Peru 360°: Machu Picchu, Rainbow Mountain and Lake Titicaca

Route: Lima→Night bus from Ica to Arequipa→Arequipa→Chivay→Luquina Chico→Sicuani→Cuzco→Aguas Calientes→Cuzco→Lima

1. 1Day 1Welcome to Peru!Overnight: Lima

   • Check-in: the adventure begins in Lima

     Round-trip flights or transportation to reach the destination are not included in the package, so you can decide from where and when you want to leave! This gives you complete freedom of choice to adjust your travel itinerary to your needs.

     After checking into the hotel and gathering for the Welcome Meeting, we spend the afternoon in the modern capital of Peru, the cultural and economic centre of the country.

     • The historic centre: the heart of Lima is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

     • Towards the Pacific: we explore the picturesque residential neighbourhoods overlooking the Pacific ocean.

     • First group dinner: then we sit down for our first dinner together!

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2. 2Day 2The Paracas National Reserve and the Ballestas IslandsOvernight: Night bus from Ica to Arequipa

   • To the desert

     We head by bus to the National Reserve of Paracas, and as soon as we arrive the name makes sense: "para" means storm, "aca" means sand. It's a vast desert area overlooking the ocean, with very strong gusts of wind that make it wild and impressive.

     • Exploring the reserve: we discover its almost otherworldly landscapes.

     • Off to the Ballestas Islands: then we head out on an excursion to the nearby islands.

   • The Peruvian Galapagos

     The Ballestas Islands are considered the Peruvian Galapagos thanks to their particular ecosystem.

     • Among the wildlife: an excursion of about two hours among penguins, sea lions and various birds; if we are lucky, we'll also meet the friendly dolphins.

     • Dinner in Ica: back on the mainland, a bus takes us to Ica, where we finally have time to enjoy our dinner.

     • Night bus to Arequipa: we won't be late, as our night bus takes us straight to Arequipa while we fall asleep.

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3. 3Day 3Arequipa, a UNESCO heritage siteOvernight: Arequipa

   • Welcome to Arequipa

     Finally, we arrive in Arequipa, the famous white city declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. It lies at the foot of the majestic El Misti volcano, 19101 ft tall.

     • Time to freshen up: after the night bus, we settle into the accommodation before heading out to explore the white city.

   • Let’s visit the city

     In the afternoon we begin to get used to the altitude and visit the historic centre.

     • Fancy a visit to Santa Catalina? The Santa Catalina Monastery dates back to 1580 and covers 215,278 square ft: an entire neighbourhood that makes it the largest religious building in Peru!

     • Sunset over the city: undoubtedly the best time to be here and admire the view.

     • Feeling brave at dinner? We can try local specialities like cuy, if you dare!

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4. 4Day 4Chivay and the Colca Canyon: high-altitude trekkingOvernight: Chivay

   • From Arequipa to Chivay

     We set off from Arequipa around 4am towards Chivay, at 12,000 ft above sea level, the gateway to the Colca Canyon.

     • Through the national reserve: about 5 hours along the Salinas y Aguada Blanca National Reserve, with llamas, alpacas and majestic smoky volcanoes along the way, and plenty of photo breaks!

     • Hike to the Cruz del Condor: after a quick breakfast, our first high-altitude hike takes 40 minutes to the summit above the Cruz del Condor. If we arrive early enough and the weather is nice, we'll be able to see condors flying over our heads.

     • Afternoon in Chivay: we slowly get used to the altitude and visit the historic centre and its characteristic market.

     Important: we'll reach 16,400 ft along the way, and everyone reacts differently to altitude. Severe dizziness, wheezing and even vomiting may occur, but we can easily buy adequate medicines for altitude sickness prevention.

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5. 5Day 5Lake Titicaca and Mirador de Los VolcanesOvernight: Luquina Chico

   • Dinner with the locals

     We set off to the largest freshwater basin in South America: Lake Titicaca! It takes about 6 hours to get there, but we promise it's worth it.

     • A break for the views: to break up the journey, we can take in the views at the Mirador de Los Volcanes.

     • Family dinner in Puno: when we arrive in Puno, the locals welcome us with a delicious family dinner, and we'll be able to try some specialities of the local cuisine.

     • An evening with the locals: the perfect way to ask about their habits and traditions, interact with the children and get to know the most traditional and colourful Peruvian dance.

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6. 6Day 6Exploring the Uros IslandsOvernight: Sicuani

   • The floating Uros Islands

     We wake up in a place that feels enchanted, surrounded by peace and silence. Today we leave Luquina and set out at nearly 4,000 metres above sea level.

     • By boat among the Uros Islands: a breathtaking panoramic excursion among the floating islands of Uros, artificial islets built from totora reeds, an aquatic plant, and home to around 1,800 people of this ethnic group.

     • Up for a dip? For the boldest travellers, a refreshing dive is an absolute must!

   • Towards the Rainbow Mountain!

     After cruising across the highest navigable lake in the world, we return to Puno and hit the road to our next stop: Rainbow Mountain!

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7. 7Day 7Trekking to the Rainbow Mountain and on the way to CuzcoOvernight: Cuzco

   • Hiking day

     A little confession: today is the most beautiful and challenging day! The Rainbow Mountains, not far from Cuzco, will literally leave us breathless. They are a real miracle of nature, discovered a few years ago when the snow melted and revealed the natural beauty of the rock beneath.

     • Trekking at altitude: a trek like this is generally easy, but things are different here: we'll reach 17060 ft!

   • On the road to Cuzco

     After this hike we return to base for some food: the effort was huge, but the landscape definitely rewarded us!

     • Transfer to Cuzco: a 3-hour drive takes us to Cuzco, the most beautiful city in Peru.

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8. 8Day 8Cuzco: discovering the cityOvernight: Cuzco

   • History and more...

     Today we take it easy in Cuzco. Where shall we start?

     • History first? We can visit the historic districts of Cuzco and its ancient colonial Cathedral.

     • Or a stroll? We can wander along the narrow Inca alleys and through the picturesque San Pedro market.

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9. 9Day 9The Sacred Valley of the Incas and other wondersOvernight: Aguas Calientes

   • Into the valley

     Today we get lost in the enchanting Sacred Valley of the Incas, home to archaeological, historical and folkloristic evidence of the ancient Inca civil settlements. Let's go!

   • Chinchero

     Chinchero is the perfect example of a town built entirely by the Inca: the walls are made with large blocks of stone cut and perfectly overlapping.

     • Panoramic tour of the walls: we can appreciate the surrounding green meadows with numerous grazing animals, the eucalyptus woods and the shapes of the glaciers from afar.

     • Stop at a local market: here we can sip different types of lightly alcoholic drinks, cheers! If we are hungry, we can also taste the traditional foods prepared by the locals in the typical pots.

   • Maras

     Maras is a traditional village nestled in the heart of a cultivated valley at 11154 ft above sea level.

     • Inside the colonial church: we admire the particular colonial church and take a look inside to appreciate some Cusqueña canvases.

     • Down to the salt flats: going down, we come across the beautiful salt flats, 3,000 tiny pools arranged on terraces and filled with saltwater.

   • Moray

     Moray was the world's first agricultural research centre, and is believed to have been used by the Incas to study the effects of different climatic conditions on crops.

     • Around the great depressions: two gigantic circular depressions, about 164 ft deep, where the Incas acclimated the seeds of cereals and potatoes to the Andean altitudes.

   • Finally, Ollantaytambo!

     Ollantaytambo is a mountain fortress with structures built from mammoth blocks of granite positioned in line.

     • Exploring the fortress: the Wall of the Living Rock, the Temple of the Condor and the huge military fortress.

     • On to Aguas Calientes: in the late afternoon we leave Ollantaytambo for Aguas Calientes, where we can finally relax and have an easy evening before the next stop... Machu Picchu!

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10. 10Day 10Machu Picchu: on the top of the worldOvernight: Cuzco

    • Welcome to Machu Picchu

      Early alarm today: we're ready for the greatest Peruvian adventure!

      • Shuttle to the gates: in just 30 minutes, a shuttle takes us along a zigzagging path to the gates of the archaeological site of Machu Picchu.

      • Discovering the lost city: describing it is impossible! Lost for centuries, today we can see this incredible wonder nestled between the Andean peaks.

    • Peruvian dinner

      After enjoying Machu Picchu from every angle, in the late afternoon we return to Cuzco.

      • Where to spend the evening? We can stroll and choose among bars, cafes, sandwich bars, restaurants, disco and karaoke, many of which stay open until dawn, for a well-deserved evening in good company!

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11. 11Day 11Last day in LimaOvernight: Lima

    • Back to Lima

      With a domestic flight we say goodbye to Cuzco and return to the capital, Lima. We leave our backpacks at the accommodation and get ready to enjoy this last day in Peru. Where do we start?

      • Starting from Plaza Mayor: the ideal place to breathe the historical atmosphere, where Francisco Pizarro founded the city in 1535, making it the oldest square.

      • Around the square: its grandeur shows in the buildings that surround it, such as the Palacio del Gobierno, the Palacio Arzobispal and the Cathedral.

    • Farewell dinner

      We conclude this incredible journey with dinner: we shared a unique adventure that we'll always remember. Peru is like this: once it gets inside you, it never leaves. Let's drink to this country and us!

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