Trip To The South Of Peru

DAY 2. LIMA / AREQUIPA: Breakfast at your hotel. Begin the day with a guided tour of the exceptional Larco Museum in the Pueblo Libre district, where you’ll discover a vast collection of over 5,000 ceramic artifacts, as well as gold, silver, and pre-Columbian erotic art.

Next, head to Lima’s historic center to visit the impressive Casa Aliaga, a colonial mansion featuring exquisite rooms filled with priceless art and history. Continue to the Plaza de Armas, where you’ll see the Government Palace, Archbishop’s Palace, Municipal Palace, and other significant colonial buildings. Visit the Cathedral, constructed in the sixteenth century.

After the tour, you will be transferred to the airport for your domestic flight to Arequipa. Upon arrival, private transfer to your hotel. Overnight stay in Arequipa.

DAY 3. AREQUIPA: Enjoy breakfast at your hotel. You’ll be picked up from your centrally located hotel in Arequipa to begin an exciting tour of this magnificent Peruvian city. The order of visits may vary.

Visit the Plaza de Armas, one of Peru’s most beautiful squares, adjacent to the imposing Cathedral of Arequipa, originally built in the seventeenth century and fully restored after several earthquakes. Explore both the Cathedral and the Church of the Compañía de Jesús (1590), a classic example of local baroque architecture, home to exceptional murals and paintings.

Continue on to the Monastery of Santa Catalina, an authentic medieval cloister established in 1579 and still active today. Constructed from ashlar, a defining feature of local architecture, the convent spans 20,000 square meters.

The tour proceeds to the scenic viewpoints of Yanahuara and Carmen Alto, offering panoramic views of the countryside and the surrounding volcanoes: Misti, Chachani, and Pichu Pichu—a truly stunning sight.

Explore the district of Cayma, visiting the main square and the Church of San Miguel Arcángel de Cayma. Inside, view an anonymous collection of paintings depicting the miracles of the Virgin. Return to your hotel for overnight.

DAY 4. AREQUIPA / COLCA: Breakfast at your hotel. Departing at 8:30 am from Arequipa, you’ll travel 160 km to the town of Chivay. Along the route, pass through Yura, Pampa de Arrieros, and Pampa Cañahuas, home to the Aguada Blanca National Reserve of Vicuñas, where you can observe these beautiful native camelids.

The journey continues through several small villages, with fantastic views of the volcanoes from the viewpoint. Arrive in Chivay, where you’ll have free time for lunch and relaxation. Afterwards, visit Chivay’s town and market. Transfer to your hotel for overnight.

DAY 5. COLCA / PUNO: Enjoy breakfast at your hotel. Early in the morning, depart at 06:15 am to the renowned "Cruz del Cóndor" viewpoint.

Arrive in time to admire the depth of the canyon and, if conditions allow, witness the majestic flight of the Condors. Afterward, embark on a 320 km journey through breathtaking landscapes to Puno.

Travel through various small Andean villages before reaching Puno. Transfer to your hotel for overnight.

DAY 6. PUNO: After breakfast at your hotel, transfer to the lake port of Puno, where a regular boat will take you to the floating Uros islands. The Uros are an ancient society residing on artificial islands made from the totora reed, which grows abundantly in the lake. The islands are crafted by interweaving the reeds to form a natural base, upon which they build their homes and cook outdoors to prevent fires.

After visiting the Uros, enjoy a one-and-a-half-hour boat ride to Taquile Island. This Quechua community, formerly part of the Inca Empire, still preserves its cultural heritage, visible in its architecture. Receive an introduction to the island and participate in a cultural activity.

Following lunch, return to the port of Puno, where transportation will be waiting to take you back to your hotel. Overnight in Puno.

DAY 7. PUNO / CUSCO: Breakfast at your hotel. Transfer to the bus station for your scenic tourist bus journey to Cusco (8 hours).

The first stop is the Museum of Pucará, showcasing a remarkable collection of monoliths, stone sculptures, and ceramics from the Pucara culture, which flourished in the highlands of Peru and Bolivia.

Continue to the highest point of the route, the Raya Pass, at 4,335 meters above sea level, marking the boundary between Cusco and Puno. Here, pause to admire snow-capped Chimboya and capture photos of the stunning scenery.

The journey proceeds to the city of Sicuani, where you’ll enjoy a buffet lunch at a local restaurant offering regional dishes, vegetables, desserts, and hot drinks such as coca tea.

The bus ride continues to the archaeological site of Raqchi, situated at 3,450 meters above sea level. The Temple of Wiracocha, built in the fifteenth century beside the Vilcanota River, is a highlight.

The final visit is to Andahuaylillas, at 3,093 meters above sea level. This picturesque Andean town is home to an architectural gem known as the Sistine Chapel, famous for its gold leaf decorations and artwork from the Cusco School.

Arrive at the Cusco bus station and transfer to your hotel. Overnight in Cusco.

DAY 8. CUSCO: Breakfast at your hotel. In the afternoon, begin your tour at the renowned Koricancha (Temple of the Sun), an iconic site that exemplifies the fusion of Incan and Spanish cultures, as its foundation was used to build the Church and Convent of Santo Domingo.

Next, visit the Cathedral in the Main Square to admire exquisite religious paintings of the Cusco School. The city tour continues at Sacsayhuaman, an extraordinary archaeological complex featuring massive perfectly fitted stones, reputedly built by over 20,000 men over more than 70 years.

Proceed to the Qenqo temple, where the Incas worshipped deities like the Sun, Moon, and Earth. Explore its subterranean galleries and semicircular amphitheater.

The excursion continues at the military site of Puca Pucara, meaning “Red Fortress” for its distinctive color, and then to Tambomachay, a water shrine with aqueducts and waterfalls supplied by nearby springs. The tour ends at El Regocijo Square, just one block from the Plaza de Armas. Overnight in Cusco.

DAY 9. CUSCO / SACRED VALLEY / AGUAS CALIENTES: Breakfast at your hotel. Begin the day with a pickup from your Cusco hotel and travel 30 km to Pisac. Explore the vibrant market and the remarkable stone temples of the archaeological site, enjoying breathtaking views of the valley and impressive Inca terraces.

Continue to Urubamba for a delicious buffet lunch, then proceed to Ollantaytambo. This ancient site served as a military, religious, and agricultural center for the Incas. Admire its panoramic views and over a hundred terraces with advanced irrigation channels.

Visit Chinchero and its colorful Inca market, filled with traditional crafts, ceramics, and Andean textiles. After this immersive experience, transfer to the Ollantaytambo train station to board the Expedition Train to Aguas Calientes.

Upon arrival, transfer to your hotel. Attend a short briefing with your guide to organize your Machu Picchu visit for the next day. Overnight in Aguas Calientes.

DAY 10. AGUAS CALIENTES / MACHU PICCHU / CUSCO: Early in the morning, board the bus for the winding journey to Machu Picchu, enjoying spectacular views of the Urubamba River and canyon.

Discover the Lost City of the Incas—Machu Picchu—famous for its terraces, shrines, stairways, and urban sectors. Feel the unique energy of this mystical site. After a guided tour, enjoy additional free time or return by bus to Aguas Calientes for lunch (optional).

At the designated time, take the train back to Ollantaytambo, then board the tourist bus to Cusco and transfer to your centrally located hotel. Overnight in Cusco.

DAY 11. CUSCO / LIMA / OUT: Breakfast at your hotel. Private transfer with driver only to Cusco airport for your flight to Lima. Upon arrival in Lima, connect to your international departure.

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