Peru is an amazing destination filled with history, culture and adventure, this is why it is so important to plan your tour to best suit your interests, level of comfort and budget. With Peruvian Secrets you will have your own personal expert advisor to guide you through the planning of your holiday offering you good advice and to answer all your questions. Each tour is designed to match your time available and most importantly your budget.
Take a look at one of our top tours to get you started but please feel free to ask for a personal planner to help you plan your own itinerary.
Day 1: Arrival into Lima
Arriving into Lima, your driver & guide will meet you at the airport, and transfer you in private to the Faraona Grand hotel for check in.
Day 2: Flight to Arequipa
After breakfast you will be met by your guide and transferred to the airport for your short flight to the Southern city of Arequipa. Arriving into Arequipa airport your driver will be there to meet you and transfer you to the hotel, the welcoming La Casa de mi Abuela. Here you can relax and enjoy the garden and the rest of the day is free for you to relax.
Tip: if you’re feeling adventurous, do try the Maté de Coca or coca-leaf tea as it is said to help you acclimatise to the altitude. The active ingredient from the coca leaf is also present in the popular Peruvian soft drink, Inka Cola.
Day 3: Free day to explore and acclimatise
This days is yours to relax, unwind and take in the sights. Highlights in Arequipa, include the beautiful Monasterio de Santa Catalina and the nearby museum, which is home to the mummy of ‘Juanita ~ the Ice Maiden’. She was found on the summit of Ampato, a volcano in the region, and is thought to be an Inca sacrifice, chosen at birth and raised with the sole purpose of her sacrifice to the Gods in mind (this would have been a great honour), before being marched all the way from Cusco to her final resting place near Arequipa.
Day 4: Colca Canyon tour
After breakfast departure is at 8:30 from Arequipa, crossing 160 Km to the town of Chivay, capital of the Province of Caylloma. Leaving behind Arequipa you will enjoy the majestic views of Misti, Chachani and Pichu Pichu volcanoes before entering the National Reserve of “Pampa Cañahuas”. Here you will make a stop to observe the wild Vicuñas (the most important American camel) in its natural habitat and also see Alpacas which are abundant in this area. Continuing to “Pata Wasi”, (Pata=high Wasi=home) an Andean community in the opposite border of the reserve. Pass through “Tocra” over the 4,500 meter high mountains, where we will observe the lakes with migrant birds and we’ll get pictures of the “Antiplano” (highland) with its llamas and Guanacos. Our highest point will be “Pata Pampa” (Pata=High, Pampa=Land) located at 4,820 meters, where we’ll observe the volcanoes Ampato, Sabancaya, the Hualca-Hualca, the Mismi (the source of the Amazon River) and the “Cordillera de Chila”.
Day 5: Cruz Del Condor + Transfer to Puno
After an early breakfast, we will make a stop at the look-out point of “Choquetico”, with its “Tumbas colgantes” (hanging tombs) before we approach the “Cruz Del Condor”. After observing the majestic flight of the Condors, and making the most of the many photo opportunities, we will return to prepare to board the comfortable tourist bus as we cross the Alta Plano to the town of Puno set on the banks of the Great Lake Titicaca. On arrival to Puno you will be met by your local guide who will transfer you to the Casona Plaza Centro Hotel. The rest of your day is then free to explore the town and catch up on any correspondence as many internet cafes are available.
Day 6: Lake Titicaca day tour
Today, you will head out on to the Great Lake Titicaca. The first port of call will be the incredible floating islands of the Uros; here you will see the way these people live on these most unusual islands. From here you continue onto the Island of Taquile where your guide will escort you around explaining all about the way of life for these people. Their lifestyle has remained the same for hundreds of years with very little influence from modern times, thus preserving many traditions, laws and customs. Skilled crafts are still very important to the inhabitants of Taquile, and the island is famous for its handmade textiles which are regarded amongst the highest-quality handicrafts available. For this reason you will find that they are higher in price in comparison with other mass-produced handicrafts readily found in other parts of Peru.
Day 7: Tourist bus from Puno to Cusco
On route to Cusco, you will make stops at places of interest and have lunch included. On arrival you will be met by our excellent guide and transferred to Hotel Midori. The remainder of your evening is then free to relax and explore the vibrant atmosphere of the city by night and enjoy one of the many restaurants to be found.
Day 8: Free day Cusco
Today you are free to further explore the ancient city of Cusco. Declared a UNESCO world heritage in 1983 the city boasts an ancient network of catacombs to explore, a great many varied historical and cultural sites of interest and many of the buildings that stand there today are built on foundations laid by the Incas.
Day 9: Cusco – Sacred Valley – Ollantaytambo
Start your relaxed tour of the Sacred Valley, taken wholly in private, in the comfort of your guide’s own car. On the way you will visit Sacsayhuaman, one of the best existing examples of the Inca stonework, with spectacular views of Cusco below and far-away snowy peaks. Travel to a variety of sites on the way into the valley, including Qenko, Puca Pucara and Tambomachay, before arriving at the small, picturesque village of Pisac. This is the gateway to the Sacred Valley and home of the famous daily Pisac Craft Market; here you have an opportunity to view the many artisans wares on display including; textiles, jewellery and ceramics. Because your tour is in private, there is the opportunity to stop to take photographs along the way and to enjoy a leisurely lunch in a local eatery, as recommended by your guide. Continuing your tour you travel to Ollantaytambo where you will have the fascinating visit to this spectacular site with its incredible views.
Day 10: Train to Aguas Calientes
After a leisurely breakfast, you are transferred to the train station to meet your train to Aguas Calientes. Here you will board the wonderful Vistadome train which offers great panoramic views as you route takes you through the changing microclimates into the higher reaches of the Amazon, to the small yet lively town of Aguas Calientes. As well as being the obvious starting point for any visit to Machu Picchu, the town is also famous for its hot springs, (agua = water, caliente = hot).
Day 11: Machu Picchu + Return to Cusco
This is an ideal opportunity to be the first of the visitors to enter the ruined city of Machu Picchu, thus giving you the chance to witness the spectacular sight of it appearing like magic, through the early morning cloud rising from the valley. You will also have relative peace, as only people who stayed in Aguas Calientes have this option. In order to maximise your enjoyment from your visit, Peruvian Secrets provides the services of a private professional local guide, who will reveal some of the mysteries that surround this fascinating place. On arrival back into Cusco in the early evening you will be transferred back to the Hotel Midori for check in.
Day 12: Flight to Lima
Have a relaxed start to the day as you enjoy breakfast at your hotel, before your private transfer to the airport to meet your flight to Lima.
Day 13: Free day in Lima with city tour
After a relaxed start to the day, you’ll join your guide for a tour of the city. Your tour will be taken in private with a guide, visiting the Miraflores Love & Olivar San Isidro parks, the city centre plazas of San Martin & Plaza Mayor, the Museo Larco Herrera & the city catacombs.
Day 14: International departure
