South Peru Exploration

Upon arrival at Lima Airport, a representative will meet you and transfer you to your hotel in the city. Lima, Perus capital, is a vibrant metropolis blending modern life with rich history, currently experiencing dynamic cultural and economic growth. You may choose to rest and recover from your journey or explore the city at your leisure to get your first impression of Limas bustling atmosphere. Alternatively, you can opt for an evening excursion to the Magic Water Circuit a spectacular display of fountains recognised by Guinness World Records as the largest of its kind. This private tour includes pick-up and drop-off, a bilingual guide, admission to the park, and dinner at a local restaurant. Please note this option is not available on Sundays or Mondays and departs at 17:30, lasting approximately four hours. Overnight stay is in Lima.

After breakfast at the hotel, we explore Limas historic centre, a UNESCO World Heritage Site rich in colonial architecture. Our tour begins in the colonial downtown, where we visit the Main Square to admire the impressive Spanish Empire-era buildings. We then see Lima Cathedral, dating back to the 16th century, followed by Casa Aliagaa colonial mansion granted by Francisco Pizarro to Captain Jeronimo de Aliaga, still owned by the same family today. Next, we head to the traditional district of Pueblo Libre to visit the Larco Museum, housed in a restored viceregal mansion built atop a 7th-century pre-Columbian pyramid. The museum features an extensive collection of pre-Hispanic gold and silver artefacts, including pieces of erotic art. The afternoon is yours to enjoy at leisure. Overnight in Lima.

After breakfast at your hotel, transfer to Lima airport for your domestic flight to Cusco, which must arrive by 10:30 to allow time for the days activities. Upon arrival in Cusco, you will be transferred to your hotel. In the afternoon, we begin our tour at Coricancha, the Temple of the Sun, originally built by Inca Pachacuti and later incorporated into the Santo Domingo Convent by the Spanish. Next, visit Cuscos Cathedral, the dominant feature of the Main Square, followed by Sacsayhuamn, a vast Inca fortress renowned for its precisely fitted massive stones. We continue to Qenqo, an archaeological site used for agricultural rituals, before concluding at Puka Pukara, a red fort located seven kilometres from the city, believed to have served a military purpose and as a resting place for the Inca entourage. Return to your hotel in the evening to rest ahead of the next days adventures. Overnight in Cusco.

After breakfast, we collect you from your hotel in Cusco for a morning visit to Chinchero, a traditional Andean town perched high above the Sacred Valley. The local community preserves Inca weaving techniques and customs, which you can see reflected in their clothing and daily life. Explore the archaeological remains and the seventeenth-century church, one of Perus earliest Catholic buildings. Next, we transfer to the Living Museum of Yucay, where youll witness authentic demonstrations of traditional Andean crafts such as textile weaving, adobe construction, pottery, and silverwork, recreated as they were in Inca times. The museum is also home to llamas, sheep, and alpacas, which you can feed. Later, arrive in Ollantaytambo, a town continuously inhabited since Inca times. Visit the archaeological site and climb the impressive fortress built against the mountainside. Enjoy lunch at a local restaurant offering refined Andean cuisine that captures the spirit of the Sacred Valley. Afterward, we return you to your hotel for an overnight stay in the Sacred Valley. On Sundays, the itinerary includes a visit to the local market.

After breakfast, we transfer you to Ollanta Station to board the train to Aguas Calientes, the gateway to Machu Picchu. The town offers a handicrafts market, a variety of restaurants, and accommodation options for those wishing to stay overnight close to the mountain and visit the site early the next day. Upon arrival, we take a short bus ride to Machu Picchu, an extraordinary example of Inca engineering and architecture. This ancient sanctuary, built as a retreat for Inca Pachacuti, is recognised as a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the New Seven Wonders of the World. After exploring the citadel, we return by bus to Aguas Calientes, where you will enjoy a delicious lunch followed by free time in the afternoon. Overnight is in Aguas Calientes.

After breakfast, enjoy a full day at leisure in Aguas Calientes. We suggest returning to Machu Picchu to explore furtheroptional extras include a second entrance ticket and bus transfers between Aguas Calientes and the citadel, subject to availability. You might visit Intipunku, the Sun Gate that once served as a control point, or climb Huayna Picchu for panoramic views (entrance and transport also optional and subject to space). In the afternoon, transfer to Aguas Calientes train station for your journey back to Ollanta, where you will be met and transferred to your hotel in Cusco for overnight.

After breakfast at the hotel, we transfer to the bus station to begin our journey to Puno. Our first stop is Andahuaylillas, a town 40 kilometres from Cusco, home to the Church of Andahuaylillasoften called the Sistine Chapel of America for its remarkable artwork. We then continue to Racchi to visit the Wiracocha Temple, an impressive rectangular structure measuring 30 metres wide by 20 metres high. Lunch is served in Sicuani, followed by a brief stop at La Raya, the highest point on the route between Cusco and Puno, standing at over 4,313 metres above sea level. Next, we visit Pucara, known for its Lithic Museum and as the site of the first urban settlement in the lacustrine highlands, dating from 100 to 300 AD. Finally, we complete the journey to Puno, where a representative will assist you with hotel check-in. Overnight in Puno.

After breakfast at the hotel, we transfer you to Punos lakeside port to board a boat bound for the floating islands of the Uros. These remarkable islands are man-made from totora reeds that grow in Lake Titicaca, and the Uros people continue to live in traditional reed houses, cooking outdoors to reduce fire risk. Following an hour and a half boat journey, we continue to Taquile Island, once part of the Inca Empire, where the cultural heritage remains visible in the architecture. Upon arrival, we provide an introduction to the island and you will experience a local cultural activity. After a delicious lunch, we return to Puno for your overnight stay.

After breakfast at the hotel, you will be transferred to Puno Airport by private transport. This concludes your time in Puno and prepares you for your onward journey.