This holiday visits the places ticked below. You can design your own itinerary by adding destinations. Select the destinations you would like and click the red button to see full details of the holiday you have chosen.
Day 1 (Tuesday) Lima Fly from the UK to Lima. You are met at the airport and escorted to your hotel (2 nights).
Day 2 (Wednesday) Lima Enjoy a free day in Lima, or alternatively take our half day Colonial Lima excursion. The city tour includes a visit to the catacombs of San Francisco and the cathedral of Lima where the conquistador Francisco Pizarro is buried. Afterwards, return to the modern district Miraflores and visit the pre-Inca site of Huaca Pucllana.
Day 3 (Thursday) Arequipa Fly to Arequipa in the morning, in the afternoon take a tour of city (1 night). The tour includes visits to the main square and its colonial buildings, and the Santa Catalina convent which was closed to the public until 1970, and even today nuns still use part of the convent. The city is one of the most beautiful in Peru, and it is nicknamed the white city, as the centre is constructed out of sillar (a white volcanic stone).
Day 4 (Friday) Colca Canyon Leave early for the Colca Canyon, an impressive journey over the Andes reaching almost 5,000m at one point. This offers spectacular views of the Andes, with snow-capped mountain peaks and volcanoes visible and you pass herds of wild vicunas and alpacas. After the drive, some of which is on unpaved roads, you arrive at your lodge in time for a welcome swim in the hot volcanic springs (1 night).
Day 5 (Saturday) Arequipa An early start to the edge of the canyon, one mile above the river, where it is possible to see condors rise on the thermals, and glide past, only metres away. This lookout is one of few places in the world that offers the chance to see these birds at such close quarters. Then visit typical highland villages before returning to Arequipa in the evening (1 night).
Day 6 (Sunday) Cusco Take a morning flight to Cusco, the historic capital of the Inca Empire nestled in the Andes at 3,300 metres above sea level. The afternoon is free to help you acclimatise to the altitude (6 nights).
Day 7 (Monday) Cusco Enjoy a free day in Cusco, or take the half day optional Inca Cusco excursion. This excursion takes you to several Inca sites in and around Cusco, including the fortress of Sacsayhuaman and Qoricancha, one of the most important sites in the Inca Empire.
Day 8 (Tuesday) Cusco Take the optional full day Sacred Valley excursion. You visit the bustling market town of Pisac, which sells some of the finest crafts in Peru. After a good lunch at a country restaurant, explore the superb Inca ruins at Ollantaytambo, and then continue to the colonial village of Chincheros, with amazing views of patchwork fields.
Day 9 (Wednesday) Cusco or Machu Picchu Take the optional excursion to Machu Picchu, which starts with a magical train ride, followed by a guided visit to the ruins. You then have some free time to further explore the ruins independently. After a buffet lunch next to the ruins, board the mid-afternoon train to Cusco, arriving in the evening, or check into your hotel in the valley and return to the ruins on the following day.
Alternatively, take the Short Inca Trail excursion to Machu Picchu. This one day 9 mile hike climbs to the beautiful Wiñay Wayna ruins arriving at the Sun Gate in the late afternoon. You check into your hotel in the valley below and return to Machu Picchu for a guided tour the next day, before returning to Cusco.
Days 10 - 11 (Thursday - Friday) Cusco Two free days. Get to know Cusco better; there are 500 Inca sites around the city, alternatively revisit the Sacred Valley or try one of the many adventure sports on offer.
An excellent day trip is to visit the town of Maras which is famous for its salt pans. The soil in the region has large amounts of salt in it, and salt evaporation ponds have been used since pre-Inca times. Close to the town of Maras are the very different Inca ruins of Moray, which were used as an agricultural experimentation centre. The ruins consist of many levels of terraces in concentric circles at different elevations, and each different level was used to try out different crop strains.
Day 12 (Saturday) Puno A fascinating full-day coach journey across the altiplano, including guided visits to the Inca site of Raqchi and the beautiful colonial church in Andahuaylillas. After lunch in Sicuani (included), visit the pre-Inca site of Pucara, before arriving in Puno, on the edge of Lake Titicaca (2 nights). There is also the option to travel to Puno by Train. This beautiful train journey across the altiplano includes a three course lunch, and the train has a special glass walled observatory car.
Day 13 (Sunday) Puno A full day on the lake, exploring the islands by fast, comfortable boat. You first visit the floating Uros Islands, made from reeds grown on the lake. The islanders also use the reeds for food and to make boats, which you can ride in. You then continue to Taquile Island, where the islanders have established their own distinct culture. After an energetic walk up the hill to the main village, have lunch of fresh fish caught in the lake. Taquile Island produces some of the finest handicrafts in Peru, and crafts are still one of the most important activities for the Islanders. You return to your hotel in the afternoon with the Cordillera Real mountain range providing an impressive backdrop.
Day 14 (Monday) Lima Visit the funerary towers of Sillustani, constructed by the Colla people before they were conquered by the Incas, offering a fascinating insight into pre-Inca culture. There are over 60 towers at Sillustani, and the style of the Chullpa varies according to the person who was being buried. Afternoon flight to Lima (1 night).
Day 15 (Tuesday) Fly overnight to the UK.
Day 16 (Wednesday) Arrival in the UK.
Lima: Bed and Breakfast
Cusco: Bed and Breakfast
Arequipa: Bed and Breakfast
Colca Canyon: Bed and Breakfast
Puno: Bed and Breakfast; lunch is included on the coach or train from Cusco to Lake Titicaca; lunch is included on the full day excursion on Lake Titicaca