Itinerary
- Day 1
Arrival in Lima
Your Peru adventure starts today when you fly into Lima. After you land, someone meets you at the airport and drives you to your hotel. You'll have time to settle in and rest after the flight.
- Day 2
Lima to Paracas
Start the day exploring Lima's historic center, walking through Plaza Mayor, the cathedral, Archbishop's Palace, Government Palace and San Francisco Monastery. Later you'll drive south through desert and valley landscapes to reach the Paracas Peninsula, where you can spend the rest of the day relaxing at your resort.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- City tour of Lima including Plaza Mayor, Cathedral, Archbishop's Palace, Government Palace, and San Francisco Monastery
- Drive to Paracas Peninsula
Landmarks Plaza Mayor Cathedral of Lima Archbishop's Palace Government Palace San Francisco Monastery 
- Day 3
Paracas to Nazca
Early morning brings a motorboat trip to the Ballestas Islands, where you'll see thousands of seabirds and sea lions in their natural habitat. After returning, you'll walk around the Huacachina lagoon with its palm trees and sand dunes, then drive to Nazca to see the famous Nazca Lines.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Motorboat trip to Ballestas Islands (Small Galápagos Islands)
- Walk around Huacachina lagoon
Optional Activities
- Overflight of Nazca Lines - 30 minutes flight approximately US$ 110 per person (plus airport security and conservation fee approximately US$ 20 per person) - registration and payment on site - Note: Flights canceled in bad weather for safety; can be rescheduled to morning of Day 4. Flyers must sign acknowledgment of past accidents and assume their own risk.
Landmarks Ballestas Islands Huacachina Lagoon Nazca Lines 
- Day 4
Nazca to Arequipa
You'll drive along the Pacific coast on the Panamericana, passing through sand dunes and oases. There's a barefoot walk by the sea at some point, and then you continue to Arequipa, a UNESCO World Heritage Site known for its white colonial buildings and the volcanoes surrounding it.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch
Included Activities
- Drive along Pacific coast via Panamericana
- Short walk by the sea
Landmarks Arequipa 
- Day 5
Arequipa
This morning includes a city tour of Arequipa's colonial architecture, visiting the cathedral and the Jesuit church La Compañía. Next you'll tour the Santa Catalina Monastery from the 16th century. After lunch you can browse the San Camilo market with its exotic produce, then spend the afternoon shopping for alpaca goods and textiles.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner (Dinner at the best restaurant in town)
Included Activities
- Morning city tour including cathedral and Jesuit church La Compañía
- Visit to Santa Catalina Monastery
- San Camilo vegetable market visit
Optional Activities
- Shopping for alpaca scarves and sweaters
Landmarks Arequipa Cathedral La Compañía Church Santa Catalina Monastery San Camilo Market - Day 6
Arequipa to Colca Valley
You'll drive across a high plateau where llamas, alpacas and wild vicuñas roam, heading to Colca Valley. You'll pass through villages and hike through landscapes with over 1,000-year-old terraces. Later you can relax in thermal pools near Chivay, surrounded by high mountains.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch
Included Activities
- Drive across plateau through Colca Valley
- Hike through cultivation terraces landscape
- Visit to thermal pools near Chivay
Landmarks Colca Valley Patapampa Pass Chivay 
- Day 7
Colca Valley to Puno
Starting at the 'Cross of the Condor', you'll watch for Andean condors circling above the 1,200-meter-deep gorge. From there you continue through volcanic landscapes and high plateaus past grazing alpacas and llamas toward Puno, which sits on Lake Titicaca, the world's highest navigable lake.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch
Included Activities
- Visit to Cross of the Condor viewpoint
- Condor observation
Landmarks Cross of the Condor (Cruz del Condor) Colca Valley Lake Titicaca Puno 
- Day 8
Uros and Capachica
A motorboat takes you to the floating reed islands of the Uros people where you'll walk on the swaying ground and see their reed huts. You'll then continue by boat to the Capachica peninsula to learn about Quechua traditions from local communities. There's a hike across the peninsula's beaches and a typical family lunch included before you head back to Puno by boat.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Typical lunch prepared by a local family in Capachica - your visit provides hosts with supplemental income)
Included Activities
- Motorboat trip to Uros floating reed islands
- Visit to Uros reed huts
- Boat trip to Capachica peninsula
- Hike across Capachica peninsula
- Typical family lunch with local family in Capachica
Landmarks Uros Islands Capachica Peninsula Llachón 
- Day 9
Puno to Cuzco
Today you drive across the Altiplano through indigenous villages to La Raya, the highest pass with great views. The route continues through the Vilcanota River valley to see the Inca temple at Raqchi dedicated to Viracocha. You'll stop at the colonial church in Andahuaylillas before reaching Cuzco, the former Inca capital and UNESCO World Heritage Site.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch
Included Activities
- Drive across Altiplano
- Visit to La Raya Pass
- Visit to Raqchi temple dedicated to Viracocha
- Visit to colonial church in Andahuaylillas
Landmarks Altiplano La Raya Pass Raqchi Temple Andahuaylillas Church Cuzco 
- Day 10
Cuzco to Sacred Valley
You'll travel to the Urubamba Valley, the 'Sacred Valley of the Incas', and visit a typical Andean village. There's a chance to help local women prepare a traditional Pachamanca lunch using meat, potatoes and vegetables cooked in a hole with hot stones. After eating you'll hike to a mountain viewpoint with views of the village, and see traditional weaving and learn about fabric dyeing with local herbs.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Traditional Pachamanca lunch (meat, potatoes and vegetables cooked in earth) prepared with local women in the Andean village - your visit provides hosts with supplemental income)
Included Activities
- Visit to typical Andean village
- Help prepare traditional Pachamanca lunch with local women
- Hike to mountain viewpoint
- Weaving demonstration
- Herb collection for fabric dyeing
Landmarks Urubamba Valley (Sacred Valley of the Incas) Yucay 
- Day 11
Sacred Valley to Machu Picchu
This morning you take the Andean train from Ollantaytambo to Aguas Calientes. After dropping off your luggage at the hotel, a bus takes you up a winding road to Machu Picchu. You'll tour the temples, palaces, fountains and terraces with a guide, then return to the valley in the afternoon.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
Included Activities
- Train ride from Ollantaytambo to Aguas Calientes
- Guided tour of Machu Picchu including temples, palaces, fountains and terraces
- Bus transport to and from Machu Picchu
Landmarks Machu Picchu Aguas Calientes Ollantaytambo Río Urubamba 
- Day 12
Machu Picchu to Cuzco
You'll return to Machu Picchu early when mist often covers the city and most other visitors are still arriving by train. You can explore temples and sites not yet visited. Around midday you'll take the bus and train back to Cuzco.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch
Included Activities
- Early morning bus trip to Machu Picchu
- Exploration of Machu Picchu temples and sites
- Train and bus return to Cuzco
Landmarks Machu Picchu Aguas Calientes Cuzco - Day 13
Cuzco to Lima
Walking through Cuzco, you'll see the San Blas artists' quarter with its many alleyways and the famous twelve-cornered stone in a wall from Inca Roca's former palace. You'll visit the Coricancha Temple of the Sun, known for its precisely cut stones. In the afternoon you'll fly over the Andes back to Lima and check into your hotel.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
Included Activities
- Walking tour of historic Cuzco
- Visit to San Blas artists' quarter
- View of twelve-cornered stone at Inca Roca's palace
- Visit to Coricancha Temple of the Sun
- Domestic flight Cuzco to Lima
Landmarks San Blas Inca Roca's Palace Coricancha (Temple of the Sun) Cuzco - Day 14
Lima
Start in Lima's Barranco district, where painters and writers have their studios. You'll walk through old houses and cross the Puente de los Suspiros (Bridge of Sighs), a popular spot for people in love. Later you'll head to the airport for your flight home.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Visit to Barranco artists' quarter
- Walk through historic houses
- Visit to Puente de los Suspiros (Bridge of Sighs)
Landmarks Barranco Puente de los Suspiros (Bridge of Sighs) - Day 15
Return Home
After landing, you'll travel individually back to your hometown. It's time to reflect on your Peru adventure and the memories you've made throughout the trip.
