Essential Peru: A Journey to the Soul of the Andes

Upon your arrival to the Lima Airport, you will be welcomed by one of our representatives, who will provide a brief introduction to the city and our services while driving you to your hotel in Miraflores. You will have the remainder of the day free to relax and get acquainted with the city at your own pace. Depending on your arrival time, we have plenty of suggestions for you so you can make the most of your first day in Lima.

Today you will get to know the city of kings, Lima. You will be picked up in the morning and visit the colonial center of Lima. There you can see the Spanish colonial architecture as well as some government buildings, the Plaza San Martin, Plaza Mayor, the Central Bank Museum and the San Francisco Convent. At the end of the tour, we will visit parts of the modern districts of San Isidro and Miraflores.

In the morning you will be picked up from your hotel and taken to the airport, from where you will fly to Arequipa. Once there, you will be taken to your hotel.
Arequipa, known as the “White City”, for its unique architecture, is surrounded by three impressive volcanoes.
Today, you will have a free day to explore the city by yourself.  
 

Early in the morning, you will embark on an amazing journey to one of the deepest Canyons in the world! We will travel across snow-covered volcanoes, quaint Andean villages, finally arriving in the Colca Valley.
One of our stops will be the Aguada Blanca National Reserve, whose rugged terrain is home to vast herds of Vicuñas, Alpacas and Llamas. Next we will visit the Mirador de los Andes (Lookout Point of the Andes) in Patapampa. This lookout point, at 16,100 ft / 1408 m above sea level, offers spectacular views of the snow-capped peaks of the various volcanoes surrounding Arequipa, including the Hualca Calca, the Sabancaya and the Ampato. After, you will head to the town of Chivay (close to where the Colca Valley begins) for a closer inspection of the impressive system of platforms and terraces built by the ancient Collagua and Cabana inhabitants.
After lunch, you will make your way to the hotel. The rest of the afternoon will be free to take advantage of the hotel’s amenities, enjoy the tranquility of your surroundings, and simply rest and rejuvenate for the next day.
Optional: After reaching Chivay Village, we will encounter La Calera Hot Springs, which boasts a wonderful array of hot spring pools, fed by the bubbling brooks that emerge from the mountain sides all around – they average a natural temperature of 85°C. Said to be wondrous for curing arthritis and rheumatism. These clean and well-kept thermal baths are not to be missed.
 

Early in the morning, we will head off to the Condor Cross Lookout Point. Which is an incredible vantage point where you will be able to look out across one of the world’s deepest canyons and if we get lucky, see the majestic Andean Condor in flight! After lunch, you will experience an awe-inspiring trip of about six hours through the unique landscapes of the high mountain plain.
A few miles away, you will be able to see the grand Bosque de Piedras de Imata in the distance. You will then arrive in Lagunillas, which sits at 13,684 ft / 4170 m above sea level. Here you will observe numerous species of migratory and Andean birds. Among them, Andean flamingos and crakes. You will end your trip at the legendary Lake Titicaca.
 

Today we will explore the world’s highest navigable lake, Titcaca, and explore its unique and breathtaking islands.
We will start by visiting the floating Islands of Uros. There are about 40 small islands made totally of totora, a natural reed that grows around the lake. The friendly island inhabitants will invite you to get to know their traditional lifestyle and customs.
Continuing our journey across the waters of the lake, we will arrive to Taquile Island, a quaint and picturesque place with a unique landscape due to the Incan terraces built around it. Here we will be able to learn ancestral weaving techniques from the locals… amazing! We will have lunch in Taquile before heading back to our hotel in the afternoon.
 

Today we will embark on the most scenic trip of the Peruvian Andes!
On board a comfortable bus, we will pass different Andean villages, snow capped mountains, and herds of Llamas. Some of our stops include: Andahuaylillas, also known as the Sistine Chapel of America; Racchi, the ruins of a well known Inca Temple to the God Wiracocha and La Raya Pass, which is the highest point of the Peruvian Altiplano. We will have lunch at a traditional Andean restaurant before we arrive to Cusco, the Capital of the Inca Empire.
 

Today you will experience a half-day private guided excursion throughout the Sacred Valley.
Today we visit the sites of Maras and Moray. En route, you will witness some of the best sites in the valley. First, we will stop at the ancient salt mines, nearby the town of Maras, then, at the huge circular agricultural terraces at Moray built by the Incas in natural sinkholes on a limestone plateau overlooking the Urubamba Valley. Afterward we will head back to Cusco.
 

Today we return to the Sacred Valley of the Incas and make our way to Pisac, where we will visit both the artisan market and the ruins of Pisac.
We then continue to Urubamba, where you will have the opportunity to sample various Andean dishes at a buffet. After a short drive, we reach Ollantaytambo. There we will visit the Inca fort with its typical Inca terraces and you will be taken to your hotel, where you will spend the night.
 

After a very early rise, you will board the train from the Ollantaytambo Station heading to Machu Picchu Pueblo (Aguas Calientes). This train journey is a spectacle in itself! You will be able to appreciate Peru’s immense biodiversity as you witness the landscape transition from Andean green fields to lush rainforest, descending alongside the Urubamba River.
Upon your arrival to the Aguas Calientes train station, you will take a 20 minute bus ride up to the spectacular site of Machu Picchu. You will explore this enigmatic sanctuary where your expert guide will lead you through the ruins, providing archaeological and historical information on key areas of interest, including The Temple of the Sun, the Intihuatana (the Sun Dial) and the Sacred Plaza. You will appreciate the most amazing views from the top of the citadel! This is an opportunity to revel in the energy and atmosphere of one of the most significant and spectacular archaeological sites of the world, surrounded by the cloud forest.
You will also have the opportunity to see Llamas meandering around in their natural environment.
After descending to Machu Picchu Pueblo, you will have some free time for lunch, and wander through this picturesque town. In the afternoon, you will board the return train to Ollantaytambo Station where one of our representatives will be waiting for you to take you back to your hotel in the Sacred Valley.
 

At a set time our representative will accompany you to the airport to take our flight back to Lima and connect with your international flight home.