Essential Peru

Tour Itinerary

• Day 1: UK - Lima

  Fly to Lima, the busy capital of Peru, where you’ll transfer to your hotel in the Miraflores district.

• Day 2: Ballestas Islands

  Today, you’ll board a boat to visit the Ballestas Islands. Explore the caves and observe the wildlife, before driving an hour further south to Ica.

• Day 3: Nazca

  You’ll drive towards Nazca, stopping to visit the viewing platforms overlooking the Nazca Lines.

• Day 4: Drive into the high Andes

  Today, you’ll head on a scenic drive, inland to the Andes, passing through the largest vicuna reserve in the country.

• Day 5: Drive to Cusco

  Admire the glaciated summits of the Vilcabamba mountains on the way to Cusco, visiting Inca Sites along the way.

• Day 6: Cusco

  Enjoy a free day to explore Cusco, taking in the historic buildings and winding streets.

• Day 7: Machu Picchu

  Transfer to the Ollantaytambo railway station to catch a train to Aguas Calientes. In the afternoon, you’ll take a short bus ride up the winding road to Machu Picchu for a guided tour of the ruins.

• Day 8: Machu Picchu and Cusco

  Enjoy a free morning or join an optional second visit to Machu Picchu. In the afternoon, head back tom Cusco.

• Day 9: Cusco

  Enjoy another free day in Cusco, taking in the sights of this beautiful city.

• Day 10: Lake Titicaca

  Travel to Lake Titicaca and board a boat for your homestay on Amantani Island, where you’ll spend the night with a local family for a fantastic cultural insight.

• Day 11: Lake Titicaca - Puno

  You’ll explore the island in the morning before boarding a boat to Puno, visiting Uros Island on the way.

• Day 12: Colca Canyon

  Head across the altiplano south-west to the high Colca Canyon. En route you may see vicunas and flamingos, crossing the Patapampa Pass before descending into the second-deepest canyon in the Americas.

• Day 13: Arequipa

  Rise early to view the condors before you ascend out of the canyon and head to Arequipa, known as the White City due to the pale volcanic stone used to construct many of the buildings.

• Day 14: Fly to Lima

  In the morning you’ll visit the serene convent of Santa Catalina, build in 1580. Then in the afternoon you’ll fly to Lima.

• Day 15: Lima - UK

  Today you’ll fly home.