Peru Explorer

The trip starts in Lima today. Those on the group flights from London will

arrive this evening.

This morning has been left free, and in the afternoon we have a tour of

colonial and modern Lima. We visit the modern residential district of Lima

(Miraflores) and then explore the historic downtown area. We will discover

the Plaza de Armas, Basilica Cathedral and Government Palace (also known as

‘House of Pizarro’) as we take a short walk around the colonial centre.

We also visit the incredible Church of San Francisco, which houses one of the

oldest libraries in the Americas and sits on top of a labyrinthine network of

catacombs complete with the bones of Lima's wealthy eighteenth and

nineteenth-century residents. This evening perhaps take a visit to the

bohemian district of Barranco for some local food and a taste of the famous

Pisco Sour, Peru’s national cocktail.

We drive south from Lima today, visiting Pachacamac Fortress, the Incas'

largest coastal city at the time of the conquest. We stop for a late lunch of

fresh seafood at the attractive fishing village of Pucusana. A stroll around

the village where the day's catch is displayed at the market and a boat ride

around the bay (subject to weather conditions) offer great insight into a

contemporary Peruvian coastal town. We continue southwards to the town of

Paracas where we spend the night.

A short drive from our hotel takes us to the port where we board our launch

to visit the world famous Ballestas Islands, a national park which contains

the highest concentration of marine birds in the world. There are sea lions

and numerous species of birds on the islands themselves and we will also see

the Paracas Candelabra, a curious pre-Inca design on the cliff-face, only

recognisable from the sea. We drive on to Nazca in the afternoon and visit

the viewing platforms close to the famous Nazca Lines. These are one of the

world's great archaeological mysteries, consisting of enormous figures and

patterns etched in the desert sand, best seen from the elevated position of

the viewing platforms. There should also be time for optional visits to the

nearby Antonini archaeological museum, a pre-Inca cemetery, or the Nazca

Aqueduct, which gives an insight into the Nazca civilisation's ingenious

subterranean irrigation system.

Today we have a long drive (approx. 10 hrs) south through the coastal

desert, with great views of the dunes and the Pacific Ocean, before heading

inland into the mountains on the road to Arequipa.

Arequipa is a beautiful colonial city set in a fertile oasis, with many

historic buildings characterised by their use of white volcanic stone from

the nearby Misti, whose dramatic cone dominates the town. In the morning we

visit the Cathedral, the Jesuit church of La Compañia and the huge serene

convent of Santa Catalina, which retains typical features from the 16th and

17th centuries and is a peaceful refuge for the nuns who still live here

today.

A spectacular drive takes 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, the sight of the green and fertile terraces of the canyon is a real

contrast to the barren yet beautiful landscapes we have travelled through for

most of the day. This is the first day where we may feel the effects of

altitude – although we do not linger at the top of the pass, we spend the

night at around 3600m and so it is a good idea to take it easy on arrival.

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. Depending on time, we

may take a short walk along farm tracks to learn more about the agriculture

on which the whole region is dependent. After a long day of exploration, an

optional visit to the hot springs near Chivay this evening is a wonderful way

to relax.

Today, we drive through the mountains to Puno on the shores of Lake Titicaca.

En route we have opportunities to see vicuñas before making a short visit to

the unique burial towers (chullpas) of Sillustani. The altitude here (3800m)

makes physical effort very tiring and the evenings are very cold, so taking

time to rest is highly recommended.

We have a full day on and around Lake Titicaca today. In the morning we will

visit a local market in Acora district where the local people still use a

barter system to trade with those living in other areas of the high plateau.

Later in the morning we will take a short walk designed to highlight the

culture of the indigenous groups who inhabit the small villages alongside

the lake.  In the afternoon we will visit the descendants of the Uros People

who live on islands of floating reeds; fishing and weaving remain key

elements of their daily life and save for a few modest concessions to the

modern world, they still live as their ancestors would have done centuries

ago. These days, however, tourism has had a significant economic impact on

their lives.

Today we take a bus ride across the altiplano, the high plains separating the

Andes from the jungles. Although it is quite a long drive (approx. 10hrs), it

is often spectacular. There are scheduled stops to visit some of the most

interesting sites to help break up the day and appreciate the immensity of

the Andean landscapes. These include La Raya Pass (4313m), the watershed and

geographical dividing line between the altiplano and the Vilcanota Valley

where Raqchi Inca temple is located. We arrive in Cuzco (3400m) in the

evening.

This morning we will travel to nearby Piuray Lagoon where will spend the

morning paddle-boarding surrounded by stunning scenery of mountains and

terraced fields.



In the afternoon we’ll enjoy a cooking class, learning all about different

plants and herbs used in Peruvian cooking and how to prepare traditional food

and drink. After our lesson we’ll have time to enjoy a well-deserved dinner

we’ve prepared ourselves!

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,

and Qorikancha – the Sun Temple, located in the Santo Domingo Church and

monastery, are worth a visit. 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.



Outside the town are more Inca ruins, notably the fortress of Sacsayhuaman

where the Inca armies made their last stand against the Conquistadores. Cuzco

is also the gateway to the Sacred Valley of the Incas and should you wish to

visit the sites, your leader can help organise an excursion, including Pisac

Market (optional).



If you fancy something more active then there are an array of other optional

activities available from Cuzco including mountain biking or a combination of

via ferrata and zip-lining in the Sacred Valley.

This morning, we head out of Cuzco to the colourful handicraft market at

Pisac, at the entrance to the Sacred Valley of the Incas. After some free

time to browse the stalls, we take a walking tour of the huge Inca ruins

above the village. We enjoy a traditional 'pachamanca' lunch today, whereby

the food is wrapped up and buried in the earth along with hot stones which

cook it slowly. After lunch, we drive down the valley to Ollantaytambo where

we visit the immense Inca fortress and explore the unique village whose

streets still follow the pre-conquest grid plan.

We have a free morning to explore Ollantaytambo and then make the scenic

train journey through the Urubamba River Valley to Aguas Calientes (approx.

1 hour 30 minutes), arriving in the afternoon. The rest of the day has been

left free to explore at your own leisure. Aguas Calientes is a bustling town

with a large handicraft market (although prices here are at a premium in

comparison to Pisac or Cuzco markets).



There are some nearby hot springs, however they are often overcrowded and the

water quality suffers as a result, therefore we don't recommend visiting

them.

In order to beat the day-trippers arriving from Cuzco and reach the ruins as

early as possible, a very early start is required to queue for Machu Picchu;

only government-registered buses can make the 30-minute drive up the winding

road to the site entrance and during high season (May-October) queues can be

hours long. 



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. 



New regulations for visiting Machu Picchu are now fully enforced; of the

three possible visiting slots, Exodus will purchase the morning slot from

06:00 until 12:00 (unless unavailable), you will be limited to a maximum of

four hours within the site and must be accompanied by a guide. There will

also be three set routes to follow around Machu Picchu; Exodus selects the

most comprehensive route. Please note that exploring the ruins involves a

reasonable amount of walking, including up and down steep and uneven stone

steps. 



We catch an afternoon train back to Ollantaytambo (1hr 30 mins) and continue

by private bus to Cuzco (2hrs 30 mins).

We have a full-day tour combining the highlights in and around the city.

Outside the town are Inca ruins, notably the fortress of Sacsayhuaman where

the Inca armies made their last stand against the Conquistadores. In the

centre, we visit the Plaza de Armas, and many examples of the famous Inca

stonework like those of the Qoricancha Sun Temple located in the Santo

Domingo church and Monastery.

We leave Cuzco early today as we take a short flight to Puerto Maldonado

(please note that due to poor flight availability, on some departures this

flight will connect through Lima and be considerably longer), a small town in

the rainforest. On arrival, we transfer to the dock for a boat trip to our

lodge in the Tambopata Reserve – this journey takes between 1½ and 3

hours depending on which lodge we stay in. On the way, we may see caimans,

river turtles and waterfowl. After some time to settle in, we will take a

short walk along the forest trails near the lodge to look for nocturnal

animals.

Activities today will vary according to the lodge used, but will generally

include a mixture of walks along the forest trails, time spent in canoes to

explore rainforest lakes, and the opportunity to go high into the canopy for

a completely different view of the forest. The resident guides are normally

around in the evening to answer questions, and from some lodges (not all)

there is the option to take a canoe out onto the river in search of caiman by

torchlight.

We return to Puerto Maldonado after breakfast today and board our flight back

to Lima. Those who have booked a flight inclusive package through Exodus

depart Lima this evening and arrive into London the following afternoon. For

land only clients, the tour ends at Lima airport. If booking an onwards

flight from Lima today please ensure that it does not depart before 20:00hrs.