Discover the breathtaking beauty of Peru. Begin your journey in the vibrant capital, Lima, where you can indulge in world-class cuisine and explore stunning colonial-era historic sites. Next, you might want to embark on an unforgettable hike along the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu, a true marvel of ancient architecture. Finish spending time in Cusco before conquering the iconic Rainbow Mountain. If time permits, you may gegin your adventure with an early arrival excursion option to visit Lima followed by a thrilling stops in both Paracas, along the cost, and then at the majestic sand dunes of Huacachina.
English-speaking
(B, L, D)
Double occupany
As mentioned in the itinerary
For drivers and guides (prepaid - added later)
Tour guides will pick you up and transport you to the hotel.
Pick up at 10:00 am. We will visit old and modern Lima for about a 6-7 hour tour. Places to visit include:
· Miraflores – Park of Love
· Miraflores – Huaca Pucllana
· Lima Center – Plaza San Martin
· Plaza de Armas of Lima or Main Square
· Monastery of San Francisco de Lima and its catacombs
· Casa Aliaga
After the tour concludes, we will return to the hotel for a leisurely evening. (B, L)
Travelers will be picked up at around 5am. During the trip, you will have the chance to see the "Chandelier", a geoglyph that is used as a point of reference for sailers and big ships. It is also believed to have a strong connection with the Nazca lines and other geoglyphs found in Peru. Once we reach the islands of the Paracas National Reserve, we will observe many sea lions and Humboldt penguins living in and around many small caves. We will enjoy the natural habitat of the area as we see see hundreds of guano birds, such as the cormorans, piqueras, pelicans, seagulls and tendrills. Paracas National Reserve. During this excursion, you will see large groups of flamencos feeding in the sea. You will later visit the Obelisk, a monument built in commemoration of the expedition and liberation of Don Jose of San Martin. You will continue to see part of what was the rocky formation of the "Cathedral", partially destroyed by the earthquake of Pisco in the 2007. After this portion of the tour concludes, you will be returned to the Bay of Paracas where you can eat at any of the seafood restaurants located in the area. After this, enjoy some free time to buy souvenirs, or simply relax in front of the sea and take in the majesty of this wonderous place. We will finish with a drive to the city of Ica, which is the oasis town in Huacachina (about 2 hours). Finally enjoy the sunset before checking in to your hotel for the evening. (B)
One of the main attractions of spending time in Huacachina is sand boarding and dune buggy rides. These activities are popular among visitors who want to experience a thrill like none other. We will do this in the morning. Whether you choose to try boarding or not, visiting the sand dunes is a must when visiting Peru. After an epic tour full of fun activities and unforgettable experiences, it is time to go back to Lima. Our guide and driver will take you to our original hotel. (B)
Our guides will pick you up and transport you to the hotel.
We start the day by looking at the city of Cusco from the lookout at Cristo
Blanco, from here we will enjoy a panoramic view of Cusco valley. We
continue our trip to visit the ecological park and animal rescue center of
Cochawasi. In this place, we will see a remarkable number of rescued nativeanimals, birds and mammals of the andean world. condors, pumas,
chinchillas, foxes etc.
Once we get into the Sacred Valley we will visit the massive Inca city of Pisaq.
There our guide will explain to us about the historical background of this
place. We will continue briefly in Urubamba for a well deserved lunch and in
the afternoon we will visit the impressive Inca site of Moray and the salt mines
of Maras. After this, we will head back to Cusco for a dinner on the town. (B,
L)
Today marks the first day on our Incan Trail adventure. After getting picked up
at the hotel, we will travel two hours by bus from Cusco to Piskacucho where
the hiking journey starts. We will get across the Urubamba river, one of the
most important tributaries of the Amazon river. Then we will view the Inca
Fortress of Huillca Raccay and the Inca city of Llactapata (patallacta). Finally,
we will enjoy the breathtaking views of the Urubamba mountain range and the
snow capped peak of Wakay Willca (Veronica) which stands at 5860m/1922ft.
The day concludes with us setting up camp near a small village,
Wayllabamba. (B,L,D)
Today is a big day! The flora and fauna on this part of the trek are incredibly
varied. You will see many birds, such as hummingbirds. Additionally, the
plants and trees, such as the "Polilepys" or "Queuna" tree grow in an
astonishing cloud forest located at 3650m/11972ft. You will feel a real sense of
achievement reaching the top of "Dead Woman's Pass" today, which is an
astounding 13,779ft. We will finish the day with a 2 hour descent into our
campsite at Pacaynayu for a much needed rest. (B,L,D)
Today we visit the archaeological site of "Runcuracay." Spectacular views of
the surrounding mountains from Runcurakay Pass will capture everyone's
attention. Then get a chance to explore the Incan site of "Sayacmarca" and
gaze at the magnificent scenery as you pass through another lovely cloud
forest. Finally, we will visit the Incan site of "Phuyupatamarca" (meaning"T own in the Clouds") and get to walk through the impressive agricultural site
known as "Intipata." This is the most amazing day of the trek. (B,L,D)
Today marks our final day of hiking. We will take a visit to "Inti Punku" ("Sun
Gate") 2370m/8792ft before sunrise to finally get our first dramatic view of
Machu Picchu from 2400m/7873ft with the sun rising over it! From the trail
there will be a chance to take the famous postcard photograph of Machu
Picchu. Next we will begin a walking tour (2 hours) of Machu Picchu with a
guide. There will be an optional climb of Huayna Picchu 2720m/8923ft (45
minutes). After the tour concludes you are free to wander around the stunning
site before returning by bus or foot to Aguas Calientes. From there we will
take the scenic train ride back to Cusco. (B,L,D)
Today is a free day to enjoy Cusco at your own pace. Nestled in the Andes and once the capital of the Inca Empire, Cusco is a city steeped in history and vibrant local culture. You may choose to explore the cobblestone streets of the historic center, visit the lively San Pedro Market, or step into the many artisan shops and galleries. For those looking to go deeper into the city’s past, the Qorikancha (Temple of the Sun) and the Cusco Cathedral offer striking examples of the fusion between Inca foundations and Spanish colonial architecture. Others might opt to relax in one of the city’s charming cafés or book a spa treatment to unwind. Whether you spend the day discovering ancient ruins, sampling local cuisine, or simply taking in the highland atmosphere, Cusco’s unique rhythm is yours to enjoy. (B)
We pick you up from your hotel and take you on a 3.5-hour bus ride to
Vinicunca, where we stop briefly to have a super powerful breakfast made of
Andean products such as Quinoa and chocolate before we start our climb to
the amazing Rainbow mountains of Peru. After our delicious breakfast, we will
start our slow ascend to the rainbow mountains of Cusco. The rail to the
Rainbow mountains is quite clear with no chances to get lost. However, the
altitude of this place is a challenge that we must overcome along the way to
reach the lookout of these magnificent rainbow mountains. It takes about 2.5
hours to make it to the top walking at a slow pace. Our guides will make sure
that your experience hiking at this altitude will be a pleasant learning
experience. They will explain to you about the Rainbow Mountain geology as
well as the people and landscape along the way. After we enjoy the best
views of the Rainbow Mountain and we take the most beautiful pictures - free
of other people interfering - of this unbelievable place, we will start our slow
descent down to our starting point, where we will have a tasty lunch before we
return back to Cusco. (B, L)
After breakfast, say your goodbyes, enjoy one last look at Cusco, and head to
the airport for your return flight home. (B)
