Explore Peru 15D

Day 1 Arrive in Lima

Arrive in the Lima airport, and our staff will be waiting to transfer you to your hotel. On the way, you will receive a general briefing that will cover subjects like facts about the country in addition to historical and cultural information. Feel free to ask questions!
Overnight in Lima
No meals

Day 2 Lima – Arequipa – City Tour

With a transfer to the airport we will fly to Arequipa. Arrive and our staff will be waiting to take you to your hotel to rest and have an early lunch. In the afternoon, we will visit the lookout of Carmen Alto with its beautiful view of the Chili Valley and the city of Arequipa. We continue the excitement by visiting the typical colonial district of Yanahuara with its overlook of the enormous volcanoes Misti (5825m/19106ft), Chachani (6080m/19942ft) and Pichu Pichu (5664m/18577ft). From here we will stroll through colorful residential areas. Then we will visit the Cathedral, Plaza de Armas, the Jesuit church – La Compañía – with its impressive cloister and cupola and the famous Santa Catalina Convent. This cloister has just been opened to tourism for the first time after 450 years. Return to your hotel.
Overnight in Arequipa
Breakfast included

Optional extra cost: visit Juanita the Ice Maiden

Day 3 Colca Canyon Classic 3 Days

After an early pick-up at your hotel, we head to the town of Chivay in the Colca Canyon. It’s located about 160km/100m northwest of Arequipa; a four-hour drive over the altiplano (high plateau) taking in views of the surrounding landscapes. Colca Canyon, one of the world’s deepest canyons, is more than twice as deep (3269m/10725ft) as the Grand Canyon. En route we will pass the National Reserve of “Pampa Cañahuas”, where we will make a short stop to observe the vicuñas (a species of the camelid family). We arrive in Chivay and have lunch before checking into your hotel.
Overnight in Colca Canyon
Breakfast and lunch included

Optional extra cost: Visit the Calera hot springs.

Day 4 Cruz del Condor

After a very early breakfast, we will depart from your hotel around 6:00am-6:30am and drive for about 1.5 hours to the view point of Cruz del Condor. Observe the beautiful vistas of the Colca Canyon to see the tremendous Condors in flight or perched on the mountains. After, a glorious time we continue our drive and visit the towns of Pinchollo, Maca and Yanque with lovely colonial churches and the viewpoints of Choquetico and Antahuilque. From these viewpoints take in the gorgeous vistas of the terraces and pristine lagoons. We continue our drive until reaching Chivay to unwind and enjoy a delicious lunch (not included). Return to your hotel.
Overnight in Colca Canyon
Breakfast included

Day 5 Colca Canyon – Puno

Free morning to relax. In the afternoon we will take the bus to Puno. Arrive and transfer to your hotel for the night.
Overnight in Puno
Breakfast included

Optional extra cost: add a day hike

Day 6 Lake Titicaca – Uros – Taquile

After breakfast, transfer to the dock to board our motorboat to start our ride on the smooth waters of Lake Titicaca to the island of Uros. Enjoy a pleasurable visit of the Uros people, where the inhabitants have built and continue to build their islands from the totora reeds unique to the area. Their homes and boats are also built from the reeds. We journey to the island of Taquile on its tranquil pristine waters. Meet these graceful people and admire their culture and lifestyle. The Taquileños are known for their hand-woven textiles and clothing considered among the highest quality handicrafts in Peru. Knitting is exclusively performed by males, starting at age eight. The women exclusively make yarn and weave. Enjoy a scenic trek of the island and have a delicious lunch in a local restaurant.  After a wonderful cultural experience, it is time to return to Puno.
Overnight in Puno
Breakfast and lunch included

Day 7 Puno – Cusco

Today we journey through the Andes by bus to Cusco. En route we will visit the Pukara Museum, stop by the Raya Pass for amazing vistas, enjoy a delicious buffet lunch in Sicuani, visit Raqchi ¨Temple of Wirachocha¨, Andahuaylillas known as the  “Sistine Chapel¨ of South America. Arrive in Cusco and transfer to your hotel.
Overnight in Cusco
Breakfast and lunch included

Day 8 Cusco City Tour

In the morning or afternoon we will start the tour of the city of the Incas. Walk on the cobble stone streets visiting the Cathedral in the Plaza de Armas and Qoricancha (Inca Sun Temple). Afterwards, drive above the city, to visit the ruins of Sacsayhuaman, Q’enqo, Pucapucara and Tambomachay. Return to Cusco.
Overnight in Cusco
Breakfast included

Note: If you choose Private Service (more expensive but worth it) – Pick your departure time, exclusive visit to the Central San Pedro Market where the locals shop, at your pace, and drop off at your hotel.

Day 9 Sacred Valley – Aguas Calientes (Machupicchu Town)

We start off from your hotel in the morning for a full-day excursion of the “Sacred Valley of the Incas” by bus, driving alongside the Vilcanota River. Visit the Pisac ruins and admire the many terraces and views of the valley below. After the tour, drive down to the town of Pisac for a visit of the typical artisan market where you can purchase souvenirs. Thereafter, we continue through the Sacred Valley to Urubamba to have a buffet lunch of typical Peruvian dishes. After lunch, we’ll drive to the town of Ollantaytambo for a guided tour of the ruins. In the late afternoon we will board our train in the same town to Aguas Calientes (Machupicchu Town), where you’ll spend the night.
Overnight in Aguas Calientes (Machupicchu Town)
Breakfast and lunch included
Note: If you choose Private Service (more expensive but worth it) – Pick your departure time, exclusive visit of the Awanacancha weaving center, Pisac sun temple, and enjoy the have a more in depth visit of the ruins, stops for pictures, and at your pace.

Day 10 Machu Picchu – Cusco

Early morning bus from Aguas Calientes to the Mysterious Machupicchu. Take pleasure in a professional guided walking tour of the amazing Sanctuary visiting the many temples and admiring the lovely surroundings. Thereafter, you will have time to further explore Machu Picchu on your own, visit the Inca bridge or climb Huayna Picchu or Machupicchu Mountain Peak. In the afternoon you will take the bus to Aguas Calientes to enjoy lunch before boarding your train to Poroy. Private transfer to your hotel in Cusco.
Overnight in Cusco
Breakfast and lunch included
Optional extra cost: Huayna Picchu (must book 3 months in advance) or Machupicchu Mountain Peak.

Day 11 Cusco – Amazon 3 Days

Transfer to the airport for your flight to Puerto Maldonado. Reception at the airport and drive to the Maldonado lodge where you will receive a welcome tropical drink. Then we will board the motorboat for a 3 to 4 hour ride up the Tambopata River to the Wasai Lodge. En route you will see tropical birds, caymans, and other wildlife. We will also pass by typical Amazon communities. We arrive and check into our lodge. Later enjoy a walk through the jungle to learn of its ecosystems.
Lodging
Breakfast in your hotel, lunch and dinner included

Day 12  Macaw Clay Lick

Very early in the morning, we will go upstream to the Macaw Clay Lick ¨El Chuncho¨in the Bahuaja-Sonene National Park. This is where hundreds of macaws and parrots gather every morning and afternoon to feed on the minerals necessary to complement their diet. After a wonderful experience in nature, we return to the lodge for breakfast and enjoy the lodge´s facilities. After lunch, we will take an ethno botanical hike learning about the plants and medicinal trees of the area. At night we do a night walk to spot caiman.
Lodging
Breakfast, lunch and dinner included

Day 13 Puerto Maldonado – Lima

A very early start is required for the canoe trip back to Puerto Maldonado, where we catch our flight to Lima. Arrive and our staff will be waiting to transfer you to Miraflores. Rest of the day at leisure.
Overnight in Lima
Breakfast included

Note: If the Wasai Lodge is not available we will offer you another choice in the same category or offer an upgrade.
Add another day in the Amazon at an extra cost.

Day 14 Lima City Tour

Today, enjoy a tour of the of Lima known as the City of Kings. We will visit a combination of pre-Hispanic, Colonial and Contemporary. Our visit will take us through pre-Inca ruins, colonial and Inca architecture, residential neighborhoods, charming churches, and more. Return to your hotel.
Overnight in Lima
Breakfast included
Optional extra cost: Add a gourmet tour taking a bite of Peru, or add the Pachacamac Ruins, or the Gold or Larco Museums or full day Caral.

Day 15 Lima – International Flight

Today bid farewell to Peru with a transfer to the airport for your international flight.
Breakfast included

End of Services

• Services Included:

  • Transfers IN/OUT
  • Professional English speaking guides
  • Tours listed in program.
  • Entrances to ruins and places mentioned in program.
  • Bus from Puno to Cusco
  • Train Tourist train round trip Ollantaytambo/Aguas Calientes/Poroy
  • Entrance Machu Picchu + round trip bus Aguas Calientes/Machupicchu/Poroy
  • Transfer from Poroy to Cusco
  • Hotel in Lima – 3 nights
  • Hotel in Arequipa – 1 night
  • Hotel in Colca Canyon – 2 nights
  • Hotel Puno -2 nights
  • Hotel Cusco – 3 nights
  • Hote Aguas Calientes – 1 night
  • Amazon – 2 nights

  Services NOT Included:

  • Domestic flights (we can book for you)
  • Entrance to the Calera Hot Springs
  • Entrance to Huayna Picchu or Machu Picchu Mountain Peak
    
  • Any expenses incurred in preparing for the trip, such as, but not limited to, non-refundable airline tickets or travel insurance, nor additional expenses encountered as a result of flight schedule changes, delays, strikes, cancellations, missed connections, acts of God or war.
  • Personal items like medicines, sleeping bag, laundry service, telephone calls, etc.
  • Alcohol drinks or anything not mentioned in program.
  • Travel insurance
  •  Gratuities.