Enigmas of the South

Arrive at Jorge Chavez International Airport in Lima. Upon arrival, a representative will be waiting to greet you at the airport and the transportation service will transfer you to your hotel at the scheduled time. Spend the rest of the day at your leisure in Lima, the capital of Peru and a city steeped in history. During colonial times, the Historic Centre of Lima, known as the ‘Ciudad de Los Reyes’ (City of Kings), was the political, administrative, religious and economic centre for the Spanish in Peru, and it was the most important city of the Spanish dominions in South America until the middle of the 18th century. The historic centre is a UNESCO-listed World Heritage Site. Lima is now a modern metropolis currently undergoing an exciting process of cultural and economic change. Take the opportunity to rest and recover after the flight or head out into the city for your first glimpse of life in Peru´s sprawling capital city. Alternatively, you can book our optional Magic Water Circuit with Dinner: Magic Water Circuit with Dinner (shared basis):A modern system of fountains certified as the largest in the world by the Guinness World Records. Built-in Exhibition Park, the Magical Water Circuit attracts crowds during summer and winter, being one of the new favorite attractions of Lima. See yourself and enjoy our water cruise that is followed by a unique gastronomical experience at a restaurant, accompanied by a delicious dinner.Notes: Shared service. Not available on Sundays and Mondays. Start time: 17:30 hours. Duration 4 hours. Includes Pick-up and Drop-off, Bilingual guide (Spanish and English), Admission to Magic Water Circuit, and Dinner.Overnight in Lima.

After breakfast at the hotel, get ready to explore Lima’s fascinating old town and colonial center. The route begins at the Larco Museum of pre-Columbian art. Housed in a former mansion, itself built on the site of a seventh-century, pre-Columbian temple, the museum boasts a very complete collection of gold and silver articles, pottery and erotic art. Continue on to Casa de Aliaga, the oldest colonial mansion in Lima. The house has been owned and lived in by the Aliaga family and their descendants since conquistador Francisco Pizarro granted the land to his trusted ally Jerónimo de Aliaga in 1535. The tour will then guide you through the colonial center of the city. Visit the impressive Plaza de Armas, the city’s central square, and a showcase of Spanish colonial architecture. The Government Palace occupies the north side of the square and the magnificent, 16th-century Cathedral of Lima is located to the east. At the end of the tour, you will be transferred back to your hotel. Rest of the afternoon at leisure. 

Overnight in Lima.

Once you have had your breakfast at your hotel, you will be collected by a representative and accompanied to the bus station to take the bus from Lima to Paracas. Upon arrival, you will be transferred to your chosen hotel and you will have the remainder of the day at your leisure. Situated on the coast, Paracas is the perfect opportunity to relax on the beach or take a trip into the nearby Paracas National Reserve. The reserve is a protected natural area known for its wealth of marine wildlife and its dramatic shoreline of wind- and wave-sculpted rock formations and vast orange dunes that stretch on for kilometres. In the evening, why not watch the sunset over the sea whilst enjoying a refreshing drink in one of the beachfront promenade restaurants. 

Overnight in Paracas.

Start the day with breakfast at the hotel, then transfer to El Chaco pier to embark on a boat ride to the Ballestas Islands. The Ballestas are a collection of rocky islets with beautiful geographical formations, just a few kilometres off the western coast of Peru. The islands are the ideal habitat for various species of birds and an eclectic mix of larger wildlife like seals, boobies, pelicans, sea lions and the endangered Humboldt penguin. Cruise around the islands’ dramatic cliffs and watch large herds of noisy sea lions relaxing on the rocks, birds stretching their wings and if you’re lucky, dolphins near to your boat. While you will not disembark onto the islands, you will get startlingly close to this impressive array of wildlife. As you sail, you will also pass the Paracas Candelabra, a huge geoglyph that has been dated to around 200 BC, although the purpose and the creator of this three-pronged carving remain a mystery. At the end of your boat tour, you will be taken to the bus station for your transfer to Nasca.

Overnight in Nasca.

Today, breakfast is followed by a 30-minute flight over the Peruvian desert and the mysterious Nazca lines. The small town of Nazca would go unnoticed on the map if it were not for the ancient geoglyphs etched into the sand that have given it worldwide fame. As you fly over the desert, lines take shape to form simple geometric designs, then some of the swirls and zigzags start to form more distinct shapes: a spider, a condor, a monkey, to name a few. If the weather conditions and the airspace allow, you will also fly over the recently discovered drawings in Palpa. Continue your flight over the mountains where marine fossils that date back millions of years were found and then fly back to Pisco to end your aerial experience. Once back on land, you will be transferred to the bus station to catch your transport to the next destination: Arequipa. After a 10-hour journey, you will arrive at your hotel to enjoy a well-deserved rest.

Overnight in Arequipa.

Enjoy breakfast at the hotel before spending the day getting to know the town of Arequipa. Today’s tour will begin in the main square, the Plaza de Armas, where you will find the elegant, neo-Renaissance Basilica Cathedral of Arequipa and the sensational Santa Catalina Monastery. The monastery, founded in the 16th century, was almost entirely self-sufficient and it consisted in accommodation, cloisters, squares, kitchens; it was a walled community, tucked away from prying eyes and the influence of the outside world. The families of nuns paid large sums of money for their daughters to join the convent, thus increasing the wealth and prestige of the Monastery. Nowadays, strolling through its colourful streets is like a step back in time, giving us an insight into colonial Peru. Continue on to the Church of the Company, perhaps Peru’s finest example of Baroque architecture. Its intricately-carved façade, the sacristy and main cloister are particularly beautiful. To finish the tour, visit the neighbourhoods of Yanahuara and Carmen Alto to enjoy magnificent views of the Misti volcano rising above the city.

Overnight  in Arequipa.

After finishing your breakfast at the hotel, it is time to say good bye to Arequipa and head to the Colca Valley. The route will take you through the Yura district, an area characterised by impressive geographical features, ranging from deep ravines to high mountains, waterfalls and lush vegetation. The route continues on to the Pampa Cañahuas. This extensive Andean plateau is home to the vicuña, an indigenous Andean camelid that is closely related to the alpaca, guanaco, and llama. Cross the pampas of Viscachani and Toccra and skirt the crater of the now extinct Chucura Volcano to reach the Mirador de los Andes at Patapampa, 4,910 metres above sea level. This viewpoint offers impressive views of the numerous volcanoes surrounding Arequipa. Enjoy lunch in the picturesque town of Chivay before being transferred to your selected hotel in the Colca Valley for a free afternoon.

Overnight in Colca

Wake up to breakfast at the hotel then get ready for a day to remember at the Cruz del Condor viewpoint of the Colca Canyon. This impressive valley is one of the deepest in the world, reaching depths of approximately 3,400 metres, double the depth of the Grand Canyon. As you take in the sheer vastness of this area, you may witness the majestic condors gliding by on the thermals rising from the canyon. Descend the valley to discover some of the traditional towns located on the banks of the Colca River, such as Chivay, Pinchollo, Maca, Achoma and Yanque, where beautiful colonial churches are backdropped by the peaks of the Andes. You may also stop at the Antahuilque and Choquetico viewpoints, both offering majestic views of the whole valley. Continue to the Ocolle lookout to admire ‘the Amphitheatre’, a collection of pre-Inca terraces that demonstrate the impressive agricultural technology of the past, and then visit the Uyo Uyo archaeological site before returning to your hotel for the night. 

Overnight in Colca

Start the day with a leisurely breakfast at the hotel and then take advantage of your free morning to enjoy the hotel facilities. In the afternoon, we will begin our journey to Puno, a port city situated on the western shore of Lake Titicaca, the highest navigable body of water in the world. The route cuts through the Salinas and Aguada Blanca National Reserve and takes in the stunning stone forests of Patahuasi. The landscapes and scenery are both dramatic and enchanting; you will pass high plains, volcanoes, unusual rock formations and even lagoons, where you can spot cranes drying their wings above the water. There are several viewpoints, remote cafés that offer visitors coca tea and craftsmen selling traditional textiles and handicrafts along the route. On arrival in Puno, you will be transferred to your hotel and you will have the rest of the day at your leisure. 

Overnight in Puno.

After breakfast at the hotel, travel to the port of Puno where a boat will be waiting to take you to the beautiful Uros Islands. The Uros are an indigenous people of Peru that live on a series of man-made islands, created entirely from the buoyant totora reeds that grow abundantly in the shallows of the lake. The islands are composed of layers of woven totora, which are constantly replenished from the top as they rot from the bottom. The Uros people also use reeds to construct their homes, so cooking is done outdoors to avoid possible fires! After visiting this fascinating island, sail to Taquile, a small slice of heaven that once belonged to the Inca Empire. Look around and you will notice traces of its Incan past in the ruins that still exist around the island. After a brief introduction, the local community will give you an insight into their customs and traditions with a cultural demonstration. Lunch is enjoyed on the island before the return trip to Puno.

Overnight in Puno.

Enjoy breakfast at the hotel then transfer to the bus station to start your journey through the impressive landscape of the Andes to Cusco, the heart of the Inca Empire. As you travel across the mountainous plateau that reaches the dizzying altitude of 4,313 meters above sea level, you will pass traditional villages and spot local wildlife and animals along the way. Your first stop of the day is the archaeological site of Pukara, the first urban settlement on Lake Titicaca, established between 100 and 300 A.D. Continue the journey to Racchi, home to the Wiracocha Temple, a striking rectangular structure 30 metres wide and 20 metres high. Then, when you are only 40 kilometres away from Cusco, make a stop in the town of Andahuaylillas. The main attraction here is the local Church, known as the ‘Sistine Chapel of America’ owing to the high quality of art found inside. Upon arrival in the Imperial City, a transportation service will pick you up from the bus station and transfer you to your hotel for the night.

Overnight in Cusco.

After breakfast at the hotel, take advantage of your free morning in Cusco to rest at the hotel or to explore its cobblestoned streets and shop for local handicrafts. In the afternoon, enjoy a guided tour of the capital of the Inca Empire. The tour begins at the Santo Domingo Convent, a building constructed on the site of Coricancha, one of the most important Incan complexes dedicated to sun worship. According to historical records, the original temple walls depicted scenes of nature and were covered in gold leaf. After Coricancha, visit the imposing cathedral in the Plaza de Armas, then head to the Cusco hills, where you’ll find the fortress of Sacsayhuaman and panoramic views of Cusco. Continue on to Qenqo, an archaeological site where it is believed the Incas carried out religious rituals. Your tour ends in Puka Pukara, meaning 'red fortress' in Quechua. Puka Pukara is an ancient military site comprising numerous rooms, courtyards, baths, aqueducts and towers. At the end of the tour, you will be transferred back to your hotel.

Overnight in Cusco.

Today breakfast at the hotel is followed by visit to the town of Chinchero, a small high-altitude town offering beautiful views of the valley and the chance to witness traditional clothing, customs and local handicrafts. Visit archaeological remains and a beautiful 17th-century church, one of the first Catholic buildings in Peru, and on Sundays you may also visit the local market. You will then be transferred to the Yucay Museum of Living Culture, where you can see textiles, adobe pottery and silverware being crafted using techniques dating back to the Incas. This centre not only gives you an insight into local Andean traditions, but also the opportunity to feed the llamas, sheep and alpacas! Feel the true spirit of the Sacred Valley as you sample a lunch of local cuisine in a cosy restaurant in Ollantaytambo. After eating, explore the streets of Ollantaytambo, inhabited uninterruptedly since Inca times, and climb the iconic fortress built into the mountainside. At the end of the day, return to your hotel to rest full of the spirit of the Incas.

Overnight in Sacred Valley.

Wake up to breakfast at the hotel and then you’ll be transferred to the Ollanta station to begin your trip to the UNESCO-listed World Heritage Site, Machu Picchu. Enjoy the approximately two-hour scenic train ride to Aguas Calientes, also known as ‘Machu Picchu Pueblo’, the last stop before entering the most important archaeological site in Peru. It is believed that Machu Picchu was built for the Inca emperor Pachacutec around 1450 as a holiday residence. The citadel was abandoned just over 100 years later, probably as a result of the Spanish Conquest, although historians have never uncovered why it was abandoned or how it escaped the destruction that other Inca settlements faced. Instead, the jungle slowly engulfed its stone construction, covering it in a thick vegetation that kept it hidden and protected until the ‘lost city of the Incas’ was brought to international attention in 1911. Your tour will introduce you to the origins of this impressive citadel and guide you around some of its most iconic monuments, such as the main square, the royal rooms, the Temple of the Three Windows, the circular towers, the Sacred Clock and cemeteries. At the end of the tour, return to Aguas Calientes for lunch and to board the train back to Cusco.

Overnight in Cusco.

After finishing your breakfast at the hotel, transfer to the airport. Although this is the last day of your journey through some of Peru’s most fascinating sites of natural beauty and historical interest, we hope that your memories of this remarkable region will last a lifetime.

Breakfast included.