PERU COAST, ALTIPLANO AND ANDES 15 DAYS
Overview
Þ Day 1: Arrival to Lima
Þ Day 2: Lima – Paracas
Þ Day 3: Paracas- Huacachina – Lima
Þ Day 4: Lima – Arequipa
Þ Day 5: Arequipa – Colca Canyon
Þ Day 6: Colca Canyon – Puno
Þ Day 7: Puno – Uros – Taquile
Þ Day 8: Taquile – Amantani – Puno
Þ Day 9: Puno- Cusco
Þ Day 10: Cusco
Þ Day 11: Cusco – Saqsayhuaman – Qenqo – Chinchero – Misminay
Þ Day 12: Misminay – Moray – Maras – Aguas calientes
Þ Day 13: Aguas calientes – Machupicchu – Ollantaytambo
Þ Day 14: Ollantaytambo – Pisaq – Cusco
Þ Day 15 : Cusco -Lima – International Flight
Detailed itinerary
Day 1: Lima
AM / PM Arrival in Lima. Welcome by your local driver-receptionist. Transfer to the hotel.
Overnight at selected hotel in Lima.
Day 2: Lima – Paracas
In the morning we’ll explore Miraflores, enjoying views of the Peruvian Sea and Huaca Pucllana. Journey downtown via San Isidro, admiring colonial architecture, and conclude the day at the San Francisco catacombs. In the middle of the afternoon, we will head to Paracas, taking approximately a 4- hour journey.
Overnight at selected hotel in Paracas.
Day 3: Paracas- Huacachina – Lima
In the morning we’ll embark on a 2-hour nautical adventure to Ballestas Islands, encountering diverse marine life. Afternoon includes a thrilling Buggy excursion through Huacachina Oasis, exploring sand dunes, and indulging in sandboarding, offering a perfect blend of wildlife and desert adventures. At the beginning of the afternoon, we return to Lima.
Overnight at selected hotel in Lima.
Day 4: Lima – Arequipa
In the morning, we’ll board a plane that will take us to the “White City” of Arequipa. Then, in the afternoon, we’ll delve into the heart of the city, taking in iconic sights such as the Plaza de Armas, the Church of the Society of Jesus, the picturesque Yanahuara district with its stunning viewpoints, and the serene Santa Catalina Convent.
Overnight at selected hotel in Arequipa.
Day 5: Arequipa – Colca Canyon
Departure to Chivay, the gateway to the Colca Canyon. Along the way, we will discover the region’s natural and cultural richness as we pass through the Patabamba pass at 4879 meters above sea level and descend into the valley towards Chivay. Lunch will be provided, followed by the opportunity to enjoy the hot thermal springs.
Overnight stay with the locals.
Day 6: Colca Canyon – Puno
After breakfast, we will go to the Cross of the Condors, a strategic viewpoint where the chances of sighting condors, sacred birds in Incan culture, are very high. We will explore one of the deepest canyons in the world—nearly 14,000 feet from its highest point to its lowest. Lunch will be provided, followed by our departure for Puno (around 5 hours), where we will arrive in the evening.
Overnight at selected hotel in Puno.
Day 7 : Puno – Uros – Amantani
In the morning, we set sail on a boat to explore some islands. We’ll visit the famous floating islands of Lake Titicaca, Uros, entirely constructed from totora reeds. The adventure continues towards Amantani Island, a journey that unveils stunning aquatic landscapes for approximately 2 and a half hours. Upon arrival, you will be warmly welcomed by local families, who will invite you to share in their everyday life and hospitality.
Overnight stay with the locals.
Day 8: Amantani – Taquile – Puno
In the morning, we cross to reach Taquile Island, whose history is engraved in the memory of its inhabitants, and is expressed through marvelous textiles. We’ll enjoy a one-hour hike to reach the village and return to Puno by boat.
Overnight at selected hotel in Puno.
Day 9 : Puno – Pukara – Raqchi – Cusco
Departing in the morning aboard a tourist bus bound for Cusco, we will begin our visit in Pukara, continuing on to Raqchi with its enormous walls, remnants of what was once an Inca temple. We will conclude our tour with a visit to the Andahuaylillas chapel. Lunch will be included.
Overnight at selected hotel in Cusco..
Day 10 : Cusco
In the morning, we will visit the city of Cusco, exploring the emblematic artisan neighborhood of San Blas, the Qoricancha or Temple of the Sun, which was the most important in the Inca era, and the Inca Museum, allowing us to delve deeper and better understand Inca culture. We will conclude with a visit to the San Pedro market, where we will observe the daily life of a Cusqueño amidst colors, flavors, and scents.
Free afternoon for you to explore the capital of the Incas.
Overnight at selected hotel in Cusco.
Day 11: Cusco – Saqsayhuaman – Qenqo – Chinchero – Misminay
This day we will start by visiting the surroundings of Cusco with Q’enqo, a possible Inca site for mummification, and Saqsayhuaman, the only place with Inca megalithic architecture. We will then continue our journey to Chinchero, an Inca town completely burnt down to avoid Spanish occupation, and which is currently well-known for its textiles.
Overnight stay with the locals in Misminay (rustic comfort)
Day 12 : Misminay – Moray – Maras – Aguas calientes
After a local breakfast, our hosts will explain a bit about daily life in Misminay. We will continue our visits with Moray, considered unique due to the circular shape of its terraces whose function is still unknown. We will conclude our visit with a short hike from the town of Maras to the salt mines, from where we will have a beautiful viewpoint of over 4000 salt ponds. Then, we will head to Ollantaytambo station to catch our train to Aguas Calientes.
Overnight at selected hotel in Aguas Calientes.
Day 13 : Aguas calientes – Machupicchu – Ollantaytambo
And the long-awaited day has arrived when we will visit and learn about one of the Seven Wonders of the World, Machu Picchu, the citadel that was suddenly abandoned in the 15th century and remained forgotten until the 20th century. We’ll return by train to Ollantaytambo station.
Overnight at selected hotel in Ollantaytambo.
Day 14 : Ollantaytambo – Pisaq – Cusco
We will enjoy Ollantaytambo town and its archaeological site in the tranquility of the morning without much tourist influx. After this peaceful visit, we will continue along the Urubamba valley or Sacred Valley, enjoying views of the villages we pass through until we reach Pisac, the second most important site after Machu Picchu in terms of size and history. Return to Cusco.
Overnight at selected hotel in Cusco.
Day 15 : Cusco -Lima – International Flight
Short flight to Lima, then connection to the international departure flight.
End of your adventure in Peru.
Included in your offer
- Transfers in private vehicles with Spanish-speaking drivers
- Tours with an English/ French / Spanish-speaking guide.
- Entrance fees to all the places you will visit, including the Machu Picchu entrance ticket.
- Shuttle service up and down to Machu Picchu
- Train from Ollantaytambo to Aguas Calientes and back to Ollantaytambo.
- Accommodation in hotels with all breakfasts, in double or twin room.
- An overnight stay with locals on Lake Titicaca (rustic accommodation, without running water or electricity
- An overnight stay with locals on Misminay in Cusco
- Meals listed in the itinerary.
- Assistance 24 hours a day by Pumandes
Not included
- International flight tickets to Peru.
- Local flights Lima – Arequipa and Cusco – Lima (quoted
separately) - International and domestic airport taxes.
- Travel and Health Insurance
- Tips
- Meals
💛 Highlights of this trip
- Lima
- Ballestas islands
- Oasis of Huacachina
- Titicaca Lake
- The fortress of Saqsayhuaman
- Cusco city
- The sacred Valley
- The citadel of Machupicchu
✍️ Observations
- Transfers and tours will be private, EXCEPT for the Ballestas Island and Titicaca Lake tour, which will be in a shared group and in a shared boat.
- The journey from Puno to Cusco is done on a tourist bus in group service with a guide in English/Spanish.
- Transfers will only be with the driver.