ESSENTIAL PERU

Arrival in Lima, where you will be welcomed at Jorge Chávez International Airport by your driver.

Transfer to the district of Miraflores, one of the most pleasant areas of the capital, set between the ocean and green spaces. The drive takes approximately 45 minutes to 1 hour, depending on traffic.

Check in at your hotel and enjoy some free time to rest or explore the surroundings.

In the morning, meet your English-speaking guide for a guided tour of Lima, including its historic center and surrounding districts.

Founded in the 16th century and known as the “City of Kings”, Lima was for several centuries the political and cultural heart of Spanish America. Despite the many earthquakes that have marked its history, the city has preserved a rich architectural heritage. Its buildings reflect the combined craftsmanship of local artisans and masters from Europe.

Recently restored, the historic center has regained all its splendor. Your visit will take you to Plaza San Martín, then along Jirón de la Unión, the emblematic street leading to Lima’s Plaza Mayor, home to the Government Palace, City Hall and the Cathedral. You will also visit the remarkable San Francisco Convent, famous for its architecture and impressive underground galleries.

In the afternoon, transfer to the airport for your flight to Arequipa.

Upon arrival in the early evening, welcome at the airport and transfer to your hotel.

In the morning, meet your English-speaking guide at the reception of your hotel for a guided tour of Arequipa, known as the “White City” because of its many buildings made of sillar, the light-colored volcanic stone typical of the region.

You will discover the historic center, listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, including the Plaza de Armas, one of the most beautiful in Peru, surrounded by colonial arcades and dominated by the imposing Cathedral. The visit also offers a chance to appreciate the elegance of Arequipa’s colonial architecture, with its patios, carved façades and old mansions.

The tour notably includes the Santa Catalina Monastery, a true city within the city, with its colorful streets, cloisters and silent patios.

In the early afternoon, depart by private vehicle towards the Colca Canyon. The road gradually leaves the city behind and climbs towards the Andean highlands, crossing increasingly open landscapes inhabited by vicuñas, alpacas and llamas.

Arrival in the Colca Valley in the late afternoon.

Morning departure by private vehicle towards the Condor Cross, one of the best viewpoints for observing these majestic Andean birds.

The Colca Canyon is already a spectacle in itself: nearly 3,000 meters separate its highest peaks from the bed of the Colca River. Between vertiginous cliffs, agricultural terraces and traditional villages, this valley offers one of the most beautiful landscapes in southern Peru.

Several visits are planned on the way back to Chivay.

You will then depart by private transport, without a guide, towards Puno. The road crosses the Andean highlands, passing through the areas of Imata and Santa Lucía before reaching Juliaca. There, you will meet your local guide for the Altiplano region.

Continue to the Llachón Peninsula, on the shores of Lake Titicaca, where you will spend the night with a local family.

You will have the opportunity to share a moment of daily life with the inhabitants of the Llachón Peninsula and discover their way of life on the shores of Lake Titicaca. Depending on the conditions and the activities offered by your hosts, you may take part in certain local tasks, such as traditional fishing, a meaningful way to approach a lifestyle deeply connected to the lake and its rhythms.

You will then take a boat towards the island of Taquile, renowned for its living traditions, archaeological remains, sacred sites, festivals and rituals. The island is also famous for its textile craftsmanship, listed by UNESCO as Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.

Upon arrival, you will be welcomed by the island’s inhabitants and share a meal in a warm and friendly atmosphere.

Return to Puno in the late afternoon.

In the morning, depart by private transport with your driver towards Cusco.

This crossing of the Altiplano takes you through vast high-altitude landscapes, between open plains, herds of camelids and Andean peaks. You will cross the La Raya Pass, the highest point of the route, marking the transition between the regions of Puno and Cusco.

Until Sicuani, the journey is made with your driver only. You will then meet your guide on the Cusco side, who will accompany you for the visits planned along the way.

Discover the archaeological site of Raqchi, a former Inca ceremonial center, followed by the church of Andahuaylillas, renowned for the richness of its colonial frescoes.

Arrival in Cusco at the end of the day, welcome and transfer to your hotel. Free time for a gentle first discovery of the imperial city.

In the morning, depart by private transport towards the high plateau of Chinchero. Along the way, you will enjoy beautiful landscapes of cultivated fields and traditional Andean villages. Visit Chinchero, then discover the Inca town, its neighborhoods, terraces and sacred temples, as well as the Spanish colonial church built on the foundations of an ancient Inca temple.

After this visit, continue to Moray, which at first glance resembles an amphitheater made up of several terraces arranged in concentric circles. In fact, it was an Inca agricultural research center, designed to reproduce a series of microclimates imitating different ecosystems and life zones.

You will then continue by vehicle to the Maras Salt Pans, hundreds of salt pools worked by hand since pre-Columbian times. These pools are fed by two springs with a very high concentration of sodium chloride. From the viewpoint, you will be able to admire this unique spectacle, a brilliant demonstration of human ingenuity: an open-air salt production system set at more than 3,000 meters above sea level.

In the afternoon, you will take the train from Ollantaytambo station to Machu Picchu Pueblo, also known as Aguas Calientes, without a guide.

Arrival in Machu Picchu Pueblo and check-in at the hotel.

Lunch included in the Sacred Valley. Dinner is free.

Your guide will accompany you as far as Ollantaytambo. A resident guide will lead your visit of Machu Picchu the following day.

Visit Machu Picchu, the “Lost City of the Incas”, with a private English-speaking guide / Train to Ollantaytambo without a guide.

“Machu Picchu is a journey into the serenity of the soul, an eternal fusion with the cosmos. There, we feel our own fragility. It is one of the greatest wonders of South America. A haven of butterflies at the epicenter of the great circle of life. One miracle more.”
Pablo Neruda

Early in the morning, at the time agreed with your guide, you will take the bus up to the site of Machu Picchu, which overlooks the valley by around 400 meters. The landscapes are completely different from those you have seen so far, and the setting in which this ancient urban center was built is extraordinary. The mist and the light of sunrise make the place even more impressive.

Archaeology and colonial chronicles have taught us a great deal, yet many discoveries remain to be made. Your guide will help you better understand what this mysterious city may have been during the Inca period. Two and a half hours are dedicated to the visit of the site.

You will enjoy every moment at Machu Picchu, a Wonder of the Modern World and listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1983.

You will then return to Machu Picchu Pueblo on foot or by bus, depending on your pace.

In the afternoon or early evening, depending on the schedule confirmed at the time of booking, you will take the train to Ollantaytambo without a guide.

Upon arrival in Ollantaytambo, you will make your own way to the hotel, located on the avenue leading from the train station.

It is possible to add the ascent of Machu Picchu Mountain or Huayna Picchu. Please let us know in advance, as these entrances are subject to strict quotas set by the Ministry of Culture. Not recommended for people who suffer from vertigo.

Departure with your guide at the agreed time.

You will visit the ruins of Ollantaytambo, home to some of the finest Inca constructions, with gigantic stone blocks brought from a distant hillside more than 15 kilometers away. This archaeological site was one of the major urban centers built to ensure political, social and economic control over the fertile Urubamba Valley, better known as the Sacred Valley.

You will then leave Ollantaytambo and continue to Pisaq, where you will visit the ruins and the handicraft market. You will discover the area’s extraordinary agricultural complex, facing east in order to provide the crops with maximum sunlight.

After lunch, continue towards Awana Kancha, a dedicated center where many Andean camelids can be seen, including llamas, alpacas and vicuñas. This will be an opportunity to get close to these emblematic Andean animals.

Return to Cusco in the mid-afternoon. The rest of the day is free to enjoy Cusco at your own pace.

In the morning, meet your English-speaking guide at the reception of your hotel for a guided tour of Cusco, the former capital of the Inca Empire.

You will set off on foot through its narrow streets, between Inca walls, colonial houses and lively squares. Discover the district of San Blas, known for its artisan workshops and bohemian atmosphere, then pass by the famous Twelve-Angled Stone, a remarkable example of the precision of Inca architecture.

The visit continues to the Plaza de Armas, the historic heart of Cusco and the setting of many major events in Peruvian history. Overlooking the square, the Cathedral will be explored in depth.

You will then reach Qorikancha, the former Temple of the Sun, once one of the most important sanctuaries of the Inca Empire. After the arrival of the conquistadors, the site was occupied and transformed by the Dominicans, creating a unique ensemble where Inca architecture and colonial construction overlap.

If time allows, visit the colorful and particularly lively San Pedro covered market.

Free time after the visits.

Morning transfer to Cusco’s Alejandro Velasco Astete Airport and boarding of your flight to Lima.

Upon arrival, you will have some free time before check-in formalities and boarding for your international flight.