Highlights of Peru in 9 Days

Welcome to Peru! Your private guide is waiting for you at the airport to take you to your hotel and show you some of our capital (though it depends on your time of arrival). Enjoy a great dinner in the culinary capital of Latin America (we can recommend you a great restaurant and it would be our pleasure to help you make reservations if you like).

A short morning flight takes you to Arequipa, one of the most beautiful colonial cities in Peru, also known as “The White City” because of the many buildings that are made of volcanic clay. Our local contact person is waiting for you at the airport to take you to your hotel in the historical center.  Arequipa is surrounded by three beautiful volcanoes: Picchu Picchu, Chachani and El Misti. In the afternoon, your guide takes you on a walking tour in the city which includes a visit to the colorful Santa Catalina Convent. Arequipa city is also known for its mild climate and its great regional gastronomy, so make sure to try some local dishes in one of the many restaurants of the city.

After breakfast you are picked up by your guide to go the Colca Canyon, one of the deepest canyons in the world (it is twice as deep as the Grand Canyon in the US). On the way, you pass through the National Reserve of Aguada Blanca (3800 m), where you can observe alpacas, llamas and vicuñas in their natural habitat. We make several stops along the way before we descend to the Colca Valley. After passing several villages we arrive to our lodge, where you have the chance to relax, acclimatize and soak in the relaxing hot springs under the starry sky of the southern hemisphere.

We wake you up early to explore this rural area of Peru. Your local guide shows you the most beautiful places of the Colca Valley, full of beautiful terraces, little villages and its colorfully dressed inhabitants. You learn about the different cultures in this area, -if you want you can make small hikes-, and we stop at “Cruz del Condor” where you have a good chance to see the majestic Andean condor soar over the deep canyon -a spectacular view! In the afternoon, you return to Arequipa.

A short flight takes you to another incredible town: Cusco (3400m).  Someone from our staff is waiting for you upon your arrival at the airport and take you to your hotel in the heart of the historical center and get your briefed on the ancient capital of the Incan Empire. After checking into your hotel, you have a little free time to have lunch. In the afternoon, a private local guide walks with you exploring the tiny Inca streets to the plazas and markets of Cusco, while you learn about the past and present of this fascinating town.

Our guide takes you for a full-day to explore the secrets of the Sacred Valley of the Incas. You can choose to visit the classic highlights or avoid the crowds and let us take you to the less known places in this fertile valley that are off the beaten path. In the late afternoon, you travel with the train to Aguas Calientes, the little town of Machu Picchu where you spend the night.

You should get up early today to visit Machu Picchu in the morning and see the mist rise of “The Lost City of the Incas”. You have a private guided tour of this archeological wonder of the ancient world.

Built without the use of mortar, metal tools, or the wheel, Machu Picchu stands as a testament to the power and ingenuity of the Inca empire.

The adventurous can also opt to hike up one of the mountains, either Huayna Picchu (the “young mountain”) or Machu Picchu (the “old mountain” in Quechua language).  At the top you are rewarded with an incredible view over Machu Picchu and its green mountain surroundings.

You also have time to eat lunch and, in the afternoon, you travel back by train and take the transport to Cusco.

* Note: Permits for Machu Picchu and Huayna Picchu mountain are limited so it is important to book your trip in advance.

Enjoy a free day to relax and explore further in the beautiful town of Cusco or take part in one of the many activities the city offers, such as: a cooking class, a chocolate workshop, massages, white water rafting, a tour to the southern valley of Cusco, hike to the Rainbow mountains or Humantay Lake and more. (We are very happy to help you organize anything for this day).

We take you to the airport of Cusco for you flight back to Lima and your connection home.  We hope you had an amazing trip and are bringing great memories with you.