DAY 1: ARRIVAL IN LIMA

Upon arrival at the airport in Lima, you will be met by one of our representatives, who will take you to your confirmed hotel. You will have the rest of the afternoon free to explore the city. We recommend visiting the Malecon Armendariz with beautiful views of the Pacific Ocean.

DAY 2: LIMA CITY TOUR

You will have the morning free to rest and explore part of the city. In the afternoon, your assigned bilingual guide will come to your hotel to pick you up and start the impressive tour of Lima. You will visit the main historical, religious and contemporary highlights of the city. The Huaca Pucllana in Miraflores, the historical center with its colonial balconies, the Plaza Mayor, the Government Palace, the Cathedral, the San Francisco Church, the catacombs with its collection of human bones, are part of this exciting tour. In the late afternoon, you will return to your hotel. You will be able to choose from a variety of Peruvian tourist restaurants the best option for dinner.

DAY 3: ARRIVAL IN PARACAS & NASCA LINES FLIGHT

After breakfast at your hotel, you will be taken to the bus station where you will board a first class bus to Paracas, a city located 3 1/2 hours south of Lima. Once in Paracas, you will be transferred to your hotel. After checking in, you will be taken to the Pisco airport to board a small plane to fly over the famous Nasca Lines. These giant geoglyphs drawn in the desert were made by the Nasca civilization between 500 BC and 500 AD and are a World Heritage Site.

Once on the ground, you will be taken to your hotel where you will have the rest of the afternoon free.

DAY 4: BALLESTAS ISLANDS TOUR & RETURN TO LIMA

You will enjoy breakfast at your hotel before embarking on a 2-hour boat adventure to the Ballestas Islands marine sanctuary. These islands are famous for their incredible biodiversity and serve as a vital sanctuary for numerous species of marine life such as sea lions, sea lions, penguins, turtles, dolphins and even guano birds. Part of the tour is to appreciate the enigmatic Candelabro, a candelabra-shaped figure carved into the side of a 595-foot-high hill that can only be seen from the sea. At the end of the tour, you will have some time to get ready and return to your hotel in Lima. You will have a variety of local restaurants to choose from for dinner.

DAY 5: ARRIVAL IN AREQUIPA & CITY TOUR

After breakfast at your hotel, you will be transferred to the airport to board your flight to the white city of Arequipa, so called because it was built with white volcanic material known as sillar. A representative will be waiting for you at the airport to take you to your hotel. Once you are settled in your hotel, your designated guide will pick you up from your hotel to tour the highlights of the city.

The historic center of Arequipa has been recognized as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. Part of the tour of the historic center is the visit to the chapel of San Ignacio, the main square, the Cathedral, the convent of Santa Catalina which is a city within the city which was built in colonial times.

The tour ends with a visit to the viewpoint of Yanahuara, which offers panoramic views of the city and the surrounding volcanoes, Misti, Chachani and Pichu Pichu Pichu; have your camera ready.

Arequipa is also known for its famous gastronomy, we recommend not to miss tasting some of its local dishes.

DAY 6: COLCA CANYON

This day, we will visit one of the deepest canyons in the world with a depth of about 10,725 feet (3,270 meters) from the highest point of the canyon to the river at its base. After breakfast at your hotel you will be taken to this geological wonder that is also considered a cultural and natural treasure. This tour features beautiful high altitude Andean views and the sighting of wildlife such as Vicunas (relative of llamas) and vizcachas (similar to rabbits). The highest point will be the Patapampa pass located above 15,000 feet. On the descent, you will see pre-Inca agricultural terraces with the view of volcanoes in the background, an impressive sight worthy of a postcard.

You will enjoy a local lunch (not included) in the village of Chivay and then relax in the hot springs as a reward for your hike.

DAY 7: COLCA CANYON & ARRIVAL IN PUNO

Early in the morning, after breakfast, your guide will take you to the Cruz del Condor viewpoint, the best viewpoint in the canon and home of the giant Andean condors.

The road to the viewpoint passes through picturesque Andean villages, pre-Inca ruins and beautiful views of glaciers such as Ampato and Hualca, creating breathtaking views of the place. After lunch in Chivay, you will start your 6 hour drive to the city of Puno which is located at a higher altitude than Arequipa. You can stay in one of the hotels with relaxing views of Lake Titicaca.

DAY 8: LAKE TITICACA TOUR

Get ready for this 9-hour adventure on the highest navigable lake in the world. Your adventure begins with a visit to Uros Island. The Uros are a pre-Inca ethnic group that inhabits these floating islands made of reed. You will get to know and experience the ancestral customs of the place. Then, you will continue your visit to Taquile Island; one of the largest in the lake; where you will have one of the best views of the lake and the surrounding peninsula. You will enjoy a local lunch before returning to Puno. You will have the rest of the afternoon free to relax and then choose where to have the last dinner of your tour.

DAY 9: ARRIVAL IN CUSCO

After breakfast at your hotel, you will be picked up and take you to the bus station where you will board a first class bus to Cusco for a 10 hours trip. This trip includes a buffet lunch and a visit to different archaeological sites along the way. Once in Cusco, one of our representatives will be waiting for you to drive you to your hotel. You will have the rest of the day free to explore Cusco on your own.

DAY 10: CUSCO CITY TOUR

You can have breakfast at your hotel before starting the first day of the tour. Your designated guide will meet you at your hotel and take you on the famous pedestrian tour. In the first part of this interesting tour, you will visit Cusco’s main square, the Cathedral (exterior), the 12 corners stone, stone buildings and streets, and the main Inka ceremonial center; the Qoriqancha.

Afterwards, you will enjoy a local lunch in a tourist restaurant. In the afternoon, you will visit the archaeological centers surrounding Cusco, the Sacsayhuaman Sanctuary, Qenqo, Puka Pukara and Tambomachay. Each of the places to visit attracts more than one visitor. You will enjoy this first day tour in Cusco.

DAY 11: SACRED VALLEY TOUR

Get to know one of the most beautiful places in the Peruvian Andes, The Sacred Valley. In addition to its beautiful views, you will know why it was a very important place for the Inca civilization. Inca buildings, ancestral canals, megalithic constructions will be part of this magical adventure. The tour starts visiting the town of Chinchero with incredible views of the Vilcabamba mountain range. Then, you will visit the salt mines of Maras with its more than 3,000 wells. Later, you will visit Moray, considered by some scholars as an agricultural experimentation center. At the end of the tour, you will visit the town of Ollantaytambo, considered one of the most beautiful towns to visit, there, you can explore its archaeological park with its megalithic constructions.  You will spend the night in this picturesque village before your visit to Machupicchu.

DAY 12: MACHUPICCHU TOUR

After breakfast, you will board a train to Machupicchu, The lost city of the Inkas. The train journey from Ollantaytambo to Aguas Calientes is a scenic delight. The train winds its way through the breathtaking Urubamba Valley, passing by lush green mountains, meandering rivers, and Inca buildings. Once in Aguas Calientes, your designated tour guide will meet you and take you on a 30 minutes ride up to the citadel.

You will explore the most important sites of this wonder of the world, including the Sun temple, the room of the 3 windows, the room of the mirrors, among others. At the end of your visit, you will return to Aguas Calientes to choose from a variety of options a good place to have lunch. At the end of the afternoon you will take the train back to Ollantaytambo where you will be transferred to your hotel in Cusco.

DAY 13: ARRIVAL IN PUERTO MALDONADO & AMAZON RAINFOREST LODGE

You will enjoy your last breakfast in Cusco before being taken to the airport to board your flight to Puerto Maldonado. Once in Puerto Maldonado, one of our representatives will meet you and drive you to the dock for a 2 1/2 hour boat ride across the Tambopata River to your lodge. You will leave behind the human occupation to enter the tropical magic of the Amazon, a totally different world.

Once at the lodge you will be told of all the activities that will take place during your stay.

After lunch, you will be able to visit the lookout point; a 3 to 5 kilometer hike with magnificent views of Tambopata.

In the evening, you will have the option of a night walk, when most of the mammals are active. Enjoy your first day in the Amazon rainforest.

DAY 14: AMAZON TOUR

Sunrise in the Amazon rainforest is a unique experience. On most clear mornings, dozens of macaws and hundreds of parrots congregate on the banks of the river making raucous noises and creating a colorful landscape seen on Amazonian postcards.

You will observe colorful macaws and parrots of various species ingesting clay. Mornings are the best time to appreciate a variety of wildlife in the Amazon.

After lunch, you will continue your tour on a 5 kilometer trail through tropical forests with huge trees, through waterfalls and ponds and with sightings of a variety of monkeys. You will visit a small island, home to many aquatic birds such as woodpeckers, mallard ducks, bitterns and others.

In the evening, after dinner, one of the local scientists will give you an explanation about the lifestyle of the macaws.

DAY 15: AMAZON TOUR

This day, after breakfast in the middle of the Amazon rainforest, you will start a hike along the path of peaceful leaf-cutting ants. You will meet the smallest bird of the Amazon, the most elusive monkey and the most spectacular plant life, all this accompanied by your professional guide, will leave you with unforgettable memories of this magical place.

In the late afternoon, under the thick rainforest canopy, you will experience one of the most breathtaking sunsets in the world that you will never forget.

DAY 16: DEPARTURE FROM PUERTO MALDONADO

It’s time to say goodbye. After breakfast you will be taken to Puerto Maldonado by boat and transferred to the airport to board your flight to Lima with connection to your city or your next destination.

You can customize this package with more days exploring the Amazon or you can choose one of the different destinations in Peru that is of your interest.