PERU: ADVENTURE, NATURAL BEAUTY, HISTORY AND ANDEAN CULTURE!!!!
From World Heritage Sites to National Parks and snowcapped Andean peaks, this tailor-made Highlights of Peru will ensure you experience the very best of Peru.
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Destination
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Departure
Pick up from your Hotel -
Departure Time
3:30 AM. -
Return Time
Approximately 6:00 PM. -
Dress Code
Warm clothes, including jacket, fleeces, gloves, scarf and beanie/touk -
Included
AccommodationEntrancesFirst aid kit and emergency oxigenMealsPick up from your HotelProfessional GuideTransportation -
Not Included
Walking Stick
Day 1: Arrival in Peru (Lima)
Upon your arrival in Peru (Lima) we will pick you up from the airport and transfer you to the hotel. In the afternoon we will pick you up from your hotel and will give you a guided tour of Lima. Lima, the capital city of Peru was found in 1535. For centuries Lima was one of the most important cities in South America. Today, it is one of the continent’s largest metropolises.
On this tour, we will be visiting the historic centre of the city. Here our local guide will explain you the significance of some prominent places like the Cathedral, San Francisco Convent, Presidential palace and other colonial buildings. Please note that the Cathedral is open every day to tourists except Sundays. We will then drive through the residential and commercial zones of the city – San Isidro and Miraflores.
We will be then visiting the continent’s most fascinating museum – The Larco Museum. This museum was built in 1926 and is housed in an elegant 18th century viceroyalty mansion built over the foundations of a 7th century pre-Inca temple. After spending some time here, witnessing unmatched collection of pre-Hispanic pottery and metalwork, we will stop at the museum’s delightful garden café and savour a complimentary cocktail.
Day 2: Lima – Arequipa
Early in the morning, we will pick you up from your hotel to the airport. Here you will be boarding your flight to the white city – Arequipa. Upon arrival in Arequipa, we will meet you at the airport and will organise your transfer to the hotel. In the afternoon, we will start with a private city tour of the city. We will be visiting the Santa Catalina convent, the neocolonial architecture of the main square, the Cathedral, the Jesuit church and the picturesque colonial district of Yanahuara. Arequipa is know as one of the beautiful cities of Peru. The neocolonial historic centre is built entirely from a locally sourced white volcanic rock known as “sillar”.
Day 3: Arequipa – Colca Canyon – Lake Titicaca
We will be picking you up early in the morning to start our trip to the high Andean plains to Colca Canyon. Colca Canyon is one of the deepest and most spectacular canyons on the planet. On the way, we will be crossing the Aguada Blanca National Reserve, where you will spot the herds of Andean camelids – vicuña. The highest point of this road trip is the viewpoint at Pampa Cañahuas at 4800 meters above sea level (15,745 feet).
Upon arrival at Colca Canyon we will drive along the edge of the canyon where you will notice how gradually it deepens to the viewing point at Cruz del Condor. It is this place from where you would get an awe-inspiring view of the canyon and would be able to witness he picturesque flight of the Andean condor.
After this tour, we will transfer you to the bus terminal from where you will be boarding a bus to Puno. This southern city is home to the world’s highest navigable lake – Lake Titicaca. It takes about four hours to reach Puno from Arequipa along the Andean scenic route.
Day 4: Lake Titicaca
We will pick you up from your hotel in Puno and will transfer you to the boat-pier. Here we will start our trip across the world’s highest navigable lake, Lake Titicaca. Our first stop will be at the floating islands of Uros.
These islands have been occupied since pre-Inca times. Uros islands are renowned for its make using totora reeds, including the houses and the boats which are used by the inhabitants of the island. As you will be walking around the island, you can spend some time chatting with the locals and know their daily routine and way of living here. You can also walk-in to their house and opt to buy some handi crafts if you desire to.
We will then continue our boat ride to the main part of the lake towards the island of Taquile. This island is known for its pre-Inca and Inca ruins. People here have preserved the the Andean culture. Their main source of income here is knitting traditional clothes. The men knit the clothes here while women produce yarn and do the weaving. After strolling through the island, we will stop for lunch. After having lunch we will start our boat ride back to Puno. Once in Puno, we will meet you at the boat pier and have you transferred back to your hotel.
Please Note: We operate this tour on shared and on private basis. A private tour will allow you to visit the islands of Uros and Taquile at times when they experience fewer visitors. The private tour involves an additional cost of USD 75 per person, based on two people traveling together, or USD 175 for individual travellers.
Day 5: Puno – Cusco
After your breakfast, we will pick you up from the hotel and drive you to the airport (Juliaca – JUL) from where you will be boarding the flight to Cusco. Upon you arrival, we will meet you at the arrivals lounge and will transfer you to the hotel within the historic centre of the city.
You will have the afternoon for yourself to walk around the narrow cobble stone streets of the picturesque historic centre of Cusco.
Please note:
Check-in is normally at 2:00 pm. We will be arranging an early check-in which will be at the hotel’s discretion. You may also choose to take a train from Puno to Cusco. This goes through the great highland Andean plain between the two cities and operate only on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays.
Day 6: Cusco City Tour
We will spend the day on a private walking tour of the city that was once a capital of Incas. During the tour, we will be visiting the Inca Temple of the Sun or Qoricancha and Cusco’s cathedral and the art museum. As part of this private program, you will also have an opportunity to visit the city’s biggest flea-market, San Pedro market. This is a lively, bustling market where local people shop for goods. The market’s food stalls are popular with local working people and tourists. Here you can get familiarised about local life. You may also buy some souvenirs here.
Day 7: Cusco – Machu Picchu
Early in the morning, we will pick you up from your hotel and have you transferred to the train station for your tip to Machu Picchu. The train rails through the Sacred Valley of Incas and some picturesque sights to Aguas Calientes. Once in Aguas Calientes, we will transfer you to the bus terminal. Here you will be boarding the tourist bus upto the entrance of Machu Picchu. Our local guide will give you a complete guide guided tour for two hours.
During the tour, he will explain the history of the site and the original functions of the many structures you will see. We will then stop for lunch at the Sanctuary Lodge Hotel just around the entrance of the Incan citadel. You can then board the bus back to Aguas Calientes, at your leisure. In the evening we will meet for dinner at a local restaurant in Aguas Calientes.
Please note: Government of Peru has set regulations that limit the number of daily visitors to Machu Picchu. Entrance is subject to availability. Please book well in advance so that we can confirm your entrance to the ruins. Machu Picchu entrance tickets are non-refundable and non-transferable.
Day 8: Machu Picchu – Aguas Calientes – Cusco
This will be a free day. You have an option to return to Machu Picchu or simply relax in the small town of Aguas Calientes. You can take a dip in the local natural hot springs here. In the afternoon, you will be boarding the train back to Cusco.
Please note: The price does not include and additional entry ticket to Machu Picchu. Do let us know in advance if you would return to the ruins or hike up Huayna Picchu.
Day 9: Cusco – Lima
We will pick you up from the hotel and will transfer you to the airport for your flight back to Lima. Once in Lima, we will meet you and arrange a transfer to your hotel.
Day 10: Lima – Paracas
Early in the morning, we will pick you up from your hotel and have you transferred to the bus station for your tip to Paracas. Our representative will meet you at the bus station. We will transfer you to the hotel. You will have the rest of the day free to walk around the town or enjoy the hotel’s facilities.
Day 11: Paracas – Nazca
After the breakfast, we will pick you up and drive to Pisco Airbase. Here you will be boarding a 12 seater aircraft to get a bird’s eye view of Nazca lines. This is a unique opportunity to see and photograph this immense pre-Inca astronomical calendar. It is etched onto the desert surface for more than thousand years and is fully visible from the air. After this 1 hour and 40 minute flight, we will drive you back to your hotel in Paracas.
In the afternoon we will visit the Paracas Natural Reserve. It is Peru’s only maritime and coastal protected natural area. This Natural Reserve is known for its fascinating fauna and intriguing remains of a pre-Inca coastal dwelling culture.
Day 12: Ballestas Islands – Lima
We will pick you up from your hotel for a two hours cruise tour to Ballestas islands. Here, you will be getting a closer look at colonies of sea lions and some 60 species of seabirds. On the way, we will have a quick stop to see “Candelabra,”. It is an enormous design etched into the surface of the desert coast, about which almost nothing is known.
After lunch (not included), we will meet you and transfer you for your return bus-trip to Lima. Once in Lima, we will meet you and will drive you to the airport for your flight out of Peru.
Please refer to out terms and conditions on this booking.
Tour Location
What is included?
- Pre trek briefing.
- Pick-up from your hotel in the morning of the trek.
- Transport from Cusco to the trailhead in a private vehicle.
- Entry fee to Machu Picchu (Huayna Picchu $15 extra) and Salkantay trek.
- English/Quechua/Spanish speaking professional guide. (you will have an assistant guide for groups over 6 people)
- Tents – 2 people in a 4 person tent which allows for greater comfort, and also storage of backpacks.
- Basic foam mattress.
- Toilet tent.
- Toilet paper, pack-in &pack out.
- Bio-degradable personal hand soaps.
- Horses (for equipment and personal items) including horsemen. They carry camping equipment, food and kitchen utensils. We provide duffel bags at your briefing for your personal items. (up to 7 kg/15lbs per person)
- 1 emergency horse which can be ridden if you are feeling ill or if are a little slower.
- Tents for our staff to sleep in.
- First aid kit including emergency oxygen bottle.
- Bus up and down from Aguas Calientes – Machu Picchu.
- Train or equivalent luggage from Hydroelectric station to Aguas Calientes.
- Train ticket (Expedition service) from Aguas Calientes to Ollantaytambo.
- Private transport from Ollantaytambo to Cusco.
- 1-night accommodation in Aguas Calientes in a basic hotel.
- Cook and Cooking equipment. (Assistants are provided for larger groups)
- Meals (optional vegetarian food). Our professional cooks prepare meals that incorporate elements of the western diet and also traditional Peruvian delicacies. (Please communicate with your guide/cook during the trek if you have a preference for certain types of dishes) Salads, if served, are washed in boiled water.
- Dining tent with camp tables and chairs & Kitchen tent for the cook to prepare meals.
- Celebratory dinner in Aguas Calientes.
- Lunch on the last day is included.
- One textile snack bag per person, to avoid the usage of plastic bags that contaminate our environment.
- Others: hot water every morning and evening for washing purposes / boiled water to fill in your water bottle every morning and night, and at lunchtime, if requested with enough time ahead.
- Dinner on the last night.
- Huayna Picchu entrance fee: if you would like to climb this mountain an additional fee of US $16 per personal applies Breakfast on the first morning
- Entrance to the thermal springs.
- Sleeping bags – If you haven’t got a sleeping bag or you don’t want the hassle of bringing one all the way to Peru with you, then we have sleeping bags for hire.
- Tipping is completely optional. We take excellent care of our staff.
- A light day pack with a change of clothes for the whole period of the trek – prepare for a vast range of changes in temperature.
- Sandals or plastic slip on thongs are also good to give your feet a chance to breathe in the evenings if you wish to carry them.
- Warm clothes, including jacket, fleeces, gloves, scarf and beanie/touk. Thermal clothing is also recommended, especially for sleeping.
- Sleeping bag. (we can hire these to you)
- Hat or cap to protect you from the sun, rain, and cold.
- Sunblock.
- After-sun cream or hydrating cream for face and body.
- Insect repellent – minimum recommended 20% DEET – although no malaria risk has been reported.
- Snacks: biscuits, energy bars, chocolate, raw fruits, muesli, etc.
- Non-disposable canteen (Nalgene type) and water for the first morning.
- Your own medical kit with any special medications that you might require, paracetamol, second skin for blisters etc.
- Small towel.
- Swimsuit (if you wish to go to the hot springs.
- Cash in soles and/or US$.
- Original passport.
- Rain gear (jacket and pants if available) or rain poncho. (plastic ponchos can be purchased in Cusco)
- Strong footwear, waterproof trekking boots recommended.
- Flashlight/headlamp and batteries.
- Camera and batteries. (batteries consume more quickly under cold conditions)
- Water container and water for the first morning. Important notice: plastic water bottles are no longer allowed into Machu Picchu. Plastic water containers (ie. Nalgene) or metal ones are recommended.
- Optionally: water- sterilizing tablets in case you pick up water from streams or rivers along the route. Otherwise, we provide filtered boiled water, which is safe to drink and has not reported any health problem so far.
- Original International Student Identity Card (in case you have applied for a student discount.
- Optional: walking sticks or poles. (rubber covers required in order not to damage archaeological sites)