Best of Peru Tour – 12 Days Travel Package

Welcome to Lima, the capital of Peru,  Our representative will be waiting for you at the Lima airport – international exit gate, ready to take you to your hotel accommodation upon arrival. No tours will be arranged for this afternoon.

IMPORTANT: Please confirm your flight arrivel and  departure details (airline, flight number, estimated arrival time) so our team can arrange your airport drop-off accordingly.

• Accommodation: Tierra Viva Miraflores or similar
• Meals: None
• Ticktes: None

Your adventure begins with an early morning pick-up from your accommodation in Lima between 04:30 to 04:45 hrs. From Lima, you’ll embark on a 3.5-hour journey by car to reach Paracas.

The highlight of your tour will be a boat trip to the Ballestas Islands, lasting approximately 2.5 hours. You’ll witness a remarkable variety of rocky formations and encounter diverse bird and marine species in this captivating natural environment.

Following the Ballestas Islands excursion, you’ll explore the impressive and remote Paracas National Reserve. This reserve is part of the Guinness World Record-holding ‘Driest desert on Earth,’ the Atacama Desert. Be sure to bring sunblock, a hat, and plenty of water, as the climate can be harsh. Your knowledgeable guide will provide insights into the desert’s formation, and you’ll have the chance to admire the landscape, including lakes frequented by migratory birds, with the possibility of spotting pink flamingos.

Next, your journey will take you to the Huacachina Oasis, where you’ll embark on an adventure across the stunning sand dunes. Hop aboard dune buggies and enjoy sandboarding, an exhilarating activity amidst the surreal desert dunes. Brave travelers can even try sandboarding down the dunes!

Finally, we’ll embark on the journey back to Lima, which will take approximately 5.3 hours by bus. Upon your arrival in Lima, we’ll ensure you are dropped off directly at your hotel, concluding a day filled with exploration and cultural experiences

• Accommodation: Tierra Viva Miraflores Centro or Similar
• Meals: breakfast - Lunch
• Entrance tickets: All included

Today, you’ll get to try traditional Peruvian cuisine. At 9:30 am, our guide will pick you up from your hotel and take you to a local market. As you walk through the market, your guide will talk about the different ingredients, like vegetables, fruits, grains, and meats, many of which come from the nearby mountains and valleys.

After the market tour, you’ll join a cooking class. The chef will introduce the dishes and drinks you’ll make, like ceviche, lomo saltado, and papa a la huancaína. Afterwards, you’ll get to enjoy the food you’ve prepared.

Around 2:00 pm, your city tour of central Lima begins. You’ll visit the Palacio del Gobierno (Presidential Palace), the Main Plaza, and several notable colonial buildings. The Main Plaza is surrounded by impressive buildings, palaces, and the Palacio de Gobierno, which is the official residence of the President of Peru.

After your guide gives an overview and time for photos, you’ll head to the famous Saint Francisco Monastery and its remarkable underground catacombs. You’ll also see other highlights like the De la Union Pathway, the Archbishop’s Palace, City Hall, the Cathedral, and San Martin Square, which is often used for public events and demonstrations.

The historic center is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, known for its well-preserved colonial architecture. Lima was founded by the Spanish in 1535, making it one of the oldest capital cities in South America. It’s also called the City of Kings.

You’ll have time to enjoy each site’s unique features. Your guide will stop often for photos and share interesting details about each historic location. At the end of the tour, you’ll be driven back to your hotel.

• Accommodation: Tierra Viva Miraflores or similar
• Meals: Breakfast and Lunch
• Entry Fees: included

Upon your arrival at Cusco airport, our representative will be there to greet you. They will then transfer you to the downtown area of Cusco, where your hotel is located. Cusco sits at an elevation of 3350 meters, and it’s common to experience altitude-related issues upon arrival. To help acclimatize, we recommend enjoying a cup of Coca tea at the hotel.

Check-in at most hotels is typically around 12 pm. If you arrive early, you can leave your luggage at the hotel as they provide free storage. This gives you the opportunity to have lunch, and there are many restaurants around the main Plaza of Cusco.

At 1 pm, your Cusco city tour will commence. This tour includes visits to various sites in the city as well as Inca sites located in the upper part of Cusco. The tour usually begins at the Main Plaza of Cusco, a stunning location. You’ll then visit the renowned Qoricancha, considered the center of the Inca Empire and where Inca civilization began.

Continuing the tour, you’ll travel by transportation to the next Inca site, Sacsahuayman, which is the largest and most unique site on this tour, distinct even from Machu Picchu. You’ll have ample time to explore and appreciate its grandeur. The tour also includes visits to Qenqo, Pucapucara, and Tambomachay, smaller Inca sites with significant roles in Inca history. Throughout the tour, your expert guide will provide detailed information about each site and help you capture the best photographs.

The tour is expected to conclude by 6 pm, and you will be dropped off at your hotel in Cusco.

• Accommodation: Rumi Punko or similar
• Ticket: Included
• Meals: only breakfast at hotel

The tour starts with a pick-up from your hotel at 8 am. Then, we will leave Cusco in our private transportation towards our first stop – an Alpaca farm, where you will have the chance to see the four of them: llamas, alpacas, guanacos, and vicuñas. These animals were very important to our ancestors, and the guide will explain the difference of each of them. Then, we will continue to Pisac, this place was the capital of corn and potatoes. Depending on the season, we will see the farming area.

Once we are in the Pisac Inca site, we will have a walking tour exploring the famous circular Andean terraces, rooms, and water fountains. It’s one of the biggest Inca sites in the Sacred Valley. After you explore and see the beauty of this amazing Inca site, we will drive back to Pisac town where we will have the chance to visit the local market. It’s one of the typical ones where the population still practices the exchange of products. It will be a good place in case you want to buy some souvenirs.

After that, we will continue driving for almost an hour until Urubamba where we stop for lunch. After enjoying the delicious lunch, we continue for 30 minutes driving to Ollantaytambo, known as the last living Inca city. This beautiful place has a nice Inca archaeological site where you will have a guided tour. It takes around an hour to explore and know the importance of this Inca site. After that, you will have time to walk and explore the local village, then the guide will take you to the hotel.

• Accommodation: Sol Natura  or similar.
• Ticket: Included
• Meals: Breakfast and lunch.

We will pick you up from your hotel at 5:45 AM and walk a few minutes to the train station, where we will take the train to Km 104, the starting point of the Short Inca Trail. There is an official checkpoint where you must show your original passport and can get a stamp if desired. You will prepare for the hike and begin your journey.

The Chachabamba Inca site is located at the beginning of the hike, where you will have a guided tour. Then, you will continue walking. The first section is a gradual uphill climb for about 3.5 hours. Along the way, there will be many stops to enjoy the view, take pictures, and have snacks. The scenery is breathtaking, passing through a cloud forest section that offers amazing flowers, mostly orchids, and hummingbirds. Next, we will reach an incredible Inca site called Wiñayhuayna, often considered a small Machu Picchu by most travelers. You will have a guided tour and time to explore this unique Inca site. Afterward, you will have lunch.

Following lunch, there is about 1 more hour of walking to the Sun Gate. Only Inca Trail hikers have the chance to reach Machu Picchu by walking through the Sun Gate. We usually arrive there around 2:00 PM, which is the perfect time to enjoy the afternoon views of the citadel and possibly witness the sunset. From the Sun Gate, there is 1 more hour of gradual downhill walking until you finally reach the Machu Picchu citadel. The trail takes you directly to the upper part of Machu Picchu, offering the best views. You will have ample time to enjoy the views and take pictures and videos.

Afterward, you will take a bus down to the town of Aguas Calientes, where you will spend the night. Once you arrive at your hotel, you can take a shower, and then you will have dinner at a restaurant.

• Accommodation: Tierra Viva Machu Picchu *** or similar
• Tickets: Included
• Meals: breakfast – lunch and dinner

Today will be the most important day. After an early breakfast, your guide will pick you up from your hotel and take one of the early buses up to Machu Picchu. Once you arrive there, the guide will lead you to the upper part of the Inca site, from where you will have the chance to witness and enjoy the sunrise (depending on the season you visit) and, for sure, capture the best Machu Picchu pictures. You will have ample time to see and relish all the magic that the New Wonder of the World offers to its visitors.

Afterward, we will continue with the walking tour during which the guide will take you to the most important sectors and palaces that Machu Picchu has to offer. This tour lasts around 2.5 hours. Once you complete the tour, if you have a Huayna Picchu ticket, you can hike the famous mountain. The hike takes about 2 hours round-trip, and it costs $75 per ticket. It’s necessary to book in advance. If you don’t have a Huayna Picchu ticket, you will bid farewell to the Lost City of the Incas until next time and take a bus down to Aguas Calientes town.

There, you will have your last lunch with the group (lunch is not included). Afterward, you will catch the afternoon train back to Ollantaytambo, where our driver will be waiting for you to take you back to your hotel in Cusco. The approximate return time is around 8 pm.

• Accommodation: Rumi Punko or Similar.
• Ticket: Included
• Meals: only breakfast.

It promises to be an extraordinary day! Your guide will pick you up from your hotel at 4 am to kick off your adventure. You’ll embark on a roughly 3-hour drive to the trailhead. Around halfway to your destination, you’ll have a chance to enjoy a hearty breakfast. As you approach the trailhead at an elevation of 4,350 meters, make sure you’re dressed warmly and prepared for the cold and dry conditions.

The hike itself covers approximately 4 kilometers and takes about 2.5 hours to ascend. It’s a challenging but rewarding journey, culminating in the breathtaking summit of Rainbow Mountain, also known as Winikunqa, which stands at an impressive 5,150 meters above sea level. Take your time to relish the experience, capture stunning photographs, and soak in the remarkable surroundings.

Following your time at Rainbow Mountain, your adventure continues with a hike to the Red Valley, located on the backside of Rainbow Mountain. From this elevated vantage point, you’ll be treated to panoramic views of the entire valley, drenched in vibrant shades of red – a truly unique sight.

After fully appreciating both Rainbow Mountain and the Red Valley, you’ll retrace your steps, hiking back along the same route to the point where our driver will be waiting for you. A short 50-minute drive will bring you to a restaurant where you can savor a delicious lunch. After indulging in the meal, we’ll begin our journey back to Cusco, and you’ll be dropped off at your hotel. You can expect to return to Cusco at around 5:50 pm.

Enjoy this remarkable experience exploring Rainbow Mountain and the Red Valley!

• Accommodation: Rumi Punko or Similar
• Ticket: Included
• Meals: NA.

It is now time to continue your journey to Peru´s folkloric capital, Puno. This journey will be by bus and will include guided visits to pre-Inca and Inca sites.

The tour will have an early start between 6:00 a.m. to 6:20 a.m. It will be a full-day tour with stops at the Andahuaylillas church, the archaeological site in Raqchi, la Raya Pass, and the lithic museum of Pukara with arrive in Puno by 5,30pm, Once in Puno, you will be dropped off at your hotel for the night.

• Accommodation: Tierra Viva Puno Hotel or Similar
• Meals: breakfast and lunch
• Ticktes: included

Pick-up will be between 7:30 a.m. to 8 a.m. You will be transferred to the lakes port where you will take a boat to the floating island of Uros, where you will have time to explore around.

Following this, you will take a boat ride to the next island, Amanti Island, where you will stay with a local family. Tonight will be a basic accommodation, but a memorable one, as you will be surrounded by a nice family. This will allow for an opportunity to see how the indigenous people of the lake live. In the afternoon, you will climb the mountain up to the Temple of Pachatata to watch the sunset and party with the locals.

• Accommodation: Homestay with local family in Amantani Island
• Meals: Breakfast – Lunch and Dinner
• Ticktes: All required

You will have an early breakfast with the family and take a boat to the next island called Taquile. This island is known for its intricate and rich textile and weaving traditions and sustainable tourism practices. You will have the opportunity to walk around the island and enjoy a delicious lunch by the lake.

You will return to Puno around 3:30 p.m. for the rest of the afternoon free of activities.

• Accommodation: Tierra Viva Puno or Similar
• Meals: Breakfast and lunch
• Ticktes: All required

Our representative will come to pick you up from your accommodation in Puno 03 hours prior to your departure flight to Lima. From Puno, you will be shuttled to the nearby airport in Juliaca. Please know all travelers are required to be at the airport by no later than 02 hours to flight departure (national flights).

IMPORTANT: Please confirm your flight departure details (airline, flight number, estimated arrival time) so our team can arrange your airport drop-off accordingly. 

• Accommodation: None
• Meals: Only breakfast
• Tickets: None required