Peru - The Andes Route - 14 Days

Day 1: Depart To Lima, PeruArrival Day

Today you'll depart the UK and head to Lima, Peru where your holiday begins.

Day 2: International Arrival – Lima

Welcome to Lima.

Upon our arrival you will be met and assisted to your hotel transfer. Your holiday begins!

Accommodation at selected hotel in Lima. Meals included: None.

Day 3: Lima

Enjoy a relaxed morning at leisure.

In the afternoon (14:00), set out on a half-day Lima City Tour (approximately 5 hours, shared service), exploring both the modern and historic sides of Peru’s राजधानी. Discover contemporary districts such as Miraflores and San Isidro, before delving into Lima’s UNESCO-listed historic centre, where colonial heritage comes to life.

As you travel through the city, you’ll see a blend of old and new in landmarks including the Museum of Italian Art, the Palace of Justice, the Museum of Lima and Plaza San Martín. A walking tour of the historic centre brings you to the Main Square, a striking colonial setting surrounded by the Government Palace, Cathedral and Archbishop’s Palace.

You’ll also visit the Convent of Santo Domingo, one of Lima’s most iconic religious sites and a UNESCO-listed landmark, home to the relics of three important Peruvian saints: Santa Rosa de Lima, San Martín de Porres and San Juan Macías.

The experience concludes with a visit to the renowned Rafael Larco Herrera Museum, one of Peru’s most significant museums. Here, you’ll explore an extensive collection of nearly 45,000 pre-Hispanic artefacts, particularly from the Mochica culture. The museum is notable for its open storerooms and digital access to its full collection, as well as its impressive displays of jewellery, textiles and its famous “erotic room,” featuring ceramics linked to fertility.

Accommodation: Jose Antonio Lima (Standard Room)

Meals Included: Breakfast

Day 4: Lima - Arequipa

Transfer from your hotel in Lima to the airport for your flight to Arequipa. Upon arrival, you will be met and assisted before being transferred to your selected hotel.

Later, enjoy a half-day Arequipa City Tour (shared service), discovering the heart of this beautiful colonial city. Begin with visits to the Yanahuara and Carmen Alto viewpoints, offering spectacular views over the surrounding countryside and the impressive volcanoes of Misti, Chachani and Pichu Pichu.

Continue to Arequipa’s historic centre and its picturesque Main Square, where the city was founded in 1540. The city’s distinctive buildings are constructed from white volcanic stone, known as ashlar, which gives Arequipa its nickname, the “White City.” Admire the grand Cathedral, noted for its neo-Renaissance design with Gothic influences, and visit the Church of the Company of Jesus.

Stroll through historic streets such as San Francisco and Santo Domingo, where the city’s colonial past is still clearly visible today. The tour concludes at one of Arequipa’s most iconic landmarks, the Santa Catalina Monastery. Explore its cloisters and wander through its narrow, vividly coloured passageways, discovering tranquil courtyards and rooms adorned with remarkable artwork from the Cusco School, blending indigenous and Spanish influences.

Accommodation: El Cabildo (Standard Room)

Meals Included: Breakfast

Day 5: Arequipa - Colca

We will leave our hotel to embark on an unforgettable journey. We travel through the town of Yura, across the Aguada Blanca and Pampa Cañahuas National Reserve. We make a stop in Patapampa to refresh before continuing to the town of Chivay, where we can enjoy a delicious lunch. The rest of the afternoon is free to enjoy the hotel facilities or take the optional visit to the La Calera hot springs. In the evening, we have dinner at the hotel.

Accommodation: El Refugio Colca

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Day 6: Colca - Puno

We will head towards the Cruz del Condor, the best location to admire the Colca Canyon and - weather permitting - witness the majestic flight of the condors. Then, we begin the journey out of the Colca Valley, visiting the picturesque villages of Pinchollo, Maca, and Chivay. We enjoy lunch on the way as we travel the route that will take us to Puno.

Accommodation: Jose Antonio, Puno

Meals Included: Breakfast and Lunch

Day 7: Puno

In the morning you will travel to Taquile Island, where the community kindly welcomes tourists, keeping alive their traditions, customs and colorful clothing in the old-fashioned style. The islanders are skilled artisans and capture in each work surprising techniques developed over centuries by their ancestors. Then visit the floating islands of the Uros, also called the Town of the Lake, because these islands are built with layers of totora and serve as homes and trading centers for the natives of the same name who are mobilized in rafts built by hand.

Accommodation: Jose Antonio

Meals Included: Breakfast & Lunch

Day 8: Puno - Cusco

Spectacular scenery awaits on today’s journey. The day begins in the charming town of Pucará, where a visit to its museum offers insight into its rich history, Inca heritage and enduring cultural traditions.

Continue to the Raya Pass, situated at 4,335 metres above sea level, where you can take in breathtaking views across the Andes, including the snow-capped peak of Chimboya. This is a perfect opportunity to pause and capture the dramatic landscapes.

The journey then leads to the remarkable archaeological complex of Raqchi, home to the Temple of Wiracocha. Its impressive structure, rising over 14 metres high, makes this a truly memorable stop.

Finally, arrive in the picturesque town of Andahuaylillas, where you will visit the Church of San Pedro Apóstol, often referred to as the “Sistine Chapel of the Americas.” Inside, admire its striking baroque decoration, intricate murals and richly detailed artwork.

Throughout the day, enjoy sweeping views of the Southern Valley, with a route that combines history, culture and some of the Andes’ most stunning landscapes.

Accommodation: Hotel San Agustín Dorado, Cusco

Meals Included: Breakfast and Lunch

Day 9: Cusco

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, Cusco

Meals Included: Breakfast

Day 10: The Sacred Valley

The Sacred Valley offers a fascinating blend of ancient history and living culture. Begin with a visit to Chinchero, where many communities still follow the traditional Inca system of ayllus and proudly wear their distinctive local dress. Here, you will also visit the Parwa Cultural Centre, where you’ll gain insight into traditional textile production, including the use of natural dyes and age-old weaving techniques. You’ll have the chance to see artisans at work and, if you wish, purchase authentic handmade pieces.

A short walk takes you past the Church of Nuestra Señora de Monserrat to the nearby archaeological complex, once an important agricultural and livestock centre during the Tahuantinsuyo, complete with terraces and aqueducts.

Continue to the remarkable site of Moray, believed to have been an Inca agricultural research centre. Its striking concentric terraces create a range of microclimates, allowing different crops to be cultivated in a unique natural laboratory.

Enjoy a typical lunch in the valley before visiting Ollantaytambo, an impressive Inca site that served military, religious and agricultural purposes. Perched on the mountainside, it offers spectacular views over the surrounding area. The town itself is one of the few places to have preserved its original Inca urban layout, with narrow stone streets, a traditional market and an authentic Andean atmosphere.

Accommodation: San Agustín La Recoleta

Meals Included: Breakfast & Lunch

Day 11: Sacred Valley – Machu Picchu

Please note: due to train regulations, each traveller is limited to one small bag or backpack weighing a maximum of 5kg for the Machu Picchu visit. We recommend packing only the essentials. Items such as sunscreen, sunglasses, a hat and insect repellent will help ensure your comfort during the excursion.

Early this morning (05:50), depart for your full-day Machu Picchu experience (approximately 17 hours, shared service). Travel by Voyager or Expedition train to Aguas Calientes, also known as Machu Picchu Pueblo, a charming town nestled at the foot of the iconic Inca citadel.

The scenic train journey offers spectacular views of the surrounding landscapes, including towering mountains, the Vilcanota River and traditional Andean villages, building anticipation for the highlight ahead. From Aguas Calientes, a short bus ride brings you to the entrance of Machu Picchu, one of the New Seven Wonders of the World.

Explore the remarkable ruins with your guide, uncovering the history, significance and enduring mysteries of this extraordinary site. Set against a backdrop of breathtaking scenery, there will be plenty of opportunities to capture unforgettable photos.

After your visit, return to Aguas Calientes where you will have free time to enjoy lunch and explore the town at your leisure before continuing your journey.

Accommodation: El Mapi by Inkaterra (Superior Deluxe Room)

Meals Included: Breakfast & Lunch

Day 12: Machu Picchu - Cusco

In the afternoon, we will board the train that will take us back to Cusco through the corresponding station.

Upon arrival, we will be transferred to our hotel.

Accommodation: San Agustín Dorado (Standard Room).

Meals included: Breakfast.

Day 13: Cusco - International Departure

Today you'll depart Cusco. We hope you've enjoyed the once in a lifetime holiday and so see you again at The Holiday People.

Day 14: Arrive Home

By now, you're home, relaxing and reflecting on an amazing holiday.