14 DAYS A PORTRAIT OF PERU: LAND OF THE INCAS

Transfer: Airport to Hotel
You would be met and transferred to your accommodation for the night.

Historic Lima
Explore Lima's historic centre at Plaza de Armas. Visit Larco Museum which houses the country’s most extensive pre-Columbian art collection. Enjoy a walking tour through Barranco, the city's bohemian district filled with art, history and coastal views.

Transfer: Lima to Sacred Valley
You would be met and transferred to the airport for your flight to Cusco (Elevation: ~3,399m). Upon arrival, you would be met and transferred to Sacred Valley (Elevation: ~2,871m) with sightseeing along the way.

Andean Rituals, Arts & Crafts
Visit Manos de la Comunidad, where you will learn about various Andean camelid species and ancestral methods to produce textile arts. After an ancient Pago a la Tierra ritual for positive energy and protection from Mother Earth (Pachamama), we continue to the quaint town of Pisac, famed for its artisan markets where you can find extraordinarily fine jewelries, ceramics and textile craftworks.

Immersion in the Sacred Valley
Explore the colorful local market in Urubamba, known for its distinctive traditional hats of Parwa, typically made from felt or sheep's wool using time-honoured techniques. Visit the Ensifera Camp, a paradise for hummingbirds, for a close up view of their shimmering plumage.

Head to Maras to see the salt mines, worked for generations amidst terraced pools that cascade down the mountainside. Journey into the circular terraces of Moray, enigmatically believed by the scholars were instrumental in ancient Incan culture to study the effects of temperature and wind on their crops.

Transfer: Sacred Valley to Machu Picchu
You will be transferred to Ollantaytambo train station for your scenic train journey to Km 104, where you will begin your hike to the citadel of Machu Picchu (Elevation: ~2,430m) for sightseeing before transferring back to your accommodation.

[Note: Due to train regulations, each traveler may bring 1 bag not exceeding 8kg. The rest of your luggage will be safely stored at the hotel.]

Hidden Trail to Machu Picchu
Uncover the hidden footsteps of the ancient Incas into the magical citadel which is considered among the New Seven Wonders of the World.

Crossing the Urubamba River via bridge, we explore the Inca ruins of Chachabamba with its intricately carved stone walls. Ascend through a verdant mountain path into Wiñaywayna, a stunning example of Incan agricultural ingenuity with its terraced slopes. Our journey continues into the Sun Gate (Inti Punku), where the privileged view of Machu Picchu unfolds before us. From here, we descend in the direction of the citadel itself before retreating to your accommodation.

Spend a night in the citadel or nearby Aguas Calientes, also known as the Machu Picchu pueblo, so you can explore the iconic site in the late afternoon and early morning with fewer crowds.

In the Quiet Hour of Machu Picchu
You will have an early morning visit to Machu Picchu with your guide to experience the most important sectors of this beautiful Inca citadel with only a fraction of the crowd.

Transfer: Machu Picchu to Cusco
You will board the train to Ollantaytambo followed by a traditional Andean culinary experience. Thereafter, you will be transferred to your accommodation in Cusco (Elevation: ~3,399m).

A Passage Through Cusco
Our journey begins at the impressive Sacsayhuaman Fortress to learn about its astronomical significance. Continue into the Snake's Head, the Rodadero and the Sacsayhuaman viewpoint, the main temple, the esplanade and ascend into Cruz de Moqo for a sweeping vista of Cusco city and its surrounding mountains.

Stroll through the picturesque Calle Siete Borreguitos with its colourful balconies and stairways, the artistic distrct of San Blas with its artisanal workshops and colonial charms, and the Qoricancha. Also known as the Temple of the Sun, Qoricancha was the most important temple of the Inca Empire.

Rainbow Mountain Less Travelled
Let us whisk you to Palcoyo (Elevation: ~4,900m), a serene alternative to the famous Vinicunca. This gentle hike reveals three rainbow-colored mountains, a surreal stone forest, and sweeping views of snow-capped Ausangate-Cusco’s sacred apu and one of the most spiritually revered peaks in the Andes-with only a fraction of the crowd.

Transfer: Cusco to Lake Titicaca
You would be met and transferred to Cusco train station to board your train to Puno for your excursion into Lake Titicaca (Elevation: ~3,812m). Upon arrival, you would be transferred your accommodation for the night.

Note: The train only departs from Cusco to Puno on Sunday, Wednesday, and Friday. On days the train does not run, private transportation or shared bus options can be arranged at additional cost.

Lake Titicaca: Birthplace of the Sun
Revered in Inca mythology as the birthplace of the sun, Lake Titicaca holds immense spiritual significance. Experience the unique opportunity to glide across the world's highest navigable lake into the serene Taquile Island, where ancient Quechua traditions endure in graceful harmony with contemporary life.

Visit the enchanting Amantaní, where respected shamans who safeguard ancestral rituals continue to congregate to preserve the spiritual intangibility of their ceremonial temples. We will uncover insights into the sacred sanctuaries of Pachamama and Pachatata before retreating to your accommodation.

If you would like, we can alternatively arrange a visit to Uros instead of Amantani. Please inform our friendly Travel Specialist.

Transfer: Lake Titicaca to Colca Canyon
You would be met and transferred to Colca Canyon (Elevation: ~3,200-3,600m).

Along the way, the landscape unfolds into a striking panorama of the high Andes, where native flora and wildlife thrive amid dramatic rock formations that rise like a natural forest of stone. We pass through the remote villages of Pillones, Imata, Alto Cruce and the breathtaking natural lagoon of Lagunillas before arriving al the Colca region.

Condors of Colca Canyon
Rise early as we set out for the Mirador de la Cruz del Condor at the edge of one of the world's deepest canyon, offering some of the finest vantage points to witness the Andean condor soar into the sky. We will also visit the traditional villages of Maca and Yanque, as well as a stop at Miradores de Antahuilque to reveal the astonishing scale of the region's ancient agricultural terraces.

Transfer: Colca Canyon to Arequipa
You would be met and transferred to your accommodation in Arequipa (Elevation: ~2,380m) with sightseeing along the way.

Land of Snow-Covered Volcanoes
Visit Aguada Blanca National Reserve, where rugged plains stretch toward the horizon and herds of guanaco, alpaca, and vicuña roam freely across the altiplano. Ride along the rim of the Chucura Volcano's crater into the Mirador de los Andes, a spectacular viewpoint of the surrounding snow-draped volcanoes, such as Hualca Calca, Sabancaya and Ampato.

Arequipa: Jewels of the White City
Explore the colonial district of San Lázaro where Arequipa was founded, the Grau Bridge which was crafted from ashlar stone in 1884, the Carmen Alto district with its terraced farmlands, the 17th-century Church of La Virgen de la Candelaria and the vibrant Cayma district, celebrated for its traditional picanterías and local marinades. Wind through the Recoleta Convent, the Vallecito district, the Bolívar Bridge and the city center, where you can marvel at the colonial houses of Casa del Moral and Casa Tristán del Pozo.

If you would like and time permits, we can arrange a visit to Juanita Mummy at an additional cost.

Transfer: Hotel to Airport
You would be met and transferred to the airport for your onward journey.