Discover Peru as nobody else in this 3 week trip through this ancient country full of Mystical Cultures. This is an incredible tour where nature shows us its different and unpredictable micro-climates and all the flora and fauna and tradtions of the Peruvian people. During the next three weeks, we do an incomparable trip through the next beautiful regions of Peru having the privilege to get to know its ancient Incan and pre-Incan cultures and meeting its present various Andean cultures.
This incredible trip take you through the historical city of Lima, the Paracas and Ballestas Island and the enigmatic Nazca Lines in the north of Peru, the andean culture visiting the Colca Canyon in Arequipa, the Titicaca Lake in Puno, a tour in The Sacred Valley of the Incas in Cusco, the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu and finally a incredible tour in the Peruvian Amazon Rainforest.
Day 01: Lima
Day 02: Paracas
Day 03: Ballestas Islands Tour
Day 04: Nazca Lines over-flight
Day 05: Arequipa
Day 06: Colca Canyon Tour
Day 07: Bus Arequipa-Puno
Day 8-9: Titicaca Lake Tour
Day 10: Sightseeing bus to Cusco
Day 11: Sacred Valley of the Incas
Day 12-15: Hiking to Inca Trail
Day 16: Cusco Sightseeing Tour
Day 17-18: Amazonian Jungle Tour
Day 19: Lima
Day 20: Departure
Crew: Tierras Vivas Representatives in Lima, Paracas, Arequipa, Puno, Cusco and Puerto Maldonado as well as professional local bilingual Tour Guides, a Cook and Porters (during the Classic Inca Trail).
Accommodation: 12 nights in 3* hotels, 3 nights in campsites, 1 night in a family homestay, 2 nights in jungle lodges.
Meals: 18x breakfast, 9x lunch, 6x dinner (Please allow USD 200 - 250 for meals not included).
Transportation: 2x domestic flight, transportation by a private van as well as tourist buses, a train (Expedition Class), motorboat transportation.
Tierras Vivas DOES NOT permit this exploitation!! We guarantee that our porters carry only an amount given by the Peruvian law!! There is still a long way to go when it comes to a reserve of adequate meals, backpacks and warm dry sleeping accommodation. Click here
Thank you for choosing Tierras Vivas for your trip.
Please note that the first day is an arrival day and no activities are planned, so that you can arrive at any time. When you arrive to the airport at Lima, our Representative waits for you holding a sheet with your name and takes you to your hotel.
Today, you are taken to a bus terminal to take a tourist direct bus to the Paracas Town. Upon your arrival, you are met by our Representative and taken to your hotel. The rest of the day is free to do some optional activities such as visiting of Paracas National Reserve, local museums or just a walk around the the town.
We pick you up from your hotel to transfer you to the Paracas´port where you board a motorboat with a destination of Ballestas Islands. It takes us first around the Bay of Paracas where we can see the mysterious “El Candelabro” - a giant figure curved on a hillside.
Then, we continue the tour to the Ballestas Islands, one of the most beautiful sceneries of the Peruvian coast!! The islands are also called the "Gallapagos of the Poors" referring to cheap prices of boat trips compared to Gallapagos tour prices while their wildlives are very similar!! There you can appreciate a wild range of guano birds (birds that produce manure) as well as sea lion colonies in their natural habitat. All the tour is done by motorboat as it is forbidden to land on the islands due to its unique wildlife protection!
After the tour, we return to our hotel in Paracas where we get ready for our next travel. In the afternoon, we are taken to a tourist bus stop at Paracas to continue to the city of Nazca. After arrival, our Representative welcomes you at Nazca and transfer you to your hotel.
After breakfast, we take you to the airdrome of Nazca where you receive instructions on your following over-flight above the mysterious Nazca Lines. The lines were made over 2,000 years ago by an advanced pre-Incan culture and consist of giant figures and lines traced in the desert so that they can be appreciated from a plane only. Nobody knows their exact meaning nowadays so they still keep their secret, however, some experts consider them “the biggest calendar of the world”. After we have been instructed, we board a light aircraft that take us over the Nazca Lines during an about 35 minute flight. After this amazing experience, we are taken back to our hotel. In the evening, we take an overnight bus to Arequipa.
Arequipa is the second biggest city of Peru and it is located in the south of the country. The city lays under shadow of the famous volcano El Misti. After our morning arrival, we get to know why it is called “The White City”.
Colca Canyon is one of the world's deepest canyons!! It is a canyon of Colca River located in southern Peru. It covers an area of about 100 miles (160 kilometers) northwest of Arequipa. Colca Valley is a colorful Andean valley with pre-Incan roots and towns founded in Spanish colonial times. These towns are still inhabited by people of Collagua´s and Cabana´s cultures. Local people keep traditions of their ancestors as well as keep cultivating pre-Incan stepped terraces for agricultural purposes.
The canyon is home to an Andean condor (Vultur gryphus), a specie that has been in focus of worldwide conservation efforts. Condors can be seen in range as they fly along the canyon´s walls. A popular tourist stop is a viewpoint named "Cruz del Condor" (Condor´s Cross) where people watch condors soaring on warm air waves. This point is situated at 1,200 metres (3,960 ft) below the rims of the canyon.
On the way, you can aprecciate the incredible landscape of Altiplano reaching up to 4,900 metres above sea level. We stop on the way in the Aguada Blanca National Reserve where we observe beautiful South American cameloids such as alpacas, llamas, vicuñas, guanacos and some birds and viscachas as well. Later on, we get to the town of Chivay, where we accommodate ourselves in a hotel. After that, you can visit the local thermal baths called La Calera which temperature reaches 38°C. In the evening, we have dinner at a local restaurant and then we overnight in our hotel.
The second day, we visit the Cruz del Condor to observe condors flying above the canyon. Before we get there, we make some stops along the way to view the local villages of Cabanaconde and Yanque with their colonial churches and typical clothing as well as nearby pre-Incan tombs placed in mountain walls.
Upon the visit of the Cruz del Condor, we continue our way to the city of Puno where we get in the late afternoon. After arrival, we are accommodated in a hotel to overnight.
In the morning, we board our comfortable motorboat to explore Uros Floating Islands as well as Amantani and Taquile islands laying on Titicaca Lake. We stop at the islands to view the magic of the lake's scenery and to meet friendly people of its communities.
The lake is located at 3,830 metres above sea level resulting in extreme wheather conditions with very cold nights and strong sunshine during days. The city of Puno situated on its shores is well-known for wealth of its traditional dances, there are up to 100 different varieties, usually performed in street processions celebrating of Catholic feast´s days. Another highlight and a popular optional activity of Puno is a visit of its nearby spectacular Chullpas of Sillustani, tower-like tombs of pre-Incan culture Colla.
Titicaca Lake is the largest lake in the world above 2,000 metres and the highest placed navigable lake in the world! Our first stop on the lake are the floating islands of the Uros people. The Uros began their unusual floating existence centuries ago in an effort to isolate themselves from militant Colla´s and Incan tribes. Unfortunately, Uros language got extincted, so nowadays´ Uros people speak Aymara due to intermarriages with Aymara´s speakers. There are about 300 families living on the islands, however, their number has been slowly declining.
The islands are made of layers upon layers of totora reeds that grew in the shallow of the lake. When layers, which are the nearest to water, start to rot, they are replaced with fresh totora layers on the top. Totora is basically used to make everything on the islands, including real boats and small model boats serving as souvenirs. A construction of a real totora boat takes up to 6 months!
After visiting the Uros Floating Islands, we continue towards Amantani Island. There, we land and our Tour Guide shows us around the island with its stunning Titicaca Lake views and friendly inhabitants with their particular folklore. We overnight in familial houses on the island to experience a bit more of the local culture.
The following day, we continue our motorboat ride after breakfast in the familial houses. Our next destination is Taquile Island, famous for its fine handwoven textile and clothing considered as the highest-quality handicraft of Peru. Taquile and its textile art was even recognized by UNESCO in 2005!
After a visit of this spectacular island and enjoying its amazing Titicaca Lake views, we return to Puno at afternoon hours. There, we transfer you from the Puno´s port to your hotel.
Today, we take a tourist bus that takes us to each important site of the Puno-Cusco route.
Our first stop is in the village of Pucara where we visit the Lithic Museum exhibiting artefacts of an pre-Incan culture.
Then, we continue to La Raya representing the border between the Puno´s and Cusco´s regions. This place is well- known for its viewpoint offering splendid views of surrounding Andes.
After that, we continue to Raqchi where we observe the Temple of Wiracocha (Incan god - creator).
Later on, we get to Southern Valley (also called the Sun Route), where we stop in the pre-Incan city of Pikillaqta beeing once one of the most impressive regional centers of the culture Wari!! The culture was seated in Ayacucho and its centres were occupied by Incas for many years. Today, Pikillaqta is a national archaeological park of great importance!!
The word Pikillaqta is made up of Quechuan words "piki" = flea and "llaqta" = town, so that the meaning of the city´s name was the “City of the Fleas”. It does not want to say that fleas lived in the city nor that its inhabitants were lousy. The name was derived from the fact that each inhabitant lived in cramped conditions, in a very small room. Constructions of Pikillaqta consists of over 200 kanchas (apartments), 504 golgas (storages) and other constructions. The city accommodated a population of approximately 10 thousands of inhabitants!!
Some investigators supposed that Pikillacta turned into a city of “mitimaes” during Incan times ("Mitimae" comes from the Quechuan word "mitma" meaning "resettlement". So mitimaes were originally groups of families taken by Incas from their native place to loyal or conquered towns to perform political, cultural, social, and economic functions.).
Our last stop is in the village of Andahuaylillas in order to visit the famous San Pedro Church, which is called the "Sixtine Chapel of Americas". There, we observe the quality of its works of art! The church was constructed by Jesuits in the edge of the 16th and the 17th centuries. Its architectural structure is typical for small town´s churches while its wide walls are characteristic of colonial buildings. It is made of adobe and its facade is decorated with white painting. Two stoned columns are projected towards its main entrance. Although its architecture is relatively modest, its interior is richly decorated with amazing wall paintings!
Finally, we reach the city of Cusco where we accommodate ourselves in a hotel.
Cusco was the capital of the Incan empire (Tawantinsuyo = the Country of the Four Cardinal Points) that served as a base to Inca´s expansion into new territories. When Spaniards came, they destroyed Incan monuments and changed Cusco into a new colonial city. This gorgeous colonial city offers nearby Incan ruins, cobble-stoned streets, museums, churches and a lively atmosphere.
The city has got several very good museums such as Inca Museum, Qoricancha Museum, Archaeological Museum (which also houses a small art exhibition), Regional Historic Museum and Religious Art Museum.
Today is a day off for your own activities or a rest. Some of the optional activities, which we can offer you, are a Cusco City Tour (starting after lunch), horseback riding around nearby archaeological sites (Sacsayhuaman, Qenqo, Tambo Machay and Puca Pucara), mountain biking to Maras-Moray-Salineras (Incan and pre-Incan sites) or white river rafting on Urubamba River.
Today, our Tour Guide takes us into the Sacred Valley of the Incas that was an important source of food for the Incas. The Sacred Valley is a lush agricultural region that keeps supplying the Cusco City with lots of its production. We visit the majestic ruins of Pisaq as well as its current famous handicraft market. Then, we stop in Urubamba, considered to be the capital of the valley, to have a buffet lunch offering Andean cuisine (not included in the tour). Afterwards, we continue to the picturesque town of Ollantaytambo with its Incan fortress before getting ready for our following hike, one of the highlights of the tour!
Ollantaytambo is your first taste of what lies ahead on the Inca Trail. The town and fortress of Ollantaytambo are strategically situated overlooking the beautiful Urubamba River Valley. We spend the night in this small town before heading for the start of the hike on the next morning!
The 4-day Inca Trail to Machu Picchu is physically challenging, but worthwhile!! Its difficulty is within ability of the most reasonably fit. This 44-km (27 mile) trek is often steep including 3 high passes to be crossed, one of which reaches an elevation of 4,200 m (13,776 ft). Temperature at nights may fall below zero so it is important to get ready for that! It also sometimes rains, even during a dry season!
This is the most famous ancient trek of the Incas! It begans with a morning trip to Km 82 - the initial hiking point. It is very important to not forget your passport with you because it is checked at the entrance as well as you get a stamp of the Inca Trail on it!! Our Porters and Tour Guides are a guarantee that the trip is without any worries, so you enjoy its awesome Incan ruins (Llactapata, Runkuraqay, Sayacmarca, Phuyupatamarka, Wiñay Wayna) and spectacular mountain scenery every day as much as you can!! Early morning of the last day, you climb antique steps to Inti Punku (the Sun Gate) to watch the Sunrise above the long-expected citadel of Machu Picchu!! Then, you enjoy a 2 and half an hour guided visit of the so called "Lost City of the Incas"!! Afterwards, you have an opportunity to climb the peak of Huayna Picchu (45 minutes up and the same time back) on your own to take some panoramic pictures of Machu Picchu!! In the afternoon, you descend to the town of Aguas Calientes to take a train back to Cusco. Arrival in the evening.
Today is a relaxing day to take a massage, walk around the fascinating capital of the Incas, visit its local markets, churches and museums, buy some souvenirs, have a cup of delicious local coffee or chocolate, do some optional activities as well as get ready for the last night in the city.
Early in the morning, we leave to the Cusco´s airport to take a flight to Puerto Maldonado laying deeply in the Peruvian Amazonian Jungle. Upon arrival, we transfer you to the Tambopata River Port where you board a motorboat towards our jungle lodge observing a huge number of bird species typical for the river. Upon arrival, we accommodate ourselves in the lodge that combines a native architecture and materials with a low-impact technology intending to preserve the local environment. Rooms of the lodge are simple, but comfortable, containing mosquito´s nets over each bed, flush toilets, showers (but without hot water) and kerosene (paraffine) lamps for lighting (there is no electricity). Staff of the lodge as well as multilingual Naturalists-Guides mostly consist of local communities´ members.
Later on, we enjoy a guided tour appreciating local abundant flora and fauna watching monkeys, aligators, cabybaras (the biggest rodents in the world), birds, spiders and much more!
Next day, we take a boat trip to a hidden lake where we try to fish piranhas! If we are lucky, we can also observe giant otters in their natural habitat!
The third day of the tour, we take you after breakfast to the airport at Puerto Maldonado to take a flight back to the capital where we have our last farewell dinner with all the group!
Today is a departure day so we transfer to the Lima´s airport for your international flight.
Nevertheless, if you are flexible about your departure date, you can check the tailor-made section of our website to extend your holidays!
Meal budget: Please allow USD 250-300 for meals not included.
Single room: Please note that if you have booked the "Single Room" option for this tour, you receive your own single room for all overnights and a single tent for the Inca Trail.
Local flights: All local flights are included in the cost of your tour. It is very important that we have got your passport details at the time of booking in order to process all air tickets! Internal flight tickets are issued locally and will be given to you prior to each flight departure!
All Tierras Vivas adventurous group tours are accompanied by a Tierras Vivas Tour Guide, a Representative or an expedition team. The aim of our Tour Guides is to take a hassle out of our customers’ trips and to help them to have the best trip possible. The Tour Guides provide information on places visited, offer suggestions of what to see and to do, recommend a good place to eat and introduce to his/her colleagues. The Guides have a broad general knowledge of each country visited during a tour, including historical, cultural, religious and social aspects. We also use local Tour Guides where we think that more specific knowledge could add more enjoyment to visited places.
These following hotels are used to accommodate you during your tour:
Accommodation in Lima:
Address: Calle Bellavista N 320
Tel: (+51) 1 4446033
Accommodation in Paracas:
Hotel
Address: Calle Matara N 394, Cusco
Tel: (+51) 84 224466
Accommodation in Nazca:
Hotel
Address: Calle Matara N 394, Cusco
Tel: (+51) 84 224466
Accommodation in Arequipa:
Hotel Casona Plaza Arequipa
Address: Calle Matara N 394, Cusco
Tel: (+51) 84 224466
Accommodation in Colca Canyon:
Hotel Casa Andina Colca
Address: Calle Matara N 394, Cusco
Tel: (+51) 84 224466
Accommodation in Puno:
Hotel Casona Plaza Puno
Address: Calle Matara N 394, Cusco
Tel: (+51) 84 224466
Accommodation in Ollantaytambo:
Hostal Las Orquidea Real
Address: Av Ferrocarril , Ollantaytambo
Tel: (+51) 84 204032
Accommodation in Cusco:
Address: Calle Matara N 394, Cusco
Tel: (+51) 84 224466
Accommodation in Ollantaytambo:
Hostal Las Orquidea Real
Address: Av Ferrocarril , Ollantaytambo
Tel: (+51) 84 204032
During the tour, we request our hotels to get ready your rooms for time of your arrival, especially, if you arrive prior to standard check-in time. Nevertheless, this is not always possible. In this case, you just store your luggage in that hotel storage room and you can explore around your new destination in between.
Please note! If you have purchased pre or post trip accommodation, you might be asked to change your room during your trip.
A kind of luggage you need to take with depends on a kind of tour you plan to undertake, a part of the country you like to visit, a year season and a length of your trip. In general, you should pack as lightly as possible because you carry your own luggage during most of our tours (however, there are not long walking distances – up to 30 minutes). We recommend you to keep weight of your luggage under 10 kg (22 lb.).
Most of travelers use a suitcase. However, a big backpack would be more suitable. In any case, please do not forget a small rucksack that you will need for daily travels (to carry your bottled water, camera, snacks, etc.). It is better to avoid a wheeled luggage and use luggage with shoulder straps.
Clothing to take with you depends on a year season in Peru and a part of country you plan to visit.
When visiting coastline of the Northern Peru and surroundings of Lima, then you need to pack some light cloths (for example, shorts, skirts, dresses, T-shirts), flip-flops, sandals, a head cover as a protection against the Sun (a hat or a cap), sun protection cream, sunglasses, mosquitos repellent and swimsuit, of course.
If you plan to visit Peruvian mountains (Andean mountain range or Altiplano), then we recommend you to take some trousers suitable for hiking, shorts, T-shirts and trekking shoes for the days; and sweaters, fleeces, hats, scarves and warm jackets for the nights. You also should take a sun protection cream, sun glasses and in some cases, mosquito repellent (depending on a route chosen). It is very convenient to have a light rain-gear available in a daypack (e.g. a waterproof poncho or jacket and/or waterproof trousers) as weather changes quickly and rains can suddenly occur. For more details, please check the below link of “What to Bring on the Inca Trail Expedition Tour”.
Peru is wonderland and mega diverse country of a millenary past and heritage. It is said that there is a Peru for each one. It's coast, mountains and jungle. Culture, adventure and nature. Lima, Cusco and Machu Picchu. Urban, cultural and archaeological tourism.
Let yourself be surprised by our pre-Inca past. Iquitos and Puerto Maldonado are the gateway to our Amazon and its biodiversity. Enviable places, with cozy views. Peru is gastronomy, folklore, but above all culture. Puno and Lake Titicaca, Arequipa and the impressive Colca Canyon. Declared destinations cultural, natural and historical heritage of humanity. Live cultures, welcoming people and culinary flavor. Every time you know better to come to Peru. Peruvian Highlands
Peru is the land of the ancient Incas, an incredible civilization that knew how to dominate its rugged geography and coexist in harmony with the rivers, the sun, the rain, the sea and the Amazon, the mountains and the dry cold of the Andes, adapting to its environment and surviving thanks to the beneficial fruits of the Pachamama.
Traveling to Peru is to wake up pending dreams, is to connect with oneself, is to enter 5 thousand years of living history. This complete and extensive trip will show us all the Peruvian south in its fullness: The deep canyon of the Colca River, the Titicaca Lake, is the deep Amazon rainforest and all the Inca culture that will take us to the top of Machu Picchu. A trip you will not forget. Enigmatic Peru
| Days | 20 |
| Code | PDCP |
Activity level |
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The Responsible People foundation is registered under the Peruvian Non-Profit Organization Act. With an annual contribution from Tierras Vivas, we support our operating costs as well as a significant portion of project development costs. If you would like to help us, you can bring warm clothes or new school supplies. While you contribute, you might win a Rainbow Mountain for free (or, another tour in Cusco.). Help us to help Andean children and families please!
14 March 2020
13 February 2020
12 February 2020
