Peru: Beyond the Andes

Arrive in Peru’s sprawling capital city and receive a welcome at Lima airport, a Peru Machu Picchu Tours representative will meet you there and accompany you to your hotel in a private vehicle, offering an introduction to the city along the way.

* Lima is home to the Government Palace and a collection of world-renowned, award-winning restaurants.

Discover Lima‘s fascinating history on a guided city tour. Your journey begins in the historic city center (a UNESCO World Heritage Site), where you’ll explore colonial churches, grand palaces, and elegant promenades. The day concludes with a visit to the Larco Herrera Museum, one of South America’s finest museums.

Enjoy the rest of the day at your own leisure.

* Visit the vibrant suburb of Miraflores or the bohemian district of Barranco, and sample some local culinary delights or a glass of Peru’s national drink ‘Pisco sour’ at one of the many cafes, bars and restaurants in the neighborhood.

Transfer to Lima airport for your flight to Arequipa city (1.5 hour approx) commonly known as “The White City” due to its many colonial-era buildings made from ashlar (white volcanic rock).

Upon arrival at Arequipa airport, you will be met there and transferred to your hotel by our representative.

Morning at your own leisure.

Enjoy an afternoon city tour and take in Arequipa’s most iconic historical sights. Explore the charming colonial districts of St. Lazarus and Yanahuara, visit the Monastery of St. Catherine—a remarkable 16th-century complex that once housed 600 nuns—and continue to the Jesuit Church and the Basilica Cathedral of Arequipa. The tour also includes several scenic viewpoints offering excellent panoramas of the city and its dramatic surroundings.

* Things to do and see in the city:

Admire the city’s remarkable colonial architecture, visit the famous Juanita Mummy — “The Ice Maiden” — considered the best-preserved mummy in South America. This 12-year-old Inca girl was offered in a sacred ritual to honor the gods, and her discovery remains one of the most fascinating archaeological finds in the Andes. Savor local cuisine at one of Arequipa’s many traditional restaurants. Don’t miss classic spicy dishes such as rocoto relleno (stuffed chili pepper) or chupe de camarones (prawn soup), best enjoyed in the city’s communal “picantería” eateries.

Meals: Breakfast and Dinner.

Your journey into the Colca Canyon begins with a guided exploration of one of the world’s deepest natural wonders. Along the way, pause in the Aguada Blanca National Reserve for a comforting cup of coca tea as vicuñas, alpacas, guanacos, and llamas roam the landscape. At Tocra Lake, watch for migratory birds drifting across the water — and, with a bit of luck, flamingos. Climbing higher, you’ll reach a spectacular volcano overlook at 4,800 meters (15,840 feet), where the vast sweep of the western Andes unfolds before you. The day winds down with a soothing soak in the La Calera hot springs, surrounded by the canyon’s quiet beauty.

Meals: Breakfast.

Enjoy an early breakfast before departing for the famous Cruz del Cóndor viewpoint, a 1.5-hour drive into the national park offering breathtaking vistas of the Colca Canyon. This is the ideal spot to watch majestic condors gliding above the canyon walls — often soaring incredibly close. On the return journey, you’ll visit the small towns of Pinchollo, Maca, and Yanque, known for their charming colonial churches, and stop at the Choquetico and Antahuilque viewpoints to admire the valley’s impressive pre-Inca terraces and ancient tombs. After lunch in the afternoon, you will continue back to the city of Arequipa.

Meals: Breakfast.

Transfer to Arequipa airport for your flight to Cusco city (an hour approx).

Upon arrival, our local staff will welcome you and transfer you by private vehicle to your selected hotel in the Sacred Valley of the Incas.

Along the route, stop at the picturesque town of Pisaq, including the Inca archaeological site, appreciate the fine masonry, watchtowers, residential quarters, Peru’s largest Inca cemetery and the magnificent Inca terraces, which were built to expand the agriculture lands where the Incas themselves developed many of corn, quinua and potato species. Visit The vibrant Artisan market, a great opportunity to interact with the locals, some dressed in their traditional colorful costumes, here stalls are stacked with all kinds of interesting items, from artful handmade textiles, jewelry, paintings, musical instruments, pottery to vegetables and plant-based dyes.

Take in the beauty of the Urubamba River — known as “Wilcamayu” by the Incas, and the fertile Sacred Valley, framed by towering snowcapped peaks and long regarded as the agricultural heart of the high Andes. Visit the village of Chichubamba and take part in a hands-on ceramic workshop led by local artisans.

Meals: Breakfast and Lunch.

Enjoy a full-day tour beginning in the town of Chinchero, Peru’s weaving capital. Learn about ancient weaving techniques and discover how locals use natural materials — including plants, minerals, and even insects — to create the vibrant dyes that color their traditional textiles. Continue to Moray, an ingenious Inca agricultural laboratory where circular terraces were used to experiment with crop adaptation. Afterwards, visit the Maras Salt Pans, an impressive network of thousands of small salt pools that have been harvested since long before Inca times

* The agricultural terraces of Moray and the Maras Salt Pans are less visited than other sites in the Sacred Valley due to their remote location and lack of public transportation. For this reason, both sites are commonly combined into a single excursion on most Sacred Valley tours.

* How to get: By E-bike, mountain bikes, private car, ATVs or on foot.
Need a suggestion,  ⇒ Check with our travel experts for suggestions!

Meals: Breakfast.

In the morning, transfer to Ollantaytambo, a living Inca town built around an ancient fortress that once formed part of the Royal Estate of Emperor Pachacuti. Admire its sophisticated Inca architecture, precise urban planning, temples, astronomical centers, and ceremonial fountains. Afterwards, continue to the train station to board the tourist train to Machu Picchu. During the 1.5-hour journey, a light snack will be served. Upon arrival in Aguas Calientes, you will take a shuttle bus up to the Machu Picchu archaeological site.

Enjoy a guided tour of the Machu Picchu Sanctuary (approximately 2.5 hours). Explore this enigmatic Inca citadel as your expert guide leads you through its most significant sectors, sharing insights and stories that bring the site’s history to life.

* Exploring the sites away from the crowds makes the experience far more enjoyable and authentic.

Meals: Breakfast.

After breakfast, you have the option to visit Machu Picchu for a second time to explore a different circuit of the Inca complex with your guide. For adventurous travelers, we recommend hiking Huayna Picchu or Machu Picchu Mountain – known locally as “Montaña” (advance booking required). From the summit, you’ll be rewarded with stunning 360° views and a true sense of the scale and beauty of Machu Picchu and its surrounding landscapes. For a less demanding experience, optional hikes such as the Sun Gate or the Inca Bridge are also available (advance booking required).

Afternoon, board the train back to either Ollantaytambo or Poroy town and continue by bus to your hotel.

* There is a limited number of permits to climb Huayna Picchu or Machu Picchu Mountain, and they must be purchased in advance together with your Machu Picchu entrance ticket. ⇒ Check with your travel experts for suggestions and availability.

Meals: Breakfast and lunch.

Enjoy a morning tour of Cusco, the ancient capital of the Inca Empire and a UNESCO World Heritage City. Your visit includes remarkable pre-Hispanic Inca temples and impressive archaeological complexes on the city’s outskirts, such as Saqsayhuaman — a massive Inca fortress built with astonishing megalithic stones, and Q’enqo, an important ceremonial site. You will also explore the Cathedral, considered one of South America’s finest churches, and wander through the vibrant San Pedro Market, where fresh local produce and regional specialties fill the stalls. The tour concludes in San Blas, the artisans’ quarter known for its narrow cobblestone streets, charming plazas, unique workshops, and cozy coffee shops — the perfect place to feel the true magic of Cusco.

Afternoon at your own leisure.

* What to do and see in your spare time: Admire the city’s remarkable blend of Inca and Colonial architecture, visit the Inca Museum, home to an impressive collection of ancient artifacts and colonial art. Visit a silver workshop to learn about the techniques and intricate designs behind Peru’s high-quality jewelry, or if you’re feeling adventurous—take part in a Peruvian cooking class to discover how the country’s most iconic dishes are prepared. For a true local experience, try Cusco’s traditional specialty cuy (baked guinea pig) or savor grilled alpaca skewers, both popular regional favorites.

Meals: Breakfast and lunch.

Transfer to Cusco airport for your flight to Puerto Maldonado city (45 min approx).

Receive a welcome at Puerto Maldonado Airport and transfer to the selected Lodge.

Upon arrival, the lodge team will escort you to their office in town, where you’ll store most of your luggage in a secure room. You’ll continue your journey with just a small backpack or duffel carrying the essentials for your two-night stay in the jungle.

Next, board a motorized canoe and head upriver toward our eco-friendly lodge in the Madre de Dios region. Here, you’ll find comfortable rooms equipped with en-suite flush toilets, cold-water showers, mosquito nets, and soft lighting.

With our local multilingual guides leading the way, venture deep into the rainforest and discover the vibrant wildlife that calls it home. Keep your eyes open for colorful macaws, playful monkeys, peccaries, jabirus, river otters, and an incredible variety of butterflies as you explore this extraordinary natural paradise.

* Note: Your Amazon guide will walk you through the daily plan, explaining each activity and what to expect during your jungle adventure.

Meals: Breakfast (3), Lunch (2), Dinner (2).

After immersing yourself in the wilds, it’s time to hop back into the canoe and make your way to Puerto Maldonado.

Transfer to Puerto Maldonado airport for your flight to Lima (1.5 hour approx),
and your trip back home or onward to your next destination.

Assistance provided if needed.

Meals: Breakfast.