Itinerary

• Day 1: LIME

  Arrival at Lima International Airport and transfer to the hotel. Accommodation.

• Day 2: LIMA – PARACAS

  Early in the morning, transfer to the bus station for a scheduled bus ride to Paracas. Along the way, the bus will stop at a roadside restaurant, where you will have the option of breakfast (not included). Later, the trip will continue to the historic Hacienda San José, located in Chincha, a place steeped in history and tradition. There, you will explore the secret slave tunnels, a surprising underground labyrinth built in the 17th century to conceal the trafficking of enslaved Africans and evade taxes. These tunnels connected various haciendas with the port over a distance of more than 17 km. After this unique experience, you will continue your journey to the Paracas bus station. Arrival and transfer to your hotel. Overnight stay.

  
  

• Day 3: PARACAS – BALLESTAS ISLANDS – NAZCA

  Breakfast and transfer to the El Chaco dock to take a boat to the Ballestas Islands, a natural reserve with beautiful geological formations and impressive fauna, where you can even see remains of pre-Incan cultures. The Ballestas Islands are home to birds, pelicans, sea lions, Humboldt penguins and other fascinating species. Along the way, you can see the still inexplicable drawing drawn on the sand in the shape of a candelabra. At the end of the excursion, transfer to the station and departure by regular bus to Nazca. Arrival and transfer to the hotel. Accommodation.

• Day 4: NAZCA (overflight of the Nazca lines) - AREQUIPA

  Early breakfast and transfer to the airfield to fly over the Nazca Lines. From the air, you will be able to observe gigantic figures such as a monkey, a spider and a condor, while you try to decipher their mysterious patterns. This enigmatic flight lasts 30 minutes. At the end, you will have free time in the city. In the afternoon, you will be transferred to the bus station to take the bus that will take you from Nazca to Arequipa, a trip of approximately ten hours. Upon arrival at the bus station in Arequipa, you will be transferred to your hotel. Accommodation.

• Day 5: AREQUIPA

  Breakfast and departure for a panoramic tour of the city. The tour begins at the Carmen Alto viewpoint, where you can enjoy views of the Chili River and the Misti and Chachani volcanoes. Next, you will visit the Yanahuara viewpoint to contemplate the urban contrast and admire the buildings made of sillar, a white stone characteristic of the area. The tour then continues to the main square, called Plaza de Armas, where you can admire its elegant neo-Renaissance cathedral basilica and the sensational Convent of Santa Catalina, which for centuries was a "forbidden city" in the heart of Arequipa, closed to prying eyes and the influence of the outside world. Founded in the 16th century, the convent was an almost self-sufficient town, made up of houses for the nuns and their servants, cloisters, plazas and narrow streets, kitchens and refectories, among other amenities. The nuns' families paid large sums of money to have their daughters admitted, which increased the wealth and prestige of the place. Today, strolling through its colorful streets is like stepping back in time and allowing you to understand colonial Peru. Return to the hotel and rest of the day at leisure. Overnight stay.

  
  

  (Dress code for churches: during the visit, the wearing of short-sleeved shirts or T-shirts or suspenders and pants above the knees are not permitted, otherwise you will not be allowed to enter).

• Day 6: AREQUIPA – COLCA VALLEY AND CANYON

  Breakfast and departure by road to the Colca Valley, passing first through the Yura district, which is characterized by a series of impressive geographical features, such as ravines, mountain ranges, and canyons. We continue through the Aguada Blanca National Reserve to Pampa Cañahuas, an extensive plain populated by vicuñas, one of the four native Andean camelids found in Peru. We will make a brief stop in Patahuasi, where you will have the opportunity to enjoy some local infusions. We will cross the Viscachani and Toccra plains, home to alpacas, vicuñas, and various migratory birds, skirting the crater of the Chucura volcano to reach the Mirador de Los Andes in Patapampa, which sits at 4,910 meters above sea level. From here, you can observe the different volcanoes surrounding Arequipa. Afterwards, we begin the descent to reach the picturesque town of Chivay. Lunch and transfer to your hotel in the Colca Valley to enjoy the rest of the afternoon at leisure. Overnight stay.

• Day 7: COLCA VALLEY AND CANYON - PUNO

  Breakfast. Prepare for an unforgettable day with a breathtaking trip to the Cruz del Cóndor viewpoint. Take a deep breath and appreciate the immensity of the Colca Valley, one of the deepest canyons in the world, with an altitude (at its highest points) of over 4,160 meters above sea level, twice that of the Grand Canyon. The excitement of this experience will increase when you observe the natural spectacle of the immense condors soaring above the canyon. Be amazed as you watch these elegant birds of prey fly overhead, patrolling you with military discipline. We will descend to the bottom of the valley to discover some of the rural villages located on the banks of the Colca River, such as Pinchollo, Maca, Achoma, and Yanque. Lunch in Chivay and the journey continues to Puno. The landscapes will enchant you, with their combination of high plains, unusual rock formations, and lagoons populated by cranes flapping their wings over the water. After nearly six hours of travel, you arrive at your hotel in Puno. Overnight stay.

• Day 8: PUNO – LAKE TITICACA - PUNO

  Breakfast. In the highland city of Puno lies Lake Titicaca, the highest navigable lake in the world. Here, the Uros form an ancestral society that lives on artificial islands built on bases of woven totora reeds, which grow in the lake itself. Today's excursion begins with a transfer to the port of Puno, where a boat awaits to take you to the beautiful Uros Islands. After a magical hour-and-a-half navigation, we continue to the island of Taquile, known for its ancestral culture and traditional way of life, a beautiful piece of heaven that belonged to the Inca Empire where vestiges of this culture can still be seen in its structures. At this point, we will receive a briefing on the island, followed by a delicious lunch. Return to the hotel in Puno and rest of the afternoon at leisure. Accommodation.

• Day 9: PUNO - CUZCO

  Breakfast and departure to the heart of the Inca Empire. Transfer to the bus station and departure on the tourist bus that will take you to Cusco. The route runs through amazing landscapes of the mountain plateau, with villages and native animals around. Stop for a break at the archaeological site of Pucará, which dates from 200 BC to 300 AD. Brief stop at La Raya, the highest point between Puno and Cusco, located more than 4,313 meters above sea level. Then visit Racchi, where the Wiracocha temple is located, a surprising rectangular construction 30 meters wide by 20 meters high. After the visit, enjoy a delicious lunch. Shortly before reaching Cusco, stop in the town of Andahuaylillas to see its main attraction: the church of San Pedro, nicknamed the “Sistine Chapel of America” for the impressive works of art found inside. Once you arrive at the Imperial City bus station, transfer to the hotel. Accommodation.

• Day 10: CUZCO

  Breakfast. Today we have a guided tour of this charming city that was the capital of the Inca Empire. The tour begins with a visit to the Convent of Santo Domingo, built on the Inca temple of Coricancha and one of the most important enclosures dedicated to the worship of the sun. Ancient chronicles say that its walls were covered with gold leaf and filled with golden representations of nature. Then we visit the Cathedral, the most impressive monument in the Plaza de Armas. Afterwards, we leave for the hills of Cusco where the Sacsayhuamán fortress is located, whose imposing walls offer an impressive panoramic view of Cusco. We continue to Qenqo, an archaeological complex for religious use where it is believed that the Incas practiced rituals related to agriculture. The tour ends at Puca Pucará, "red fort" in Quechua, an architectural complex for supposed military use, with multiple rooms, plazas, baths, aqueducts and towers. It is believed that it was used by the Inca entourage while the leader rested in Tambomachay. After finishing the visit, return to the hotel and rest of the day free. Accommodation.

• Day 11: CUZCO – SACRED VALLEY

  Breakfast and departure for the town of Chinchero. This traditional Cusco urban center is special not only for its privileged view of the Sacred Valley landscape, but also because its inhabitants preserve the traditions and knowledge inherited from the Incas, reflected in their clothing and handicrafts. In addition to its cultural legacy, in Chinchero you can visit the agricultural terraces and its beautiful 17th-century church, built on the site of an ancient Inca palace and considered one of the first Catholic structures in Peru. The trip continues through the Sacred Valley toward Ollantaytambo, stopping en route to enjoy the scenery from a viewpoint before arriving at the Museo Vivo de Yucay. This museum is, in fact, an interpretation center for Andean traditions, with demonstrations of textile making, adobe crafts, ceramics, and silverware using the same ancient Inca techniques. Alpacas, llamas, and sheep live on the premises, which you can see up close and even feed. A typical lunch will be served in the area. Finally, we will visit the Ollantaytambo Fortress, an important ceremonial center with agricultural terraces extending into the mountains. After the visit, transfer to your hotel to rest and soak up the Inca spirit. Overnight stay.

• Day 12: SACRED VALLEY – MACHU PICCHU – CUZCO

  Breakfast and transfer to Ollantaytambo station to depart on the Inca Rail Voyager train to Aguas Calientes (Machu Picchu Pueblo), crossing spectacular Andean landscapes for approximately one and a half hours. Arrival and continuation by bus to Machu Picchu, the "lost city of the Incas." The archaeological site is believed to have been built around 1450 by the Inca Pachacutec as his vacation residence. However, a century later, the city was abandoned after the Spanish conquest, spared the destruction that befell other Inca settlements. Instead, the jungle hid and protected it. Designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the New Seven Wonders of the World, Machu Picchu, which means "Old Mountain," captivates with its historical splendor and natural majesty. During the guided tour, you will learn about the origins of this impressive citadel, introducing its most notable monuments. After the visit, return to Aguas Calientes. You will enjoy a delicious set lunch at Café Inkaterra, with a unique view of the Vilcanota River. This restaurant combines Andean cuisine and architecture with contemporary trends, creating a meal with an original, fusion-style flavor. Afterward, depart on the 360º train back to Ollantaytambo station. Arrival and transfer to your hotel in Cusco. Overnight stay.

  (Lunch time may vary depending on the entrance to the citadel)

  (Very important:Due to the limited capacity of the citadel, it is recommended that you purchase tickets to Machu Picchu well in advance because they are subject to availability at the time of reservation and payment. Once purchased, the ticket is non-refundable.)

• Day 13: CUZCO

  Breakfast and free time until transfer time to the airport.