Travelpack

Highlights: Lima - Arequipa - Colca Valley - Puno - Cusco

Itinerary:
Sat 15 Nov 25: Peru
➤Flight from London Heathrow Airport to Amsterdam Schipol Airport
➤Amsterdam Schipol Airport to Lima Jorge Chavez International Airport

Sat 15 Nov 25: Arrival Lima (15km - 20min)
➤Arrive at Lima Airport. Transportation service and a representative will pick you up from the airport at the scheduled time to transfer you to your hotel in Lima. The Peruvian capital is a modern metropolis full of history, currently undergoing an exciting process of cultural and economic changes. Alternatively, you can choose to book our Optional Tour (not included): Magic Water Circuit with Dinner and Folk Show (private 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 which is followed by a unique gastronomical experience at a restaurant, accompanied by a delicious buffet dinner and amusing folk show.
Notes: Private service. Start time: 18:00 hours. Duration 4 hours. Includes Pick-up and Drop-off, Bilingual guide (Spanish and English), Admission to Magic Water Circuit, and Buffet Dinner with Folkloric show
Overnight in Lima.

Sun 16 Nov 25: Lima City Tour
➤Wake up to breakfast in the hotel before hitting the streets of Limas Old Town; a UNESCO-listed World Heritage Site packed with fascinating historical buildings. Start with the Larco Museum, located in the traditional Pueblo Libre district, which is housed in a beautifully restored viceregal mansion built on a pre-Columbian pyramid. The museum boasts the world's most complete pre-Hispanic collection of gold and silver objects, as well as pieces of erotic art. Then visit Casa Aliaga, a colonial mansion granted in 1535 by chief conquistador Francisco Pizarro to Jeronimo de Aliaga, one of his captains. Continue to a scenic tour in the colonial downtown, which originates and spreads out from the Main Square. Here you can appreciate the grandiose architecture of the Spanish Empire and be amazed by Limas Cathedral. Erected in the 16th century, this building took more than 80 years to complete. After the tour, you will be transferred back to the hotel.
Overnight in Lima.

Mon 17 Nov 25: Lima Arequipa (90min flight, not included)
➤After breakfast at the hotel check out and drive to the airport of Lima to take a flight to Arequipa. Upon arrival at Arequipa Airport, our representative will meet you and take you to the hotel. Enjoy a comfortable transfer while a guide will inform you about the attractions and services the city offers and will assist you with the check-in at your hotel. In the afternoon, it is time to get to know the city. Start your journey in the main square, called 'Plaza de Armas'. Admire its elegant neo-Renaissance basilica cathedral and the sensational Monastery 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. The convent was founded in the 16th century, and it was an almost self-sufficient town, made up of houses for nuns and their servants, cloisters, squares and narrow streets, kitchens and refectories, among others. Strolling through its colorful streets will be like going back in time and will allow you to understand colonial Peru. Continue until you reach the Church of the Company, perhaps the greatest masterpiece of Peruvian baroque, where you can analyze its fascinating facade. The sacristy is exceptionally beautiful, thanks to its dome and walls covered with murals that show tropical flora and fauna. The Jesuit seminary is well known for its beautiful main cloister. Finally, head to the neighborhoods of Yanahuara and Carmen Alto, where you can enjoy a magnificent view of the Misti volcano, which rises above the city. In the end, you will be transferred to your hotel.
Overnight in Arequipa.

Tue 18 Nov 25: Arequipa Colca Valley and Canyon (170km 3hrs)
➤After finishing your breakfast at the hotel, it is time to say goodbye to Arequipa and head to the Colca Valley. The route will take you through the Yura district, an area characterized by impressive geographical features, ranging from deep ravines to high mountains, waterfalls, and lush vegetation. The route continues to the Pampa Caahuas. This extensive Andean plateau is home to the vicua, 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 meters above sea level. This viewpoint offers impressive views of the numerous volcanoes surrounding Arequipa. Enjoy lunch in the picturesque town of Chivay (included) before being transferred to your selected hotel in the Colca Valley for a free afternoon.
Overnight in Colca Valley.

Wed 19 Nov 25: Colca Valley and Canyon (140km 3hrs)
➤After breakfast at the hotel, prepare for a day of high drama with a trip to the breathtaking Condor Cross lookout. Take a deep breath and appreciate the sheer vastness of the Colca Valley, which is one of the world's deepest canyons with a maximum depth of more than 4,160 meters, twice that of the Grand Canyon. The thrill of the experience is enhanced by the natural spectacle of huge condors flying over the canyon. Watch in awe as these graceful birds of prey glide over the canyon, patrolling it with military discipline. Descend to the valley floor to discover some of the rustic towns on the banks of the River Colca such as Chivay, Pinchollo, Maca, Achoma, and Yanque, where quaint colonial churches are as much as part of the scenery as the peaks of the Andes. There are also stops at the lookouts of Antahuilque and Choquetico to admire majestic views of the valley. Lunch included. 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 Valley.

Thu 20 Nov 25: Colca Valley Puno (250km 6hrs)
➤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. 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 cafes that offer visitors coca tea, and artisans selling traditional textiles and handicrafts along the route (own expense). Lunch included. On arrival in Puno, you will be transferred to your hotel.
Overnight in Puno.

Fri 21 Nov 25: Puno Uros Taquile Puno (3hrs by speedboat)
➤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 human-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 regularly 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 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 (included).
Overnight in Puno.

Sat 22 Nov 25: Puno Pucara La Raya Rachi Andahuaylillas Cusco (390km 8hrs)
➤After breakfast at the hotel, a transportation service will transfer you to the bus station, where a representative will help you catch your bus to Cusco. On the way, you will make some interesting stops. The first is the town of Pucara and the Pucara Lithic Museum. This was the first urban settlement on Lake Titicaca, established between 100 and 300 A.D. After a brief break at La Raya, the highest point of the trip between Puno and Cusco at the dizzying altitude of 4,313 meters above sea level, the bus stops at Sicuani for lunch (included). We then head on to Racchi, home to the Wiracocha Temple, an Inca site built in honor of a powerful Andean god. The rectangular construction boasts thatched rooftops 20 meters above the ground; these are thought to be the highest in the Inca Empire. Later, visit Andahuaylillas, a town located around 40 kilometers away from Cusco. The main attraction here is the local church, known as the Sistine Chapel of America owing to the high quality of art found inside. The church was built during the 16th century on top of Wari remains. Afterwards, a last 40-kilometre drive gets you to Cusco, today's final destination.
Overnight in Cusco.

Sun 23 Nov 25: Cusco nearby Archeological Sites Cusco
➤After breakfast at the hotel, take advantage of your free morning in Cusco to rest at the hotel or explore its cobblestoned streets and shop for local
handicrafts. In the afternoon, enjoy a guided tour of the former capital of the Inca Empire. The tour starts with a visit to Santo Domingo Convent, a large Renaissance-baroque complex, which was built over the Inca Coricancha temple. It was one of the most important temples dedicated to worshipping the sun, and its foundations are still prominent at the base of the convent. Then, visit the Cathedral, the most imposing monument of the Main Square. Head to the hills above Cusco to visit the remains of the fortress of Sacsayhuaman, whose impressive ramparts offer a stunning panoramic view of Cusco, and the ruins of the temple and amphitheater of Qenqo, where it is believed the Incas practiced agricultural rituals. Admire Qenqo and then finally visit Puka Pukara (Red fortress in Quechua) an Inca military complex located on a prominent hill. Its dwellings square, bathrooms, aqueducts, walls, and towers can still be appreciated. Afterwards, return to your hotel.
Overnight in Cusco.

Mon 24 Nov 25: Cusco Sacred Valley: Chinchero, Living Museum of Yucay, Ollantaytambo (100km 2.5hrs)
➤During the morning, you are picked up from your hotel to visit the town of Chinchero, a traditional Cusco urban centre located at an elevated point with a beautiful view of the valley. The inhabitants of this area preserve the artisan traditions and the inherited knowledge of the Incas and display them in their clothes and customs. In Chinchero there are also archaeological remains and a beautiful seventeenth-century church, one of the first Catholic buildings in Peru. Then, you are transferred to the Living Museum of Yucay, an Andean tradition interpretation center with demonstrations of the production of textile work, adobe, pottery and silverware, following the techniques used by the ancestors. In addition, residents of the museum include llamas, sheep, and alpacas, and they can be fed! Visit the town of Ollantaytambo upon your arrival, inhabited uninterruptedly since Inca time, and have a superior Andean gastronomy experience in a restaurant (included). Fell the true spirit of the Sacred Valley, transmitted in a cosy atmosphere! Later, climb the iconic fortress, built next to a mountain and then you are transferred back to your hotel.
Overnight in the Sacred Valley.
What's included?
Tour Guide:
Operated with English-Spanish-speaking local guides on private
basis during the activities (Days 2,3,5,7-11)
Accommodation:
12 nights' accommodation
Meals:
12 breakfasts
7 Lunches (6 at local restaurants; 1 boxed)
Transport:
Private arrival transfer from Lima Airport (Day 1)
Private arrival transfer from Arequipa Airport (Day 3)
Private transfer from/to bus station in Puno (Day 6, 8)
Private transfer from the bus station in Cusco (Day 8)
Private transfer to/from the train station in Ollantaytambo (Day 10)
Shared bus from Aguas Calientes / Machu Picchu / Aguas Calientes (Day 11)
Roundtrip train to Machu Picchu in Expedition Service (PeruRail) or Voyager (IncaRail) for the Standard and Superior category, and Vistadome Service (Per Rail) or 360 (Inca Rai) for the Deluxe category (Day 11)
Private departure airport transfer to the airport in Cusco (Day 13)
Entrance Fees and Activities:
All entrance fees and activities mentioned in the itinerary: Lima city tour (Day 2); Arequipa city tour and Monastery of Santa Catalina (Day 3); Colca Valley: Chivay, Pinchollo, Maca, Achoma, Yanque and Condor Cross lookout, Uyo Uyo archaeological site (Day5); Uros and Taquile Islands (Day 7); Pucara, Pucara Museum, La Raya, Racchi, Andahuaylillas (Day 8); Cusco city tour and nearby archaeological sites (Day 9); Chinchero tour, Living Museum of Yucay, Ollantaytambo (Day 10); Machu Picchu tour (Day 11)
Others:
Meet & Greet (Day 1, 3)
Upgrade to Superior train class (Vistadome or 360) Roundtrip Day 12: Entrance to Huayna Picchu and bus from/to Aguas Calientes If your trip includes the visit to high altitude cities such as Cusco and Puno located at more than 3400 meters (11200 feet above sea level), do not forget to take precautions in order to avoid altitude sickness. Passengers who have heart problems or high blood pressure should check with their doctor before traveling Upon arrival is recommended to rest for a few hours, drink coca tea, and eat lightly. As a reference, Machu Picchu is located at 2400 meters (8000 feet above sea level) The current restrictions on visits to Machu Picchu allow a maximum stay of 4 hours in the citadel accompanied by a guide during the first entry. If the visitor tours an alternate route (Mountain Machu Picchu or Huayna Picchu) the passenger will have 3 hours for this purpose, in addition to the 4 hours in the citadel. If the passenger wishes to enter the citadel again during the afternoon shift or the next day, he must acquire previously an additional ticket to enter the new shift. There is no ticket sale in the archaeological zone. The following objects are forbidden: professional cameras that require lights and tripods, or with telephoto lenses with a weight higher than 2 kilos (in order to use them, special authorization is needed, as well as the payment of an additional fee), drones, selfie sticks, sprays, high heels, walking sticks without rubber tip, banners and posters, sharp objects and backpacks bigger than 40cm x 35 cm x 20 cm. New plastic regulation: after the prohibition of the access of single-use plastic items to 76 natural areas including Machu Picchu, it is important to use reusable bottles. We reserve the right to change itineraries and activities due to weather conditions, technical problems, or security reasons.

Mon 17 Nov 25: Departure

Prices & Departure:
Deposit £355pp
➤Y91885 London Heathrow from £4169pp

Terms & Conditions:
Based on 2 Adults Sharing

Offer Includes

Meal Plans