Andean World Journey

Upon arrival at Jorge Chavez International Airport in Lima, you will be met by a representative who will assist with your transfer to the hotel at the scheduled time. The remainder of the day is yours to relax and acclimatise in Peru’s capital, a city rich in history and culture. Lima’s Historic Centre, known as the Ciudad de los Reyes or City of Kings, was once the political and religious heart of Spanish colonial Peru and is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Today, Lima blends its colonial heritage with a vibrant, modern atmosphere undergoing significant cultural and economic growth. You may choose to rest after your flight or explore the city at your own pace. Alternatively, you can join the optional Magic Water Circuit with Dinner – a shared tour starting at 17:30, lasting around four hours. This includes transport, a bilingual guide, admission to the world’s largest fountain complex as certified by Guinness World Records, and a dinner at a local restaurant. Please note this option is unavailable on Sundays and Mondays. Overnight in Lima.

After breakfast at your hotel, transfer to the airport for your flight to Cusco. Upon arrival, a representative will meet you and escort you to your hotel. In the afternoon, join a guided tour of Cusco, the former capital of the Inca Empire. Begin at the Santo Domingo Convent, built atop Coricancha—an important Incan temple dedicated to sun worship, once adorned with gold leaf and intricate nature motifs. Next, visit the impressive cathedral in the Plaza de Armas. Then, explore the surrounding hills to see the fortress of Sacsayhuamán, offering panoramic views of the city. Continue to Qenqo, an archaeological site believed to have been used for religious rituals to enhance harvests. Finally, visit Puka Pukara, meaning ‘strong red’ in Quechua, an ancient military complex featuring rooms, courtyards, baths, aqueducts and towers. After the tour, return to your hotel to relax and prepare for the days ahead.

After breakfast, we visit the high-altitude town of Chinchero, known for its stunning valley views and rich cultural traditions. Here, you will see locals dressed in traditional clothing and explore archaeological remains alongside a seventeenth-century church, one of Peru’s earliest Catholic buildings. Next, we transfer to the Yucay Museum of Living Culture, where you can observe artisans crafting textiles, pottery and silverware using techniques that date back to Inca times. This centre also offers the chance to feed llamas, sheep and alpacas, providing a genuine connection to Andean life. We then enjoy a lunch of local dishes in a cosy restaurant in Ollantaytambo. After lunch, we explore the town’s streets, continuously inhabited since Inca times, before climbing the impressive fortress built into the mountainside. On Sundays, you may also visit the local market. We return to the hotel in the Sacred Valley to rest, enriched by the spirit of the Incas.

After breakfast, we transfer you to Ollanta station to begin the journey to Machu Picchu. Enjoy a scenic train ride of approximately two hours to Aguas Calientes, also known as Machu Picchu Pueblo, the gateway to Peru’s most significant archaeological site. In Aguas Calientes, you’ll find a craft market, restaurants, and a range of accommodation options for those wishing to stay overnight and visit the site early the next day. From here, we take a short bus ride up to Machu Picchu, an extraordinary example of Inca architecture and engineering that served as a sanctuary and refuge for the Inca ruler Pachacútec. This UNESCO World Heritage Site, meaning “Old Mountain,” is also recognised as one of the seven new wonders of the world. After exploring Machu Picchu, we return to Aguas Calientes for lunch before boarding the train back to Cusco. You will spend the night in Cusco.

After breakfast, we transfer you to the bus station to begin your journey across the striking Andean landscape towards Puno. Your first stop is Andahuaylillas, about 40 kilometres from Cusco, where you will visit the local church often called the “Sistine Chapel of America” due to its remarkable artwork. We then continue to Racchi to explore the Wiracocha Temple, a notable rectangular structure measuring 30 metres wide and 20 metres high. Lunch is served in Sicuani before we ascend to La Raya, the highest point on the route at 4,313 metres above sea level. Next, we visit Pucara, the earliest urban settlement on Lake Titicaca, dating from 100 to 300 A.D. Here, you can see pre-Inca monoliths at the Pucara Lithic Museum. The day concludes with the final leg to Puno, where a representative will welcome you and assist with hotel check-in.

After breakfast, we transfer to the port of Puno to board a boat bound for the Uros Islands. These remarkable man-made islands are crafted entirely from totora reeds, which grow abundantly in the shallows of Lake Titicaca. The Uros people maintain their islands by continually layering fresh reeds on top as the lower layers decompose. Their homes are also built from totora, and cooking is done outdoors to prevent fire hazards. Following your visit to the Uros, we sail to Taquile Island, once part of the Inca Empire. Here, you’ll see remnants of its Incan heritage and enjoy a cultural demonstration by the local community, offering insight into their customs and traditions. Lunch is served on the island before we return to Puno for the evening.

After breakfast at the hotel, you will transfer from Puno to the airport for your onward journey. While this marks the end of your tour through some of Peru’s most captivating destinations, the rich culture and history you have experienced will remain with you long after you leave. Breakfast is included.