Experience Peru – 11 Day Tour

Depart on our overnight flight to Lima, the capital of Peru founded by Francisco Pizarro in 1535 and now one of the biggest cities in the Americas.

Morning

In the morning, dive straight into the city center to take a guided tour of Lima’s historic quarter. See monuments and sites of importance such as the Convent of San Francisco, the vast Plaza Mayor, Lima Cathedral and more. Learn about the colonial charm of the city and the multiple different stages of its historical development.

Afternoon

Head to a cooking class with Sky Kitchen to make causa, ceviche, lomo saltado and more. Peruvian cuisine is considered one of the most diverse in the world and is becoming as famous as French, Chinese and Indian given its distinct flavours and delicious recipes. Lima is a great place to experience this given the prominence of seafood and the original fusion dishes popular in the city.

Evening

In the evening, enjoy a quiet stroll around Barranco, a picturesque area with views over the Pacific and large houses with picturesque balconies and interesting street art. After dinner, head back to the hotel.

Morning

Wake up bright and early to board a flight to Cusco, imperial city and centre of Tawantinsuyu, the Incan Empire which reigned for three centuries before the Spanish invasion. Cusco, with its extensive archaeological remains and historic buildings, tells many stories of the Incan past, the Spanish conquest, and the modern history of cultural fusion.

Afternoon

In the afternoon, enjoy a guided tour of the former capital of the Inca Empire. The tour starts with a visit to the remains of the Temple of the Sun at Qorikancha, now the site of Spanish church Santo Domingo. Then, visit the Main Square and its Cathedral. Head to the hills above Cusco to visit some of the major archaeological sites around Cusco – Sacsayhuaman, Qenqo , and Puka Pukara. Many of these sites served as guard communities where messengers headed out to spread news of the Incan Empire, or traders and visitors arrived and gained entry to Cusco.

Evening

In the evening, head to San Cristobal church overlooking the iconic red tiled roofs of the city for wonderful views right down the valley. Enjoy a delicious dinner of Andean staples like potato, corn, and (if you’re feeling brave!) guinea pig. Settle into the hotel after a busy day of sightseeing.

Morning

After breakfast at the hotel, head through the twists and turns of the Andes towards the Sacred Valley. After visiting Pisac’s impressive, almost vertical terraces that clearly demonstrate the labour intensive farming methods of Incan and pre-Incan civilizations, visit Amaru, a local community’s weaving association, to see one of the Andes’ most important cultural traditions in action and a meal of local ingredients all grown by the community as part of their self-sufficient lifestyle. Here, the women of the community will guide you on a tour of their land, where they will teach you about their deep connection to Pachamama (Mother Earth); treat you to a delicious meal, made with fresh organic “zero-mile” ingredients directly from the land; and show you the step-by-step weaving process – from natural dyes to setting the warp to backstrap weaving.

Afterwards, continue the breathtaking drive at the base of sheer mountain slopes and lush fields through the Sacred Valley to Ollantaytambo. Enjoy an easy walk through the small town centre with its small buildings and overhanging balconies. Visit the bustling town market for some souvenirs

Evening

Enjoy a delicious dinner near more imperial ruins, including impressive terraces overlooking the town.

Morning

Wake up bright and early: today we will visit one of the “New” Seven Wonders of the World and a prominent UNESCO World Heritage Site; Machu Picchu.

We’ll travel from Ollantaytambo to the town of Aguas Calientes. En route, our train journey will take us alongside the Urubamba River, with incredible scenery of towering mountains and colourful forests.

Afternoon

When we arrive in Aguas Calientes, or Machu Picchu town, we’ll opt to take a short bus ride up along the switchbacks to the Machu Picchu citadel and begin our day visit. After an introductory walking tour, the morning is free for exploration and discovery of this magnificent site, which was built on a mountaintop and surrounded on three sides by the Urubamba River.

Evening

Take the bus down to Aguas Calientes and enjoy lunch and shopping time before jumping in the train back to Ollanta and a further transfer to Cusco. Enjoy a good rest after a busy day.

Morning – Afternoon

This morning, head to Maras. Take a short walk through the countryside to the seldom-visited town of Maras and its pre-Columbian salt mines– still in use today with salt being collected with traditional techniques- as well as the Incan agricultural terraces of Moray. We will learn about how methods from the ancient past remain relevant to food production today in this private tutorial. See the salt pools up close, and bring some mineral-rich salt back home with you. After, explore the textile centres in Chinchero before heading back to Cusco.

Late Afternoon

Once we return to Cusco, enjoy some more time in the city centre and then head to a chocolate making workshop with ChocoMuseo, where we will learn about the cacao bean and its production from bean to bar.

Evening

In the evening, enjoy a delicious dinner with our own homemade chocolates for dessert. Return to the hotel.

Morning – Afternoon

This morning, return to the Sacred Valley to meet a scholarship student from a local youth development program.

Come visit the student’s families on their farm in the rural community of Socma, near Ollantaytambo, for a traditional family feast, an opportunity to try out their farm tools, and a day on the land. There’s even an option to go on a short hike to witness the majestic waterfalls that are Socma’s pride and joy!

INCLUSIONS

• Round-trip private transport from Cusco to the community in the Sacred Valley
• Home-cooked Andean meal
• Tour of the student’s property
• Guided walk to the Socma waterfalls
• English-Spanish-Quechua translators
• Experienced tour guide with first-aid certification

Evening

Return to Cusco to pack up for the next day’s flight to Lima.

Morning

Take a morning flight from Lima to Arequipa. The flight duration is approximately 1 hour and 30 minutes.

Afternoon

Upon arrival in Arequipa, check into your hotel and freshen up. Then, head out to explore the city. Visit the Plaza de Armas, which is surrounded by colonial buildings, including the stunning Cathedral of Arequipa and the ornate Basilica Cathedral of Arequipa.

Take a guided tour of the Santa Catalina Monastery, a colorful convent that offers a glimpse into the city’s colonial past.

Enjoy lunch at one of the local restaurants, where you can sample traditional Arequipa cuisine.

Evening

Enjoy dinner and get some rest for an early start the next day!

Morning

We start this day at 3:00 am, from Arequipa driving through Yura district en route to the Colca Valley, which is one of the world’s deepest canyons with a maximum depth of 4,160 meters.

We will make a stop at the impressive viewpoint of Mirador de los Volcanes. Then, we will head to Chivay, where we will enjoy breakfast and explore the wonderful landscapes, pre-Inca terraces, as well as native flora and fauna.

Afterwards, we will visit the town of Yanque, a traditional town, where we will observe the typical dance of the Colca Valley, the “Wititi” known as the dance of love, declared Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.

We will continue our journey until we arrive at the Cruz del Cóndor to observe the majesty of the Colca Canyon from a strategic point, as well as the flight of the Andean condor (Vultur gryphus), the largest non-marine bird on the planet, named cultural and natural heritage of South America.

The next stop will be in Maca, a small and picturesque town in the region, where we will taste the traditional Colca Sour drink. We will then visit the hot springs, where you can bathe and relax.

Afternoon

We will stop at a restaurant to enjoy a buffet lunch, made from Andean products. We will make another stop at the Toccra Bofedales, where we will see camelids and birds such as Andean ducks and flamingos, as well as migratory birds.

The last stop will be in Patahuasi, to enjoy a panoramic view in front of Misti and Chachani with stone forests and curious rock formations.

Evening

Enjoy dinner and spend the evening relaxing and reflecting on your journey

Morning

Take a morning flight back to Lima, where there will be some more time to explore the neighbourhood of Miraflores and enjoy its outdoor patios and cafes.

Afternoon

In the afternoon, head to Huaca Pucllana, the impressive pre-Incan archaeological site used as an administrative and religious centre of the Lima culture between 200 and 700 AD, as well as by later civilizations such as the Wari. Enjoy the guided tour over this extensive site and learn more about the many different cultural traditions that ruled through the eras on this land.

Evening

In the evening, enjoy some time to shop and relax before returning to the hotel and packing for the next day’s flight.

Morning

Arrive at Lima airport for the trip back home, ready to share the many details of what we learned about Peruvian history and culture.

Afternoon

Stopover

Evening              Arrive back home.