Grand Tour of Peru & the Amazon
Grand Tour of Peru & the Amazon
Grand Tour of Peru & the Amazon
15 Days Starting and ending in United Kingdom
Visiting: Bogotá, Lima, Arequipa, Chivay, Puno, Lake Titicaca, Cusco, Pisac, Sacred Valley, Machu Picchu, Puerto Maldonado, Madre de Dios
Tour operator:
Tour code:
PUJ
Guide Type:
Fully Guided
Group size:
1 - 50
Physical rating:
Please contact Riviera Travel if you have any concerns regarding the suitability of the holiday due to reduced mobility.
Age range:
9-99
Special diets catered:
Vegetarians, Please contact Riviera Travel with specific dietary requests.
Tour operated in:
EnglishTrip Styles:
Interests:
Activities:
From:
$4966 (USD) including Flights from the UKTourhub Members Discount - Sign In
Tour Overview
Explore the extraordinary civilization of the Incas, the colonial heritage of the Spanish Conquistadors and the colourful culture of present-day Peru &Â Experience the Peruvian Amazon basin with a two-night stay at an eco-lodge in the jungle.
Peru is without doubt the most intriguing and fascinating of all South American countries. The incredible remains of the Inca civilization are a huge draw and combined with its colonial architecture, the stunning vistas of the jagged peaks of the Andes, the Amazonian jungle, its superb cuisine and the warmth of the Peruvians themselves, this is one of the most captivating destinations in the world!
Firstly, its scenery is world-class: the Andes, the second highest mountain range in the world rising to a jaw-dropping 20,000 feet, run like a backbone down the entire country. Snow-clad volcanoes pierce the sky, whilst torrential rivers surge through rocky valleys from the numerous glaciers. At lower altitudes is the altiplano, a timeless plateau covered with tufts of wiry grass and studded with occasional but distinctive low thatched houses of the indigenous Indians. Completing the scene are small herds of instantly recognisable llama, whilst above, giant condors soar on the rising thermals.
Lake Titicaca is the highest navigable lake in the world. At 13,000 feet the luminescent light and clear air cause the lake to emit a stunning sapphire-blue colour and its infinite vastness stretches into the horizon. With the ever-present Andes as the backdrop, the dark greens of the altiplano plunge into the deep waters whilst an eerily haunting silence pervades; it exudes an almost other-worldly natural beauty. The lake itself is home to the Uros, an Indian people who live much as they have always done, on extensive floating islands constructed from reeds.
Peru, in all our minds though, is indivisible from the fabled Incas, that remarkable people who, by the early 16th century had created the greatest empire in the then world. Stretching from Colombia to Chile, amazingly without the benefit of writing, ferrous metals, horses, currency or wheels. The Incas were the last of dozens of pre-Colombian civilisations, but how did a tiny group of 160 Spaniards manage to conquer this highly organised and sophisticated society of 32 million people? We visit the sites of battles, palaces and the most sacred temples of the Incas answering this question and many others.
We stay a few days in Cusco, the oldest inhabited city in the Americas. As Peru's undisputed archaeological capital, surrounded by exceptionally beautiful Andean countryside, it is one of South America's most charming cities. It is a curious blend of old and new with immense, virtually earthquake-proof Inca walls lining cobbled streets and forming the foundations of some gorgeous colonial buildings, reminiscent of medieval Spain. We see its 16th century cathedral, fabulous art and opulent treasure collections, the main square where the conquistadors were almost overwhelmed and the last Inca emperor was executed in a public display of Spanish supremacy.
Highlights
Itinerary
Day 1 : Departure
Location: Bogotá, Lima
Accommodation: Overnight Flight
Meals Included: No Meals
Arrive at the airport for your overnight flight to Lima, via Bogota.
Day 2 : Arrival In Lima
Location: Lima
Accommodation: Hotel
Accommodation Name: Casa Andina Select Miraflores
Meals Included: No Meals
After checking in, this afternoon we enjoy a city tour, visiting Lima’s most important colonial sites. You will see the Presidential Palace, the Plaza del Armas, Lima’s central square, surrounded by colonial-era buildings in the central UNESCO listed area of the city. We will also visit the Casa Aliaga one of Lima’s bestknown colonial mansions built by Pizarro for one of his lieutenants in the 16th century.Â
Day 3 : Arrival In Arequipa
Location: Arequipa
Accommodation: Hotel
Accommodation Name: Casa Andina Select Arequipa
Meals Included: Breakfast
Transfer straight on to a domestic flight to the beautiful colonial city of Arequipa. The rest of
the day is yours to relax.
Day 4 : Arequipa
Location: Arequipa
Accommodation: Hotel
Accommodation Name: Casa Andina Select Arequipa
Meals Included: Breakfast
Situated at an altitude of 7,660ft, Arequipa is Peru’s second-largest city and a good place to start acclimatising to the higher altitude. Its skyline is dominated by a trio of spectacular volcanoes – in fact many buildings are constructed from volcanic sillar rock, the hue of which gives Arequipa its ‘White City’ moniker.
After breakfast we set out on a tour that begins at the Carmen Alto viewpoint, which offers spectacular views of the city. We head through the Yanahuara quarter with its cobbled streets and beautiful mestizo baroque church dating from 1750. We then head downtown to Arequipa’s UNESCO-listed historic centre and pretty Plaza des Armas, which features the 17th century baroque Jesuit church of La Compáñia. We then head across the plaza to the cathedral, a grand piece of colonial architecture. With 12 giant marble columns, a high vaulted ceiling, the cathedral is impressive on its own, but is given further dramatic emphasis when viewed against the backdrop of the three mighty snow-capped volcanoes. We move on to the Monastery of Santa Catalina, founded by the Spanish in 1580 for the nuns of the Order of Saint Catherine of Siena.
The afternoon is at leisure, giving you the opportunity to browse the local craft marketor further explore the pretty streets of dazzling colonial buildings. Try locally caught trout cooked on a hot stone, the sweetest corn on the cob you’ll ever taste or even an alpaca steak, all washed down with a pisco sour, of course.
Day 5 : Colca
Location: Chivay
Accommodation: Hotel
Accommodation Name: Casa Andina Standard Colca
Meals Included: Breakfast
After breakfast we head north to Colca, site of one of the world’s deepest canyons. As we pass through the Pampa Cañahuas Reserve we see desert landscapes, exotic rock formations and grasslands populated by vicuñas, llamas and Andean deer. We climb even further to over 12,000ft and the Pampa de Toccra, a plain featuring a lake where pink flamingos reside in season. The trip features several jaw-dropping viewpoints, including the Mirador de los Andes at Patapampa – at over 16,000ft above sea level the air here is thin but the view of the volcanoes around Arequipa is simply jaw dropping. In the afternoon we reach Chivay (alt.11,900ft), a small town near Colca Canyon.
Day 6 : Colca Canyon
Location: Puno
Accommodation: Hotel
Accommodation Name: Casa Andina Standard Colca
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch
Today we head to Condor Cross for some magnificent views of the Colca Canyon. Prepare to be amazed, the canyon is more than twice the depth of the Grand Canyon and is one of Peru’s most popular sights. This is also where you can get some amazing close-up views of one of the world’s most spectacular birds in flight – the Andean Condor. The Colca Canyon region is one of the last remaining habitats of this endangered giant vulture, which has a wingspan of up to 10ft. At around midday we continue eastwards to Puno on Lake Titicaca, where we stay two nights overlooking the lake. A packed lunch is included today.Â
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Day 7 : Lake Titicaca
Location: Lake Titicaca
Accommodation: Hotel
Accommodation Name: GHL Lago Titicaca Hotel
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch
The panorama of Lake Titicaca must be seen to be believed. Reflecting the blue sky above, is a fabulous deep blue expanse of water stretching as far as the eye can see. After breakfast we board our private motor launch and visit the famous floating Uros Islands where the indigenous communities, living much as they always have, construct these islands using many layers of totora reeds. We then visit the island of Taquile, further into the lake and famed for the highest quality knitwear in Peru. It’s very much a typical village, with no roads or electricity, where the Uros people proudly still adhere to their traditional culture and dress. Lunch is included in Taquile.Â
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Day 8 : Cusco
Location: Cusco
Accommodation: Hotel
Accommodation Name: Casa Andina Premium Valle Sagrado Hotel
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch
This morning we say goodbye to Lake Titicaca and head northwards to Cusco. We firstly drive
through the altiplano, the high-altitude Andean plateau observing small herds of llama, alpaca and the low mud-brick, thatch-roofed houses of the local farmers. As the scenery slips by, we start climbing gradually towards La Raya, at 14,170ft, the highest point on this stunning journey.
After our included lunch, we also visit the fascinating church of the Andahuayillas, known as the Sistine Chapel of the America’s due to the high quality of its artwork, arriving in Cusco in the late afternoon.Â
Day 9 : Cusco
Location: Cusco
Accommodation: Hotel
Accommodation Name: Casa Andina Premium Valle Sagrado Hotel
Meals Included: Breakfast
After breakfast we have a tour of Cusco, one of the most beautiful cities in South America, a heady mixture of traditional colonial architecture interspersed with fascinating Inca remains. Today it is the site of three churches, including the 16th century cathedral, so huge it took 100 years to complete.
We then visit the Qorichancha, the Incas’ principle temple to the sun. This was the ‘navel’ of the Inca world, originally covered in sheets of pure gold and contained the Incas’ most sacred object, the golden disc of the sun.
Our final Inca site is the extraordinary Sachsayhuaman with three vast megalithic
walls, a staggering thousand feet long and with the largest blocks of stone ever found in Inca
structures, all moved with no wheels. This was also the site of the final epic four-day last stand of the Inca rebellion. Had the conquistadors lost, the history of South America could have
been quite different.
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Day 10 : Pisac & Sacred Valley
Location: Pisac, Sacred Valley
Accommodation: Hotel
Accommodation Name: Casa Andina Premium Valle Sagrado Hotel
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch
The Sacred Valley was the empire’s breadbasket, spiritual centre and home to some of its most
iconic symbols. Its wide fertile plain, with ancient terraces hugging the valley sides and the imposing peaks of the Andes beyond is truly an awesome sight.
Firstly we visit Pisac, famous for its dominating fortress and colourful indigenous market. Every kind of local handicraft is available – from vibrant hand-made rugs and ponchos in bright reds and yellows, to local ceramics and high quality llama and alpaca knitwear.
After an included lunch we visit the massive fortress and temple of Ollantaytambo. Built along a dominant rocky bluff, and was the site of a rare Conquistador defeat. You can examine the astonishingly intricate Inca stonework – its beauty and precision unique in the world and all hand-crafted using stone tools. We return by train to the Urumbamba Valley, known as the ‘Sacred Valley of the Incas.’
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Day 11 : Machu Picchu
Location: Machu Picchu
Accommodation: Hotel
Accommodation Name: Casa Andina Premium Valle Sagrado Hotel
Meals Included: Breakfast
Today we board the specially constructed Explorer train from Ollaytambo station, taking us on one of the world’s most spectacular rail journeys through the narrow Urubamba river gorge to the legendary Machu Picchu. As we descend, the scenery changes from semi-arid brush and cactus to dense, lush rainforest. Below us, the river rushes headlong into numerous rapids whilst above, the precipitous sides of the gorge rise to dizzying heights.
The ‘Lost City of the Incas’ suddenly and magically appears before you, its wonder and mystique astounds - the only Inca settlement never discovered or destroyed by the Spanish. Set on a ridge overlooking the gorge of the Urubamba River, it was rediscovered in 1910 by Hiram Bingham, an American explorer. No one knows why it was built in such an inaccessible spot or why it was mysteriously abandoned. As you walk through its gates, temples and houses, our guide will explain the significance of the location in relation to the equinoxes and how central mountain-worship was to the Incas.Â
Day 12 : Amazon
Location: Cusco, Puerto Maldonado
Accommodation: Lodge
Accommodation Name: Inkaterra Hacienda Concepcion Lodge
Meals Included: Breakfast
This morning you begin your journey into the vast Amazon rainforest with a short flight from Cusco to Puerto Madonaldo. We make our way to the Madre de Dios River where our adventure starts with a 25-minute ride by motorised canoe to the lodge. After lunch, we take a guided walk through the local nature trails, where you’ll discover the differences between primary and secondary rainforest, its complex ecosystem and the many fascinating uses of its plant life. At dusk, we’ll navigate the river by motorised
canoe, to spot nocturnal animals’ behaviour and the southern constellations above us.Â
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Day 13 : Amazon
Location: Madre de Dios
Accommodation: Lodge
Accommodation Name: Inkaterra Hacienda Concepcion Lodge
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch
Today you will understand why the Madre de Dios is called the biodiversity capital of Peru! We will use the motorised canoes to cross mirror-like oxbow lakes and visit the Tambopata National Reserve, home to the endangered giant river otter, black caiman, and one of the world’s biggest fresh water scaled fish, the paiche, as well as blue and yellow macaw and red howler monkeys.
After a buffet lunch back at the lodge, we’ll enjoy a unique view of the rainforest from a canopy walkway. Ascend one of the two 98-foot towers and cross the 7 hanging bridges that connect the treetops, with the chance to watch white-throated toucans, woodpeckers, squirrel monkeys and three-toed sloths.Â
Day 14 : Fly To Lima
Location: Puerto Maldonado, Cusco
Accommodation: Hotel
Accommodation Name: Casa Andina Premium Valle Sagrado Hotel
Meals Included: Breakfast
After breakfast, we take the motorised canoe back to Puerto Maldonado from where we fly to Cusco for one final night.
Day 15 : Lima & Return Home
Location: Lima, Bogotá
Meals Included: Breakfast
You have the chance to enjoy a late breakfast before your transfer to the airport for your return flight home – via Lima and Bogota.
Day 16
We arrive back home after a truly unforgettable tour.
What's Included
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Accommodation
Eleven nights in four and three-star hotels
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Airport Transfers at Destination
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All Domestic Transportation (including internal flights)
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Meals
Daily breakfast and nine additional meals
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Fully Guided
The services of a Riviera tour manager
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International Travel
Return scheduled flights
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All tours as mentioned
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All transfers
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One item of luggage per person
What's Not Included
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Tipping and Gratuities
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Insurance
Check out our Q&As
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Are flights included in this tour?
Return scheduled flights
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Are children permitted to take part in the tour?
We are unable to accommodate children under 9 years old at the date of departure..
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Will there be an escort accompanying this tour?
Yes
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Are the local guides on the tour English speaking?
Yes
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Is the tour coach air conditioned?
Yes
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Are airport transfers included in this tour?
Yes
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Is there any free time to explore places during the tour?
As detailed in the itinerary
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Are all the relevant entry visa’s included in the price of the tour?
No
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What is the standard of the hotels on this tour?
As detailed in the itinerary
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Will I know the names and details of all the accommodation before I depart?
Yes
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How long has the tour company been trading?
For almost 40 years
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I have reduced mobility; can I still travel?
We want to ensure you make the correct choice before you book your holiday with us. If you have any concerns regarding the suitability of the holiday due to reduced mobility we would encourage you to contact us to discuss these concerns
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Do I require travel insurance?
It is a condition of booking that you carry suitable travel insurance.
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What is my luggage allowance?
You will receive details of your luggage allowance with your final travel documents, which are sent approximately 10 days prior to your date of departure.
Reviews of this Operator
Dates & Availability
Thursday - Thursday
Sep 12, 2024 - Sep 26, 2024Thursday - Thursday
Oct 03, 2024 - Oct 17, 2024Thursday - Thursday
Oct 10, 2024 - Oct 24, 2024Thursday - Thursday
Apr 17, 2025 - May 01, 2025Thursday - Thursday
May 08, 2025 - May 22, 2025Thursday - Thursday
Jun 05, 2025 - Jun 19, 2025Thursday - Thursday
Sep 04, 2025 - Sep 18, 2025Thursday - Thursday
Oct 02, 2025 - Oct 16, 2025Book with Confidence
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Low Deposit
Riviera Travel requires a minimum deposit of 500 GBP per person or the full booking value, whichever is less, with the final balance not due until 75 days before departure.
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Cancellation Policy
We don't charge a cancellation fee, here is a summary of riviera travel charges.
Up to 75 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of deposit.
At 74 days before tour starts: Forfeit 50% of booking price.
At 60 days before tour starts: Forfeit 70% of booking price.
At 30 days before tour starts: Forfeit 90% of booking price.
At 14 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of booking price.
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