Peru Round Trip: Inca and Machu Picchu

Included meals: none. Transfer: Lima airport - hotel. The Peruvian capital Lima was founded in 1535 by Spanish conquistador Francisco Pizarro. Here, decaying colonial splendor meets the vibrant energy of an oriental bazaar. The city offers melancholic cloudy winters and pleasantly warm summers. Besides extensive slums, you can find venerable buildings in quiet, noble corners, where the evening air smells of jasmine. After your arrival in Lima, you will be transferred from the airport to your hotel. Overnight at Hilton Garden Inn Lima Miraflores 4* or similar (standard room). Comfort class: Overnight at Casa Andina Premium Miraflores 4* (superior room).

Included meals: breakfast. Activity: Half-day city tour including San Francisco Monastery and Larco Museum (approx. 5 hours). After your arrival in Lima, a city tour of the capital begins. First, you will explore the colonial city center with the Plaza de Armas, where impressive buildings such as the Government Palace, City Hall, the Archbishops Palace, and the Cathedral can be found. Then, you will visit the San Francisco Monastery, which houses the largest collection of religious artworks in America. A special highlight is the catacombs of the monastery. Next, the tour continues to Plaza San Martín, which has been lovingly restored time and again after earthquakes. After that, the tour leads through the modern districts of San Isidro and Miraflores to the Pacific coast, where you can enjoy a splendid view of the sea. To conclude, the Larco Museum is on the program. It houses the world's largest private collection of pre-Columbian art from northern Peru. Founded in 1926 by Rafael Larco Herrera, the museum showcases over 45,000 impressive exhibits in a colonial building in Pueblo Libre, including ceramics, gold and silver pieces, textiles from the Chancay culture, and a unique collection of erotic pottery from the Moche period.

Included meals: breakfast. Transfers: Hotel – Lima airport; Cusco airport – hotel in the Urubamba Valley (including a visit to Manos de la Comunidad). Note: The flight from Lima to Cusco is not included. The day begins with a transfer to the airport in Lima and your onward flight to Cusco. Upon arrival in Cusco, you will be taken to your hotel in the Urubamba Valley. On the way, you will visit Manos de la Comunidad, about 40 minutes from Cusco. This project supports the surrounding communities and gives you exciting insights into the entire wool processing process. Furthermore, it is one of the few places in Peru where you can see the four camelids of South America – Guanaco, Llama, Vicuña, and Alpaca – side by side. After the visit, you will continue to your hotel in the Sacred Valley.

Included meals: breakfast, lunch. Activities: Visit to the Urubamba market and half-day excursion to the ruins of Ollantaytambo (approx. 4 hours). In the morning, you will visit the Mercado de Urubamba, an authentic market where the rural population sells agricultural products and animals or exchanges them in traditional barter. Additionally, the market also serves as a social meeting point for exchanging news. Following this, you will explore the impressive ruins of Ollantaytambo, one of the most important cities from the Inca period. The massive fortress was the site of one of the few battles lost by the Spaniards during the conquest of Peru. The village of Ollantaytambo below was built on the foundations of Inca buildings and is a prime example of Inca town planning. Particularly impressive is the temple complex that sits on the terraces. On your way to Ollantaytambo, you will enjoy lunch in a typical restaurant. In the afternoon, you can use your time freely or join a short hike: Optional hike to the terraces of Yucay (approx. 1 hour).

Included meals: breakfast. Activity: Full-day trip to Machu Picchu (approx. 8 hours). In the morning, you will head to the train station in Ollantaytambo, where the train ride on the Vistadome train begins. After arriving in Aguas Calientes, the train station at the foot of Machu Picchu, you will take shuttle buses up the winding road to the famous ruin city. Machu Picchu, discovered in 1911 by Hiram Bingham, is often seen as a secret refuge known only to a few chosen ones and hidden from the Spaniards. Recent findings, however, suggest that the site may have been used as a research center, training ground, or observatory. A guided tour of about 2 hours takes you through the impressive ruin city, which fascinates with its architecture, history, and surrounding nature. After the exploration, you will take the shuttle bus back to Aguas Calientes and from there take the train back to Ollantaytambo. From there, you will be further taken to your hotel in Cusco.

Included meals: breakfast. Activity: Half-day city tour in Cusco (approx. 3 hours). Afternoon: Free time or optional excursions. In the morning: City tour. In the morning, you will explore Cusco, the former capital of the Inca Empire. The tour begins at Plaza de Armas, the historical center, where the Cathedral and other impressive colonial buildings stand, built on the foundations of the old Inca structures. A highlight is the visit to Korikancha, the Inca Sun Temple. Afterward, you will drive out of the city to Sacsayhuaman, a fortress located about 3 km above Cusco. From there, there is a unique panoramic view of the city. Note: The historic center of Cusco is car-free; visits are made on foot. In the afternoon: Free time or optional excursions.

Today features a full-day bus ride from Cusco to Puno. During the journey through the Peruvian highlands, you will travel along snow-capped mountain peaks up to over 4,300 m in altitude and then downhill to Puno, which is located directly on Lake Titicaca. Along the way, the town of Andahuaylillas as well as the ruins of Racchi and the small town of Pucara will be visited. Note: The bus ride takes place together with international travelers and includes a German- or English-speaking guide.

Today, you will take a full-day boat trip! First, you will sail by boat to the Uros Islands. The Uros are the original inhabitants of Lake Titicaca. They live on about 40 floating islands made of reeds. The Indians have preserved their way of life and traditions. On the islands, they sell their handicrafts. Then, the trip continues to Taquile Island, which is still in the Peruvian part of Lake Titicaca. The people here wear colorful, traditional clothing that they make themselves and sell in cooperative stores on the island. There are no roads or electricity on the island.

Included meals: breakfast, lunch, dinner. Transfer Puno – Colca Canyon 5h with stops along the way! After breakfast, you will be picked up at your hotel and make about a five-hour trip to Colca Canyon. The canyon is over 100 km long and measures 3,400 m at its deepest point. Along the way, you will stop at the Aguada Blanca National Park, where vicuñas and alpacas become great photo opportunities. You will reach the highest point of the trip, the viewpoint of the volcanoes at 4,910 m. From here, there is a breathtaking view of the snow-capped peaks of Misti, Ampato, and Sabancaya.

Included meals: breakfast, lunch. Activities: Visit to Cruz del Condor, visits in Maca and Yanque. Transfer: Colca Canyon → Arequipa (approx. 5 hours). Morning: Visit to Cruz del Condor and villages. After an early breakfast, you will drive to Cruz del Condor, the famous viewpoint in Colca Canyon. Here, with a little luck, you will have the chance to observe the impressive Andean condors soaring majestically through the air.

Included meals: breakfast. Activities: Half-day city tour in Arequipa including Santa Catalina Monastery (approx. 3 hours). Your tour begins with a visit to the historic district of San Lázaro, known for its narrow streets and charming, traditional houses. Following this, you will continue to the main square (Plaza de Armas) ...

Included meals: breakfast, lunch. Activity: Excursion “The Street of Picanterías” (approx. 3 hours 30 minutes). Your day begins with a special culinary experience that focuses on the gastronomic traditions of Arequipa. You will visit several traditional Picanterías, known for their authentic preparation of regional dishes ...

Included meals: breakfast. Transfer hotel – airport. Flight Arequipa – Lima (not included). Transfer to the airport for your flight to Lima and then return flight to Europe.