13 Days Wonderful Peruvian South from Lima

Upon arrival, a representative will be waiting to greet you at the airport and the transportation service will transfer you to your hotel at the scheduled time. Spend the rest of the day at your leisure in Lima, the capital of Peru and a city steeped in history. During Colonial times, the Historic Centre of Lima, known as the ‘Ciudad de los Reyes’ (City of Kings), was the political, administrative, religious and economic centre for the Spanish in Peru. The historical centre is a UNESCO-listed World Heritage Site. Lima is now a modern metropolis and is currently undergoing an exciting process of cultural and economic change. Overnight in Lima.

Start the day with breakfast at the hotel, then transfer to the bus station in Lima, where our trip to Paracas begins. The leisurely journey will give you time to gaze out the window and appreciate the landscape of Peru and the Pacific coast, with a journey of approximately three and a half hours. Paracas is known for its mild desert climate and is an ideal destination year-round for nature and ancient history enthusiasts. Its impressive National Reserve offers stunning landscapes, rock formations, and turquoise beaches. Upon arrival at the Paracas bus station, you will head to your hotel. Overnight in Paracas.

In the morning transfer to El Chaco pier to embark on a boat ride to the Ballestas Islands. The Ballestas are a collection of rocky islets with beautiful geographical formations just a few kilometres off the western coast of Peru. The islands are the ideal habitat for various species of birds and an eclectic mix of larger wildlife like seals, boobies, pelicans, sea lions and the endangered Humboldt penguin. Cruise around the islands’ dramatic cliffs and watch large herds of noisy sea lions relaxing on the rocks, birds stretching their wings and, if you’re lucky, dolphins near your boat. While you will not disembark on the islands, you will get startlingly close to this impressive array of wildlife. As you sail, you will also pass the Paracas Candelabra, a huge geoglyph that has been dated to around 200 BC. Then, you will be taken to the bus station to take the bus to Nazca City, a four-hour trip. Upon arrival at the Nazca bus station, transfer to your hotel. Overnight in Nazca.

Today, breakfast is followed by a 30-minute flight over the Peruvian desert and the mysterious Nasca lines. The small town of Nasca would go unnoticed on the map if it were not for the ancient geoglyphs etched into the sand that have given it worldwide fame. As you fly over the desert, lines take shape to form simple geometric designs, then some of the swirls and zigzags start to form more distinct shapes: a spider, a condor, a monkey, to name a few. Once back on land, you will be transferred to the bus station to catch your transport to the next destination: Arequipa. After a 10-hour journey, you will arrive at your hotel to enjoy a well-deserved rest. Overnight in Arequipa.

Enjoy breakfast at the hotel before spending the day getting to know the town of Arequipa. Today’s tour will begin in the main square, the Plaza de Armas, where you will find the elegant, neo-Renaissance Basilica Cathedral of Arequipa and the sensational Santa Catalina Monastery. The monastery, founded in the 16th century, was almost entirely self-sufficient and it consisted in accommodation, cloisters, squares, kitchens; it was a walled community, tucked away from prying eyes and the influence of the outside world. The families of nuns paid large sums of money for their daughters to join the convent, thus increasing the wealth and prestige of the Monastery. Nowadays, strolling through its colourful streets is like a step back in time, giving us an insight into colonial Peru. To finish the tour, visit the neighbourhoods of Yanahuara and Carmen Alto to enjoy magnificent views of the Misti volcano rising above the city. Overnight in Arequipa.

The route will take you through the Yura district, an area characterised by impressive geographical features, ranging from deep ravines to high mountains, waterfalls and lush vegetation. The route continues on to the Pampa Cañahuas. This extensive Andean plateau is home to the vicuña, an indigenous Andean camelid that is closely related to the alpaca, guanaco, and llama. Cross the pampas of Viscachani and Toccra and skirt the crater of the now extinct Chucura Volcano to reach the Mirador de los Andes at Patapampa, 4,910 metres above sea level. This viewpoint offers impressive views of the numerous volcanoes surrounding Arequipa. Enjoy lunch in the picturesque town of Chivay before being transferred to your selected hotel in the Colca Valley for a free afternoon. Overnight in Colca.

uz del Condor viewpoint of the Colca Canyon. This impressive valley is one of the deepest in the world, reaching depths of approximately 3,400 metres, double the depth of the Grand Canyon. As you take in the sheer vastness of this area, you may witness the majestic condors gliding by on the thermals rising from the canyon. Descend the valley to discover some of the traditional towns located on the banks of the Colca River, such as Chivay, Pinchollo, Maca, Achoma and Yanque, where beautiful colonial churches are backdropped by the peaks of the Andes. You will also stop at the Antahuilque and Choquetico viewpoints, both offering majestic views of the whole valley. Later on, continue to Puno making a detour through Patahuasi. Observe the amazing stone forests and sky-blue lagoons populated by cranes that fill this area 4,000 metres above sea level. At the end of this amazing journey you’ll arrive in Puno, where you can enjoy a well-deserved rest at the hotel. Overnight in Puno .

iting to take you to the beautiful Uros Islands. The Uros are an indigenous people of Peru that live on a series of man-made islands, created entirely from the buoyant totora reeds that grow abundantly in the shallows of the lake. The islands are composed of layers of woven totora, which are constantly replenished from the top as they rot from the bottom. The Uros people also use reeds to construct their homes, so cooking is done outdoors to avoid possible fires! After visiting this fascinating island, sail to Taquile, a small slice of heaven that once belonged to the Inca Empire. Look around and you will notice traces of its Incan past in the ruins that still exist around the island. After a brief introduction, the local community will give you an insight into their customs and traditions with a cultural demonstration. Lunch is enjoyed on the island before the return trip to Puno. Overnight in Puno

The first stop is the town of Pucara, the first urban settlement on Lake Titicaca, established between 100 and 300 A.D. Visit some of the monoliths from the town’s pre-Inca site at the Pucara Lithic Museum before continuing to Racchi, home to the Wiracocha Temple, an Inca site built to honour a powerful Andean god. The rectangular construction boasts thatched rooftops 20 metres above the ground; these are thought to be the highest in the Inca Empire. Your next stop is in Andahuaylillas, a town located around 40 kilometres away from Cusco. The main attraction here is the local Church, known as the "Sistine Chapel of America" owing to the high quality of art found inside. Once in the Imperial City, a transportation service will pick you up from the bus station and drop you off at your hotel. Overnight in Cusco

In the afternoon, enjoy a guided tour of the former capital of the Inca Empire. The tour begins at the Santo Domingo Convent, a building constructed on the site of Coricancha, one of the most important Incan complexes dedicated to sun worship. According to historic records, the original temple walls depicted scenes of nature and were covered in gold leaf. After Coricancha, visit the imposing cathedral in the Plaza de Armas, then head to the Cusco hills, where you’ll find the fortress of Sacsayhuaman and panoramic views of Cusco. Continue on to Qenqo, an archaeological site where it is believed the Incas carried out religious rituals to improve harvests. Your tour ends in Puka Pukara, meaning ‘red fortress’ in Quechua. Puka Pukara is believed to be an ancient military site comprising numerous rooms, courtyards, baths, aqueducts and towers. At the end of the tour, you will be transferred back to your hotel. Overnight in Cusco

Today, travel to Chinchero, a small high-altitude town offering beautiful views of the valley and the chance to witness traditional clothing, customs and local handicrafts. Visit archaeological remains and a beautiful 17th-century church, one of the first Catholic buildings in Peru. On Sundays, you may also visit the local market. You will then be transferred to the Yucay Museum of Living Culture, where you can see textiles, adobe pottery and silverware being crafted using techniques dating back to the Incas. This centre not only gives you an insight into local Andean traditions, but you also have the opportunity to feed the llamas, sheep and alpacas! Continue then to Ollantaytambo, inhabited uninterruptedly since Inca times. Explore its streets and climb the iconic fortress built into the mountainside. Then feel the true spirit of the Sacred Valley as you sample a lunch of local cuisine in a cosy restaurant in Ollantaytambo. Overnight in Sacred Valley

The journey takes you through many spectacular Andean landscapes. Once at Aguas Calientes, a 25-minute bus tour will get you to Machu Picchu. It is believed that the archaeological site was built around the year 1450 by the Inca Pachacutec. However, a century later, the city was abandoned after the Spanish conquest, saving it from the destruction that fell upon other Inca settlements. Instead, the jungle slowly swallowed its stone constructions, enveloping and hiding it for centuries. During the guided tour, you will learn about the origins of this impressive citadel and visit its most outstanding monuments. Then, return to Aguas Calientes to have lunch at the famous Café Inkaterra, a beautiful thatched-roof restaurant. In the afternoon, transfer to the Aguas Calientes station to take the train back to the Ollanta station and then back to Cusco Overnight in Cusco

Although this is the last day of your journey, we hope that your memories of this remarkable region, bursting with both culture and history, will last a lifetime. Breakfast included