Between Mountains & Apus
🏔️ Multi-Region Journeys

Between Mountains & Apus

A grand southern crossing — colonial Arequipa, the condor-filled Colca Canyon, Lake Titicaca and imperial Cusco, capped by the legendary Salkantay trek to Machu Picchu.

🕒 14 days · 13 nights 🥾 Active · high altitude trek
The route

Your journey, stop by stop

The programme

A day to remember

Day 1

Welcome to Peru

Arrival in Lima

Welcome to Peru! Touch down in the capital and transfer to your hotel to rest and settle in.

🍽️ No meals included

Day 2

Lima city tour & Museo Larco

Miraflores & San Isidro

Set out along the Pacific cliffs through Lima's smart, leafy seaside districts, with wide ocean views.

Huaca Pucllana

Pause at the great pre-Inca adobe pyramid, a ceremonial temple that has survived the city growing up around it.

Colonial old town

Explore the UNESCO historic centre — the Plaza Mayor, Government Palace and Cathedral — then the Santo Domingo convent that guards the relics of Peru's saints.

Museo Larco

Finish at the Larco Museum and its dazzling pre-Columbian ceramics, including the famous erotic gallery, before returning to Larcomar or your hotel.

🍽️ Breakfast

Day 3

Fly to Arequipa & Santa Catalina

Arrival in Arequipa

Fly to the White City (2,400 m) and take the morning at leisure to rest and acclimatise.

Historic centre

Stroll the Plaza de Armas, Municipal Palace, Cathedral and Jesuit churches, all carved from gleaming white sillar stone.

Santa Catalina Monastery

Wander the painted lanes of Santa Catalina, one of Peru's most beautiful religious sanctuaries — a city within the city.

Yanahuara & viewpoints

Visit colonial Yanahuara with its Andalusian-style arches and viewpoint, the terraced fields of Carmen Alto and leafy Selva Alegre.

🍽️ Breakfast

Day 4

Arequipa to the Colca Canyon

Aguada Blanca reserve

Set off through the village of Yura and the national vicuña reserve, watching for these graceful wild relatives of the llama.

Tojra wetlands & volcanoes

Cross the high Tojra wetlands alive with migratory birds, and stop at the Mirador de los Volcanes for sweeping views of the peaks.

Chivay village & market

Arrive in Chivay around midday for lunch and a rest, then explore the village and its lively local market.

🍽️ Breakfast, lunch

Day 5

Cross of the Condor & on to Puno

Cruz del Cóndor

Set out at dawn to the famous viewpoint to watch majestic condors ride the thermals over the depths of the Colca Canyon.

Maca & Yanque

Return through the canyon villages of Maca and Yanque and the Antahuilque viewpoint.

High Andes to Puno

Climb through stone-forest landscapes over Crucero Alto (4,538 m), the highest point of the route, past the lakes of Lagunillas to Puno on Lake Titicaca.

🍽️ Breakfast

Day 6

Lake Titicaca — Taquile & the Uros

Taquile Island

Sail across the deep blue of Titicaca to Taquile, famed for its gentle traditions and UNESCO-listed weaving.

Lunch at Luquina Chico

Stop at the lakeside community of Luquina Chico for a buffet lunch with local families.

Uros floating islands

On the way back, step onto the Uros' floating islands, woven entirely from totora reeds.

🍽️ Breakfast, lunch

Day 7

Scenic road from Puno to Cusco

Pukará & La Raya

Travel north by tourist coach, visiting the terraced ceremonial centre of Pukará and crossing La Raya pass, the meeting point of Quechua and Aymara worlds.

Lunch in Sicuani

Pause for lunch and a rest in the Andean town of Sicuani.

Raqchi

Marvel at Raqchi, the great Inca temple of Wiracocha, a masterwork of stone and adobe.

Andahuaylillas chapel

End at the dazzling barrel-vaulted church of Andahuaylillas — the 'Sistine Chapel of the Americas' — before arriving in Cusco.

🍽️ Breakfast, lunch

Day 8

Imperial Cusco & Inca ruins

San Cristóbal & San Blas

Climb to the San Cristóbal viewpoint, then walk the Siete Borreguitos lane, the Sapantiana aqueduct and artisan San Blas down to the famous Twelve-Angled Stone.

Cathedral & Qorikancha

In the afternoon, step inside the Cathedral and the Qorikancha — the Inca Temple of the Sun once sheathed in gold.

Ruins above the city

Explore the nearby Inca sites of Sacsayhuamán, Q'enqo, Puca Pucara and Tambomachay.

🍽️ Breakfast

Day 9

The Sacred Valley of the Incas

Písac ruins & market

Discover the hilltop ruins of Písac and browse its colourful artisan market in the valley below.

Calca, Yucay & Urubamba

Pass the charming valley villages of Calca and Yucay, with a buffet lunch in Urubamba.

Ollantaytambo fortress

Climb the great terraced fortress of Ollantaytambo, with spectacular views down the valley.

Chinchero

Return via the weaving village of Chinchero (3,800 m), known for its beautiful textiles and market.

🍽️ Breakfast, lunch

Day 10

Salkantay trek begins

Drive to Soraypampa

Leave Cusco early through Mollepata and Cruzpata to Soraypampa, the trailhead at the foot of snow-capped Salkantay.

Salkantay Pass

Climb to the dramatic Salkantay Pass beneath the glaciated mountain, the spiritual high point of the trek.

Camp at Andenes

Descend to camp at Andenes (3,500 m) with sweeping views of the Vilcabamba range. About 18 km, 8–9 hours.

🍽️ Breakfast, lunch, dinner

Day 11

Into the cloud forest

Salkantay river descent

Follow the Salkantay river down through Chaullay, Collpapampa and La Playa as the landscape turns green and lush.

Camp at Lucmabamba

Reach camp at Lucmabamba (2,100 m), ringed by coffee plantations and cloud forest, with a campfire dinner under the stars. About 20 km, 8–9 hours.

🍽️ Breakfast, lunch, dinner

Day 12

Llactapata & on to Aguas Calientes

Q'elloqasa viewpoint

Climb to the Q'elloqasa viewpoint for a first, far-off glimpse of Machu Picchu across the valley.

Llactapata ruins

Explore the Inca site of Llactapata with lunch among the ruins, then descend to the hydroelectric station. About 12 km, 6–7 hours.

Train to Aguas Calientes

Ride the train to Aguas Calientes and check in to your hotel at the foot of the citadel.

🍽️ Breakfast, lunch, dinner

Day 13

Machu Picchu & back to Cusco

Guided tour of the citadel

Rise early and ride the bus up the switchbacks for a two-hour guided tour of the lost city's main quarters — your reward after days on the trail.

Train to Cusco

Descend to Aguas Calientes and take the train back toward Poroy, then transfer to your hotel in Cusco.

🍽️ Breakfast

Day 14

Departure

Transfer to the airport

At leisure until your transfer to the airport for your flight to Lima or onward journey.

🍽️ Breakfast

Prices

Price per person

Prices in EUR
Category Single Double Triple
Comfort 2247 2002 1996
Tourist 2388 2069 2046
Tourist Superior 2666 2221 2142
Superior 2934 2364 2340
First Class 3126 2441
Deluxe 3752 2755
Top Deluxe 4267 2956

Per person in euros, sharing, minimum 2 travellers. Flights not included. We’ll tailor a final quote to your dates.

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