South Peru Enigma Journey

Upon arrival at Jorge Chavez International Airport in Lima, a representative will meet you and transfer you to your hotel at the arranged time. You will have the remainder of the day at your leisure to rest or begin exploring Peru’s vibrant capital. Lima, once known as the ‘City of Kings’, was the political and economic heart of Spanish South America during colonial times. Its historic centre is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, showcasing impressive colonial architecture alongside a modern metropolis undergoing dynamic cultural and economic change. If you wish, you can join an optional evening excursion to the Magic Water Circuit – a spectacular display of fountains recognised by the Guinness World Records. This shared tour includes pick-up and drop-off, a bilingual guide, admission to the park, and dinner at a local restaurant. Please note this option is not available on Sundays or Mondays and lasts approximately four hours, starting at 17:30. Overnight in Lima.

After breakfast at the hotel, we begin the day exploring Lima’s historic old town and colonial centre. Our first stop is the Larco Museum, housed in a former mansion built atop a seventh-century pre-Columbian temple. The museum features an extensive collection of gold and silver artefacts, pottery and notable erotic art. Next, we visit Casa de Aliaga, Lima’s oldest colonial mansion, continuously inhabited by the Aliaga family since 1535 when conquistador Francisco Pizarro granted the land to Jerónimo de Aliaga. The tour then continues through the colonial heart of the city, including the impressive Plaza de Armas, the central square showcasing Spanish colonial architecture. Here, you will see the Government Palace on the north side and the 16th-century Cathedral of Lima to the east. After the tour, we transfer you back to your hotel for a free afternoon to relax or explore at your leisure. Overnight in Lima.

After breakfast, a representative will collect you and accompany you to the bus station for your journey from Lima to Paracas. Upon arrival, you will be transferred to your chosen hotel, where you can spend the rest of the day at your leisure. Located on the coast, Paracas offers a chance to relax on the beach or explore the nearby Paracas National Reserve. This protected area is renowned for its diverse marine wildlife and striking coastline, featuring wind- and wave-carved rock formations alongside vast orange sand dunes stretching for kilometres. In the evening, you might enjoy watching the sunset over the sea while savouring a refreshing drink at one of the restaurants along the beachfront promenade. Overnight in Paracas.

After breakfast, we transfer to El Chaco pier to board a boat for a cruise to the Ballestas Islands, a group of rocky islets just off Peru’s western coast. These islands provide a vital habitat for a variety of bird species and larger wildlife, including seals, boobies, pelicans, sea lions and the endangered Humboldt penguin. As we navigate around the islands’ dramatic cliffs, you can observe large colonies of sea lions resting on the rocks and birds in flight; dolphins may also appear nearby. While we do not disembark, the boat brings you close to this remarkable wildlife. During the cruise, we pass the Paracas Candelabra, a large geoglyph dating back to around 200 BC, whose origins and purpose remain unknown. After the boat tour, we transfer to the bus station for your onward journey to Nasca. Overnight in Nasca.

After breakfast, take a 30-minute flight over the Peruvian desert to admire the enigmatic Nazca Lines. These ancient geoglyphs, etched into the sand, form a series of geometric shapes and figures such as a spider, condor and monkey, visible only from the air. Upon landing, you will be transferred to the bus station to begin your journey to Arequipa. The bus journey lasts approximately 10 hours, crossing diverse landscapes before arriving at your hotel in Arequipa, where you can rest after the day’s travel.

After breakfast at the hotel, spend the day exploring Arequipa. Begin in the Plaza de Armas, home to the elegant neo-Renaissance Basilica Cathedral. Then visit the remarkable Santa Catalina Monastery, founded in the 16th century. This vast, walled complex was once a self-sufficient community where wealthy families paid for their daughters to join the convent. Today, wandering its colourful streets offers a vivid glimpse into colonial Peru. The tour concludes with visits to the Yanahuara and Carmen Alto neighbourhoods, where you can enjoy stunning views of the Misti volcano towering above the city. Overnight in Arequipa.

After breakfast, we leave Arequipa and travel to the Colca Valley. The journey takes us through the Yura district, an area marked by striking landscapes including deep ravines, towering mountains, waterfalls and lush vegetation. We continue across the Pampa Cañahuas, an extensive Andean plateau home to the vicuña, a native camelid related to the alpaca and llama. Along the way, we cross the pampas of Viscachani and Toccra and skirt the crater of the extinct Chucura Volcano before reaching the Mirador de los Andes at Patapampa, situated at 4,910 metres above sea level. From this viewpoint, you can admire impressive views of the surrounding volcanoes near Arequipa. We then enjoy lunch in the charming town of Chivay before transferring to your chosen hotel in the Colca Valley, where you have the afternoon at your leisure.

After breakfast, prepare for a memorable day at the Cruz del Condor viewpoint in Colca Canyon, one of the world’s deepest valleys at around 3,400 metres—twice the depth of the Grand Canyon. Here, you may see the impressive Andean condors soaring on the rising thermals. We then descend into the valley to visit traditional towns along the Colca River, including Chivay, Pinchollo, Maca, Achoma and Yanque, each featuring charming colonial churches set against the backdrop of the Andes. Along the way, we stop at the Antahuilque and Choquetico viewpoints for sweeping views of the valley. Next, we visit the Ocolle lookout to admire ‘the Amphitheatre’, a series of pre-Inca agricultural terraces, before exploring the Uyo Uyo archaeological site. After a full day of exploration, we return to your hotel in Colca for the night.

Begin the day with a leisurely breakfast at your hotel, followed by a free morning to enjoy the hotel’s facilities at your own pace. In the afternoon, we will set off for Puno, a port city on the western shore of Lake Titicaca – the highest navigable lake in the world. The journey passes through the Salinas and Aguada Blanca National Reserve, where you will see striking landscapes including high plains, volcanoes, and the unique stone forests of Patahuasi. Along the route, keep an eye out for lagoons where cranes often gather, as well as remote cafés offering coca tea and local artisans selling traditional textiles and handicrafts. Upon arrival in Puno, you will be transferred to your hotel, with the remainder of the day at your leisure.

After breakfast, we travel to Puno’s port to board a boat bound for the Uros Islands. These remarkable man-made islands are constructed entirely from totora reeds, which grow abundantly in the shallows of Lake Titicaca. The Uros people maintain their homes and islands by continually replenishing the reed layers, and cooking is done outdoors to prevent fire hazards. Following the visit, we sail to Taquile Island, once part of the Inca Empire. Here, you will 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, transfer to the bus station to begin your journey through the striking Andean landscape to Cusco, the former heart of the Inca Empire. As you travel across the high-altitude plateau, reaching up to 4,313 metres above sea level, you will pass traditional villages and have the chance to spot local wildlife. Your first stop is the archaeological site of Pukara, the earliest urban settlement near Lake Titicaca, dating from 100 to 300 A.D. Next, continue to Racchi to visit the impressive Wiracocha Temple, a large rectangular structure measuring 30 metres wide and 20 metres high. When you are about 40 kilometres from Cusco, pause in the town of Andahuaylillas to see its renowned church, often called the ‘Sistine Chapel of America’ due to its exceptional artwork. Upon arrival in Cusco, you will be transferred from the bus station to your hotel for the evening.

After breakfast, enjoy a free morning in Cusco to relax at your hotel or explore the city’s charming cobbled streets and browse local handicrafts. In the afternoon, join a guided tour of the former Inca capital, beginning at the Santo Domingo Convent, built atop Coricancha—once the most important Incan temple dedicated to sun worship, famed for its gold-covered walls. Next, visit the impressive cathedral in the Plaza de Armas before heading to the surrounding hills to explore the fortress of Sacsayhuaman, offering panoramic views of Cusco. Continue to Qenqo, an archaeological site believed to have been used for religious rituals, and conclude at Puka Pukara, the ‘red fortress’ featuring ancient military structures including rooms, courtyards, baths, aqueducts and towers. After the tour, we will transfer you back to your hotel for the evening.

After breakfast, we visit the high-altitude town of Chinchero, known for its stunning valley views and vibrant local traditions. Here, we explore archaeological remains and a 17th-century church, one of Peru’s earliest Catholic buildings. On Sundays, you may also visit the lively local market. Next, we transfer to the Yucay Museum of Living Culture, where you can observe artisans crafting textiles, adobe pottery and silverware using techniques dating back to Inca times. This centre also offers the chance to feed llamas, sheep and alpacas, providing a genuine insight into Andean life. We then enjoy a lunch of traditional local dishes in a cosy restaurant in Ollantaytambo. After lunch, explore the streets of this continuously inhabited Inca town and climb the iconic fortress built into the mountainside. 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 your journey to Machu Picchu, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. 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. Machu Picchu is believed to have been built around 1450 as a retreat for the Inca emperor Pachacutec. Abandoned just over a century later—likely due to the Spanish Conquest—it remained hidden beneath dense jungle until its rediscovery in 1911. During the guided tour, we explore the origins of the citadel and visit its most iconic monuments. After the tour, you will have lunch in Aguas Calientes before boarding the train back to Cusco for your overnight stay.

After breakfast at the hotel, you will be transferred to the airport for your onward journey. Although this marks the end of your tour through some of Peru’s most captivating natural and historical sites, we trust the experiences and memories you have made will stay with you for years to come. Breakfast is included.