The Best of Peru in 15 Days

Day 1 – Arrive Lima

Today your international flight will arrive into Jorge Chavez International Airport in Lima (most flights arrive in the evening). We will meet you at the airport and transfer you to your hotel in the up-market district of Miraflores.

Day 2 – Guided Tour of Lima

You will have the morning free to take a late breakfast and relax. In the afternoon we will collect you for an afternoon colonial tour of Lima. The tour includes Lima’s Plaza de Armas, Lima Cathedral, The Church and Convent of San Francisco and The Museum of Religious Art.

Day 3 – Fly to Arequipa

Today you will fly from Lima to Arequipa (50 mins) away. Arequipa is Peru´s second largest city and is famous for boasting a beautiful colonial center, and having buildings constructed largely from white volcanic rock mined locally.

In the afternoon you will take a city tour of Arequipa, including a visit to the Plaza de Armas and its Cathedral, the cloisters of La Compania Church, the market of San Camilo and the extraordinary Santa Catalina convent, built from volcanic lava and dates to the 16th century

Day 4 – Colca Canyon

This morning you will have an early rise as we collect you for your two day Colca Canyon tour, also known as ‘The Valley of Wonders’. The journey will take you east from Arequipa, gently climbing through the National Reserve of Salinas, where wild llamas and vicunas grace and onto El Mirador de los Andes, the highest point on the journey at 4,800m (15,500ft). You will stop at many points of interest along the way for photo wildlife and opportunities, before you start to descend down to the village of Chivay, and onto your accommodation for the evening.

There is a choice of hotels in the valley, and we recommend a night in the fabulous Colca Lodge. Built completely of stone, mud bricks and thatched roofs, Colca Lodge is located in the heart of the Valley, next to the Colca River. The lodge has its own thermal pools where you can relax in the healing waters while admiring the stunning scenery.

Day 5 – Cruz del Condor

We have an early morning start to visit the Cruz Del Condor, the best place to see these magnificent birds of prey. With wingspans up to 15 feet they are the largest birds of prey in the world, a truly spectacular site as they soar above you and into the distance along the canyon.

In the afternoon you will travel on to Puno and onto your hotel for the evening.

Day 6 – Guided Tour of Lake Titicaca

Today you will have a full day tour of Lake Titicaca, considered in ancient Andean mythology to be the birth place of the Incan Empire. You will first visit the incredible floating Uros Islands, where local Uros Indians used Tortuga reed found on the shores of Lake Titicaca to create a series of floating islands complete with houses, furniture, boats and even churches. After you will travel on to the fixed island of Taquile, which is famous for colorful and intricate hand woven products. You will take a guided tour around the important parts of the Island including several Inca Ruins and a beautiful view point that has panoramic vistas of the Island and surrounding Lake. Lunch is included today.

Day 7 – Travel to Cusco

Today you will take a first class tourist bus from Puno to Cusco. The route starts in the high and flat altiplano of the Andes and through to the rugged and dramatic highland scenery as you approach Cusco. On route you will see many of the Andes natural wildlife including Alpaca, Llama and Vicuña. The journey breaks at La Raya where a buffet lunch is included. On arrival in Cusco you will be transferred to your hotel for the evening.

Day 8 – Guided tour of Cusco

Today you will have the morning to relax and settle in before we collect you for an afternoon tour of Cusco city and surroundings. The Cusco city tour includes attractions not only within the city, but those of Saqsayhuman, Q’enco and Tambomachay located on the outskirts of Cusco. Within the city the tour gives you the opportunity to visit Cusco’s Cathedral and Korikancha – The Inca Temple of the Sun.

Day 9 – Guided Tour of the Sacred Valley

Today you will take a full day tour of the Sacred Valley of the Incas, where you will visit the market town of Pisac and the small village of Ollantaytambo. In Pisac you will visit the beautiful mountain top ruins which include a small Inca village and a well preserved royal temple, before heading along the valley and lunching in Urubamba. In the afternoon you will climb the hillside fortress at Ollantaytambo, where the Incas fought one of their last battles against the Spanish Conquistadores. On your return to Cusco there is the opportunity to visit the small yet stunning church of Chinchero.

Day 10 – Guided Tour of Machu Picchu

Today you will catch an early train from Ollantaytambo to Machu Picchu. After your transfer from Cusco to Ollantaytambo, you will take a scenic two hour train ride along the beautiful Sacred Valley before arriving to Machu Picchu. You will take a two hour guided tour of Machu Picchu, including stops at the Caretakers Hut, the Temple of the Sun, the Royal Tomb, the Three Windowed Temple and Intihuatana (the Solar Clock). You will stay overnight near Machu Picchu in the small village of Aguas Calientes.

Day 11 – Re-visit Machu Picchu

A sunrise return to Machu Picchu awaits you today, and the option of an extended guided tour to some of the citadels hidden secrets. You can discuss with your guide what suits you best, but many visitors choose to hike to the Sun Gate (Intipunku) high above Machu Picchu or alternatively a leisurely climb up Huayna Picchu, the ubiquitous mountain overlooking the citadel. In the afternoon you will return to Cusco.

Day 12 – Free Day in Cusco

Today you will have a free day to relax and explore the vibrant Andean city of Cusco. Perhaps you would like to take a gentle walk to Cristo Blanco high above Cusco, or maybe meander around the many cobbled streets taking in a coffee. You can also use your Cusco Tourist Ticket (included in the price) to enter many of the interesting museums dotted around Cusco.

Day 13 – Amazon Jungle Tour

After a leisurely breakfast you will be transferred to Cusco Airport for your morning flights to Puerto Maldonado, deep in the Amazon Jungle. Your guide will meet you at the airport, and accompany you as you travel along the Tambopata River, to your Jungle Lodge (1h30m), boxed lunch included. After a refreshing welcome drink, you will be taken to your accommodations where you can rest and refresh.

The lodge is modern and comfortable, with raised wooden walkways that interconnect the accommodations, restaurant, lounge and bar areas. All rooms come complete with private bathrooms and high quality mosquito netting. Electricity is provided by generator for a few hours each day, but in the evenings light is provided throughout the lodge by cozy oil lamps.

In the afternoon you will take a 20 minute walk to a local canopy tower. A bannistered staircase running through the middle provides safe access to the 30 meter high platforms above. From atop you obtain spectacular views of the vast expanses of standing forest cut by the Tambopata River winding through the middle. Now and then toucans, parrots or macaws are seen flying against the horizon, or mixed species canopy flocks land in the treetop next to you.

After dinner at the lodge you have the option to listen to an eco-tourism presentation on the Infierno Eco-tourism project.

Day 14 – Amazon Jungle Tour

After breakfast you will visit the Tres Chimbadas Oxbow Lake, which is either a 30 minutes by boat, or 45 minutes on foot. Once there you will paddle around the lake in a catamaran, searching for the resident family of nine giant river otters, and other lakeside wildlife such as caiman, hoatzin and horned screamers. Otters are most active from dawn to eight or nine AM.

After your buffet lunch at the lodge you will have the opportunity take an Ethnobotanical Tour. A twenty minute boat drive downriver leads you to a trail designed by the staff of the Centro Ñape. The Centro Ñape is a communal organization that produces medicines out of forest plants and administers them to patients who choose their little clinic. They have produced a trail which explains the different medicinal (and other) uses of selected plants.

In the evening after a relaxing dinner, your guides will take you out for a night time jungle walk, when most mammals are active. Keep your eyes open for insect life, and listen closely for the strange sounds of the night time jungle.

Day 15 – Amazon to Lima

After breakfast you will return by boat to Puerto Maldonado, where you will be taken to the airport for your mid-morning flights to Lima. In Lima you can connect to your onward flights home. Should you wish we can include the day use of the Ramada Jarvis Airport Hotel, or arrange a transfer to a downtown Lima restaurant. We recommend La Bistecca in the district of San Isidro, where you can enjoy traditional and international cuisines from all around the world, in this high class (but well priced) buffet restaurant.

What’s Included

Recommended 3 star accommodations
Airport transfers
Guided tour of Lima
Guided tour of Arequipa
Guided tour of Colca Canyon
Guided tour of Lake Titicaca
First Class Tourist Bus from Puno – Cusco, inc lunch
Guided tour of Cusco (including full Cusco tourist ticket)
Guided tour of The Sacred Valley, including buffet lunch.
Two days guided tour of Machu Picchu
Amazon Jungle tour, including meals, accommodations, excursions and purified water

What’s Not Included

Domestic or international flights

**Prices quoted in US Dollars. Prices are based on two people or more sharing, using our recommended 3 star hotels, low season rates and travelling in our standard group tour (max 16 people). Alternative hotels and itineraries are available for this tour; contact one of our travel advisors for pricing information. Surcharges may be applicable to certain credit cards used for payment. Our Terms and Conditions apply to all purchases.

Amazon Jungle in Peru