Travel from the beaches to the mountains of Peru, crossing mountain ranges and high plateaus, during this fascinating 13-day tour. Visit the main historical, cultural and natural attractions of Lima, Paracas, Nazca, Arequipa, Colca, Puno, Machu Picchu and Cusco. In addition to delighting your eyes with unique landscapes, challenge your palate with bold flavours and experience the essence of the most traditional villages. End your adventure with a visit to Machu Picchu, the impressive Inca citadel that captivates the entire world.
TOUR HIGHLIGHTS
Lima: Listed as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO, the Peruvian capital is a symbol of history and modernity.
Islas Ballestas: Marvel at the natural diversity of the sea by visiting this sanctuary where you can see sea lions, Humboldt penguins and more.
Nazca Lines: Contemplate these mysterious geoglyphs that are over a thousand years old from the air.
Arequipa: Jewel of the colonial era and gastronomic capital par excellence, Arequipa is surrounded by volcanoes, offering a memorable panorama.
Colca Valley: Appreciate the elegance of the condors gliding over the valley and its 4,000-meter-deep canyon, one of the deepest on the planet.
Titicaca Lake: It is the highest navigable lake in the world and its islands are home to several communities that keep their millenary culture alive.
Cusco: The ancient Inca capital is a unique blend of pre-Columbian past and Spanish architecture.
Machu Picchu: Explore its fascinating rooms, temples, bridges and religious sites, built in harmony with the landscape that surrounds them.
Day 1: ARRIVAL LIMA
Upon landing at Jorge Chávez International Airport in Lima, head to the Arrivals hall where a tour representative will be waiting to pick you up. You’ll then be accompanied to the transportation service that will transfer you to your hotel in Lima. Spend the rest of this first day at your leisure in Lima, the capital of Peru. During colonial times, the so-called ‘Ciudad de los Reyes’ (City of Kings) was the political, administrative, religious and economic centre for the Spanish in Peru. The historical centre is a UNESCO-listed World Heritage Site. All in all, Lima is a modern metropolis brimming with history that is currently undergoing an exciting process of cultural and economic change.
Overnight in Lima
Day 2: LIMA – PARACAS (260 Km – 4 hrs)
Wake up to breakfast at the hotel. Then, at 8:30, you’ll be picked up by a guide who will take you on a four-hour tour of the city. The main square is the symbolic place where the city is said to have been born in 1535. Lima is popularly known as the ‘City of Kings’ and it became the capital of the Republic of Peru in 1821, the year that marked the country's independence. Visit the Cathedral and the Casa Aliaga, an ancient viceroyalty house handed over by Francisco Pizarro to one of his captains (Jeronimo de Aliaga) after the city was founded. Continue then to the district of Pueblo Libre for an interesting tour through the Larco Museum, founded by Rafael Larco Hoyle in 1926 and located inside a mansion built on a pre-Columbian pyramid. In this famous museum, also known for having the most extensive collection of erotic ceramics in the world, you will have the opportunity to admire a complete pre-Hispanic collection of gold and silver artefacts. After the tour, depart towards Paracas. You’ll arrive at 17:00 at your hotel, where you’ll check in and spend the night.
Overnight in Paracas
Day 3: PARACAS – BALLESTAS – ICA – NAZCA (140 Km – 2 hrs)
Early in the morning, we embark on a visit to the Ballestas Islands, also called the Galapagos of Peru, where among others you can admire the friendly blue-legged boobies and colonies of sea lions. Return to port and departure for Ica; visit an artisan shop to learn about the highly appreciated national drink: the "pisco". Now taken as the emblem of Peru and exported worldwide, pisco is the basis of the famous and successful "Pisco Sour", whose invention is due to Victor Morris, an American immigrant who moved to Peru in 1913. It's time to enjoy the cocktail and any purchases before we continue to Nazca.
Overnight in Nazca.
Day 4: NAZCA – AREQUIPA (550 Km – 9 Hrs)
After breakfast, transfer to the airport to board the small aircraft that will fly over the Nazca lines to admire the zoomorphic figures - visible only from above: which still represent one of the great mysteries that fascinate man today. At the end, depart for a spectacular journey towards Arequipa. Upon arrival in Arequipa check in to your hotel. (The Nazca lines overflight is subject to weather conditions).
Overnight in Arequipa
Day 5: AREQUIPA: CITY TOUR & SANTA CATALINA MONASTERY
Wake up to breakfast at the hotel and spend morning at leisure. In the afternoon enjoy a thrilling guided tour of the ‘White City’. Marvel at some of the city’s most renowned sites, including the Convent of Santa Catalina, the Plaza de Armas and the Cloister of the Company of Jesus. Then, in the areas of Yanahuara and Chilina, you will be able to contemplate the breathtaking views of the Misti Volcano. Later that day, visit the Santuarios Andinos Museum, where you can see the famous mummy Juanita – a young Inca woman sacrificed to the gods more than 500 years ago on the Ampato Volcano. After the visit, return to your hotel The rest of the day is free for you to spend at leisure. (the Juanita mummy will not be on display during the months of January/February/March/April. For these months, a copy of the same or another mummy from the area will be exhibited in the same place. The Museum does not operate on Mondays: alternatively it will be possible to visit the San Camilo market).
Overnight in Arequipa
Day 6: AREQUIPA – COLCA (165km – 3 hrs)
At 8:30 and after breakfast at the hotel, you will be picked up and taken on a leisurely trip to the Colca Valley. The route drives you through the Pampa Cañahuas in the Agua Blanca National Reserve, the beautiful natural habitat of the ‘vicuñas’ (a camelid similar to the llama with a more delicate, highly prized wool), which you might get to see ambling around the scenery. During the journey through the valley, you will also be able to admire the stunning pre-Colombian terraces, cultivated to this day by the Collaguas indigenous people. At about 12:30, we will reach the town of Chivay, where we’ll stop for lunch at a local restaurant. Then we’ll finally make it to Colca at about 14:00. After checking into your hotel, you are free to spend the rest of this day at leisure.
Overnight in Colca
Day 7: COLCA CANYON – PUNO (300 km – 6 hours)
After finishing your breakfast at the hotel, your guide and chauffeur will be waiting to pick you up at 7:00 to take you to your next destination: Puno. You will be driven there in a tourist bus and after the first leg of the journey, you’ll stop en route at ‘La Cruz del Condor’, where – with a little luck – you will get to admire the majestic Andean condor gliding through the air. What’s more, the view is spectacular from this location, and you can lose yourself in the details of the scenery as you contemplate the immensity of the Colca Valley. It’s not hard to believe that it is the deepest canyon on the planet – it’s 3,000 metres deep! Continue your journey and admire the breathtaking scenes that accompany you throughout the trip. You’ll eventually make another stop for a box lunch. At 17:00 you’ll be dropped off at your hotel in Puno. Check in and spend the rest of the day at leisure.
Overnight in Puno.
Day 8: PUNO – LAKE TITICACA: UROS & TAQUILE – PUNO
Today breakfast at the hotel is followed by a trip to the port of Puno, departing from the hotel at 7:00 once you have been picked up by your guide. At the port, you will climb onto a boat to the beautiful Uros Islands, where you will spend the day. The Uros are an indigenous people of Peru that live on a series of man-made islands, created entirely from the buoyant totora reeds that grow abundantly in the shallows of the lake. The islands are composed of layers of woven totora, which are constantly replenished from the top as they rot from the bottom. The Uros people also use reeds to construct their homes, so cooking is done outdoors to avoid possible fires! After visiting this fascinating island, sail to Taquile, a small slice of heaven that once belonged to the Inca Empire and whose residents speak Quechua. Look around and you will notice traces of its Incan past in the ruins that still exist around the island. After a brief introduction, the local community will give you an insight into their customs and traditions with a cultural demonstration. Later, enjoy lunch on the island before embarking on the return trip to Puno at 15:30. The rest of the day is free for you to spend at leisure.
Overnight in Puno
Day 9: PUNO – CUSCO (390Km – 9 Hrs)
Charge your batteries with an early breakfast at the hotel, then at about 6:20 a transportation service will transfer you to the bus station, where a representative will help you catch your bus to Cusco. An English-and-Spanish-speaking assistant will accompany you during the trip. On the way, you’ll make a number of interesting stops, the first being in the town of Pukara, where you’ll visit the Pukara Lithic Museum. This was the first urban settlement on Lake Titicaca, established between 100 and 300 A.D. After a brief break at La Raya, the highest point of the trip between Puno and Cusco, at a dizzying altitude of 4,313 metres above sea level, the bus will stop at Sicuani, where lunch is served. We then head on to Racchi, home to the Wiracocha Temple, an Inca site built in honour of a powerful Andean god. The rectangular construction boasts thatched rooftops 20 metres above the ground; these are thought to be the highest in the Inca Empire. Later, visit Andahuaylillas, a town located about 40 kilometres from Cusco. The main attraction here is the local church, known as the ‘Sistine Chapel of America’ owing to the high quality of the art found inside. The church was built during the 16th century on top of Wari remains. You’ll arrive to Cusco at about 18:00. There, an Italian-speaking tour representative will welcome you and accompany you to the hotel.
Overnight in Cusco
Day 10: CUSCO – CHINCHERO – SACRED VALLEY – AGUAS CALIENTES (75 Km – 2 hrs by land/ 2 hrs by train)
Start the day with breakfast at the hotel before hopping onto a transfer at 7:00 to Chinchero, an originally Inca historical and artisan centre. Here are the archaeological remains and one of the first Catholic churches in the country, dating back to the 17th century. Chinchero, located at 3,762 metres above sea level, offers a privileged view of the Sacred Valley. Like most of the towns in the region, Chinchero also suffered the ‘extirpation of idolatries’, an action that replaced traditional deities with Catholic ones during colonial times. After a tour, continue to Maras and visit the Inca salt pans: about 3,000 ponds used by the Inca people for extracting salt that was then exchanged for other products of the empire. It’s a magical place full of extraordinary colour combinations as the sun plays on the salt and water. Later, go to Ollantaytambo for lunch at 13:00. Ollantaytambo is a typical, though still inhabited, example of Inca urban planning. Admire the imposing archaeological site that was a place of refreshment and lodging for groups undertaking long journeys. Lastly, hop onto a train from Ollantaytambo to Aguas Calientes. Once there, you will be met by a hotel representative who will walk you to the hotel. After checking in you will receive all necessary information for the Machu Picchu visit the following day.
Overnight in Aguas Calientes.
Day 11: AGUAS CALIENTES – MACHU PICCHU – CUSCO (2 Hrs by train / 75 Km – 1.5 hrs by land)
Wake up early in the morning for breakfast and then join your guide on a journey to Machu Picchu. Your guide will accompany you to the bus, which will be shared with other tourists. Once you’ve made it to the world-renowned site after a short bus ride, join a 2.5-hour-long guided tour of the citadel. During the tour, you will get to visit the main square, the royal apartments, the Temple of the Three Windows, the Circular Tower, the Sacred Solar Clock and the cemetery. At the end of the visit, you’ll return to Aguas Calientes for lunch. In the afternoon, hop onto a train back to Ollantaytambo Station, where a private vehicle will be waiting to transfer you to your chosen hotel in Cusco.
Overnight in Cusco
Day 12: CUSCO: CITY TOUR & ARCHAELOGICAL SITES
Today breakfast at the hotel is followed by a pick-up at 8:30 for a fascinating four-hour tour of the city of Cusco, the former capital of the Inca Empire back in the 15th century. During the tour you will be able to see many famous sites, including the Main Square, Regocijo Square, the Cathedral, the Monastery of Santo Domingo and the legendary Korikancha Temple. Afterwards, visit the archaeological sites of Kenko, Puca Pucara and the extraordinary fortress of Sacsayhuaman, which offers an extraordinary view of the city of Cusco. Once the tour is over, you will be dropped off at your hotel at 13:00. The rest of the afternoon is free for you to spend at your leisure. We recommend you wander through the streets of the bohemian neighbourhood of San Blas, which used to be inhabited by the Inca nobility. Its imposing stone buildings are just a few steps from the famous Main Square or Huacaypata. At about 19:00, enjoy dinner and a folklore show at a local restaurant before being returned to the hotel at 21:30.
Overnight in Cusco
Day 13: DEPARTURE CUSCO
After finishing your last breakfast at the hotel, your representative will assist you with check out and accompany you on the short transfer from the hotel in Cusco to the airport. Although this is the last day of your journey through some of the most fascinating places Peru has to offer, we hope that your memories of this remarkable country, bursting with both culture and history, will last a lifetime.
Comfortable and light clothing is recommended for visiting the coastal areas of Peru, while for the high Andean area the use of warm clothing is recommended. It is not recommended that visitors wear sleeveless shirts, shorts, short skirts or short clothes when visiting religious temples or official buildings. Sunscreen, sunglasses, hat and mosquito repellent can be very useful during your stay
On Day 9: Luggage note: For the overnight stay in Aguas Calientes, only hand luggage must be carried with the minimum necessary for the night (maximum 5 kg per person). The main baggage can be left on deposit in the hotel in Cusco.
