Best of Peru - Premium Adventure

Welcome to Peru! Your adventure starts at our hotel in the Miraflores district of Lima. The welcome briefing will be held this evening, and after that you'll get your first taste of Peruvian cuisine at a seafront restaurant.

We have an early start today for our flight to Arequipa, known as the 'White City' due to the pale volcanic stone used to construct many of its fine colonial buildings. This picturesque city is surrounded by 6000m volcanoes, including the near-perfect cone of El Misti. Lunch will be eaten at a typical Arequipa “Picanteria” (watch the spice!). Our afternoon city tour has us exploring the historic centre of Arequipa, the “Plaza de Armas” (Main Square) and finishes at the colourful and serene Santa Catalina convent that was built in 1580 and still cared for by the nuns who reside within.

A spectacular drive over the Andean high plains, known as the Altiplano brings us to the Colca Canyon, one of the world's deepest canyons. On the way we pass volcanoes and will almost certainly see vicuñas in the highlands before we cross the Patapampa Pass (4910m) which marks the descent into the canyon itself. As we take the winding road to the town of Chivay for a short stop, the sight of the green and fertile terraces of the canyon is a real contrast to the barren yet beautiful landscapes of the Altiplano. This is the first day where we may feel the effects of altitude. We do not linger at the top of the pass, but will spend the night at around 3600m, so it is a good idea to take it easy on arrival and enjoy the natural hot springs at Colca Lodge. Overlooking the Colca River, the Colca Lodge Spa & Hot Springs is a jaw-dropping location to spend the next two nights.

Today we have a full day exploring the Colca Canyon, starting with a visit to the Cruz del Condor, the best place to see the mighty Andean condors as they glide on the morning thermals. We also see ancient tombs which line the cliffs on one side of the canyon and make stops in the villages along the way which house several interesting colonial churches. In the afternoon, our location of Colca Lodge allows us to set out on foot to visit the nearby pre-Incan ruins of Uyo Uyo. Afterwards it is back to the lodge for another rejuvenating soak in the natural thermal pools before dinner.

Today, we drive through the high mountain plains to Puno on the shores of Lake Titicaca. En route we have opportunities to spot herds of vicuñas before making a short visit to the unique pre-Inca burial towers (chullpas) of Sillustani. Our hotel tonight is ideally situated on the shores of Lake Titicaca and the perfect place to watch sunset over the highest navigable lake in the world.

A full day on Lake Titicaca today as we visit the floating islands of Uros and Taquile. First, we take a boat to Uros Island. The Uros have been living on rafts of reeds for centuries, and although many have now moved to the mainland there are still a couple of thousand who remain on the islands which are anchored close to Puno. A reasonable amount of their income is now provided by strictly regulated tourism, but they also still fish the lake and engage in barter with communities on the mainland to obtain essential daily items.



Afterwards, we visit Taquile Island, home to a community known for their remarkable “male only” weavers and traditional lifestyle. The panoramic views of the lake from the island are incredible, and it is often possible to see the snow-capped peaks of the Cordillera Real in the distance.

In the morning we settle in for a relaxing journey across the stark yet beautiful altiplano, which separates the Andes from the jungle. On the way to Cusco we make some stops to stretch our legs, visit some of the most interesting sites and have lunch. We arrive in Cuzco (3400m) this afternoon, with time to have an introductory walking tour of this historic city which features both Inca and Colonial architecture.

This morning we explore the heart of the Inca Empire, seeing Cusco’s highlights both in and above the city. In the centre, the Cusco Cathedral and Qoricancha (Sun Temple of the Incas) feature arguably the finest example of Inca stonecraft. On the hill overlooking Cusco, we visit the monolithic stone fortress site of Sacsayhuaman, where the Incan armies made their last stand against the Conquistadores. As we head down into the Sacred Valley to Ollantaytambo, we visit the immense Incan fortress and explore this unique village, where many streets and facades remain unchanged and continuously inhabited since Inca times.

We are up early this morning for our scenic train journey through the Urubamba River Valley (approx. 1 hour 20 minutes) to KM 104 where we disembark, cross the river, and start our full day Inca Trail trek to Machu Picchu. Our uphill efforts will be rewarded with spectacular views and access to the attractive ruins of Wiñay Wayna (Forever Young), to enjoy our box lunch. From here a relatively flat section of trail brings us past wild orchids to the Inti Punku (Sun Gate), where we get our first full sight of Machu Picchu (Old Peak), with Huayna Picchu (Young Peak) rising picture perfect behind. Our afternoon arrival usually yields great photo opportunities as we casually descend into the ruins complex. With our full tour tomorrow, we exit the site and board the bus to Aguas Calientes to enjoy a well-earned meal, shower and a comfortable bed for the night in preparation for our early return to Machu Picchu.

In order to beat the day-trippers arriving from Cuzco and reach the ruins as early as possible, we book early morning access timed bus and entry tickets to Machu Picchu.



Machu Picchu is one of the architectural and engineering marvels of the ancient world and what makes it all the more dramatic is its mountain backdrop of staggering immensity. The Spaniards never found it; the Incas left no records of it, and so Machu Picchu remained a great enigma, a city lost for centuries in the jungle until it was rediscovered in 1911 by the American historian Hiram Bingham.



After our tour we are back down to catch our afternoon train back to Ollantaytambo (1hr 30 mins) with a short drive to our hotel in the Sacred Valley to relax and celebrate our Machu Picchu adventure.

This morning we depart the scenic Sacred Valley as we head up to the traditional weaving community of Chincheros. Along with amazing views of the valley and Vilcabamba mountain range, at Chincheros we have the unique cultural opportunity to enjoy a traditional Andean 'pachamanca' lunch, which is hosted by and supports the local community. This is a real culinary treat whereby the food is wrapped up and buried in the earth along with hot stones which cook it slowly. After our pachamanca lunch, we return to Cusco for time on your own.

Today has been left free for exploring Cuzco, one of South America's most beautiful cities. The Plaza de Armas is a fantastic spot for people-watching. The Mercado San Pedro is the place to try some local produce and there are many handicraft markets to shop for souvenirs such as alpaca jumpers and scarves. If you fancy something more active then there is an array of other optional activities available from Cuzco including paddle-boarding on a lake, mountain biking, or a combination of via ferrata and zip-lining in the Sacred Valley.

We leave Cuzco early today and take the short flight to Puerto Maldonado. Upon arrival we transfer to the riverfront to enjoy a 25minute boat ride along the Madre de Dios River to reach our jungle accommodation at the Inkaterra Hacienda Concepcion lodge, located next to the protected Tambopata National Reserve. Tambopata National Reserve is home to a vast number of animal species, as well as a variety of plant life that is greater than almost anywhere in the world. After lunch we have the option to hike into the rainforest with our expert guide who will introduce us to the amazing variety of Amazon flora and fauna. We continue the exploration and take a twilight river cruise viewing nocturnal creatures as they awake.

Todays varied activities will generally include a mixture of expertly guided walks along the forest trails, or time spent in canoes to explore Lake Sandoval. This serene lake is home to thousands of species of birds, endangered Giant River otter, Red Howler monkeys, Red-bellied macaws, anacondas, Side-neck turtles and Black caimans. We also have the opportunity to go high into the canopy for a completely different view of the forest via a network of Canopy Walkways. An evening walk is also offered to observe the secret wildlife activity under darkness while exploring the rainforest by night.

Enjoy your last morning waking to the cacophony of jungle sounds before we set off by boat from the lodge, visiting the Butterfly House before our departure flight from Puerto Maldonado back to Lima. Upon arrival to Lima, we transfer to our hotel in Miraflores and the hustle and bustle of the city. Tonight, we have a special farewell dinner in Lima at fantastic restaurant at the base of the pre-Incan site of Huaca Pucllana.

The trip comes to an end today after breakfast and it's time to bid Peru and the rest of the group goodbye. Transfers to Lima Airport are available for all flight inclusive clients in time for the group flight today.