Itinerary
- Day 1
Lima
You'll arrive in Lima and get settled at your hotel. After that, the rest of the day is yours to explore the city's restaurant scene and food markets at your own pace. This gives you time to acclimate and grab some good food if you're hungry after traveling.
- Start point
- Lima Airport Partners, Av. Elmer Faucett s/n, Callao, Callao 07031, Peru (Lima airport)
Optional Activities
- Explore restaurants Astrid & Gaston or Central (ranked among top 100 in the world)
- Visit Lima's food markets
- Explore historic streets and areas
- Day 2
Lima
Your walking tour starts at 9 am, beginning at Miraflores Market where you'll learn about local produce and ingredients. From there, you'll take the public bus to the Historic Center to see the colonial architecture. During the tour, you'll taste Peruvian pastries, check out ChocoMuseum, and try Chicha Morada (a traditional purple corn drink) at Cordano Bar.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Walking tour of Lima with local guide
- Visit to Miraflores Market with local produce insight
- Public bus to Historic Center of Lima
- Peruvian pastries tasting at Plaza San Martin
- ChocoMuseum visit with cocoa bean information
- Chicha Morada (traditional purple corn drink) tasting at Cordano Bar
Optional Activities
- Explore Historic Center independently after tour
Landmarks Miraflores Market Historic Center of Lima Plaza San Martin ChocoMuseum Cordano Bar - Day 3
Lima to Arequipa
A private transfer takes you to the airport for a one-hour flight to Arequipa. Once you arrive, your guide will meet you and drive you to your hotel. After freshening up, you have the afternoon and evening free to wander through Arequipa's restaurant scene and get a feel for the city at your own pace.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Private transfer to Lima airport
- Meeting and greeting upon arrival in Arequipa
- Transfer to hotel in Arequipa
Optional Activities
- Explore Arequipa's restaurant scene
Landmarks El Misti Volcano 
- Day 4
Arequipa
Today you'll explore Arequipa on your own using a self-guided walking tour. You can visit San Camilo Market with its colorful stalls, walk through Santa Catalina Monastery, and spend time at Plaza de Armas. Later in the evening, find a local restaurant and try Rocoto Relleno, which is Arequipa's signature dish and definitely worth seeking out.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- 'Arequipa Like a Local' self-guided walking tour with local guide providing map and route
Optional Activities
- Guided tour of Santa Catalina Monastery
- Shopping tour of Arequipa (Alpaca and Vicuna wool factory, artist's cooperative, Anise liqueur factory, leather store, handmade chocolate and marzipan store)
- Guided tour of Alpaca wool factory to learn production process
Landmarks San Camilo Market Santa Catalina Monastery Plaza de Armas Church of San Francisco Yanahuara Viewpoint - Day 5
Arequipa to Colca Canyon
After breakfast, you'll travel by vehicle through scenic highland routes toward Colca Canyon. Along the way, you'll stop at Andean villages and Canahuas National Reserve to spot wild vicunas, llamas, guanacos, and local birds. The route climbs over 14,000 feet, and you'll have coca tea at Pata Wasi before arriving at your lodge in Colca Canyon.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Scenic route through Canahuas National Reserve
- Stop at Andean village of Pata Wasi (12,465ft)
- Coca tea at Pata Wasi to counteract altitude effects
- Wildlife viewing (wild vicunas, llamas, guanacos, birdlife)
- Transfer to Colca Canyon lodge
Landmarks Canahuas National Reserve Pata Wasi Colca Canyon Misti Volcano Chachani Volcano Pichu Pichu Volcano Chivay 
- Day 6
Colca Canyon
An early breakfast gets you ready for a trip to Cruz del Condor viewpoint, which sits on a high cliff overlooking a canyon twice as deep as the Grand Canyon. If you're lucky, you'll spot Andean condors soaring below. From there, you'll descend back to Chivay with stops at traditional villages like Pinchollo, Maca, and Yanque. The afternoon and evening are free for exploring or visiting natural hot springs.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Visit to Cruz del Condor lookout point
- Andean condor viewing opportunity
- Stops at traditional towns: Pinchollo, Maca, Yanque
- Walk around Cruz del Condor area
- Descent back to Chivay
Optional Activities
- Visit local natural hot springs
- Walk around local area
Landmarks Cruz del Condor Pinchollo Maca Yanque Colca Canyon - Day 7
Colca Canyon to Puno
You'll travel across the endless highland plains toward Puno at Lake Titicaca, taking in the diverse landscape of Peru along the way. Once you arrive, the evening is yours to spend however you'd like, whether that's resting or walking around town.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Journey across highland plains to Puno
Landmarks Lake Titicaca - Day 8
Puno to Amantani Island
A transfer to the port around 7:30 am begins your motor boat journey to Amantani Island. First, you'll visit two floating islands inhabited by the Uros people, built entirely from totora reeds. After about 3 hours on the boat, you'll arrive at Amantani Island for a homestay with a local family. You'll have lunch, then hike 2 hours to one of the island's peaks at 4,120 meters to see pre-Inca temples. After watching the sunset over the lake, you'll share dinner and celebrations with your host family.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Typical lunch prepared by host family), Dinner (Native dinner with local families)
Included Activities
- Motor boat transfer to Amantani Island
- Visit to floating Uros islands with reed boat viewing
- Homestay with local indigenous family
- Typical lunch prepared by host family
- 2-hour hike to island peaks (4,120m)
- Visit to Pacha Mama or Pacha Tata pre-Inca temples
- Sunset viewing over Lake Titicaca
- Native dinner and celebration with host families
Landmarks Uros Floating Islands Amantani Island Pacha Mama Temple Pacha Tata Temple 
- Day 9
Amantani Island to Taquile Island to Puno
You'll say goodbye after breakfast and boat for one hour to Taquile Island, another beautiful spot on Lake Titicaca. A one-hour hike brings you to the main square where you can explore the island and visit the handicrafts cooperative. You'll have lunch at a local restaurant before heading back to Puno, arriving around 4 pm.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Lunch at local restaurant (included only on private service))
Included Activities
- Motor boat transfer from Amantani Island to Taquile Island
- One-hour hike to Taquile main square
- Exploration of island surroundings
- Visit to handicrafts cooperative
- Lunch at local restaurant (included only on private service)
- Motor boat return to Puno
- Descent of 500-step staircase
Landmarks Taquile Island - Day 10
Puno to Cusco
An early pickup starts your approximately 10.5-hour drive to Cusco on a comfortable tourist bus. You'll stop at several important sites along the way: the pre-Hispanic city of Pukara with its massive pyramids and Inca Museum, La Raya at 4,335 meters (the highest point), the Raqchi archaeological complex with its 49-foot temple walls, and the charming 16th-century village of Andahuaylillas with its Church of San Pedro. You'll arrive in Cusco, the ancient heart of the Inca Empire.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Coach bus transfer to Cusco
- Stop at pre-Hispanic city of Pukara with pyramids
- Visit to Pukara Inca Museum
- Stop at La Raya (4,335m highest point)
- Visit to Raqchi archaeological complex
- Stop at Andahuaylillas village
- Visit to Church of San Pedro de Andahuaylillas
Landmarks Pukara Pukara Inca Museum La Raya Pass Raqchi Andahuaylillas Church of San Pedro de Andahuaylillas Cusco 
- Day 11
Cusco
This day is completely free. You can wander through the city center and see the mix of Inca walls and Spanish colonial architecture, or book optional tours of Cusco and the surrounding ruins if you prefer guided exploration. The Sacred Valley is also an option if you want to venture outside the city.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Optional Activities
- Optional walking tour of Cusco city and ruins
- Optional visit to Sacred Valley
Landmarks Cusco Historic Center - Day 12
Cusco to Santa Maria
Breakfast starts at 6 am at a lodge, then you'll travel by private van for 3 hours to Malaga Pass at 4,316 meters. From there, you'll bike downhill for about 3 hours, covering roughly 34 miles and experiencing rapid climate changes from dry cold to humid heat. After the bike ride, you'll take a 30-minute bus ride to Santa Maria for lunch and the night. Optional rafting on the Urubamba River is available from April through November (Level III-IV difficulty).
- Meals
- Breakfast (Buffet style breakfast at lodge), Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Buffet breakfast at lodge
- Private van transfer to Malaga Pass
- Mountain bike descent from Malaga Pass (3 hours, approximately 34 miles/55 km)
- Bus transfer to Santa Maria (approximately 30 minutes)
- First lunch
- First night accommodation in Santa Maria
Optional Activities
- Urubamba River rafting (Level III and IV, April-November only)
Landmarks Malaga Pass Huamanmarca Santa Maria Urubamba River - Day 13
Santa Maria to Santa Teresa
Trekking begins at 6 am with a 2-hour ascent that includes stops to learn about local plants and animals. You'll visit a family house for a 20-minute rest and try tropical fruit. Then you'll cross a historic section of the Inca Trail that once connected Machu Picchu to Vilcabamba, learning about Inca history and communication systems. You'll see views of Huancarccasa Canyon, then descend to Quellomayo for lunch and rest in a hammock. After that, you'll trek 2 more hours to Cocalmayo thermal baths for a natural soak. You'll spend the night in Santa Teresa.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Trek to Santa Teresa (approximately 8 hours total)
- 2-hour ascent with flora and fauna stops
- Family house visit with 20-minute rest
- Tropical fruit supply
- Inca Trail crossing with historical explanation
- Huancarccasa Canyon viewpoint
- Descent to Quellomayo village
- Lunch at Quellomayo
- Hammock rest
- 2-hour trek to Cocalmayo thermal baths
- Thermal bath soak
- Final trek to Santa Teresa
Landmarks Inca Trail Huancarccasa Canyon Quellomayo Cocalmayo Thermal Baths Vilcabamba Santa Teresa - Day 14
Santa Teresa to Aguas Calientes
Trekking starts around 7 am, and you'll walk for 3 hours through Aobamba Valley to the Intihuatana sector, passing through a government control post. Lunch is included somewhere along the route. You'll see waterfalls and the mountains surrounding Machu Picchu and Haynapicchu. An astronomical Inca sundial and other Incan structures come into view. After 3 more hours of walking, you'll arrive in Aguas Calientes alongside the train tracks.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Trek to Aguas Calientes (approximately 6 hours total)
- 3-hour walk through Aobamba Valley
- Pass through Intihuatana sector
- Government control post passage
- Lunch along the path
- Waterfall viewing
- Astronomical Inca sundial viewing
- Views of Machu Picchu and Haynapicchu mountains
- Arrival at Aguas Calientes
Landmarks Aobamba Valley Intihuatana Machu Picchu Haynapicchu Mountain - Day 15
Machu Picchu
This is the main event. You'll start the ascent from Aguas Calientes at 4:30 am to catch the sunrise over Machu Picchu. You can either hike the 1,500 Inca steps or take the bus to reach the citadel. Your guide gives a 2-hour tour of the ruins and temples, then you'll explore on your own. If you want, you can hike Huaynapicchu or Machupicchu Mountain (these require advance reservations and an extra fee). You'll return to Aguas Calientes by stairs or bus to catch the train back to Ollantaytambo or Cusco.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Early morning transfer to Aguas Calientes trailhead
- Ascent to Machu Picchu from 4:30 am (hike 1,500 Inca steps OR bus transfer)
- Sunrise viewing over Machu Picchu
- 2-hour guided tour of ruins and temples
- Free exploration of Machu Picchu
- Return to Aguas Calientes (via stairs or bus)
- Return train to Ollantaytambo or Cusco
Optional Activities
- Hike Huaynapicchu mountain (requires previous reservations months in advance, extra fee, limited to 400 tickets daily)
- Hike Machupicchu Mountain (requires previous reservations months in advance, extra fee, limited to 400 tickets daily)
Landmarks Machu Picchu Huaynapicchu Mountain Machupicchu Mountain 
- Day 16
Cusco
You're back in Cusco for a well-deserved rest day after your trek. Take it easy and recover, or if you have energy, you can book optional activities like a walking tour of the city and ruins or a visit to the Sacred Valley.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Optional Activities
- Optional walking tour of Cusco city and ruins
- Optional visit to Sacred Valley
- Day 17
Cusco to Lima
You'll transfer to the airport for your flight back to Lima. Once you arrive, another transfer takes you to your hotel in Miraflores. Spend the rest of the day relaxing, exploring a bit more of Lima, or picking up any final souvenirs before heading home.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Transfer to Cusco airport
- Flight from Cusco to Lima
- Transfer to hotel in Miraflores
Optional Activities
- Explore Lima
- Shop for final souvenirs
- Day 18
Depart Lima
A private transfer from your hotel takes you to the airport for your flight home. Your time in Peru comes to an end.
- End point
- Lima Airport Partners, Av. Elmer Faucett s/n, Callao, Callao 07031, Peru (Lima airport)
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Private transfer to Lima airport
