THE EXCEPTIONAL PERU

Trip Description

Accomodation

Stay program

• day 1

  LIMA

  Reception at Lima airport according to the arrival time of your flight, and transfer to the hotel located in the Miraflores district, in Lima. Overnight at the hotel. No activity is planned for this first day of the trip in case your flight is delayed. If your flight arrives on time, you can take the excursion to the Palomino Islands.

• day 2

  LIMA - PALOMINO ISLANDS

  In the morning, transfer to the port of Callao to take the boat to the Palomino Islands, which are home to a population of several thousand sea lions and seabirds (pelicans, boobies, gulls, Humboldt penguins, etc.). You will also have the opportunity to swim among the sea lions, which should be an unforgettable experience! Return to the port and transfer to the hotel in the afternoon. Free late afternoon. Overnight at the hotel.

• day 3

  Lima Arequipa

  Departure in the morning to the airport to take a flight to Arequipa, the country's second largest city. Transfer to the Casa Andina hotel, located in the historic center. Arequipa, "the white city," is a city at medium altitude that enjoys sunny weather almost all year round. In the afternoon, you will tour the city, passing by the Carmen Alto viewpoint, which offers superb views of the surrounding volcanoes, the historic center, and the colonial district of Yanahuara. In the center, you will visit the Santa Catalina Monastery, one of the most beautiful religious buildings in Peru. Overnight at the hotel.

• day 4

  AREQUIPA - MAJES VALLEY

  Departure in the morning towards the Majes valley, where you will discover along the way the unusual landscapes of the Peruvian desert coast. After about 2 and a half hours of travel, the desert plateau opens onto the immense Majes valley, with a depth of 1000 meters. Visit to the archaeological site of Toro Muerto, where you will see thousands of figures carved in stone since pre-Hispanic times. In the afternoon, you will visit the site of Querullpa, which has dinosaur footprints and a cellar where the famous Pisco (the national drink of Peru) is distilled. Return to Arequipa in the afternoon. Overnight at the hotel.

• day 5

  AREQUIPA

  Tasting Peruvian food is a surprising experience, and it’s even better when you have prepared the dishes yourself! You will take a cooking class at the Arthur restaurant, where you will learn to prepare two dishes: a fish "ceviche" and a "lomo saltado". You will then taste the dishes you have prepared. Free afternoon to enjoy the charm of Arequipa. Overnight at the hotel.

• day 6

  AREQUIPA – COLCA CANYON

  Departure in the morning by tourist bus towards the Colca canyon. You will make stops along the way to observe the fauna and flora of the altiplano, at 4000 meters altitude, where you can see llamas, vicuñas, and alpacas, among others. You will pass by the highest point of the trip, at 4900 meters, before descending into the Colca valley. Upon arriving at the village of Coporaque, your host family will welcome you into their home. After lunch, your family will show you the village and its surroundings, offering you various activities. Dinner and overnight stay with the host family.

• day 7

  COLCA – PUNO

  Departure in the morning towards the Cruz del Condor, one of the most exceptional viewpoints of this trip. You will have views of more than 1000 meters down into the canyon and, if you are lucky, you may observe the flight of the condor, which usually takes place in this part of the canyon. In the afternoon, after lunch (not included), you will take the tourist bus to Puno. You will pass through the Peruvian Altiplano before arriving at your next destination: Puno, located on the edge of Lake Titicaca, at an altitude of 3800 meters. Overnight at the hotel.

• day 8

  LAKE TITICACA – UROS AND AMANTANI ISLANDS

  Transfer from the hotel to the port, then boat trip to Lake Titicaca. After a tour of the Uros floating islands, you will continue your journey on the lake to Amantani Island. Settle in with your host family, before heading up to the upper part of the island, where you can watch the sunset over the lake, without a doubt one of the most unforgettable views of this trip. Dinner and overnight with the host family.

• day 9

  LAKE TITICACA – AMANTANI ISLAND – TAQUILE ISLAND – PUNO

  You will take the boat again early in the morning to head towards the island of Taquile, where the population still lives according to typical and ancestral customs. You will climb up to the village, located in the upper part of the island, where you can admire the splendid panorama of the lake and the Royal Cordillera in Bolivia. In the afternoon, you will go down the 540 steps to the port before returning to Puno. Overnight at the hotel.

• day 10

  PUNO - TAMBO QUEQUE NORTH

  Morning departure by private vehicle through the landscapes of the Peruvian Altiplano. You will have the option to visit the archaeological site of Sillustani and its funerary towers, or "Chullpas". Check-in at the Tambo Quelque Norte farm property, which is located in the Altiplano at 4100 meters above sea level, at the foot of Mount Khunurana. You will enjoy the afternoon discovering livestock farming and cheese production, as well as walking in the surrounding nature. You will also have the option to go horseback riding (to be paid on site). Dinner and overnight at the property (simple comfort, shared bathroom).

• day 11

  Tambo Queque Norte – Cusco

  Departure in the morning towards Cuzco in a private vehicle. You will cross the La Raya pass at 4,375 meters, which marks the end of the Altiplano and the beginning of the Vilcanota valley, where the Inca civilization developed. It will be possible to make stops during the journey, notably to visit the Inca temple of Raqchi and the village of Andahuaylillas, with its surprising church. Arrival in Cuzco, the capital of the Inca Empire, in the afternoon. Overnight at the hotel.

• day 12

  CUSCO

  This morning will be dedicated to discovering the Inca ruins with their views over the city. Transfer by private vehicle to the Inca archaeological site of Tambomachay. After visiting the site, you can begin your hike through the Cuzco countryside, passing by Inca sites such as Kenko and Pukapukara, finishing at Sacsayhuaman, an impressive Inca fortress made of titan stone, built with astonishing precision. You will then descend to Cuzco through its steep streets. This excursion includes a walk of about 6 km, on flat and downhill terrain (nothing difficult). We believe this is an original and pleasant way to visit the 4 ruins around Cuzco. In the afternoon, you will visit the cocoa and chocolate museum (“Choco Museo”), located in the center of Cuzco, where you will take part in a chocolate-making workshop using cocoa from the region. Overnight at the hotel.

• day 13

  CUSCO - MORAY - MARAS – OLLANTAYTAMBO

  You will discover today two of the most interesting sites in the Sacred Valley. In the morning, departure in a private vehicle with your guide towards the Inca terraces of Moray, the starting point of the walk. You will continue through the salt mines of Maras, a surprising landscape that has thousands of geographical depressions exploited by local artisans since pre-Columbian times and up to today. From there, you will descend to the village of Pichingoto, where the Urubamba River crosses the Sacred Valley. Easy walk (about 3 hours on foot), entirely downhill. Overnight at the hotel.

• day 14

  OLLANTAYTAMBO - MACHU PICCHU - OLLANTAYTAMBO

  Early morning departure by train, following the Urubamba River to the village of Machu Picchu (or Aguas Calientes, its former name). From there, you will go to Machu Picchu by bus. This Inca jewel is undoubtedly the highlight of any trip to Peru, and truly deserves its reputation as a wonder of the world. You can explore it freely, or with a guide, in order to really get to know all the facets of this wonderful site, before taking the train back to the Sacred Valley in the afternoon. Overnight at the hotel.

• day 15

  OLLANTAYTAMBO - PISAC – CUSCO

  Your trip to Peru is coming to an end, but there are still a few extraordinary sites left for you to discover. In the morning, you will visit the impressive fortress of Ollantaytambo and its Temple of the Sun. Afterwards, you will head to Pisac, a village known for its huge craft market, where you can stroll around and perhaps find some souvenirs. You will also visit the Inca city of Pisac, one of the largest in Peru. Return to Cusco in the afternoon, and overnight at the hotel.

• day 16

  CUZCO

  Free day to enjoy the charm of the city of Cuzco and say your goodbyes to Peru. Night at the hotel.

• day 17

  CUZCO – LIMA – END OF THE TRIP

  Transfer to the airport to take your return flight to Lima, in order to conclude this wonderful adventure in Peru. Connection with your international flight.