Day 1
Lima
Once you’ve arrived in Lima, you will be transferred to your hotel for the night. The rest of the day is free for you to explore as you wish.
Overnight: Jose Antonio Hotel or similar
Day 2
Lima
After a leisurely breakfast, you’ll embark on a fantastic city tour that incorporates a plethora of amazing attractions, including Huaca Pucllana, the centre of Lima (all of which is designated a UNESCO World Heritage site), the Cathedral of Lima, and the Convent of Santo Domingo.
Breakfast included.
Overnight: Jose Antonio Hotel or similar
Day 3
Lima – Arequipa
Begin your day with breakfast, before being picked up from your hotel ready for your flight to Arequipa. Once there, you'll be greeted by the team and transferred to your hotel for complimentary coca tea and muña tea, which will help you adjust to the high altitude.
The optional city tour of Arequipa includes visiting fascinating cathedrals, churches and monasteries, plus the Plaza de Armas.
Breakfast included.
Overnight: Hotel Conquistador or similar
Day 4
Arequipa – Chivay (Colca Canyon)
It’s an early start today, setting off along the route to Colca Valley. Gaze out your window at beautiful views of volcanoes, terraced farms and charming villages, and enjoy fun stops such as the Aguada Blanca National Reserve, home to guanacos, alpacas and vicuñas. Highlights on the journey also include driving along the edge of Chucura Volcano and stopping by the Patapampa Andes viewpoint for an amazing view of the mountains and volcanoes in the Arequipa Region.
Once at the town of Chivay, you'll have a traditional lunch (not included), before checking in to your hotel and having the afternoon at leisure.
Breakfast included.
Overnight: Casa Andina Standard Colca or similar
Day 5
Colca Canyon - Puno
It's another early start today, with much to see. Begin with a trip to the Cruz del Condor lookout point, where you'll hopefully see magnificent Andean condors soaring nearby, alongside impressive views of Colca Canyon.
On the way back to Chivay you'll stop at the traditional village of Pinchollo and the Antahuilque viewpoint, which offers gorgeous views of the 1,500-year-old agricultural terraces and the lagoons of Colca Valley. After lunch in Chivay, you'll begin your journey to Puno, the capital of Peruvian Folklore.
Along your journey, you'll stop by Patapampa - the highest point of your journey through Peru so far. The lookout enjoys fantastic views of the volcanoes Sabancaya, Ampato, Misti, and Chachani.
Upon arrival in Puno at around 6pm, you'll enjoy a relaxed evening in the hotel.
Breakfast included.
Overnight: Hotel Royal Inn Puno or similar
Day 6
Uros floating & Taquile Islands
Yet another early start for a busy day ahead. First, you'll be transferred to the port to board the motor launch ride out to the island of Taquile. A truly stunning island, this is where you'll be taken back to the traditional ways of life, where men weave and women spin the yarn to create beautiful weaved textiles.
At around midday, you'll get back on the boat to visit the rarely visited rural community of Luquina, located on the Chucuito Peninsula. Then later on, you'll head back towards Puno and visit the awesome Floating Islands of the Uros people. These small islands were originally built for defensive reasons, so they could move their homes to a safer destination away from threats. Made out of the totora reeds that grow around the lake, each island is constantly reconstructed. Whilst there, you'll enjoy a presentation on how they are made, and you'll visit one of the local families.
Breakfast and lunch included.
Overnight: Hotel Royal Inn Puno or similar
Day 7
Puno - Cusco
Begin your day with an early bus to Cusco, a brilliant trip that feels more like a tour than a standard bus route. The bus will stop at four jaw-dropping sites where you’ll embark on interesting guided tours, including Pukara – the oldest ceremonial center of the altiplano, La Raya – the halfway point and also the highest point between Cusco and Puno, Raqchi – a breath-taking temple divided into two naves, and Andahuaylillas – the Sistine chapel of South America and a stunning example of Andean religious art.
Breakfast and lunch included.
Overnight: Jose Antonio Hotel or similar
Day 8
Cusco
Today you will embark on a half-day city tour of Cusco, including visits to the Cathdral, the Koricancha: Temple of the sun, Q’enqo – a religious centre dedicated to the earth, Puca Pucara – which was once a military control centre, Sacsayhuaman – a beautiful location with impressive stone works, and Tambomachay – a centre focusing on the worship of water.
If you don’t fancy a city tour, or you want to enjoy another activity straight after, there’s the option of enjoying a cooking class for an additional cost. Join Marcelo Batata Culinary Experiences and immerse yourself in the diverse flavours of Peruvian cuisine, enjoying tastings of Andean super food and Pisco (brandy), and cooking up two of Peru’s most well-known dishes: Ceviche and Lomo Saltado with Alpaca.
Breakfast included.
Overnight: Jose Antonio Hotel or similar
Day 9
Sacred Valley Tour
Day 9 will be spent experiencing a full-day tour of the phenomenal Sacred Valley. You’ll be picked up from the hotel at 8.30am, embarking on a fabulous tour that includes discovering Urubamba Valley, exploring the vibrant Indian market in Pisac, visit Yucay town to see its insightful museum, and Ollantaytambo – the oldest occupied town on the American continent.
Breakfast included.
Overnight: Jose Antonio Hotel or similar
Day 10
Cusco - Aguas Calientes
You'll board a train to Aguas Calientes for a scenic two-hour trip through rolling hills and river canyons. Located in a deep gorge at the foot of Machu Picchu, this picturesque town is home to a myriad of markets, restaurants and souvenir shops. You'll have time to explore at your own accord, or why not enjoy a relaxed afternoon at the thermal hot springs.
It's recommended that you keep your luggage in the storage room at your hotel in Cusco, and bring what you need for Machu Picchu. The train only allows 7kg of carry-on luggage per person.
Breakfast included
Overnight: Hatun Inti Boutique or similar
Day 11
Aguas Calientes (Machu Picchu) - Cusco
It's a very early start today so you can get a good amount of time at Machu Picchu - around 5.40am. Once there, you'll enjoy a guided tour of the most famous and incredible parts of this archaeological complex - including the Temple of the Sun, Sacred Plaza and Intihuatana.
After your tour, you'll have lunch (not included) back at Aguas Calientes before your train back to Cusco.
Breakfast included
Overnight: Jose Antonio Hotel or similar
Day 12
Cusco - Amazon
Enjoy a heaty breakfast before journeying to Cusco airport for your flight to Puerto Maldonado. Once there, you’ll be transferred to your hotel, where you’ll pack only the necessary gear and leave the rest of your luggage in the safe deposit.
The trip begins with a drive to the Tambopata River Port, which enters the Native Community of Infierno. There’s then a 2 and a half hour boat ride to Refugio Amazonas, into the buffer zone of this 1.3 million hectare conservation unit.
Upon arrival, the lodge manager will welcome you and brief you with important navigation and security tips.
Enjoy a dinner in the lodge and afterwards you will have the option of hiking out at night, a brilliant experience where most of the mammals are active but still elusive to the eye. You’re most likely to see a myriad of frogs, whilst listening to the Amazon come alive.
Breakfast, lunch and dinner included.
Overnight: Posada Amazonas or similar
Day 13
Oxbow Lake - Ethnobotanical Tour - Night walk
After breakfast, you will paddle around the lake on a canoe or a catamaran, looking for lakeside wildlife such as hoatzin, caiman and hornerd screamers, hoping to see the otters which are infrequently seen here. You will also be rewarded with overhead sightings of macaws
Afterwards, it's the Ethnobotanical Tour at the Centro Ñape, along this trail we will find a variety of plants and trees that are used by the local population, you’ll learn all about the natural history and medicinal uses of the rainforest.
After dinner, you'll head out on a night walk to see frogs and other nocturnal creatures, and enjoy the sounds of the rainforest.
Breakfast, lunch and dinner included.
Overnight: Posada Amazonas or similar
Day 14
Puerto Maldonado - Lima
Take the boat transfer from Posada Amazonas back to Tambopata River Port ready for your transfer to the airport for your flight to Lima.
Depending on airline schedules, this may require dawn departures.
Breakfast included
Overnight: Costa Del Sol Wyndham Lima Airport or similar
Day 15
Lima
Today you will be transferred to the airport for your homeward flight.
