Day 1: Arrival in Lima
After a welcome from our team, we take you to the hotel to rest.

Day 2: Lima City Tour - Paracas
Today we take a tour through the city, experiencing both colonial and modern Lima. We visit the main plaza, the government palace, the municipal hall, Lima's cathedral, the archbishop’s residence, the catacombs of San Francisco, and the plaza of San Martin. In the afternoon we head along the Panamerican highway towards Paracas, stopping on the way to sample the cuisine and relax on the beaches of the southern coast. After checking into the hotel in Paracas, those who have the energy can head out to sample the nightlife.

Meals included: breakfast

Day 3: Paracas - Ballestas Islands - Nazca
After breakfast we take a boat to visit the Ballestas Islands. The trip takes us around the Bay of Paracas and the port of San Martin. On the slopes of an enormous sand dune we see the giant drawing of mysterious “candle holder”. We also see sea lions and a multitude of sea birds in their natural habitat, whose idiosyncratic rock formations create one of the most attractive landscapes of the Peruvian coast. At midday we continue our journey towards Nazca, making a stop to visit a vineyard and the oasis of Huacachina. We arrive in Nazca and check in to the hotel.

Meals included: breakfast

Day 4: Nazca - Arequipa
In the morning we take a flight over the impressive and mysterious Nazca lines. Later we continue on towards Arequipa. We make a stop in Puerto Inca, where we can see the “Qolcas”, or storehouses, where the Incas kept their marine products. We arrive in Arequipa and check in to the hotel.

Meals included: breakfast

Day 5: Arequipa
At an altitude of 2,400 metres above sea level, Arequipa is Peru’s second largest city, with a population of around 1 million. It is known as the “White City”, for its baroque architecture made from the chalky volcanic stone sillar, a colonial legacy recognised by UNESCO, which has declared the central city a World Heritage site. The perfect volcanic cone of El Misti (5,825 metres) and its neighbour Nevado Chachani (6,075 metres) hover over the city. Today we visit the labyrinth of the monastery of Santa Catalina (considered by many the finest in South America), the cathedral, La Compañia church and the bustling San Camilo market. The night is free to enjoy the local restaurants and bars.

Meals included: breakfast

Day 6: Arequipa - Colca Valley - Chivay
We leave early in the morning for the Colca Valley. As we rise up to a plateau at an altitude of around 4,000 metres, we can observe the hardy Andean flora and fauna that thrives here, such as alpacas and wild vicuñas. We have lunch in the town of Chivay and in the afternoon head to the refreshing hot springs of La Calera to relax (don’t forget to bring swimming gear). At night we have dinner and listen to a performance of traditional Andean folk music.

Meals included: breakfast, lunch

Day 7: Chivay - Cruz del Condor - Arequipa
Early in the morning after breakfast we drive to the Cruz del Condor, a stunning lookout point into the depths of the Colca Canyon, from where we can watch the majestic flight of the condors that rise on the morning thermals in search of food. We contine our journey, visiting the villages and lookout points of the valley. We have lunch back in Chivay and return to Arequipa, where we spend the night

Meals included: breakfast

Day 8: Arequipa - Cuzco
Early in the morning we take a flight to Cuzco. After checking into the hotel we have lunch and in the afternoon take a city tour, visiting the cathedral, the main plaza, the former Incan palace of K’oricancha (where the colonial church of San Francisco was constructed over the Incan foundations), and nearby ruins such as the impressive fortress of Saqsayhuaman.

Meals included: breakfast

Day 9: Cuzco - Sacred Valley
Today we visit the Sacred Valley of the Incas, including the Chinchero market, the town of Urubamba, and the impressive ruins of Ollantaytambo. We spend the night in Cuzco.

Meals included: breakfast

Day 10: Sacred Valley - Machu Picchu – Aguas Calientes
We get up early to take the train to the village of Aguas Calientes, that lies at the foot of Machu Picchu. From there we ascend to one of the seven wonders of the modern world. The ruined city was discovered by an American, Hiram Bingham in 1911. After a guided tour of three hours, you will have some time to discover the ruins on your own. Later we will return to Aguas Calientes, where we spend the night.

Meals included: breakfast

Day 11: Aguas Calientes – Cuzco
You will have the possibility to organise your day individually, before we will return to Cuzco. Early, in the morning you can see the sunrise and have a look around the town of Aguas Calientes. Later you can relax in the hot springs. Besides, we can recommend the trek to the waterfalls of Mandor. The falls are reached in 1,5 hours by a trail that follows the railway lines alongside the rushing Vilcanota River. The fall is formed by the crystal waters that descend from the peak of the mountain Yanantin. We will spend the night in Cuzco.

Meals included: breakfast

Day 12: Cuzco
Today, you deserve a free day in order to relax, shop and enjoy your last day in the beautiful Imperial City of Cuzco. We recommend the Casa Inca Garcilazo de la Vega, the church of San Blas and the surrounding barrio, known for its artists and craftsmen.

Meals included: breakfast

Day 13: Cuzco - Puno
In the morning after breakfast, we take a tourist bus towards Puno. On the way we can visit a number of interesting places such as Andahuaylillas with its beautiful chapel; Raqchi, with its ancient mud constructions, and the archeological complex of Pucara.

Meals included: breakfast

Day 14: Lake Titicaca (Uros and Taquile Islands)
Today we take a boat to explore the cold waters of Lake Titicaca (15-passenger boat), the world’s highest navigable lake. We enjoy spectacular views across the lake in the crystalline Andean air. Our first visit is to the floating Uros islands, made entirely out of reeds and periodically renewed by their inhabitants. Later we continue on to Taquile island in the middle of the lake, where we have lunch and relax with the local people.

Meals included: breakfast

Day 15: Puno - Copacabana - La Paz
After breakfast we take a tourist bus towards the Bolivian city of La Paz. After crossing the Peru - Bolivia border we visit the charming village of Copacabana on the shores of Lake Titicaca at an altitude of 3,841 metres, where we have lunch. After arriving in La Paz we have dinner and make preparations for the next morning’s activities.

Meals included: breakfast

Day 16: "The Death Road" or “Valley of the Moon”
After breakfast, there is the option of attending the "Cycling Tour of Coroico", an all-day bike trip down the notorious and spectacular “death road” into the high jungle (in fact, safe to travel by bike), taking a packed picnic lunch. Those who prefer not to go cycling can take a trip to the "Valley of the Moon” - an impressive place with rocky formations of reddish color - or perhaps just go shopping at the market.

Meals included: breakfast

Day 17: La Paz – Uyuni
We travel from La Paz to Uyuni appreciating spectacular landscapes on the way. The trip takes about 11 hours, with a few stops. After arriving in Uyuni, we rest until the following day.

Meals included: breakfast

Day 18: Salar de Uyuni
We visit the "Salar de Uyuni", spending most of the day there. The Salar de Uyuni is the largest salt lake in the world, almost 160 kilometers in length and 135 kilometers wide, with a salt crust between two and seven meters thick. At Colchani, on the northern edge of the lake, we see where the salt is extracted and have a chance to purchase souvenirs. On the lake itself we visit a hotel that has been constructed completely out of salt, and Inkahuasi (or Fish Island), a cactus-covered island in the middle of the brilliant white salt. We have a picnic lunch on the salt flat, and then head off to our lodge at Chuivica, on the other side of the lake.

Meals included: full board

Day 19: Laguna Colorada
Our journey continues across the awe-inspiring landscape of the high plateau, past the strange eroded forms of the Stone Forest, the active Ollagüe volcano, and a variety of mountain lagoons where we can see flamingos and other wildlife. We spend the night near the “Coloured Lagoon”, at 4,300 meters.

Meals included: full board

Day 20: San Pedro de Atacama
Today we head towards San Pedro de Atacama in Chile, passing by the “Morning Sun” geysers at 5,000 meter, thermal springs and more colorful lagoons, before arriving at the Chilean border. At about 1 p.m. in the afternoon we arrive in San Pedro de Atacama, an oasis in the middle of the world's driest desert, and have a chance to relax.

Meals included: breakfast

Day 21: San Pedro de Atacama - Calama - Santiago
We leave San Pedro very early in the morning to catch a flight in Calama at 10:30 a.m. to Santiago de Chile. From there, flights depart to your home countries. We hope you had an enjoyable and memorable experience!

Meals included: breakfast

 

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Included in the tour price:

-Flight Arequipa - Cuzco
-All land transport between destinations and hotel transfers
-Private transport on days 2 - 5 of the trip (Lima - Arequipa)
-All tour programmes named in the itinerary (including Colca Valley, Lake Titicaca, Cycling to Coroico and Salar de Uyuni).Local guides in each location
-An experienced, English-speaking tour guide
-All entrance fees to national parks, museums, and the Machu Picchu sanctuary
-3-star hotels with breakfast
-2 buffet lunch (Colca - Puno)

 

Not included in the tour price:

-International flights

-Flight over the Nazca lines
-Flight Calama-Santiago
-Food and drink for lunch and dinner except where indicated
-Snacks, mineral water, alcoholic drinks, entry to discotheques

Information on food and drink:
In the major cities there is a wide range of Peruvian and international cuisine available. A meal with something to drink costs between $2-7 USD. Mineral water or soda costs $0.30-0.50 USD for a half-liter bottle. A large bottle of beer costs $1-2 USD.
What to bring:
Walking shoes with a strong sole (eg Vibram), flashlight or head lamp, hat or cap, swimming costume, day pack appropriate for walking, plenty of sun cream, layers of light and warm clothing for a range of climatic conditions including a wind and water resistant jacket, camera with lithium batteries, ear plugs (optional), sleeping bag (optional).

For more information, see Frequently Asked Questions.