Explore Peru by air, sea and land on this eight-day tour of the archaeological, cultural and natural treasures of this fascinating country. Discover the mysterious Nazca Lines from the sky, see the abundant fauna of the uninhabited Ballestas Islands as you sail by boat, and explore the remains of the Inca Empire and the country’s beautiful colonial cities by land.
TOUR HIGHLIGHTS:
Lima: Named a World Heritage Site by UNESCO, the capital of Peru is a blend of history and modernity. The colonial historic centre, the bohemian district and its modern attractions sit on the edge of the Pacific Ocean.
Nazca Lines: Take a once-in-a-lifetime flight over the desert and witness these mysterious geoglyphs that were carved into the ground by early Peruvian civilisations around 2000 years ago.
Ballestas Islands: Behold the natural diversity of the sea that surrounds these protected island sanctuaries. Home to such fascinating creatures as sea lions, dolphins and the Humboldt penguin, they are a must-see for wildlife lovers.
Cusco: The ancient Inca capital is a unique blend of a pre-Columbian past and Spanish architecture. Its temples, squares and streets are surrounded by hills that hide fantastic archaeological sites such as Sacsayhuamán, Qenqo, Puca Pucará and Tambomachay.
Machu Picchu: The ‘lost city of the Incas’ is what draws thousands of people to Peru each year. Hidden among the vegetation, this mountain-top citadel, built in complete harmony with the landscape, hosts a wealth of rooms, temples, bridges and religious sites that offer the visitor a chance to get closer to Peru’s fascinating past.
Day 1: ARRIVAL LIMA
Arrive at Jorge Chavez International Airport in Lima. Upon arrival, a representative will be waiting to greet you at the airport and the transportation service will transfer you to your hotel at the scheduled time. Spend the rest of the day at your leisure in Lima, the capital of Peru and a city steeped in history. During Colonial times, the Historic Centre of Lima, known as the “Ciudad de los Reyes” (City of Kings), was the political, administrative, religious and economic centre for the Spanish in Peru. The historical centre is a UNESCO-listed World Heritage Site. Lima is now a modern metropolis and is currently undergoing an exciting process of cultural and economic change. Take the opportunity to rest and recover after the flight or head out into the city for your first glimpse of life in Peru´s sprawling capital city. Alternatively, you can book our optional Magic Water Circuit with Dinner and Folk Show:
Magic Water Circuit with Dinner and Folk Show (shared basis):
A modern system of fountains certified as the largest in the world by the Guinness World Records. Built-in Exhibition Park, the Magical Water Circuit attracts crowds during summer and winter, being one of the new favorite attractions of Lima. See yourself and enjoy our water cruise that is followed by a unique gastronomical experience at a restaurant, accompanied by a delicious buffet dinner and amusing folk show.
Notes: Shared service. Start time: 18:00 hours. Duration 4 hours. Includes Pick-up and Drop-off, Bilingual guide (Spanish and English), Admission to Magic Water Circuit, and Buffet Dinner with Folkloric show
Overnight in Lima
Day 2: LIMA
Today breakfast at the hotel is followed by a tour of the city of Lima. The route begins at the Larco Museum of pre-Columbian art. Housed in a former mansion, itself built on the site of a seventh-century, pre-Columbian temple, the museum boasts a very complete collection of gold and silver articles, pottery and erotic art. Continue on to Casa de Aliaga, the oldest Colonial mansion in Lima. The house has been owned and lived in by the Aliaga family and their descendants since conquistador Franzisco Pizarro granted the land to his trusted ally, Jerónimo de Aliaga in 1535. The tour will then guide you through the colonial centre of the city. Visit the impressive Plaza de Armas, the city’s central square and a showcase of Spanish colonial architecture. The Government Palace occupies the north side of the square and the magnificent, sixteenth-century Cathedral of Lima is located to the east. Choose to finish the tour at the Larcomar Shopping Centre, an outdoor mall built into a sea cliff featuring 17 restaurants and over 70 shops, or to return to your hotel to put your feet up. Rest of the afternoon at leisure.
Overnight in Lima.
Day 3: LIMA – PARACAS – NASCA LINES OVERFLIGHT - PARACAS (270 km – 4 hrs)
Start the day with breakfast at the hotel, then a representative and the transportation service will transfer you from your hotel to the bus station, where our trip to Paracas begins. The four-hour journey will give you time to gaze out the window and appreciate the landscape of Peru and the Pacific coast. Our first destination is the airport of Pisco, where we will catch a flight over the mysterious Nazca lines. The small town of Nazca would go unnoticed on the map if it were not for the ancient geoglyphs etched into the sand that have given it worldwide fame. As you fly over the desert, lines take shape to form simple geometric designs, then some of the swirls and zigzags start to form more distinct shapes: a spider, a condor and a monkey, to name a few. If the weather conditions and the airspace allow, you will also fly over the recently discovered drawings in Palpa. Continue your flight over the mountains where marine fossils that date back millions of years were found and then fly back to Pisco to end your aerial experience. Once back on land, you will be transferred to your hotel in Paracas to enjoy your free afternoon.
Overnight in Paracas.
Day 4: PARACAS - BALLESTAS ISLANDS - LIMA (265 km - 3.5 hrs)
After breakfast at the hotel, head to El Chaco pier to embark on a boat ride to the Ballestas Islands. The Ballestas are a collection of rocky islets with beautiful geographical formations, just a few kilometres off the western coast of Peru. The islands are the ideal habitat for various species of birds and an eclectic mix of larger wildlife like seals, boobies, pelicans, sea lions and the endangered Humboldt penguin. Cruise around the islands’ dramatic cliffs and watch large herds of noisy sea lions relaxing on the rocks, birds stretching their wings and, if you’re lucky, dolphins near to your boat. While you will not disembark onto the islands, you will get startlingly close to this impressive array of wildlife. As you sail, you will also pass the Paracas Candelabra, a huge geoglyph that has been dated to around 200 BC, although the purpose and the creator of this three-pronged carving remain a mystery. At the end of your boat tour, you will take the bus back to Lima where you will spend the night at your selected hotel.
Overnight in Lima.
Day 5: LIMA - CUSCO (90 Min by flight not included)
Start the day with breakfast at the hotel, then take a transfer to the airport to fly to Cusco. You will be met by one of our representatives in Cusco who will transfer you to your hotel. In the afternoon, enjoy a guided tour of the former capital of the Inca Empire. The tour begins at the Santo Domingo Convent, a building constructed on the site of Coricancha, one of the most important Incan complexes dedicated to sun worship. According to historic records, the original temple walls depicted scenes of nature and were covered in gold leaf. After Coricancha, visit the imposing cathedral in the Plaza de Armas, then head to the Cusco hills, where you’ll find the fortress of Sacsayhuamán and panoramic views of Cusco. Continue on to Qenqo, an archaeological site where it is believed the Incas carried out religious rituals to improve harvests. Your tour ends in Puka Pukara, meaning 'strong red' in Quechua. Puka Pukara is believed to be an ancient military site comprising numerous rooms, courtyards, baths, aqueducts and towers. At the end of the tour, you will be transferred back to your hotel.
Overnight in Cusco.
Day 6: CUSCO – MACHU PICCHU - AGUAS CALIENTES (170 km – 4 hrs)
Enjoy breakfast at the hotel then transfer to the Ollanta station to begin your trip to Machu Picchu. Enjoy the approximately two-hour train ride through spectacular Andean landscapes to Aguas Calientes, also known as "Machu Picchu Pueblo", the last stop before entering the most important archaeological site in Peru. It is believed that Machu Picchu was built for the Inca emperor Pachacútec around 1450 as a holiday residence. The citadel was abandoned just over 100 years later – probably as a result of the Spanish Conquest – although historians have never uncovered why it was abandoned, or how it escaped the destruction that other Inca settlements faced. Instead, the jungle slowly engulfed its stone construction, covering it in a thick vegetation that kept it hidden and protected until the ‘lost city of the Incas’ was brought to international attention in 1911. Your tour will introduce you to the origins of this impressive citadel and guide you around some of its most iconic monuments, such as the main square, the royal rooms, the Temple of the Three Windows, the circular towers, the Sacred Clock and cemeteries. At the end of the tour, return to Aguas Calientes for lunch and some free time in the afternoon.
Overnight in Aguas Calientes.
Day 7: AGUAS CALIENTES - CUSCO (170 Km - 4 hrs)
Today, breakfast at the hotel is followed by a relaxing morning at your leisure in Aguas Calientes, where you will find restaurants, bars, shops, and a craft market. Alternatively, you may return to Machu Picchu to further explore this spectacular ancient city (second entrance ticket to Machu Picchu and bus from/to Aguas Calientes available as an optional extra). This day we suggest returning on your own to Machu Picchu to visit the other attractions. Some of the best views of the sunrise can be found by hiking up Huayna Picchu (entrance to Huayna Picchu and bus from/to Aguas Calientes available as an optional extra; subject to space availability), which houses a complex of underground temples, and Inti Punku (the Sun Gate), both more than 300 meters above the citadel itself. Another option is to take the short 30-minute trek to the Inca Bridge, the secret entrance to Machu Picchu used by the Inca army. Built into a spectacular path along a sheer mountainside, the simple plank bridge could quickly be removed to scupper the progress of any unwanted arrivals. In the afternoon, board the train back to Ollanta station where you will be met by the transportation service who will transfer you back to your hotel in Cusco.
Overnight in Cusco.
Day 8: DEPARTURE CUSCO
After finishing your breakfast at the hotel, the transportation service will transfer you to the airport to round off your eight-day tour of some of Peru’s most fascinating sights. Although this is the last day of your journey by sea, land and air through this inspiring country, we are confident that the memories created here will last a lifetime.
Breakfast included.
