- Peru tour package to Lima, Paracas & Nazca, Arequipa & Colca Canyon, Cusco & Machu Picchu
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Explore the best of Peru’s cultural, natural, and historical highlights during this customized 11-day Peru tour package. This vacation will take you down the Peruvian coast, through the highlands, and deep into the Andes. Along the way you’ll learn about the many mysteries of the pre-Columbian sites scattered across the country. Who made the Nazca Lines and why? How did the Incas get those massive stones to the top of mountains, and how were the mountaintop buildings and temples constructed?
In addition to introducing you to the country’s mysterious past and traditional cultures, this Peru tour will provide you with a comprehensive understanding of the country’s modern culture, food, and architecture with a visit to its bustling capital, Lima. You will also get the chance to explore one of Peru’s most famous highlights, Machu Picchu, which was recently declared one of the Seven New Wonders of the World.
Day 1 : Arrival to Lima & Lima Tour
Day 2 : Arrival to Paracas & Nazca Lines Tour
Day 3 : Ballestas Islands Tour & Return to Lima
Day 4 : Arrival to Arequipa & Arequipa Tour
Day 5 : Colca Canyon Tour
Day 6 : Colca Canyon Tour & Return to Arequipa
Day 7 : Arrival to Cusco
Day 8 : Cusco Tour
Day 9 : Sacred Valley Tour
Day 10 : Machu Picchu Tour
Day 11 : Departure from Cusco
Day 1 : Arrival to Lima & Lima Tour
- You will be picked up at the airport by a representative and taken to your confirmed Lima hotel. After a short rest, you’ll meet your English-speaking guide for your exciting tour of Lima, which will take you to the main historical, religious, and contemporary sites of the city.
- The tour starts at the Huaca Pucllana ruins in the Miraflores District. The structure is an enormous adobe pyramid dating from the 4th century A.D.
- Next, you will go to Lima’s historic center, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Here you will admire the Plaza Mayor (the central square), which is surrounded by 5 important buildings: the Government Palace, the Cathedral, the Archbishop´s Palace, the Municipal Palace, and the Palace of Lima.
- You’ll then travel a few blocks to the San Francisco Monastery, famous for its catacombs where over 250,000 bones rest.
- Your tour of Lima will end with a visit to the traditional residential areas of Lima, including San Isidro, Miraflores, and Larcomar.
- You’ll have the evening to spend at your leisure. We recommend a stroll through the scenic Parque del Amor(Park of Love) above the cliff near Larcomar, a mall built into the jagged cliffs of Lima’s coastline. Check out our Lima Travel Guide for ideas on great restaurants or shopping in Lima.
Day 2 : Arrival to Paracas & Nazca Lines Tour
- After breakfast at your hotel, you will be taken to the bus station for your trip to Paracas. You will travel approximately 3 ½ hours aboard a comfortable first class bus. Upon arrival in Paracas, you will be taken to your confirmed Paracas hotel.
- After you drop off your luggage in your hotel, you’ll head to the nearby Pisco airport to take off on your exciting tour of the Nazca Lines. Built between 500 BC and 500 AD, the Nazca Lines are a World Heritage Site and have been carefully studied for half a century and still continue to perplex researchers. Many scientists believe the lines had some astronomical function for the Nazca civilization, although other more colorful theories abound. During the flight, you will see famous glyphs such as the condor, the hummingbird, and the monkey. See our Nazca Travel Guide for more in-depth information on the Nazca Lines.
- After you touch back down to earth, you’ll be taken back to your Paracas hotel, where you can relax and ponder the mysterious Nazca Lines at your leisure as you enjoy a beautiful sunset over the Paracas Bay.
Note: Flights from Pisco to Nazca require a minimum of two passengers. Please contact your travel advisor for single passenger inquiries.
Due to the relatively small size of planes operating Nazca Lines tours, restrictions apply for clients who are 100kg (220lbs) or over.
Day 3 : Ballestas Islands Tour & Return to Lima
- Enjoy breakfast at your hotel before departing on an adventurous boat trip across the Paracas Bay to the Ballestas Islands, where you will be able to spot sea lions, seals, penguins, guano birds, and turtles (rarely found at this latitude). The boat trip lasts approximately 2 hours.
- On the way to the islands, you will also get the opportunity to spot the Candelabra, a 165-foot (50-meter) long sketching in the rock, which experts believe is connected to the Nazca Lines. Debate with your companions whether the Candelabra formation represents a cactus— a symbol of power in the ancient Chavin culture—or perhaps the Southern Cross constellation.
- During the tour, you will have the opportunity to get up close and personal with sea lions and birds. Some of the unique bird species you might see include the Humboldt Penguin and the Peruvian Booby which survive only on the Humboldt Current, as well as the Cormorant Guanau and the Red-legged Cormorant. Depending on the season, you’ll see sea lions playing with their young or simply frolicking on the rocks.
- After your boating excursion, you will be transferred to the bus station to return to Lima for the night. After you check in to your hotel, you will have the evening in Lima to enjoy at your leisure.
Day 4 : Arrival to Arequipa & Arequipa Tour
- After breakfast, you’ll take a morning flight to Arequipa, often called the White City due to its white buildings constructed out of sillar, a white volcanic rock.
- Upon arrival to the city, you will be greeted at the airport by one of our representatives who will take you to your confirmed Arequipa hotel. Here you will be able to relax and adjust to the altitude before your afternoon city tour.
- Meet your guide at your hotel for your Arequipa tour. The tour begins at the bustling Camilo Central Market where you can to mingle with locals as they do their daily shopping. Next, you will visit Cupula de San Ignacio de Loyola, as well as the beautiful main square, the Plaza de Armas, which is bounded on one side by the neo-classical Cathedral. Your tour will end at one of two famous miradores (lookout points), Mirador de Yanahuara or Carmen Alto.
- After your tour, we highly recommend a visit to the Santa Catalina Monastery. If you climb the stairs to the roof deck of the monastery, you will find an incredible panorama of the cityscape with the backdrop of El Misti, the snow-capped volcano that overlooks the city.
- Spend the evening at your leisure, and make sure to try the delicious Arequipeña cuisine, the pride of the region. Check out our Arequipa Travel Guide for great restaurant ideas.
Day 5 : Colca Canyon Tour
- Start the day with a filling breakfast at your Arequipa hotel before setting off on a scenic drive to the Colca Canyon, by way of Chivay. This ride takes you through spectacular highland landscapes and is one of the highlights of your journey to the canyon. As the road climbs up to Reserva Nacional de Salinas y Aguada Blanca, keep your eyes open for wild vicuñas and visachas, small rodents similar to rabbits.
- As you descend from the Patapampa, the highest pass on this journey situated at 15,300 feet (4,820 meters) above sea level, you’ll begin to see pre-Inca agricultural terraces as well as the Ampato, Sabancaya, and Mismi volcanoes.
- In Chivay, you will visit the main square and stop for lunch (not included) at the lodge, La Casa de Mamayachi.
- After lunch, ride to the Calera hot springs, where you can take a dip in the natural thermal baths.
- You’ll be taken to your Colca Canyon hotel and have the afternoon to relax amidst the pastoral beauty of this unique Andean landscape.
Day 6 : Colca Canyon Tour & Return to Arequipa
- Meet your guide for the journey to the Mirador Cruz del Condor, one of the best viewpoints of this deep canyon, which is home to the famed condors that gracefully soar on the wind currents. The road leads past picturesque villages and pre-Inca ruins dominated by the glaciers Ampato and Hualca visible in the distance. Once you reach Cruz del Condor, you can stand at the viewpoint and gaze into the canyon’s depths, stretching nearly 4,000 feet below.
- After you have had your fill of the scenery, you will head to Chivay where you can enjoy lunch and browse the local market before continuing on to Arequipa where you will be taken to your confirmed hotel.
- Browse our range of additional services in Arequipa or explore the city on your own before enjoying a relaxing evening at your leisure.
Day 7 : Arrival to Cusco
- After breakfast at your Arequipa hotel, you will be transferred to the airport for your flight to Cusco. You will be picked up at the Cusco airport upon arrival and taken to your confirmed Cusco hotel, where you are advised to rest to acclimatize to the altitude. You will have the evening to enjoy the Cusco nightlife at your leisure.
Day 8 : Cusco Tour
- Enjoy a guided tour of Cusco that takes you to visit some of the many amazing archeological sites and wonders in and around the city. You will visit many of the amazing archeological sites and wonders in and around the city, including the Cusco Cathedral, Qoricancha, and the ruins of Sacsayhuaman, Q'enko, Puka Pukara, and Tambomachay.
- In the late afternoon, return to your hotel to enjoy a relaxing evening. Check out our Cusco Travel Guide for suggestions of great Cusco restaurants.
Day 9 : Sacred Valley Tour
- Explore the beautiful Peruvian countryside during a full-day tour of the magical Sacred Valley. First you will visit the town of Pisac, which is known for its lively market. Here you will have the opportunity to browse the beautiful Andean handicrafts, garments, and jewelry displayed for sale.
- Next you will visit the impressive ruins of Ollantaytambo. Ollantaytambo is a tiny Sacred Valley village, and one of the most picturesque. If you climb to the top of its magnificent ancient ruins, you will be rewarded with an incredible view. Originally the royal estate of Emperor Pachacuti during the Inca Empire, it later served as a stronghold for Manco Inca Yupanqui in the Incas’ final rebellion against the Spanish.
- On the way back to Cusco, you will stop in the town of Chinchero. In Inca times, Chinchero was the royal estate of Tupac Inca Yupanqui, the Spanish later built a church here, and today the town is recognized for its Sunday market as well as the production of fine textiles.
- In the evening, you will return to your comfortable Cusco hotel and spend the remainder of the day at your leisure.
Day 10 : Machu Picchu Tour
- After breakfast at your Cusco hotel you will take a train to the hidden temple of the Incas: Machu Picchu. The train ride is an attraction in itself, as much of the path winds along the river and mountain face, offering passengers dramatic views of the Andes as the train passes through abundant cloud forests.
- Upon arrival in Aguas Calientes, the town near Machu Picchu, you will head to the bus station for a 20-minute ride up to the secluded citadel.
- Meet your expert English-speaking guide for a 2-hour tour of the most important sites in Machu Picchu, including the Intihuatana (Sun Stone), the Sun Temple, and the Room of 3 Windows. You will be able to appreciate the intricate stonework of this amazing site. The giant stones were hauled by hand to the top of the mountain centuries ago, and yet their foundations still remain.
- After your tour, you have the option to explore more of the site on your own and capture some final photos.
- In the afternoon, you will take a comfortable train back to Cusco. You also have the option to stay an extra night in Aguas Calientes, the town at the foot of Machu Picchu.
- Check out our Machu Picchu Travel Guide for more information on what to see and do, as well as Machu Picchu restaurants that we recommend for tasty dining.
Day 11 : Departure from Cusco
- After breakfast at your hotel, meet your transfer to the airport for your journey home or on to your next destination.
- Alternatively, choose one of our additional exciting Cusco tours, or browse our full range of Peru travel destinations to add on to your Peru vacation plans.
Included
- 2 nights in Lima, 1 night in Paracas, 2 nights in Arequipa, 1 night in Colca Canyon and 4 nights in Cusco in Peru Hotels based on US standards
- All tours stated in the itinerary with English-speaking guides
- All transfers and entrance fees
- All breakfasts
Transportation:
- Bus Lima - Paracas - Lima
- Flight over Nazca Lines
- Train Cusco - Machu Picchu - Cusco (Vistadome Train for 5-star and 4-star packages / Expedition Train for 3-star packages)
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