Peru is a megadiverse and multi-cultural country that you will simply fall in love with. Your vacation in Peru will be like nothing else you’ve ever experienced.
On this journey, you are going to discover its most visited destinations: Lima, South America’s capital of fine dining; from there, it’s off to
Arequipa and a Colca Canyon tour and vistas of incredible volcanoes. From there, Puno and Lake Titicaca. Last but definitely not least is Cusco,
from where you will travel to Machu Picchu and take an exciting Machu Picchu tour. Give yourself the gift of a Peru vacation, a luxurious experience of
travelling from the Pacific coast to the tops of the Andes on a Peru tour where you get to see a little of everything: history, archeology, nature, and especially
culture. Peru awaits you.
TOUR DESCRIPTION
AVAILABILITY: Every day.
TOUR DURATION: 12days / 11 nights.
DEPARTURE: The whole year.
GROUPS: 2 paxs at least and 12 paxs maximum (customized service).
Day 1: Arrival in Lima.
Reception at the
airport and transfer to your chosen hotel
Day 2: City tour and visit to the Larco Museum
The day begins with an excursion to the historic center of
Lima, the famous “City of the Kings” and part of the UNESCO World Cultural
Heritage List. You will walk through the Main Square and visit its principal
landmarks. You will then continue to the Santo Domingo Convent, a 16th century
architectural masterpiece, where you will learn some of the history of two of
our patron saints: Rose of Lima and Martin of Porras. Later, you will continue
the tour to the city’s modern sectors: the exclusive district of San Isidro,
Lima’s new financial center, and Miraflores, with a stop at the “Parque del
Amor” (a sort of lover’s lane) and its incredible view of the Pacific Ocean.
Next stop is the Larco Musuem, whose specially selected private collection
shows more than 3000 years of Pre-Columbian history.
Day 3: Arequipa – excursion through the city and a visit to
the Santa Catalina Convent
You will leave Lima for the city of Arequipa and, upon
reaching it, tour the city and its famous historic downtown, also inscribed on
UNESCO’s Cultural World Heritage List. Just a few blocks away sits the Santa
Catalina Convent, a grand 16th century religious complex and sanctuary. After
that visit, you will end the day at two traditional districts of the city:
Cayma and Yanahuara.
Accommodations for the night in Arequipa.
Day 4: Colca Canyon tour
Today, you will make your way to one of the world’s deepest
canyons: the Colca Canyon, 165 km from the city of Arequipa. Along the way, you
will pass through Pampas Cañahuas, a plain in the midst of the Aguada Blanca y
Salinas National Reserve that will open the way to experiencing the adventure, culture,
and history that envelopes this peculiar setting, surrounded by peaks and
precipices. You will also stop at Patahuasi, a small village in the valley, and
then later ascend to 4000 m. The route continues to the town of Chivay, a
fascinating community, whose citizens are incredibly warm and welcoming. It
also boasts a Pre-Incan bridge, a small 18th century Colonial church dedicated
to Assumption Mary, a lively market, and proximity to the La Calera hot
springs. The afternoon is free to enjoy those thermal waters or the comfort of
your hotel.
Accommodations for the night in Yanque.
Day 5: Cruz del Condor and transfer to Puno
The day begins with an early drive to the Cruz del Condor, a
natural lookout some 60 km from Chivay and the perfect spot for watching the
world’s largest bird, the majestic Andean condor, glide of the winds. On the
return, you will stop by the village of Pincholo, famous for its cheeses and
retable artisans, and then the town of Maca to visit its charming handicraft
market and Colonial church. The last part of the day is the drive to Puno.
Accommodations for the night in Puno.
Day 6: Lake Titicaca and the floating Uros and Taquile
islands
Today will be a full day excursion on Lake Titicaca, the
world’s highest navigable lake at 3808 m, and you will visit its main
attraction: the floating Uros Islands, which lay just 6 km off the Puno Bay. 35
minutes from these is Taquile Island, where the community will, after giving
you a traditional welcome, show you their customs, like their traditional and
colorful outfits, and teach you what the knitted patterns mean. From this spot,
the views become even better. The color of the lake turns a deeper blue, and
the setting takes on an even more special mood.
Accommodations for the night in Puno.
Day 7: Departure for Cusco – La Raya, Raqchi, and
Andahuaylillas
You will be taken to the bus station, where you will begin
your trip to the city of Cusco. A vacation in Peru would be incomplete without
a few days in this historic place. There is a scheduled stop at the La Raya
Pass, the natural border between the departments of Cusco and Puno, which is a
prime location for taking impressive photos. Afterwards, you will tour the
Incan archeological site of Raqchi, renowned for its massive temple to the god
Viracocha. Next on the itinerary is a stop at the village of Andahuaylillas,
where you will see an actual architectural masterpiece: its main church, built
in the 17th century, whose finely painted interior walls will astound you.
Accommodation in Cusco.
Day 8: Excursion in the city and visit to Sacsayhuaman and
nearby archeological sites
You will tour the city today and enjoy the amazing Colonial
center, an inheritance from its Andean and Hispanic past as well as an UNESCO
World Cultural Heritage Site. Two of the city’s famous landmarks are on the
schedule, as well: the Korikancha, or “Temple of the Sun, and the Cathedral,
home to finely carved wooden art pieces and impressive altars. The tour
continues to Sacsayhuaman, an Incan fort constructed from menhirs that guarded
the Imperial city. There are three other important archeological sites, not far
at all from the city, that you will visit: Qenko, Tambomachay, and Puca Pucara.
Accommodations in Cuzco.
Day 9: Free day. Explore the city on your own!
Enjoy an afternoon off in Cuzco. Relax, look around, and
admire what you see.
Accommodations in Cuzco.
Day 10: Authentic Sacred Valley
Discover the best of the Sacred Valley of the Incas through
this route starting on the Inca's Balcony, in Chinchero, a beautiful place with
an impressive view, where twelves families still preserve their traditional
costums, showing you the ancestral way in which they process the wool, and obtain
those vivid colors for their textiles.
Afterwards, we will get to Ollantaytambo, one of the most
monumental architectural complexes of the ancient Inca Empire, one of the few
places where the Spanish conquistadors lost a major battle. Very well known for
its “andenes” (terraces dug into the slopes of mountains for agricultural
purposes), Ollantaytambo was a highly effective fortress, that also served as a
temple. Then, we will follow to the town of Ollantaytambo, “the unique living
Inca town”: the best surviving example of Inca city planning, with narrow
cobblestone streets that have been continuously inhabited since the 13th
century.
Accommodations in Cusco.
Day 11: Travel to Machu Picchu, Lost City of the Incas
The landmark on today’s itinerary is the icon of Peruvian
tourism: the Historic Sanctuary of Machu Picchu, the great Incan outpost.
Visiting Machu Picchu starts off with a train ride to the town of Aguas
Calientes, the departure point for the ascent to the Stone City. Once at the
top, your Machu Picchu tour starts for real. After the visit is completed, you
will descend and return to the city of Cusco.
Accommodations in Cusco.
Day 12: Return to Lima. International Departures
At the scheduled time, you will be transferred to the
airport for your return flight to Lima.
Post A Comment: