Itinerary
- Day 1
Lima
You'll land at Jorge Chavez International Airport and get transferred to your hotel in Lima. The rest of the day is yours to use however you'd like, so you can either wander around the Historic Centre to see the colonial buildings and modern galleries, or just relax after your flight. The UNESCO-listed center has plenty to explore when you're ready.
- Start point
- Aeropuerto Internacional Jorge Chávez (LIM), Av. Elmer Faucett s/n, Callao, Lima Province, Peru (Pick up at Lima Airport)
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Tierra Viva), Hotel (Jose Antonio Deluxe), Hotel (Pullman Lima Miraflores)
Optional Activities
- Magic Water Circuit with Dinner (private basis) - Modern fountain system certified by Guinness World Records, includes bilingual guide, admission, pick-up/drop-off and dinner
Landmarks Historic Centre of Lima Magic Water Circuit 
- Day 2
Lima to Paracas
After breakfast at the hotel, you'll head to the bus station for the drive to Paracas along the coast, which takes about three and a half hours. The area sits in a mild desert climate and you'll check into your hotel there. Paracas is known for its natural reserve and those turquoise beaches that line the Pacific.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Breakfast at hotel)
- Accommodation
- Hotel (San Agustín Paracas), Hotel (Aranwa Paracas), Hotel (Hotel Paracas)
Landmarks Paracas National Reserve 
- Day 3
Paracas to Nazca
Following breakfast, you're off to El Chaco pier for a boat tour around the Ballestas Islands. On the water you'll see dramatic cliffs and spot sea lions, birds, penguins, and dolphins going about their day. You'll also cruise past the mysterious Paracas Candelabra geoglyph carved into the hillside. Later you'll catch a four-hour bus ride to Nazca and get settled at your hotel.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Breakfast at hotel)
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Casa Andina Nasca), Hotel (Hacienda Majoro Boutique & Resort)
Included Activities
- Ballestas Islands boat tour - Cruise around rocky islets observing sea lions, boobies, pelicans, seals, dolphins and endangered Humboldt penguins
Landmarks Ballestas Islands Paracas Candelabra - Day 4
Nazca to Arequipa
Breakfast comes first, then you'll take a 30-minute flight over the desert to see the famous Nazca Lines with all those geometric patterns, spider, condor, and monkey designs etched into the sand. Once you land, you'll transfer to the bus station for a 10-hour journey to Arequipa. You'll arrive at your hotel there in the evening.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Breakfast at hotel)
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Tierra Viva Arequipa), Hotel (Hampton by Hilton Arequipa), Hotel (Wyndham Costa del Sol Arequipa)
Included Activities
- Nazca Lines flight - 30-minute aerial tour over geoglyphs in Peruvian desert
Landmarks Nazca Lines - Day 5
Arequipa
After eating breakfast, you'll check out Arequipa's main square and visit the elegant neo-Renaissance Basilica Cathedral. The 16th-century Santa Catalina Monastery has colorful colonial streets worth walking through. Then head to Yanahuara and Carmen Alto neighborhoods where you can see the Misti volcano rising above the city with really nice views.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Breakfast at hotel)
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Tierra Viva Arequipa), Hotel (Hampton by Hilton Arequipa), Hotel (Wyndham Costa del Sol Arequipa)
Included Activities
- Plaza de Armas walking tour - Main square featuring Basilica Cathedral
- Santa Catalina Monastery visit - 16th-century walled convent with colonial architecture
- Yanahuara and Carmen Alto neighborhoods - Views of Misti volcano above the city
Landmarks Plaza de Armas Basilica Cathedral of Arequipa Santa Catalina Monastery Misti Volcano - Day 6
Arequipa to Colca Valley
Breakfast behind you, you'll travel toward Colca Valley through some impressive terrain with deep ravines, high mountains, and waterfalls. As you cross the Andean plateaus, you'll see vicuñas roaming around and pass the extinct Chucura Volcano crater. The Patapampa viewpoint sits at 4,910 meters and shows off numerous volcanoes around you. You'll have lunch in Chivay before the rest of your afternoon opens up at the hotel.
- Meals
- Lunch (Lunch in Chivay)
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Casa Andina Standard Colca), Hotel (Colca Lodge), Hotel (Aranwa)
Included Activities
- Patapampa viewpoint - Mountain viewpoint at 4,910 meters with panoramic volcano views
Landmarks Chucura Volcano Patapampa Viewpoint Yura District Pampa Cañahuas - Day 7
Colca Valley to Puno
Wake up for breakfast and head to Cruz del Condor viewpoint in Colca Canyon, one of the world's deepest valleys at about 3,400 meters. Watch for condors gliding on thermals while you explore the traditional towns with their colonial churches along the Colca River. You'll visit Antahuilque and Choquetico viewpoints too. Later you continue to Puno, passing stone forests and lagoons filled with cranes at 4,000 meters elevation.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Breakfast at hotel), Lunch (Lunch during Colca Valley exploration)
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Hacienda Puno), Hotel (José Antonio Puno), Hotel (GHL Hotel Lago Titicaca)
Included Activities
- Cruz del Condor viewpoint - Canyon viewpoint at 3,400 meters for spotting condors
- Colca Canyon exploration - Traditional towns of Chivay, Pinchollo, Maca, Achoma and Yanque with colonial churches
- Antahuilque and Choquetico viewpoints - Majestic valley views
Landmarks Cruz del Condor Colca Canyon Colca River - Day 8
Uros and Taquile Islands
After breakfast, you'll head to Puno port and board a boat to the Uros Islands where indigenous people live on floating islands made from totora reeds. They'll share their traditions with you, then you'll sail to Taquile, a small island with Inca heritage traces. There's a cultural demonstration from local people, lunch on the island, and then you return to Puno by boat.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Breakfast at hotel), Lunch (Lunch on Taquile Island)
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Hacienda Puno), Hotel (José Antonio Puno), Hotel (GHL Hotel Lago Titicaca)
Included Activities
- Uros Islands visit - Tour of man-made floating islands constructed from totora reeds, indigenous cultural experience
- Taquile Island visit - Exploration of island with Inca ruins and local cultural demonstration
Landmarks Uros Islands Taquile Island Lake Titicaca - Day 9
Puno to Cusco
Breakfast is relaxed, then you'll transfer to the bus station to head to Cusco. Along the way you'll stop in Pucara to see pre-Inca monoliths at the Lithic Museum, then continue to Racchi to check out the impressive Wiracocha Temple with its 20-meter thatched rooftops. You'll also visit Andahuaylillas Church, which people call the 'Sistine Chapel of America' because of its fine art. You'll arrive at your Cusco hotel after that.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Breakfast at hotel), Lunch (Lunch during journey to Cusco)
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Tierra Viva Cusco), Hotel (Hilton Garden Inn), Hotel (Aranwa Cusco Boutique)
Included Activities
- Pucara Lithic Museum visit - Pre-Inca monoliths from early settlement (100-300 A.D.)
- Wiracocha Temple visit - Inca site with distinctive 20-meter thatched rooftops
- Andahuaylillas Church visit - Colonial church known as 'Sistine Chapel of America' for exceptional interior art
Landmarks Pucara Lithic Museum Wiracocha Temple Andahuaylillas Church 
- Day 10
Cusco
Start with breakfast and spend the morning walking through Cusco's cobblestoned streets. In the afternoon your guided tour starts at Santo Domingo Convent, built on top of Coricancha, an important Incan sun worship complex. You'll see the cathedral in Plaza de Armas, climb up to Sacsayhuaman fortress for panoramic city views, then check out the archaeological sites Qenqo and Puca Pukara. Return to your hotel after.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Breakfast at hotel)
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Tierra Viva Cusco), Hotel (Hilton Garden Inn), Hotel (Aranwa Cusco Boutique)
Included Activities
- Cusco cobblestoned streets exploration - Morning walk through charming historic streets
- Santo Domingo Convent visit - Building constructed on Coricancha, Incan sun worship complex site
- Cathedral Plaza de Armas visit - Cusco's imposing cathedral in main plaza
- Sacsayhuaman fortress visit - Hilltop fortress with panoramic Cusco views
- Qenqo archaeological site visit - Ancient Incan religious ritual site
- Puca Pukara fortress visit - Ancient military site with rooms, courtyards, baths and aqueducts
Landmarks Santo Domingo Convent Coricancha Plaza de Armas Cusco Cathedral Sacsayhuaman Qenqo Puca Pukara - Day 11
Sacred Valley
After breakfast, you'll travel to Chinchero to see traditional clothing, customs, and local handicrafts, plus archaeological remains and a 17th-century church. The Yucay Museum of Living Culture lets you watch artisans working with textiles, pottery, and silverware using Incan techniques, and you can feed llamas and alpacas. Then head to Ollantaytambo to explore the streets and climb the fortress. You'll have lunch with local cuisine before heading back to your hotel.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Breakfast at hotel), Lunch (Local cuisine lunch in Ollantaytambo)
- Accommodation
- Hotel (AVA Spots), Hotel (Inkaterra Hacienda Urubamba), Hotel (Sonesta Posadas del Inca Yucay)
Included Activities
- Chinchero visit - High-altitude town with traditional clothing, customs, handicrafts, archaeological remains and 17th-century church
- Yucay Museum of Living Culture visit - Incan textile, pottery and silverware crafting demonstrations with animal feeding
- Ollantaytambo exploration - Streets and iconic fortress built into mountainside, continuously inhabited since Inca times
Optional Activities
- Chinchero Sunday market visit - Local market available on Sundays
Landmarks Chinchero Yucay Museum of Living Culture Ollantaytambo Ollantaytambo Fortress - Day 12
Machu Picchu
Following breakfast, you'll travel to Ollanta station to catch a 1.5-hour train through Andean landscapes to Aguas Calientes. A 25-minute bus takes you up to Machu Picchu, the famous 'lost city of the Incas' built around 1450. A guide will show you around this remarkable citadel and its great monuments, then you'll have lunch at Café Inkaterra. The afternoon brings you back by train to Ollanta station and then transfer to Cusco.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Breakfast at hotel), Lunch (Lunch at Café Inkaterra in Aguas Calientes)
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Tierra Viva Cusco), Hotel (Hilton Garden Inn), Hotel (Aranwa Cusco Boutique)
Included Activities
- Machu Picchu guided tour - Exploration of Inca citadel's monuments and archaeological sites
Landmarks Machu Picchu Aguas Calientes 
- Day 13
Cusco to Lima
After breakfast, you'll check out of your hotel and transfer to the airport for your flight back to Lima. This brings your journey through Peru's culture and history to a close.
- End point
- Aeropuerto Internacional Alejandro Velasco Astete (CUZ), Av. Velasco Astete S/N, Wanchaq, Cusco, Peru (Drop off at Cusco Airport)
- Meals
- Breakfast (Breakfast at hotel)
