Enchanting Peru with Nazca Lines & Ballestas Islands

Your exciting expedition to Peru begins late this evening with an overnight flight.

*Passengers who did not purchase flights will join the tour in Lima on Day 2.

Early morning arrival in Lima. Here, connect for a short flight to Cuzco, the fabled capital of the Inca Empire, perched at about 11,000 feet above sea level. On arrival, journey to the nearby Sacred Valley of the Incas. The valley has amazing landscapes of fertile land, mystical ruins and indigenous villages. On your way to the Sacred Valley, enjoy lunch at Princesita private restaurant and in the restaurant’s gardens experience a Shaman ceremony, one of the ancient rituals of Peru. Next, visit Awanakancha, a weaving center that keeps ancient weaving techniques and traditions alive. Arrive at your hotel located in the quaint village of Yucay and surrounded by lush gardens. This evening your tour director hosts a welcome dinner and orientation.

On today’s excursion visit the world-renowned and colorful Indian market in Pisac where many beautiful crafts are traded. Later, travel through the lush valley to Ollantaytambo and explore the splendid ruins of this massive ancient fortress. The village below is a fine example of the Incas incredible urban planning skills. Return to your hotel in Yucay later this afternoon.

Embark today on an expedition to Machu Picchu. You’ll ride aboard the Vistadome train through the lush Urubamba Valley passing along stunning scenery. Arrive at “The Lost City Of the Incas” rediscovered in 1911. The beauty of its location and the genius construction make Machu Picchu travel the jewel of all Inca settlements and a top stop in your Peru vacation packages. To this day nobody can explain how the Incas managed to transport the huge blocks of limestone for the city’s construction onto the mountaintop. An expert guide leads you through the ruins and shares with you the amazing story of Machu Picchu. You’ll have some free time to further discover the mystical ruins and absorb the beauty of this enchanting site. Later, re-board the train and journey to magical Cusco.

Cusco is a vibrant town, dotted with archaeological sites. On a guided walking tour, visit the main Inca and Colonial monuments. See the Plaza de Armas, the center of the Inca Empire, and the impressive 16th-century cathedral built on the ruins of the Inca Palace. In the old town view magnificently restored colonial buildings. Your hotel is superbly located in the heart of the old town near the lively Plaza de Armas. Evening at leisure.

A day at leisure to explore vibrant Cusco at your own pace. Walk the narrow streets of the old colonial town, browse the galleries and shops selling local crafts and relax in one of the many outdoor cafes. You may also venture to the outskirts of Cusco to visit the amazing ruins of Sacsayhuaman, an Inca architectural masterpiece with fabulous views of the city below.

Embark on a thrilling journey to Puno. As you traverse the rugged snow-capped Andes you’ll enjoy the breathtaking scenery and see quaint local villages as well as herds of llama and alpaca. Visit the charming village of Andahuaylillas, with its renowned 17th-century church. Arrive at your hotel overlooking majestic Lake Titicaca.

Situated on the border between Peru and Bolivia, Lake Titicaca is South America’s largest and highest navigable lake. Today, embark on an unforgettable boat journey to explore the magnificent scenery and fascinating life on and around the tranquil lake. First, visit the floating islands of the Uros Indians that still practice the old traditions of fishing, trapping birds and living on the lake plants. The totora reeds,which grow abundantly in the shallows of the lake, are used for their boats, houses and to build the very islands on which they live. This way of life began over 500 years ago when the Uros built the islands in an effort to isolate themselves from the Kollas and the Incas. Later, proceed by boat to Taquile Island, where the indigenous inhabitants are dedicated to agriculture and crafting of high quality textiles. You’ll witness their customs, traditions and unique costumes before returning to your lakeside hotel.

Today transfer to the airport for your flight to Lima. The rest of the day is at leisure.

New in 2022: On the way to the airport, stop to visit with a local family. We'll hear about the family-run business, engage ina  special exchange, and sample a local delicacy.

This morning is at leisure. Later enjoy a guided tour of both colonial and modern Lima, founded in 1535 and later dominated by the Inca nation. See the historical center and the San Francisco Church as well as Plaza de Armas and the Government Palace. Later, see the fashionable districts of San Isidro and Miraflores with their beautiful parks and elegant residences. Afterward, enjoy an afternoon tour at the Larco Museum with a lovely dinner at the Larco Museum Cafe.

Early this morning we'll travel south by bus to Paracas, a coastal village renowned for its climate, beautiful beaches, and rich marine wildlife and ecosystems. We'll travel to the Pisco airport where we'll board an aircraft and fly over the mysterious Nazca Lines. Located in the arid Peruvian coastal plain, these pre-Columbian geoglyphs were scratched onto the surface of the ground between 500 B.C. and 500 A.D. and are among archaeology's greatest enigmas thanks to their size, nature, quantity, and continuity. This UNESCO World Heritage Site is a series of complex designs with some designs up to 300 meters long.

This morning, we'll board a speedboat to Ballestas Islands. On our way out to the Pacific Ocean, we'll pass by the National Reserve of Paracas and during a short photo stop, we'll be able to take photos of the "El Candelabro" figure etched into the side of a hill. Once we reach the islands, we'll have a chance to see animals in their natural environment from our boat. There are thousands of different birds like cormorants, pelicans, and penguins plus other animals like sea lions. This afternoon, we'll travel back to Lima.

Note: The Ballestas Islands are protected and not to be walked on. We will not leave the boat during this excursion but will get close enough to take photos of the animals.

After breakfast today, we'll travel to the airport for our return flight to the U.S. filled with memories of our Peruvian adventure!

*The tour will end for passengers who did not purchase flights on Day 13 in Lima.

Your exciting expedition to Peru begins late this evening with an overnight flight.

*Passengers who did not purchase flights will join the tour in Lima on Day 2.

We'll arrive in Lima, the capital city of Peru, early this morning and meet our tour director at the airport. After breakfast, we'll start our guided tour of the modern side of Lima, visiting the districts of San Isidro and Miraflores which feature modern architecture, shopping centers, and beautiful parks overlooking the ocean like "El Olivar" and "Parque del Amor". Next, we'll visit the Larco Museum where we can appreciate a collection of pre-Columbian ceramics, textiles, gold, and silver pieces totaling over 45,000 artifacts. We'll enjoy a variety of regional dishes at the Café Del Museo in the museum's lovely terraced garden filled with colorful flowers. We'll drive through Lima's downtown where we can see several colonial buildings and monuments. In the historical center, admire the colorful colonial architecture around Plaza San Martín and the Plaza de Armas where we can also see the Government Palace, Cathedral, and Municipality. We'll visit the San Francisco Monastery, and explore its underground maze of tunnels and catacombs before we conclude at our hotel where we'll check in.

After breakfast this morning, we'll fly to Cusco and then travel by bus onward to the Sacred Valley of the Incas. Along the way, we'll enjoy a buffet lunch at Princesita Restaurant. In the restaurant's gardens, we'll experience a Shaman ceremony, introducing us to the ancient rituals of Peru. During the ceremony, the shaman will thank Pachamama, or Mother Earth, and welcome us to Cusco. After lunch, we'll continue through the Sacred Valley to Awanakancha, a weaving center that still uses ancient weaving techniques and traditions. Here, we'll also see the four camels of South America - llamas, alpacas, vicuñas, and guanacos. We'll also learn more about how natural plants are used to dye the precious wool of these animals. Next, we'll check in at our hotel and enjoy some free time before we gather together for dinner at our hotel.

On today’s full-day excursion, we'll visit the world-renowned and colorful Indian market in Pisac where many beautiful crafts are traded. Later, we'll travel through the lush valley to Ollantaytambo and explore the splendid ruins of this massive ancient fortress. The village below is a fine example of the Incas incredible urban planning skills. This evening we'll enjoy dinner together at the hotel.

Embark today on an expedition to Machu Picchu. We'll travel by train through the lush Urubamba Valley passing along stunning scenery. We arrive in Aguas Calientes where we'll take a bus up the steep mountain to “the Lost City Of the Incas”. The beauty of its location and the genius construction make Machu Picchu travel the jewel of all Inca settlements and is theorized to have been an observatory. To this day nobody can explain how the Incas managed to transport the huge blocks of limestone for the city’s construction onto the mountaintop. Our expert guide will lead us through the ruins and share the amazing story of Machu Picchu. We'll have some free time to further discover the mystical ruins and absorb the beauty of this enchanting site. Later, we re-board the train to the Sacred Valley and from there, journey to magical Cusco by bus.

Cusco is a vibrant town, dotted with archaeological sites. This morning we'll enjoy a guided walking tour visiting the city's most important Incan and Colonial landmarks. We'll visit Qoricancha, the Incan temple of the sun which later served as the foundation for the Catholic monastery of Santo Domingo. Next, we'll visit the cathedral, considered the best repository of colonial art from the Cusco school. The cathedral was built over the palace of the Inca Wiracocha, which was considered the religious and political center of Cusco during the Inca era. We'll also walk through the Inca street of Loreto, which perfectly showcases Cusco's old town and remarkable Inca walls. This afternoon is free to explore Cusco independently! Consider a visit to the chocolate museum or tasting some of the delicious food on offer here!

Today is free to explore this magical city independently! Cusco has so much to offer from incredible museums like Museo de Arte Pre-Colombino (MAP) and the Museo Inka, or spend the day exploring local markets or the picturesque San Blas district!

After breakfast this morning, we'll travel by bus through the Peruvian highlands along snow-covered peaks before we descend down to Puno located on the edge of Lake Titicaca. En route, we'll visit the colonial church of Andahuaylillas, nicknamed the Sistine Chapel of the Americas, with its lovely simple exterior and beautifully ornate interior.

Today we'll discover the uniqueness of the Uros, islands that literally float on Lake Titicaca, the world’s highest navigable lake. We'll meet resident families dressed in traditional and colorful outfits who welcome us and show us their homes, boats, and islands made of totora reed. Every year, they replenish the islands with a new layer of reed and continue to maintain the Aymara language and other traditional ways of living. Next, we'll take a boat ride to the island of Taquile. Be amazed by this matchless island with elaborate pre-Inca terraces, unpaved roads where there are no cars, no electricity nor pollution. Learn about the people’s unchanged lifestyles for thousands of years and their unique traditions based on community collectivism. On the island, men are taught to knit and women weave and yarn, blending these crafts into their unique social arrangements.

After breakfast, we'll visit a local house where we'll learn how a local family works their fields and more about their daily life and customs. After our visit, we'll continue to Juliaca airport for our flight back to Lima. This evening, we'll enjoy dinner together at a local restaurant.

Early this morning we'll travel south by bus to Paracas, a coastal village renowned for its climate, beautiful beaches, and rich marine wildlife and ecosystems. We'll travel to the Pisco airport where we'll board an aircraft and fly over the mysterious Nazca Lines. Located in the arid Peruvian coastal plain, these pre-Columbian geoglyphs were scratched onto the surface of the ground between 500 B.C. and 500 A.D. and are among archaeology's greatest enigmas thanks to their size, nature, quantity, and continuity. This UNESCO World Heritage Site is a series of complex designs with some designs up to 300 meters long.

This morning, we'll board a speedboat to Ballestas Islands. On our way out to the Pacific Ocean, we'll pass by the National Reserve of Paracas and during a short photo stop, we'll be able to take photos of the "El Candelabro" figure etched into the side of a hill. Once we reach the islands, we'll have a chance to see animals in their natural environment from our boat. There are thousands of different birds like cormorants, pelicans, and penguins plus other animals like sea lions. This afternoon, we'll travel back to Lima.

Note: The Ballestas Islands are protected and not to be walked on. We will not leave the boat during this excursion but will get close enough to take photos of the animals.

After breakfast today, we'll travel to the airport for our return flight to the U.S. filled with memories of our Peruvian adventure!

*The tour will end for passengers who did not purchase flights on Day 13 in Lima.