning that one of the main attractions during the tour is the exotic Peruvian Cuisine, which is currently considered one of the top and most innovative cuisines in the world.

July 12 (Monday) -- Departure from the US

July 13 (Tuesday) -- Arrival in Lima

·      Arrival in Lima

·      Transport to the hotel

Accommodation: Hotel Casa Andina Private Collection Lima*****

July 14 (Wednesday) -- Lima

·      Visit to the Archaeological and Anthropological Museum. This museum hosts a small collection of amazing pre-Columbian textiles

·      Lunch at a private hacienda, with a Peruvian Paso Horse demonstration. This hacienda is a family’s residence and the owners will host the group

·      Amano Museum: This museum houses some of the most impressive pre-Columbian textiles (some only small fragments), collected by Mr. Amano during his excavations, mainly on the site of the Chancay Culture

·      Cocktail at the house of a renowned art collector, who will guide us through his collection, while we enjoy a refreshing Pisco-Sour and authentic Peruvian hors d’oeuvres

Meals: B, L, CT

Accommodation: Hotel Casa Andina Private Collection Lima*****

July 15 (Thursday) -- Lima - Arequipa

·      Modern textile art in Lima: Visit to stores and art experts in Miraflores and Barranco

·      Lunch at Pedro Miguel Schiaffino’s Malabar Restaurant

·      Transfer to the airport and evening flight to Arequipa

Meals: B, L

Accommodation: Hotel Casa Andina Private Collection Arequipa****

July 16 (Friday) -- Arequipa

·      Visit to the Michell Alpaca Factory, where we will explore the entire manufacturing process, from the reception of the fiber to the yarn and clothe manufacture

·      Lunch at a typical restaurant, enjoying the traditional food from Arequipa

·      Afternoon visit to Mundo Alpaca. This gives us the chance to learn more about the history of the Alpaca in Peru, and the manufacturing process, from the animal to the finished product

·      Free time to walk around and enjoy this beautiful City

Meals: B, L

Accommodation: Hotel Casa Andina Private Collection Arequipa****

July 17 (Saturday) -- Arequipa - Mallkini Alpaca Ranch

·      Private transport from Arequipa to Mallkini (about 6 hour-drive)

·      Lunch in Mallkini

·      Afternoon activities: 4x4 and/or horse-back ride to explore the ranch and watch at least one Alpaca herd in its natural habitat

·      Dinner and conversation with the Ranch manager, who is one of the most experienced individuals in terms of Alpaca breeding and research

Meals: B, L, D

Accommodation: Mallkini Alpaca Ranch

July 18 (Sunday) -- Vicuna Chaccu

·      After breakfast, transport to the Picotani community

·      A Vicuna Chaccu, involving about 500 vicunas, will be set specially for the group. There we will admire one of the oldest and most impressive Andean traditions, when once a year communities bring together these gorgeous semi-wild animals to shear them and collect their fiber, the finest and most expensive fiber in the world

·      Transfer back to the Ranch

·      Free afternoon to relax and enjoy this amazing place. If we still have energies, we may want to go for a walk, horse-ride, or visit other parts of the ranch in our 4x4 vehicles

Meals: B, L, D

Accommodation: Mallkini Alpaca Ranch

July 19 (Monday) -- Mallkini - Cusco

·      After breakfast, our transport puts us on the way to Cusco

·      Arrival in Cusco during the afternoon, with enough time to relax and/or enjoy the city

Meals: B, L

Accommodation: Hotel Casa Andina Private Collection Cusco****

July 20 (Tuesday) -- Weaving workshop in Cusco

·      Full-day textile workshop. During the day we will learn first hand some of the techniques we have been observing during the journey

·      Lunch at Limo Restaurant

Meals: B, L

Accommodation: Hotel Casa Andina Private Collection Cusco****

July 21 (Wednesday) -- Sacred Valley

·      Full day tour of the Sacred Valley visiting the Pisac Market and the Ollantaytambo ruins

·      Lunch at a private hacienda, housing a very interesting collection of pre-Columbian and Colonial art.

Meals: B, L

Accommodation: Hotel Casa Andina Private Collection Valley****

July 22 (Thursday) -- Chinchero and Accha Alta weaving communities

·      A full day to admire the ancient weaving designs and techniques used by the people belonging to the communities of Chinchero and Accha Alta

·      The day starts with a visit to Accha Alta in the heights of Calca. There we will appreciate the techniques of warping and knitting. Only natural dyes and fibers are used in this process. Red and white are the main colors used

·      Picnic in the Sacred Valley

·      After lunch we will continue to Chinchero, where we will observe weavers who have been working for more than 30 years in the research and recovery of the local weaving traditions

Meals: B, L

Accommodation: Hotel Casa Andina Private Collection Valley****

July 23 (Friday) -- Machu Picchu

·      Early train to Aguas Calientes

·      Guided tour of the ruins

·      Free afternoon at the Machu Picchu Pueblo Hotel, definitely the best hotel in the area. Its jungle-like gardens allow the guests to enjoy nature in all its glory. Short-guided tours may be arranged to view orchids in their natural habitat or for bird-watching

Meals: B, D

Accommodation: Machu Picchu Pueblo Hotel—Inkaterra

July 24 (Saturday) -- Aguas Calientes - Cusco

·      Free morning in Aguas Calientes

·      Noon train ride back to Ollantaytambo and private transport to Cusco

·      Farewell dinner at Baco Restaurant

Meals: B, D

Accommodation: Hotel Casa Andina Private Collection Cusco****

July 25 (Sunday) -- Cusco - Lima - USA

·      Free morning in Cusco

·      Afternoon flight to Lima

·      Private transport to Miraflores for final shopping. The hotel will be available to us for the day

·      Flight back to the USA

Meals: B

Accommodation: Hotel Day-use at Casa Andina Private Collection Lima*****

 

PRICES AND INCLUSIONS

Price per Person

Participants / Price per person

6 - 7 / US$5,160

8 - 9 / US$4,915

10 - 11 / US$4,650

12 - 15 / US$4,450

16 - 20 / US$4,050

Single Supplement / US$950

Some travelers have expressed their interest in extensions to the tour such as the Galapagos Islands. We will be more than happy to personalize such extensions to suit your needs.

Included

·      Domestic Flights:

o      Lima - Arequipa (LAN)

o      Cusco - Lima (LAN)

·      Accommodation (price is based on double occupancy) and meals as described in the itinerary (B-Breakfast, L-Lunch, CT- Cocktails, D-Dinner)

·      All transfers, tours and excursions are private service, as detailed in the itinerary

·      Entrance fees to the museums and sites included in the tour

·      Guide / Quechua interpreter specialized in textiles, during the visit to the communities of Accha Alta and Chinchero

 

Not included

·      Transportation from home and departure cities in the United States to Lima and back. On previous trips, we have been able to find reasonable airfare for the entire group. However, if you are able to get a better airfare or use your frequent flyer miles, you could travel to Lima separately. Otherwise we will endeavor to make every effort to find the best airfare available for the entire group.

·      Meals not specified in the itinerary (allow approximately $10 per person for meals not included).

·      Personal expenses, such as laundry, phone calls, soft and alcoholic drinks, etc.

·      National Airport taxes, current taxes subject to change o For each domestic flight: US $6 per person o For international flights: US $32 per person o US $10.00 per passenger per issued domestic ticket

·      Travel insurance (recommended)

·      Tips, bag carriers, and other extras. As you may well be aware, the tourist industry thrives on tips, which are not included in the restaurant or hotel fees. Our guides and drivers will welcome your support

·      Early check-in, late check-out

·      Shipping costs for items sent or brought home

·      Excess airline baggage charges

·      Passport fees

 

Note

Because of the nature of hotels and the travel industry, it is not always possible to secure the hotels and lodges listed in the itinerary. We will make every effort to obtain accommodations in the recommended hotels. However, we reserve the right to secure the next best available option or an upgrade, in the event that the original hotels are not available or are overbooked.

 

TERMS AND CONDITIONS

Booking and Payment

A US$500 deposit is required to confirm your space. The balance is to be paid 60 days prior to departure—that is, on May 12, 2010. If the full amount is not paid at the proper time, we reserve the right to treat the booking as canceled and the deposit shall be forfeited.

If the booking is done within 60 days of tour departure, your space will be secured once we get the full amount of the trip price.

The Tour Operator reserves the right to alter the published price of any tour due to increasing tariffs, costs and money exchange rates; such amounts shall be determined at the sole discretion of the Tour Operator.

Cancellations

If you must cancel your reservation, the cancellation fees are as follows

Days prior to trip / Fee per person

60+ / US$500

60 - 46 / 20% of the trip price

45 - 31 / 50% of the trip price

30 - 16 / 75% of the trip price

15 - 0 / 100% of the trip price

 

Any person joining a tour after the departure date, not joining the tour at all without previous notice, or leaving before the completion of the tour for any reason, is not entitled to any refunds or entitled to claim any costs for any added expenses.

Cancellation by the Tour Operator

We reserve the right to cancel any tour at our sole and absolute discretion, without prior notification, if quality of the trip or the safety of the travelers is judged to be compromised. In such case, refund of payments received by us shall constitute full settlement. The Tour Operator cannot assume responsibility for any loss incurred on account of non-refundable air tickets.

Insurance

We highly recommend purchasing insurance for the following: Trip cancellation, lost/stolen baggage, extended medical and evacuation costs. An unforeseen illness or unexpected event may require you to cancel your trip. In order to protect the client, his baggage and/or personal property, a short-term traveler’s insurance package may be purchased through any insurance agent or you may ask us for assistance. The Tour Operator or its agents will not be responsible for any costs or loses incurred by passengers for such occurrences and circumstances.

Risk and Health

Please note that our trips entail risks beyond those encountered at home. Our primary objective is to take the hassle out of a great travel experience. In return, we expect people to ensure they are healthy; to appreciate that in some countries, local living standards, practices, services and accommodations may differ from those in their hometowns; and to understand the fact that a road less traveled means a more unpredictable and more rewarding adventure. Neither the Tour Operator nor any of its agents shall be held liable in any way for any injury, loss of life or damage to property, occurred during the trip.

Authority on the Tour

The decisions of the Tour Operator shall at all times be final and binding. The guest must at all times respect the laws of the visited country, and the internal regulations of the tour. Shall the guest be in any contravention of the above or be a nuisance to the group, the Tour Operator may order him/her to leave the tour without any claim to a refund. The guest shall be obliged to make his/her way home at his/her own expense.

Travel Documents

It is the guest’s sole responsibility to ensure that passports, visas, proof of vaccinations and any other required documentation are all in order for the trip. The Tour Operator cannot be held liable for any consequences, damages or claims if the guest, prior to the starting date of the tour, does not attend correctly to his documentation and related matters.

Marketing

The Tour Operator reserves the right to use any photographs and video taken during the tour for use in marketing or any other advertising material and the guest hereby gives consent of such photographs to be used.

Force Majeure

Unforeseen circumstances including but not limited to mechanical breakdowns, weather, riots and other unforeseen reasons beyond the control of the Tour Operator may cause delays or alterations to the tour. The Tour Operator shall not be held liable in any way for any of these possible occurrences or any consequences which may arise as a result of these.

Liability of Independent Suppliers

Although the Tour Operator endeavors to choose appropriate independent suppliers to provide services on the trips, the Tour Operator has no right to control their operations and therefore makes travel arrangements for the trips on the condition that the Tour Operator will not be liable for any act or omission of any independent supplier or any unrelated third party. The services provided by independent suppliers are subject to the laws of the place where the services are provided, and any conditions imposed by those suppliers. The liability of the independent suppliers may be limited by their tariffs, conditions of carriage, tickets and vouchers, and international conventions and agreements.

Responsibility

Helen Hamann and its representatives abroad act only as independent contractors, that is, they are not acting on behalf of either the traveler or the suppliers.

Once airline tickets are issued they are non refundable.

Please keep a copy of your registration for your records.

Contact Us

Helen Hamann

6555 State Hwy 30 East

Decatur, TN 37322

Phone: 423.334.8033 or 888.587.5568

Email: info@helenhamann.com