¡Bienvenidos a Perú! Upon arrival at Lima airport, we receive a warm Peruvian-style welcome before being transferred to our hotel. Standard hotel check-in is available from 2 PM. Known as the "City of Kings," Lima was founded by Spanish conquistador Francisco Pizarro in 1535 and served as the capital of Spanish South America for over two centuries. Today, it stands as the culinary capital of the Americas, renowned for its rich gastronomy and vibrant coastal setting overlooking the Pacific Ocean.

Overnight: Casa Andina Premium Miraflores (4/5-star), Lima (2 nights)

We begin the day with a buffet breakfast before embarking on a 5-hour exploration of Lima, highlighting both its historic center and modern districts. In the historical center, we admire the colonial architecture framing Plaza San Martín and the main square, Plaza de Armas, home to the Government Palace, the Municipality, and the Roman Catholic Cathedral. We enter the Cathedral to view its 17th- and 18th-century collection of sculptures and paintings, as well as the tomb of Spanish conqueror Francisco Pizarro. Next, we visit the San Francisco Monastery, part of the Historic Centre of Lima UNESCO World Heritage Site*. Notable as one of the best-preserved examples of Spanish Baroque architecture in South America, the complex houses a world-renowned world-heritage library containing over 25,000 rare, centuries-old texts. Here, we explore its underground maze of catacombs, which served as the city's primary cemetery until 1808. Moving to the contemporary districts of Miraflores and San Isidro, we take in the modern architecture, coastal views, and urban parks, including El Olivar and Parque del Amor. (B)

*Please note: The Cathedral is closed on Saturday afternoons, Sunday mornings and public holidays.

After a buffet breakfast, we transfer to the airport for our flight to Arequipa. Nestled at 2,335 metres above sea level, Arequipa sits in a fertile valley framed by three dramatic, snow-capped volcanoes: Misti, Chachani, and Pichu Pichu. Known as the "White City," its center is built from sillar, a light-colored volcanic stone.

Upon arrival, we head to the Yanahuara and Carmen Alto viewpoints for panoramic vistas over pre-Inca terraces and the towering volcanic peaks. While in Yanahuara, we sample queso helado, a traditional local ice cream flavored with coconut, cinnamon, and vanilla. Returning toward the city center, we visit the 17th-century Church of La Compañía de Jesús to view its carved stone cloisters. We then tour the historical center, a UNESCO World Heritage Site*, admiring the grand Cathedral, central plaza, and ornate sillar arcades. We finish at the Santa Catalina Monastery, a massive 20,000-square-metre complex known as a "city within a city," where cloistered nuns lived in complete isolation for over four centuries.

*Please note: Santa Catalina Monastery is closed on January 1, Easter & December 25.

Overnight: El Cabildo Hotel (4-star), Arequipa (1 night) (B)

After breakfast, we transfer to the airport for our flight to Cusco, at the heart of the Andes Mountains. Once the centre of the Inca Empire, Cusco blends ancient Andean history with Spanish colonial architecture.

Upon arrival, we are welcomed at the airport and driven to our hotel in Cuzco (check in from 12 PM). We then begin our city tour at the Plaza de Armas to visit the Renaissance-style Cathedral. We walk along narrow cobblestone alleys framed by Incan stonework to reach Qorikancha (Temple of the Sun), the most vital temple of the Inca Empire. After its partial destruction by Spanish conquerors in the 16th century, the Church of Santo Domingo was constructed on its foundations. We then venture just outside the city to explore the surrounding Incan ruins. We tour Sacsayhuamán, a colossal ceremonial fortress built with massive, precisely fitted megaliths, followed by Qenqo, an ancient temple featuring hand-carved monoliths, chambers, and underground passageways. After stopping at Puca Pucara, a former military checkpoint, we conclude at Tambomachay to admire the ancient Incan aqueducts and stone channels that still feed flowing water today.

Overnight: Hotel San Augustin El Dorado (3/4-star), Cuzco (1 night) (B)

Following a buffet breakfast, we begin our excursion in the Sacred Valley with a drive to the town of Pisac. We stop at Pucmachayoc, one of the town's oldest family-run traditional bakeries, to learn how traditional empanadas are made. Owner Ernestina uses her father’s time-honoured recipe, substituting yeast with fava beans and incorporating native Andean superfoods such as kiwicha, quinoa, and kañiwa. After sampling her savory and sweet creations, we explore the colorful market streets filled with local handicrafts, textiles, and ceramics, followed by a visit to a local silver workshop to observe traditional Peruvian metalworking techniques.

We then drive approximately to the monumental Inca ruins of Ollantaytambo, the site of a rare Incan victory against Spanish forces. We climb the massive stone terraces for expansive views across the valley and town below. Concluding our tour, we visit a typical local home near the ruins to gain insight into how families have lived in the Sacred Valley for generations.

Overnight: Casa Andina Premium Valle Sagrado (4-star), Sacred Valley (1 night) (B)

We are picked up from our hotel and transferred to the Ollantaytambo train station for our scenic 1.5-hour journey through the Sacred Valley to Aguas Calientes. Along the way, we take in dramatic Andean landscapes, passing rural mountain communities and snow-capped peaks. Upon arrival at the base of the mountain, we meet our guide and board a short shuttle bus winding up to the ancient citadel of Machu Picchu.

We then embark on a guided tour of this legendary Incan sanctuary. Never discovered by the Spanish conquistadors, Machu Picchu served as an important political, religious, and administrative center before being abandoned and eventually brought to international attention in the 20th century. As we explore its stone temples, agricultural terraces, and astronomical observatories, our guide shares insights into Incan engineering, history, and the enduring mysteries surrounding the site. Afterwards, we take the shuttle bus back down to Aguas Calientes and board the return train to Ollantaytambo, where our driver meets us for the transfer back to Cusco.

*Please note: The train transfer to and from Ollantaytambo is with a Spanish-speaking driver without guide assistance. Main luggage is transferred directly from the Sacred Valley to our hotel in Cusco.

Overnight: Hotel San Augustin El Dorado (3/4-star), Cuzco (1 night) (B)

We transfer to the bus station for our scenic drive across the Peruvian Altiplano to Puno (bus accompanied by English-speaking guide and shared with other travellers). Along the route, we stop at several historical landmarks, beginning at the Church of San Pedro Apóstol in Andahuaylillas. Known as the "Sistine Chapel of the Americas" due to its rich baroque artwork and decorated ceiling, the church was built over a sacred Incan waka (shrine), using carved andesite stone bases.

We continue to the archaeological site of Raqchi to explore its monumental temple dedicated to the Incan creator god Viracocha. These imposing ruins feature rare surviving adobe walls constructed over stone bases—a classic Incan building technique. After a local restaurant lunch, we cross the mountain pass at La Raya, reaching our highest elevation of the day at 4,319 metres above sea level.

In the afternoon, we visit Pucará, a center renowned for its traditional pottery, particularly the iconic Toritos de Pucará (Little Bulls of Pucará). Here, we visit the Museo Lítico de Pucará to view its collection of monoliths and ceramics from the pre-Inca Pucará culture. Upon arrival in Puno, situated on the shores of Lake Titicaca, we transfer to our hotel.

Overnight: Casa Andina Premium Hotel (4-star), Puno (1 night) (B, L)

We begin our morning on the waters of Lake Titicaca, the highest navigable lake in the world, situated at 3,812 metres above sea level. We take a boat to visit the floating islands of the Uros people, who have maintained their unique way of life for centuries (shared boat with private English-speaking guide). Resident families warmly receive us, demonstrating how they construct and continuously maintain their floating island homes, boats, and community structures using layers of native totora reeds.

After returning to shore, we drive toward the airport in Juliaca. En route, we stop at the ancient archaeological site of Sillustani, an impressive pre-Inca necropolis set along the shores of Lake Umayo. We explore its distinctive chullpas—aboveground stone burial towers reaching up to 12 metres in height, constructed with bases narrower than their tops. Originally built by the Colla culture and later utilized by the Incas, these towers served as mausoleums for noble families. Following our tour, we continue to the airport for our flight to Lima, where we are met and transferred to our hotel (check-in time from 2 PM).

Overnight: Casa Andina Premium Miraflores (4/5-star), Lima (1 night) (B)

After breakfast, we check out from our hotel by 12 PM and are transferred to the airport in time for our departure flight. Or, extend your adventure with the famous Nazca Lines, a collection of hundreds of massive, ancient geoglyphs etched into the desert soil, designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site for their enigmatic artistic and astronomical significance. (B)

We receive a Lima-style welcome at the airport and are transferred to our hotel (check-in from 2 PM) with the remainder of the day free.

Overnight: Casa Andina Premium Miraflores, Lima (1 night)

After a buffet breakfast, we are picked up from our hotel and transferred to the bus station. Here, we board a regular, unguided public bus for a 7-and-a-half-hour drive south along the desert coast to Nasca (upgrade to private transfer available upon request and at additional cost). Situated about 450 km south of Lima, Nasca is world-famous for the Nasca Lines*, a series of ancient, gigantic animal and plant geoglyphs etched directly into the desert surface. From a bird’s-eye view, these impressive shapes—including a spider, monkey, hummingbird, and condor—span lengths up to 370 m. Declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1994, the true purpose behind the Nasca culture’s massive geoglyphs remains an intriguing mystery yet to be fully understood. Upon arrival at the bus station in Nasca, we are met and transferred to our hotel.

Overnight: Hotel DM Nasca (3/4-star), Nasca (1 night) (B)

After a buffet breakfast, we transfer to the airport in Nasca for an exhilarating 30-minute shared overflight. Soaring to an altitude of at least 450 meters (1,500 feet), we take in a bird’s-eye view of the mysterious Nasca Lines and the Pampas of Jumana. Covering nearly 450 square kilometers of arid coastal plain, these ancient geoglyphs were etched into the earth between 500 BC and AD 500. We view complex, large-scale designs up to 300 m long such as the hummingbird and spider, which remain among archaeology's greatest enigmas.

Following our flight, we transfer to the bus station and board a regular, unguided public bus for our 7-and-a-half-hour return journey north along the desert highway to Lima. Upon arrival at the bus station in Lima, we are met and driven to our the airport for our onward flight, or to our chosen hotel. Departure flights should be booked 11:30 PM or later. We can also assist with additional post-tour nights, transfers, and other services – just inquire! (B)