Peru is rich in history, culture, gastronomy and so much more. There is never a dull moment in this exciting country with a lot to do. With its rich and astonishingly varied scenery, this country is one of only 17 in the world to be defined as mega-diverse, meaning it harbors a staggering amount of the Earth’s species. Combine this fact with amazing landscapes that has the power to stop people in their tracks, an absorbing history, and a legacy of fascinating cultures, civilizations, that still exists today. Our private tours to Peru are designed to showcase all that this country has to offer.
Trip Overview
Tour type: See the highlights of Lima, Arequipa, Puno and Cusco regions. This tour visits all the highlights in each region. By the end of the 13 days, you will be amazed about Peru and Inca History. Let us make you enjoy these beautiful cities.
Difficulty: Easy, moderate, no hiking
Highlights to visit: Lima historic center, San Francisco Convent, Casa de Aliaga, Larco Herrera Museum, Peru’s colonial “White City” in Arequipa, visit Cruz del Condor where you will see condors soaring at dawn over the depths of the Colca Canyon, Uros and Taquile Islands on Lake Titicaca, Pisaq, Ollantaytambo, Maras, Moray, Machu Picchu, the four ruins (Sachsayhuaman, Tambomachay, Qenqo, Pucapucara), the Cathedral, and Koricancha the temple of the sun.
Inclusions: Hotels, tours, meals, entrance tickets, and ground transportation as detailed in the itinerary.
Iinerary
DAY 1: Arrival to Lima
International flight arriving to Lima (arriving at any time – international flight booked on your own). At your arrival, we will pick up from the airport and transport to your hotel in Miraflores.
Meals included: Breakfast
Overnight: Lima
DAY 2: Lima City Tour & Larco Herrera Museum
After a delicious breakfast at the hotel, pick up from your hotel. You will start your Lima city tour by having a panoramic view of the traditional districts of Miraflores and San Isidro . You will pass by Parque del Amor (Love Park) enjoying magnificent views of the Pacific Ocean. Then, you will head to Lima’s historic center declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site and make a short stop at the Plaza Mayor, where the Presidential Palace and the Cathedral are located. Continue to the San Francisco Convent and its famous underground crypts known as the Catacombs. Afterwards, you will visit Casa de Aliaga, which is the oldest dwelling in the Americas that has been home to the same family for 17 generations (duration: 4 hours). Return to your hotel.
Afternoon spend at your leisure, either enjoying the hotel facilities or exploring vibrant Miraflores near to your hotel!
In the evening, we will pick you up from the hotel and transfer to Larco Herrera Museum which is one of the most magnificent museums where you will be able to admire the world’s largest collection of pre-Columbian masterpieces and a stunning exhibition of gold and priceless jewels. After the tour enjoy dinner. Finally, after dinner, we will bring you back to your hotel.
Meals included: Breakfast, Dinner
Overnight: Lima
DAY 3: Flight Lima – Arequipa & City Tour Arequipa
We will transfer you to the airport to take your flight Lima – Arequipa (departing in the morning). Arequipa (2,335 m/ 7,660ft) is called “La Ciudad Blanca” (the White City) and it is surrounded by three imposing volcanoes: Misti, and the extinct volcanic groups Pichu Pichu and Chachani. At your arrival, pick up from the airport and transfer to a restaurant to enjoy a delicious lunch. After lunch, you will continue with the City Tour Arequipa where you will visit the Cathedral of Arequipa, Santa Catalina Convent beloved for its vividly painted facades and “Santuarios Andinos” Museum and the beautiful and famous Mommy Juanita. After the tour, transfer to your hotel and relax.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch
Overnight: Arequipa
DAY 4: Drive from Arequipa to Colca Valley
Enjoy breakfast at the hotel before departing for your journey to Colca (10,725ft / 3,270m). Enjoy the scenic ride as you pass through rolling hills and see some of the best natural scenery Peru has to offer. On route, you will stop at Pampa Cañahuas – a reserve inhabited by llamas and other South American camelids, and will see the volcano overlook of Patapampa, from where you can gaze over the mighty line-up of snow-hatted volcanic peaks. Once arrived to the hotel, it’s time to relax and enjoy the beautiful and serene surrounding, and enjoy of the curative waters of the lodge’s natural spring pools (if you stay at Colca Lodge).
Meals included: Breakfast, Box Lunch, Dinner
Overnight: Colca Valley
DAY 5: Amazing Colca Canyon & Cruz del Condor
Unforgettable sights lie ahead today! This morning, you will see the histrionic Colca Canyon, the deepest in the world and thought to be twice as deep as the Grand Canyon. The Colca River has carved this geologic wonder over millennia and some of the terraced hillsides are known to predate Incan civilization. The Canyon is also home to the extraordinary Andean condor. Although the population of condors is dwindling in South America, at the Colca Canyon you will have the rare opportunity to see them soaring gracefully on the thermal drifts created in the canyon. The Colca Valley has been known by many different names including The Valley of Wonders, The Valley of Fire and The Territory of the Condor – and now it is acclaimed as one of the “Seven Natural Wonders of the World”. Journey past tiny villages with terraced farmlands on the picturesque drive to the town of Colca. Perhaps, catch a brief sight of shepherds tending to their alpaca, some descended from indigenous tribes such as the Collagua and Cabana. Upon arrival, settle into your comfortable accommodations at the Colca Lodge. There will be time to enjoy the lovely amenities of the lodge and luxuriate in thermo-medicinal baths fed by hot springs. Tonight, turn your gaze upward to a spectacular blanket of stars.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch
Overnight: Colca Valley
DAY 6: Colca Valley to Puno
Experience another day surrounded by Andean beauty. The journey takes around five hours and you will past by tranquil Lake Lagunillas, home to a variety of birdlife, llama, sheep, and vicuña. Once arrived in Puno, your first spectacular view is of pristine Lake Titicaca, the world’s highest navigable lake, sitting majestically at 12,500ft / 3,810m, backed by the snowcapped peaks of Bolivia’s Cordillera Real range. Check-in at the hotel and relax after a thrilling day.
Meals included: Breakfast, Box Lunch
Overnight: Puno
DAY 7: Exploring Uros and Taquile Islands
After breakfast, we will pick you from your hotel and will take you to the Pier where you will board your boat in direction to the floating island of the Uros. The Uros people have lived in these floating islands for hundreds of years. These ancient people knew how extract the abundant Totora reed to put them together and form little flouting islands that will be attached later. The work they do is not easy as they have to change the Totora from time to time, having to remake their houses, boats and land. Because all of them are from Totora that has to be changed every certain period. After visiting the floating island of Uros we will depart in the same boat we took to Taquile, in Taquile we will have a typic lunch from the region and special tea from the area. After lunch we will visit more of the island of Taquile, Where we will be able to see stunning view of the Titikaka lake and take great pictures. Taquile is also well known for their handmade art (textiles, pottery, etc.). Contrary to many other cultures in Taquile the men are the ones that do the textiles. As a result in order to marry and have a good status in the community they have to show how well they can do their textiles. You will see many of them doing their textiles in the way and will be able to buy some of them. After visiting Taquile we will take again the boat to go back to Puno pier, and then take you back to your hotel.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch
Overnight: Puno
DAY 8: Journey Puno to Cusco visiting interesting places en route!
After breakfast, depart Puno and head towards Cusco, settle in for a seat on a guided bus tour that will take you from Puno to Cusco, stopping at several key points of interest along the scenic route. The first stop-off comes at the Pre-Inca Pukara archaeological site. Next up: La Raya, which at around 14,220 feet, will be the literal high point of your travels. Vistas of glorious glacier-capped peaks loom in the background. In the foreground, artisans hawk their goods on the roadside stalls.
After an enjoyable lunch en route, we’ll break to stretch our legs once more at Raqchi. The Inca ruins here are quite unlike any others. Rather than just temples or ceremonial centers, this town – once the Inca frontier – possesses unusual stone-and-mud-brick walls, designed to ward off invaders from the south. The penultimate destination on your guided bus tour will be the church of Andahuaylillas. Whitewashed on the outside, this church’s seemingly humble exterior belies the extravagance that lies inside. The interior’s lavish frescoes, dazzling gold leaf and eye-popping wood sculpture has earned it the handle, “Sistine Chapel of the Americas”. As you step off the bus in Cusco, you will be met by your guide who will take you to your hotel, where you can rest.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch
Overnight: Cusco
DAY 9: City Tour Cusco & Afternoon at leisure
After enjoying breakfast, meet your tour guide at your hotel to start with your tour. Transfer by foot to the main square “Cusco’s Plaza de Armas”, and visit the famous Cathedral the 10 top most beautiful in South America and Koricancha the “Temple of the Sun”. After that, we drive to the four Inka remains: Sacsayhuaman, Qenqo, Puca Pucara and Tambomachay (duration: 4 hours). Return to your hotel.
At the end of the tour, your guide will suggest places to visit for lunch.
Afternoon at leisure. Cusco is truly a delight for walkers to take time to explore some of the city’s stunning sights or shop for some of the finest handicrafts and textiles in all of Peru.
Meals included: Breakfast
Overnight: Cusco
DAY 11: Sacred Valley – Pisaq & Ollantaytambo – Aguas Calientes (Machu Picchu Town)
You will visit Pisaq archeological site where we will see hundreds of agriculture terraces, where the Incas farmed corn, potatoes, and different variety of grains and seeds. The religious and astronomical side of the Incas will be visible, at this sight. Then, we will descend into Pisaq traditional handicraft market for shopping opportunities. After this visit, you will enjoy lunch. Then, we continue our trip to Ollantaytambo (2,700m / 8858ft) archeological site one of the amazing religious and defensive place.
Afterwards, transfer to the train station to board the Vistadome superior class train. At your arrival, transfer to your hotel.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Overnight: Aguas Calientes
DAY 12: MACHU PICCHU one of the seven wonders of the World!
Early wake up call to enjoy of an amazing and unique day. Then, together with your tour guide, transfer to the bus station to take the bus up to Machu Picchu (2,500m / 8,202 ft.). Upon arrival, we walk up to the best spot overlooking the ruins and have an amazing view of the Lost City of the Incas. After this, you will start with your guided tour for 2.5 hours and have free time to explore on your own and take some photos.
Then, enjoy a delicious buffet lunch at Tampu restaurant in Belmond Sanctuary Lodge hotel (located just next to the entrance to Machu Picchu). After lunch, take the bus down to Aguas Calientes and relax on your free time. Finally, meet your guide at the train station to board your Vistadome superior class train to Ollantaytambo. Pick up from Ollantaytambo train station (2 hours from the City of Cusco) and transfer to your hotel in Cusco.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch
Overnight: Cusco
DAY 13: Morning at leisure and transfer to the airport
Morning at leisure to relax at the hotel and/or walk around and/or make some shopping on your own.
Pick up from your hotel and transfer to the airport to take your flight Cusco – Lima (departing in the morning or afternoon) to then take your international flight back home (departing in the evening – booked on your own).
Meals included: Breakfast
End of our services!
Included
- Hotel as stated in itinerary
- Meals as stated in itinerary
- Guided excursions in English in private service
- Entrance tickets for tours described
- Vistadome Superior Class Train from Ollantaytambo to Aguas Calientes
- Vistadome Superior Class Train from Aguas Calientes to Ollantaytambo
- Transfer from the bus station to the hotel in Cusco
- Airport transfer to the airport in Cusco
- Domestic flights: LIMA – AREQUIPA & CUSCO – LIMA
- Airport taxes in Lima and Cusco for domestic flights only
Not Included
- International flights
- Visas required to enter Peru
- Alcoholic drinks
- Tips
- Ticket to Huayna Picchu Mountain
- Ticket to Machu Picchu Mountain
Is This Trip Right for You?
This active program covers a good amount of ground each day. Expect from two to three hours walking on some touring days. The pace is moderate, however you will encounter some uneven surfaces, stairs, steps and significant slopes. A few early wake-ups, some at 5 or 6 am, as well as one long 10-hour drive to Cusco are necessary to cover the territory. The altitude, 11,000 feet in Cusco and 12,400 feet in Puno, may be a consideration for those who have heart conditions or are otherwise affected by height. We suggest you check with your health-care provider before signing up for this tour. Some hotels in Puno and Colca are built in the traditional local style and have no air-conditioning. During heat waves, these hotels can become uncomfortable, even at higher elevations.