Peru Magic

Full Itinerary

DAY 1: PERU - LIMA

WELCOME TO PERU! ASSISTANCE AT YOUR ARRIVAL AND ENJOY THE TRADITIONAL LIMA CITY TOUR.

Our representative will be at the airport when your plane arrives in order to lead you to your hotel which is located in the neighborhood of Miraflores or San Isidro.

You will have some time to settle into your hotel before our first tour. At around 14:15, our guide and driver will pick you up to begin a 4 hour tour of the city of Lima.

The first place we will visit will be Huaca Pucllana which was a ceremonial and administrative pre-Incan building.

Then, we will visit the city center where we will get to see the Cathedral of Lima, Francisco Pizarro’s tomb, the catacombs of the San Francisco Monastery, the National Congress, and the Palace of Torre Tagle.

We will then continue to the sophisticated and modern districts of Miraflores and San Isidro. From these areas we will have nice views of the ocean.

Our tour will finish at Kennedy Park in Miraflores. At this time, you might like to enjoy some delicious Peruvian cuisine in one of the many restaurants that can be found in the area.

Overnight in Lima.
Meals included: none.

DAY 2: LIMA - PARACAS

BUS JOURNEY TO PARACAS AND FLIGHT OVER THE NAZCA LINES.

In the morning, our staff will pick you up and escort you to the bus station from where you will take a bus to Paracas.

Once you arrive in Paracas, Machu Travel Peru staff will pick you up transport you to your plane that will fly over the Nazca Lines.

The Nazca Lines are huge, ancient drawings that can only be seen from the sky and which represent shapes of insects and animals. They include; a monkey, a hummingbird, a condor, and a spider. Their origin is unknown, but many theories propose that they were part of a giant astronomical calendar.

You will have the afternoon free to explore the city on your own or to do different activities like riding a dune buggy over the huge sand dunes or watching an amazing sunset.

Overnight in Paracas.
Meals included: Breakfast.

DAY 3: PARACAS - AREQUIPA

BALLESTAS ISLAND TOUR IN THE MORNING, AND BUS JOURNEY BACK TO LIMA.

After breakfast at your hotel, you will be picked up and taken to the port where we will catch a boat to the Ballestas Islands. On our way to the islands, we will be able to appreciate the Candelabro (Candleholder), a giant figure drawn in the sand in the same style as the Nazca Lines.

On the islands, we will observe lots of playful sea lions, pelicans, penguins, and other sea birds that live on the Peruvian coast.

In the afternoon, private transportation will take you to the bus station where you will board a bus to Arequipa.

Upon your arrival, Machu Travel Peru staff will be waiting in the bus terminal to assist you and to transfer you to your selected hotel.

Please be aware that Arequipa, also known as “The White City”, has an elevation of around 2,328m or 7,638ft above sea level. In order to get acclimatized to the altitude and enjoy your trip to the fullest, please follow these recommendations:
Get plenty of rest, drink Coca tea, minimize physical activities, eat lightly and drink lots of water to avoid altitude sickness.

Overnight in Arequipa.
Meals included: Breakfast and lunch.

DAY 4: LIMA - AREQUIPA

FREE MORNING TO EXPLORE AREQUIPA “THE WHITE CITY”, IN THE AFTERNOON ENJOY A TRADITIONAL CITY TOUR.

You will have a free morning to explore at your leisure. In the afternoon, our city tour of Arequipa will start between 14:00hrs and 14:30hrs.

We will start with a visit to the Main Square, the Cathedral of Arequipa, the Cloisters, La Compañia de Jesus, the colonial district of Yanahuara, the San Lazaro neighborhood, and the residential area of Selva Alegre.
We will also visit the Santa Catalina Monastery which has been closed for almost 400 years but where we can still admire its passages, plazas and gardens of great beauty.

Our tour will finish at the main square. At this time, you might like to enjoy a nice dinner in one of the many nearby restaurants. Alternatively, we can arrange to drop you to your hotel. Just tell your guide what you would like to do.

Overnight in Arequipa.
Meals included: Breakfast.

DAY 5: AREQUIPA – COLCA CANYON

STUNNING BUS TRIP TO COLCA CANYON, VISITING SOME NATURAL RESERVES AND ENJOYING BEAUTIFUL LANDSCAPES.

In the morning, our staff will pick you up to start our journey to the Colca Valley. On the way, we will be able to admire the Misti, Chachani and Pichu Pichu volcanoes.

Then, we will stop in the Pampa Cañahuas National Reserve where we will see vicuñas, huanacos and other wild Andean species of animals. You are going to be able to appreciate these beautiful animals running free in their natural environment. You will also see many quaint little villages around us.

Afterwards, we will have a lunch break before we arrive to the hotel.

Once we arrive to the hotel, you will have the rest of the afternoon for leisure, to rest and to enjoy the hotel. Alternatively, you may wish to visit the local hot springs, La Calera.

Overnight in the Colca Valley.
Meals included: Breakfast and lunch.

DAY 6: COLCA CANYON - PUNO

BUS TRIP TO ONE OF THE DEEPEST CANYONS OF THE WORLD AND YOU WILL SEE THE CONDORS’ FLIGHT.

Today, you will have to wake up at 06:00hrs to have breakfast in the hotel before continuing our excursion to the Condor Cross Viewpoint. Here, we will be able to admire the flight of condors, huge and wonderful Andean birds that are a symbol of the Andes Mountain Range.

From this viewpoint, we will also be able to appreciate the depth of the Colca Canyon. Approximately 4,160m or 13,650ft deep, it is more than twice as deep as the Grand Canyon in the USA.

After leaving the viewpoint, we will visit the towns of Maca and Yanque where we will find many examples of typical colonial architecture.

After lunch, you will be taken to the bus station where you will catch a bus to Puno.

This trip takes around 5 hours and, once you arrive in Puno, Machu Travel Peru staff will be waiting to drive you to your previously selected hotel.

Overnight in Puno.
Meals included: Breakfast and lunch.

DAY 7: PUNO - LAKE TITICACA

TRADITIONAL LAKE TITICACA TOUR AND THE PICTURESQUE ISLANDS.

Welcome to Lake Titicaca! To get the most from this day, we recommend you start with a delicious, early breakfast because our staff will pick you up at around 06:40hrs to begin our tour of the lake.

First, we will visit Los Uros which are floating islands inhabited by very friendly local people. These islands are handmade by their inhabitants, using only totora reeds. Long ago, these people established their own settlement upon the enormous lake.
Then, we will visit Taquile Island, a spiritual home of the Incas. Here, we will enjoy a delightful and traditional lunch that will be prepared by a chef while you relax in this beautiful place.

You will also have an opportunity to explore the island and see the best views of the entire lake.

Our staff will bring you back to your hotel in Puno later in the afternoon.

Overnight in Puno.
Meals included: Breakfast and lunch.

DAY 8: PUNO - CUSCO

AN UNFORGETTABLE JOURNEY GOING THROUGH THE PERUVIAN ANDES TO CUSCO

On the sixth day, your trip to the city of Cusco will start between 06:45hrs and 07:00hrs. Machu Travel Peru staff will be at the hotel to drive you to the bus station from where we will depart.
Along this spectacular trip, the bus will stop at certain points so we can admire the natural and historic attractions that this route has to offer.

First, we will visit the Pucará Museum and have a chance to purchase a Torito de Pucará, a traditional, ceramic bull.

Afterwards, we will enjoy lunch in a pleasant restaurant while admiring the amazing scenery of La Raya, the highest point on the border between Puno and Cusco.

Then, our bus will stop in Raqchi or the Temple of Wiraqocha (Incan deity), one of the most wonderful Incan structures in Peru.
Finally, we will stop in the town of Andahuaylillas and get to see its beautiful chapel and the incredible display of colonial paintings inside.

From there, we will travel directly to Cusco where Machu Travel Peru staff will be waiting at the bus terminal to assist you and to drive you to your selected hotel in the city of Cusco.

Overnight in Cusco.
Meals included: Breakfast and lunch.

DAY 9: CUSCO

ENJOY THE TRADITIONAL CUSCO CITY TOUR AND EXPLORE THE MOST IMPRESSIVE ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITES.

You will have the morning to spend at your leisure. You may want to take some time to get acclimatized to the altitude or you can explore some of Cusco’s attractions such as the traditional San Pedro Market, the bohemian neighborhood of San Blas or one of the city’s many museums.

Just after lunch, our city tour of Cusco will begin, between 13:00hrs and 13:20hrs.

First, we will visit the Cathedral of Cusco, located on the Plaza de Armas. Then our tour will continue to Qorikancha (The Temple of the Sun) as well as to several of the city’s impressive archeological ruins such as Sacsaywaman, Qenqo, Pukapukara, and Tambomachay.
Our tour will finish at the main square.

At this time, you might like to enjoy a tasty dinner in one of the many nearby restaurants. Alternatively, we can arrange to drop you at your hotel. Just tell your guide what you are in the mood to do.

Overnight in Cusco.
Meals included: Breakfast.

DAY 10: SACRED VALLEY

TRADITIONAL SACRED VALLEY TOUR AND A STROLL THROUGH THE TYPICAL PISAQ MARKET.

First of all, you will have a delicious breakfast in your hotel. Our staff will pick you up between 08:00hrs and 08:20hrs to start our day in the Sacred Valley.

Our first stop will be Pisaq a picturesque Andean Village. In spite of its popularity, the local market has retained much of its charm, at least in the parts of it where villagers from miles around gather to barter and sell their products.

After, we will make our way to Urubamba which was one of the major agricultural centers of the Incan Empire and is one of the most beautiful towns in the Sacred Valley.

A nice buffet lunch will be waiting for us in this town. We will eat under the blue sky and surrounded by snowcapped mountains.

After lunch, we will go to Ollantaytambo, an attractive little town located on the west side of the Sacred Valley. This town has been built on top of original Incan foundations and is the best surviving example of Incan town planning.
Chinchero is the last place we will visit today. This village is mainly comprised of mud brick (adobe) houses and the locals still go about their businesses in traditional dress. The walls and roofs of this town are covered in beautiful floral and religious designs.

We will be part of the most remarkable textile hand making shows and see great presentations made by locals.

On the way back to Cusco, we will enjoy breathtaking views of the nearby Andes Mountains.

Once in Cusco, you can choose between being dropped to the main square, where you can have a nice dinner in one of the many nearby restaurants and enjoy some of the city’s nightlife, or we can take you straight to your hotel to relax. Just let us know what you want to do in advance.

Overnight in Cusco.
Meals included: Breakfast and lunch.

DAY 11: CUSCO - MACHU PICCHU

ENJOY A MORNING TRAIN TRIP THROUGH THE CLOUDY FOREST, VISIT THE MACHU PICCHU CITADEL AND RETURN TO CUSCO.

Today is THE DAY! Our transportation will pick you up and take you to the train station where you will board a train to Aguas Calientes.

Once you arrive in Aguas Calientes, your private tour guide will welcome you and give you some last minute information before starting a tour of Machu Picchu.

We will then take a bus up the mountain. This bus journey takes around 25 minutes and follows a winding slope with beautiful views.

Upon our arrival, we will check in at the Machu Picchu entrance gate before starting your long awaited tour of the sacred Incan citadel. This tour will last around 2 hours.

We will experience the mysteries and magic of the sacred Incan citadel of Machu Picchu by visiting the Main Plaza, the Circular Tower, the Sacred Sundial, the Royal Quarters, the Temple of Three Windows and various cemeteries.

When the tour finishes, we will be served a pleasant lunch in a cozy restaurant.

Your return to Cusco will be by train. At the train station of your arrival, our staff will be waiting to escort you to your hotel in Cusco.

Overnight in Cusco.
Meals included: Breakfast and lunch.

DAY 12: CUSCO - LIMA

FAREWELL AND DEPARTURE FLIGHT FROM CUSCO BACK TO LIMA

Today you will finish our Peru Vacation program. Our staff will pick you up from your hotel and lead you to Cusco International Airport where you will catch your flight back to Lima.

Once you arrive to the airport, our program will conclude.

Meals included: Breakfast.

This program will allow you to visit: Lima, Paracas, the Ballestas Islands, the Nazca Lines, Arequipa, the Colca Canyon, Puno, Lake Titicaca, Cusco, the Sacred Valley and Machu Picchu. Additionally, you can add more exciting day tours in Cusco or another destination in Peru. Please see our package list for more options.