Itinerary
- Day 1
Lima
Your representative meets you at Jorge Chavez International Airport and drives you to your hotel in Lima. The rest of the day is yours to relax or wander around the Historic Centre, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, checking out the colonial architecture and modern energy that makes Peru's capital feel so alive.
Included Activities
- Airport transfer to hotel
Optional Activities
- Magic Water Circuit with Dinner - shared basis (Pick-up and Drop-off, Bilingual guide, Admission to Magic Water Circuit and dinner included; Start time: 17:30 hours; Duration: 4 hours)
Landmarks/POIs Historic Centre of Lima Magic Water Circuit - Day 2
Lima to Paracas
After breakfast, you'll head to Lima's bus station for the three-and-a-half-hour drive down to Paracas on the coast. The route gives you plenty of time to watch Peru's coastal landscape pass by. Once you arrive, settle into your hotel for the evening.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Breakfast at hotel
- Shared bus transfer from Lima to Paracas
Landmarks/POIs Paracas National Reserve - Day 3
Paracas to Nazca
Breakfast comes first, then you're heading to El Chaco pier to board a boat tour around the Ballestas Islands. From the water you'll see sea lions, birds, penguins and dolphins, and spot the mysterious Paracas Candelabra geoglyph carved into the cliffs. Later that afternoon, a four-hour bus ride takes you to Nazca City where you'll check into your hotel.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Breakfast at hotel
- Transfer to El Chaco pier
- Boat tour of Ballestas Islands
- Viewing of Paracas Candelabra geoglyph
- Shared bus transfer from Paracas to Nazca
Landmarks/POIs Ballestas Islands Paracas Candelabra - Day 4
Nazca to Arequipa
After breakfast, you'll fly for 30 minutes over the Peruvian desert to view the Nazca Lines from above, seeing the geometric patterns, spiders, condors and monkeys drawn across the sand. Back on the ground, you face a long 10-hour bus journey to Arequipa, arriving at your hotel ready for rest.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Breakfast at hotel
- Flight over Nazca Lines (30 minutes)
- Shared bus transfer from Nazca to Arequipa
Landmarks/POIs Nazca Lines - Day 5
Arequipa
Breakfast done, you'll spend the day exploring Arequipa's main sites. The elegant neo-Renaissance Cathedral sits in Plaza de Armas, and the Santa Catalina Monastery from the 1600s features colorful colonial passages winding through its walled grounds. By evening, head to Yanahuara and Carmen Alto neighborhoods for views of Misti volcano.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Breakfast at hotel
- Guided tour of Plaza de Armas
- Visit to Basilica Cathedral of Arequipa
- Visit to Santa Catalina Monastery
- Visit to Yanahuara neighbourhood
- Visit to Carmen Alto neighbourhood
Landmarks/POIs Plaza de Armas Basilica Cathedral of Arequipa Santa Catalina Monastery Misti Volcano - Day 6
Arequipa to Colca Valley
You'll travel through the Yura district after breakfast, passing ravines, mountains and waterfalls on your way to Pampa Cañahuas on the Andean plateau. This area is home to vicuñas, and you'll drive past scenic pampas and an extinct volcano before reaching Patapampa viewpoint near 5,000 meters elevation. Lunch happens in Chivay, then the rest of the day is free at your hotel.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Lunch in Chivay)
Included Activities
- Breakfast at hotel
- Shared bus transfer to Colca Valley
- Visit to Yura district
- Visit to Pampa Cañahuas
- Visit to Mirador de los Andes at Patapampa
- Lunch in Chivay
Landmarks/POIs Pampa Cañahuas Mirador de los Andes at Patapampa Chivay - Day 7
Colca Valley
An early start gets you to Cruz del Condor viewpoint in Colca Canyon, one of the world's deepest valleys at roughly 3,400 meters. You'll watch condors soaring on thermals, then visit traditional towns with colonial churches along the canyon's banks. The route passes through stone forests and lagoons before reaching Puno for the night.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch
Included Activities
- Breakfast at hotel
- Visit to Cruz del Condor viewpoint
- Colca Canyon tour
- Visits to traditional towns: Chivay, Pinchollo, Maca, Achoma, Yanque
- Visit to Antahuilque viewpoint
- Visit to Choquetico viewpoint
- Shared bus transfer from Colca to Puno
Landmarks/POIs Cruz del Condor Colca Canyon - Day 8
Puno
After breakfast, you're traveling by boat from Puno to the Uros Islands, where communities live on man-made islands built from totora reeds. Next you'll sail to Taquile, an island with Incan heritage and ruins, where local people perform cultural demonstrations. Lunch is on the island, and you'll return to Puno by evening.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Lunch on Taquile Island)
Included Activities
- Breakfast at hotel
- Transfer to port in Puno
- Boat tour to Uros Islands
- Visit to Uros Island community
- Boat tour to Taquile Island
- Cultural demonstration by local community
- Lunch on Taquile Island
- Return boat to Puno
Landmarks/POIs Uros Islands Taquile - Day 9
Puno to Cusco
Following a relaxed breakfast, you'll board a bus to Cusco with several stops along the way. You'll see Pucara's pre-Inca monoliths, the impressive Wiracocha Temple at Racchi with its distinctive high thatched roofs, and the Church of Andahuaylillas known as the 'Sistine Chapel of America' for its artwork. You'll arrive in Cusco in the afternoon and transfer to your hotel.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch
Included Activities
- Breakfast at hotel
- Shared bus transfer from Puno to Cusco
- Visit to Pucara Lithic Museum
- Visit to Wiracocha Temple at Racchi
- Visit to Church of Andahuaylillas
- Transfer from bus station to hotel
Landmarks/POIs Pucara Lithic Museum Wiracocha Temple Church of Andahuaylillas - Day 10
Cusco
Start with breakfast then take the morning to wander Cusco's cobblestoned streets at your own pace. In the afternoon, a guided tour begins at Santo Domingo Convent, built over the sacred Coricancha temple, then heads to the Cathedral in Plaza de Armas. From there you'll climb to Sacsayhuaman fortress for city views, visit Qenqo (an ancient ritual site) and Puka Pukara (the red fortress), returning to your hotel at day's end.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Breakfast at hotel
- Morning exploration of Cusco's cobblestoned streets
- Guided tour of Santo Domingo Convent
- Guided tour of Coricancha
- Guided tour of Cathedral in Plaza de Armas
- Visit to Sacsayhuaman fortress
- Visit to Qenqo archaeological site
- Visit to Puka Pukara
Landmarks/POIs Santo Domingo Convent Coricancha Cathedral in Plaza de Armas Sacsayhuaman Qenqo Puka Pukara - Day 11
Cusco to Sacred Valley
After breakfast you're heading to Chinchero, a high-altitude town with valley views and traditional crafts. Archaeological remains and a 17th-century church are there, plus a Sunday market if timing works out. The Yucay Museum lets you watch artisans create textiles, pottery and silverware the traditional way, and you can feed alpacas and llamas. Later you'll explore Ollantaytambo's Incan streets and climb its fortress, grab lunch at a local restaurant, then head back to your Sacred Valley hotel.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Lunch of local cuisine in a cosy restaurant in Ollantaytambo)
Included Activities
- Breakfast at hotel
- Transfer to Chinchero
- Visit to Chinchero archaeological remains
- Visit to 17th-century Church in Chinchero
- Visit to Yucay Museum of Living Culture
- Feeding llamas, sheep and alpacas at Yucay Museum
- Transfer to Ollantaytambo
- Exploration of Ollantaytambo streets
- Climb of Ollantaytambo fortress
- Lunch at local restaurant in Ollantaytambo
Optional Activities
- Visit to local market in Chinchero (available on Sundays)
Landmarks/POIs Chinchero Yucay Museum of Living Culture Ollantaytambo Ollantaytambo Fortress - Day 12
Sacred Valley to Machu Picchu to Cusco
After breakfast at your hotel, you'll travel to Ollanta station to board a scenic 90-minute train through Andean landscapes to Aguas Calientes. A 25-minute bus ride takes you to Machu Picchu, the legendary lost city built around 1450. You'll explore this UNESCO site with a guide for about 2.5 hours, learning about its history and key structures. Lunch at the famous Cafe Inkaterra offers mountain views. The afternoon train returns you to Ollanta station and your Cusco hotel.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Lunch at Café Inkaterra)
Included Activities
- Breakfast at hotel
- Shared transfer to Ollanta station
- Train journey to Aguas Calientes
- Bus transfer to Machu Picchu
- Guided tour of Machu Picchu
- Lunch at Café Inkaterra
- Bus transfer to Aguas Calientes station
- Train journey back to Ollanta station
- Transfer from Ollanta station to Cusco hotel
Landmarks/POIs Machu Picchu Aguas Calientes Café Inkaterra - Day 13
Cusco to Lima
After breakfast and checkout, you'll transfer to the airport for your flight back to Lima. This marks the end of your journey through Peru's cultural and historical regions, though the experiences you've had will stay with you long after you leave.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Breakfast at hotel
- Transfer to airport
