Compare The Andean Explorer: Cuzco, Machu Picchu, and Lake Titicaca by Audley Travel vs Premium Peru in Depth by Intrepid Travel
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Trip |
5 | Excellent
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4.5 | Great
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Duration | 11 days | 15 days |
Price From | $ 5,641 | $ 6,486 |
Price Per Day | $ 513 | $ 423 |
Highlights |
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Trip Style | Private guided tour | Small group tour |
Lodging Level | Standard | Standard |
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Countries Visited | ||
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Flights & Transport | Ground transport included | Ground transport included |
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Meals Included | N/A | N/A |
Description |
Heartland of the Incas, Peru is still littered with sites that showcase this powerful empire’s prowess as master builders, most notably Machu Picchu. Visiting this citadel hidden in the mountains is inspiration enough for a first-time visit, but the Incas were just one in a long line of peoples with a surviving legacy to explore. The landscape is equally varied: from the heights of the Andes down to the rainforest and quieter tributaries of the Peruvian Amazon. Peru feels like a country on the ascendency, reflected in the quality of hotels and a penchant for fine food. Despite being a country of classic journeys, not every trip to Peru has to follow the same paths. Our specialists have explored the main sights and the lesser known ones. They’ll carefully plan your holiday as an individual tailor-made trip to match your preferences. |
Uncover Peru’s best on this 15-day Premium journey through lush valleys, rich rainforests and Inca heartlands. Travel south from Lima to the charming city of Arequipa, see condors circling some of the deepest ravines in the world at Colca Canyon, and experience the wild heart of the Amazon Jungle. Consider trekking along the acclaimed Inca Trail, or relax on a scenic train ride, all to witness the magnificence of the ancient citadel of Machu Picchu. With a local leader each step of the way joining you on orientation walks and filling you in on the histories of the land, you’ll get to peruse Peru the local way. |
Day 1 : Lima
Today you begin your journey by boarding your international outbound flight to Lima. Arriving in Lima, you're met by your private guide and assisted to your hotel for the evening.
Day 2 : Cuzco
You will make your way back to the airport for your flight to Cuzco. Upon arrival in Cuzco you will be met at the airport by your driver and taken to your hotel by private transfer.This afternoon should be spent at your leisure as you acclimatize to the high altitude.
Day 3 : Cuzco
Enjoy a privately guided tour of the highlights of Cuzco and nearby ruins.
Day 4 : Sacred Valley of Incas
Make your way through the Sacred Valley on a private excursion with visits to a traditional Andean market, the agricultural terraces of Moray, and salt pans at Maras.
Day 5 : Machu Picchu
Start today with a privately guided tour of the ruins of Ollantaytambo before taking the one and a half hour train journey to Machu Picchu with your guide. The journey traces the edge of the white-water Urubamba River as it twists through the increasingly steep-sided valley. From your seat, youâll spot a series of Incan sites before arriving at Aguas Calientes.After disembarking from the train you will take a short bus journey up to Machu Picchu for your privately guided tour of the Inca citadel.
Day 6 : Cuzco
Take the morning to return to Machu Picchu on your own before returning to Cuzco.
Day 7 : Cuzco
Board the train in Cuzco and traverse the beautiful Peruvian countryside aboard the Belmond Andean Explorer train. As part of the all-inclusive service youâll enjoy tea time and dinner and the open bar when you aren't taking in the views from the observation car.You will spend the night on-board outside of Lake Titicaca.
Day 8 : Puno
Awake at Lake Titicaca and watch sunrise over this mythical lake then enjoy breakfast on-board. Afterwards, there is the option to include a small group excursion on to the lake before enjoying lunch on the lake.In the afternoon you will return to the train for tea time, cocktail hour, dinner, and continue your journey to Arequipa.
Day 9 : Arequipa
An early morning breakfast on-board is followed by a day of activities that include Lake Saracocha and the Sumbay Caves.You will then have the option to disembark and visit the Colca Canyon or continue on to the white city of Arequipa and enjoy a panoramic city tour with a small group.
Day 10 : International return flight
Today you will be met at your hotel by your driven and taken to the airport via private transfer for your domestic flight to Lima where you will connect for your international flight home.
Day 11 : International return flight
Arrive home today to complete your journey.
Day 1 Lima
Bienvenidos! Welcome to Peru. Your adventure begins in Lima, Peru’s lively capital city. When you arrive, you'll be collected from the airport and transferred to your hotel. Here, you'll meet your small group of fellow travellers and your local leader for a 6 pm welcome meeting. If you arrive in Lima early, the city is full of bars converted from old colonial mansions, so you may like to head out for your first pisco sour. After your meeting, join your leader and small group for a welcome dinner. Lima has one of the world’s most revered culinary scenes, and this evening you’ll head to one of the city’s best restaurants, with stunning views surrounded by ancient ruins. The creative chef offers up traditional Peruvian dishes with modern twists in a one-of-a-kind environment.
Day 2 Arequipa
Start the day with a walking tour with your leader through downtown Lima. Admire the colonial buildings of Plaza Mayor and visit the eerie catacombs of the Saint Francis Monastery, then head away from the tourist trail to Alameda de Chabuca Granda – an area popular with the locals. Later, catch a flight to Arequipa, a beautiful Spanish colonial city. When you arrive, head out for an orientation walk with your leader. Known as La Ciudad Blanca (The White City), Arequipa’s buildings have been built almost exclusively from a white volcanic material called sillar, giving the city an appearance like no other. Situated in a valley at the foot of the El Misti volcano, the city also boasts a truly remarkable backdrop.
Day 3 Arequipa
This morning, meet a local guide who’s an expert on all things Arequipa and set out on a tour of the city. Explore Plaza de Armas, the city’s main square, then continue to the Santa Catalina Monastery while your guide shares stories of the city’s history along the way. Stop by the San Ignacio Chapel to appreciate its colonial mural paintings. Visit the beautiful Basilica Cathedral of Arequipa with another local expert guide who will discuss the many layers of the building’s history – from its construction in 1656 to its subsequent destructions and rebuilds. The afternoon is free your own discoveries. Why not pick up an Alpaca jumper and meet the llamas and alpacas of Mundo Alpaca or take part in an active adventure in the surrounding hills and rivers. Or maybe visit the museum that houses 'Mummy Juanita' – the well-preserved body of a young Inca girl who died sometime between 1450 and 1480.
Day 4 Colca Canyon
This morning, drive through the Altiplano high plains to the Colca Valley and Canyon. On the way you'll see grazing vicunas, llamas and alpacas, as well as stone cairns built by local Indigenous communities. More than twice as deep as the Grand Canyon, the Colca Canyon provides some breathtaking views. The pre-Inca terraces carved into its walls are still cultivated today, and the area is dotted with traditional Indian villages with locals in colourful dress. Stop at the highest point (4910 m) to enjoy views of the landscape below. Drive on the town of Chivay, where you'll have some time to soak up the local hot springs, then continue to the Aranwa Pueblito Encantado del Colca Hotel, your Feature Stay accommodation for the evening. With a prime location along the rugged Colca River, this resort offers tranquility and comfort in a truly magnificent setting. The grounds are just as wondrous as the surroundings – tumbling waterfalls, organic gardens and gorgeous pools make this a superb spot to explore. With modern rooms, first-class service and fantastic amenities, this stay is one to remember.
Day 5 Lake Titicaca
Rise early this morning to visit the Cruz del Condor viewpoint, where Andean condors, one of the world's largest flying birds, can often be seen soaring in the air. After lunch, begin the drive to Puno. On the way you'll stop off at the Sillustani archaeological site for about an hour, where you'll climb to the top of the hill to appreciate the ruined 'chullpas', or funeral towers. These towers were built by a pre-Inca civilisation centuries ago to house the remains of noble men. Located on the shores of Lake Titicaca, Puno is full of Aymara and Quechuan Indian culture. The town is known as the folklore capital of Peru and is renowned for its traditional dances.
Day 6 Lake Titicaca
Be enchanted by striking scenery and unique cultures on a cruise around Lake Titicaca today. This morning, depart from the port in Puno for the floating Uros Islands. The Uros people constructed these islands to isolate themselves from rival tribes in ancient times. They are built completely from multiple layers of totora reeds, which grow in the shallows of the lake. Call into Taquile Island, where you'll spend an hour walking to the top of the hill to see local traditional clothing and shops for woollen handicrafts. Explore this extraordinary place before traveling back to Puno for the evening. Back at your hotel, enjoy a stunning sunset over Lake Titicaca, while you sample wine and cheese in the garden.
Day 7 Cusco
Rise early and travel to Cusco. The journey will be broken up with plenty of stops, including a visit to the Raqchi Archaeological Site. Arrive in Cusco by late afternoon. Cusco is South America's oldest continuously inhabited city, and was the home of the Inca for two centuries before the Spanish built their first capital here. Today Cusco is a fascinating combination of both cultures. At 3450 m above sea level, it’s important to take time to acclimatise to the city’s altitude. After settling in at the hotel, take a casual walk around Plaza de Armas with your leader and pick up some excellent dinner recommendations along the way.
Day 8 Cusco
This morning, discover the best of Cusco on a walking tour. First, enjoy a special tour of the World Heritage-listed Cusco Cathedral with a local historian guide. Built on top of an Incan palace, the building is now one of Cusco’s greatest repositories of art, and your guide will share its history from past to present. Then, tour the Coricancha Temple with another local guide. The temple was once covered in sheets of gold that were eventually removed to raise a ransom for the life of Atahualpa, and later the Spanish demolished the temple to build a Dominican church on its foundations. Soon after, head to the colourful San Pedro market. The rest of the day is yours – speak to your leader about the option to arrange a cooking class at a local restaurant using fair trade products, or the half-day Inkilltambo trek, exploring an archaeologic site on the city’s outskirts.
Day 9 Ollantaytambo
Today you'll head for the Sacred Valley. Just outside of Cusco, visit the fortress ruins of Sacsayhuaman. The massive stone blocks forming the settlement's walls give you an idea of the ingenuity of the Inca. Continue on to the Sacred Valley. Treasured for its climate, fertile land and the Urubamba (Sacred) River, the valley has long been the main source of food in the high Andes. Afterwards, visit AMA, a local restaurant specializing in organic produce, and learn how they support single mothers in the Sacred Valley while enjoying a snack and drink. Continue to Willoq community to take part in an ancient cooking ritual known as pachamanca. This cooking method, which dates back to the time of the Inca empire, sees meats and vegetables marinaded in spices cooked slowly in the earth. You will also learn about traditional textile techniques that are used by the community – and you’ll even have the chance to make your own bracelet with the local women! Later, visit AMA, a local restaurant specializing in organic produce, and learn how they support single mothers in the Sacred Valley while enjoying a snack and drink. Later, continue to the town of Ollantaytambo. Built over an ancient Inca settlement, this is one of the few places where the Inca defeated the Spanish. Explore the archaeological site with an expert local guide who will discuss the evidence of the Incas' engineering skills in the ruins of ancient aqueducts, irrigation canals, dams on the Urubamba River and towering sets of terraces.
Day 10 Aguas Calientes - Machu Picchu
Today’s journey from Ollantaytambo to Aguas Calientes will reveal some of the country’s most spectacular scenery. Board the 360 Machu Picchu Train – with high domed windows in each carriage, there’s few better ways to view the magical Andes Mountains. The train also features an open-air observation carriage so you can marvel at the landscape from every angle. Disembark the train in Aguas Calientes, briefly drop your belongings off at your hotel, then take a short bus up the winding road to Machu Picchu, where you will be joined by a guide who will take you through the ruins and tell you stories of its history and the ancestral people of the region. The true purpose behind Machu Picchu may always be a mystery, since no historical records of the complex exist. Most archaeologists, however, believe it to be the 15th-century headquarters of Emperor Pachacuti. Your leader can advise how to get the most out of your visit. Later, take the bus back down to Aguas Calientes to spend the night before heading back up to Machu Picchu first thing in the morning for your second visit.
Day 11 Cusco
Rise before the sun and take the winding road back up to Machu Picchu for another morning uncovering its secrets. On your second visit, explore more of the extraordinary architecture of the many temples, palaces and living quarters. The sight of the ruins of Machu Picchu against a lush backdrop of forested mountain is one you are going to want to remember – so be sure to have your camera ready. You'll have time along the way to take any photos you may have missed yesterday. Take the bus back to Aguas Calientes, then catch a standard train back to Ollantaytambo. From here, you'll make the drive back to Cusco for the evening.
Day 12 Amazon Jungle
Today you will catch a flight to Puerto Maldonado. When you arrive in the afternoon, take a bus to the port where you will board motorised canoes and head into the Amazon rainforest. Keep an eye out for macaws, herons, alligators and capybaras along the way. Here you’ll find Inkaterra Hacienda Concepcion, your Feature Stay for the next two nights. Built in the heart of a 380 hectare-private ecological reserve, this unique resort is focused on the conservation of local habitats and features 25 private cabanas plus an on-site team of expert local guides. Enjoy lunch at the lodge then explore the Concepcion Trails with an expert guide. As darkness begins to fall, join a guided Twilight River boat ride and see how many caimans you can spot lurking on the riverbanks. Dinner is a la carte and draws on local Amazon ingredients to create a meal to remember.
Day 13 Amazon Jungle
After breakfast, board a dug-out wooden canoe to quietly glide across Lake Sandoval, keeping an eye out for red howler monkeys, giant river otters and colourful macaws along the way. After lunch you may like to walk along the Inkaterra Canopy Walkway, a 344 m network of suspension bridges that take you high above the forest floor to some of the best places to spot toucans, woodpeckers, monkeys and three-toed sloths. Join a night walk to discover the nocturnal activity in the surrounding areas or book into the lodge’s spa, before you meet your group for dinner.
Day 14 Lima
This morning you will travel back to Puerto Maldonado, then take a flight to Lima, arriving in the early afternoon. Enjoy a few hours at leisure to explore any of the city’s sights you may have missed the first time around, then get back together with your fellow travellers and leader for dinner. Overlooking an ancient pre-Inca archaeological site and serving up a delectable menu of Peruvian delights, this final dinner is sure to leave you with a lasting memory of your time in Peru.
Day 15 Lima
Your adventure comes to an end after breakfast this morning. If you would like to spend some more time in Lima, just speak to your booking agent.