Canyons of Peru

Breakfast at Hotel; pick up from your hotel at 09:00am and transfer to Lima historical center.
We’ll take you to a fascinating walking tour. We will show you incredible palaces and castles within Lima. We will also take a special tour to our great Saint Francisco Monastery and the impressive underground Catacombs! Then, we will visit “The Main Square”, Archbishop’s Palace and the Municipal Palace, and our guide will show you many more places.

Our historical center is considered a World Heritage protected by the UNESCO; we will show you the Original Spain Mansion Palace and enjoy its great collection of 18th Century paintings, its impressive sculptures, wooden varandas, trendy gilded mirrors and great original terrace.

At 13:00pm after the tour we will take you back to your hotel.

Overnight at the Hotel in Lima.
Meals included: Breakfast.

Breakfast at hotel; pick up from the hotel and transfer to the airport for your flight to Arequipa. Upon arrival in Arequipa, we transfer to your hotel.

Hotel pick-up at 14:00pm. The city tour will begin in Carmen Alto where we can see the Chili River. Our next stop will be the Yanahuara Viewpoint. This stunning place is famous for its lovely narrow streets. Afterward, we will continue on to the Main Square of Arequipa. The scenery here is one of the most important aspects of the White City’s history since Arequipa´s foundation.

During our visit to the main Square we will visit The Basilica Cathedral, where the Arch Bishop still resides, and the Jeusit Chruch of the Company of Jesus. We will have the opportunity to gaze upon golden alters, beautifully hand painted Polychrome Cupolas, hand painted stained glass cloistered windows, gorgeous 17th century Inca Art and awe inspiring Bell Towers.

Lastly, we will visit the Santa Catalina Monastery. The monument´s foundations dates back to 1579 and is one of the most marvelous, important and religiously iconic monuments in Peru. The Monastery has conserved its traditional characteristics for centuries. Its narrow streets and gardens with typical Spanish names bring back memories of the old quarters of Sevilla and Granada.

Overnight at the Hotel in Arequipa.
Meals included: Breakfast.

Breakfast at hotel; pick up from the hotel at 07:30am land departure toward your exciting excursion towards the Colca Valley. In the route, we will drive across Pampa Cañahuas at the Aguada Blanca National Reserve. You will be blown away by the magnificent views of the volcanoes named Misti, Chachani and Pichu Pichu.

Upon arrival to the reserve, you will be able to first-hand experience the wild vicuñas in their natural habitats, which is considered a national symbol. We then continue on to Vizcachani, Pampas de Toccra, up to the crater of the volcano ,  and lastly on to the Mirador de los Andes at Patapampa (4800m) from where the volcanoes that frame Arequipa can be seen.

Before arriving to Colca Valley our last stop will be at the Mirador, from where gorgeous pre-Columbian terraces that are still being cultivated by native Collaguas can be carefully observed. Once we get to the town of Chivay transfer to your hotel.

There are no planned activities so check into the hotel and rest up.

Overnight at the Hotel in Colca Valley.

Meals included: Breakfast.

Breakfast at hotel; pick up at 06:00am we will make our way to the awe-inspiring Cruz del Cóndor to gaze upon the Colca Valley (the second deepest canyon in the world, 4km at its deepest point!) and be blown away with amazement as we marvel at the great and majestic condors soaring only a few meters away.

Afterward we will make our way to the town of Pinchollo as well as the Antahuilque Viewpoint to see an amazing terrace built 1500 years ago. On our way back to Chivay we will stop at the viewpoints of Choquetico and Tumbas Colgantes, meaning ¨hanging tombs¨ where hundreds of Inca & Pre-Inca souls have been laid to rest.

Then we continue to the towns of Maca and Yanque where you will be able to set eyes upon the valley’s most beautiful church and have lunch the town quaint small town square.

After our visit we will make our way to Arequipa. You can expect to be back in Arequipa city around 5:00pm.

Overnight at the Hotel in Arequipa.
Meals included: Breakfast.

Breakfast at hotel; pick up from the hotel and transfer to the airport for your flight to Cusco, the ancient Inca capital of the Incas.

On arrival in Cusco, assistance at the airport and transport to your hotel, where the rest of the morning is free time to rest in hotel in order to avoid altitude sickness.

Pick up from the hotel at 13:20pm – City tour begins from Cusco’s Main Square, Plaza de Armas.

Includes a visit to Cusco’s cathedral, in which you will be able to see the intricate woodwork and colonial paintings that contain detailed Incan iconography.

After, we will head to the Temple of the Sun (Qorikancha) upon which the Convent of Santo Domingo has been built. Interesting fact: according to a legend, this temple was entirely gold-plated which left many conquerors impressed with its magnificence when they came here!

The tour continues with visits to 4 archeological sites: Sacsayhuaman is an archeological complex, a masterpiece of Incan architecture in which you will see mindboggling huge stone blocks, almost 9 meters in height that are still placed perfectly. Qenqo Temple is a temple dedicated to animal worship. Puca Pucara is another Incan archeological site located on top of a hill, used as a fort and administrative center. Tambomachay, which is also known as the Inca Baths.

Overnight at the Hotel in Cusco.
Meals Included: Breakfast.

Breakfast at hotel – pick up from your hotel at 07:30am.

We then will then embark on a journey back in time to the Incan´s Sacred Valley beginning in Pisac, 31 km from Cusco. The ancient Incan archeological site and city is located on the top of a mountain. There you will have the chance to firsthand witness the impressive stonemasonry skill of our ancient ancestors.

Afterwards, you will go down into the quaint little town and wander through its colorful market where you can buy beautifully crafted hand-made products. After this, lunch will be served at a local restaurant.

Then, you will continue to Ollantaytambo, a military, religious, and agricultural center of the Incas located at the top of a mountain. Note: unlike other small towns, this one has maintained its original Incan design including outstanding stone buildings and narrow streets. It was once used as a fortress and administrative and urban center.

Stop in Ollantaytambo from where we catch the train to Aguas Calientes, upon arrival to Aguas Calientes, reception and transfer to your hotel.

Overnight at the Hotel in Aguas Calientes.
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch.

Breakfast at the hotel; around 06:00am you will ride a bus to Machu Picchu
Machu Picchu is an archeological site (2,430m/7,972ft) that was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1983 and one of the New Seven Wonders of the World in 2007, the hilltop citadel deserved every bit of its fame.

Around 07:30am the guided tour begins, the guide will expertly direct you throughout the astounding ruins and its main streets. You can then wander around the town squares as well as climb the intricately carved stairways made of stone. Machu Picchu is considered to be the world’s spiritual center by esoteric wisdom. The guided tour takes around two hours.
From 10:00am to 12:00pm once the guided tour is over, you will have some free time to explore the citadel on your own.
From 12:30pm to 13:30pm take bus to Aguas Calientes.
From 13:30pm to 15:00pm take lunch on you own.

Return to Cusco: later board the train for the return trip to Cusco. You will stop at the Poroy station and then be picked up and driven to your hotel in Cusco.

Overnight at the Hotel in Cusco.
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch.
Expedition train — Aguas Calientes (15:20pm) – Cusco (19:05pm). Note about train tickets: We will attempt to book tickets on this train, but if there are timetable changes or trains are fully booked, we may need to book an alternative service.

Breakfast at hotel; at the scheduled time our representative will meet you in the hotel lobby, transfer and assistance on your departure.

Meals Included: Breakfast.
Suggested flight schedule — Cusco (10:40am) – Lima (12:05pm)

Have a great 9-day tour with Andean Journeys!