Peru - Land of the Incas

We begin our journey to the Land of the Incas. Upon arrival in Lima, you will be met by our local representative in the airport before being transferred to your hotel, where you will have a 2-night stay.

On this half day excursion, enjoy a city tour of the bustling sea-side metropolis, Lima, with your expert local guide. You will visit sites such as the 16th century Plaza Mayor, the main square that is home to the Cathedral of Lima. With a colonial structure and façade, this impressive building contains the tomb of Spanish conquistador Francisco Pizzaro. You will also visit the 17th century Monastery of San Francisco, a Spanish and Baroque style church and UNESCO World Heritage Site. Famous for its library and catacombs, this convent boasts around 25,000 ancient texts and the catacombs contain around 70,000 burials, where bones line the wall and floors. Your tour will finish in the upmarket San Isidro district, which overlooks the Pacific Ocean and is home to the famous Larcomar shopping centre.

Spend the afternoon at leisure in Lima. Your local guide will be happy to offer suggestions of activities to suit your interests.

After breakfast, transfer to Lima Airport for your internal flight to Arequipa with guide assistance. You will be met by our local representative in the airport before being transferred to your hotel, where you will have a 2-night stay. You will have the remainder of the day at leisure to unpack, relax and explore your surroundings.

Depart this morning for a half-day guided tour of Arequipa, one of Peru's most charming colonial cities known as the White City (Ciudad Blanca). Walk among its beautiful buildings as your guide takes you on a journey back in time through one of the largest holdings of colonial art in the Americas. During this tour you will visit the Convent of St. Catherine and the magnificent Church of the Society of Jesus with its vividly-coloured murals. Continue to the Mirador del Carmen, a natural lookout point, from where you will be able to enjoy a spectacular view of the Chili River Valley and of the majestic volcano, Misti.

Enjoy some free time to explore the beautiful city of Arequipa at your own pace.

Early morning departure from Arequipa to your hotel in Chivay through the Colca Canyon, a stunning natural wonder, including a scenic drive passing between the Misti and Chachani volcanoes. On the way, you will visit the picturesque towns of Callalli and Sibayo, and drive through a vicuña reserve (a relative of the llama). Lunch at a local restaurant is included en-route to your hotel.

After breakfast, depart your hotel in the early morning towards "Condor Cross", considered the best location to admire the Colca Canyon and the majestic condors in flight. The condor is a wild bird, so while every effort will be made to see it in its natural habitat, sightings can never be guaranteed. Afterwards, continue overland to your hotel in Puno for a 2-night stay.

Start your full day excursion to Lake Titicaca with a visit to the Uros Islands, made of reeds and rising six metres above lake level. They are anchored by logs and connected to each other by ropes. The main activities of the people who live here are fishing and handcrafting several items that they sell to visitors. After lunch, continue to Taquile Island, a small spot of land in the middle of Lake Titicaca. This island has two essential characteristics; its geography, offering a spectacular view from its hills and its standing as a first-rate textile centre.

In the early morning, travel via coach from Puno to Cusco through the beautiful South Valley of Cusco. Your transfer will include several sightseeing and photo stops including one in La Raya, the highest point on the road between Puno and Cusco. En-route, enjoy lunch at a local restaurant and continue towards Cusco where you will arrive in the late afternoon for a 5-night stay.

Today's half-day excursion will begin with a guided city tour of the city of Cusco. Here, massive Inca-built walls line steep, cobbled streets and form the foundations of modern buildings. The plazas are thronged with Quechua-speaking descendants of the Incas, and ancient treasures are carefully guarded inside colonial mansions and churches. The Plaza del Armas is a highlight of the city. Afterwards, you will explore the ruins of the original city of Cusco, including Kenko, Tambomachay and Sacsayhuaman. The walled complex of Sacsayhuaman is a magnificent part of the city, while the nearby ruin Kenko is believed to have once been a place for sacrifices and mummification.

The afternoon can be spent at your leisure. Your guide would be delighted to recommend some hidden gems for you to discover.

Enjoy a full day guided tour to a typical market in Pisac, a picturesque town that is home to Inca ruins and a sacred shrine, before visiting the Inca fortress of Ollantaytambo. Perched on a towering cliff top, this ancient site showcases towering pyramids, deep quarries and an ornate fountain called ‘the bath of the princess.’ Lunch at a local restaurant is included.

Prepare to witness one of the most stunning sites in the world on this full day excursion to Machu Picchu - travel to this historic site is by train. Become one with the gods as you stand high among the clouds, surrounded by deep valleys and towering mountain peaks at this 15th century Inca site that sits 2430 metres above sea level. Despite countless studies, knowledge of Machu Picchu remains incomplete. Some believe the citadel was founded in the waning years of the last Incas as an attempt to preserve their culture, while others think it may have been a royal palace, abandoned at the time of the Spanish invasion. Lunch is included during this full day excursion.

Spend your free day shopping, sightseeing or relaxing at your hotel. Your guide can recommend activities or suggest places to visit.

This afternoon you will transfer to Cusco airport for your internal flight to Lima Airport from where you will board your overnight flight.