Peru - From The Sea To The Andes - 10 Days

Day 1: Depart The UK for PeruArrival Day

Today you'll take your flight from the UK to Lima, Peru where your holiday begins.

We'll meet you at the airport and ensure you're transferred to your hotel stay in Lima.

Accommodation: None

Meals Included: None

Day 2: Welcome To Peru

Welcome to Lima, Peru, your holiday begins here. You'll have some time to explore this wonderful city and just take in your surroundings. Some places to discover and maybe visit are:

Museums & Galleries MAC Lima (Museo de Arte Contemporáneo) – Barranco MATE – Museo Mario Testino (Barranco) Galería Revolver (Barranco)

Cool Neighbourhood Vibes (Easy & Walkable) Barranco District Miraflores Coastal Walk (Malecón)

and maybe Lugar de la Memoria (LUM) a powerful modern museum about Peru’s recent history.

Accommodation: Jose Antonio Lima (Standard Room)

Meals Included: Breakfast

Day 3: Exploring Lima

Today we will learn about the two characters of Lima: the modern one, reflected in the districts of Miraflores and San Isidro; and the historic one, encapsulated in its historic center declared a World Cultural Heritage by UNESCO.

Along the tour through different districts of the city, we will see how the old and the modern coexist in buildings such as the Museum of Italian Art, Palace of Justice, Museum of Lima, Plaza San Martín, among others. We will discover the center of Lima on foot, having the Main Square as the focal point: a beautiful colonial square worthy of photography, surrounded by emblematic buildings such as the Government Palace, the Cathedral and the Archbishop|s Palace. We will have the opportunity to enter one of the most iconic ecclesiastical spaces in Lima, the Convent of Santo Domingo, also declared Cultural Heritage of Humanity and where the relics of three Peruvian saints are found: Santa Rosa de Lima, San Martín de Porres and San Juan Macías.

The tour would not be complete without a visit to the Rafael Larco Herrera Museum, one of the most important in the country, exhibiting a valuable collection of almost 45,000 pieces of pre-Hispanic cultures, especially the Mochicas. This museum stands out for being one of the first in the world to have visitable storerooms and to provide virtual access to its entire collection. We will marvel at the quality of its pieces of jewelry, textiles and its enigmatic "erotic room", dedicated to ceramics alluding to fertility.

Accommodation: Jose Antonio Lima (Standard Room)

Meals Included: Breakfast

Day 4: Lima – Paracas

At the agreed-upon time, we will be transferred to the bus station to board our bus to the city of Paracas. Upon arrival, reception at the bus station and transfer to our hotel.

Optional Nazca Lines overflight available at an additional cost.

Accommodation: The Legend (Suite Garden View Room)

Meals Included: Breakfast

Day 5: Paracas - Lima

Today, we will immerse ourselves in a marine life experience. We will depart from the 'El Chaco' pier, which hosts a diverse gastronomic offer. Boarding the boat, we'll get a first look at 'El Candelabro,' an enigmatic silhouette rising from the sandy hills, whose formation remains a mystery. Estimated to be over 2500 years old, it once served as a beacon for sailors and is now considered a Cultural Heritage of the Nation. Later, we will head to the Ballestas Islands, an impressive meeting point between the desert and the sea. These three islands harbor extraordinary monuments sculpted in rocks, as well as a diversity of wildlife, including endemic and migratory species. The islands are home to mammals such as sea lions and 18 species of birds, including the Humboldt penguin, the red-legged cormorant, the guanay, among others. Finally, we will return to the pier, leaving behind this extraordinary marine landscape.

Afterwards, you will be transferred from Paracas to the city of Lima.

Accommodation: Jose Antonio Lima (Standard Room)

Meals Included: Breakfast

Day 6: Lima - Cusco

We will transfer from our hotel in Lima to the airport to board our flight to Cusco. we will try too plan your arrival flight in Cusco before 11:30 am, so you can make it in time for your first adventure in the city. This is not always possible due to availability but we'll always work something out (!). Upon our arrival, we will be assisted at the Cusco airport and then transferred to our hotel.

We recommend: A light and easily digestible diet on the first day to facilitate acclimatization to the altitude. Avoiding the consumption of meats, fried foods, or heavy meals can help prevent altitude sickness. Additionally, we'’ like to remind you that you can enjoy hot infusions 24/7 at the hotel reception. Feel free to take advantage of this complimentary option for your convenience.

Approximate duration: 5 hours.

Shared services This charming half-day tour of Cusco offers us history, living culture and art. We will be able to appreciate how the Andean and Spanish cultures, as well as the past and the present, coexist in harmony in the Imperial City. We will arrive at the center to walk the halls of the San Pedro market, the oldest in the city. Designed in 1925 by Gustave Eiffel, today it brings together hundreds of merchants selling local products. We will also visit the Koricancha temple, which during the Inca empire was a center of worship of the Sun and on which the Santo Domingo convent was later built as part of the evangelization process. Its baroque style façade built on solid Inca walls perfectly summarizes the syncretism of cultures in the city of Cusco. To appreciate the greatness of the Incas, we will ascend to the monumental fortress of Sacsayhuaman, which with its enormous carved stone walls constitutes one of the best examples of Inca military architecture. We will tour the archaeological center of Kenko, a ceremonial place where the sun, the moon and the stars were worshiped. We couldn't take a tour of the city without visiting the Cathedral, the most important temple in the city. It was built by the Spanish on top of the palace of the Inca Huiracoha. Its interior houses a wonderful collection of colonial art composed of goldsmith pieces and representative canvases of the Cusco School of Art.

Accommodation: San Agustín Dorado (Standard Room)

Meals Included: Breakfast

Day 7: Cusco – Sacred Valley

In the Sacred Valley we will find ancient history and living culture. We will visit Chinchero, a place where many communities are still organized under the Inca system of ayllus and proudly wear their typical costumes.

We will take the opportunity to visit the Parwa cultural center. Here we will learn about the textile processes, the products from which the vibrant natural dyes are obtained, and the traditional weaving techniques used to manufacture them. In addition, we will be able to see the work of the artisans live and, if we want to take a souvenir with us, purchase some of their pieces. In a short walk we will pass in front of the church of Nuestra Señora de Monserrat and reach the archaeological complex, which during the Tahuantinsuyo was an agricultural and livestock center, with terraces and aqueducts.

We will also arrive at the archaeological site of Moray, which during the Tahuantinsuyo functioned as an agricultural research center, something like a laboratory. Its enormous concentric terraces and the variety of microclimates they created allowed the growth of a wide variety of crops. In the valley we will also enjoy a typical lunch and visit Ollantaytambo, an ancient military, religious and agricultural center of the Incas. Strategically located on a mountain, it offers an unbeatable view of the town, the only one that maintains the original Inca urban design and which we can also visit to see its stone streets, its market and breathe the spirit of the Andes.

Accommodation: San Agustín La Recoleta (Standard Room)

Meals Included: Breakfast and Lunch

Day 8: Sacred Valley – Machu Picchu

One of the most important tourist landmarks in the world awaits us: Machu Picchu! Our adventure will begin aboard the train to Aguas Calientes, also known as Machu Picchu Pueblo, a picturesque town at the foot of the emblematic Inca citadel. During the train ride we can enjoy the natural beauty of the surroundings, with impressive views of majestic mountains, the Vilcanota river and small towns of the Peruvian Andes; a visual feast that fills us with anticipation for the visit to the wonder that is Machu Picchu.

After a short bus ride from Aguas Calientes we will find ourselves in front of one of the Seven Wonders of the Modern World – an unforgettable sight! From there, we will explore the ancient ruins, learning all about the history and mysteries that this mystical and impressive place holds. Surrounded by incomparable landscapes, there will be no shortage of spectacular photo opportunities! Once we have recharged ourselves with the magical energy of Machu Picchu, we will return to Aguas Calientes where we will have free time to have lunch and explore the streets a bit of this charming town.

We remind you that: Due to train policies, each person is limited to carrying a single piece of luggage with a maximum weight of 5 kg in a small backpack during their stay at Machu Picchu. Therefore, we recommend bringing only the essentials. Sunscreen, sunglasses, a hat, and mosquito repellent can be very useful for your comfort during this excursion.

Accommodation: El Mapi by Inkaterra (Superior Deluxe Room)

Meals Included: Breakfast

Day 9: Cusco – International Departure

At the scheduled time you will be transferred to the airport to board your flight.

Meals included: Breakfast.

Day 10: Arrive Home

We hope you've had an amazing time away and are now relaxing back at home.

We'd love to hear from you about your experience and of course to plan your next adventure!