Peru's Sacred Cities

Day 1 Welcome to Lima!

Say "hola" to Peru! Upon arrival in Lima, you will be greeted and transferred to your hotel. In the evening, enjoy your first Peruvian meal near your hotel. 

Day 2 Lima - Cusco

Enjoy a sightseeing tour of Lima today before traveling to Cusco.

Day 3 Cusco - Sacred Valley - Machu Picchu - Aguas Calientes

Today, you will be brought to the train station of Ollantaytambo. Board the train and enjoy the stunning Andean views filled with small communities and snow-capped mountains in the Sacred Valley. When you arrive to Aguas Calientes, the small village nestled at the bottom of Machu Picchu, take the shuttle bus up to the ancient citadel. Learn about the Inca civilization, the site’s discovery, and the different theories on this mysterious and spectacular archaeological site.

After your visit, take the shuttle bus back down to Aguas Calientes and walk to your nearby hotel.

Day 4 Aguas Calientes - Machu Picchu - Sacred Valley - Cusco

Start your tour exploring the impressive ruins of Ollantaytambo, one of the few places where the Incas won a battle against the Spaniards. Climb up the platforms and enjoy the view above the village and onto the valley. Near the ruins, visit a typical home and learn about the unique way their family has lived for generations in the Sacred Valley. 

Continue to the small town of Pisac. Well-known amongst locals and tourists, the bazaar-like open market offers a wide selection of Peruvian handicrafts: ceramics, paintings, weavings and jewelry.

Day 5 Cusco

Enjoy your walking tour at the “Plaza de Armas” and visit the impressive Renaissance-style Cathedral today. Make your way through small alleys edged with Incan walls until you reach Koricancha, the temple dedicated to the sun, “Inti”. Believed to be the most important temple for the Incas, it was destroyed by the Spanish conquerors in the 16th century. Its foundations were used to build the Catholic Church in Santo Domingo, marking an evident clash of cultures.

Day 6 Cusco - Arequipa

Today, transfer to Cusco airport for your flight to Arequipa in the south. Enjoy a sightseeing tour of Arequipa and the Santa Catalina Monastery en-route to your hotel. Admire the beautiful landscapes, fields and pre-Inca terraces from the Yanahuara and Carmen Alto viewpoints. Surrounding the White City, the majestic snow-capped volcanoes stand tall: Misti, Chachani, Pichu Pichu. Then, visit Arequipa’s most traditional neighborhood: San Lázaro. As you make your way towards the center, visit “La Compañía de Jesús” Church which dates from the 17th century. Admire its fine façade and the impressive and beautifully carved cloisters.

Declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the historical center boasts colonial splendor: admire its grand Cathedral, the impressive water fountain, and the main plaza’s numerous arcs made of “sillar”, a white volcanic rock. End your tour at the Santa Catalina Monastery, a 20,000 square meter (215,278 square foot) complex that is considered a “City within the City”. For over 400 years, nuns lived here completely isolated from the outside world. In 1970, it was opened to the public; today part of the complex is reserved for the nuns still living inside.

Day 7 Arequipa - Colca

Today you will embark on a full-day tour of Colca Canyon, the world's second-deepest canyon! Here, you will drive through the Aguada Blanca National Park. Watch for herds of wild vicuñas, llamas and alpacas. Then, reach the tour’s highest viewpoint at 4,910 meter (16,108 ft) and appreciate the snow-capped peaks of the region’s volcanoes like the Misti, Ampato, and Sabancaya. After lunch in Chivay (3,658m/12,000ft), you can relax at “La Calera” thermal baths, or visit the local market.

Day 8 Colca

After an early breakfast, make your way to the “Cruz del Condor” viewpoint. Try to spot the immense Andean Condors as they fly, hunt for food, and appreciate the canyon's depths. Afterward, stop in the small towns of Maca and Yanque, renowned for their small colonial churches and stunning landscapes.

Enjoy some free time in the afternoon to complete a hike of your choice, perhaps to the pre-Inca archaeological site known as Uyu Uyu (entrance fee not included). 

Day 9 Colca - Lima

Today, you will travel to the eastern side of Colca Canyon, to the villages of Corporaque and Ichupampa. Learn about the Colca’s indigenous cultures, and their traditions and customs.

Return to Chivay, where you have free time for lunch. Then, drive back towards the White City and arrive in the late afternoon. You will then be transported to the airport for your flight back to Lima. 

Day 10 Depart Peru

Make your way to Lima airport for your flight back home.