Day 1
Lima
Begin your journey in Lima, where you’ll be met by your local host and transferred to your hotel in the trendy district of Miraflores. In the evening you’ll meet with your Travel Director and fellow travellers for a Welcome Reception at 6pm.
Food included at Welcome Reception
Overnight: Novotel Lima San Isidro or similar
Day 2
Lima
Today you’ll get to explore more of the city. The morning is free for you to wander around at leisure, before joining a local specialist for a sightseeing tour through Lima’s colonial architecture and attractions, including the Church of San Francisco’s hidden catacombs, and the UNESCO-listed Historic Centre.
Later on, you’ll enjoy a beautiful walk through Miraflores, checking out the stylish shops and art exhibitions. There are a couple of optional excursions you could embark on, including a workshop at the Choco Museum to learn all about the Peruvian chocolate making process, or a buffet-style dinner at La Dama Juana Restaurant alongside a vibrant Folklore Show. The Magic Circuit of the Water is a great optional activity too, which involves exploring the world’s largest fountain complex.
Breakfast included.
Overnight: Novotel Lima San Isidro or similar
Day 3
Lima – Cusco – Sacred Valley
Start the day with a short flight to Cusco, which is the gateway to the fascinating Sacred Valley. Once there, you’ll be greeted by a Shaman (a person who is said to have access to the world of good and evil spirits), who will perform a special ceremony for you. Next up is a Be My Guest lunch, where you’ll dine with local hosts and learn all about the production of Giant White Corn.
In the afternoon, you’ll be treated to a local Marinera dance and to see the Peruvian Paso horses, before heading to a Pisac handicraft market for a bit of shopping. Be sure to try a swig of chica – the corn beer that has become the favourite drink of the Andes.
Breakfast, lunch and dinner included.
Overnight: Aranwa Sacred Valley Hotel & Wellness or similar
Day 4
Sacred Valley
Lunchtime today will be spent connecting with locals and learning about the production of Giant White Corn, all the while enjoying Marinera dance displays and local musicians. In the evening, you'll meet with Peter Frost, a local writer, photographer and independent scholar who has journeyed through the Andes and Amazon for 47 years. His work includes located and investigating the once unknown Inca and pre-Inca site of Qoriwayrachina, and so this is will be a fascinating experience.
Breakfast and dinner included.
Overnight: Aranwa Sacred Valley Hotel & Wellness or similar
Day 5
Sacred Valley – Machu Picchu
You’ll begin your journey to Machu Picchu via Ollantaytambo, where you’ll board a Vistadome train and travel to the Lost City in the Clouds. Once there, you’ll have plenty of time to discover the ancient ruins, joining your local specialist as you explore the iconic Temple of the Sun, the House of the Priest, the Intihuatana, and the Sacred Plaza.
Breakfast and dinner included (plus a snack on the Vistadome train)
Overnight: Sumaq Machu Picchu or similar
Day 6
Machu Picchu – Cusco
Today will be spent experiencing more of Machu Picchu, giving you more time to see the hilltop fortress at your own pace. Afterwards, you’ll head back to Sacred Valley via train, with a stop over to learn about the natural dyeing techniques used by Peru’s native weavers. Once in Cusco, you’ll transfer to your home for the night, a centuries-old mansion.
Breakfast included.
Overnight: Hotel Novotel Cusco or similar
Day 7
Cusco
This will be an interesting day full of great sights. Begin with an exploration of the UNESCO-listed Sacsayhuaman fortress that offers sensational views of the city, before joining a tour of Cusco’s colonial centre including the baroque Cathedral on the Plaza de Armas and the district of San Blas.
A few hours later, you’ll be joined by another local specialist who will show you the 13th century Incan settlement of Qoriwayrachina. The rest of the afternoon is free for you to enjoy, before choosing from a selection of local restaurants.
With your free hours in the afternoon, you could embark on an optional excursion. You could visit the Inca agricultural greenhouse Moray and the charming salt mining village of Maras – learning ancient salt mining techniques with local villages, or you could visit the Piquillacta Ruins and Andahuaylillas Church.
Breakfast included.
Overnight: Novotel or similar
Day 8
Cusco – Juliaca – Puno
Your first port of call is a flight to Juliaca, where you’ll be met by a local specialist for a tour and talk about the daily life on this Peruvian altiplano. After a tasty lunch, you’ll venture to Sillustani, a fascinating pre-Incan burial ground that resides on the shores of Lake Umayo. Here, you’ll discover the soaring above-ground tombs (chullpas), before moving on to Puno. Known as the birthplace of the sun, this city is located along the shores of Lake Titicaca.
Breakfast and lunch included.
Overnight: GHL Hotel Lago Titicaca or similar
Day 9
Lake Titicaca
Today you’ll embark on a scenic cruise of Lake Titicaca, exploring the waters with a local specialist and sailing past floating islands built with reeds by the Uros Indians. Along the way you’ll come across Taquile Island, where you’ll enjoy a private tour to learn more about their tradition of weaving and knitting, as well as getting an insight into their unique way of life. Dinner will be at a lovely local restaurant in Puno.
Breakfast, lunch and dinner included.
Overnight: GHL Hotel Lago Titicaca or similar
Day 10
Puno – Juliaca – Lima
This morning we return to Lima, enjoying an afternoon at leisure after our flight. Enjoy time on your own to explore the capital of Peru, settled on the country's arid Pacific coast. We’ll join a Local Specialist and Dive Into Culture this evening, visiting one of Lima's most renowned museums after dark - the Larco Museum. Admire the pre-Columbian artefacts that reveal insights into the cultures of ancient Peru. Then, sit down to a gourmet Farewell Dinner filled with Peruvian flavours as you overlook the museum's beautiful gardens.
Breakfast and farewell dinner included.
Overnight: Novotel Lima San Isidro or similar
Day 11
Depart Lima - Tour ends
For now it’s time to say a fond hasta luego to Lima and transfer to the airport for your flight home, or consider extending your stay
Breakfast included.
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