Peru in 10 Days

Description

1st Day: US – Lima

Arrive at your departure airport, ready for a flight to Lima. Arrive in Lima, the capital of Peru, situated on the Pacific Coast. Transfer to the hotel, and spend the rest of the day exploring the city’s colonial streets and magical plazas at your leisure. Overnight stay in Lima.

2nd Day: Lima

Breakfast at the hotel. Today, enjoy an informative and interesting city tour of Lima, including its Historic Centre and the Santo Domingo Convent. Start by exploring the districts of Miraflores and San Isidro before heading to the Historic Center. Visit the impressive Convent of Santo Domingo and walk to the Plaza de Armas to admire the exquisite colonial architecture that surrounds it. Stop in the Parque del Amor, from where you can take beautiful photos of the Peruvian coastline. Overnight stay in Lima.

3rd Day: Lima – Cuzco – Sacred Valley

Breakfast at the hotel. At the indicated time, transfer to the airport for a flight to Cuzco. Arrive in Cuzco, the former Inca capital, and transfer to the Sacred Valley, on the way stop at Museo Sulca (no guide, only driver) and savour the opportunity to explore this living museum, where ancient customs and traditions have been preserved across the centuries. Watch local communities creating beautiful handmade textiles and soak up the beautiful views, unchanged by time. Spend the remainder of the day at your leisure, exploring the lively immaculate scenery of this iconic region. Overnight stay in Sacred Valley.

4th Day: Sacred Valley – Machu Picchu – Sacred Valley

Breakfast at the hotel. Today, an exciting day awaits you in Machu Picchu, one of the 7 wonders of the world and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Transfer to the village of Ollantaytambo to travel by train to Aguas Calientes* (Machu Picchu village) and enjoy the beautiful green mountain scenery along the way.
Once there, transfer by bus to the ancient Inca city of the Citadel for approximately a 2:30h visit which may take place in the morning or afternoon depending on availability. Enjoy the spectacular views of this Peruvian treasure built in the 15th century at an altitude of more than 2000 meters.
Return by bus to Aguas Calientes and, depending on the return train schedule, you will have free time to explore the town at your own pace. Travel by train back to Ollantaytambo, transfer to the hotel and overnight stay in Sacred Valley.
*The reservation includes a standard category train (Expedition train or Voyager train). You have the option to add a supplement to travel on a higher category train (360º train or Vistadome train) in the next step of the booking process.

Optional: Upgrade to a Panoramic Train ($145/person)

5th Day: Sacred Valley – Cuzco

Breakfast at the hotel. Set off towards Cuzco, with the opportunity to enjoy optional Sacred Valley excursions along the way, to experience the best of the region.* Arrive in Cuzco and spend the remainder of the day at your leisure, enjoying the lively plazas at night. Overnight stay in Cuzco.

* Optional Essence of the Sacred Valley Excursion ($103/person): Discover the millenary history and vibrant culture of the Sacred Valley. Begin in Chinchero, visiting the Parwa Cultural Center to learn about traditional textiles and their symbolism. Observe the artisans in action, from the extraction of natural dyes to the weaving techniques passed down through generations. Explore the archaeological complex of Chinchero, an ancient agricultural and livestock center of the Tahuantinsuyo, and admire the Nuestra Señora de Monserrat church, an example of the fusion between Andean and Spanish cultures. Then, visit Moray, a fascinating archaeological site with concentric terraces that functioned as an Incan agricultural laboratory. Enjoy a local lunch before heading to Ollantaytambo, an ancient military, religious, and agricultural center. Tour its impressive stone fortress and main temple while enjoying unparalleled views of the town, which still retains its original Incan urban design. Stroll through its stone streets, visit the market, and immerse yourself in the authentic spirit of the Andes.

6th Day: Cuzco

Breakfast at the hotel. Today, set off on a fascinating half-day tour of Cuzco. Begin in the iconic Plaza de Armas, and visit the Cathedral. From here, walk to the Koricancha Temple, an impressive ancient Inca palace, in honour of the Sun God. Today, a Dominican church stands on the site. Finally, visit the lively San Blas neighbourhood, known for its artists, shops and artisan workshops. Spend the remainder of the day at your leisure, soaking up the atmosphere of the city and sampling the local cuisine. Overnight stay in Cuzco.

7th Day: Cuzco – Puno

Breakfast at the hotel. Transfer to Cuzco bus station to catch the bus to Puno. Leave the station and start your journey on the bus to Puno and enjoy the marvellous landscapes of the South Valley of Cuzco. Discover Andahuaylas, a beautiful 17th-century church, featuring an impressive organ decorated with angels and cherubs. Continue on the road and visit the ruins of Racqui, also known as the ´Temple of the God Wiracocha. After lunch, discover La Raya, the highest point on the highway between Cuzco and Puno for amazing views of the landscape. Visit the historic town of Pucara, once an important centre of the Inca civilisation. Arrive in Puno, home of Lake Titicaca, and transfer to the hotel. Overnight stay in Puno.

8th Day: Puno

Breakfast at the hotel. Set off on an unforgettable excursion to the islands of Lake Titicaca. Depart by boat to Taquile island, which dates back to pre-Inca times. The Islanders are famous for their beautiful clothing, their incredible knits, and textile industry. Next, visit the community of Huayllano, on the same island, where the locals show their traditional crafts and agriculture. Enjoy a traditional lunch. Afterwards, visit the island of Uros situated in the middle of the national reserve of Lake Titicaca. Return to the hotel and overnight stay in Puno.

9th Day: Puno – Lima

Breakfast at the hotel. Say goodbye to the Andean highlands as you transfer to Juliaca airport for a flight back to Lima. Arrive in Lime and spend your last evening in Peru soaking up the ambience of the city’s plazas and the cool sea breeze of its picturesque coastline. Overnight stay in Lima.

10th Day: Lima – US

Breakfast at the hotel. At the indicated time, transfer to the airport for a flight* back to the US. Arrive in the US and end your trip.

* If you choose an early morning return flight, you’ll enjoy your stay at the hotel until the indicated time of transfer to the airport. The airport transfer will take place the night before the date indicated on the ticket for return flights that depart between 00:00 and 04:00.