We’ve been creating tours of Peru for over 30 years. Obviously, the perfect tour is very subjective, however, in our experience, if you have just two weeks, the outline below is the perfect itinerary.
This exciting adventure takes you through the cosmopolitan capital, deep into the steamy Amazon rainforest, hiking in footsteps of Incas, discovering Peru’s rich and varied cuisine and exploring its natural wonders.
While some plane journeys are necessary to reach some parts of Peru, we have limited them. Overland adventures by train and car help you connect with the landscapes and people in a much better way. We’ve also maximised the time by using the weekends on both sides.
Saturday
Today take your direct flight to Lima. When you arrive in the afternoon your guide will be waiting to take you to your hotel in central Miraflores district. This evening is completely free to explore the city at your own pace.
Sunday
After breakfast at the hotel you’ll be picked up and taken on a private city tour with an expert local guide. This will include a tour of Miraflores district, San Isidro district and a visit to the famous Larco Herrara Museum. Spend another evening in the city.
Monday
Head to the airport and take your direct flight over the Andes and down to the steamy Amazon port town of Puerto Maldonado. Here you will board canoes and glide down the river for an hour or two observing the swinging monkeys and lazy sloths. Arrive at your rainforest lodge and settle in. After a spot of dinner your local guides will take you on a night time tour of the jungle to learn about the nocturnal wildlife and spot caiman.
Tuesday
Today you will wake up to the sounds of the rainforest. Before breakfast you will be taken to a nearby clay lick to see the frenzied colourful parrots and macaws eating the clay. After breakfast back at the lodge take a guided hike along the trails looking for exotic bird life, monkeys, sloths, capybaras. In the afternoon board boats to go in search for the elusive pink river dolphin.
Wednesday
The whole of the day is dedicated to wildlife excursions. Hike the trails, take boat trips along the river and lakes, and climb the tower to discover the birdlife in the rainforest’s canopy. Local and naturalist guides will accompany you to help you make the most of your time and point out the different species. Return to the lodge in the evening for dinner and a presentation on the wildlife, geology and conservation efforts of the Amazon.
Thursday
Board canoes to head back up to Puerto Maldonado, where you will take your flight to Cuzco, the capital of the Inca Empire. You won’t be stopping here long, transfer directly to the beautiful Sacred Valley. Once the bread basket of the Incas, this fertile region is located at a lower altitude to Cuzco. Check into your hotel and spend the evening at leisure.
Friday
Today take a tour of the Sacred Valley with a private guide. Visit the Inca sites of Moray and Moras, the colourful market Pisac and Ollanntaytambo, the last remaining inhabited Inca settlement. Hike to the ruins in the town and stop for delicious local street food at the market, while bartering for colourful indigenous handicrafts. Spend another night in the Sacred Valley.
Saturday
Today will surely be one of the highlights of the trip. Board the Vistadome train at Ollanta station and take the thrilling ride to Aguas Calientes. Here you will take a short bus trip up to the famous ruins of Machu Picchu where your guide will take you on a tour of the citadel. Afterwards you’ll have plenty of time to explore the ruins by yourself before returning to Aguas Calientes for the night.
Sunday
This morning you will have a couple of options. The first is to take a second visit to Machu Picchu, the second is to visit the local hot springs for a soak. Either way, in the afternoon you will take the train back to Cuzco and overnight in the city. There are plenty of places to discover Peruvian cuisine and nightlife in Cuzco, so perhaps head out to find out for yourself.
Monday
Today you will be taken on a tour of Cuzco and the surrounding pre-Columbian ruins. Visit the main plazas, cathedrals and points of interest. Outside the city lies the Saksaywaman, the huge remains of some ancient ruins left hundreds of years ago. Enjoy the views over the city. Return to spend another night in Cuzco.
Tuesday
This morning you will be taken back to the station to board the luxurious Andean Explorer train. The journey from Cuzco to Lake Titicaca takes around ten hours as you pass spectacular Andean scenery. Along the way you will be served a delicious three course meal and drinks, and you can while away hours in the observation carriage which has panoramic windows on all sides. When you reach Puno you will be taken to your lakeside hotel where you will overnight.
Wednesday
Early this morning your guide will meet you and take you to the dock for a boat trip across Lake Titicaca. First stop is the famous Uros reed islands where you will have the opportunity to disembark on the man-made islands and learn about the indigenous people. Continue over to Taquile, the largest island in the lake. Here you will take a hike across the village, meet with the locals, enjoy a traditional lunch and have plenty of time for rest before returning to your hotel.
Thursday
After breakfast you will join a small group to drive up through the altiplano to Chivay. Along the way stop to take photos of the galloping guanacos and llamas. Arrive and spend some time in the natural hot spring spa. Overnight.
Friday
Very early this morning you will be taken down to the Colca Canyon. Here you can marvel over this natural wonder which is deeper than the Grand Canyon. You can’t help but notice the majestic condors that glide above and below you, circling as they catch the morning thermals. In the afternoon continue on to Arequipa, also known as the White City, and overnight.
Saturday
Take a tour of Arequipa with a local guide. This will include the plazas, cathedral and the highlight, the Santa Catalina Monastery, a colourful 16th century complex still used to this day. In the afternoon you will transfer to the airport for your short flight to Lima and onward flight back to the UK.
Sunday
Arrive back in the UK in the afternoon.
The cost of this tour depends on a number of factors including current flight costs, type of hotel, and private or shared excursions. A rough estimate including international and domestic flight costs starts from £3,500. If you have any questions or you would like to book this tour please call us on +44 (0) 207 407 1478 or contact us via email.
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