Peru, Origins of the Empire
A grand sweep through Peru's deepest history — from Caral, the oldest city of the Americas, to the snow peaks of Huascarán, the Colca condors, Lake Titicaca and Machu Picchu.
Your journey, stop by stop
A day to remember
Welcome to Peru
Arrival in Lima
Welcome to Peru! Touch down in the capital and transfer to your hotel to settle in.
🍽️ No meals included
Lima city tour & Museo Larco
Miraflores & San Isidro
Begin along the Pacific cliffs, taking in Lima's leafy seaside districts and ocean views.
Huaca Pucllana
Pause at the great pre-Inca adobe pyramid, a ceremonial temple that survived the city growing up around it.
Colonial old town
Explore the UNESCO historic centre — the Plaza de Armas, Government Palace, Cathedral and the Santo Domingo convent.
Museo Larco
Finish at the Larco Museum and its superb pre-Columbian ceramics, including the famous erotic gallery.
🍽️ Breakfast
Caral & on to Huaraz
Caral
Drive north early to Caral in the Supe valley — the oldest city in the Americas, dating to around 3000 BC, with monumental pyramids and ceremonial plazas.
A peaceful civilisation
Learn how Caral mastered irrigation and music yet left no trace of war, hinting at a peaceful, trade-focused society.
On to Huaraz
Continue by private vehicle into the Andes to Huaraz for the night.
🍽️ Breakfast
Callejón de Huaylas & Llanganuco
Cordillera Blanca
Set out along the Callejón de Huaylas beneath the Cordillera Blanca and Huascarán, Peru's highest peak at 6,768 m.
Andean villages
Pass pretty villages like Carhuaz — sampling its fresh milk-and-fruit ice creams — and Yungay, with its memorial to the 1970 disaster.
Llanganuco lakes
Enter Huascarán National Park to the turquoise Llanganuco lake, ringed by ancient queñual forest, then return to Huaraz.
🍽️ Breakfast
Chavín de Huántar
Cahuish pass
Set out early past the 'map of Peru' rock formation and through the Cahuish tunnel (4,550 m) into the Conchucos valley.
Chavín temple
Explore the ancient temple of Chavín de Huántar — its carved stone heads, the Lanzón monolith, underground galleries and ceremonial plazas.
Chavín museum
Visit the modern National Chavín Museum before returning to Huaraz.
🍽️ Breakfast
Arequipa — the white city
Fly to Arequipa
Fly via Lima to Arequipa (2,400 m) and transfer to your hotel.
Historic centre
Tour the Plaza de Armas, Cathedral and churches built of white sillar volcanic stone.
Santa Catalina Monastery
Wander the colourful lanes of Santa Catalina, one of Peru's most striking religious monuments.
Yanahuara & viewpoints
Visit colonial Yanahuara with its Andalusian arches, the Carmen Alto terraces and leafy Selva Alegre.
🍽️ Breakfast
Into the Colca Valley
Altiplano & vicuñas
Cross the Aguada Blanca vicuña reserve and the Tojra wetlands, alive with migratory birds.
Volcano viewpoint
Stop at the Mirador de los Volcanes for sweeping views of the high cordillera.
Chivay village
Arrive in Chivay for free time, lunch and a stroll through its village and market.
🍽️ Breakfast, lunch
Condors & on to Puno
Cruz del Cóndor
Set out early to the Cross of the Condor to watch these giant birds soar over the Colca Canyon.
Maca & Yanque
Return through the villages of Maca and Yanque and the Antahuilque viewpoint.
Altiplano crossing
Drive on to Puno across high plains and stone forests, over Crucero Alto (4,538 m) and past the lakes of Lagunillas.
🍽️ Breakfast
Lake Titicaca
Taquile Island
Sail out by traditional boat to Taquile to discover the ancestral traditions of its islanders.
Lunch at Luquina Chico
Stop at Luquina Chico for a buffet lunch overlooking the lake.
Uros floating islands
On the way back, visit the Uros, the famous reed islands floating on Lake Titicaca.
🍽️ Breakfast, lunch
Scenic route to Cusco
Pukara & La Raya
Travel by tourist bus toward Cusco, stopping at the Pukara terraces and the snowy La Raya pass.
Lunch in Sicuani
Pause for lunch and a rest in Sicuani before continuing through the altiplano.
Raqchi
Explore Raqchi, the great Inca temple of Wiracocha in stone and adobe.
Andahuaylillas
Visit the 'Sistine Chapel of the Americas', glowing with murals and gold leaf, before arriving in Cusco.
🍽️ Breakfast, lunch
Cusco city & Inca ruins
San Cristóbal viewpoint
Head up to the San Cristóbal church for a panoramic balcony over Cusco's red-tiled roofs.
San Blas & old town
Walk San Cristóbal and San Blas — the Siete Borreguitos lane, the Sapantiana aqueduct, the artisan plaza, the Twelve-Angled Stone and down to the Plaza de Armas.
Cathedral & Qorikancha
In the afternoon, step inside the Cathedral and the Qorikancha, the Inca Temple of the Sun.
Ruins above the city
Explore the nearby Inca sites of Sacsayhuamán, Q'enqo, Puca Pucara and Tambomachay.
🍽️ Breakfast
Sacred Valley & on to Machu Picchu
Písac ruins & market
Discover the hilltop ruins of Písac and browse its colourful artisan market.
Calca, Yucay & Urubamba
Pass the charming 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.
Evening train to Aguas Calientes
Board the night 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.
Lunch in Aguas Calientes
Return to Aguas Calientes for an included lunch at your own pace.
Train to Cusco
Take the afternoon train back to Poroy and transfer to your Cusco hotel to rest.
🍽️ Breakfast, lunch
Departure
Transfer to the airport
Transfer to the airport for your flight to Lima and onward international connection.
🍽️ Breakfast
Price per person
| Category | Single | Double | Triple |
|---|---|---|---|
| Comfort | 2372 | 2070 | 1999 |
| Tourist | 2615 | 2183 | 2136 |
| Tourist Superior | 3251 | 2498 | 2417 |
| Superior | 3475 | 2612 | 2567 |
| First Class | 3767 | 2746 | — |
| Deluxe | 4278 | 3003 | — |
| Top Deluxe | 4874 | 3328 | — |
Per person in euros, sharing, minimum 2 travellers. Flights not included. We’ll tailor a final quote to your dates.
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