Ancestral Peru
An epic crossing of Peru's living past — from Lima's pyramids north to cloud-forest Kuélap and the gold of Sipán, then south through Cusco, Machu Picchu and Lake Titicaca.
Your journey, stop by stop
A day to remember
Welcome to Lima
Arrival in Lima
Welcome to Peru! Touch down in the capital and transfer to your hotel to rest after the journey.
🍽️ No meals included
Lima city tour & Museo Larco
Miraflores & San Isidro
Begin along the Pacific cliffs, taking in Lima's smart seaside districts and the 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 — and the Santo Domingo convent that guards the relics of Peru's saints.
Museo Larco
Finish at the Larco Museum and its dazzling collection of pre-Columbian ceramics, including the famous erotic gallery, then return to Larcomar or your hotel.
🍽️ Breakfast
Fly to Chachapoyas
Flight to Chachapoyas
Transfer to the airport and fly to the cloud-forest town of Chachapoyas (2,335 m).
Afternoon at leisure
Arrive, settle into your hotel and enjoy a free afternoon to acclimatise.
🍽️ No meals included
Gocta waterfall
Cocachimba village
Set out from the little village of Cocachimba, the gateway to one of the world's tallest waterfalls.
Trek to the falls
Follow narrow forest trails for about three hours, through rich flora and fauna, to the foot of the thundering Gocta cataract.
Swim & photos
Cool off in the spray, take in the magical setting, then walk back to Cocachimba and return to Chachapoyas.
🍽️ Breakfast
Kuélap fortress
Macro ruins
Drive about an hour to the archaeological site of Macro, built into a steep hillside above the valley.
Cable car to Kuélap
From Nuevo Tingo, ride the cable car up to Malcapampa (25 minutes), then climb a short trail to the main gate.
The walled citadel
Spend around three hours inside the great fortified city of Kuélap, the cloud people's stronghold high above the Utcubamba.
🍽️ Breakfast
The sarcophagi of Karajía
Towards Luya
Travel into Luya province, passing the villages of Cocheran and Cruz Pata.
Karajía
A 20-minute walk leads to Karajía, where tall Chachapoya sarcophagi gaze out from a cliff ledge — a burial style considered unique in the world.
🍽️ Breakfast
Scenic drive to Cajamarca
Northern highlands
Travel by private vehicle to Cajamarca (2,750 m), winding through the beautiful scenery of the northern sierra, and settle into your hotel.
🍽️ Breakfast
Cajamarca & Otuzco
Historic centre
Stroll the Plaza Mayor and its monuments — the Cathedral, San Francisco and the Belén complex.
Ransom Room & Santa Apolonia
Visit the Cuarto del Rescate, where Atahualpa was held, then climb Santa Apolonia hill for panoramic views and the Inca's Seat.
Necropolis of Otuzco
In the afternoon, explore the pre-Inca galleries carved into volcanic rock at Otuzco.
Countryside corners
Take in the hanging bridge, the hydrangea garden and the Tres Molinos estate before returning to Cajamarca.
🍽️ Breakfast
Kuntur Wasi & on to Chiclayo
Kuntur Wasi
Visit this hilltop ceremonial temple in San Pablo, with stepped platforms, stone sculpture and funerary structures echoing Chavín de Huántar.
Site museum
See the finest finds, including the oldest worked gold in the Americas, unearthed by the Japanese mission.
On to Chiclayo
Descend to the coast and transfer to your hotel in Chiclayo (27 m).
🍽️ Breakfast
Sipán & the Royal Tombs
Huaca Rajada
Set out early to the adobe platform where the world-famous Lord of Sipán was discovered, heart of the ancient Moche world.
Royal Tombs Museum
Admire the gold, precious stones and regalia at the magnificent Tumbas Reales museum before returning to Chiclayo.
🍽️ Breakfast
Chan Chan & Huanchaco
Bus to Trujillo
Transfer to Trujillo (34 m) by morning bus, a ride of about three and a half hours.
Chan Chan
Tour the vast adobe city of Chan Chan and its Nik-An palace, with ceremonial plazas, reservoirs and walls of high-relief friezes.
Huanchaco
End at the fishing cove of Huanchaco, where reed caballitos de totora — ancient Moche craft — still ride the surf.
🍽️ Breakfast
Moche temples & fly to Cusco
Huacas del Sol y de la Luna
Explore the Moche valley temples — the Huaca del Sol, built of over 100 million adobes, and the Huaca de la Luna, six superimposed temples rich with murals.
Site museum
Visit the Huacas de Moche museum to put the buried city in context.
Flight to Cusco
Fly to Cusco (3,400 m) via Lima; transfer to your hotel and rest to acclimatise to the altitude.
🍽️ Breakfast
Imperial Cusco
San Cristóbal viewpoint
Head up to the San Cristóbal church for a panoramic balcony over the red-tiled roofs of the city.
San Blas & old town
Walk the Siete Borreguitos lane, the Sapantiana aqueduct and Plaza San Blas, down past the Twelve-Angled Stone to the monumental Plaza de Armas.
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 Sacsayhuamán, Q'enqo, Puca Pucara and Tambomachay before returning to your hotel.
🍽️ Breakfast
Sacred Valley & on to Machu Picchu
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 Sacred Valley.
Evening train to Machu Picchu
Board the evening Expedition train to Aguas Calientes; dinner included and overnight at the foot of Machu Picchu.
🍽️ Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Machu Picchu & back to Cusco
Guided tour of the citadel
Ride the bus up the switchbacks for a guided tour of the lost city — its religious, civil and military quarters — one of the seven wonders of the world.
Lunch in Aguas Calientes
Return to Aguas Calientes for an included lunch.
Train to Cusco
In the afternoon, take the train back to Poroy and transfer to your Cusco hotel to rest.
🍽️ Breakfast, lunch
Andean route to Puno
Andahuaylillas
Begin the scenic bus journey south at the 'Sistine Chapel of the Americas', its nave aglow with murals and gold leaf.
Raqchi
Visit the great Temple of Wiracocha at Raqchi, a masterwork of Inca stone and adobe.
La Raya & Sicuani
Cross the high pass of La Raya, the route's summit amid snow peaks, then stop in Sicuani for lunch and a rest.
Pukará & Puno
Pause at the ceremonial site of Pukará before arriving in Puno (3,800 m) by evening.
🍽️ Breakfast, lunch
Lake Titicaca
Taquile island
Sail across Lake Titicaca by traditional boat to Taquile, whose people keep their ancestral weaving traditions alive.
Lunch at Luquina Chico
Stop at Luquina Chico for a buffet lunch with sweeping lake views.
Uros floating islands
On the way back, visit the famous reed islands of the Uros, built and rebuilt from totora.
🍽️ Breakfast, lunch
Departure
Transfer to Juliaca
Transfer to Juliaca airport, an hour north of Puno, to continue your journey.
🍽️ Breakfast
Price per person
| Category | Single | Double | Triple |
|---|---|---|---|
| Comfort | 2731 | 2317 | 2269 |
| Tourist | 2932 | 2383 | 2420 |
| Tourist Superior | 3252 | 2641 | 2592 |
| Superior | 3521 | 2794 | 2794 |
| First Class | 3782 | 2889 | — |
| Deluxe | 4248 | 3127 | — |
| Top Deluxe | 4774 | 3414 | — |
Per person in euros, sharing, minimum 2 travellers. Flights not included. We’ll tailor a final quote to your dates.
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