Explore Peru

13 days/ 12 nights

Your trip to Peru has commenced! A representative will pick you up from the airport at the scheduled time to transfer you to your hotel in Lima. A modern metropolis full of history, travelers can find comfort and cultural activities in the capital city — though you’ll want to get plenty of rest as your Peru highlights tour begins the following day.

Overnight at the selected hotel in Lima

After breakfast at your hotel, begin your Peru tour in central Lima, a UNESCO World Heritage Site lined with historic colonial architecture and romantic main squares. A scenic tour will take you back in time, from the early 16th Century mansions and the characteristic Cathedral. In the neighboring district of Pueblo Libre we’ll step inside a restored mansion that houses Larco Museum, renowned for having the most complete collection of pre-Hispanic gold and silver objects as well as ancient erotic art.

Overnight at the selected hotel in Lima
Breakfast included.

Enjoy breakfast at your hotel before a four-hour bus ride to Paracas. Upon arrival we’ll embark on a boat ride to appreciate the sole inhabitants of the Ballestas Islands: Humboldt penguins, sea lions and a variety of friendly sea birds. Afterwards, via private transportation, we’ll visit the city of Ica to observe pre-Hispanic archaeological objects (ceramics and textiles) and paleontology pieces in the Regional Museum. After perusing the collection relax and lunch at your leisure before we head to Nazca to spend a restful night.

Overnight at the selected hotel in Nazca.
Breakfast included.

Fill up on breakfast but leave room for adventure, as today we’ll fly over the mysterious Nazca Lines to get the best view possible of these flora and fauna-inspired geoglyphs. Depending on weather conditions and airspace, the recent findings in Palpa can additionally be seen. Reflect on this memorable day at your hotel in Paracas before we depart by bus to the city of Arequipa where you’ll spend the night at your selected hotel.

Overnight at the selected hotel in Arequipa.
Breakfast and lunch included.

After a morning meal we’ll explore Arequipa, a charming Peru highlight. The so-called White City is home to impressive buildings built of sillar (white petrified volcanic lava), including the 17th century Cathedral, which we’ll admire from the Main Square. Tradition and faith are core elements of Arequipa, as noted by the 16th century Monastery of Santa Catalina (a cloister and citadel active to this day) and Church of La Compañia de Jesus (home to an exceptional exhibition of paintings and murals). We’ll walk up narrow streets towards the districts of Yanahuara and Carmen Alto for a panoramic view of Arequipa and the majestic Misti volcano.

Overnight at the selected hotel in Arequipa.
Breakfast included.

Breakfast at the hotel before we take a scenic bus tour of Peru towards Yura district. Native fauna such as vicuñas (Andean camelid) can be seen at the extensive Pampa Cañahuas Reserve. Continuing towards Colca Canyon, we’ll gaze out from the Mirador de los Andes at Patapampa (4800 m.a.s.l.), a viewpoint to appreciate volcanos, before lunch in Chivay. The afternoon is yours to rest at your hotel of bask in the thermal springs of La Calera.

Overnight at the selected hotel in Colca.
Breakfast and lunch included.

After breakfast it’s time to head to the Condor Cross. From here we can look for the elusive condor flying over the Colca Valley, the second deepest canyon in the world and definite Peru highlight. Once back in Chivay, we’ll visit local towns and viewpoints before continuing south towards Puno, taking a slight detour to Patahuasi. The journey will present us with majestic stone forests and high-altitude lagoons, features unique to a trip to Peru.

Overnight at the selected hotel in Puno.
Breakfast and lunch included.

Enjoy breakfast knowing that today you’ll set foot on floating islands, one of the most anticipated Peru tours. A short boat ride will take us to the community of Uros where houses and the island themselves are constructed out of woven reed. After touring this set of island and having the chance to purchase artisanal crafts, we’ll continue on to Taquile Island for lunch. Once part of the Inca Empire, residents of this island continue to speak Quechua and carry out cultural activities quite unlike the neighboring islands. We’ll return to the mainland by late afternoon so you can rest at your selected hotel.

Overnight at the selected hotel in Puno.
Breakfast and lunch included.

After breakfast, a transportation service will bring you to the bus station so we can continue our tour of Peru highlights, this time heading towards Cusco. Along the way we’ll visit Pucara (the first known settlement in the highlands, dating back to 100 and 300 B.C.), La Raya (the highest pass on our way to Cusco), Sicuani (for lunch), Racchi, Wiracocha Temple, (an Inca site with perhaps the highest thatched rooftops), and last but not least the Church of Andahuaylillas, often referred to as the “Sistine Chapel of the Americas”. By the end of today’s journey we’ll reach Cusco to spend a restful night.

Overnight at the selected hotel in Cusco.
Breakfast and lunch included.

After yesterday’s extensive tour of southern Peru, enjoy a slow breakfast on your first morning in Cusco. In the afternoon we’ll begin our tour of Cusco’s own Peru highlights in Coricancha. This “Temple of the Sun”, as it’s often referred to, was built by order of Inca Pachacuti, though the Spaniards would later demolish much of it to construct the Santo Domingo Convent. Moving on we’ll visit the Cathedral in the main square, Sacsayhuaman (a 15th century fortress impressively constructed from large stones), and Qenqo (an archaeological complex where agricultural rituals were held). Venturing just beyond the city limits we can admire an architectural complex that once had military importance known as Puca Pucara, or ‘red fort.’ Concluding today’s Peru tour we’ll return to the hotel.

Overnight at the selected hotel in Cusco.
Breakfast included.

After a morning meal you’ll be picked up from your hotel and taken to the traditional town of Chinchero in the Sacred Valley. With a beautiful view of the Sacred Valley, this visit will offer you the chance to meet with artisans and admire their crafts. This town also hosts a beautiful seventeenth-century church, one of the first Catholic buildings in Peru, as well as archaeological remains. Afterwards we’ll go to the nearby Living Museum of Yucay, where traditional Inca techniques of textile and ceramic artistry are put on display and real life sources of natural fibers, such as llamas and alpacas, can be seen. In Ollantaytambo we’ll carry on with this Peru tour’s spirit of tradition with lunch in Chuncho, a cosy restaurant inspired by local ingredients and regional dishes. Refueled, we’ll climb up the town’s iconic fortress to round out today’s adventures before heading to our Sacred Valley hotel.

Overnight at the selected hotel in Sacred Valley.
Breakfast and lunch include.

Today we’ll finally come face to face with the Machu Picchu ruins. In order to arrive to renowned archaeological site, we’ll take a train ride to Aguas Calientes, a small town often referred to as “Machu Picchu Pueblo”. Those who plan on climbing the Machu Picchu ruins early the next morning can look for accomodation close to the foot of the mountain. After a short transfer we’ll reach Machu Picchu, considered a World Heritage Site by UNESCO and one of the New Seven Wonders of the world. We’ll take time to tour the timeless architectural masterpiece and take photos to document this exciting moment of your trip to Peru. Later on we’ll return by bus to Aguas Calientes and have lunch at local restaurant before catching a train back to Cusco in the afternoon.

Overnight at the selected hotel in Cusco.
Breakfast and lunch included.

After breakfast at your hotel, a transportation service will pick you up and take you to the Cusco airport for your return flight to Lima.

Lima: The starting point for your trip to Peru, the capital city is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, preserves some of the best examples of Colonial-era mansions, and plays host to well-curated history and art museums as well as internationally renowned restaurants.

Paracas and Nazca Lines: Sea lions, penguins and migratory birds flock to this maritime resort town, while just a bus ride away lie mysterious geoglyphs left behind from an ancient culture— best observed from a plane ride across the Nazca desert.

Arequipa and Colca Valley: The majestic Misti volcano can be seen from Arequipa, nicknamed The White City due to the impressive sillar buildings. An early morning bus ride will take you to the viewpoints looking down the world’s second deepest canyon, Colca.

Lake Titicaca: Quite unlike any other place you’ll see during your trip to Peru, the city of Puno is home to the floating islands of Uros and Taquile.

Cusco and Machu Picchu ruins: Spanish colonial architecture (Cusco Cathedral) and Pre-Columbian ruins (the fortress of Sacsayhuaman and Puca Pucara) come together in the ancient Inca capital and surrounding Sacred Valley. No Peru tour would be complete without a trip to the mystical Andean peak, Machu Picchu .

On your 13-day trip to Peru you’ll spend time visiting the top Peru highlights. This Peru tour demonstrates the different cultures and experiences to be had at each varying altitude; the mysterious Nazca lines at ground level, unforgettable views from the peak of the Machu Picchu ruins, the floating islands in Puno at sea level, and all the top places to go in between. When you book a trip like this to Peru be assured that each destination will feel like a world of its own as we unweave the stories of the Andean country’s rich history.

Explore Peru

13 days/ 12 nights

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