Peru Lives

Overview

Sixteen days through the highlights of Peru: colonial Lima, the floating islands of Lake Titicaca, Cusco and the Sacred Valley of the Incas, Machu Picchu, the colours of Rainbow Mountain, the Amazon rainforest, and the desert coast with the Ballestas Islands and the Huacachina oasis.

You visit: Lima → Puno → Cusco → Sacred Valley → Machu Picchu → Puerto Maldonado → Paracas → Ica → Lima

Highlights

• Machu Picchu and the Sacred Valley
• The Uros floating islands on Lake Titicaca
• Rainbow Mountain, at 5,033 m

Day by day

1. Day 1Arrive in Lima

   Met at the airport and taken to your hotel.

2. Day 2Lima

   A tour of Lima, the capital of Peru, founded by the Spanish in 1535. In the historic centre: the Government Palace, the Cathedral, the Archbishop’s Palace and the Palace of the Americas, with the stone facades and wooden balconies of the colonial houses. Then the Huaca Pucllana, a great ceremonial centre of the ancient Lima culture, and the residential districts around Central Park.

3. Day 3Lima to Puno

   Flight to Juliaca. You are met and taken to your hotel in Puno, on Lake Titicaca.

4. Day 4Uros and Taquile Islands

   At 7:00, a traditional boat across Lake Titicaca, the highest navigable lake in the world (3,812 m). About 45 minutes on the Uros floating islands, home to some 350 families, with visits to two islands, then on to Taquile Island. Lunch included.

5. Day 5Puno to Cusco

   Tourist bus to Cusco, stopping at the archaeological sites of Pukara, the Raqchi temple and Andahuaylillas. Lunch and entrance fees included.

6. Day 6Cusco

   A guided tour of the Cathedral, known for its architecture and its Cusco School paintings, the Church of Santo Domingo, and the Inca sites of Sacsayhuamán, Q’enqo and Tambomachay.

7. Day 7Sacred Valley

   A full day in the Sacred Valley of the Incas: the Chinchero market, where Andean families sell ceramics and textiles, the Maras salt pans, the Inca farming terraces of Moray, a buffet lunch, and Ollantaytambo. Night in the Sacred Valley.

8. Day 8Machu Picchu

   Train from Ollantaytambo (about 2.5 hours), then a 20-minute bus up to Machu Picchu, the Inca citadel and Peru’s most important archaeological site, for a guided visit. Lunch included. Night in Aguas Calientes.

9. Day 9Machu Picchu to Cusco

   A free day. We recommend a second visit to Machu Picchu (not included). Return to Cusco later in the day.

10. Day 10Rainbow Mountain

    An early drive to Pitumarca and the village of Quesoyuni, then a 2-hour hike to Rainbow Mountain (Vinicunca), at 5,033 m, watching its colours change with the light. Lunch included.

11. Day 11Cusco to the Amazon

    Flight to Puerto Maldonado and a 25-minute boat ride to your rainforest lodge (Inkaterra Hacienda Concepción or Reserva Amazónica). A walk on the Concepción trails, then a river trip at dusk as the night animals wake.

12. Day 12Amazon rainforest

    A rainforest hike and a boat trip on the clear waters of Lake Sandoval, the Inkaterra Canopy Walkway, and a night jungle walk. Breakfast, lunch and dinner included.

13. Day 13Back to Lima

    By boat to the butterfly garden, then the flight from Puerto Maldonado to Lima.

14. Day 14Paracas and Ica

    An early drive to Paracas and a boat trip to the Ballestas Islands, past the Candelabra geoglyph, to see Humboldt penguins and seabirds. On to Ica and the Huacachina oasis, with dune buggies and sandboarding.

15. Day 15Ica to Lima

    A visit to Casa de Tejas Rosalía, with a class making tejas, the local sugar-coated sweets, and wine tasting with lunch at Hacienda Tacama. Back to Lima.

16. Day 16Departure

    Transfer to the airport for your flight home.

Illustrative itinerary. Final details are confirmed in your written quotation.

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