Best of Peru
- 2025
- 2024
An upscale tour of Peru: Lima, Cusco, the Sacred Valley & Macchu Picchu, Puno & Lake Titicaca. Explore the Amazon on the optional extension to Puerto Maldonado
Overview
Style | Small Group TourTravel with a small, intimate group of no more than 16 likeminded travelers (and often much fewer), escorted by an English speaking guide and/or tour manager for some or all of your journey. (Some exceptions, including special promotional packages, may accommodate up to 30.) More of these packages
Dedicated tour escorts & guides throughout |
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Departures | March – December 2025 | Group Size | 16 travelers max |
Themes | Active, History & Culture, Grand Tours | ||
Activity Level | Advanced | ||
What to Expect | This fast-paced, escorted tour involves a significant amount of walking or hiking, often on uneven terrain, and reaches high altitudes requiring a high level of physical fitness to fully enjoy the trip. This tour also includes long scenic drives between destinations and may have limited rest stops. Travel safely and confidently with our new health & safety protocols. | ||
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Discover Peru's ancient wonders and natural beauty on this 10-day South American journey. Step back in time as you explore one of the most impressive archaeological discoveries, Machu Picchu, the Lost City of the Incas. Travel 11,000 feet above sea level to the capital of the ancient Inca Empire, Cusco, then explore the floating island of Uros on stunning Lake Titicaca. Go the extra mile and join our new optional extension to Puerto Maldonado, the Capital of Biodiversity and a gateway to the Amazon jungle.
Package includes
- Flights
- Coach
- Transfers
- Hotel
- Meals
- Guides
- Round trip flights from Miami via LATAM Airlines, including airline taxes & fees
- All flights within Peru
- All ground transportation & transfers
- 9 nights in Superior and Deluxe hotels with private bath
- 15 Meals: 9 breakfasts, 2 lunch, 4 dinners
- Vistadome train to/from Machu Picchu
- PeruRail Titicaca train from Cuzco to Puno
- Comprehensive guided sightseeing tours including entrance fees
- Professional English-speaking tour directors & guides
Optional add-ons
- Flights from other cities are available. Request pricing when making your reservation.
- Optional Afternoon excursion to The Site Museum of Yucay
- Optional Tambopata & Puerto Maldonado post-tour Extension
Why you'll love it
- Spend your day exploring modern and colonial Lima, from the Monastery of San Francisco and the Plaza Mayor to the grand Cathedral of Lima and the fashionable districts of San Isidro and Miraflores.
- Discover one of the world's largest collections of pre-Columbian art at the Larco Herrera Museum.
- Haggle for handmade traditional crafts in Pisac's busy market.
- Tour the well-preserved ruins of Ollantaytambo, once a stronghold of Inca resistance to Spanish colonization.
- Learn about the traditional techniques of weaving, dyeing and spinning in Chinchero's vibrant artisan weaver’s complex.
- Visit the salt pools of Maras or the ring terraces at Moray.
- Explore awe-inspiring Machu Picchu, a sprawling Inca citadel built on steep escarpments shrouded by mist.
- Visit Sacsayhuaman, an Inca fortress built with stone extracted from quarries over 12 miles away.
- Discover Cusco, capital of the ancient Inca Empire located at 11,000 feet above sea level.
- Interact with the Uros, an ancient people who build their homes, furniture, boats, and even the floating islands they live on with Lake Titicaca's abundant totora reed.
- Admire the beautiful woven goods created by Taquileños, the locals of the largest island on the Peruvian side of the lake, Taquile.
Itinerary at a Glance
- 1 Depart USA/Arrive Lima
- 2 Lima
- 3 Cusco & Sacred Valley
- 4 Sacred Valley
- Optional Excursion: The Site Museum of Yucay, $36
- 5 Machu Picchu
- 6 Machu Picchu & Cusco
- Optional Excursion: Second Visit to Machu Picchu, $125
- Optional Excursion: Second Visit to Machu Picchu & Huayna Picchu, $145
- 7 Cusco
- 8 Cusco & Puno
- 9 Puno & Lake Titicaca
- 10 Puno & Depart Peru
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Dates & Prices
Detailed Itinerary
Day 1 Depart USA/Arrive Lima
- Depart the USA on your flight bound for Lima
- Arrive in Lima, meet your guide, and transfer to your hotel
Day 2 Lima
- Visit the Larco Herrera Museum
- Embark on a city tour of modern and colonial Lima
- Enjoy a group dinner at a local restaurant
The Westin Lima Hotel or similar Breakfast & dinner
Full Day ItineraryToday, embark on a city tour of both modern and colonial Lima. The Larco Herrera Museum, located in Lima, Peru, is an archaeological and ethnographic museum containing one of the world's largest collections of pre-Columbian art. The museum was founded in 1926 by Rafael Larco Herrera, a Peruvian archaeologist and collector. The museum houses over 45,000 ancient artifacts spanning over 5,000 years of Peruvian history, including ceramics, textiles, metals, and jewelry. Highlights include the most extensive collection of Moche ceramics worldwide and essential pieces from the Nazca, Wari, and Inca cultures. The museum is housed in an 18th-century colonial mansion built on top of a pre-Columbian pyramid.
Later, see the Monastery of San Francisco, famous for its library and catacombs, and the historical city center, based around the beautiful and sprawling Plaza Mayor (Plaza de Armas). The grand Cathedral of Lima, the ornate Archbishop's Palace, and the Government Palace, also known as the Casa de Pizarro, line the plaza. The Government Palace and the cathedral were first built by Francisco Pizarro when he founded the city in 1535 to govern the conquered Incan empire, though both have been rebuilt since. Visit the fashionable districts of San Isidro and Miraflores with their beautiful parks and elegant residences facing the ocean. Tonight, join your fellow travelers for dinner at a local restaurant.
Day 3 Cusco & Sacred Valley
- Transfer to the airport for your flight to Cusco
- Explore Pisac Market and shop for unique crafts and taste a Peruvian empanada
- Continue to Ollantaytambo and tour the fortress and ruins
Tambo del Inka, a Luxury Collection Resort & Spa, Valle Sagrado Breakfast
Full Day ItineraryEarly this morning, transfer to the airport to board a short flight to Cusco, the capital of the Inca Empire, located 11,000 feet above sea level. Upon arrival, travel to Pisac, a picturesque Andean village with a wonderful market. Have a chance to buy locally made ponchos, sweaters, and other handcrafted clothing, ceramics, and hand-painted beads. Enjoy browsing the "locals" section of the market, where villagers come from miles around, dressed in traditional clothing, to barter and sell their produce. On the market's outskirts, catch a glimpse of a Peruvian oven called a "horno." Admire how locals make tasty empanadas baked in these artisan clay ovens, which gives them their unique flavor, and later, enjoy a taste of these delicious treats.
Continue to Ollantaytambo (9,160 feet above sea level), located at the foot of spectacular Inca ruins, which protected the strategic entrance to the lower Urubamba Valley, also known as the Sacred Valley. The temple area is at the top of a series of steep terraces, which helped provide excellent defenses. The stone used for these buildings was brought from a quarry on the opposite side of the Urubamba River, an incredible feat involving thousands of workers. Afterward, check in to your hotel.
Day 4 Sacred Valley
- Visit the ancient village of Chinchero and weavers market
- Visit the sites of Maras or Moray
- Spend the afternoon at leisure or join an optional excursion
Tambo del Inka, a Luxury Collection Resort & Spa, Valle Sagrado Breakfast
Full Day ItineraryThis morning, visit the ancient village of Chinchero and its beautiful colonial church built upon the original foundations of Tupac Yupanqui Palace. Legend has it that Chinchero is the birthplace of the rainbow, which may have something to do with the vibrant textiles produced here. You will have time to explore Chinchero’s artisan weaver complex and discover the traditional weaving, dyeing, and spinning techniques.
Next, visit the sites of Maras or Moray. During the dry season (May through late November), visit the salt works of Maras, consisting of about 3000 small pools constructed on a mountainside. The ancient Inca would irrigate these pools with brackish spring water, allowing them to evaporate to produce salt for the empire. During the rainy season (late November through April), visit the archaeological site of Moray, which consists of enormous terraces in concentric rings that allowed ancient farmers to create diverse microclimates and harvest various crops. Return to your hotel and spend the rest of the late afternoon at leisure enjoying the hotel’s amenities, or join an optional afternoon excursion to The Site Museum of Yucay.
Optional Excursion: The Site Museum of Yucay, $36Join an optional visit to The Site Museum of Yucay and learn about traditional Andean textiles and natural dyes, native crops, ceramics, and many other local customs and traditions explained by the artisans themselves. Browse the beautiful selection at the museum's handcraft shop, or try your hand at creating your own!
Create your own bracelet during a textile workshop alongside master craftswomen. Listen to the experts as they teach you the basic weaving techniques and craft your one-of-a-kind bracelet to cherish forever. Then, learn how to mold cups, keros, and glasses using raw clay and a pedal lathe during a ceramics workshop! Channel your inner artist as you paint and decorate various pieces using natural pigments.
Day 5 Machu Picchu
- Transfer to Ollantaytambo station to board the Vistadome train to Machu Picchu
- Enjoy a guided tour of the ancient ruins of Machu Picchu
Inkaterra Machu Picchu Pueblo Hotel Breakfast & dinner
Full Day ItineraryAfter a short drive from your hotel to the Ollantaytambo station, board the Vistadome train that will take you through the lush Urubamba Valley. Admire the stunning scenery en route to Machu Picchu, one of the world's most spectacular and enigmatic archaeological sites (8,000 feet above sea level).
Unknown to the outside world until archaeologist Hiram Bingham rediscovered it in 1911, Machu Picchu is now the most recognizable symbol of the Inca Empire. Believed to have served as a country retreat town for Inca nobility, the complex consists of giant walls, terraces, and ramps constructed from precisely cut rock formations. This impressive architectural feat, combined with its breathtaking natural setting amid mist-covered green mountains above the rushing Urubamba River, makes for a visually stunning and mystical experience. Later, return to your hotel in Machu Picchu Pueblo for dinner and overnight.
Day 6 Machu Picchu & Cusco
- Morning at leisure or optional second visit to Machu Picchu
- Return to Ollantaytambo station by Vistadome train then transfer to Cusco by bus
Palacio del Inka Luxury Collection Breakfast
Full Day ItineraryEnjoy the morning at leisure to explore the quaint town of Aguas Calientes, revisit the citadel at Machu Picchu, or trek to the top of Huayna Picchu on an optional excursion. This afternoon, journey back to Ollantaytambo station by Vistadome train, then continue to Cusco by motor coach. Upon arrival, check into your hotel.
Optional Excursion: Second Visit to Machu Picchu, $125Early this morning, have an opportunity to visit Machu Picchu for a second time independently.
Price includes a reserved entrance ticket and roundtrip bus from Aguas Calientes to Machu Picchu. Please contact us to reserve this option in advance as availability is limited.
Note: We are not able to secure your ticket for the Second Visit to Machu Picchu until we receive your valid passport information. Tickets are only issued by the Peruvian authorities upon receipt of valid passport details.
Optional Excursion: Second Visit to Machu Picchu & Huayna Picchu, $145For the more adventurous traveler, visit Machu Picchu for a second time independently and test your limits with a climb to Huayna Picchu, the sharp peak towering above the citadel.
Price includes a reserved entrance ticket to Machu Picchu, Huayna Picchu and roundtrip bus from Aguas Calientes to Machu Picchu. Please contact us to reserve this option in advance as availability is limited.
Note: We are not able to secure your ticket for the Second Visit to Machu Picchu and Huayna Picchu until we receive your valid passport information. Tickets are only issued by the Peruvian authorities upon receipt of valid passport details.
Day 7 Cusco
- Enjoy the morning at leisure
- In the afternoon, join a city tour of Cusco
- Visit the Sacsayhuaman Fortress and Puka Pukara
Palacio del Inka Luxury Collection Breakfast & dinner
Full Day ItineraryAfter breakfast, enjoy the remainder of the morning at leisure.
This afternoon, embark on a panoramic city tour of Cusco. See the Plaza de Armas, the center of the Inca Empire, where Francisco Pizarro proclaimed the conquest of Cusco. Visit Cusco's beautiful 16th-century cathedral. Then, just a few blocks away, discover the ruins of the Koricancha, a vital temple built to honor Inti, the Incan sun god. When the conquistadors first arrived in Cusco, the temple was covered in sheets of solid gold and adorned with golden statues; however, the temple was soon stripped, and the gold was plundered as a treasure for Spain.
Next, continue to the Sacsayhuaman fortress, an emblematic Inca construction built in the 15th century. The fortress's size and massive stones are remarkable, and how they were transported, cut, and laid is still a mystery. Next, travel to Puka Pukara, also known as the "red fortress," which is thought to have been a military stronghold. It has many rooms, courtyards, bathrooms, aqueducts, and towers to explore.
Enjoy a delicious traditional dinner and live music with your fellow travelers.
Day 8 Cusco & Puno
- Transfer to the Wanchaq train station for your Perurail Titicaca ride to Puno
- Arrive at your deluxe lakeside resort for check-in
GHL Hotel Lago Titicaca or similar Breakfast & lunch
Full Day ItineraryAfter an early breakfast, transfer to the Wanchaq train station in Cusco to take the Perurail Titicaca rail to Puno. Travel across inspiring landscapes in the Peruvian Andes to reach the shores of the mystical Lake Titicaca, sitting 12,500 feet above sea level. Upon boarding, enjoy a welcome beverage to kickstart your luxurious journey. Throughout the train ride, have the freedom to move from one car to the next. Admire the impressive scenery passing by as you indulge in a 3-course gourmet lunch before sipping Peru’s flag cocktail, Pisco Sour, during an expert demonstration. Visit the Observatory Bar Car for a unique experience, where you can enjoy the marvelous views accompanied by traditional live music and shows of the Peruvian highlands and altiplano. Then, delight in afternoon tea amidst a sunset backdrop. This evening, arrive in Puno and transfer to your deluxe lakeside resort for check-in.
Day 9 Puno & Lake Titicaca
- Tour Lake Titicaca and the floating island of Uros and Taquile
- Spend the afternoon at leisure
- Join your fellow travelers for a farewell dinner
GHL Hotel Lago Titicaca or similar Breakfast, lunch & dinner
Full Day ItineraryAfter an early breakfast, visit beautiful Lake Titicaca, the largest lake in South America and, according to Andean legend, the birthplace of civilization. Legend holds that Mama Ocllo and Manco Capac, the founders of the Inca Empire, appeared from the lake's deep waters. A highlight of your tour is visiting the floating island of Uros, where many inhabitants still practice the old traditions of fishing, trapping birds, weaving, sailing, and living in houses made of totora reeds which grow abundantly in the lake.
Continue to Taquile, the largest island on the Peruvian side of the lake. Taquileños, the Island locals, are famous for their beautiful woven goods, widely regarded as some of the highest quality handicrafts in Peru. Here, take in magnificent views of the lake, which looks like an ocean surrounded by mountains. Enjoy lunch at a community restaurant on Tanquile. After lunch, explore the island for some time before you return to Puno later this afternoon.
Enjoy a farewell dinner with your fellow travelers.
Day 10 Puno & Depart Peru
- Enjoy the morning at leisure
- Embark on a city tour of Puno
- Transfer to the Juliaca airport for your flight to Lima, arriving in Miami the following morning
Breakfast
Full Day ItineraryAfter breakfast, spend the morning at leisure, enjoying the hotel’s amenities and amazing views of Lake Titicaca. After check-out, embark on a city tour of Puno, starting at the city’s colorful markets. Next, see its beautiful 18th-century cathedral on the main square and other essential landmarks along Lima Street, Puno’s main pedestrian thoroughfare. The tour concludes at the Puma Uta viewpoint with a breathtaking panoramic view of Puno and Lake Titicaca. Finally, bid adiós to Peru as you transfer to the airport in the nearby city of Juliaca for your overnight return flight via Lima.
Tambopata & Puerto Maldonado Post-Tour Extension
Day 10 Puno & Lima
- Spend the morning at leisure
- Embark on a city tour of Puno
- Transfer to the Juliaca airport for your flight to Lima
Costa del Sol Wyndham Lima Airport Breakfast
Full Day ItineraryAfter breakfast, spend the morning at leisure, enjoying the hotel’s amenities and amazing views of Lake Titicaca. After check-out, embark on a city tour of Puno, starting at the city’s colorful markets. Next, see its beautiful 18th-century cathedral on the main square and other essential landmarks along Lima Street, Puno’s main pedestrian thoroughfare. The tour concludes at the Puma Uta viewpoint with a breathtaking panoramic view of Puno and Lake Titicaca. Finally, transfer to the airport in the nearby city of Juliaca for your flight to Lima. Cross the sky bridge upon arrival and check in at your airport hotel.
Day 11 Lima & Puerto Maldonado, the Amazon
- Return to the airport via the sky bridge for your flight to Puerto Maldonado
- Enjoy an immersive introduction to the rainforest on a nature walk along the lodge's trail system
- Discover the nocturnal side of the Amazon during a twilight riverboat ride
Inkaterra Reserva Amazónica Breakfast, lunch & dinner
Full Day ItineraryThis morning, return to the airport via the sky bridge for your flight to Puerto Maldonado, the Capital of Biodiversity. Upon arrival, transfer to the pier and begin your Amazon adventure with a boat ride along the Madre de Dios River to your eco-lodge nestled in the heart of the rainforest. After a short briefing, settle into your cabana.
After lunch, retreat to your rustic-luxury cabin for a nap or a swing in your hammock, or walk along the trail system for an immersive introduction to the intricate biodiversity of the Amazon basin and rainforest layers. Wind your way through towering trees as you listen to the sounds of the wildlife inhabiting this rich ecosystem. Keep your camera ready if you spot a sloth or monkey overhead in the treetops!
Later, enjoy a twilight riverboat ride and witness the jungle transform into a nocturnal world. You might be able to spot nightjar owls, capybaras, or big caiman lurking on the riverbanks. This evening, indulge in an Amazonian-inspired dinner paired with a complimentary Pisco Sour cocktail.
Day 12 Tambopata National Reserve & Lake Sandoval
- After an early breakfast, walk along a jungle trail and board a canoe for a ride on Lake Sandoval
- Explore the Canopy Walkway and Anaconda Walk
Inkaterra Reserva Amazónica Breakfast, lunch & dinner
Full Day ItineraryThis morning, rise early for breakfast followed by a visit to Lake Sandoval, a glassy, ox-bow lake inside the protected Tambopata National Reserve. Walk along a sun-dappled jungle trail, board a dug-out wooden canoe, quietly paddle through the mangroves, and glide onto Lake Sandoval. The serene lake is home to thousands of bird species, the endangered giant river otter, red howler monkeys, red-bellied macaws, anacondas, side-neck turtles, and black caimans. Return to Inkaterra Reserva Amazonica in time for lunch.
In the afternoon, climb the exhilarating Canopy Walkway, a sophisticated and safe 1,135-foot-long network of seven ecologically constructed hanging suspension bridges between eight treetop observation platforms above the forest floor. Ascend the first tower, 124 feet above the ground, and watch for bright toucans, woodpeckers, trogons, monkeys, and the three-toed sloth. After descending from the Canopy, continue on the Anaconda Walk, a 656-foot-long raised wooden platform over the aguajales swamp. This lush ecosystem is home to various species of amphibians, birds, mammals, abundant flora, and unique trees.
Day 13 Puerto Maldonado
- See how local farmers grow forest fruits at Gamitana Farm and Creek
- Visit Hacienda Conception's bio-orchard, boasting over 200 different plant species
- Board a canoe in search of turtles, herons, and other wildlife
- Explore the rainforest by night on a guided excursion
Inkaterra Reserva Amazónica Breakfast, lunch & dinner
Full Day ItineraryAfter breakfast, journey by boat to Gamitana Farm and Creek to discover more of the rainforest's mysteries. The Amazon is a seemingly endless source of exotic fruits and vegetables. At Gamitana model farm, surrounded by the scents and sounds of the Amazon, see how a variety of produce is grown by local farmers and sample some seasonal forest fruits. Head down a dense jungle trail under the canopy to Gamitana Creek, home to piranhas, caiman, turtles, and birds.
Return to the lodge for lunch before heading to Hacienda Concepcion, built on an old cocoa and rubber plantation. With over 200 different plant species found here, see why the rainforest is often considered the world's largest pharmacy and learn their uses and benefits in this natural classroom. Then, board canoes and look for turtles, sungrebes, nightjars, and exotic herons before returning to the lodge for dinner.
Under the cover of darkness and, with an expert guide, venture out on a two-hour Rainforest by Night excursion through Inkaterra’s ecological reserve. Armed with flashlights, duck under tree boughs as your senses heighten to the movements in the undergrowth and nocturnal forest sounds that appear in different directions around you. Encounter animal activities and spot species that only emerge under the veil of night.
Day 14 Depart Peru
- Spend the morning at leisure
- Transfer to Puerto Maldonado airport for your overnight return flight via Lima
Breakfast & lunch
Full Day ItineraryEnjoy your last morning in this unspoiled natural wonderland. After lunch, board your boat for the return trip along the Madre de Dios River. Continue to the airport for your overnight return flight via Lima.
Important Notes
- The high altitudes reached on this trip (Cusco is at 11,000 feet above sea level) and the amount of walking involved, often on uneven terrain, requires that you be in good physical condition to fully enjoy the trip. We strongly suggest that you consult your physician if you have any concerns regarding your ability to handle these conditions.
- In order to visit so many of Peru's must-see sights, this tour requires several long bus rides as well as early morning departure times in order to comply with flight and train schedules. Your patience and understanding are appreciated.
Hotels
In the unlikely event that a particular hotel is not available, a similar or better hotel may be substituted.
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Trip Details
- What should I know before I go? We've compiled a comprehensive checklist, including information on how to pay your balance due, flights & transfers, packing & luggage, and more.
- Do I need a visa or other documents? Are there any entry requirements? Please review the visa & entry requirements.
- Can I make changes to my trip? Want to upgrade your seats? Stay a few extra days? Something else? Just ask!
- Can I bring my kids? Are there any age restrictions? To book this package, you must be 18 or older. Your traveling companions must be 8 or older at time of travel.
- Should I purchase travel insurance? Yes! We recommend you purchase travel insurance to help protect you and your travel investment against the unexpected. For your convenience, we offer a plan provided by Travelex Insurance Services.
- What's the fine print? Review the terms & conditions for this package.
- What should I know about Peru? Check out our guide for practical travel tips, the best time to go, videos, and more.