Peru Panorama Tour

Itinerary in Brief

We arrive in Lima the capital of Peru and from here we head south where we visit Paracas, Ica, and the Ballestas Islands. Our tour continues to Arequipa where we visit the famous Cañon de Colca and from here we continue to Puno to visit the mystical Lake Titicaca and the floating islands of Uros as well as Amantani and Taquile. We then head to Cuzco where we visit the town, the Sacred Valley of the Incas, and of course the famous Machu Picchu before returning to Lima where our tour ends.

Day1. Arrival in Lima

Today you arrive in Lima. Upon arrival at the international airport, our team will be waiting to transfer you to your hotel. There are no activities planned for today and depending on your time of arrival you might have time to explore the town.

Day2. Lima – Paracas – Islas Ballestas – Nazca

Very early in the morning, we are transferred from the hotel to the bus station for the bus to Paracas for our visit to the Islas Ballestas. Composed largely of rock formations and covering an estimated area of 0.12 km², these islands are an important sanctuary for marine fauna like the Guanay guano bird, the blue-footed booby, and the tendril. Other notable species include Humboldt Penguins and two varieties of seals (fur seals and sea lions), amongst other mammals. After our visit, we continue by bus to Nazca where we spend the night.

Day3. Nazca – Arequipa

After breakfast, you have the possibility to do the fly-over of the Nazca lines. The Nazca lines were discovered in 1926/27 and designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1994. They are a series of ancient geoglyphs located in the Nazca Desert and show hundreds of individual figures ranging in complexity from simple lines to stylized hummingbirds, spiders, monkeys, fish, sharks, orcas, and lizards.

The lines are shallow designs made in the ground by removing the reddish pebbles and uncovering the whitish/greyish ground beneath. The largest figures are over 200m/660ft across! Due to the dry, windless, and stable climate of the plateau and its isolation, for the most part, the lines have been preserved. Extremely rare changes in weather may temporarily alter the general designs.

For those who have chosen not to do the fly-over, we leave to visit the Chauchilla cemetery where we can see very well-preserved mummies and archaeological remains of the Nazca culture. We explore the local culture through a visit to a pottery workshop and we visit the aqueducts which used to serve to divert an underground source and recover the water.

Our last visit is to the Antonini Museum before we leave Nazca for Arequipa. Upon arrival in Arequipa, our local team will be waiting to bring you to your hotel.

Day4. Arequipa - Chivay/Cañon de Colca

At 08h00 we start our tour to the majestic Colca Valley, also called the “Inca’s lost valley”. We visit Pampa Cañahuas and the Salinas National Reserve and at Aguadas Blanca we can observe Vicuñas, Lamas, and Alpacas. We pause at Tojrapampa where we can observe the Bofedales (wetlands) and see different species of migration birds as well as flamingos. Later we stop at Patapampa at the Viewpoint of the Andes where we can admire the surrounding volcanoes. This will be the highest point on our tour at 4900m/16.080ft.

From here we walk down into the Colca Valley to 3600m/11.810ft where we get installed in the hotel. After lunch, we go for a trek (3-4 hours) to discover the archaeological site Uyo Uyo and we enjoy the landscape and the thermal baths of Yanque. Early evening we return to the hotel and the evening is free.

Day5. Canyon de Colca – Puno

After a very early breakfast, we head towards the Cruz del Condor from where we can observe the depths of the canyon and the flight of the Condors. From the Cruz del Condor, we walk to the Cruz del Cura and we visit the small traditional villages of Pinchollo Yanque and Maca where we can see amphitheater, church, and terraces. We return to Chivay and after lunch, we continue to Puno where the evening is free.

Day6. Puno – Uros – Amantani

We leave at 07h30 to visit the floating island of the Uros. The small islands are made of totara reeds, which grow in the lake. The dense roots that the plants develop and interweave form a natural layer called Khili (about one to two meters thick) that supports the islands. They are anchored with ropes attached to sticks driven into the bottom of the lake.

The reeds at the bottoms of the islands rot away fairly quickly, so new reeds are added to the top constantly, about every three months. The islands last about thirty years. The islands were originally created by the Uros to prevent attacks from their neighbours the Incas. After this fantastic visit, we continue to Amantani which is a small touristic island in the lake where its people still maintain ancient customs, there, we visit the ceremonial centers of the Pacha Mama and Pacha Tata. The rest of the day is free.

Day7. Amantani – Taquile – Puno

After breakfast, we continue our island tour and after about one hour of navigation, we arrive at Taquile Island. This is quite a unique place at the lake where the inhabitants speak Quechua while all the other islands speak Aymara and the island is famous for its traditions and the lifestyle of the inhabitants. We return to Puno where the evening is free.

Day8. Puno – Cuzco

In the morning we are transferred to the bus station to take the tourist bus that goes to Cuzco. On our way, we visit the ruins of Pukará and also the thermal springs in the region before passing the Raya mountain pass at 4321m/14.180ft. We stop at Sicuani for lunch and from here we continue to the Raqchi ruins where we can observe the remains of the central wall of the Wiracocha temple, which was one of the highest-covered buildings constructed by the Inca.

The tour continues through the valley of Cuzco close to the Huacarpay Lake where we make a halt at the pre-Inca site Pikillaqta from the Wari culture (XIIth century) which is partly destroyed. And finally, we visit the church Andahuaylillas from the XVIIth century where we can observe some beautiful paintings. After being transferred to the hotel the evening is free to explore Cuzco.

Day9. Cuzco – City Tour

After lunch we start our city tour where we visit the archaeological sites of the town; Koricancha, the Cathedral, Sacsayhuaman, K’enkho, Puca Pucara, and Tambo Machay. The evening is free to enjoy Cusco.

Day10. Cuzco – the Sacred Valley – Aguas Calientes

After breakfast, we visit the Sacred Valley and all the important Inca ruins in the area. We’ll see the ruins of Pisac with (depending on the day) the market, Urubamba, and Ollantaytambo - a superb Inca fortress made of megalithic stones. In the evening we take the train to Aguas Calientes - a small village where all the buildings are concentrated along the railway giving it a “gold-digger” ambiance where we spend the night.

Day11. Aguas Calientes - Machu Picchu - Cuzco

We leave at 07h00 or earlier by bus to visit the famous Machu Picchu. After this impressive visit, we return to Aguas Calientes to take the train back to Ollantaytambo where upon arrival we are transferred to the hotel in Cuzco and the evening is free.

The Citadel of Machu Picchu is the most important attraction in Cuzco. It was discovered in 1911 by the American explorer, Hiram Bingham, and is considered to be one of the most extraordinary examples of scenic architecture in the world. In Quechua Machu Picchu means “old mountain”.

The Citadel was built on a hilltop that dominates the deep valley of the Urubamba River in the middle of the tropical rainforest. Machu Picchu was both a center of worship and astronomical observation and the private domain of the family of the Inca Pachacuteq.

Day12. Cuzco leisure day

Today are free to discover Cuzco on your own.

Day13. Cuzco – Lima

In the morning we are transferred to the airport for our flight back to Lima and upon arrival in Lima we are transferred to the hotel. After lunch, we go for a city tour of Lima and the evening is free.

We start our tour with a panoramic view of the “Pucllana Pyramid” a magnificent ceremonial and archaeological center built in the 4th-century a.D. and considered a “Sacred Village” by the Incas. The Viceroyalty of Perú was the most important of the Spanish Empire and Lima was its capital.

We visit the Historical Centre of Lima, where you will see more than fifty monuments and Colonial buildings, such as the Paseo de la República, the San Martín Square, the Main Square, the Government Palace, the Archbishop’s Palace, the Cathedral Basilica, and the City Council Palace. We also visit the museum of the Banco Central de Reserva where we can admire the “Treasures of Perú” collection which is a fine selection of objects made of gold, ceramics, and textiles from different pre-Columbian cultures.

During the tour, we also visit the monumental San Francisco convent, which displays the largest collection of religious art in America. Our highlight will be the visit to the underground vaults, known as “Catacumbas” or Catacombs. We visit some traditional residential areas of Lima, such as El Olivar of San Isidro, Miraflores, and Larcomar.

Day14. Lima Departure

According to your time of departure, you are transferred from the hotel to the airport. For international flights, it is recommended to arrive at the airport 3 hours before scheduled departure. End of our services

Important: The itinerary can change as a result of weather conditions and some sights are not accessible at all times – Lipiko Tours cannot be held responsible for any changes in itinerary and sights not visited as a result.

*If you wish to climb the Huayna Potosi the request has to be made at the time of reservation. Even if the request is made we can’t guarantee that there are places left (access is limited). If there are places allow for approx. Applied chargeable USD per person for the entrance fee.

General Information

Highlights: Lima, Islas Ballestas, Arequipa, Canyon de Colca, Puno, Uros floating islands, Cuzco, the Sacred Valley, Machu Picchu

Support Team: English-speaking tour leader for the entire tour for groups of 4 people or more. For smaller groups, it is possible to book this tour without a tour leader. Instead, you would have guided visits with a local guide in your chosen language. Please contact us directly to receive a personalized quote.

Guaranteed departure: from 4 people

Group Size: 4 to 12 people

Flights: Prices are valid only in certain tourist/economy classes which serve this destination. Therefore prices are subject to changes in case of unavailability at the time of reservation.
- National flight Peru: Cuzco - Lima

Accommodation: 12 nights in a hotel/hostel and 1 night in a homestay

Porterage: Your luggage will be transported either by plane, car, boat, and bus. You will have to carry the personal belongings (camera, water, etc.) which you need during the day.

Tour Leader: In groups of 4 to 12 people you will be accompanied by a tour leader in the chosen language. His role is to make sure that everything goes smoothly during the tour and that each individual and the group as a whole are safe. Don’t hesitate to ask him if you are unsure of anything and, very importantly, follow his advice.

Included in the Price:

- Water and land transfers as indicated in the program
- Accommodation in hotel/hostel in double rooms, Ecolodge, shelter, home stay, camping, bus, and plane as indicated in the program: 12 nights in hotel/hostel and 1-night homestay
- Meals as mentioned in the program
- The assistance of specialized local English-speaking guides, their fees, and expenses
- The assistance of our local teams; driver(s) and logistics department (24/7)
- Visits as outlined in the program
- National flight Peru: Cuzco – Lima

Not Included in the Price:

- Entrance fees to sites visited, national parks, and museums as indicated in the program (allow for approx. 409 Nuevos soles (Peruvian national currency) per person – this is an estimate and actual prices may vary)
- Meals not mentioned, drinks, tips, individual equipment, everything not mentioned in “included in the price” and all personal expenses
- Individual obligatory personal travel insurance (this could be included with your credit card – please check with your credit card provider)
- The supplement for a single room: Charges applicable (subject to availability, must be reserved and paid upon reservation). Attention; no single room is available for the nights with accommodation in a shelter, homestay, or camping.
- Possible visa expenses
- International flights