Peru: From The Coast To The Andes

Lima is much more than than just the starting point of your Peruvian tour, it’s a capital city which is home to more than 9 million Peruvians, both modern and full of history. Your first stop in Lima: the colonial center, a designated UNESCO World Heritage Site, and the modern, buzzing district of Miraflores, which overlooks the Pacific Ocean.

You will then take a first-class bus along the coast towards the coastal town of Paracas, where you will arrive in the late afternoon. Night at the “La Posada del Emancipador” hotel.

In the morning, you will board a boat for a tour of the Ballestas Islands, which are sometimes called the Galapagos Islands of Peru, due to their abundance of wildlife, including otaries, cormorants, pelicans, penguins and other varieties of birds.

You will then depart towards Nasca where you will make yourself at home at the Casa Andina Classic hotel. Next will be a mid-afternoon excursion to see the geoglyphs of Palpa . Less known than the Nasca lines, these figures were drawn around the same era, over 1000 years ago. On the way, you will be able to ascend a viewpoint, from which you’ll be able to see two of the figures belonging to the Nasca lines.

Night at the Casa Andina Classic hotel.

If you wish, in the morning you may take a half-hour plane ride over the famous Nazca Lines (optional, not included in tour price).

In the afternoon, you will set off for Arequipa, for the last leg of your coastal adventure.

Upon your arrival in the evening, you will be taken to your hotel, the Casa Andina Classic, in the historical center of the city.

Optional: if you do not wish to do the Nazca Lines flight, you may visit the Chauchilla cemetery with its pre-hispanic mummies, or the Cahuachi archeological complex.

During day 5 you will explore Arequipa, the second biggest city in Peru and one of the most pleasant stops on the tour. Located between the coastal desert and the Andean plateau, Arequipa sits high at an altitude of 2300 meters.

In the morning: a guided tour of the city, its colonial center with the famous Santa Catalina monastery, the Company of Jesus cloisters, San Camilo market, the Yanahuara district, and the Carmen Alto viewpoint over the city and its three volcanoes.

Free afternoon to explore at your own pace and discover more of the city’s charm.

Night at the Casa Andina Classic.

You may replace this tour of Arequipa with a rafting excursion down the Chili river, or a Peruvian cooking class.

Early-morning departure for the Colca Canyon, one of the deepest in Peru and in the world, famous for its condors and stunning views.

You will then ascend up to 4900 meters, reaching the peak (literally) of your Peruvian tour, before descending back down to Chivay (3500 meters) in the Colca Valley for lunch (not included). After lunch, you will be able to explore Chivay and if you wish, go for a soak in the thermal baths, where the water is nearing 40º C (optional entry which costs around 4 US$, not included).

Night at the Eco Inn Hotel.

Early-morning departure to the « Cruz del Condor » viewpoint, just along the valley. This viewpoint offers a stunning view across the canyon, and the river 1000 meters below. All being well, you’ll be able to watch the slow and majestic flight of the condors. According to our previous travelers, this is one of the highlights of the trip!

In the afternoon, you will leave for Puno: a 4-5 hour bus ride will take you through more infinite and beautiful landscapes. You will drive through most of the Peruvian “altiplano” and will arrive in Puno in the late afternoon. Puno is located on the banks of Lake Titicaca, at an altitude of 3800 meters, and is the highest stop of the tour.

Transfer to the Hacienda Plaza hotel for the night.

In the morning, you will depart to the Socca peninsula, which offers splendid views across Lake Titicaca, one of the highest lakes in the world. This peninsula is truly off the beaten path, inhabited by Aymara communities living off the land. From this point you will walk for two hours (not a difficult walk by any means, apart from maybe the altitude) before reaching exceptional views over Lake Titicaca.

Lunch: picnic by the lake, then return to Puno in the early afternoon.

We offer this excursion as an alternative to the more classic route, which includes the Taquile, Amantani and Uros islands, and which is usually flooded with tourists. The Socca population lead a more traditional life, and the landscapes and views across the Lake are just as beautiful. However if you wish, you are more than welcome to do the 1 or 2-Day excursion to the above mentioned islands.

Morning departure towards Cusco, by bus. You will make a first stop in Pukara, where the early altiplano civilization was developed, long before the Incas. You will then head across to the La Raya pass, at an altitude of 4370 meters, where you will leave the altiplano in your descent towards the Vilcanota valley. In the afternoon, you will visit Raqchi, an ancient Inca site, as well as the Andahuaylillas village and church, one of the most superb in the region. Towards the end of the afternoon, you will arrive in Cusco, the ancient Inca capital and without a doubt the most beautiful city in Peru.

You will later be taken to your hotel, the San Agustin Internacional, in the heart of Cusco’s historical center.

You can also make this trip by train, but we would recommend doing it by bus, as it is much faster and would allow you to make some interesting stops along the way.

With its Inca ruins and colonial architecture, Cusco is definitely one of the highlights of any tour around Peru. In the morning you will be driven up to the heights of Cusco, in order to enjoy a panoramic view across the city, and to see the “White Christ” which overlooks the city. You will then visit Sacsayhuaman, an impressive Inca stone construction, where the colossal stones interlock with astonishing precision, before walking back down to the city through the winding alleyways of the San Blas district.

Throughout this walk you will come across various ancient Inca stone walls, as well as the famous 12-angle stone. You will cross the historical centre of the city and its main squares until you reach San Pedro market, where you will truly experience the Andean atmosphere which makes Cusco so unique.

Free afternoon in Cusco, to explore at your own pace. Night at the hotel.

This visit includes 1 hour and 15 minutes/1 hour 30 minutes’ walk, downhill and à plat, which we highly recommend. If you prefer, you may of course choose a more traditional excursion, including a visit of the temple of the sun, and sites such as Tambomachay, Kenko and Puka Pukara, (transportation by car). Please let us know which option you would prefer. 

Day 11 will be spent exploring the Sacred Valley of the Incas. In the morning, you will visit Pisac, one of the biggest Inca sites in the region, as well as its artisan market. In the afternoon, you will visit the Inca village of Ollantaytambo and its fortress.

Night at the Samanapaq hotel in Ollantaytambo.

The big day has come, the moment you’ve been waiting for: the discovery of Machu Picchu!

In the morning, you will take a train along the Urubamba river to Aguas Calientes, from which a bus will take you up to Machu Picchu. Visiting Machu Picchu is the climax of any tour around Peru, and its position amongst the wonders of the world is very much justified. The beauty of the Inca constructions is in perfect harmony with that of its surrounding nature, and no traveler is left untouched. You will have several free hours in order to explore at your own pace, and possibly to visit Huayna Picchu as well. In the afternoon, the bus will take you back to Aguas Calientes, from which you will take a train back to Ollantaytambo.

Hotel transfer, night at the hotel.

Early-morning departure by private vehicle towards Moray. From its plateau overlooking the Sacred Valley, you’ll be able to discover astonishing agricultural terraces dating back to the Incas. Maras is only a short distance away, offering spectacular views over its thousands of salt mines, many of which are still in use today.

You will then visit the village of Chinchero, which boasts a beautiful Spanish church built upon ancient Inca soil. Return to Cusco in the early afternoon.

Free time in the afternoon, then night at the hotel.

Nothing like a free day to finish off your tour and to enjoy more of the beautiful Cusco. Whether you wish to stroll around its charming streets, explore some history museums, go shopping in the various artisanal boutiques or enjoy some traditional Peruvian food in a charming little restaurant, Cusco offers a perfectly typical Andean yet cosmopolitan backdrop to say your goodbyes to Peru.

Night at the hotel.

Transfer to Cusco airport to take a flight back to Lima. End of our services and of your “From The Coast To The Andes” tour.

Connection with your international flight.

If your international flight is scheduled for the morning, you should spend the night before in Lima.