Best of Peru

This is the ULTIMATE tour of Peru! You will discover Peru’s most exciting destinations and experience its different worlds and cultures. Visit the beautiful colonial city of Lima, known as one the best culinary destinations in the world, Paracas with its great weather and outstanding landscapes, Puno and Lake Titicaca, the world’s highest navigable lake, Arequipa and its volcanoes, Puerto Maldonado’s stunning Amazon jungle scenery and wildlife, and of course, Cusco and Machu Picchu – Peru’s Wonder of the World. Experience everything Peru has to offer, from Inca history to world-leading cuisine. Peru has it all and is waiting for you!

Day 1: Lima – arrival

Upon your arrival in Lima, a representative of Into Peru will pick you from the airport and take you to your accommodation in the city of Lima. We recommend picking a hotel in Miraflores, San Isidro or Barranco as the most tourist-friendly areas.

Day 2: Downtown Lima

Breakfast will be provided by your hotel.

City tour in Lima, the ‘City of Kings’: Our tour shows you Lima’s three historic periods: Pre-Hispanic, Colonial and Modern. Sights you will see on the tour:

• Panoramic Tour of La Huaca Pucllana
• Lima’s historic centre, with its palaces, stately homes, churches & squares
• The Central Reserve Bank’s museum (closed on Saturday and Sunday afternoon and Monday all day)
• San Francisco’s church and its incredible catacombs.
• Lima’s financial and residential district
• An unforgettable view of the Pacific Ocean in the Miraflores district

Accommodation in Lima.

Day 3: Lima – Paracas

Breakfast will be provided by your hotel. At the pre-arranged time, one of our representatives will pick you up from your accommodation and take you to the bus station where you will take a coach to Nazca. Upon your arrival at Nazca, an Into Peru representative will be waiting for you in order to take you to the local airport.

Nazca lines flight: Located 25km from the town of Nazca are ancient man-made figures of animals, such as the spider, monkey, dog, condor, among others. These lines are made on sand, which cover an area of 350 km and measure between 15-300m each in length. According to Doctor Maria Reiche, who dedicated most of her life to study them, these lines represent the biggest astronomic calendar in the world.

You will spend the night in Paracas.

Day 4: Ballestas Islands and Huacachina tour – Lima

Breakfast will be provided by your hotel.

Ballestas Islands and Paracas National Reserve tour. On this tour, you will visit:

• The Paracas National Reserve museum
• Lagunilla, Roja and Yumaque beaches
• The Ballestas Islands, home to the famous Candelabro, Humbolt penguins, pelicans, flamencos, sea lions and dolphins.

Afterwards you will be driven to the Huacachina Oasis where you will ride enjoy a white-knuckle dune buggy ride along the vast sand dunes. The dune buggy will stop at the top of a number of dunes where you will have the opportunity to sandboard to the bottom which is great, adrenaline-filled fun.

At the pre-arranged time, one of our representatives will take you to the bus station so that you can take the bus to Lima. Upon your arrival at Lima station, one of our representatives will be waiting for you to take you to your hotel in Lima.

Day 5: Lima – Downtown Arequipa

Breakfast will be provided by your hotel.

At the pre-arranged time, one of our representatives will pick you up from your accommodation to take you to the airport so that you can take your flight to Arequipa. Upon arrival at Arequipa, one of our representatives will be pick you up from the airport and take you to your accommodation.

Arequipa City tour:

On this unforgettable tour of the ‘White City’, you will visit:

• Great viewing platforms at Carmen Alto and Yanahuara
• The city’s main square with a view of the cathedral
• The church of the Company of Jesus
• The beautiful Santa Catalina Convent.

You will spend the night in your chosen accommodation in Arequipa.

Day 6: Arequipa (Colca day 1)

Breakfast will be provided by your hotel.

Colca Canyon Excursion (Day 1):

The Colca Valley tour will start early in the morning, on your way there you will see the Chachani mountain range, the Salinas and the Aguada Blanca National Reserves. The bus will make a stop in Pampa Cañahuas (a vicuñas reserve), and then head to Pampa Tojra where you will be able to observe local and migratory birds. You will eat lunch in a restaurant in Chivay. In the afternoon, you will visit ‘La Calera” located 3km away from Chivay. In the evening, you will enjoy a delicious dinner with a colorful traditional dance show in a local restaurant in Chivay. You will spend the night in Colca – Chivay.

Day 7: Arequipa (Colca day 2) – Puno

Breakfast will be provided by your hotel.

Colca Canyon Excursion (Day 2):

The day will start early in the morning by visiting the Cruz del Condor viewpoint where you will be able to see the famous condor birds as well as the depth of the Colca Canyon. On your way back, the bus will stop at numerous attractions, such as the beautiful local villages in the surrounding area as well as popular viewpoints. In the afternoon, you will return to beautiful Arequipa.

At the pre-arranged time, one of our representatives will take you to the station where you will board the bus to Puno.

Day 8: Puno

Breakfast will be provided by your hotel.

Uros & Taquile Islands’ excursion:

You will depart early in the morning from Puno’s port and travel by boat to the Uros floating islands, steeped in tradition and culture where you will be able to sail on the famous ‘totora’ boats, made of reeds. You will also meet the colourfully dressed local inhabitants of the islands.

You will then continue your journey by boating on the ‘Mayor Lake’ to Taquile Island, a place known for its incredible textile art and for staying true to its traditional way of life to this day. In the afternoon, you will enjoy a delicious lunch, made with the area’s fresh ingredients. Afterwards, you will go down 533 stone steps to reach Taquile’s main port and take the boat back to Puno city where you will spend the night. Take your time on the walk due to the altitude!

Day 9: Puno – Cusco

Breakfast will be provided by your hotel.

Early in the morning, you will be collected from your hotel and taken to Puno bus station where you will board a coach for a journey filled with breathtaking landscapes to Cusco. The coach will make stops in various history-filled, traditional towns, such as Pucara, Racchi and Andahuaylillas. Upon your arrival at Cusco, one of our representatives will be waiting for you to take you to your chosen accommodation.

Day 10: Downtown Cusco

Breakfast will be provided by your hotel.

You can spend the morning relaxing or exploring the stunning city of Cusco.

Cusco city tour:

Your adventure starts in the afternoon with a tour of Cusco, a beautiful colonial city which was once the capital city of the Incas and is filled with both ancient and colonial remnants alike. You will visit:

• The stunning ‘La Iglesia de la Compañia’ church with its handcrafted wood and jewellery works.
• The temple of the Sun also known as the Koricancha Temple, famous for its incredible hand crafted rocks.
• The UNESCO World Heritage Sacsayhuamán, a breathtaking stone walled fortress located on the outskirts of the city
• The ancient ruins of Kenko, Tambomachay and Puca Pucara.

After all the touring, you will have the evening to enjoy the city of Cusco and its great restaurants – be sure to ask us for some reccommendatoins. You will stay at your chosen accommodation in Cusco.

Day 11: Cusco – Sacred Valley

Breakfast will be provided by your hotel.

Sacred Valley tour:

You will have an early start with a visit to the Inca’s Sacred Valley

You will visit:

• A guided short tour of the beautiful Urubamba River
• You will visit breathtaking Inca sites including the ruins and terraces of Pisac
• Vibrant craft markets where you can buy handcrafts and souvenirs.
• A delicious buffet lunch in Urubamba
• Ollaytantambo, known for its stunning ceremonial fortress.

You will have the evening to enjoy the city of Cusco and its attractions. You will stay at your chosen accommodation in Cusco.

Breakfast will be provided by your hotel. You will be collected from your hotel early and driven to the train station outside of Cusco.

Excursion by train (Expedition service) to the lost city of the Incas, Machu Picchu:

In the morning, you will take this incredible train, with its stunning panoramic windows which off views of the beautiful Sacred Valley, to the town of Aguas Calientes (Machu Picchu Pueblo).

Upon arrival at Aguas Calientes, you will take the bus (approx 25 mins) up to the main eveent, the world famous Machu Picchu, where you will have a professional guided tour. After the tour, you will have free time to explore the ‘Wonder of the World’ at your own pace and ensure you take the perfect photos! In the afternoon, you will enjoy some free time to explore the town of Aguas Calientes and its colourful craft market before heading back to the city of Cusco where you will stay the night at your chosen accommodation.

Day 13: Cusco – Puerto Maldonado

Breakfast will be provided by your hotel.

After breakfast, one of our representatives will pick you up from your accommodation to take you to Cusco airport where you will take your flight to the Amazonian Jungle city of Puerto Maldonado.

Day 1 in Puerto Maldonado, the capital of biodiversity:

An Into Peru representative will pick you up from the airport. The day will begin with a bus sightseeing tour around the city and will then head to the Capitania Port where you will take a boat tour along the Madre de Dios River. During this journey, you will see local Amazonian animals such as caymans, ronsocos, turtles, garzas, cormoranes and many more.

Afterwards, you will head to your Amazon lodge, where you will be greeted with a delicious freshly made tropical fruit juice and be shown to your bungalow. In the afternoon, one of our tour guides will take you to Cocha Caiman, a small lake which is home to a host of black and white caymans. You can then see the beautiful sunset over the Amazon river. You will spend the night in your chosen lodge.

Day 14: Day 1 in Puerto Maldonado, the capital of biodiversity:

Breakfast will be provided by your hotel.

The day will begin with a hike into the deep forest including going over bridges crossing ravines and rivers. During the hike, you will experience first-hand the vast, alive Amazon Junle forest. You will also visit the incredible crystal clear Apu Victor Lake which is surrounded by giant trees and swamps. You will visit an Amazon viewpoint, from which you will be able to see the lake, and native wildlife such as ginat otters, parrots, toucans, guacamayos, camungos, shanshos, garzas, caymans, turtles and many others.

In the afternoon, our specialist tour guide will take you to ‘Monkey Island’ in the heart of Madre de Dios, 5 minutes from your lodge. You will see stunning landscapes, abundant flora and home to an array of monkeys. If you’re luck you’ll be able to see South American coatis and sloths. The day will end with another impressive jungle sunset. You will spend the night at you chosen accommodation.

Day 15: Day 3 in Puerto Maldonado, the capital of biodiversity:

Breakfast will be provided by your hotel.

A local guide will take you on an adventure that will begin with a tour through the deep jungle, which will reach ‘Cocha Perdida’, an ecosystem shelter that provides food for a wide range of animals. Here you will have the opportunity to see otters, caymans, turtles, sachavacas, multicoloured birds, jaguars, and a wide variety of fish. You will enjoy a spectacular view of the jungle whilst taking a canoe to the lodge. In the afternoon, you can choose to visit the local botanical garden or an Amazonian swimming pool. Your day will end with a delicious dinner surrounded by all the sounds of the jungle. You will spend the night in your chosen lodge.

Day 16: Puerto Maldonado – Lima

After breakfast, you will be transported to Puerto Maldonado’s airport where you will take a flight to Lima. Upon your arrival at Lima, one of our representatives will be waiting for you to take you to your chosen accommodation. You will then have free time to explore Lima and spend the night in your chosen hotel.

Day 17: Lima – departure

Breakfast will be provided by your hotel. At the pre-arranged time, you will be taken to Lima’s airport so that you can take your international flight.

• • 24 hour support provided by Into Peru
  • Transportation to airports/ bus stations and hotels mentioned
  • Lima – Paracas – Lima bus ticket
  • Chivay – Puno bus ticket
  • Puno – Cusco bus ticket
  • Nazca lines flight
  • 4 nights of accommodation in Lima
  • 1 night of accommodation in Paracas
  • 1 night of accommodation in Arequipa
  • 1 nights of accommodation in Colca
  • 2 nights of accommodation in Puno
  • 4 nights of accommodation in Cusco
  • 3 nights of accommodation in Puerto Maldonado
  • The following meals: Daily breakfast at your accommodation, 2 buffet lunches in Chivay, 1 dinner in Chivay (You can choose from four options), 1 buffet lunch in Uros, 1 buffet lunch at Sacred Valley, 3 buffet lunches in Puerto Maldonado, 3 buffet dinners in Puerto Maldonado
  • Entrance tickets to mentioned attractions and excursions
  • Transportation to all attractions
  • Professional and certified tour guides
  • On the day of your visit to Machu Picchu, the following is included: Aguas Calientes return train, bus Aguas Calientes – Machu Picchu – Aguas Calientes, professional tour guides and entrance to Machu Picchu. (For a cost you can upgrade your train from PeruRail Expedition service to Vistadome or the luxury Hiram Bingham service, please let us know if you would like to update)

What’s not included:

• Flights
• Meals not mentioned, tips and other personal expenses.
• Any services not mentioned in the program