Great Inca Expedition

Arrive in Lima, where we’ll meet you and arrange a smooth transfer to your hotel so you can check in and settle straight in. The rest of the day is at leisure – you can relax after your flight or take a gentle first look at the city at your own pace.

After breakfast, we set out on a guided exploration of Lima’s Historic Centre – a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Our first stop is the Santo Domingo Convent, founded at the city’s beginnings. Here we learn how it once housed San Marcos University, the oldest in the Americas, see the country’s oldest choir stalls, and visit the library with more than 25,000 volumes, including works printed as early as the 15th century. The convent is closely linked to Lima’s most revered saints and holds the remains of San Martin de Porres, San Juan Masias and Santa Rosa de Lima. We then stroll across the Main Plaza, passing the Government Palace and Municipal Palace, to reach Lima Cathedral. Inside, we view significant religious art, including paintings that trace the city’s history. Next, we visit the Larco Museum – about 30 minutes from the city centre – to explore its outstanding collections from ancient Peru.

Highlights include the open-access storage area, where thousands of finely crafted ceramics depict everyday life, from faces and rituals to animals, plants and cultural motifs.

We begin with a scenic bus journey to Paracas Bay, then transfer to Pisco Airport for a flight over the Nazca Lines – a UNESCO World Heritage Site. From the air, we admire vast geoglyphs including the monkey, hummingbird, condor and spider. Their purpose remains uncertain – many consider them to have astronomical or ceremonial significance. After the flight, we return to Paracas and transfer to your hotel. The rest of the day is at leisure, you can relax and enjoy the hotel’s facilities or explore the tranquil surroundings.

We begin early with a motorboat tour to the Ballestas Islands, a wildlife-rich excursion off the Paracas coast. En route we pause to view the mysterious Candelabra, a vast geoglyph etched into the sand and reminiscent of the Nazca Lines. Around the islands we watch for sea lions, pelicans, Humboldt penguins and a variety of seabirds against striking coastal scenery. In the afternoon we depart by bus to Lima, on arrival you’re transferred to your hotel, where you can relax and unwind.

After breakfast, we transfer to the airport and fly to Arequipa – the White City. On arrival, we’re met and taken to the hotel. You have the morning at leisure to acclimatise and get ready for the afternoon’s exploration. We begin in the San Lazaro colonial district – the city’s birthplace – strolling its lanes lined with geraniums before continuing to the Carmen Alto viewpoint for wide views of agricultural terraces and the volcanoes Misti, Chachani and Pichu Pichu. We then visit the Yanahuara district, known for its Andalusian style church and viewpoint framed by elegant sillar arches. Next, we explore the Santa Catalina Monastery, once closed to the public for 400 years, with narrow streets, small squares and gardens that recall old Seville or Granada. We continue to the Main Square to see the Cathedral and its graceful stone arcades, and finish at the Church of the Society of Jesus, a seventeenth century gem renowned for its intricate cloisters and the San Ignacio Dome. Lodging in Arequipa.

Please note: The flight from Lima to Arequipa is not included in the cost of your tour and must be booked independently.

Enjoy a scenic drive into the Colca Valley, climbing the foothills of Chachani with sweeping views of the Misti and Pichu Pichu volcanoes. En route we cross the Pampa Canahuas Vicuna Reserve – look out for wild vicunas on the high plains and Andean villages along the way. We stop for lunch before continuing to your hotel, where the afternoon is free to unwind, you can relax with the hotel’s amenities or visit the nearby thermal baths.

We start early and travel to the Condor Cross Viewpoint near Cabanaconde to watch the majestic Andean condors in flight, iconic symbols of the Andes and among the largest flying birds in the world. From here, we take in sweeping views over Colca Canyon, one of the deepest canyons on Earth.

We continue to the towns of Maca and Yanque to see their well preserved colonial churches and gain a glimpse of local culture. After lunch, we board the bus for the journey to Puno – around five hours. On arrival, we’re met and transferred to the hotel.

After breakfast, we board a boat to explore Lake Titicaca, the world’s highest navigable lake. Our first stop is the Uros floating islands, built entirely from totora reeds, where we meet local families and learn about their traditions and daily life. We then continue across the lake to Taquile Island, known for its vibrant culture, traditional dress and strong preservation of ancestral customs. We walk the island for panoramic views and enjoy a typical lunch prepared by the community. In the afternoon we return by boat to Puno. You have the evening at leisure at your hotel.

After breakfast we travel by scenic bus to Cusco, stopping at key sites along the way. In Pucara we visit the museum to see pre-Inca artefacts. We continue to La Raya – the natural border between Puno and Cusco – for lunch with wide highland views. In the afternoon we explore Raqchi to see the Temple of Wiracocha, where imposing walls and narrow streets reflect Inca ingenuity, before continuing to Andahuaylillas to admire its church, known as the Sistine Chapel of the Andes for its richly painted Baroque interior. We arrive in Cusco by late afternoon and settle into your hotel.

We start early to avoid the crowds at Sacsayhuaman, exploring its colossal stonework and sweeping views that blend with the surrounding landscape. We continue to the Inca shrine of Qenqo to see the sacrificial altar carved inside a rock cave, then take in the views from Puca Pucara before visiting Tambomachay – a monument of remarkable Inca engineering linked to the Andean cosmovision.

Later, we begin our city tour at San Cristobal Plaza for panoramic views over Cusco, then immerse ourselves in daily life at San Pedro Market to discover the regional flavours and produce that sustain the city. We visit Korikancha, known as the Gold Enclosure, and the adjoining Church of Santo Domingo, where Inca foundations meet colonial architecture. We stroll through the artisans’ neighbourhood of San Blas and down Hatun Rumiyoc Street to admire the Twelve‑Angle Stone and the Inca Roca Palace, now the Archbishop’s residence. The tour ends at the Main Square with time to appreciate the Cathedral and its notable colonial artworks.

We travel into the Sacred Valley, beginning at Pisac’s remarkable Inca site set high above the town for sweeping valley views. After exploring the ruins, we descend for a guided walk through the colonial town, with time for you to browse the famous handicraft market.

We then head to the Inkariy Museum for lunch, followed by a guided visit through its galleries showcasing the cultures of ancient Peru. Our day continues at the Yucay Museum of Living Culture – a centre dedicated to the region’s agricultural and artisanal traditions – where we can feed llamas and alpacas, watch demonstrations of traditional weaving and dyeing, and visit interpretation centres on adobe making, a traditional chicheria and local folklore.

We continue our exploration of the Sacred Valley, starting at Moray, where vast concentric terraces form an amphitheatre – an ingenious Inca design that created up to 20 distinct microclimates to support agriculture. We then travel to Maras to see the historic salt pools, their bright white pans contrasting with the green valley, before pausing for a buffet lunch. In the afternoon we visit the archaeological complex of Ollantaytambo, noted for its refined Inca stonework, then transfer to the Ollantaytambo station to board the train to Machu Picchu town. On arrival, our staff welcome us and assist with hotel check in for a comfortable stay.

From Machu Picchu, we board the bus for the winding ascent to the citadel, with sweeping views of the Urubamba River and its dramatic canyon. On arrival, we explore Machu Picchu on a guided tour, taking in its agricultural terraces, ceremonial shrines, stairways and urban sectors. After the visit, we pause for lunch at a local restaurant. At the scheduled time, we take the train back to Cusco and continue by transfer to your hotel.

Enjoy a free day in Cusco – a city rich in cultural, archaeological and adventure experiences.

Please book any activities in advance. If you’re seeking a challenge at high altitude, you can book an excursion to Vinicunca, the Rainbow Mountain, located at 5,000 metres above sea level in the Vilcanota River Valley within the Ausangate range – now one of Cusco’s most iconic attractions. For a gentler option, you can spend the day kayaking on Piuray Lagoon, paddling across tranquil waters with snowy peaks as your backdrop and concluding with a delicious lunch by the lakeside.

After breakfast, we transfer you to the airport for your flight to Lima. On arrival, you connect to your international flight home, concluding your trip.

Please note: The flight from Cusco to Lima is not included in the cost of your tour and must be booked independently.