Peru 360

Day By Day

Itinerary Complete

• 1
  Day 1: Lima

  Arrival and transfer.

  

  

  
• 2
  Day 2: Paracas – Ica – Nazca

  Pickup is scheduled approximately between 4:00 a.m. and 5:00 a.m. before beginning a journey of approximately three hours. On the way, we will make a stop at an artisan bakery, where there will be free time to enjoy breakfast with freshly baked, warm bread.
  
  We then arrive in Paracas, where the tour to the Ballestas Islands begins. We depart from “El Chaco” pier aboard a speedboat that will take us to the islands for a little over an hour. During the trip, we can see the Paracas Candelabra, as well as sea lions, Humboldt penguins, and numerous species of guano birds.
  
  The journey continues to Ica, arriving at a tourist winery-restaurant, where there will be free time to optionally taste typical dishes from Ica cuisine. Afterwards, we head to the tasting room to try more than five varieties of wines, piscos, and liqueur creams, followed by time set aside for shopping.
  
  Finally, we arrive at the Huacachina Oasis. There we enjoy an adventure aboard buggies (sand cars), speeding across the dunes of Ica and going up and down as if on a roller coaster made of sand. Upon reaching the top of the dunes, we practice sandboarding, sliding downhill on a special board. Afterwards, the return to the city of Lima begins.

  

  

  
• 3
  Day 3: Nazca Lines

  In the morning, enjoy a light breakfast at the hotel; then transportation takes you to Nazca, directly to the Nasca aerodrome for the overflight of the Nasca Lines. After the flight, there is free time to enjoy a good lunch at your own expense. At around 2:30 p.m., the bus departs back to Lima, arriving at approximately 10:30 p.m., depending on traffic conditions.

  

  

  
• 4
  Day 4: Cusco

  Travel and acclimatization.

  

  

  
• 5
  Day 5: Cusco City Tour

  Cusco, the former capital of the Inca Empire known as the navel of the world, or Qosqo, is best explored in the afternoon, when golden light illuminates its polished stone walls. Starting at 13:30, the route begins at Qoricancha Temple, the most important temple in the empire, once entirely covered in gold. The Spanish built Santo Domingo Convent on its foundations, creating an architectural encounter between two civilisations.
  
  The circuit continues to Plaza de Armas before climbing to the archaeological sites on the outskirts: Sacsayhuamán, with its enormous blocks weighing up to 200 tonnes and fitted without mortar; Q’enqo, a sanctuary carved into living rock; Puka Pukara; and Tambomachay, the Inca water temple. The tour ends around 18:30, just as the sun sets over the imperial city.

  

  

  
• 6
  Day 6: Sacred Valley

  A comprehensive option for those who want to make the most of every corner of the Sacred Valley in one day. Starting at 07:00, the route combines the Maras Salt Pans and Moray’s circular terraces before continuing to Pisac’s handicraft market and its fortress high above the valley.
  
  The day’s visits culminate in Ollantaytambo, with time to explore its archaeological centre and original Inca street layout at a relaxed pace, considered one of the finest examples of pre-Columbian urban planning in the Americas. Ideal for travellers with limited time who do not want to miss any of the valley’s treasures, the tour returns to Cusco around 19:00.

  

  

  
• 7
  Day 7: Machu Picchu

  The tour begins with pickup from your hotel in the city of Cusco to transfer to the Ollantaytambo or Poroy train station, depending on the service confirmed at the time of booking. From there we will begin a rail trip considered one of the most scenic in Peru, following the course of the Vilcanota River while the landscape gradually changes from the Andean valleys to the montane forest that surrounds Machu Picchu.
  
  Upon arriving at Machu Picchu Pueblo (Aguas Calientes), our staff will provide the necessary assistance to board the tourist bus that ascends to the entrance of the Historic Sanctuary of Machu Picchu. The trip lasts approximately 25 minutes and runs along a mountain road with panoramic views of the valley.
  
  Once at the citadel, we will begin a guided tour of the circuit assigned to you on your entrance ticket. During the tour we will learn about the history of the archaeological site, its urban planning, the main Inca constructions and the importance that Machu Picchu had within Tahuantinsuyo. The guide will also explain various aspects related to the architecture, engineering and conservation of this extraordinary cultural heritage.
  
  Once the guided tour is over, you will have time to take photographs and enjoy the surroundings before descending back to Aguas Calientes. At the indicated time we will board the return train to the corresponding station, where our tourist transportation will be waiting to take you back to the city of Cusco, thus concluding this experience.

  

  

  
• 8
  Day 8: Humantay Lake

  Turquoise, crystal-clear and framed by the imposing snow-capped Salkantay, Humantay Lake has become one of modern Cusco’s most widely shared images. The journey begins in Cusco at 04:00, travelling by road to the community of Soraypampa, the starting point for the ascent.
  
  The hike is moderately difficult because of the altitude, with the lake at 4,200 metres above sea level. It rewards the effort with views of intensely turquoise glacial water, fed directly by the melting snow of Salkantay, considered one of the Cusco region’s most important sacred mountains. The return to the city is completed around 17:00, leaving travellers with one of Peru’s most striking natural images.

  

  

  
• 9
  Day 9: Rainbow Mountain

  Few mountains in the world inspire as much fascination as Vinicunca. The adventure begins before dawn, around 03:30, to reach the start of the trek with the first light of day.
  
  The hike, moderately difficult because of the altitude, climbs to 5,036 metres above sea level through high-Andean grasslands, herds of alpacas and views of distant snow-capped peaks. It eventually reveals the mountain that gives the tour its name: bands of red, turquoise, lavender, gold and white, formed by the oxidation of different sedimentary minerals over millions of years and introduced to international tourism only from 2015. The view from the lookout, with the imposing snow-capped Ausangate in the background, makes the physical effort worthwhile. We finish the experience with the journey back to Cusco.

  

  

  
• 10
  Day 10: Route of the Sun

  This journey connects two of southern Peru’s most iconic destinations along an overland route full of surprises. Departing Cusco at 07:00, the panoramic bus makes strategic stops at places such as Andahuaylillas, known as the Sistine Chapel of the Americas for its colonial paintings; Raqchi, with the imposing Temple of Wiracocha and its Inca storehouses; and La Raya, the highest point on the route at 4,335 metres above sea level, where the majestic Vilcanota River begins.
  
  The journey ends in Puno, on the shores of Lake Titicaca, around 18:00. In a single day on a scenic road, travellers have crossed centuries of history, from the Inca Empire to the Aymara high plateau.

  

  

  
• 11
  Day 11: Uros – Amantani

  The world’s highest navigable lake provides the setting for one of Peru’s most memorable experiences. At 07:00, transportation picks you up from your hotel and takes you to the city’s port, where we board a boat to travel from Puno to the Uros Floating Islands, built entirely from totora reeds, whose inhabitants preserve a way of life that defies modern expectations.
  
  The boat continues to Amantani Island, where a local family welcomes you into their home and shares their traditional food. As night falls, they invite you to dress in traditional clothing for a community celebration beneath an exceptionally starry sky.

  

  

  
• 12
  Day 12: Taquile – Arequipa

  Taquile and travel to Arequipa.
• 13
  Day 13: Arequipa City Tour

  Passengers are picked up from their hotel in the city of Arequipa, beginning a tour of the principal historical and cultural attractions of the “White City”.
  
  We begin our visit at Arequipa’s Plaza de Armas, the heart of the city and one of the most beautiful squares in Peru, surrounded by white sillar stone arcades. There we can admire the majestic Cathedral, as well as the arcades framing the square, ideal for taking photos and learning more about the region’s colonial architecture.
  
  Next, we head to Santa Catalina Monastery, a true religious citadel within the city, considered one of the most important religious architectural complexes in South America. During the tour, we explore its cobbled streets, small squares, cloisters, and courtyards painted in indigo blue, ochre, and red tones, while learning more about the lives of the nuns who inhabited this enclosure from the 16th century onward.
  
  Afterwards, we travel to the Yanahuara district, where we visit its traditional square and sillar stone church. From there, we reach the famous Yanahuara Viewpoint, a natural balcony built in sillar stone, from which one of Arequipa’s most spectacular panoramic views can be enjoyed, with the imposing Misti volcano as a backdrop, as well as Chachani and Pichu Pichu volcanoes on clear days.

  

  

  
• 14
  Day 14: Colca Canyon

  Few experiences in Peru challenge the dawn as much as this one. The adventure begins before daybreak, around 3:00 a.m., when your vehicle sets off toward one of the deepest canyons on the planet—more than twice as deep as the Grand Canyon of Colorado. Along the way, you cross the Salinas y Aguada Blanca National Reserve, home to herds of vicuñas and alpacas grazing freely above 4,000 meters above sea level, before reaching Condor Cross viewpoint, the highlight of the day. There, between 8:00 a.m. and 9:00 a.m., with a little luck and patience, you will see the majestic Andean condor spread its wings of more than three meters and rise on the canyon’s thermal currents, a natural spectacle that has captivated travelers from all over the world. The route continues through colonial towns such as Chivay and Yanque, with time for lunch and to learn about Collagua and Cabana culture, before returning to Arequipa around 6:00 p.m.

  

  

  
• 15
  Day 15: Farewell

  Airport transfer.