From the moment you arrive in Lima, a member of our team will be waiting for you at the airport to take you in our private transport to your hotel in the city center. You will have the rest of the day to relax and prepare for the rest of your vacation package in Peru!
Breakfast at the hotel.
Morning guided city tour of Lima. You will appreciate Lima through its three historical periods: pre-Hispanic, colonial, and modern.
Panoramic view of “Huaca Pucllana,” a magnificent ceremonial and archaeological center built in the 4th century A.D., considered a “sacred town” by the Incas. Visit the Historic Center of Lima, where you will see more than fifty monuments and colonial buildings, highlighting Paseo de la República, Plaza San Martín, Plaza Mayor, Government Palace, Archbishop's Palace, Basilica Cathedral, and the Municipal Palace among others.
Entry to the SAN FRANCISCO MONUMENTAL COMPLEX, which is the largest example of colonial religious art in America. The visit includes its underground crypts known as the “Catacombs.”
From contemporary Lima, visit the most traditional residential areas: Olivar de San Isidro, Miraflores, and Larcomar.
After breakfast, a Peru Inkas Top representative will pick you up from your Lima hotel (time to be confirmed) and take you to the airport to catch your flight to Arequipa.
Upon arrival at Arequipa airport, our team will warmly welcome you and assist you with check-in at your hotel. At your hotel, you will find complimentary coca tea and muña tea. These natural drinks will help your body adjust to the high altitude of the "White City" on our Peru tour.
On this cultural guided tour in Peru, the Arequipa city tour will take you through the streets of the White City, passing by cathedrals, churches, monasteries, and more. Your guide will tell you all about life in Arequipa, from colonial times to the present day. You will learn how the city has changed and how the first Spanish settlers built upon an area that was once home to ancient Andean peoples.
Next, we will stop to admire some of the city’s most famous buildings, such as the Basilica Cathedral of Arequipa. Located in the elegant Plaza de Armas, this enormous cathedral has been damaged by earthquakes several times over the centuries, but each time it has been rebuilt, becoming even more impressive.
After exploring Plaza de Armas and the surrounding streets, we will head to the famous Yanahuara viewpoint. With its carved sillar stone arches, this beautiful viewpoint offers sublime views of Arequipa and beyond to the volcanic peaks of Misti, Chachani, and Pichu Pichu. Yanahuara was built in the 19th century and stands next to the beautiful San Juan de Yanahuara church, a baroque building constructed in 1750. Engraved in the sillar stone of Yanahuara are the names of notable people who have lived in Arequipa over the past two centuries.
After our Arequipa tour, we will take you back to your hotel, confident that you now have a much greater appreciation for this beautiful colonial city you visited on your Peru journey.
Today, our Peru journey begins early in the morning as we depart from the White City of Arequipa and take the route toward the Colca Valley. It is a beautiful drive passing snow-capped volcanoes, rugged pampas, traditional terraced farms, and picturesque villages where ancient traditional ways of life are still very much alive.
Along the route of our Peru tour, we will make some stops, the first at the Aguada Blanca National Reserve, where we can observe countless guanacos, alpacas, and vicuñas grazing on the plains. Although there is no visit to a llama and alpaca farm, you will witness these creatures in their natural habitat on this Peru tour. The reserve, covering nearly 366,936 hectares, was created to preserve the local flora and fauna and their natural environment, which had been deteriorating at an alarming rate. The reserve also protects the local vicuña population through a repopulation program.
Besides large herds of camelids, the reserve is home to the southern vizcacha (a large and adorable rodent), foxes, condors, and Andean flamingos (also known as parihuanas). In total, 169 animal species have been identified in the reserve, including 23 mammals and 138 bird species such as blue-billed ducks, eagles, and kestrels. During their migration period, flamingos also arrive to spend time wading in Lake Salinas. This classic Peru tour is ideal for birdwatching tours to see high-altitude species during our eco-tourism adventures in Peru.
Leaving the reserve, we will skirt the Chucura Volcano until we reach the Patapampa Andes viewpoint at 4,900 meters above sea level, where we can admire the stunning landscape of snow-capped peaks and volcanoes of the Arequipa region, including Hualca Calca, Sabancaya, and Ampato.
Our next stop on our guided cultural Peru journey will be the village of Chivay, where one end of the Colca Valley begins. The traditional terrace systems here, built by indigenous inhabitants, are remarkable for their scale and precise construction. Chivay was founded by the Spanish, a fact reflected in its church and other colonial buildings. You can enjoy a traditional lunch in town before checking into our hotel.
Later you will have the afternoon free to explore the town on your own or, if you wish, enjoy trekking excursions in the Colca Canyon or visit the La Calera hot springs, about 3 km from Chivay. The Colca Canyon and Valley are dotted with natural thermal springs and baths, thanks to the region's seismic activity. La Calera has public thermal baths with curative properties, with temperatures around 38 °C (98 °F).
It’s another early start on our Peru journey because there are so many amazing things to see! First, we will head to the viewpoint known as Cruz del Cóndor, near the small villages of Maca and Cabanaconde. Here, strong winds rise from the canyon, creating a favorite place for Andean condors. They soar on thermal currents, often in pairs, usually early in the morning and late in the afternoon. There’s a good chance you’ll see these huge condors, with wingspans of three meters, flying very close to the viewpoint, providing a truly majestic sight. From the viewpoint, you’ll also enjoy incredible views down into the depths of the Colca Canyon.
Return to the city of Arequipa, transfer to your hotel.
One of our representatives will pick you up from the hotel and take you to the airport for your flight (not included) to Cusco!
Upon arrival at Cusco airport, a vehicle with a representative will be waiting to transfer you to your hotel and provide guidance about the city's attractions and services, as well as assist you with hotel check-in.
PM. (1:00 pm to 6:00 pm approx.) In the afternoon, start the city tour including visits to the Cathedral, Koricancha (Temple of the Sun), currently the Convent of Santo Domingo. The tour continues outside the city to visit the impressive Sacsayhuaman (head of the puma), Q’enqo (Labyrinth), a religious center dedicated to earth worship; Puca Pucara (Red place), which was used as a military control center; and finally Tambomachay (Temple of Water), used as a place of worship and water cult.
Return transfer to your hotel.
Breakfast at the hotel.
At approximately 8:00 am, passengers will be picked up from their hotel for a full-day excursion to the Sacred Valley.
We begin with a visit to the town of Pisac, known for its artisanal market and impressive Inca archaeological site. Here, you can admire an advanced irrigation system, an astronomical observatory, a solar clock or Intiwatana, and impressive agricultural terraces.
We will enjoy a buffet lunch at a local restaurant.
The tour continues with a visit to the archaeological complex of Ollantaytambo, built during the Inca era as a fortified area including a temple, terraces, and a residential sector. Two main areas can be distinguished: one for religious worship and another for housing. It was an important administrative center, possibly with military functions, as shown by its walls and towers.
We then visit Chinchero, notable for its colonial-era church featuring beautiful paintings from the Cusco school. On Sundays, a local fair takes place where traders and farmers exchange goods through bartering.
Return to Cusco. Overnight stay.
Breakfast at the hotel.
Morning train to Machu Picchu Pueblo followed by a guided tour of Machu Picchu, the "Lost City of the Incas", one of the most impressive ancient sites in the world. Overlooking the Urubamba River, Machu Picchu was built in the 15th century at the height of the Inca Empire. Although this "Lost City" was revealed to the rest of the world by American historian Hiram Bingham in 1911, locals had long known of its existence. Its original purpose remains uncertain as the Incas left no written records.
Explore the ruins with your expert local guide and, while walking among the ancient stone walls, imagine what life might have been like in this majestic citadel located about 8,000 feet above sea level.
In the afternoon, return by train to the city of Cusco. Upon arrival, reception and transfer to your hotel.
After breakfast, we will pick you up at the agreed time for your transfer from your hotel to Cusco airport for your return flight to Lima.
This marks the end of your 9-day journey through Machu Picchu and Peru, with a few extra surprises along the way!
