Best of Peru: Ancient Wonders and Jaw-Dropping Nature | Tours

Day 1: Lima

Arrive in Lima

On the first day of this epic trip across Peru, you will be welcomed by a representative at Lima airport. After check-in, there’ll be a briefing in which you’ll be handed your ‘travel kit’, which includes all your travel documents. The rest of the evening is yours – explore Lima, or get some rest ahead of your adventure. Your hotel, El Hotel B De Barranco, is a stately space with a unique artistic twist to the décor.

Accommodation: El Hotel B De Barranco (or alternative of equal standard)

Day 2: Lima

Explore Lima

Rise and shine on your first full day with a delicious breakfast, followed by a private tour of the city. Your first stop is a visit to colonial Lima and the stunning neoclassical marvel that is the Metropolitan Cathedral of Lima, located in the main square (plaza mayor, in Spanish). After, you’ll pay a visit to the towering and ornate Church of San Francisco, to explore its convent, art museum, and ancient catacombs.

On your tour you’ll also take in panoramic views of the Government Palace, the Municipal Hall, and the beautiful, Wes-Anderson-esque Desamparados Train Station. before driving through the old streets, where you’ll enjoy spectacular views of Lima’s traditional mansions with their unique Moorish-style balconies. Continuing through Lima, you’ll pause for an amazing Pacific Ocean view, before visiting the famed Larco Museum, housing the world's largest private collection of fascinating pre-Columbian art.

After this four-hour tour, you will be whisked back to your hotel. The rest of the day is yours to spend how you wish: eat, drink, and explore the astonishing city of Lima!

Accommodation: El Hotel B De Barranco (or alternative of equal standard)

INCLUDES : Breakfast

Day 3: Arequipa

Transfer from Lima to Arequipa

You’ll be driven to the airport for your flight to Arequipa, where upon arrival, you’ll be transferred to your hotel.

In the afternoon, you’ll head out on a city tour around Arequipa, Peru’s stunning second city built from white volcanic rock, sitting in the shadow of a towering conical volcano. On your day tour, you’ll visit the famous Santa Catalina Convent, a walled citadel housing cloistered nuns for four centuries; the remains of the Church of the Company, with its grand collection of domes, and arches; and the plaza mayor, a gorgeous public square with two temples, a convent, a museum and a handicraft market.

To finish on a high, you’ll explore the delightful Spanish colonial district of Yanahuara, with its narrow cobblestone streets and old white houses built from volcanic stone. From here, enjoy one of the finest views in the city: the three volcanoes, Misti, Chachani, and Pichu Pichu.

Accommodation: Palacio Guaqui By Ananay Hotels

INCLUDES : Breakfast

Day 4: Colca

Transfer from Arequipa to Colca Canyon

After an early departure, you’ll head towards the picturesque Colca Valley, driving across the stunning arid scenery of Pampa Cañahuas at the Aguada Blanca National Reserve while keeping your eyes peeled for roaming herds of vicuñas, distant cousins of the camel. You’ll stop off at viewpoints and spectacular craters, where serene and inspiring pre-Columbian terraces are still being cultivated by native Collagua people. Expect stunning vistas, with the highest point of the road reaching an incredible 4350 metres.

After arriving in Chivay, you’ll check in at your hotel, the blissful and idyllic Belmond Las Casitas, set amid verdant hills with charming pastures for grazing animals. With a free afternoon ahead of you, you can book llama feeding with resident llamas and alpacas, feed trout in the hotel’s hatchery, or head out on a guided horse riding trail along the sweeping Colca Valley, surrounded by tranquil pine forests.

Accommodation: Belmond Las Casitas

INCLUDES : Breakfast

Day 5: Puno

Transfer from Culco to Puno

Early in the morning you’ll depart for the ‘Condor's Cross’, a unique viewing platform from where the great Andean bird, the condor, can be spotted soaring overhead above the ancient farming terraces far below (which are still in use today!) On the way, you’ll visit several astonishing panoramic viewpoints, plus the famous ‘Hanging Tombs’, built into an ancient cliffside. Expect to be wowed by the incredible panorama of the Colca Canyon, one of the planet’s deepest at 3,180 metres.

Stopping at the sublime rural town of Yanque, you’ll visit its beautiful church and walk its characteristic cobbled stone streets, steeped in traditional Peruvian culture in the Andes, surrounded by small farms, fields of sheep and llamas, and high altitude lakes. Arriving at the town of Puno, you will be transferred to your hotel, Titilaka – a stunning establishment on the shores of Lake Titicaca.

Accommodation: Titilaka

INCLUDES : Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 6: Puno

Explore Lake Titicaca

You’ll visit the floating island known as “Uros” in the world-famous Lake Titicaca. The original inhabitants of Uros are said to descend from one of the most ancient peoples of the Americas, and still practice their traditions today. Their dwellings, made of totora reed, are built on the surface of Lake Titicaca – an incredible sight.

After, you’ll go to the unique island of Taquile, where time appears to have stopped. The Mediterranean atmosphere of the place is striking, with charmingly crooked stone steps and archways and houses centered around the main square. The indigenous community comprises around 350 families, all direct descendents of the incredible Incas. They’re famed for their textiles, such as their beautifully woven chumpis (belts), chullos (caps), and ojotas (and sandals). Taquile also offers a magnificent spot to see the impressive snowfalls of the Cordillera Real mountain range.

In the afternoon, you’ll return to the hotel to spend the evening relaxing on the lakeside.

Accommodation: Titilaka

INCLUDES : Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 7: Cusco

Rail transfer from Puno to Cusco via the Peruvian Andes

Boarding the Titicaca train to Cusco in the morning, over the next ten hours (with several stops to visit key viewpoints) you’ll be treated to the unforgettable experience of crossing the Peruvian Andes. With jaw-dropping scenery and magical vistas, the train ride was created to provide you with all the luxuries you could want while at the same time offering you the chance to forge a mystical connection with nature. After boarding at Puno Station, where local musicians will provide background music, you’ll enjoy unrivaled service aboard this beautiful train, lunching in 1920s-style Pullman carriages and absorbing breathtaking landscapes. The glass-roofed observation car is a dream for photographers; the route covered by the Titicaca train is widely considered to be among the most beautiful in the world.

After arriving at Cusco, you’ll be transferred to your hotel, the sun-drenched, tranquil oasis of Sol & Luna Lodge Spa.

Accommodation: Sol & Luna Lodge Spa

INCLUDES : Breakfast, Lunch

Day 8: Sacred Valley

Transfer from Cusco to explore the Sacred Valley

In the morning, you’ll be driven overland through the Sacred Valley of the Incas to Pisac, a town with an ancient archeological complex. On the way, you’ll stop to admire the Pucara Bulls on the roofs of Andean houses – beautiful figurines believed to bestow protection and happiness. On arrival at Pisac, you’ll begin a tour of the archeological site, including the magnificent Andean terraces. You’ll browse the artisanal market of Pisac, a centuries-old event that attracts traders and remote communities from all over the valley dressed in traditional and colourful costumes. Enjoy the opportunity to meet local people and appreciate their craftsmanship, handicrafts, and produce stalls.

After lunch at a local restaurant, you will head to the beautiful ancient Inca town of Ollantaytambo, with its distinct tiered layout and deep religious, astronomical, and military ties.

Accommodation: Sol & Luna Lodge Spa

INCLUDES : Breakfast, Lunch

Day 9: Machu Picchu

Discover one of the Seven Wonders of the World

Today is the big day. After breakfast, you’ll board the train to visit the ancient ruins of a once-thriving city in the clouds: Machu Picchu. One of the Seven Wonders of the World and a World Heritage Site, the sheer faces of the mountainsides coupled with the skeletal Inca homesteads cascading in intricate tiers down the mountainside make for a truly iconic view. The archaeological site was hidden for centuries until its rediscovery in the early 1900s; it’s difficult to overstate the feeling of awe you’ll experience when gazing upon it.

On arrival at Machu Picchu you’ll begin your tour of the Citadel to learn the history of this enigmatic and incredible place.

In the afternoon, you’ll transfer to your hotel, the beautiful Belmond Hotel Monasterio in Cusco.

Accommodation: Belmond Hotel Monasterio

INCLUDES : Breakfast

Day 10: Cusco

Explore Cusco

In the morning you’ll embark on a city tour visiting Cusco’s historical monuments, such as the Main Square, known in Inca times as Huacaypata (Warrior’s Square), and the scene for many key events in Cusco’s history. Then onto the city’s ornate cathedral, the Convent of Santo Domingo, and the Koricancha – the main religious building of the Incas dedicated to the worship of the Sun, whose walls were once plated with sheets of gold.

You’ll then visit the ruins surrounding the city of Cusco: Sacsayhuaman. This huge Inca fortress is built on three overlapping platforms, each over 360 metres long. At Tambomachay, the Inca baths, you’ll explore a site dedicated to the worship of water and a resting place for Inca monarchs. Finally, you’ll visit Puca Pucará, a military center formed by terraces, stairways, passages, turrets, and vaulted niches.

Your final full afternoon is for your leisure – a chance to explore this fascinating city as you wish.

Accommodation: Belmond Hotel Monasterio

INCLUDES : Breakfast

Day 11: Onward Flights

Transfer to airport for flight to Lima and beyond

You will be transferred to the airport to board your flight to Lima, from which you can return home full of memories and fantastic holiday stories.

INCLUDES : Breakfast

Pricing

All prices shown represent a from price per person based on low season travel unless otherwise stated.
Availability of tour components and flights seats change continually, affecting the final price. The lead-in price given is therefore for guidance only.
To obtain a tailored quote for you and your party, please call one of our travel experts today.

All prices shown represent a from price per person based on a specific date of travel unless otherwise stated.
Availability of cruise components, cabins and flights seats change continually, affecting the final price. The lead-in price given is therefore for guidance only.
To obtain a tailored quote for you and your party, please call one of our travel experts today.

Travel between 1st May 2026 - 30th June 2026

from £4,499pp

Important Info

Inclusions

All flights, international and local.
Tours, activities in this itinerary, private or regulars, are stated daily.
English speaking guide is specified on each day of the tour.
Specified meals each day (including vegan, vegetarian, or special requirements).
Accommodation as stated in this itinerary.