Southern Peru 21 Days

Live the Experience of the most outstanding places we have to offer with southern Peru Tour

HIGHLIGHTS: Lima cooking Class - National Reserve of Paracas - Laguna Moron - Nazca Lines - Arequipa - Colca Canyon - Titicaca Lake - Cusco - Sacred Valley - Machu Picchu - Tambopata Rainforest - Farewell in Lima.    

Why you have to Book this Tour?

This travel program Southern Peru Tour brings you to an astounding list of highlights we have in the south of Peru, and you can see all of them in 20 days’ journey.

Choosing this tour, you will not only be enjoying the wonders that this tour offers you, but you will also be supporting the sustainability and the economic improvement of the farmers living in high Andean communities of Peru. Because part of our profits is destined to support our nonprofit projects Colours of Peru, this project supports building rustic houses in the Andes of Cusco. Travelers who wish to visit one of the projects, choose your community and ask your Travel Advisor to add 1 or 2 days to your initial itinerary.

Itinerary:

• Day1 - International Arrival in Lima

  

  On your landing in Lima, you will be welcomed by our staff with a sign of Go Get Peru and your name, then you will be escorted to your hotel located in Miraflores district; today no planned activities. If you arrive in the morning use the rest of the day to walk through Miraflores, we recommend walk by Larcomar and enjoy the view to the Pacific Ocean, then by Parque del Amor. Overnight in Lima Hotel.

  • Hotel: In Lima - Casa Wayra Miraflores hotel or similar
  • Meals Included: None

• Day2 - Peruvian Cuisine Experience: Street food and old taverns in the historic center of

  

  This 4-hour food tour in Lima will allow you to discover the Historic Center of Lima, including the Central Market, which is the largest market in Lima.

  Free morning to relax in the afternoon at 1:00 pm pick up from your hotel, then your guide will take you to a variety of places full of locals, allowing you to connect with the true and authentic way to stimulate your taste buds in this part of the Peruvian capital.

  As you stroll through the history-filled streets of Downtown Lima, you'll have the chance to taste typical street food and visit two taverns popular with locals. In them you will find a wide variety of tasty snacks and drinks that are widely consumed by locals but sometimes not as easy to get as tourists.

  In addition to discovering new flavors, another important component of this food tour is discovering the history, cultural background, and current context associated with each bite. That's right, we're not just about "yummy" reactions, we're also aiming to create those "wow" and "oh cool" moments.

  It is a walking food tour, with 5 to 20 minutes of walking between each stop, but to make it more interesting and dynamic, we include some very historical stops along the way so you don't get bored between bites.

  Throughout this food tour, you will be accompanied by a specialized licensed tour guide, who will act as your new local best friend, ready to answer all your food questions and beyond. Feel free to throw historical, cultural and political questions into the ring, we have trained you well for almost any battle. Around 4:30 pm will finish this amazing experience.

  • Hotel: In Lima - Casa Wayra Miraflores hotel or similar
  • Meals Included: Breakfast in the hotel, Lunch

• Day3 - Lima – National Reserve of Paracas Tour

  

  Breakfast at the selected hotel, we continue our journey to Paracas, our staff will pass by your hotel at 06:00 am, then 4 hours by comfortable bus through the Panamericana highway we will arrive in Paracas. Assistance by our staff and transfer to the hotel. After lunch in the company of your guide, you'll head for the National Reserve of Paracas, you will first visit the Interpretation Center of the Paracas National Reserve to have a better knowledge about the importance of this Natural Protected Area for biodiversity and national history. Our private van will cross part of the desert, where we will appreciate gigantic cliffs, natural rock formations, your private guide will continue to playa Yumaque y Playa Roja, here you will be surprised by the Playa Roja by its natural reddish sands.

  • Hotel: In Paracas - San Agustin Paracas hotel or similar
  • Meals Included: Breakfast in the hotel

• Day4 - Laguna Moron – Vineyard of Tacama – Huacachina

  

  Today we will continue exploring the Peruvian desert, at 08:00 am our private van will be ready to pick up, then the exploration starts with 50 minutes driving from your Hotel to reach this amazing Oasis in the middle of the desert, this is one of the most beautiful short hiking experience on the Peruvian desert, now you have reached this paradise in the middle of the desert, enjoy the scenery, you can walk to the top of the mountain to appreciate the endless sand desert, if you are looking for unique experience with fewer people, this is the perfect place for you, the tour last around 2 hours. Then the next destination is waiting for you, The Winery of Tacama. Our private vehicle will take you to the Vineyard of Tambo de Tacama where we will have an extensive explanation of the Wine and Pisco elaboration by hand with its respective Wine and Pisco tasting. Here you can organize your lunch at Tacama restaurant. Free time to walk around before continuing to Ica, our private vehicle will be ready to take us to Ica town, then Huacachina, place where you will spend the night.

  • Hotel: In Huacachina Oasis - El Huacachinero hotel or similar
  • Meals Included: Breakfast in the hotel

• Day5 - Bus Ica to Nazca – Fly-over the Nazca lines – Night bus to Arequipa

  

  Breakfast at the hotel, your assistant will be ready in the hotel at 08:30 am, escort to the bus station, comfortable bus to Nazca (journey approx. 2 ½ hours), once you reach Nazca town, our representative will be waiting for you and escort you to Nazca airport for your fly-over the Nazca lines. You will witness figures like the monkey along with a spider. All these figures hold symbolic value in the Nazca culture. The fingers of the monkey quantify the drought faced by the locals every year and the spider is supposed to be symbolic of water and fertility. After lunch, you will visit the Chauchilla cemetery. You can see skeletons, skulls, tombs in good condition with more than a thousand years old, long braids of human hair, and mummified bodies of children in perfect condition, which belonged to the Nazca culture. In the evening at around 10 pm you will continue your journey by comfortable bus to Arequipa. After 9 hours journey, you will reach Arequipa city.

  • Overnight: In comfortable night bus to Arequipa
  • Meals Included: Breakfast in the hotel

• Day6 - Arrival by bus to Arequipa – Free day

  

  Upon arrival at Arequipa, our staff will escort you to your hotel, breakfast in the hotel. You will have the freedom to explore the city on your own.

  We really recommend have a walk through the colonial center, like Santa Catalina a past colonial building, then short 30 minutes walking to reach Yanahuara neighborhood here you will have a sensational view of Arequipa and its volcano Misti.

  • Hotel: In Arequipa - Casa de Avila hotel or similar
  • Meals Included: Breakfast in the Hotel

• Day7 - Colca Canyon Tour: Arequipa - Chivay with Overnight

  

  Today after breakfast at the hotel we set out Colca Canyon Excursion by Chivay village. Feast your eyes on the magnificent views of the Misti, Chachani and Pichu Pichu volcanoes as you draw near National Reserve of “Pampa Cañahuas”. Upon reaching the reserve you can witness the wild Vicuñas, Llamas and Alpacas in their natural habitat. Our exploration continues to wasi (3800m/12460ft) where you will take pleasure in the natural rock formations with the Misti and Chachani volcanoes behind you. We will ascend further to a mountainous and splendid 4500m/14,760ft. height, passing “Tocra” on the way. The “highlight” of the tour will be “Pata Pampa” where you will stand at 4820m/15,810ft. Approaching the Chivay town (3651m/11,978ft.), you will be amazed at Colca Valley’s multicolored terraces. After lunch optional visit to La Calera hot springs, or just relax in your hotel.

  • Hotel: In Chivay - Yanque Valley - Casona Plaza Ecolo Lodge or similar
  • Meals Included: Breakfast in the Hotel, Lunch

• Day8 - Chivay – Colca Valley – Condor Cross – Bus to Puno

  

  The second day in Colca, after breakfast we will drive to Cross of the Condor, where you can see the largest Andean flying condors (largest in the western hemisphere). Then we will move on to visit Colca Valley in Cruz del Cóndor. This is the second deepest canyon on earth. Along the way back to Chivay we will have the chance to see the town of Pinchollo; as well as the “Antahuilque watching point” to view a marvelous terrace built 1500 years ago by the Collagua civilization. Another stopover will be at viewpoints “Choquetico” and “Tumbas colgantes” which means ‘hanging tombs’. Our tour will progress with visits to the towns of Maca (shaken by an earthquake in 1991) and Yanque where you can see the most beautiful church of the valley. After arriving in Chivay again you can enjoy a hearty lunch at a local eatery. After we will take the bus to Puno journey will take around 6 hours. Upon arrival, reception, and transfer to your Hotel.

  • Hotel: In Puno - Casona Plaza Puno or similar
  • Meals Included: Breakfast in the Hotel, Lunch

• Day9 - Puno – Taquile Island – Lunch – Luquina community Homestay

  

  Pick up from your hotel at around 07:00 am, we depart early by motorboat. Only 30 minutes ride we will reach Uros Floating Islands, an ancient people living on a series of artificial islands made from totora reed that grows in the lake itself. They are made by weaving the totora to form a natural mat, where the reeds grow the thickest. They build their homes on top and cook in the open air to prevent fires. After an hour you will continue to the island of Taquile, along the way, we will have some Aymara language lessons & more. We will arrive at this unique place in the most secluded section of the island. Apart from it being the least visited sector of Taquile Island, there is also a pristine sandy beach to enjoy. We will have at least 3 hours to explore this paradise including a 1-hour soft and gradual hike along a pre-Inca pathway with breathtaking landscapes. while members of the community show us their dances, textiles and other unique cultural expressions. Once we arrive the members of the community of Taquile will show us their dances, textiles and other unique cultural expressions, then we will continue to Luquina to enjoy our organic Lunch (Pachamanca the traditional food of the island). Then one of the members of the family in Luquina will escort you to the family house where you will spend the night, there we are welcomed by the friendly inhabitants and accommodated in a local family homestay. Take some time to learn about the local culture and in the late afternoon, there is an optional hike to the top of a nearby hill for an unforgettable Titicaca sunset. After dinner enjoys a small celebration with traditional music and dances. Overnight at the Homestay; It has basic but comfortable facilities, good mattresses, blankets & sheets, sheets, clean toilet.

  • Overnight: In Liquina Community - Family house
  • Meals Included: Breakfast in the hotel, Lunch, Dinner with the family

• Day10 - Kayaking in Luquina – Lunch – Puno

  

  After having breakfast at your family house, at around 9 am we will start walking to the base camp, at around 9:30 am we will begin with the security briefing and basic paddling instructions and help us the get on properly the kayak gear, flotation device, etc. Then we start paddling towards the tip of the Peninsula of Chucuito, from here it is possible to distinguish the high Bolivian snow-capped mountains at the other side of the Lake. Enjoying the cool lake breeze we continue paddling and at 11:30 am. reach a pristine sandy beach at the community of Karina. short break to enjoy the spectacular views. Then we start paddling again back to our base camp of Luquina, finally, we will walk to the family house, where the family will be waiting for us with a delicious lunch, later on, the boat will pass to pick you up and return back to Puno.

  • Hotel: In Puno - Casona Plaza Puno or similar
  • Meals Included: Breakfast with the family, Lunch

• Day11 - Bus Puno to Cusco with Guided Tour

  

  Breakfast in the hotel and private transfer to the bus station, bus departs Puno at 07:00 am, then enjoy the landscape while traveling by bus to Cusco. Along the way, you will stop in la Raya to take a short break, and enjoy the view to the snow mountain, and also we will stop in Sicuani town for our lunch in a local restaurant. Two more interesting places to visit still await us on this trip to Cusco, we visit Raqchi the Wiracocha Temple and have the guided tour, then Andahuaylillas chapel, known as the Sistine Chapel of América, finally at around 5: pm arrival to Cusco and private transfer to your hotel.

  • Hotel: In Cusco - El Balcon or similar
  • Meals Included: Breakfast in the Hotel, Lunch

• Day12 - Cusco Tour: The Cathedral – Koricancha – San Pedro Local Fruit Market - Sacsayhuaman

  

  Pick up from your hotel at 09:00am; the tour is beginning in the Plaza de Armas of Cusco, you will enter the Cathedral of Cusco, the first Catholic church ordered to build on 1559, then continue towards the Temple of the Sun (known as Koricancha) on which the Santo Domingo Convent was built. Then we will continue to San Pedro Local Market, during this tour, you will be able to see different types of local products coming from the Andes, valleys, and the cloud forest of Cusco, which are sold fresh and organic, here you can interact with the vendors, also you can try fresh fruit and also natural juice.

  After learning about the market's history as you explore rows of local produce, colorful fabrics, flower vendors, and shaman stalls, we will continue by our minivan to the famous park of Sacsayhuaman where you can enjoy a wonderful panoramic view of Cusco. Sacsayhuaman boasts impressive Incan design and artwork with massive stones over 9 meters (30 feet) tall and weighing up to 125 tons, then we will get back to your hotel.

  • Hotel: In Cusco - El Balcon or similar
  • Meals Included: Breakfast in the Hotel

• Day13 - Chinchero authentic quechua Village - Moray – Maras - Ollantaytambo – Urubamba

  

  Pick up at 08:00 a.m. by the guide and our private van to continue our journey through the colorful agriculture terraces of Chinchero towards the archaeological center of Moray. On the way, we will make some stops to appreciate the natural beauty that the Vilcanota mountain range offers us with its snowcapped mountains. Moray is famous for its sunken amphitheater, made up of four circular terraces, which appear to disappear into the earth like an artificial crater. The site was apparently an Inca agricultural research station designed for experimenting with crops at various altitudes, it is believed that the terraces, built over containing walls filled with fertile earth and watered by complex irrigation systems, enabled the Incas to grow more than 250 plant species. Continue to the impressive Maras salt pools formed by water emerging from a lake inside a mountain in the Urubamba Valley. An amazing view of evaporating ponds for the extraction of salt. Learn about ancestral techniques, which are still used, in agricultural, irrigation, and salt-recollection tasks, as well as in Andean festivals and rites.

  Your next destinations will be the remains of Ollantaytambo Fortress and the Temple of the Sun, a mysteriously built structure with massive 12 foot (3.5m) tall stones.

  Finally, our private transportation will take as to Urubamba town, place where we will spend the night in a peaceful place out of the city, surrounded by trees, flowers and birds.

  • Overnight in Urubamba Hotel: Casitas del Arco Iris or Similar
  • Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch

• Day14 - Traditional Andean dish preparation of Pachamanca – Pisac – Machu Picchu town

  

  After breakfast at your hotel, our representative will pass by your hotel to pick up at 09:00 am then you will continue to the authentic village of Huchuy Qosqo Community in the Sacred Valley, upon arrival and, you will have an affectionate welcome by the members of the community with colorful native clothes and Andean music. Then we will start the preparation of this experience flavors of the Andes known as Pachamanca. It is a way of preparing food that consists of digging a hole in the ground, placing some stones in it, previously heated with firewood. Then, put various types of ingredients on top such as potatoes, cassava, sweet potato, corn, cheese, broad beans, chicken meat, vegetables and other ingredients.

  After sharing the lunch with the locals, our next destination is visit the picturesque town of Pisac, in about 30 minutes driven we will arrive to this town, short ride 25 more minutes up to Pisac archeological site. Here you will participate in the guided tour, visiting all its holy places including terraces, aqueducts, paths that are associated to walls and gates, water channels, cemeteries, bridges, etc. On our way back you have chance to visit the local Market where you can purchase beautifully crafted products hand-made by the locals. Then by our private transportation we will continue to Ollantaytambo train station to continue by train to Aguas Calierntes ór Machu Picchu town.

  • Hotel: In Aguas Calientes - Flowers House hotel or similar
  • Meals Included: Breakfast in the Hotel, Lunch

• Day15 - Machu Picchu Tour – Back to Cusco

  

  Excursion to Machu Picchu from Aguas Calientes, short ride (25 minutes) up to the citadel of Machu Picchu. Upon arrival, and you will participate in a guided tour, visiting the Main Plaza, the Circular Tower, the most important preserved Intihuatana, the Royal Quarters, the Temple of the Three Windows.

  Optional climb to Huayna Picchu or Machu Picchu Mountain; from where you can appreciate the immensity of Machu Picchu, even more, amazing being high and distant (not included in the price): In the afternoon you will take the bus down to Aguas Calientes for the train ride to Ollantaytambo. Upon arrival at Ollantaytambo station, private transfer to Cusco.

  • Hotel: In Cusco - El Balcon or similar
  • Meals Included: Breakfast in the Hotel

• Day16 - Free day in Cusco to relax before heat to the Amazon Rainforest

  

  Full day in Cusco to take a leisurely walk around the ancient capital of the Incas, today will be the last option to buy souvenirs made of Alpaca fiber, time for shopping.

  • Hotel: In Cusco - El Balcon or similar
  • Meals Included: Breakfast in the hotel

• Day17 - Flight to Puerto Maldonado - Tambopata Lodge

  

  Breakfast in the hotel; transfer to Cusco airport for your flight to Puerto Maldonado; upon arrival, reception by an English speaking guide and transfer to the office in Puerto Maldonado, here you can store your extra luggage, then on your return, you can be picked up. The transport will be ready to take you to the port, one hour along a dirt road to Puerto Nuevo (Port) in the Native Community of Infierno from where we board our boat one and a half hour along the Tambopata River to reach the lodge. The lodge is located inside the buffer zone of the Tambopata National Reserve and Bahuaja Sonene National Park. Along the journey by boat, you have the opportunity to appreciate the flora along the Riverbank made up principally of cañabravales, cecropias, focus, as well as the fauna such as birds.

  Once in our Lodge, you’ll be received by the administrator and your guide will indicate the best ways for you to enjoy your stay, later showing you the different areas of the lodge. After lunch, the guide will lead you on a walk to observe the flora and fauna in the vicinity of the lodge. After dinner, the guide will give you a more detailed talk describing the programmed activities.

  • Overnight: In the Amazon Lodge
  • Meals Included: Breakfast in the Hotel, Lunch, Dinner

• Day18 - Parrot Clay Lick - Tres Chimbadas Oxbow Lake

  

  Breakfast; leave early in the morning by boat to observe the activity of the birds (psitácidos, macaws, parrots, and parraquits). The “La Torre” clay lick is similar to the rest of the salt licks along the Tambopata River, comprising of an embankment on the side of the river with a height of 4m and a length of 20m. Then visit Native Community Farm; where you will have the opportunity to learn about farming directly from a local farmer and will get an introduction to the various exotic fruits of the Amazon such as copazú, arazá, pijuayo, and yuca, as well as species such as el pajillo y Sacha cilantro. In the afternoon downriver for 15 minutes to start a 45-minute walk to reach the Tres Chimbadas Lake. On the lake we will board a traditional catamarán which functions with oars, allowing us to travel around the lake. This lake is home to a family of Giant River Otters which means we frequently get the chance to observe them. There will also be a demonstration of the traditional fishing methods during which you may get the chance to see the famous piranha fish.

  • Overnight: In the Amazon Lodge
  • Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

• Day19 - Cocococha Oxbow Lake

  

  Breakfast; Cocococha Lake is found inside the Tambopata National Reserve, and occupies an area of 60 hectares. If you put together the beautiful landscape, the high biodiversity in the area and the isolation of the lake, it is certain that the lake represents an important habitat for many species. Thus providing valuable food sources and allowing for the reproduction of various endangered species, many of which are emblems of the Amazon such as the macaws (ara sp), the black caiman, (Melanosuchus Níger) and the giant river otter (Pteronura brasilensis). At dusk accompanied by your guide where you will have the chance to enjoy the night time noises, a storm or the southern constellations such as the scorpion, and the Southern cross. We will take a reflector with us in the boat just in case we come across the night time activity of the caiman, capybaras, chotacabras in the River Tambopata.

  • Overnight: In the Amazon Lodge
  • Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

• Day20 - Departure from Lodge – Flight to Lima

  

  Breakfast at lodge; transfer by boat – Lodge to Tambopata River port then to Puerto Maldonado, we retrace our river and road journey back to Puerto Maldonado, our office and the airport. Upon arrival in Lima, assistance, and transfer to your hotel in Miraflores.

  • Hotel: In Lima - Casa Wayra Miraflores or similar
  • Meals Included: Breakfast

• Day21 - Departure from Lima - Connect at International Flight

  

  After breakfast in the hotel, at the scheduled time, pick up and transfer to the Airport. Adios Peru!

  • Meals Included: Breakfast in thehotel

NOTE: If you have already booked your hotels, please let us know, according to this send you a quote excluding hotels.

Whats included

• Excursions

  Lima Cooking class

  Nacional Park of Paracas

  Tacama vineyard experience

  Flight over Nazca Lines

  Colca Canyon Tour 2 days

  Titicaca local lining and Kayaking

  Journey Puno to Cusco by Bus

  Super Sacred Valley (Pisa, Moray, Salineras, Ollantaytambo)

  Machu Picchu guided Tour

  Puerto Maldonado Amazon Rainforest 4 days

• Tickets

  All Entry tickets to sightseeing sides are included

  Entry ticket to Nacional park of Paracas

  Tax ticket for the flight-ever the Nazca Lines

  Ticket to access Chauchilla cemetery

  Entry ticket for Colca Canyon

  Entry ticket for Titicaca

  Boleto Turistico to visit Pisac, Moray, Ollantaytambo

  Entry ticket for Salineras

  Entry Ticket to Machu Picchu Inca site

  Entry ticket to accessing to Puerto Maldonado Tambopata

  NOTE: The Boleto Turistico is only to cover the Sacred Valley, not for other sites around Cusco.

• Transportation

  All Transfers and assistance Lima

  All transfers and assistance in Paracas

  All transfers and assistance in Ica

  All transfers and assistance in Paracas

  All Transfers and assistance in Arequipa

  Comfortable bus for Colca Canyon Tour

  Comfortable bus from Chivay to Puno

  Comfortable motorboat transport during your Titicaca Tour

  All Transfers and assistance in Puno

  High Quality single and tandem kayaks

  Comfortable bus from Puno to Cusco

  All Transfers and assistance in Cusco

  Private van for Sacred Valley Tour

  Comfortable tourist train from Ollantaytambo - Aguas Calientes - Ollantaytambo (round trip)

  Bus from Aguas Calientes - Machu Picchu - Aguas Calientes (round trip)

  Transfer from Ollantaytambo train station to Cusco hotel

  All transfers and assistance in Puerto Maldonado

  Boat transport in the Tambopata Amazon Tour

• Others

  Meals according mentioned in the itinerary

  Local top quality English-speaking guides to accompany visits and excursions

  24-hour support by our local staff

Not included

• Additional tickets

  Ticket to Huayna Picchu mountain

  Ticket to Machu Picchu Mountain

  Boleto Turistico to visit around Cusco