Lima, Cusco, Puno, Arequipa, Nazca 12D/11N

Itinerary

• Day 1 : Reception at Lima airport – 1/2 Day Lima City Tour
• Day 2 : Fly from Lima to Cusco – 1/2 Day Cusco City Tour
• Day 3 : Cusco – Sacred Valley Tour – Aguas Calientes
• Day 4 : Aguas Calientes – Machu Picchu Tour – Cusco
• Day 5 : Cusco – Tourist Bus from Cusco to Puno
• Day 6 : Puno – Lake Titicaca Tour (Floating Islands and Taquile)
• Day 7 : Puno – Chivay – Colca Canyon
• Day 8 : Chivay – Colca Canyon – Arequipa
• Day 9 : 1/2 Day Arequipa City Tour – Nazca
• Day 10 : Fly over Nazca lines – Ica
• DAY 11: Ica – Ballestas Islands – Haucachina
• DAY 12: Ica – Lima

DAY 1: RECEPTION AT LIMA AIRPORT – 1/2 DAY CITY TOUR OF LIMA

The 12 day tour will start with a personal reception at Lima airport by your guide and driver, who will accompany you in your private transport to your hotel in Lima. At 1:30pm you will be collected from your hotel to begin a 4-hour tour of the city of Lima. The first half of the tour you’ll visit the historic center of the Peruvian capital. Sites include:

• The Plaza de Armas (the main square)
• The Government Palace
• The Cathedral of Lima
• The Archbishop’s Palace
• The Cordano Bar (Lima’s oldest bar)
• San Franscisco Museum

The second half of the tour will be a visit to the Pueblo Libre district, which is home to the Privately owned Larco Museum. Here you will find more than 45 thousand pieces of original pottery, located in an 18th-century mansion, built on a pre-Columbian 7th-century pyramid. Marvel at the countless treasures displayed in one of the world’s most prestigious museums for gold and silver. The Larco Museum’s exclusive collection of pre-Columbian erotic ceramics, make it one of the most popular attractions in South America. At the end of the tour, you will be taken back to your hotel in Lima.

DAY 2: FLY FROM LIMA TO CUSCO – 1/2 DAY CITY TOUR OF CUSCO

Day 2 will begin with breakfast in your hotel in Lima.

Your private transport will then pick you up and drive you to Lima airport to board your mid-morning flight to Cusco.

After a 90 minute flight, you will land in Cusco to be greeted by your guide and driver, who will accompany you in your private transport to your hotel in Cusco.

Once at the hotel you can relax and enjoy an aromatic cup of coca-leaf tea and take lunch (not included) in one of the local restaurants, before beginning the afternoons’ tour of Cusco.

At 1.30pm you will regroup with your tour guide and private transportation to commence the tour of the Inca capital. The 4-hour tour will take you on a journey through Cusco’s most prominent historical sites such as the Temple of the Sun or Qoricancha, which was the religious, geographical, and political center of Cusco during the period of the Incas. The astounding Inca fortress of Sacsayhuamán, whose stonework is so impeccable that it is said ‘will endure as long as the world itself’. And finally, Q’enqo, a sacred Incan pilgrimage site, that once served as an astronomical observatory and mummification house.

On the City Tour Cusco, your personal tour guide will also accompany you round the famous San Pedro market and Plaza de Armas before returning you back to your hotel for 6pm.

DAY 3: CUSCO – SACRED VALLEY TOUR – AGUAS CALIENTES

Day 3 of the tour starts with breakfast at your hotel in Cusco.

7:30am pick up from your hotel in Cusco. After a 1-hour drive through the Sacred Valley of the Incas, you’ll briefly stop at the Mirador de Taray to capture breathtaking photos of the valley from one of its famous viewpoints.

A further 30 minute drive will bring us to the archaeological park of Pisaq, the home of the famous Intihuatana ‘sundail’, and the first Inca fortress of the tour. Fulfilling many functions including ceremonial, religious & astronomical, the 15th century Inca refuge of Pisac is rich in history and offers one of the most spectacular views of the Sacred Valley from above.

After guiding you through the incredibly well-preserved stonework of the archaeological site, your guide and your transport will accompany you back down the valley for a peruse through Pisacs’ iconic market, cobbled streets and authentic plazas.

The afternoons’ tour will begin surrounded by the natural beauty of Urubamba. The largest town in the sacred valley and our lunch destination for the day. With a multitude of restaurants to choose from, you can treat yourself to anything from local cuisine, to a buffet lunch from only $20 USD (optional extra cost).

After lunch, your transport will take you alongside the Urubamba River, to the picturesque town of Ollantaytambo. Here your guide will accompany you through the bustling local markets and the famous Inca fortress that towers above the town. The strategic position and architectural sophistication of the site, offers visitors some of the most spectacular views of the sacred valley from above. The exquisite stonework and rich history of Ollantaytambo will take you and your guide on an impressive journey through Inca antiquity, before you complete the days’ tour of the sacred valley at Ollantaytambo train station.

The final journey of the day will be aboard the tourist train to Aguas Calientes (Machu Picchu town). The 1-hour 45 minute train ride will treat you to breathtaking scenes of snow-capped mountains, Inka farming terraces and of course more remarkable Inka ruins. After which you will once again be greeted by your tour guide, and escorted to your hotel in the town of Aguas Calientes, the home of Machu Picchu.

DAY 4: AGUAS CALIENTES – MACHU PICCHU TOUR – CUSCO

Day 4 will begin with breakfast in your hotel in Aguas Calientes.

At 6:30am your guide will escort you the bus station where you will board the tourist bus to Machu Picchu. The scenic route from Aguas Calientes takes you on a 30 minute bus ride up the mountainside to the entrance of the Inca citadel. Once inside, you will be taken on a 3-hour tour of Machu Picchu where you will make your way through the Inca city with your personal guide. Aswell as visiting the famous sites of the temple of the sun, the central plaza and the stepped terraces, you will have plenty opportunity to take the bucket list photos you came for atop the panoramic viewpoint of Machu Picchu. Before boarding the bus back down the mountain, your guide will also allow you time to explore the mysteries of the sanctuary alone.

Once you have regrouped with your guide and taken the bus back to Aguas Calientes, there will be time to take lunch in one of Machu Picchu towns’ many restaurants (optional extra), before boarding the train back to Ollantaytambo. There you’ll be greeted by your guide and private transportation who will take you on the 2-hour drive back to your hotel in Cusco. Arrival time in Cusco is approximatley 6.30pm.

*There will also be time to climb Huayna Picchu mountain or Machu Picchu mountain in this tour after your guided tour of the Inca citadel. However please be aware, this will be an extra cost of $70 USD per person and will involve an extra 2-hours hiking. Return to Cusco will therefore be aboard a later train and arrival time in Cusco will be approx 8.30pm.*

DAY 5: CUSCO – TOURIST BUS TO PUNO

Day 5 will begin with breakfast in your hotel in Cusco.

At 6:15am you will be collected in private transport from your hotel in Cusco and driven to the bus terminal ready for the 7am departure.

The Bus tour takes you on the scenic route from the Inca city of Cusco to Puno, a Peruvian city on the shores of Lake Titicaca. The 10-hour journey will take you through picturesque Andean towns and mountainous valleys, showcasing the beauty of the Cusco/Puno region.

The bus makes 5 stops along the way, treating you to 3 guided tours. These include the Sistine Chapel of America, the Temple of the god Wiracocha, and the Lithic Museum of the Pukará Culture. Aswell as a buffet lunch in the Andean town of Sicuani and an opportunity to take breathtaking photos atop the highest point of the route, the Abra La Raya Pass.

The tourist bus will be equipped with everything you’ll need for a comfortable journey to Puno. This includes; heating and air conditioning, toilets and sanitary facilities and refreshing drinks served on board such as tea, coffee, Coca Cola and water.

At 5pm, the bus will arrive in the city of Puno, where you will be met by your private transport and transferred to your hotel in Puno.

DAY 6: PUNO – LAKE TITICACA TOUR (FLOATING ISLANDS AND TAQUILE)

Day 6 of the tour begins with breakfast in your hotel in Puno.

Your private transport will then pick up from your hotel in Puno at 6:45am. You’ll then be driven to the nearby port of Puno where you will take the 7:15am boat to the floating islands of Uros, located 10 km (30 mins by boat) from the port.

The indigenous Uru people, construct their islands out of huge blocks of Totora Reed, an aquatic plant native to Lake Titicaca. The islands are covered with a fresh layer of reeds every 20 days, and are able to float due to porosity of the blocks that release gases produced by decomposition. These blocks are then joined together and anchored to the lake bed using eucalyptus sticks.

The Uru culture is one of the oldest ethnic groups on Lake Titicaca, who have inhabited its waters since the Incas began expanding their territories over the plateau hundreds of years ago. They dedicate themselves to fishing and bird hunting and are entirely dependent on the Totora reed with which they build their islands, houses, rafts and also serves as food and fuel for the people.

After saying goodbye to the Uru people, you’ll take the boat a further 1-hour to the island of Taquile. When you arrive, you’ll walk along a wide trail to the Plaza de Armas, all the while admiring the breathtaking deep blue shores of Lake Titicaca. Throughout your tour of the island, you’ll visit places where local artwork is made and take lunch at a local family home.

After lunch, you will return by boat to the port of Puno and be transported by car back to your hotel in the city for 5pm. The evening is then yours to rest and explore at your leisure.

DAY 7: PUNO – CHIVAY – COLCA CANYON

Day 7 will begin with an early breakfast in your hotel in Puno.

At 6:15am, you will be picked up from your hotel and transferred to the Bus Terminal in Puno. Here you will board the 7am tourist bus and begin the 6-hour drive towards Chivay, the capital city of the Colca Valley. Chivay is renowned for its religious festivals and cultural heritage and is considered to be the gateway to the Colca Canyon.

On route to Chivay you will be treated to spectacular views of the snow-capped volcanoes of the region, including Misti, Ampato and Hualcahualca. As well as herds of grazing Vicuñas, Llamas and Alpacas that occupy the wildlands.

Upon arrival in Chivay, you will check into your hotel and have lunch in one of the local restaurants. After which, you’ll be transported 4km up the valley, to the hot springs in the nearby town of Calera. Here you will relax in thermal baths of up to 38°C before returning to Chivay for the evening.

At 7pm, you will regroup with your guide for a restaurant dinner, and an evening of cultural entertainment in Chivay.

DAY 8: CHIVAY – COLCA CANYON – AREQUIPA

Day 8 will begin with breakfast in your hotel in Chivay.

At 7am you will be picked up in your group transport and begin the 1-hour drive towards Mirador Cruz del Condor. At 3,800 m / 12,467 ft, the viewpoint is the second most visited tourist site in Peru, after Machu Picchu, and is one of the best places in the country for those hoping to see the flight of the Condors. The sacred birds of the Incas thrive in this part of the canyon, and regularly visit the skies over the viewpoint in the mornings, before the sun gets too hot.

After experiencing the spectacle of the Andean Condors in flight, you will continue on through the breathtaking Colca Canyon, alongside stunning views of stepped terraces and the settlements of Pinchollo, Madrigal, Lari, Maca, Achoma and Yanque.

Around midday you will return to Chivay for lunch, and then continue on for 3-hours to the city of Arequipa. At around 4pm, you will be escorted to your hotel and then left to explore the city alone for the evening.

DAY 9: AREQUIPA – CITY TOUR OF AREQUIPA – NAZCA

Day 9 will begin with breakfast in your hotel in Arequipa.

At 9am, you will be picked up in your private transport and begin the 4-hour tour of the city. Throughout the tour of the ‘White City’, you will visit the Monastery of Santa Catalina de Siena, undoubtedly the ‘Gem of Arequipa’. After the earthquakes of 1958 and 1960, The Santa Catalina Convent was restored and officially opened to the public in 1970. Covering 20,000 square meters, it is considered a small, isolated city within a city, thanks to its maze of cobbled streets and 4 meter high solid perimeter walls.

After the Convent, you will be accompanied to the Main Square and The Church of La Compañía, before heading to the neighbourhoods of Cayma and Yanahuara for a magnificent view of the Misti Volcano. Finally, you will drive 20 minutes out of the city center to the town of Huasacache, where you will visit The Founder’s Mansion, which once belonged to the founder of the city of Arequipa.

At around 1:30pm, you will be transported back to your hotel in Arequipa and have the rest of the day free to explore the city alone.

In the evening you will be picked up by your private transport and transferred to the Bus Terminal ready to board to the 10-hour overnight bus to Nazca.

DAY 10: FLY OVER THE NAZCA LINES – ICA

Day 3 will begin with an early morning arrival at the bus terminal in Nazca, where our staff will be waiting to transfer you to Nazca airfield.

The flight will be 45 minutes long and will give you the chance to observe the famous ‘Líneas de Nazca’. Including:

1. The Whale

2. Trapezoids

3. Astronaut

4. Monkey

5. Dog

6. Condor

7. Spider

8. Hummingbird

9. Alcatraz/Flamingo

10. Parrot

11. The Hands

12. The Tree

After the flight, you will take lunch in Nazca and then depart on the 2-hour panoramic bus journey to your hotel in Ica.

DAY 11: ICA – BALLESTAS ISLANDS – HUACAHINA

Day 11 will begin with an early breakfast in your hotel in Ica.

After breakfast you will be collected from your hotel and driven 1 hour to Paracas, a tourist resort in the province of Pisco.

Upon arrival in Paracas, you will depart in boat to Ballestas Islands. Here you can appreciate the famous Candelabra, an immense petroglyph located in the Bay of Independence in Paracas. 30 minutes offshore you can observe the biodiversity of marine fauna and marine birds’ resident in the Ballestas Islands including Guaneras, Peruvian Piquero, Cormorant Guanay, Cormorant of Red Legs, Zarcillo, Peruvian Pelican, Humboldt Penguin, Sea lions and dolphins. After 2 hours, you will return to shore.

Once you have returned to shore, you will take lunch in Ica, and drive 90 minutes to Huacachina.

In the afternoon, you will visit the Lagoon of Huacachina. A natural oasis located 5km west of Ica. It’s emerald green waters are surrounded by huge sand dunes and an abundance of palm trees and eucalyptus trees (introduced species). It is also home to the carob tree species known as Huarango, which is used for resting migratory birds that pass through this region. Here you will take a 90 minute tour in beach buggy (tubular). An activity perfect for people who like speed, adrenaline and wind in their face! And do not mind a sand bath from the buggy climbing up and down the massive dunes! At the end of the tour, you will return to the Oasis of Huacachina to walk alongside the lagoon and take photos.

After your experience in the Dunes of Huacachina, you’ll be transported the 30 minute drive back to your hotel in Ica.

DAY 12: ICA – LIMA

Day 12 will begin with breakfast in your hotel in Ica.

After breakfast you will be collected from your hotel and transferred to the Bus Terminal, ready to board the 4-hour panoramic bus to Lima.

Upon arrival in Lima, you will be greeted by our staff who will be waiting to transfer you to the airport.