Colors of 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, transfer from your hotel to Cusco Airport for your flight to Puerto Maldonado. On arrival, you will be met at the airport and taken on a short drive to our headquarters, where you can safely store any luggage not needed for the next few days. This helps keep the boats light for the journey ahead. From there, we continue by vehicle to the Tambopata River Port, passing through the native community of Infierno. A 45-minute boat ride along the river brings us to Posada Amazonas, located within the community’s primary forest reserve. At the lodge, the manager will greet you and share important navigation and safety information before you settle in. After lunch, enjoy a guided walk to the nearby 30-meter canopy tower. Climbing the platforms gives you sweeping views of the rainforest and the Tambopata River. From this height, it is common to see toucans, parrots, macaws, and other bird species flying overhead or perched in the treetops nearby. In the evening, return to the lodge for dinner, followed by a presentation about the Infierno ecotourism project, delivered by a member of the local community.

Amazon Rainforest

parrot

Rainforest

Boat Trip

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Posada Amazonas

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Today we travel to the Three Chimbadas oxbow lake. After a 30-minute boat ride along the river, we continue with a 45-minute walk through the forest to reach the lake. Once there, we board a catamaran to explore its calm waters. With some luck, we may spot the family of giant river otters that live here. While sightings are not guaranteed, more than half of our visitors do see them. Along the way, it is also common to observe caiman, hoatzin, and horned screamers. Following the lake visit, we return by boat for a short ride downriver to a trail created by the staff of the Centro Ñape. This community project focuses on traditional medicine made from forest plants, which are prepared and used at their small local clinic. As you walk the trail, your guide will explain the different species of plants and their uses for treating various conditions. In the evening, we set out on a night walk. Although many animals remain hidden after dark, frogs and insects are often easier to see. The experience of hearing the forest come alive with nighttime sounds makes this walk a memorable way to end the day.

Night Creature

Otters

Rainforest Parrots

Sloth

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Posada Amazonas

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After breakfast, we begin the return journey to Puerto Maldonado. We travel back along the Tambopata River to the port and then continue on to the city. From there you will be transferred to the airport for your flight to Cusco. On arrival in Cusco, your cultural visit begins with a drive to the Chincheros Community, home to around 50 families. Farming and weaving are the two main activities here, with men tending the fields and women practicing weaving techniques that have been passed down for generations. The community is well known for producing high-quality textiles using methods that have remained largely unchanged for centuries. During your time in Chincheros, you will attend a talk and demonstration led by a local weaver. With translation, you will learn about the symbolism of traditional designs and follow the entire process, from shearing and spinning the wool to washing it with natural soap and preparing dyes from plants and flowers. You may also try weaving yourself, with the chance to work on items such as blankets, ponchos, or hats. The day concludes with time to explore the community further before returning to Cusco, where you will be dropped off at your hotel.

Tapestry Market

Weaving Technique

Natural Dyed Cloth

Peruvian Man

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Aranwa Sacred Valley Hotel & Wellness

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The day begins with a one-hour drive from your hotel to the community of Huilloc. On arrival, you’ll be welcomed by the locals and learn how they continue to preserve their language, traditions, and clothing. You’ll have the chance to spend time with families, join in daily tasks such as farming or weaving, and share a traditional Andean lunch prepared by the community. Huilloc is known for its weaving, passed down through generations of women who often teach their daughters and granddaughters at their side. Their textiles feature designs of condors, cougars, and Huallata birds, symbols that have been used for centuries. You’ll see a demonstration of the weaving process and can try it yourself. Afterward, travel to Ollantaytambo, once the royal estate of the Inca emperor Pachacuti. Explore its remarkable ruins, including the Temple of the Sun and the agricultural terraces with their advanced irrigation systems. Walk through the town’s cobbled streets, where Inca-built water channels still flow and traditional clothing is still worn. Later, board the afternoon train to Aguas Calientes, passing scenic valleys and rivers. On arrival, relax in the town’s natural hot springs or visit the local markets before settling into your hotel for the night.

Ollantaytambo

Peruvian Man

Alpacas

Ollantaytambo

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Hatun Inti Boutique

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To fully appreciate Machu Picchu, you will start early in the morning. After breakfast, your guide will collect you from your hotel around 05:40 for a short walk to the bus station. From there, you will enjoy a scenic ride along the winding road that climbs to the entrance of the Machu Picchu archaeological site. After passing through the gates, you will begin a guided walking tour with an experienced local guide. Over the next two hours, you will visit the most significant areas of the site, including the House of the Guardian, Intihuatana, Temple of the Sun, and the Sacred Plaza. As you explore, your guide will share insights into the history and construction of this extraordinary Inca city. You will also have time to take in the views of the surrounding mountains, deep valleys, and the impressive agricultural terraces that define the landscape. Once your guided tour concludes, you will take the bus back to Aguas Calientes. Here, you can relax and have lunch at one of the local restaurants (meal not included) before boarding the train back to Poroy and Cusco. Upon arrival, you will be met and transferred to your hotel, where you can unwind after your visit to this remarkable site.

Machu Picchhu

Machu Picchu

Cusco Town

Cusco Town

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Aranwa Cusco Boutique Hotel

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The Cusco city tour begins in the morning with a visit to Koricancha, located beside Santo Domingo Church. Once considered the most important temple in the Inca Empire, Koricancha’s walls were once covered in gold, and its halls decorated with gold and silver statues of plants and animals. Although much of this was removed during the Spanish conquest, the site remains an impressive example of Inca architecture. Your guide will point out details that are easy to overlook without explanation. Next, visit Cusco Cathedral on the Plaza de Armas. Built between 1560 and 1654 on the foundations of an Inca temple, the cathedral contains works from the Cusco School of art, with its main altar and pulpit decorated in gold and silver. Look closely and you may notice Inca symbols subtly carved into the structure, such as the head of a jaguar on the doors. The tour continues to Sacsayhuaman, a hilltop fortress showcasing remarkable Inca stonework and wide views over the city. The final stop is Tambomachay, known for its intricate canals and waterfalls, thought to have been used for ceremonial or spa purposes. After visiting Tambomachay, return to Cusco and transfer back to your hotel.

Cusco

Traditional Peruvians

Cusco Ruins

Sacsayhuaman

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Aranwa Cusco Boutique Hotel

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You will be picked up from your hotel at 06:00 and taken to the train station in Cusco. The route covered by the Titicaca Train is often described as one of the most scenic in the world, with a journey lasting around ten and a half hours. At the Wanchaq Station in Cusco, local musicians will perform as you board, creating a welcoming atmosphere before departure. Once on board, you can relax in the elegant dining cars, designed in the Pullman style of the 1920s. Throughout the trip, you will enjoy comfortable seating, attentive service, and a gourmet dining experience while admiring the changing landscapes. The train passes through the Andean highlands, offering wide views of valleys, mountains, and traditional villages along the way. In the afternoon, the train arrives in Puno, known as the folklore capital of Peru. Upon arrival, you will be transferred to your hotel for the night. Puno is a pleasant town to explore in the evening, but it is best to stay within the well-lit main streets, where you will find many small restaurants and cafes offering local and international dishes.

Lake Titicaca

Lake Titicaca

Lake 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, visit the Santa Catalina Convent and take time to walk through the “White City” and its surroundings. The architecture of Arequipa’s historic center is defined by its use of ashlar, a soft volcanic stone that is white or pink in color. This material became popular in the late 16th century for its strength and resistance to earthquakes, giving the city its distinctive appearance. Later in the morning, enjoy an Arequipa gastronomic experience. The tour begins at 8:00 a.m. with a visit to the San Camilo Market, located near the Plaza de Armas. This traditional market is filled with stalls selling fresh produce, meats, spices, and local snacks. It’s a lively and authentic place to see everyday life in Arequipa. You will buy the ingredients needed to prepare two dishes, an entrée and a main course, before heading to a local family home for a hands-on cooking class. A local cook will guide you through each step, and your guide will help with translation if needed. After cooking, you will enjoy the meal you prepared. The day ends with a transfer to Arequipa Airport for your flight to Lima, where you will be met and taken to your hotel for the night.

Cooking Class

Traditional Food

Arequipa Market

Historic Lima

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Los Tallanes

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Your guide will pick you up from your hotel and take you the the airport via private transfer for your final international flight home. Safe travels!

Flight Home

Happy Travels!

Peru Flag

Airport

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Los Tallanes

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