South Peru Enigma Exploration

Upon arrival at Jorge Chavez International Airport in Lima, a representative will meet you and arrange your transfer to the hotel at the scheduled time. You will have the remainder of the day at your leisure to rest after your flight or begin exploring Lima, Perus capital. Known historically as the City of Kings, Limas colonial centre was once the political and religious heart of Spanish South America and is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Today, the city blends its rich history with a vibrant, evolving culture. If you wish, you can join an optional evening excursion to the Magic Water Circuita modern park featuring the worlds largest fountain system, recognised by Guinness World Records. This private tour includes pick-up and drop-off, a bilingual guide, admission to the fountains, and dinner at a local restaurant. Please note this option is not available on Sundays and Mondays and lasts approximately four hours, starting at 17:30. Overnight in Lima.

After breakfast, we set out to explore Limas historic old town and colonial centre. Our first stop is the Larco Museum, housed in a former mansion built atop a seventh-century pre-Columbian temple. The museum features an extensive collection of gold and silver artefacts, pottery, and notable erotic art. Next, we visit Casa de Aliaga, the oldest colonial mansion in Lima, continuously inhabited by the Aliaga family since 1535, when conquistador Francisco Pizarro granted the land to Jernimo de Aliaga. We then tour the colonial heart of the city, including the impressive Plaza de Armas, the central square framed by Spanish colonial architecture. Here, youll see the Government Palace on the north side and the 16th-century Cathedral of Lima to the east. After the tour, we transfer you back to your hotel, leaving the afternoon free for you to relax or explore at your own pace. Overnight in Lima.

After breakfast, we will transfer you from your hotel to Paracas, where you will check in to your accommodation. The rest of the day is yours to relax and enjoy at your own pace. Situated on the coast, Paracas offers a tranquil beach setting and easy access to the nearby Paracas National Reserve. This protected area is renowned for its diverse marine wildlife and striking landscape, featuring wind- and wave-carved rock formations alongside vast orange sand dunes stretching for kilometres. In the evening, you might like to watch the sunset over the sea while savouring a refreshing drink at one of the beachfront promenades restaurants. Overnight in Paracas.

After breakfast, we transfer to El Chaco pier to board a boat for a cruise to the Ballestas Islands, a group of rocky islets just off Perus western coast. These islands provide a vital habitat for a variety of wildlife, including sea lions, pelicans, boobies, Humboldt penguins, and numerous bird species. As we navigate around the islands dramatic cliffs, youll see large colonies of sea lions resting on the rocks and birds in flight. If fortunate, dolphins may appear near the boat. Although we do not disembark, the close proximity to this rich wildlife makes for a memorable experience. On the return journey, we pass the Paracas Candelabra, a large geoglyph etched into the hillside dating back to around 200 BC, whose origins remain unknown. After the boat tour, we transfer to the bus station for your onward journey to Nasca. Overnight in Nasca.

After breakfast, take a 30-minute flight over the Peruvian desert to view the enigmatic Nasca Lines. These ancient geoglyphs, etched into the sand, reveal a series of geometric shapes and figures such as a spider, condor, and monkey, visible only from the air. Upon landing, you will be transferred to the bus station to begin your journey to Arequipa. The bus journey lasts approximately ten hours, crossing diverse landscapes before arriving at your hotel, where you can rest after the days travel. Overnight in Arequipa.

After breakfast at your hotel, spend the day exploring Arequipa. Begin in the Plaza de Armas, home to the elegant neo-Renaissance Basilica Cathedral. Then visit the remarkable Santa Catalina Monastery, founded in the 16th century. This vast, walled complex was once a self-sufficient community, offering a unique glimpse into colonial life through its colourful streets and preserved architecture. The families of nuns paid substantial sums for their daughters to join, contributing to the monasterys wealth and status. To conclude the tour, visit the nearby neighbourhoods of Yanahuara and Carmen Alto, where you can enjoy stunning views of the Misti volcano towering above the city. Overnight in Arequipa.

After breakfast, we leave Arequipa and travel to the Colca Valley. The journey takes us through the Yura district, an area marked by striking landscapes including deep ravines, towering mountains, waterfalls and lush vegetation. We continue across the Pampa Caahuas, a vast Andean plateau inhabited by vicuasnative camelids related to alpacas and llamas. Along the way, we cross the pampas of Viscachani and Toccra and skirt the crater of the extinct Chucura Volcano before reaching the Mirador de los Andes at Patapampa, situated at 4,910 metres above sea level. From this viewpoint, you can admire panoramic views of the surrounding volcanoes near Arequipa. We then enjoy lunch in the charming town of Chivay before transferring to your chosen hotel in the Colca Valley, where you have the afternoon at your leisure. Overnight in Colca.

After breakfast, prepare for a memorable day at the Cruz del Condor viewpoint overlooking the Colca Canyon, one of the deepest canyons in the world at around 3,400 metres deeptwice the depth of the Grand Canyon. Here, you may see the magnificent Andean condors soaring on the rising thermals. We will then descend into the valley to visit traditional towns along the Colca River, including Chivay, Pinchollo, Maca, Achoma and Yanque, each featuring beautiful colonial churches set against the backdrop of the Andes. Along the way, we will stop at the Antahuilque and Choquetico viewpoints for sweeping views of the valley. Continuing to the Ocolle lookout, admire the Amphitheatre, a series of pre-Inca agricultural terraces showcasing ancient farming techniques. Finally, visit the Uyo Uyo archaeological site before returning to your hotel for the evening.

Begin the day with a leisurely breakfast at the hotel, followed by a free morning to enjoy the hotels facilities at your own pace. In the afternoon, we set off for Puno, a port city on the western shore of Lake Titicaca the highest navigable lake in the world. The journey takes us through the Salinas and Aguada Blanca National Reserve, where you will see the striking stone forests of Patahuasi. Along the route, the landscape is dramatic and varied, featuring high plains, volcanoes, unusual rock formations and lagoons where cranes can often be spotted drying their wings. There are several viewpoints and remote cafs offering coca tea, as well as local artisans selling traditional textiles and handicrafts. Upon arrival in Puno, you will be transferred to your hotel, with the remainder of the day at your leisure.

After breakfast, we transfer you to Punos port to board a boat bound for the remarkable Uros Islands. These islands are unique, entirely constructed from totora reeds that grow in the shallows of Lake Titicaca. The Uros people maintain their homes and lifestyle on these floating islands, replenishing the reed layers regularly and cooking outdoors to prevent fire hazards. Following this visit, we sail to Taquile Island, once part of the Inca Empire. Here, you will 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 your overnight stay.

After breakfast, transfer to the bus station to begin your journey through the striking Andean landscape towards Cusco, the historic heart of the Inca Empire. As you travel across the high-altitude plateau, reaching up to 4,313 metres, you will pass traditional villages and have the chance to spot local wildlife. Your first stop is the archaeological site of Pukara, the earliest urban settlement near Lake Titicaca, dating from 100 to 300 A.D. Next, continue to Racchi to visit the impressive Wiracocha Temple, a large rectangular structure measuring 30 metres wide and 20 metres high. When you are about 40 kilometres from Cusco, pause in the town of Andahuaylillas to see its renowned church, often called the Sistine Chapel of America due to its remarkable artwork. Upon arrival in Cusco, a transfer will take you from the bus station to your hotel for the evening.

After breakfast, enjoy a free morning in Cusco to relax at the hotel or explore the citys charming cobbled streets and browse local handicrafts. In the afternoon, join a guided tour of the former capital of the Inca Empire. Begin at the Santo Domingo Convent, built atop Coricanchaonce the most important Incan temple dedicated to sun worship, famed for its gold-covered walls. Next, visit the impressive cathedral in the Plaza de Armas before heading to the surrounding hills to see the fortress of Sacsayhuaman, offering panoramic views of Cusco. Continue to Qenqo, an archaeological site believed to have been used for religious ceremonies, and conclude at Puka Pukara, an ancient military complex featuring rooms, courtyards, baths, aqueducts and towers. After the tour, we will transfer you back to your hotel for the evening.

After breakfast, we visit the highland town of Chinchero, known for its stunning valley views and vibrant display of traditional clothing, customs, and local crafts. Explore the archaeological remains and a 17th-century church, one of Perus earliest Catholic buildings. On Sundays, you may also visit the lively local market. Next, we transfer to the Yucay Museum of Living Culture, where you can observe artisans creating textiles, adobe pottery, and silverware using techniques dating back to Inca times. This centre also offers the chance to feed llamas, sheep, and alpacas, providing a genuine connection to Andean traditions. We then enjoy a lunch of local cuisine in a cosy restaurant in Ollantaytambo. Afterward, explore the streets of this continuously inhabited Inca town and climb the iconic fortress built into the mountainside. At the end of the day, return to your hotel in the Sacred Valley to rest, enriched by the spirit of the Incas.

After breakfast, we transfer you to Ollanta station to begin your journey to Machu Picchu, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Enjoy the scenic two-hour train ride to Aguas Calientes, also known as Machu Picchu Pueblo, the gateway to Perus most iconic archaeological site. Machu Picchu is believed to have been built around 1450 as a retreat for the Inca emperor Pachacutec. Abandoned just over a century later, likely due to the Spanish Conquest, it remained hidden beneath dense jungle until its rediscovery in 1911. Your guided tour will explore the origins of this remarkable citadel and take you through its most famous monuments. After the visit, return to Aguas Calientes for lunch before boarding the train back to Cusco. Overnight in Cusco.

After breakfast at the hotel, you will be transferred to Cusco airport for your onward flight. This marks the end of your journey through some of Perus most captivating landscapes and historic sites. We hope the experiences and memories you have gathered will stay with you long after your departure. Breakfast is included.