Itinerary
- Day 1
Lima
You'll get picked up at Lima's airport and head to your hotel for check-in at 3:00 p.m. Since you'll have the rest of the day ahead, it's a good time to walk around the neighborhood, grab dinner somewhere nearby, or just settle in after your flight.
- Day 2
Lima
A guided tour takes you through Lima's colonial center. You'll see Plaza de Armas with its government palace and cathedral, then move to the 16th-century Santo Domingo Monastery. After that, the renovated Plaza San Martin is next on the list. Later you'll spend time at the Larco Museum, which holds pre-Columbian ceramics, textiles, and some historic erotic pieces.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Guided city tour of Lima colonial center including Plaza de Armas
- Visit Santo Domingo Monastery
- Visit Plaza San Martín
- Visit Larco Museum with over 45,000 pre-Columbian objects
Landmarks/POIs Plaza de Armas Santo Domingo Monastery Plaza San Martín Larco Museum - Day 3
Lima to Paracas
The Peru Hop Bus leaves Lima around 7:00 a.m. heading south. You'll stop at Pachacamac along the way, then continue to Chincha to walk through the historic Hacienda San Jose and see the colonial-era secret slave tunnels. By 2:00 p.m. you're in Paracas after roughly 7 hours of travel.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Visit Pachacamac
- Guided tour of Hacienda San José secret slave tunnels in Chincha
Landmarks/POIs Pachacamac Hacienda San José - Day 4
Paracas to Huacachina
At 11:00 a.m., you'll join a guided tour of Paracas National Reserve with its isolated beaches and cliffs where flamingos hang out. Around 1:00 p.m., head to Huacachina (about 1.5 hours away). There you can try sand buggies and sandboarding if you want to pay extra for those activities.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Guided tour of Paracas National Reserve
Optional Activities
- Sand buggy rides at Huacachina
- Sandboarding at Huacachina
Landmarks/POIs Paracas National Reserve - Day 5
Huacachina to Nasca
The bus leaves at 1:00 p.m. toward Nasca with a stop at El Catador vineyard, which has been around for over 130 years. You'll learn how pisco is made and walk the vineyards. Before reaching Nasca, you'll stop at the observation tower for views of the famous lines from above. Arriving in Nasca happens in the evening after about 5 hours.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Visit El Catador pisco vineyard and production
- Stop at Nasca Lines observation tower
Landmarks/POIs El Catador Vineyard Nasca Lines - Day 6
Nasca
Nasca day is yours to use as you like. An optional 30-minute scenic flight over the Nasca Lines can be booked but book ahead since spots fill up. At 7:00 p.m. you'll board an overnight bus heading to Arequipa, arriving around 5:30 a.m.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Optional Activities
- Flight over the Nasca Lines from Nasca airport (30 minutes, group-based)
- Day 7
Arequipa
You'll get to Arequipa early at 5:30 a.m. and can check into your hotel right away. In the afternoon, a guided tour covers the cathedral, the Church of La Compania with its cloisters, the San Lazaro district, plus the outlying areas of Yanahuara and Cayma. The day finishes at Santa Catalina Monastery, essentially a whole city where nuns lived apart from the world for over 400 years.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Guided afternoon city tour of Arequipa
- Visit Arequipa Cathedral (external view)
- Visit Church of La Compañía with cloisters
- Visit San Lazaro district
- Visit Yanahuara and Cayma districts
- Visit Santa Catalina Monastery
Landmarks/POIs Arequipa Cathedral Church of La Compañía Santa Catalina Monastery - Day 8
Arequipa to Colca Canyon
Morning departure toward Colca Canyon. You'll pass through Aguada Blanca National Park to see vicunas and alpacas, then reach a high viewpoint at 4,910m with views of volcanoes Misti, Ampato, and Sabancaya. Lunch happens in Chivay where you'll check in to your hotel. The afternoon is free to relax, or you can go bathe in La Calera thermal springs. Travel time is around 5 hours.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Lunch in Chivay)
Included Activities
- Stop at Aguada Blanca National Park with vicuñas and alpacas viewing
- Visit volcano viewpoint at 4,910m (Misti, Ampato, Sabancaya views)
- Lunch in Chivay
Optional Activities
- Bathing at La Calera thermal springs (entrance fee not included)
Landmarks/POIs Aguada Blanca National Park Colca Canyon La Calera thermal springs - Day 9
Colca Canyon
After an early breakfast, you head to Cruz del Condor where you might see condors flying over the canyon. Next you'll visit colonial churches in the villages of Maca and Yanque. Various viewpoints along the route offer good photo chances. The drive back to Arequipa takes about 5 hours, getting you there late afternoon.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Visit Cruz del Condor viewpoint with condor viewing opportunity
- Visit Maca colonial church
- Visit Yanque colonial church
- Visit various scenic viewpoints
Landmarks/POIs Cruz del Condor Maca Yanque - Day 10
Arequipa to Puno
Leaving Arequipa around 5:45 a.m. toward Puno. The route includes a stop at La Lagunillas viewpoint with views of the lagoon and flamingos there. You'll break for breakfast and coffee at your own expense. Arriving in Puno happens around 1:00 p.m. after roughly 7 hours.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Stop at La Lagunillas viewpoint
Optional Activities
- Breakfast and coffee stops along the route (not included in tour price)
Landmarks/POIs La Lagunillas - Day 11
Uros and Taquile Islands
A guided excursion takes you to the Uros floating islands in Titicaca National Park. You'll learn how the Uros people still live on these 50+ islands they built themselves. Later you'll head to Taquile Island, known for men who knit and produce colorful handmade textiles. There are agricultural terraces and hiking trails where you might see the Royal Cordillera in Bolivia. The main village sits at 4,050m if you want to visit. Lunch is provided on Taquile.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Lunch on Taquile Island)
Included Activities
- Guided tour of Uros floating islands
- Visit Taquile Island
- Lunch on Taquile Island
Optional Activities
- Visit main village on Taquile Island at 4,050m
Landmarks/POIs Uros Floating Islands Taquile Island Lake Titicaca - Day 12
Puno to Cusco
A bus takes you to Cusco either in the morning or evening, taking roughly 8 hours total. If you go in the morning, there's a lunch stop in Pukara where food costs extra. You'll get to your hotel in Cusco and check in.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Optional Activities
- Lunch stop in Pukara (not included in tour price)
- Day 13
Cusco
On a guided city tour, you'll start at Plaza de Armas to see the cathedral. Then you'll walk through old town streets with Inca walls to reach Koricancha Sun Temple, now the Church of Santo Domingo. After that come the ruins of Sacsayhuaman, Qenqo sanctuary, Tambomachay water temple, and Puca Pucara.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Guided city tour of Cusco and surrounding ruins
- Visit Cusco Cathedral
- Visit Koricancha Sun Temple / Church of Santo Domingo
- Visit Sacsayhuaman ruins
- Visit Qenqo sanctuary
- Visit Tambomachay water temple
- Visit Puca Pucara
Landmarks/POIs Plaza de Armas Cusco Cathedral Koricancha Sun Temple Sacsayhuaman Qenqo Tambomachay Puca Pucara - Day 14
Sacred Valley
The Sacred Valley exploration begins at Awana Kancha, a community project where you'll see traditional wool processing and South America's four camel species. You continue to Pisac village with its impressive agricultural terraces and colorful local market, which runs on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Sundays. Browsing and bargaining at craft stalls fills part of your time. Lunch is included at a local restaurant. Later you'll reach Ollantaytambo fortress village for views and a look at the historic battleground where Spanish forces were defeated.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Lunch at a local restaurant)
Included Activities
- Visit Awana Kancha wool processing project
- Tour Pisac agricultural terraces and ruins
- Explore Pisac market
- Lunch at local restaurant
- Visit Ollantaytambo fortress
Landmarks/POIs Awana Kancha Pisac Ollantaytambo - Day 15
Machu Picchu
You're heading to Machu Picchu, South America's most well-known Inca site. A train takes you to Aguas Calientes, then a shuttle bus climbs the winding road in 30 minutes. A detailed tour covers the main square, Temple of the Three Windows, Chambers of the Inca, and the sacred sundial, taking about 2.5 to 3 hours. The return trip by bus and train gets you back to Cusco where you'll transfer to your hotel.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Guided tour of Machu Picchu ruins
- Visit main square at Machu Picchu
- Visit Temple of the Three Windows
- Visit Chambers of the Inca
- Visit sacred sundial
- Shuttle bus up serpentine road to Machu Picchu
Landmarks/POIs Machu Picchu Aguas Calientes - Day 16
Cusco to Lima
Your hotel arranges a pickup at the right time to get you to the airport for your flight back to Lima. From there you can connect to your international flight. Ask about optional extension programs if you want to stay longer.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Optional Activities
- Extension programs (to be confirmed)
