The city tour of Lima, once the capital of the Spanish American colonies, reveals the many faces of this huge metropolis: from the colonial era streets of the historic centre to the modern residential and business district of Miraflores, and the bohemian charm of Barranco. The principal sights in the centre of Lima are: the government palace; the Arab-influenced design of San Francisco church; the cathedral on the main square, which bears the city’s coat-of-arms and houses the remains of the conquistador Francisco Pizarro, the founder of Lima.
Lima’s Gold Museum – one of the city’s many excellent museums - houses an extraordinary private collection of more than 6,500 pieces from the pre-Inca Mochica, Nazca and Chimu cultures.
Day 3
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Day 4
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From Lima we travel south along the Pan-American Highway to the fishing town of Pisco and the Paracas National Reserve. Peru’s only maritime nature reserve, this desert coast is home to a variety of fauna and was the centre of the pre-Inca Paracas culture, which produced some of the finest textiles the world has ever seen. Not far from the interesting regional museum, Chilean flamingoes can be seen on a desert lagoon. Just offshore, the Ballestas Islands are home to enormous colonies of seals and seabirds, including Humboldt penguins. Overnight in Nazca.
Day 5
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Farther south, beyond the wine-growing region of Ica, we come to the small town of Nazca, set in a desert oasis and famous for its “Lines”. These gigantic zoomorphic and geometric designs were cut into the desert’s surface by ancient pre-Hispanic cultures over a period of about one thousand years. Because they are so enormous, the Nazca Lines can only be fully appreciated from the air, and we will fly over them from the local airstrip in a light aircraft. Bus to Arequipa.
Day 6
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Arequipa, known as the “White City” for the volcanic stone from which its buildings are made, is one of Peru’s most beautiful cities. You will have the morning free to relax or wander the neo-colonial historic centre, set in a fertile valley and overlooked by the perfect volcanic cone of Mount Misti. The afternoon city tour includes the fascinating Santa Catalina convent, built in 1580 and home to a closed order of nuns until 1970.
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Day 7
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From Arequipa we travel up into the Andes to the Colca Canyon, some five hours from the city. Colca, together with its more remote neighbour Cotahuasi, is one of the deepest canyons in the world. The scenery is truly spectacular, with great Andean condors soaring over pre-Inca agricultural terraces, sheer rock walls and the Colca River far below. Overnight in the village of Chivay.
Day 8
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After visiting Cruz del Condor – the ideal spot to watch Andean condors rising from the river 1,200 below on the morning thermals – and passing through a number of typical highland villages, we will return to Arequipa, arrriving in the late afternoon.
Day 9
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From Arequipa it is short, scheduled flight to Cusco. On your first day in the old Inca capital you will be free to acclimatise, relaxing or wandering the narrow streets of the historic centre, where colonial Spanish buildings stand on Inca foundations and house good restaurants, pleasant cafes and interesting stores.
Day 10
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After a free morning, the afternoon city tour will introduce us to the sights of Cusco. We begin our tour with a visit to the cathedral, which was built between 1560 and 1654 on the site of the palace of the Inca Wiracocha. From the cathedral we move on to Qoricancha, the Inca Temple of the Sun, which boasts some of the finest remaining examples of Inca stonemasonry. From the city we drive up into the hills around the city to explore the Inca sanctuary of Sacsaywaman, with its monolithic walls built from stones that weigh up to 130 tons each. We will then visit the Inca shrine at Qenqo, the fortress of Puka Pukara and the ritual Inca baths of Tambomachay.
Day 11
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Today will be spent in the Urubamba Valley - also known as the Sacred Valley of the Incas. Apart from the valley’s breathtaking scenery – with fertile slopes surrounded by towering peaks – the main attractions include ancient ruins, colonial villages and traditional markets. The quiet village of Pisac is home to a colourful market and high above the village stand the ruins of the Inca ceremonial and fortress site of the same name. At the far end of the valley, Ollantaytambo is the only remaining example of Inca urban architecture, where descendants of the Incas live beneath the imposing ruins of the temple built by their ancestors. We will spend the night in a valley hotel where typical colonial architecture and the quiet village atmosphere provide the perfect backdrop for all the comforts of the modern world.
Day 12
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From the village of Ollantaytambo we take the train to Machu Picchu on what is widely considered one of the world’s most spectacular train rides, following the Urubamba River through the gorge it cuts down into the tropical forest. Machu Picchu is set amid forested hills, on a saddle between two peaks, where it remained undisturbed by the outside world until its discovery in 1911. We will have the rest of the day to explore Machu Picchu’s streets, temples, palaces and residential areas in the company of an expert guide, before returning to Cusco on the afternoon train, arriving early evening to be transferred to the hotel in time for a free evening in the city.
Day 13
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After breakfast in the hotel, you will be transferred to the airport for your return flight to Lima, for your home flight or transfer to the hotel of your choice.
Options: Continue your journey overland to Lake Titicaca, or come with us on a 3, 4 or 5 day trip into the Amazon rainforest.
