- Exploration
- 15 days
- Year round
- Private
- English-speaking
Along the way......
This itinerary is open to all those who wish to discover the main attractions of Peru. From the Pacific coast to the Andean Cordillera, this circuit will allow you to explore this vast country brimming with history, numerous customs and a diverse geology...
Have a good trip!
Day 1 :
Reception upon arrival at Jorge Chavez airport, in Lima. Transfer to the hotel. Meals open.
Day 2 :
In the morning, departure in a private vehicle on the Pan-American Highway.
Arrival at the hotel in Paracas in the late morning. Relaxation and lunch.
In the afternoon, walk through the Paracas Nature Preserve, located on the coast of the Pacific Ocean.
Return to the hotel. Evening open.
Meals open.
Please note: 163 miles; around three and a half hour travel-time.
Day 3 :
In the morning, departure for the port of Paracas. Excursion to the Ballestas Islands, where we peacefully observe the numerous seals, pelicans, penguins, Bougainville cormorants and flamingos.
Continuation of the journey to the ’Adolfo Bermudez Jenkins’ Museum, a true gem, exhibiting a collection of objects: fabrics, ceramics, mummies and trepinated skulls from the coastal Paracas and Nazca cultures, as well as from the Inca period.
Lunch open at the Huacachina Oasis.
In the afternoon, transfer to the hotel in Nazca and then to the Nazca’s aerodrome.
Low-altitude flight over the famous lines - strange geometrical drawings, some of which easily exceeding 300 yards in length and only visible from the sky!
Meals open.
Note 1: 113 miles – around 2½ -hour of travel time.
Note 2: collective boat for the 2-hour visit of the islands.
Day 4 :
In the morning, visit of the Chauchilla’s cemetery that offers an odd spectacle to its visitors.
Return to Nazca. In the middle of the afternoon, departure in a private vehicle for Arequipa, the White City. Late night reception and transfer to the hotel.
Note 1: 351 miles – 9-hour of travel time.
Note 2: visit of Chauchilla with a Spanish-speaking guide.
Day 5 :
Day dedicated to the exploration of the White City. In the morning, visit of the colonial center (Plaza de Armas, Cathedral, church and the Compaña Convent) and of the Santa Catalina Convent, genuine city within the city with its alleys bordered with colored houses.
Lunch in a picanteria (included). In the afternoon, excursion to the watchtowers of Yanahuara and Cayma, offering a panoramic view over the fabulous surrounding volcanoes.
The end of the day will be dedicated to the visit of the Sanctuarios Andinos Museum, well known for its collection of mummies found in the ice of the surrounding mountains, where they had been preserved for more than five hundred years.
Back to the hotel. Dinner open.
Please note: visit of the Convent with a specialized guide.
Day 6 :
In the morning, departure in a private vehicle for Colca, whose canyon is one of the deepest in the world, with 3680 meters depth (12073 feet).
Crossing of the National Preserve and of the Patapampa pass.
On the way, we admire magnificent landscapes and possibly observe vicunas and other camelids.
Transfer to the hotel in Colca. Option to take a bath in the village hot springs (not included).
Meals open.
Please note: 99 miles – around 5-hour of travel time.
Option: entrance fees to the hot springs to be paid directly on location.
Day 7 :
After an early breakfast, we head to the villages of Ichupampa, Lari and Madrigal and arrive at Cruz Del Condor, at the heart of the Colca, to observe the condors (two hours stay on the site).
Then, continuation of the journey to Chivay via the Antahuilque mirador (another viewpoint to observe the width of the Canyon and its terraced crops); Choquetico and its pre-Inca cemetery (with hanged graves) and Maca, Achoma and Yanque with their colonial churches of baroque style. Lunch open in Chivay. Back to Arequipa in the early afternoon. Transfer to the hotel. Dinner open.
Note: possibility to go directly from the Colca to the region of Puno by private vehicle.
Day 8 :
In the morning, transfer to the Arequipa land terminal.
Journey by bus to Puno, town located on the shores of Lake Titicaca.
This itinerary gives you the opportunity to discover the rather unusual landscapes of the Altiplano.
Reception and private transfer to the typical village of Llachon, which overlooks Lake Titicaca, at 3820 meters above sea level (12532 feet). Felipe and his family welcome us in their community.
Evening meal and night in the community.
Lunch open.
Note 1: visitors are not accompanied during the journey. 5-hour of travel time.
Note 2: timetable and specific transport company details to be communicated to visitors upon arrival in Peru.
Day 9 :
In the morning, transfer to the port of Puno to embark for the islands of Uros and Taquile. After a 25-minute cruise, we visit of the floating islands. These islands are not natural; the Uros tribe, whose main activity is fishing.
We then head for Taquile (around 2-hour cruise), an island of great cultural interest, where residents live in harmony with the ancestral traditions. Visit and lunch in a typical restaurant, not included.
Back to Puno in mid-afternoon.
Transfer to the hotel.
Meals open.
Please note: Option to plan a two days excursion with one night at a local resident’s place on the island.
Day 10 :
Transfer to the Puno land terminal. Journey by bus to Cuzco, Navel of the Inca Empire. This itinerary allows you to enjoy wonderful landscapes along the road, via the Raya Pass, at 4320 meters above sea level (14173 feet).
Visit of the Pukara Museum, the archaeological site of Raqchi and the “Sistine Chapel” of the Andes in Andahuaylillas.
Reception and transfer to the hotel in Cuzco.
Lunch included (buffet lunch at Sicuani). Dinner open.
Note: visitors are not accompanied by a guide on the bus journey. However, a Spanish/English-speaking guide, exclusive to the bus company, participates to the journey and gives information along the way.
Day 11 :
Day dedicated to the discovery of Cuzco and its surrounding areas.
In the morning, visit of the archaeological sites overlooking the city: Tambomachay, Q’enko, Pukapucara and Sacsayhuaman. We then walk down to the San Blas quarter (the artists’ place). We pass by the famous 12 angles stone and continue to the San Pedro market to familiarize ourselves with local products.
In the afternoon, visits of the Koricancha (Temple of the Sun), and of the Cathedral, exhibiting some paintings from the School of Cuzco and many goldsmith’s art, silver and precious stones treasures.
Transfer to the hotel at the end of the afternoon.
Meals open.
Day 12 :
In the morning, departure in a private vehicle for a day dedicated to the discovery of the Sacred Valley. First stop at the ruins of Pisac. Visit of the site and walk around the handicraft market.
Typical lunch and stop in a ceramic workshop in Urubamba (Ayllu if opens). Continuation of the journey to Maras: salt mines in the middle of the Cordillera! Walk down to the Urumbamba River where the vehicle awaits us.
Continuation to the Incan village of Ollantaytambo. Visit of the fortress. Lunch included. Dinner open.
Day 13 :
In the morning, departure from the train station of Ollantaytambo for the journey to Aguascalientes.
Direct connection to the shuttle service that will drive you to the citadel of Machu Picchu.
Day dedicated to the visit of the site; one of the wonders of the world, discovered in 1911 by the American anthropologist Hiram Bingham.
Meals open.
Note: depending on availabilities, the return journey can be done by train to Ollantaytambo and then by private vehicle to Cuzco.
Day 14 :
Transfer to the Cuzco airport for a flight to Lima, the Peruvian capital.
Reception and transfer to the hotel.
Meals open.
Please note: visitors are not accompanied by a guide on this flight. Timetable and specific airline details to be communicated to visitors upon arrival in Peru.
Option: for a city tour of Lima – contact us.
Day 15 :
Three hours before take-off, transfer to Jorge Chavez airport in Lima. Connection with the international return flight. Meals open.
Included:
All tours mentioned in this program
Private English-speaking guide
Aforementioned transport: domestic flights, trains
Private transfer to airport / station / bus terminal / hotel with Spanish-speaking chauffeur
Entrance to sites, museums and natural parks
Hotels with double or triple room including breakfast
Aforementioned meals
Guide expenses (transport, hotels, meals, etc…)
Not Included:
International return flight
Individual equipment (sleeping bag, torch lamp, etc…)
Obligatory travel insurance
Entrance fees if mentioned
Drinks
Tips
Airport tax ($US 6 per person for national flights, $US 30 per person for international flights)
Aforementioned free meals