Highlights:

Lima, Ballestas Island, Nazca Lines, Machu Picchu, Cusco, Lake Titicaca, Arequipa, Colca Canyon, Andes Mountains, Cusco, Pisac ruins and market, Ollantaytambo ruins, Putucusi Hike, Mandor Valley Bird watching

 

Price per person: US$ 1722

 

Begin from: Lima

End in: Lima

Duration: 15 Days / 14 Nights

Physical Rating: Easy

Accommodation: Superior Tourist Class

 

Comfortable in-depth exploration of the highlights of southern Peru

All the highlights on our best-value two week trip; a spectacular journey through Peru's varied landscape encompassing coastal desert, snowy Andean peaks, the high Altiplano and lush cloud forest. We visit the most famous sites including the mysterious Nazca Lines, the awe-inspiring Machu Picchu in its incredible mountaintop setting, Lake Titicaca, where we spend the night in an island homestay, and the stunning 3000m deep Colca Canyon, ancient Cusco and the Sacred Valley of the Incas.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Day 01 - International Arrival in Lima

Assistance at your arrival to Lima International airport and transfer to your hotel, there you will receive a briefing on your tour and vouchers covering all the services included in your tour and additional information on the organization of your Peru trip.

Meals Included: None

Day 02 - Lima Sightseeing / Bus to Paracas

Breakfast at your hotel, at 08:30, guided sightseeing tour to the most attractive and important sites in Lima, the "City of Kings". This excursion offers the best combination of the different attractions in Lima and its three historical periods: pre-Hispanic, colonial and contemporary. In Lima, there were several different pre-Columbian cultures which are dated thousands of years back. Lima was part of the Inca Empire until was founded by the Spaniard Francisco Pizarro on the 18th of January, 1535. At 13:20 transfer to the Bus Station to take the Bus to Paracas.

Meals Included: Breakfast

Day 03 - Paracas, Ballestas Islands / Nasca

Breakfast at your hotel; Nazca Lines 2 Day excursion with Overnight in Nazca, Ballestas Islands excursion you’ll take a speed boat to visit the Ballestas Islands. During our boat excursion to the Islands you will see many attractions, among them, stands out a huge design etched on the slope of hill, known by the local people as the Candelabra. Afterwards, we will continue our excursion around the Ballestas Islands, where you will see hundreds of birds flying (Peruvian Bobbies, Inca terms, Pelicans, Cormorants and others) above the Islands, as well as dozens of sea lions on the shore of the beaches. After the tour we take the Bus to Nazca.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch

Day 04 - Over flight the Nazca Lines / Bus to Arequipa

Breakfast at your hotel; transfer to Maria Reiche Aerodrome, over flight the enigmatic Nasca Lines about 35 minutes. Mysterious strokes in large reaching, 15 to 300 meters each and with a depth of approximately 30 centimeters. Made on the sand, covering a 350 km area these figures represent a variety of animals and plants such as Spider, Monkey, Dog, Lizard, Hummingbird, Condor, among others. According to Dr. Maria Reiche, who has devoted much of his life to studying these lines, it is the largest Astronomical Calendar in the World.

Then we visit Chauchilla Cementery, drive to the south of Nazca. In the graveyard of Chauchilla we will visit many tombs containing ancient pottery and humans remains. Lunch at the Hotel and transfer to the Bus Station to take the Bus to Arequipa

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch

Day 05 - Arequipa Sightseeing / Monasterio de Santa Catalina

Breakfast at your hotel; morning free time to relax

In the afternoon Arequipa; including Mirador de Carmen Alto, Mirador de Yanahuara, Plaza de Armas and the Monasterio de Santa Catalina. We visit the Monastery of Santa Catalina, called "a city within a city", a Spanish city in miniature with stone streets, beautiful patios, and plaza. It is a masterpiece of colonial architecture, and houses some of the finest examples of Spanish American religious art, during colonial times were the refuge of female nobility who had decided to shut them away from the world and dedicate entirely to prayer.

Meals Included: Breakfast

Day 06 - Arequipa / Colca Valley

Breakfast at your hotel; Colca Canyon 2 Day/1 Night pick up from the Hotel, towards the highlands passing through Yura-Pampa Cañahuas and La Pulpera with good possibility of observing groups of wild vicuñas and fighting cattle, the Mirador of Chivay, where pre-Inca Cultivation terraces may be appreciated. Arrival to the lodge around 13:00, lunch at the Hotel. In the afternoon free time to visit hot spring thermal.

Dinner at the hotel and overnight at Colca Valley

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 07 - Colca Canyon / Condor's Cross / Bus to Puno

Breakfast at your hotel; drive to the Condor's Cross, a natural observation point from where the magnitude of the Colca Canyon and the spectacular flight of the majestic Condor can be appreciated. On the way back to Chivay, visit to the Mirador of Chinina, where we will find the famous cliffside Tombs and the Hanging Bridge of Sifón that joins the Town of Yanque with Coporaque. To have spectacular views of the Colca Valley, we will drive to the Lookout points of Choquetipo and Artahuilque. After lunch take the bus to Puno.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch

Day 08 - Lake Titicaca / Uros Floating Island and Overnight at Amantani

Breakfast at your hotel; Lake Titicaca 2 Day/1 night pick up from your Hotel take a two-hour motor boat excursion on the waters of Lake Titicaca to the unique Floating "Islands" of the Uros. These ancient inhabitants of the lake, known as the Water Tribe, have built their own "islands" by periodically adding new layers of a type of reed unique to the area called "Totora". Their homes and boats are also made from this material. Continue the motor boat trip to Amantani Island. This island is inhabited by Quechua-speaking natives still governed by their ancient traditions, whose main occupations are the production of ceramics and textiles. Lunch at Amantani, overnight at the house of a local islander to enjoy the hospitality of a typical Amantani home

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 09 - Lake Titicaca / Taquile Island

Breakfast at your familiar house; you have time to stroll at leisure through the quaint streets of this colourful island. Late morning, take a motor-boat to Taquile Island, also inhabited by Quechua-speaking natives who have developed efficient and unique social systems, as well as fine hand weaving techniques, down through the generations. It is necessary to go up a stairway of more than 567 steps - streaks of stone that wind their way among greenery platforms - to arrive at the town of Taquile. Lunch at Taquile, and then take a walk through the various hills and archaeological sites of this 6km long island. Back to Puno and overnight.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch

Day 10 - Bus to Cusco

Breakfast at your hotel; transfer to the bus station to head off to Cusco. Beautiful scenery all along the way, visit of the Raqchi and archeological sites as well as Andahuaylillas village and its famous "Sixteen Chapel" that was built in the middle of the 17th century. Lunch in Sicuani

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch

Day 11 - Cusco Sightseeing

Breakfast at your hotel; morning free time to relax

At 13:30 pick up from the Hotel; guided sightseeing tour in Cusco like Q'oricancha temple of Sun the most important shrines during the Incas time. Visit the Cathedral the most imposing church at the main square. The tour keeps going to Sacsayhuaman, this site is a megalithic work made by the Incas; it stands on a hill looming over the city to the north-yet even these enormous stones are filled with that extraordinary Inca perfection. The next sightseeing is named Q'enqo, it shows a singular limestone outcrop, which was used to religious cult. The tour finishes visiting Puca Pucara and Tambomachay. Overnight at Cusco Hotel

Meals Included: Breakfast

Day 12 - Cusco / Sacred Valley / Ollantaytambo

Breakfast at your hotel; this tour is a full day visit to the impressive Sacred Valley of the Incas, covering the visit Pisaq and Ollantaytambo archaeological sites. The first visit at the village of Qorao where is possible to take beautiful pictures of the landscapes from a lookout site. The next visiting is Pisaq (archaeological site and Indian market). Lunch at the Sacred Valley, after lunch, visit the Inca Fortress and Citadel of Ollantaytambo, built to guard the entrance to this part of the Valley, and protect it from possible invasion from the tribes in the Lower jungle. The Fortress consists of a series of stepped carved stone terraces accessed by long staircases. Overnight at the Sacred Valley of the Incas Ollantaytambo

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch

Day 13 - Ollantaytambo / Hike to Putucusi or Mandor Valley Bird watching

Breakfast at your hotel; transfer to the Train Station at 08:30 to catch the train to Aguas Calientes. Arrival at about 10:26 and transfer to the Hotel after a nice lunch, we have two options to visit (you can choose just only one option).

First option: Mandor Valley Bird watching; we walk along the Vilcanota River following the railroad tracks into the Mandor Valley to visit its waterfall. The valley is inhabited by varied and fascinating birdlife, including Speckle-faced Parrots and Green Jays, and we have opportunity to find Cock-of-the-Rock. We will relax and perhaps bathe under the waterfall before walking back to the hotel in the shadow of Machu Picchu.

Second option: Hike Putucusi; hike to Putucusi Mountain, trek takes about 3 hours and will grant you amazing views of the citadel of Machu Picchu, as well as the Surroundings Mountains. After our trek we will get back to the town of Aguas Calientes, and if you wish, you can go to relax in the thermal baths. The hot springs are located on the upper section of the village and offers outdoor pools. Overnight at the designated hotel in Aguas Calientes

Meals included: Breakfast, lunch

Day 14 - Machu Picchu / Back to Cusco

Breakfast at your hotel; full day Excursion to Machu Picchu, early transfer to the Bus Stop for the short ride (25 minutes) up to the citadel of Machu Picchu. Upon arrival, you will participate in a guided tour of the Citadel, visiting the Main Plaza, the Circular Tower, the Sacred Sun Dial (the most important preserved Intihuatana), the Royal Quarters, the Temple of the Three Windows, houses, warehouses, a large central square; and all connected by narrow roads and steps that are surrounded by terraces cut into the mountain side. After the tour you'll have time to stroll around the Archaeological Site at your leisure.

Opportunity to walk (approx 1 hour) up to the Sun Gate (Inti Punku) or climb to the top of Wayna Picchu, with a magnificent view of the whole Sanctuary, return in the afternoon by train to Cusco and transfer to your hotel

Meals Included: Breakfast

Day 15 - Depart Cusco / Lima International departure

Breakfast at your hotel; transfer to the airport for departure flight to Lima and then take your connecting flight at home

Meals Included: Breakfast