The Jewels of the Andes - Peru & Buenos Aires

Tailor Made Holidays in Cuba

The island of Cuba lies at the mouth of the Gulf of Mexico; the main island is 1,200km long with an irregular coastline that offers hundreds of bays and beaches. The largest of all Caribbean Islands is an addictive mixture of lavish Spanish colonial architecture, imposing communist statues and plazas, sublime powder white beaches, teeming coral reefs, densely forested mountains and verdant tropical plantations.

Travelling in Cuba is without doubt an incredible cultural experience and it should be treated as such. Cuba is definitely not a country that should be visited if you are looking for luxury or a trip where everything runs like clockwork. The appeal of Cuba is that it has remained free of western influence and commercialisation. There are no advertising hoardings or fast food restaurants. The countryside is beautiful, the beaches are stunning (although many are dominated by large all inclusive resorts) and most of all the people are wonderful. The colonial architecture, history and music all add further to its appeal culminating in a unique holiday which you will never forget. Anyone visiting with an open mind, a sense of humour and an adventurous spirit will be more than rewarded by what they find.

Cuba's unique and turbulent history weaves a fascinating tale from Spanish colonial rule and the slave trade to Batista's dictatorship and Castro's revolution. This is reflected in its vibrant culture, thriving arts scene and flamboyant music. Since the collapse of the Soviet Union Cuba's economy has struggled and this combined with the US embargo are still very much in evidence. Although Cuba's focus is now on tourism to ensure its future prosperity, the country is a law unto itself when it comes to quality of hotels, food, service and transportation. It may be a Caribbean island with the climate, scenery and wonderful beaches to match but the fact remains it is a communist country struggling not only with a crumbling infrastructure and the governmental control over its people and businesses but also the continuing US embargo.

Without doubt all of this adds to the charm of this unique country but it also means that Cuba's ability to maintain service levels and standards is far less reliable than that of other developing countries in the world. Capital investment is restricted and requires approval by the government. The Cuban government sets most prices and rations goods. Even simple items that we take for granted, such as bread, can be hard to come by. The government's control over everything prevents private enterprise and with a strictly enforced regulated wage system gives many of the local people little incentive to be doing a good job. With Raul Castro now in control, change is occurring but progress is slow.

At ICAN Holidays we pride ourselves in the fact that we offer clients what they want - our holidays are all tailor made. Only you know what your ideal holiday should include. Whether you want to concentrate on culture or spend time wildlife watching, sample a city’s hustle and bustle or relax in a secluded beauty spot, ICAN Holidays will assist you discover the joy of designing a unique holiday just for you.

Throughout this website we have provided suggested itineraries for all the regions we visit, and you may wish to base your travels on these. After an initial consultation, one of our Specialists will create a unique itinerary for your holiday, complete with background information, historical notes, colour pictures, etc. We will not begin to book your holiday until you are completely satisfied with it.

Because our Specialists regularly travel to the regions you will be visiting, they can offer invaluable advice and suggestions for things to see and do while you are there and you can be confident that your unique itinerary has been created by someone who has extensive first-hand knowledge of the places and accommodation it contains.

Cuba has a warm and tropical climate with two distinct seasons.

The best time to visit is from December to May when you will have dry sunny days. From June to November Cuba can be hot, humid and wet. During the winter months of December and January daytime temperatures can drop below 20 degrees centigrade whilst in the summer months of July and August temperatures soar, especially in Havana and Santiago de Cuba.

The hurricane season begins in June and in some years can continue through to November.

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All our holidays are unique travel experiences, and therefore tailor-made to suit individual requirements. We do not publish prices on our website as they can vary enormously for tailor-made travel. In some instances we do promote holidays that are part of our "Classic" series and these will include approximate pricing.

Prices are generally for private arrangements and are per person using economy class flights based on two people travelling together and sharing a room.

There are a number of factors which will influence the price of your travel arrangements, these include the standard of hotel (we offer a variety of standards from ‘three star’ to the super-luxurious), the season, the duration of your trip, the class of flights and the airline used, the level of private guiding and the complexity of the itinerary. Our specialists will be delighted to discuss the various options in more detail with you.

ICAN Guides Cuba

ICAN Itineraries Cuba

Classic Cuba ~ 8 Days / 7 Nights

The Jewels of the Andes - Peru & Buenos Aires - 10 Days incl. flights

Written by Travel Correspondent

Wednesday, 02 September 2009 20:56

The Jewels of the Andes - Peru & Buenos Aires ~ 10 Days (Including Flights)

Lima / Cusco / Sacred Valley / Machu Picchu / Puno / Lake Titicaca / Buenos Aires

From R27,840 p.p. ex Johannesburg

sv1 Peru has an array of "must see" sights that are positioned to see in a logical order. Whilst the bustling city of Lima is a worth a night or two for museum lovers, many people see it as a springboard for the rest of the country.

In Cuzco, the capital of the vast Inca Empire, visit many of the highlights in the compact centre as well as many of the surrounding Inca ruins. From Cuzco, the highlight of the trip is driving into the stunning Sacred Valley, the larger Inca ruins of Pisac and Ollantaytambo are visited before staying in one of the remote hotels in the valley.

The next day the train to Machu Picchu provides a fantastic journey along the banks of the raging Urubamba River. Explore the magical ruins before returning to Cuzco.

Cusco is the place to board the train to Puno for the fantastic altiplano train journey. From Puno take a boat on Lake Titicaca and sail to the floating Uros Islands that are made from tortora reeds that grow on the lake. Also, learn about traditional dress and farming methods directly from the islanders of Taquile Island.

End your holiday with a stopover in Buenos Aires, the vibrant capital of Argentina.

Itinerary

Day 1: (Sunday) Johannesburg / Buenos Aires / Lima
Depart with South African Airways via Buenos Aires to Lima.
On arrival you will be met and transferred to your hotel - SONESTA EL OLIVAR for two nights.

Day 2: (Monday) Lima B/-/-
Breakfast at your hotel.
Morning tour of Lima. Tour of the "City of the Kings". Panoramic visit to the Huaca Pucllana archaeological center that was active 5th and 8th centuries A.D. Proceed to the Historical Centre of Lima and see the Plaza Mayor, the Government Palace, the City Hall, the Cathedral and the Archbishop's Palace. Then on to the San Francisco Monastery, a masterpiece of Colonial architecture. Drive through the residential districts of Miraflores and San Isidro where you will enjoy a magnificent view of the Pacific Ocean and its beaches.

Day 3: (Tuesday) Lima / Cusco / Sacred Valley B/L/-
Transfer from your hotel this morning to the airport for flight to Cusco. Upon arrival in Cusco, transfer to the SOL & LUNA – URUBAMBA

Take a trip to Urubamba, the Sacred Valley of the Incas to visit Pisac where you will have the opportunity to bargain with vendors at its local handicrafts market. Enjoy lunch at a pleasant hostelry in the countryside and continue to the Inca fortress of Ollantaytambo. The site was built just as the Spaniards arrived and evidence of how it was is still visible. After admiring the site's magnificent past, stroll through the quaint streets of today's town.

Day 4: (Wednesday) Sacred Valley B/-/-
Breakfast at your hotel.
Enjoy a free day to explore the valley or relax in your hotel.

Day 5: (Thursday) Sacred Valley / Machu Picchu / Cusco B/L/-
Breakfast at your hotel.
We'll transfer you to Ollanta station to board the train for Machu Picchu. Upon arrival at Aguas Calientes, you'll take a 25-minute coach ride to "The Lost City of the Incas", discovered by American explorer Hiram Bingham in 1911. You'll then have a guided tour of the marvellous citadel, an awe-inspiring experience. Later, feel free to stroll around the archaeological site. In the afternoon you'll return to Cusco, and upon arrival we'll transfer you to the LIBERTADOR PALACIO DEL INKA HOTEL.

Day  6: (Friday) Cusco B/-/-
Breakfast at your hotel.
Explore the magical capital of the Incas on a tour that includes a visit to the Plaza de Armas, the Cathedral and the Santo Domingo convent monastery. The Santo Domingo monastery was built over the Koricancha temple, one of the most important temples dedicated to the worship of the sun. According to the chronicles, it was covered in gold leaf and filled with golden representations of nature. Then we roam around the old town with its very narrow streets. After seeing the most interesting sites of the city, you will be driven into the nearby remarkable Inca ruins in the area:   Sacsayhuaman, the temple and amphitheatre of Kenko and the Red Fortress of Puca Pucara.

Day  7: (Saturday) Cusco / Puno    B/-/-
Breakfast at your hotel.
Transfer from the hotel to the airport. Flight from Cusco to Juliaca for Puno. Upon arriving in Juliaca we will provide assistance at the airport   and transfer you to HOTEL LIBERTADOR LAGO TITICACA in Puno.

Day 8: (Sunday) Puno B/L/-
Breakfast at your hotel.
Take a motor boat trip to some of the more unique islands of Lake Titicaca, starting with Taquile Island, which is inhabited by quechua speaking natives who have developed both an efficient and original social system and a fine handweaving technique over several generations. Then travel to the utterly fascinating Uros Islands. These islands are completely man made, and its inhabitants continue to maintain them as they have since pre-Columbian times, using Totora reeds from the lake. Lunch included.

Day 9: (Monday) Puno / Lima / Buenos Aires B/-/-
Breakfast at your hotel before transfer from your hotel to the airport, visiting the "Chullpas" of Sillustani en route, where the ancient Aymaras used to bury their high priests in cylinder-shaped tombs. Assistance on departure.
Upon your arrival in Lima, connect with your overnight flight to Buenos Aires.

Day 10: (Tuesday) Buenos Aires -/-/-
Arrival this morning in Buenos Aires. Transfer from the airport to The Vista Sol Hotel. Remainder of the day is at leisure to explore the city or perhaps attend a Tango show with dinner.

Day 11: (Wednesday) Buenos Aires / Johannesburg B/-/-
At leisure in Buenos Aires until your transfer to the airport for departure on SAA to Johannesburg.

Day 12: (Thursday) Johannesburg arrival
Arrive in Johannesburg this morning.

End of Holiday Programme

Your Holiday Cost:

Valid for travel between 1 & 17 November 2009

Ex Johannesburg R27,840 share twin | R33,290 single

Valid for travel 18 & 30 November 2009

Ex Johannesburg R29,350 share twin | R34,805 single

For prices from Cape Town / Durban and other South African departure cities please ask us for details.

Your Holiday Includes:

Return flights from Johannesburg on SAA to Buenos Aires & return including airport taxes
Flights on LAN Airpass Buenos Aires/Lima/Cusco/Juliaca/Lima/Buenos
Airport taxes on SAA ticket & LAN tickets. However please note that airport taxes in South America cannot always be guaranteed and guests may be required to pay supplementary taxes enroute.
Transfers and services on Seat-in-Coach basis with local English speaking guides
10 nights accommodation at mentioned hotels (or similar) according to availability
Meals as detailed (drinks not included)
Complimentary at Sol y Luna in Cusco : welcome petit fours, free use of the spa includes sauna and jacuzzi, 30 minutes massage or express facial, pisco sour lessons, visit to the wayra cave and wine tasting.
Full day visit of the Sacred Valley including Pisac Market and Ollantaytambo
Cusco Tourist Tax
Lunch at a local restaurant in the Sacred Valley
Full day excursion to Machu Picchu including guided tour of the Citadel, entrance fees & bus
First Class Train Ollanta / Machu Picchu / Ollanta
Lunch at the Machu Picchu Sanctuary Lodge
Cusco - Half day city tour and nearby ruins
Lake Titicaca - Full day tour of Uros & Taquile in a shared boat with guide
Lima - Half day city tour

Your Holiday does not Include:

Meals not mentioned
Passport & visa if required. Currently South African Passport holders do not require visas for Argentina & Peru.
Items of a personal nature: travel insurance, telephone calls, laundry etc.

Last Updated on Thursday, 10 September 2009 22:25

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