When you arrive in Lima at Jorge Cháves International Airport, a representative of Expedition Travel Peru will welcome you and transport you to your local hotel. If you are up to it, we suggest you visit the Miraflores district, Kennedy Park, the park of love, and Larcomar mall where you can find restaurants, souvenirs, shops for all manner of things, and dance clubs among other things.

At an arranged time your local guide will meet you at your hotel to bring you on a charming tour through the city, our nations pride and joy. Here you will see colonial, republican, and contemporary architecture side by side. A number of famous buildings are clustered in the area surrounding the center square (Plaza Mayor) including: the cathedral, the government house (known as Pizarro House), the house of the judge, the municipal palace, and the palace of the archbishop. A little further along is the Monastery of San Francisco which is famous for its well preserved catacombs of human remains. Later in the day we will visit the Palace of Congress and the Inquisition Museum before stopping off for a brief visit in china town. From here you will return to your hotel.

At 3:00am our representative will pick you up from your hotel head to the bust station where will begin our trip toward Paracas. After the 4 hour journey, we will be greeted a representative who will assist you in finding your hotel. At 7:15am we will reconvene to make our way to the port for our island visit. At 8:00am, with the guidance of our local guide we will board a boat and set sail for the Ballestas Islands. Early on in the boat ride we will bear witness to the enormous Candelabra, famous for puzzling people around the world as to how and why it was made. Our local guide will explain some of the most likely reasons for the making of the Candelabra, and attempt to shed some light on its importance to the ancient peoples of Paracas. Afterwards we will continue on our way to the Ballestas Islands to witness the bustling wildlife community there. Highlights include a wide variety of local and migratory sea birds and sea lions.

At 8:00am we will set out from your hotel to the María Reich airport, located 5km outside the city. Here, we will watch a documentary about the enigmatic Nazca lines, which will prepare us for an unforgettable plane ride over giant drawings etched into the sand in the driest desert in the world. During the flight you will observe a whale, an astronaut, a condor, a dog, a monkey, a hand, a tree, a lizard, a flower, a spider, a spiral, a parrot, a flamingo, and a hummingbird, in addition to the spectacular geometric lines that crisscross the vast plains. Finally we will return to the airport and continue back to the hotel. During the day in Nazca there will be an optional tour, but you are more than welcome to explore the city at your own pace as well. At 10:00pm you will begin the 10 hour journey to the marvelous white city: Arequipa.

As we arrive at the bus station in Arequipa, a representative will meet us to bring you to your hotel. We will use this morning to rest after the long drive and simply enjoy the charm of this beautiful city. In the afternoon we will reunite for a walk through the city where will visit the most distinctive sites. We will begin in Carmen Alto district, from which you will witness the three volcanoes flanking the city of Arequipa: Misti (5800m), Chachani (6000m), and Pichu Pichu (5300m). While the volcanoes are the highlight, the view of the stunning countryside from here is by no means trivial. Next we will descend to visit the Yanahuara plaza, where we will learn about the origins of the name “the white city.” Continuing on we will visit the Historical Center, which has been declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. Next we will go down again to discover the main square and its 3 granite doors and famous fountain. Next we will visit the Basilica Cathedral (circa 1656), considered one of the first neoclassical religious monuments. The Basilica was destroyed by fire in 1844 and rebuilt in 1868; the façade of the cathedral measures 107 meters and it decorated with 70 classical columns, 2 towers, and 2 bronze medallions. Next we will visit the Convent of the Society of Jesus and the Polychrome Chapel of San Ignacio of Loyola, both of which are beautiful examples of the fusion between architecture and faith. Finally, we will visit the monastery of Santa Catalina (circa 1580), a citadel constructed on an area of 20,000 square meters.

Free day where you will have the opportunity to experience the white city in whatever way you would prefer. There are optional tours available, and lots to see including traditional markets, history museums and lots more.

At 8:30am a representative will pick you up from your hotel to give you a tour of Colca, beginning in the direction of Yura, where we will admire the natural and cultural offerings of this area. Next we will skirt Chachani and pass through the National Reserve of Silinas and Aguada Blanca until we arrive at Pampa Cañahuas, where a local guide will talk to us about the local flaura and fauna. Here we will also learn about the famous Peruvian camelid, the vicuña (similar to alpacas and llamas). As we continue, we will take a short break at Patahuasi to sample the local coca mate. We will move on to an area of wetlands where you will a diverse range of local and migratory birds. Next we will head to the highest point on our journey at Patapampa (located at 49100 meters above sea level), which is also known as the “Lookout of the Andes.” From here you can see volcanoes Misti, Hualca Hualca, Sabancaya, Ampato, Ubinas, and Chachani. In the afternoon we suggest you rest, but if you wish to continue exploring you could visit the Calera hot springs.

After breakfast we will set out towards the lookout of Cruz del Cóndor where we will observe the massive cross of the condor and the majestic canyon around it. On the return trip to Chivay we will visit Pinchollo, Maca, Achoma, and Yanque, in which we will witness traditional dance as well as more historical architecture and artifacts. After stopping off at Chivay for an optional lunch, we will headboard the bus to leave for Arequipa, where we should arrive by about 4:30pm.

At 7:00am we will head to the bus station of Cruz del Sur, before taking a 6 hour cruise though beautiful Andean countryside on the way to folklore capital of Peru. When you arrive in the bus station, a representative will assist you in finding your way to your hotel. You will enjoy acclimating to the altitude drinking coca mate and other Andean herbs of your choosing.

At 7:30am, we will pick you up and head for the pier where we will board out and begin our adventure on the highest lake in the world (at 3827 meters above sea level). We will begin by visiting the Floating Islands of the Uros, where families build houses out of cattails in the tradition of their ancestors. Each of the little islands is constructed with many layers of rods of cattail. They were used for a wide range of things by the locals and some of that tradition lives on today. Next we will continue to a community located in one of the peninsulas to learn about the daily lives of the locals. In this community we will have an unforgettable experience trying local activities like feeding animals, learning about farming, or simply walking and talking, trying to get a handle on the local Quechua language. A game of football or volleyball is a great way of getting to know each other. At the end of the day, we will spend the night here. The houses are adobe, the beds are appropriate there are lots of sheets available, and a private bathroom is included. After breakfast the next day we will board our boat and set out to continue our adventure of Lake Titicaca. This time, we are headed for the Island of Taquile for about an hour where we will witness the spectacle of the men sewing and the women making ice cream. For those interested, this is the spot to buy high quality clothing. As we depart the boat, we will have about an hour walk before arriving at the homes of the artisans. Later we will meet for lunch in a comfortable location with a panoramic view of the beautiful lake. Finally, we will begin our roughly 3 hour journey by boat back to Puno.

At 7:30am we will pick you up and head to the bus station for our 8:00am bus trip of roughly 6.5 hours towards the Andes. We will probably make at least one stop along the way at the highest point on our tour at La Raya (4338 meters above sea level) to appreciate the enormous snow-covered mountains. From this stop we will descend into the lovely valley known as the “way of the sun of Inca Manco Cápac and Mama Occllo” until we arrive at the historical capital of Cusco. Upon arriving at the bus station a representative will meet us and arrange accommodation where you will be given more detailed itinerary information for the next few days.

Part of the morning will be free time to absorb the beautiful “Rome of Peru and South America” at your own pace. At 10:00am a representative will meet you at your hotel to bring you to Ollantaytambo station only a handful of minutes outside the city. At 12:58pm you will board your Expedition train towards “Agias Calientes:” The City of Machupicchu. As we arrive we will be met by another representative who will arrange accommodation, where you will receive more information about the upcoming days. For part of the afternoon you will be free to explore at your own pace or hire a local guide who can help you explore with a bit more depth. There is a plethora of things to see, so make the most of your time!

At 6:00am your local guide will pick you up from your hotel and bring you to the bus station for a 30 minute trip to the stronghold of Machupicchu, where you will explore. The tour will last about 2 hours, followed by some more free time to continue your exploration. Finally we will return to the train station for the journey back to our accommodation.

Discover Cusco your own way! Visit museums, parks, markets, or simply wander and see the stunning Inca streets. If you wish, you may arrange for other extension tours as well through valleys, irrigation canals, terraces, and every manner of other historical sites. We end the day in Cusco.

At a previously arranged time we will pick you up from your hotel to bring you to the airport where you will head back to Lima. There is another option city tour of Cusco today. After dropping you at the airport, our service will come to an end.