Highlights of Southern Peru

Arrive in Peru’s sprawling capital city and receive a welcome at Lima airport, a Peru Machu Picchu tours representative will meet you upon arrival and escort you by private vehicle to your hotel, pointing out highlights of the city along the way.

* Lima is home to the Government palace and several World-renowned, award-winning restaurants.

Meals: Not included.

Discover Lima’s fascinating history on a guided city tour. Your adventure begins with sightseeing around the historical city center (UNESCO World Heritage), colonial churches, palaces and promenades. The day ends with a visit to Larco Herrera Museum, one of South America’s best 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. Suggested restaurants!

Meals: Breakfast.

Transfer to the bus station and leave for Pisco, a modest fishing village bustling with everyday life. Here many people are dedicated to handicrafts and industrial fishing activities. It is the perfect place to sample one of Peru’s most famous dishes “Ceviche”, along with one of its most renowned spirits, Pisco, the country’s celebrated grape brandy.

Meals: Breakfast.

Start the day with a three-hour boat excursion, where you’ll encounter a wide variety of wildlife, including birds, sea lions, penguins, and pelicans. Later, continue with an equally spectacular tour of the Paracas National Reserve. This desert park, characterized by its rolling dunes, was declared a National Park and Wildlife Reserve in 1975 and is home to the fascinating natural rock formation known as “The Cathedral”.

Afterward, you’ll visit the small lakeside oasis town of Huacachina. Surrounded by towering sand dunes, it’s an ideal place to gear up and try your hand at sandboarding. To end the day, you’ll travel by bus to Nazca.

Meals: Breakfast.

Today, you have the option to view the mysterious Nazca Lines from the sky on a short scenic flight. Afterwards, explore the eerie desert necropolis of Chauchilla, where the arid climate has remarkably preserved the remains of the ancient Nazca people laid to rest here.
Later, transfer to the local bus station and continue your journey by bus to the city of Arequipa.

Meals: Breakfast, Box Lunch, Dinner.

Enjoy the day at your leisure. Arequipa offers plenty to see and do: visit the Juanita Mummy Museum, admire the city’s stunning architecture, sip a warm drink at a local café, or savor traditional dishes at one of the many restaurants. Don’t miss Arequipa’s classic spicy specialties, such as rocoto relleno (stuffed chili pepper) and chupe de camarones (prawn chowder) — best enjoyed in the city’s traditional communal picantería restaurants.

Optional add-on: Book a city tour in the afternoon, where you can explore the city’s top historical attractions including the colonial districts of St Lazarus and Yanahuara, the Monastery of St. Catherine (a 16th century colonial enclosure that once housed 600 nuns), the Basilica Cathedral of Arequipa, as well as two locations that provide excellent views of the city and its surroundings.

Meals: Breakfast.

Start the day by spotting llamas, alpacas, and vicuñas on your journey to Chivay. Marvel at the vast depth of the Colca Canyon while keeping an eye out for the majestic Andean condors, one of the world’s largest flying birds. Spend the afternoon unwinding in the thermal baths, enjoying a llama steak, and listening to live Andean music at a local restaurant. Later, take the bus to the city of Puno.

Meals: Breakfast (2), lunch (1).

Float across Lake Titicaca, the world’s highest navigable lake at 3,800 m / 12,540 ft. Visit the remarkable floating Uros Islands, built entirely from totora reeds and home to an ancient community whose ancestry dates back to pre-Inca times. Afterwards, sail to Taquile Island, where local men craft handmade woolen garments—recognized by UNESCO for their exceptional weaving traditions.
End the day by learning about local culture and customs during a homestay with a Taquile family.

Meals: Breakfast (2), Lunch (1) and Dinner (1).

Begin with a transfer to the bus station and travel toward the city of Cusco, making scenic stops along the way to take in the sweeping views of the majestic Andean mountain range. Visit Raqchi, an important Inca temple complex, and admire the Andahuaylillas Church, often referred to as “the Sistine Chapel of South America” for its stunning interior artwork.

* Optional train: The train journey from Puno to Cusco is considered one of the most spectacular in South America, and the Andean Explorer observation car offers passengers ample opportunities to capture unforgettable photos. ⇒ Check with our travel expert for availability.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch.

Enjoy a morning tour of the ancient capital of the Inca Empire, Cusco — a UNESCO World Heritage City. Your tour includes visits to pre-Hispanic Inca temples and several impressive archaeological complexes on the outskirts of the city, such as Saqsayhuaman, renowned for its megalithic stonework, and Q’enqo, an ancient ceremonial site. You will also explore the Cathedral, considered one of the finest Catholic churches in South America, before continuing to San Pedro Market, a vibrant farmers’ market showcasing fresh local produce and regional delicacies.

As you wander through historic plazas and discover charming local cafés, you’ll experience the true magic of this remarkable city.

Afternoon at your own leisure.

* What to do and see in your spare time:

Admire the city’s stunning blend of Inca and colonial architecture, or visit the Inca Museum, home to remarkable ancient artifacts and colonial artwork. You can also stop by a silver workshop to learn about the crafting process and the intricate designs behind Peru’s high-quality jewelry. For a hands-on cultural experience, consider joining a Peruvian cooking class to learn how to prepare some of the country’s most iconic dishes.

Feeling adventurous? Try Cusco’s most traditional specialty, cuy (baked guinea pig), or sample alpaca skewers, a popular local delicacy.

Meals: Breakfast.

Travel by private bus through the lush terraces of the Sacred Valley, stopping along the way to gain insight into traditional Inca culture. Visit the Chinchero community, where you can observe ancient Andean techniques of weaving, dyeing, and textile-making. Meet friendly locals during a community visit before spending the night in the historic town of Ollantaytambo—a living Inca settlement built around an impressive archaeological site.

Meals: Breakfast.

Accompanied by porters, cooks, and a local professional guide, embark on a four-day trek along the iconic Inca Trail. Take in breathtaking mountain panoramas, hike through lush cloud forests, and pause to explore the impressive ruins of ancient villages and temples along the way. After all your effort, you’ll be rewarded with an unforgettable, awe-inspiring visit to Machu Picchu.

Meals: Breakfast (4), Lunch (3) and Dinner (3).

Enjoy the day at your leisure. Take time to explore this charming city—browse for unique souvenirs at its colorful local markets, go mountain biking in the surrounding hills, or simply rest your weary legs at a cozy café near the Plaza de Armas.

Meals: Breakfast.

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

Receive a welcome at Puerto Maldonado airport and take a transfer to your lodge.

Upon arrival, the lodge staff will take you to their office in town, where you’ll leave most of your luggage in a secure storage room and continue on with a small pack containing only the essentials for your next two nights in the jungle. Then, board a motorized canoe and travel upriver to our jungle lodge in the Madre de Dios region.

The lodge is eco-friendly and offers comfortable rooms equipped with en-suite flush toilets, cold-water showers, mosquito nets, and lamps.
Venture into the rainforest with our local multilingual guides and encounter its magnificent wildlife in its natural habitat. Spot everything from macaws and monkeys to peccaries, jabirus, giant otters, and dazzling butterflies.

* Note: Your Amazon guide will provide details about the activities that you will do each day.

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

After exploring the wilds, it’s time to jump back in the canoe and return to Puerto Maldonado.

Catch a flight back to Lima for a final night in this vibrant, bustling cosmopolitan city before bidding adiós to the mighty and mystical land of Peru.

Meals: Breakfast