Peru Shades Exploration

On arrival in Lima, a driver and guide will meet you at the airport at the arranged time and transfer you to your hotel. The remainder of the day is at your leisure to begin exploring the city. Lima is a vibrant capital of around 10 million people, blending modern life with a rich historical heritage. You may choose to join an optional evening excursion to the Magic Water Circuit – a spectacular display of fountains recognised by the Guinness World Records as the largest of its kind. This shared tour includes pick-up and drop-off, a bilingual guide, admission to the park, and dinner at a local restaurant. The experience lasts approximately four hours, starting at 17:30, and is unavailable on Sundays and Mondays. Overnight in Lima.

After breakfast, meet your local guide in the hotel lobby at around 9 am to explore Lima’s historic centre, a UNESCO World Heritage Site rich in colonial architecture. We begin in the traditional Pueblo Libre district with a visit to the Larco Museum, housed in a restored viceregal mansion built atop a 7th-century pre-Columbian pyramid. The museum features an extensive collection of pre-Hispanic gold and silver artefacts, including notable examples of erotic art. Next, we visit Casa Aliaga, a colonial mansion granted by Francisco Pizarro to Captain Jeronimo de Aliaga, which remains in the same family to this day. The tour continues through Lima’s colonial downtown, where you will see the impressive Main Square and the 16th-century Cathedral, both emblematic of Spanish imperial architecture. The guided tour concludes at approximately 1 pm with a return to your hotel. The afternoon is free for you to explore at your leisure.

After breakfast, you will be transferred to the airport for your flight to Cusco (please note the domestic flight from Lima to Cusco is not included and must arrive no later than 10:30 am). Upon arrival, a representative will welcome you and escort you to your hotel. After a short rest, your local guide will collect you at 1 pm for a four-hour tour of Cusco, the former capital of the Inca Empire. The tour begins at the Santo Domingo Convent, built atop the Inca Coricancha temple—once a significant sun worship site with foundations still visible. Next, visit the Cathedral in the Main Square, the city’s most prominent monument. Then, head to the hills above Cusco to explore the fortress of Sacsayhuaman, offering panoramic views of the city, followed by the temple and amphitheatre of Qenqo, believed to have been used for agricultural rituals. Finally, visit Puca Pucara (‘Red Fortress’ in Quechua), an Inca military complex featuring dwellings, aqueducts, walls and towers. The tour concludes around 5.30 pm with a return to your hotel for the evening.

After breakfast, we will transfer you to Ollanta Station to board the train to Aguas Calientes, the gateway to Machu Picchu. The journey offers stunning views of the Andean landscape as you travel through the mountains. Upon arrival, we will guide you to the bus for a 25-minute ride up to Machu Picchu, the renowned ‘lost city of the Incas’. Built around 1450 by the Inca ruler Pachacútec as a royal estate, the site was later abandoned following the Spanish conquest, which allowed the jungle to conceal and preserve it. During the 2.5-hour guided tour, you will explore the main monuments and learn about the history and significance of this remarkable citadel. After the tour, you will have some free time to explore independently. At the designated time, we will return by bus to Aguas Calientes for a delicious lunch. Afterwards, you will board the train back to Ollanta Station, where a vehicle will be waiting to transfer you to your hotel in Cusco for overnight.

After breakfast, enjoy a full day at your leisure in Cusco. This is an ideal opportunity to rest, explore the city independently, or visit local markets and cafés at your own pace. Overnight in Cusco.

We collect you from your hotel early at around 4 am for the transfer to Cusipata, where your hike begins. Surrounded by stunning Andean landscapes and overlooked by the sacred Ausangate Mountain—an important peak in Inca tradition—you will trek to the viewpoint of the 7-Colour Mountain. Take time to admire the unique colours and panoramic views before descending back to Cusipata. Here, your transfer will be waiting to take you back to Cusco, with a stop en route to enjoy lunch. You should arrive at your hotel by approximately 4 pm, leaving the rest of the afternoon free to relax. The trek covers 4 kilometres, with an ascent and descent of 406 metres, and takes around three hours.

After breakfast, we will transfer you from your hotel to Cusco airport for your onward journey.