Andean World Exploration

Upon arrival at Jorge Chvez International Airport in Lima, a representative will meet you and transfer you to your hotel at the arranged time. You will have the remainder of the day at your leisure to rest or explore Perus capital city. Lima, once known as the City of Kings during Colonial times, served as the political, religious and economic centre for the Spanish in South America. Its historic centre is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, reflecting its rich past amid a vibrant, modern metropolis undergoing significant cultural and economic renewal. You may choose to relax after your flight or take a first stroll through the city to get a feel for its atmosphere. Alternatively, you can opt to join the Magic Water Circuit with Dinneran evening tour featuring the worlds largest fountain complex, recognised by Guinness World Records, followed by a dinner at a local restaurant. This private experience includes pick-up and drop-off, a bilingual guide, admission to the fountain park and a meal. Please note this option is not available on Sundays or Mondays and lasts around four hours, starting at 17:30. Overnight in Lima.

After breakfast at your hotel, transfer to the airport for your flight to Cusco. Upon arrival, a representative will meet you and escort you to your hotel. In the afternoon, join a guided tour of Cusco, the former capital of the Inca Empire. Begin at the Santo Domingo Convent, built atop Coricanchathe Inca Temple of the Sunonce adorned with gold leaf and intricate depictions of nature. Next, visit the impressive cathedral in the Plaza de Armas before heading to the surrounding hills to explore the fortress of Sacsayhuamn, offering panoramic views of the city. Continue to Qenqo, an archaeological site believed to have been used for religious rituals linked to agriculture. The tour concludes at Puka Pukara, an ancient military complex featuring rooms, courtyards, baths, aqueducts and towers. After the tour, return to your hotel to relax and prepare for the days ahead.

After breakfast, we visit the highland town of Chinchero, known for its stunning valley views and vibrant traditional culture. Here, you will see local people dressed in customary clothing and explore the archaeological remains alongside a seventeenth-century churchone of Perus earliest Catholic buildings. Next, we transfer to the Yucay Museum of Living Culture, where you can observe artisans crafting textiles, adobe pottery, and silverware using techniques dating back to the Inca era. This centre also offers the chance to feed llamas, sheep, and alpacas, providing a hands-on experience of Andean traditions. We then enjoy a lunch of local cuisine in a cosy restaurant in Ollantaytambo. After lunch, you have time to explore the towns streets, which have been continuously inhabited since Inca times, before climbing the iconic fortress built into the mountainside. We return to the hotel in the Sacred Valley to rest, enriched by the spirit of the Incas. On Sundays, you may also visit the local market.

After breakfast at your hotel, transfer to Ollanta station to begin your journey to Machu Picchu. Enjoy a scenic train ride of approximately two hours to Aguas Calientes, also known as Machu Picchu Pueblo, the gateway to the iconic archaeological site. In Aguas Calientes, youll find a craft market, a variety of restaurants, and accommodation options for those wishing to stay overnight at the foot of the mountain for an early start. From here, take a short bus ride up to Machu Picchu, the remarkable Inca sanctuary and refuge of the ruler Pachactec. This UNESCO World Heritage Site, meaning Old Mountain, is also recognised as one of the New Seven Wonders of the World. After exploring the site, return to Aguas Calientes for lunch before boarding the train back to Cusco. Overnight in Cusco.

After breakfast, we transfer you to the bus station for your journey across the Andes to Puno. Your first stop is Andahuaylillas, about 40 kilometres from Cusco, where you will visit the local church, often called the Sistine Chapel of America due to its remarkable artwork. We then continue to Racchi to explore the Wiracocha Temple, a striking rectangular structure measuring 30 metres wide and 20 metres high. Lunch is served in Sicuani before heading to La Raya, the highest point on the route at 4,313 metres above sea level. Next, we visit Pucara, the earliest urban settlement on Lake Titicaca, dating from 100 to 300 A.D. Here, you can see monoliths at the Pucara Lithic Museum from the towns pre-Inca site. The day concludes with the final leg to Puno, where a representative will assist with your hotel check-in.

After breakfast, we transfer to the port of Puno to board a boat bound for the Uros Islands. These remarkable man-made islands are crafted entirely from totora reeds, which grow abundantly in the shallows of Lake Titicaca. The Uros people maintain their islands by continually layering fresh reeds on top as the lower layers decay. Their homes are also built from totora, with cooking done outdoors to prevent fires. Following this visit, we sail to Taquile Island, once part of the Inca Empire. Here, youll see remnants of its Incan heritage and enjoy a cultural demonstration by the local community, offering insight into their traditions. Lunch is served on the island before we return to Puno for the evening.

After breakfast at the hotel, you will transfer from Puno to the airport for your onward journey. While this marks the end of your tour through some of Perus most captivating destinations, we trust the rich culture and history youve experienced will remain with you long after you leave.