Adventure in Peru

At the time of your arrival in Lima, a member of the Valencia travel team will be waiting for you at the airport and will take you by transport to your hotel. You will then have the whole day to relax and enjoy the beauty of Lima and its surroundings.

Lima Town Center

Historic Lima

Lima Traditional Dress

Lima Market

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Los Tallanes

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The tour begins at Huaca Pucllana, a large archaeological site in Miraflores, one of Lima’s most popular districts. This ceremonial and administrative center of the Lima culture developed on the Peruvian coast between 200 and 700 AD. The site consists of seven stepped platforms, a surrounding plaza, and high walls. It is an unexpected sight in the middle of modern Miraflores. From there, your bilingual guide will take you to the historic center of Lima, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. At the Plaza de Armas, the city’s main square, you will find important colonial and republican buildings with ornate wooden balconies. These include the Government Palace, the Cathedral of Lima, the Archbishop’s Palace, the Municipal Palace, and the Palace of the Union. You will then visit the Cathedral of Lima, completed in 1649. Inside are sculptures, paintings, and the tomb of Francisco Pizarro. A short walk away is the Santo Domingo Convent, founded in the 1530s. Its bell tower is a landmark, and its walls are decorated with Sevillian tiles dating from the early 1600s, along with paintings of Saint Dominic’s life. Finally, you will explore the Larco Museum, known for its outstanding pre-Columbian art, including ceramics, textiles, metalwork, and a unique collection of erotic pottery.

Historic Centre Lima

Architecture Lima

Peru Food Market

Lima

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Los Tallanes

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After breakfast, you will begin your return to Puerto Maldonado. First, you will travel by boat along the Tambopata River back to the port, then continue by road into the city. Once in Puerto Maldonado, you will be transferred to the airport for your flight to Cusco. On arrival in Cusco, your cultural journey continues with a visit to the Sacred Valley of the Incas, beginning with a stop in the community of Chinchero. Here you will meet local residents and learn about their long tradition of textile production. For centuries, weaving techniques have been passed from generation to generation, and Chinchero remains an important center for this craft. During the visit, you will attend a demonstration where one of the Quechua-speaking weavers explains the designs and patterns used in their textiles. You will also see the process from shearing wool, spinning, and washing it with natural soap, to preparing dyes made from local plants and flowers. The weavers will show you how these natural resources are used to create a wide range of colors that bring their work to life. After this stop, you will continue to Urubamba, where your hotel is located.

Sacred Valley

Peru Weaving

Llamas

Sacred Valley

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Tierra Viva Valle Sagrado Urubamba

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You will be picked up from your hotel at 8:30 am to begin your trip to the Sacred Valley. In Pisac, you will visit the community of Huilloc, where the people maintain their language, customs, and distinctive traditional clothing. You are free to interact with the community and choose how you spend your time. You may join in their daily tasks, such as farming, weaving, or helping with lessons for children, and you can also learn about their ancestral ceremonies. Lunch will be a traditional Andean meal shared with a local family, giving you another chance to experience everyday life in Huilloc. The community is especially known for its weaving traditions, passed down through generations of women. They work on their looms while teaching younger daughters and granddaughters. The textiles include long-standing symbols such as condors, cougars, and Huallata birds. You will see a demonstration of the weaving process and have the chance to try it yourself. Purchasing their work is another way to support the community. After Huilloc, you will continue to Ollantaytambo, the royal estate of Pachacuti. You will explore the Temple of the Sun, agricultural terraces, and water systems still in use today before returning to your hotel.

Ollantaytambo

Peruvian Man

Alpacas

Ollantaytambo

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Tierra Viva Valle Sagrado Urubamba

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Your day begins with a pick-up at 06:00, followed by a transfer to the train station for your journey to Aguas Calientes (Machu Picchu Pueblo). The train usually departs around 07:50, with schedules subject to change. The two-hour ride takes you through river valleys and hills, offering views of the Andean landscape. On arrival at Aguas Calientes around 09:15, your guide will meet you and accompany you to the bus station. From here, a short but winding road leads up to Machu Picchu. At the entrance, you will begin a guided tour of the archaeological site. Lasting about two hours, the tour covers the most significant areas of Machu Picchu, including the House of the Guardian, Intihuatana, Temple of the Sun, and the Sacred Plaza. Along the way, you will see the agricultural terraces and take in wide views of the surrounding mountains and valleys. After completing your visit, you will return by bus to Aguas Calientes. Here you will have free time to relax. You may choose to visit the thermal hot springs or take a walk through the town, where markets and small shops provide a chance to browse local crafts before returning to your hotel.

Machu Picchu

Llamas

Road to Machu Picchu

Machu Picchu

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Tierra Viva Valle Sagrado Urubamba

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This morning you will have free time in Aguas Calientes. If you wish, you can pre-book an optional second visit to Machu Picchu (bus ticket and entry not included). Visiting early allows you to see the site in the quiet of the morning, with the chance to experience the changing light as the sun rises over the citadel. Another option is to climb Huayna Picchu, the steep peak overlooking Machu Picchu, which provides a different perspective of the site and surrounding landscape. Availability is limited, so advance booking is essential. If you prefer, you may choose to spend the morning at a more relaxed pace. Aguas Calientes has thermal hot springs where you can unwind, or you can take time to walk through the town, enjoy a meal, or browse the local markets. In the afternoon, you will board the train back to Poroy. The journey follows the Urubamba River and takes you once again through valleys and mountain scenery. When you arrive at the train station, you will be met and transferred back to your hotel in Cusco. This evening is free for you to rest or take a walk through the city at your own pace.

Cusco

Cusco Town

Peruvian Flag

Traditional Peruvians

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Aranwa Cusco Boutique Hotel

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Your Cusco city tour begins in the morning with a visit to the Koricancha, located next to the Santo Domingo Church. Chroniclers from the period after the Spanish conquest described the Koricancha as the most important temple of the Inca Empire. Its walls were once covered in gold, and statues of plants and animals made from precious metals decorated its halls. Although this wealth was taken by the conquistadors, the site remains remarkable. With your guide, you will learn details that are easy to miss without explanation. From here, you will continue to Cusco Cathedral on the Plaza de Armas. Built between 1560 and 1654 on the foundations of an Inca temple, the cathedral contains many works by Cusco School painters. The main altar and pulpit are decorated with gold and silver, and indigenous religious symbols can be found throughout, including a carved jaguar head on the doors. Next, you will visit the Inca fortress of Sacsayhuaman, set on a hill above Cusco. The immense stone walls here showcase precise Inca masonry and provide wide views across the city. The final stop is Tambomachay, known for its terraces, aqueducts, and canals, before returning to Cusco and your hotel.

Cusco Town

Cusco Ruins

Peruvian Ladies

Cusco Street Food

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Aranwa Cusco Boutique Hotel

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You will be picked up at 06:00 and taken to the train station in Cusco. From here, you will board the Titicaca train for a journey lasting around ten and a half hours. This route is considered one of the most scenic rail trips in the world, passing through valleys, plains, and mountain landscapes. At Wanchaq Station, local musicians will be performing as you board, adding to the atmosphere at the start of your day. When you arrive at the lodge by Lake Titicaca, you can settle in and enjoy the surrounding views. Lunch is served between 12:00 and 15:00, and the lodge provides excellent opportunities to sample local dishes. During your first afternoon, it is best to take a relaxed approach, perhaps resting for a while and staying well hydrated. Since Lake Titicaca is at an altitude of 3,812 meters (12,507 feet), it is important to allow your body time to adjust. If you have already spent several days at altitude before arriving, you may feel comfortable beginning your visit to the lake right away. Otherwise, a gentle introduction to the area on your first day will help you acclimatize before setting out on more active excursions.

Lake Titicaca

Lake Titicaca

Explore Titicaca

Perurail

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Sonesta Hotel Posadas del Inca Puno

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Your full-day trip begins at 7:00 a.m. with pick-up from your hotel in Puno, followed by a transfer to the port. From here, you will board a motor launch to travel to the island of Taquile. On arrival, you will meet local weavers from this Andean community, known throughout Peru for their textiles. Tradition on Taquile is distinctive, as men are the weavers while women spin the yarn. The techniques and designs have been passed down for generations, and the island’s culture remains strong in daily life. Around midday, you will return to the small port and continue by boat to the Chucuito Peninsula, part of the Aymara region of Lake Titicaca. Here you will visit the rural community of Luquina, where you will enjoy a buffet lunch at the home of a local fisherman. In the afternoon, the journey continues to the Floating Islands of the Uros people. Built from totora reeds, these islands have been maintained for centuries. You will walk across the reed surface, see houses and watchtowers, and learn from a local about how the islands are constructed and preserved. Afterward, you will return by boat to Puno and be transferred back to your hotel.

Uros Island

Taquile

Chucuito People

Lake Titicaca

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Sonesta Hotel Posadas del Inca Puno

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Departure from Puno is between 06:00 and 06:30 as you begin the drive toward Chivay Village. The journey takes around five hours with several stops for photographs along the way. The first stop is Lagunillas, where you may see flamingos, Andean ducks, and other bird species. The route also offers views of South American camelids and wide stretches of Andean landscapes. Continuing, you will pass through Tocra, a high plain at over 4,500 meters, where lakes attract migrant birds and the surrounding altiplano is home to llamas and guanacos. The highest point of the trip is Pata Pampa, at 4,820 meters, where the volcanoes Ampato, Sabancaya, Hualca-Hualca, Mismi, and the Cordillera de Chila can be seen on clear days. Arriving in Chivay, the starting point of the Colca Valley, you will notice the traditional terrace systems that shape the landscape, a legacy of the region’s early inhabitants. Chivay itself reflects Spanish influence in its church and colonial buildings. A traditional lunch is available in town (not included) before hotel check-in. In the afternoon you can explore Chivay at your own pace or visit the nearby hot springs at La Calera, where thermal baths reach around 38°C (98°F).

Chivay Local

Colca Canyon

Colca Canyon

Llamas

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Las Casitas, A Belmond Hotel

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Day two begins with an early start to make the most of the day. Your first stop is the lookout point known as Cruz del Condor, near the villages of Maca and Cabanaconde. This viewpoint is famous for the Andean condors that use the rising winds of the canyon to glide through the air. With wingspans reaching up to three meters, these birds are often seen flying close to the lookout in the early morning. From here you can also take in impressive views of Colca Canyon, one of the deepest in the world. On the return to Chivay, you will visit the village of Pinchollo and the Antahuilque viewpoint. This spot provides panoramic views of agricultural terraces that date back around 1,500 years and curve across the slopes of the valley. The scenery also includes small lagoons that add to the character of the landscape. Lunch will be taken in Chivay (not included), after which the journey continues to Arequipa, a drive of about four hours. Along the way you can reflect on the morning’s experiences and enjoy the changing scenery as you travel from the highlands of Colca Valley toward the city.

Arequipa

Arequipa City

Traditional Food

Peruvian Weaving

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Sonesta Hotel Arequipa

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After breakfast, you will visit the Santa Catalina Convent, one of the most important religious and cultural sites in Arequipa. The convent is like a small city within the city, with streets, squares, and courtyards that have been carefully preserved over the centuries. It gives a good insight into the daily life of the nuns who lived there and remains an active convent today. Following your visit, you will have time to walk around Arequipa, known as the White City. The nickname comes from the local ashlar stone used in much of its architecture. This volcanic stone, white or pink in color, has been used since the late 16th century. It is lightweight, resistant to weather, and provided an effective structural solution in this earthquake-prone region. Many of the city’s main buildings, including churches, houses, and public structures, were built with this material, giving the center its distinctive look. Depending on the time of your flight, you can enjoy more of the city’s streets and squares before your transfer to the airport. From there, you will take your international flight back home. Safe travels!

Arequipa Landscape

Arequipa Market

Airport

Happy Travels!

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Sonesta Hotel Arequipa

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