Historical Peru 10D/9N

Early in the morning upon your arrival in the city of Lima, we will pick you up from Jorge Chávez Airport and transfer you to your hotel where you can rest and have a meal before starting with the scheduled activities.

In the afternoon, we will pick you up from the lobby of your hotel to begin the City Tour of Lima. We will start at Huaca Pucllana, where we will have a panoramic view of the important ceremonial center of the Lima culture. Then, we will head towards the historic center, passing through popular neighborhoods such as Miraflores, San Isidro, Lince, and Cercado, where we will observe the Palace of Justice, the Lima Museum, the Italian Art Museum, the French Palace, and the San Martín Square.

We will begin the walking tour at the Plaza de Armas, where, in addition to observing the Lima Cathedral, the Municipal Palace, the Government Palace, and the Archbishop’s Palace, we will enter the Convent and Catacombs of San Francisco. These are a series of underground passages beneath the church, where the ancient inhabitants of the city were buried, and where the remains of 25,000 people are found.

We will continue with a tour of the Magical Circuit of Water. We will head to the Parque de la Reserva, the gateway to Lima’s historic center. Here, we can enjoy an impressive laser projection show on the water fountains and an introduction to Peruvian culture. At the end of the tour, we will transfer you back to your hotel.

At the agreed time, we will pick you up from your hotel in Lima to begin the culinary experience. We will board the transportation that will take us to a traditional Peruvian market, where you will discover a wide variety of ingredients used in the preparation of traditional dishes and desserts. Additionally, you will have the opportunity to taste fruits such as chirimoya, lúcuma, aguaymanto, and pacae.

We will explore the fruits of the sea, a great variety of unique fish and seafood offered by the Pacific Ocean. We will continue with a visit to a traditional restaurant specializing in the preparation of seafood dishes, where we will have a hands-on class on how to make Ceviche and Pisco Sour, iconic symbols of Peruvian cuisine.

Afterward, we will enjoy a delicious lunch at the famous restaurant “La Sirena,” where we will savor exquisite delicacies while enjoying a beautiful view of the Pacific Ocean.

At the end of the experience, you will receive a certification for successfully completing the typical Peruvian cooking class, along with the complete recipe for preparing Ceviche and a souvenir photo with our chef.

In the morning, we will pick you up from your hotel in Lima to begin your journey to the Ica Region. We will transfer you to the bus station, where you will board the transportation to the city of Ica. Upon your arrival, we will pick you up at the bus station and start the tour. We will visit the main square, the streets of old Ica, and modern Ica. Then, we will head to the Regional Museum of Ica (if it is open on your travel date), where we will appreciate the evolution of the most representative cultures of the region, including Paracas, Nasca, Wari, Ica, Chincha, and Inca. After the museum tour, we will visit an artisanal winery, where we will receive a comprehensive explanation of the wine and pisco production, the flagship drink of Peru. Next, we will head to the “La Huacachina” lagoon, also known as the “Oasis of America,” where we will admire the marvelous desert landscape surrounded by sand dunes. Finally, we will transport you to the desert, where you will experience an exciting ride in the sand dune buggies and practice sandboarding, a sport where you slide on a board on the sand dunes. After the experience, we will transfer you to the bus station, where you will board the transportation back to Lima, and we will be waiting to transfer you to your hotel.

After breakfast, we will pick you up from your hotel in Ica to begin the adventure to the Ballestas Islands and Paracas National Reserve. We will board the transportation that will take us to the Tourist Marina in Paracas, where we will hop on a boat to see the enigmatic figure of the Candelabra, associated with pirates, extraterrestrials, and rock formations. We will also have the opportunity to observe extraordinary marine wildlife such as sea lions, penguins, pelicans, and boobies. After the tour, you will have free time to enjoy the boulevard of Paracas.

Following the enjoyable time in Paracas, we will continue our tour to the Paracas National Reserve. We will visit the Independence Monument and then proceed to see the rock formation known as the Cathedral, as well as the viewpoint of Supay Beach. Finally, we will visit the spectacular Red Beach and the Lagunillas Bay before transferring you to your hotel. There, you can gather your belongings before we take you to the bus station, where you will board the transportation that will bring you back to the city of Lima. We will be waiting for you in Lima to transfer you to your hotel

Early in the morning, we will pick you up from your hotel in Lima and transfer you to Lima’s Jorge Chávez Airport, where you will board your flight to Cusco (arrangements made on your own). Upon your arrival at Alejandro Velasco Astete Airport in Cusco, we will pick you up and transfer you to your hotel in the city of Cusco. Here, you can rest, acclimate to the altitude, and have a light meal before starting with the scheduled activities.

In the afternoon we will pick you up from your hotel to start with the visit to Cathedral (optional), where we can explore the Holy Family Temple and the Triumph Temple, a space full of myths and legends that also holds historical importance from the conquest period. Then, we will visit “Qoricancha,” a temple considered one of the most important constructions of the ancient inhabitants. It was adorned with gold sheets and ornaments. Andean priests resided here, who were in charge of worshiping Andean deities such as the sun, moon, stars, lightning, and rainbow.

After finishing we will take the bus to Saqsayhuamán Archaeological Park. That is one of the most significant archaeological sites due to its massive construction composed of enormous stone blocks. The construction of saqsayhuamán took 50 years and involved the labor of over 20,000 men. Later on, we’ll visit the archaeological site of Q’enqo, carved caves by the ancient Incas, which were probably used as a space for the mummification of the Inca rulers. Then, we will visit Puka Pukara, a place designated for access control. The last place to visit is Tambomachay, a ceremonial site where water sources flow. It’s also known to have served as a resting place for the Inca. After the tour, we will return to the city of Cusco.

At the agreed time, we will come to pick you up from your hotel to begin the Sacred Valley tour. We will pass through the archaeological park of Saqsayhuaman and continue until we reach Taray lookout, a beautiful spot from which you can appreciate Inca terraces and extensive cultivated lands surrounded by the “Wilkamayu,” the sacred river of the Incas. We will continue the journey until we reach the artisan market of Pisac, known worldwide for its silver jewelry craftsmanship, and visit the archaeological park of Pisaq, where we will discover distinct neighborhoods, impressive two-level constructions, and one of the most stunning cemeteries in the region. After the visit, we will return to the transportation, which will take us to Urubamba, where we will enjoy a delicious lunch.

After lunch, we will continue the journey to the last living Inca village, Ollantaytambo, where we can explore impressive terraces and staircases that lead to the ritual area. There, we will find megalithic structures displaying incredible precision in their cutting and some reliefs. Also, facing the archaeological park, you will discover the Qolcas or warehouses. You will also learn about the love story between General Ollantay and Cusi Qoyllor. At the end of the tour, we will board the transportation that will take us to the last site to visit, the traditional village of Chinchero, where you will discover a textile interpretation center. There, they will show you the dyeing and spinning processes of wool, which will eventually be woven. If time allows, we will visit the archaeological site of Chinchero, where a colonial-era church was built under the patronage of the Virgin of Monserrat and features frescoes and paintings from the Cusco art school. Finally, we will return to the city of Cusco.

“Very early in the morning, we will come to pick you up from your hotel to begin the journey towards the world wonder, Machu Picchu. You will board the transportation that will take you to the town of Ollantaytambo, where the train station is located. Then, you will board the train that will take you to the town of Aguas Calientes. Along the way, you will be able to enjoy impressive Andean landscapes adorned with glaciers, agricultural terraces, and the mysterious jungle.

Upon arriving at the train station in Aguas Calientes, a representative from the company will be waiting for you to guide you to the bus station. There, you will board the transportation that will take you to the entrance gate of the Machu Picchu citadel. The guide will provide you with some recommendations before going through the access control to the Inca citadel, and then you will immediately begin the guided tour, which will last approximately 2 to 2 ½ hours. During this time, you will have the opportunity to discover the history of Machu Picchu, visit different temples, squares, and the Machu Picchu quarry. If you’re lucky, you may also get to see orchids and species such as the vizcacha or Andean rabbit. After a memorable photography experience, the visit will conclude, and we will guide you back to the bus station, where you will board the transportation that will take you back to the town of Aguas Calientes. There, you can enjoy lunch and explore the town before heading to the train station, where you will board the train that will take you back to the Ollantaytambo station. A representative from the company will be waiting for you there to guide you to the bus that will bring you back to the city of Cusco.”

At the agreed time, we will pick you up from your hotel in the city of Cusco to begin the adventure to the Rainbow Mountain. We will head south of the city of Cusco for about 2 hours until we reach the district of Cusipata, where you will enjoy breakfast. After breakfast, we will board our transportation that will take us to Phullawasipata (4626 meters above sea level), where we will receive instructions and prepare ourselves to start the ascent hike to the Rainbow Mountain.

We will hike for about 1 ½ to 2 hours, during which we will appreciate the classic high Andean landscapes of the Vilcanota mountain range, adorned with snow-capped peaks, local people wearing traditional costumes, and llama and alpaca breeders. Upon reaching the summit (5036 meters above sea level), we will have free time to take photographs and enjoy the gifts of nature. Following our guide’s instructions, we will begin the descent hike, this time taking an alternative route known as the Red Valley, named for the reddish pigmentation of the earth. This path will be special as we will be the only group in the area. The hike will take about 2 ½ to 3 hours until we reach the Phullawasipata campsite, where our transportation will be waiting to take us back to the district of Cusipata, where a well-deserved and delicious lunch awaits us.

Afterward, we will board the transportation that will take us back to the city of Cusco, arriving between 4:30 PM and 5:00 PM.

At the agreed time, we will come to pick you up from your hotel to take you to the bus station, where you will board the transportation that will take you to the city of Puno.

Upon your arrival, we will pick you up from the Puno bus station and transfer you to your hotel, where you can drop off your belongings and get ready to continue with the experience in Puno.

At the agreed time, we will pick you up from your hotel and transfer you to the Puno port. There, we will board our tourist boat that will take us to the Floating Islands of Uros. We will have the opportunity to visit two islands, where we will meet the local inhabitants and learn about the handicrafts they create using totora, an aquatic plant that is also used in the construction of these impressive islands. Afterward, we will reboard our boat and continue the journey to Taquile Island.

On Taquile Island, we will witness one of the greatest demonstrations of equality as we meet the male weavers who produce some of the finest textiles known worldwide. We will also have the chance to appreciate traditional dances, artwork, and immerse ourselves in the rich traditions and customs of the island. At the end of our experience, we will enjoy a typical lunch before returning to our boat, which will take us back to the city of Puno.

You will have the rest of the afternoon free to enjoy the city of Puno, explore viewpoints, do some last-minute shopping, and relax.

After breakfast, we will pick you up from your hotel to begin the visit to Sillustani on the way to the Airport. 

We will board the transportation that will take us 40 km from the city of Puno, where we will have a view of the impressive Umayo Lake, located on a small peninsula from which the chullpas of Sillustani can be seen. These are a group of funerary constructions reaching heights of up to 12 meters, belonging to the ancient pre-Inca and Inca inhabitants. In each construction, remains of important nobles were found buried along with offerings to ensure their passage to the afterlife. These remarkable constructions showcase advanced architecture that respected symmetry, carving, and construction perfection. 

Upon concluding the visit, we will transfer you to the Manco Capac Airport, where you will be able to board your return flight home.