Peru of the Incas (without flights)

Arrival at the international airport of Lima and transfer to the hotel. Accommodation.

Breakfast and departure to explore the old town of Lima, declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO and full of fascinating historical buildings. The tour begins by visiting Casa Aliaga, a colonial mansion with more than 5 centuries of history, considered the oldest house in America. Next, you will explore the Plaza Mayor, recognized as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO, where you will visit the imposing Cathedral of Lima. Finally, you will visit the Larco Museum, located in the traditional district of Pueblo Libre. The museum has a wide collection of pre-Hispanic gold and silver objects and a selection of erotic art pieces, here, you will have the opportunity to immerse yourself in more than 5,000 years of ancient Peruvian history. Rest of the day at leisure. Accommodation.

Early breakfast and transfer to Lima airport. Arrival at the airport in Arequipa, also known as the “White City” and transfer to the hotel. Once checked in, departure to explore the city. The tour begins in the main square, called Plaza de Armas, where you can admire its elegant neo-Renaissance cathedral basilica and the sensational Convent of Santa Catalina, which for centuries was a “forbidden city” in the heart of Arequipa, closed to prying eyes and the influence of the outside world. Founded in the 16th century, the convent was an almost self-sufficient town, made up of houses for the nuns and their servants, cloisters, squares and narrow streets, kitchens and refectories, among others. The families of the nuns paid large sums of money for their daughters to be admitted, which increased the wealth and prestige of the place. Today, walking through its colorful streets is like going back in time and allows you to understand colonial Peru. The tour continues until reaching the Church of the Company, perhaps the greatest work of Peruvian Baroque, with a fascinating façade. Its sacristy is especially beautiful, thanks to its dome and its walls covered with murals depicting tropical flora and fauna. The Jesuit seminary is well known for its beautiful main cloister. Finally, we will reach the neighborhoods of Yanahuara and Carmen Alto, where you can enjoy a magnificent view of the Misti volcano, which rises above the city. Return to the hotel and rest of the day at leisure. Accommodation.

(Dress code for churches: during the visit, the use of short-sleeved shirts or T-shirts or suspenders and pants above the knees are not permitted, otherwise you will not be able to enter).

Breakfast and departure by road towards the Colca Valley, passing first through the district of Yura, which is characterized by a series of impressive geographical features, such as ravines, mountain ranges and canyons. We continue through the Pampas Cañahuas Reserve, an extensive plain populated by vicuñas, one of the four native Andean camelids found in Peru. We will cross the Viscachani and Toccra plains, skirting the crater of the Chucura volcano to reach the Los Andes viewpoint in Patapampa, which is 4,910 meters above sea level. From here you can see the different volcanoes that surround Arequipa. Lunch will be held in the picturesque town of Chivay and then transfer to your hotel in the Colca Valley to enjoy the rest of the afternoon at leisure. Accommodation.

Breakfast. Prepare for an unforgettable day with a breathtaking trip to the Cruz del Cóndor viewpoint. Take a deep breath and appreciate the immensity of the Colca Valley, one of the deepest canyons in the world, with a height (at its highest points) of over 4,160 meters above sea level, twice that of the Grand Canyon of Colorado. The excitement you feel with this experience will increase when you observe the natural spectacle of the immense condors over the canyon. Let yourself be amazed as you watch these elegant birds of prey fly overhead, patrolling it with military discipline. We will descend to the bottom of the valley to discover some of the rural towns located on the banks of the Colca River, such as Pinchollo, Maca, Achoma and Yanque. You can also stop at the Antahuilque and Choquetico viewpoints to admire the majestic views of the valley. The trip continues towards Puno. The landscapes will enchant you, with their combination of high plains, unusual rock formations and lagoons populated by cranes flapping their wings over the water. Lunch en route. After six hours of travel, we reach our next destination, Puno. Accommodation.

Breakfast. In the highland city of Puno lies Lake Titicaca, the highest navigable lake in the world. Here, the Uros form an ancestral society that lives on artificial islands built on bases of woven totora reeds, which grow in the lake itself. The tour begins with a transfer to the port of Puno, where a boat awaits to take you to the beautiful islands of the Uros. After a magical hour and a half excursion, you will continue to the island of Taquile, known for its ancestral culture and traditional way of life. At this point, you will receive a briefing about the island, followed by a delicious lunch. Finally, return to the city of Puno. Rest of the day at leisure. Accommodation.

Breakfast and departure to the heart of the Inca Empire. Transfer to the bus station and departure on the tourist bus that will take you to Cusco. The route runs through amazing landscapes of the mountain plateau, with villages and native animals all around. Stop for a break at the archaeological site of Pucará, which dates from 200 BC to 300 AD. Brief stop at La Raya, the highest point on the route between Puno and Cusco, located more than 4,313 meters above sea level. Lunch and continue to Racchi, famous for housing the Wiracocha temple, a surprising rectangular construction 30 meters wide by 20 meters high. Shortly before reaching Cusco, stop in the town of Andahuaylillas to see its main attraction: the church of San Pedro, nicknamed the “Sistine Chapel of America” for the impressive works of art found inside. Once you arrive at the Imperial City bus station, transfer to the hotel. Accommodation.

Breakfast and morning departure by shared transport to the picturesque town of Chinchero. We will visit its impressive agricultural terraces and the 17th-century church, built on an ancient Inca palace. Then, we will stop at a viewpoint to enjoy the landscapes of the Sacred Valley. We will continue with a visit to the Living Museum of Yucay, where you can see the creation of textiles, ceramics and silverware using ancestral techniques. You will enjoy a typical lunch in the Sacred Valley. Afterwards, we will visit the Ollantaytambo Fortress, an important ceremonial center with agricultural terraces that extend across the mountains. Once the excursion is over, transfer to your hotel in Urubamba. Accommodation.

Breakfast and transfer to the Ollantaytambo station to take the Inca Rail Voyager train to Aguas Calientes (Machu Picchu Pueblo), crossing spectacular Andean landscapes for approximately one and a half hours. Arrival and continuation by bus to Machu Picchu, the “lost city of the Incas”. It is believed that the archaeological site was built around 1450 by the Inca Pachacutec as his holiday residence. However, a century later, the city was abandoned after the Spanish conquest, saving it from the destruction that came to other Inca settlements. Instead, the jungle hid and protected it. During the guided tour, you will learn about the origins of this impressive citadel, presenting its most outstanding monuments. After the visit, return to Aguas Calientes. You will enjoy a delicious set menu lunch at Café Inkaterra, with a unique view of the Vilcanota River. This restaurant combines Andean cuisine and architecture with contemporary trends, creating a meal with an original and fusion-style flavour. Afterwards, take the 360º train back to Ollantaytambo station. Arrival and transfer to your hotel in Cusco. Accommodation.

(Lunch time may vary depending on the entrance to the citadel)

(Very important:due to the limited capacity of the citadel, it is recommended to purchase tickets to Machu Picchu well in advance because they are subject to availability at the time of requesting the reservation and payment for them. Once the ticket is purchased, it is non-refundable).

Breakfast and departure for a visit to the charming and magical city of Cusco, the ancient capital of the Inca Empire. You will visit the Convent of Santo Domingo, located in the ancient temple of Coricancha. Next, you will visit the Cathedral Basilica of the Virgin of the Assumption, the main temple of Cusco. Afterwards, you will explore the Cusco hills, starting with the Fortress of Sacsayhuamán, and then touring the archaeological complex of Qenqo. You will continue with a visit to the military architectural complex of Puca Pucará and the ruins of Tambomachay, also known as the Bath of the Inca. Finally, return to the hotel and the rest of the day free. Accommodation.