Countries visited:
Peru

Tour highlights:
Lima
Flight over the Nazca Lines
Ballestas island
Cusco
Machu Picchu
Lake Titicaca
Uros Islands
The Sacred Valley
Puno

 

 

Day 1 Lima, Peru
Arrive in Lima, transfer to your hotel and accommodation.

Day 2 Lima - Pisco - Nazca Lines (flight) - Paracas
Your tour of Peru starts with early departure from Lima and drive south on the Pan-American Highway to Pisco, the wine capital of Peru. From here you board your aircraft for a 1 hour flight over the desert and the mysterious Nazca Lines, which can only be appreciated from the air. Your pilot will point out the mysterious markings known as the Nazca Lines, a series of drawings of animals and geometric figures etched into the parched soil—some up to 1,000 feet long! Enjoy the rest of the day at leisure in Paracas, known for its Natural Reserve that preserves coastal desert and marine life. Overnight in Paracas.

Day 3 Paracas - Ballestas Islands (cruise) - Lima
Enjoy the morning at leisure or join an optional Ballestas Islands cruise. Inhabited by a wide variety of sea mammals and exotic birds, including boobies, sea lions, and Humboldt penguins, these small group of islands deserve to be seen. Later, return to Lima.

Day 4 Lima
Have a half day guided tour of Lima’s rich colonial history as well as the modern city. Visit the “Kiss Park” built in Gaudi’s style, also the main square with the Presidential and Municipal Palaces. Get inside to the Lima Cathedral to visit the tomb of the Spanish Conqueror Francisco Pizarro and San Francisco Monastery with its large underground crypts said to connect the monastery with nearby churches. Enjoy afternoon at leisure.

Day 5 Lima - Cusco (flight)
Fly to Cusco high in the Andes to Cuzco. It was the biggest city and capital of the Inca Empire and then taken by the Spanish conquerors. Today it has an architecture that fuses the Inca with the Spanish style. Your guided tour takes you to the Santo Domingo Monastery, previously the Koricancha Temple, one of the most important temples devoted to worship of the sun. It is said it was covered in gold leaf and filled with golden representations of nature. See the Cathedral in Plaza de Armas, before taking a short drive outside the city to visit the following Inca sites: the ruins of the impressive Sacsayhuaman fortress, Kenko ceremonial centre, considered a holy place by the Incas and the Puca Pucara military ruin. Finish the tour and have overnight in Cusco.

Day 6 Cusco - Sacred Valley - Aguas Calientes (train)
Early in the morning, we start our excursion to the Urubamba valley, “The Sacred Valley of the Incas”. Our first stop will be the Inca Ruins of Pisaq, which lay atop a hill at the entrance of the valley. Once you have taken in the breathtaking scenery, we visit the rather picturesque Pisaq market where you will be amazed by all of the artisans at work. Continue onto Urubamba and along a scenic route reach the fortress and citadel of Ollantaytambo – the best surviving example of Inca city planning. In the late afternoon, travel by train to Aguas Calientes, where you will spend the night.

Day 7 Aguas Calientes - Machu Picchu - Aguas Calientes
Today enter Machu Picchu, also known as the Lost City of the Incas,one of the highlights of your travel in Peru. One a guided tour explore this intact fortress with its temple remains, holy houses, and mile-long aqueduct. For hikers, a brisk one-hour walk leads to the Sun Gate, the ancient entrance used by the Incas. Free time in the afternoon in Aguas Calientes where you can take a relaxing bath in the hot springs.

Day 8 Machu Picchu - Cusco
Today wake up early and arrive by 6 a.m. at the entrance gate of Machu Picchu to see the sunrise. Known as IntiPunku, it is a phenomenal experience that everyone should try. Later, return to Cusco and have free time to explore more the city. Perhaps visit the Inca Museum or wander through the artisan district of San Blas.

Day 9 Cusco - Juliaca - Puno
Today leave Cusco and travel to Juliaca, where you will be transferred to Puno on the shores of Lake Titicaca.

Day 10 Puno - Lake Titicaca - Uros Islands - Puno (boat)
Today, enjoy a full-day sailing on Lake Titicaca and take a motorboat to some of the lake’s more unique islands. Covering 8,400 sq km and sitting at 3,810 meters, Lake Titicaca is the highest navigable lake in the world. Start with Taquile, once part of the Inca Empire and one of the last areas of Peru to be conquered by Spain in the 16th century. After lunch, travel to the fascinating Uros Islands - the “floating Island”, home to the Uros Indians who were forced to live on the lake as the Incas pushed farther into their territory. These islands are completely made from reeds, which are continually added to as they disintegrate to the bottom of the lake. Arrive back in Puno for overnight.

Day 11 Puno - Sillustani - Lima
This morning depart to Lima and on the way, visit the ruins of Sillustani tombs, dating back to the 1400s. Proceed to Lima, where you will have the last evening at leisure.

Day 12 Lima
Transfer to the airport of Lime for your flight back home.