13 DAYS WONDERS OF PERU: LAND OF THE INCAS

Arrival in Lima

Upon arrival in Lima, you would be transferred to your hotel. Depending on your arrival time, you may rest or explore the neighbourhood at leisure.

Lima City Tour (Full Day)

Explore the Historic Centre of Lima, a UNESCO World Heritage site. Start from Plaza de Armas, where we admire the exterior of the Cathedral of Lima, the Government Palace, and the Archbishop’s Palace.

Continue to the Basilica and Convent of Santo Domingo and Casa Aliaga, which is reportedly the oldest private house in the Americas and still family-owned after 17 generations.

Sample local street foods such as Limeño bites as you roam the colonial and modern districts of San Isidro and Miraflores, and enjoy panoramic city views from a bell tower. Thereafter, visit Larco Museum, home to the country’s most extensive collection of pre-Columbian art, and conclude at the bohemian neighbourhood of Barranco, renowned for colourful street art, 19th-century plazas and the Puente de los Suspiros (Bridge of Sighs).

Transfer: Hotel to Airport
You would be transferred to the airport for your flight to Cusco.

Flight: Lima to Cusco
Take a short ~1 hour 20 minutes flight from Lima to Cusco airport.

Manos de la Comunidad enroute to Sacred Valley
Upon arrival at Cusco Airport, we transfer ~1½ hours to the Sacred Valley.

Visit Manos de la Comunidad along the way and learn about the South American camelids – llamas, alpacas, vicuñas, and guanacos – that live in the Andes region.

Lunch at Hacienda Sarapampa (~2 hours)
Enjoy an authentic farm to table lunch experience at Hacienda Sarapampa, a historic Peruvian ranch dedicated to producing Cusco’s Giant White Corn. Learn about rural corn farming traditions, back country cuisine, and the sweet and simple hacienda life while soaking in views of beautiful Sacred Valley.

Option A: Pisac Market & Ruins
Explore the quaint town of Pisac (Elevation: ~2,972m), famous for its artisan markets where you may find extraordinarily fine jewelry, ceramic and textile crafts.

Then head to the Archaeological Park of Pisac (Elevation: ~3,300m), located on the slopes of a mountain overlooking Vilcanota River. The well-preserved Incan ruins feature extensive andéns (“terraces”) of different areas and altitudes; the most notable of which is the solar calendar (Intihuatana) that means – “Where the sun is tied”.

Option B: Ensifera Hummingbird Gardens (~1½ hours)
Instead of the Pisac ruins, you may choose to visit Ensifera Hummingbird Gardens, a paradise for hummingbirds. Ensifera sits just outside the Mantanay Private Conservation Area and is a unique introduction to the rich biodiversity of Peru.

It is home to more than 125 recorded hummingbird species and with the help of local naturalist guides, you will be able to feed the hummingbirds by hand while enjoying a close-up view of their shimmering plumage and accelerated wingbeat.

Excursion To Mara Salt Mines
We make a short excursion across the Urubamba River to the Mara Salt Mines, which has been in use since Incan times. There, you may see the local people demonstrate the ancient techniques of salt mining by hand and enjoy the stunning juxtaposition of white salt flats against the surrounding mountains.

Visit Moray Archaeological Site
Continue to the Archaeological Site of Moray (Elevation: ~3,500m), featuring fascinating circular terraces that descend to a depth of 150m from top to bottom. The terraces were believed to have been used as an experimental farm by the Incas for optimal crop production, such as potatoes and the lima bean.

Gastronomic Experience with Peru’s Potato Whisperer (~3 hours)
For a unique experience, tour the potato fields of Manuel Choqque, also known as Peru’s Potato Whisperer. Choqque is a farmer listed as a gastronomic visionary in 50 Next’s World’s Best 50 Restaurants (2021), and he has agriculturally engineered more than 300 potato varieties, some of which has been used by the award-winning Central restaurant.

Try Choqque’s most famous creation – Oxalis, a wine made from Andean potatoes, and learn how to prepare uchucuta – a traditional spicy sauce from Peru. You may also learn how Choqque and his family have perfected different ancestral potato varieties, one of the most important foods during Incan times.

Ollantaytambo Archaeological Park
Depart early to Ollantaytambo Archaeological Park (Elevation: ~2,792m), which shows the best example of city planning done by the Incas outside of Machu Picchu. Its formidable stone walls were both a temple and a fortress, and it served as a wayside inn for Inca elite on long journeys.

Train: Ollantaytambo to Agua Calientes
You will be transferred to Ollantaytambo train station, from which you take a ~1 hour 40 minutes scenic train to Aguas Calientes with a boxed lunch onboard.* ^

Machu Picchu: First Look
Upon arrival, we take a guided tour of Machu Picchu (Elevation: ~2,430m), following in the footsteps of the ancient Incas. Also known as “La Ciudadela” (“The Citadel”), Machu Picchu is one of the New Seven Wonders of the World, with amazingly preserved architectural ruins in the middle of mist-shrouded green peaks.

Spend a night in the citadel or nearby Aguas Calientes, also known as the Machu Picchu pueblo, so you can explore the iconic site in the late afternoon and early morning with fewer crowds.

*The carry-on baggage allowance for trains to Machu Picchu is ~5kg and 157cm (length + height + weight), due to limited space for big luggage on the train.

^You may also opt for an upgrade to the luxurious Hiram Bingham, a Belmond Train, which serves up cocktails and gourmet meals. 

Explore Machu Picchu
You’ll have the whole morning to explore Machu Picchu with your guide.

For the ardent hikers, you may also hike up to the Sun Gate (Elevation: ~2,745m) or Huayna Picchu (Elevation: ~2,693m) for stunning bird’s eye views of Machu Picchu (please book in advance as an extra ticket is needed).

Note: the hikes to the Sun Gate and Huayna Picchu take ~3 hours for a round trip.

Train: Aguas Calientes to Cusco
Take a ~3½ hours scenic train ride from Agua Calientes back to Cusco.

From the train station, you would be met and transferred to your hotel.

Cusco City Tour (Half-Day)
Explore Cusco (Elevation: ~3,399m), the ancient capital of the Inca empire, and a UNESCO World Heritage site.

Discover the Sacsayhuaman Fortress, believed to have cosmic energy and to have served as an astronomic observatory and Inca oracle, before visiting the Cathedral for its beautiful paintings from the Cusco School of the 17th and 18th centuries.

We then tour one of the most important and sacred temples of the Inca empire – the Qoricancha. Also known as the Sun Temple or Golden Temple, it was dedicated to the worship of the Sun God, and its interior walls are said to have been covered in gold.

Transfer: Hotel to Train Station
You would be transferred to the train station for your journey to Puno.

PeruRail Titicaca Train: Cusco to Puno
Take a scenic ~10½ hours train ride from Cusco to Puno through majestic Andean landscapes, seated in elegant, comfortable carriages. The luxurious journey features large, panoramic windows, gourmet dining options, as well as a variety of unique cultural activities.

Note: The train only departs from Cusco to Puno on Sunday, Wednesday, and Friday; and Puno to Cusco on Monday, Thursday, and Saturday. On days the train does not run, private transportation or shared bus options can be arranged at additional cost.

Transfer: Train Station to Hotel
Upon arrival at Puno train station, you would be transferred to your hotel for the night

Lake Titicaca (Peru): Visit Taquile Island & Amantani Island
Board a private motor boat across the world’s highest navigable lake in the world (Elevation: ~3,812m) to Taquile Island, where old Quechua traditions coexist with modernity. Explore Inca terraces and learn about the farming and weaving activities of the local taquileños, before continuing to one of the most beautiful islands of Lake Titicaca, Amantaní.

On Amantaní, discover mystic temples used by shamans of the region during pre-Incan times, and learn about the most important sanctuaries of Pachamama and Pachatata.

Transfer: Puno to Arequipa
In the morning, we travel to Arequipa over a ~6 hour journey. On the way, stop by Lagunillas, a beautiful Altiplano Lagoon, before continuing past stunning Andean landscapes, flora and fauna, and massive rock formations. We pass through the villages of Imata and Pillones before reaching Arequipa (Elevation: ~2,335m), the “White City” constructed of white volcanic stone.

Enjoy the rest of the day at leisure before checking into your hotel.

Colca Valley Exploration
After breakfast, embark on a scenic ~2 hours drive to Colca Valley, passing by  majestic volcanoes, desolate grasslands (pampas), and quaint villages.

We first stop by Aguada Blanca National Reserve (Elevation: ~4,300m), home to herds of Guanacos, Alpacas, and wild Vicuñas, before driving another ~2 hours to the crater of the Chucura Volcano, with its migrating birds and the altiplano. We then visit the Mirador de los Andes in Patapampa (Elevation: ~4,900m) for spectacular views of the snow-capped Hualca Calca and Sabancaya volcanoes, before having lunch at Chivay. The town features impressive pre-Columbian terraces and platforms built by the ancient Collagua and Cabana communities. Take the rest of the day to unwind at leisure.

Cruz del Condor Viewpoint & Village Hopping
Marvel at the majestic Andean Condors in flight at Mirador Cruz del Condor (Condor Cross Lookout) (Elevation: ~3,270m). Set against the magnificent Andes mountains, it is the best spot in the world to see one of the largest birds on earth in action.

With wingspans that go up to 3.3m, it is awe-inspiring watching these emblematic birds soar ever higher in the sky as you look out across the second deepest canyon in the world (Deepest point: ~3,180m).

Continue to Mirador de Antahuilque to enjoy scenic views of the region’s ancient pre-Incan terraces, and visit the charming Maca and Yanque Villages before returning to the hotel.

Arequipa City Tour (Half Day)
After breakfast, travel ~3½ hours back to Arequipa, where we will tour its historic centre (UNESCO). We begin with Santa Catalina convent, one of the best-preserved colonial architecture masterpieces in the city, before continuing to La Compania de Jesus church next to it. There, admire extraordinary Andean baroque façade, imposing sacristy and vivid murals.

Leaving downtown Arequipa, explore the upscale Yanahuara neighbourhood, famous for its Andalusian-style churches and old ashlar stone mansions, before enjoying magnificent views of the city and El Misti volcano from a viewing point.

Transfer: To Airport
Bid farewell to Peru and be transferred to Arequipa airport for your flight home.