PERU HIGHLIGHTS
__________________
15 DAYS
Discover the highlights of Peru on a tailor-made tour. South America Travel Centre will customise this itinerary to suit your travel needs. Below is a sample of what you might enjoy. Contact us to create your own personalised private tour of Peru.
ITINERARY SUMMARY
| Day | Place | Highlights |
| Days 1 & 2 | Lima | Colonial Lima, Larco Herrera Private Gallery |
| Day 3-4 | Sacred Valley | Sacred Valley; Pisac & Ollyantaytambo |
| Day 5-6 | Machu Picchu | Machu Picchu |
| Day 7-8 | Cuzco |
Incan Ruins, Sacsayhuaman
|
| Day 9-10 | Puno | Lake Titicaca, Uros |
| Day 11-12 | Colca Canyon | Colca Canyon, Pink City |
| Day 13-14 | Arequipa | Chivay markets, White City, Santa Catalina Convent, Plaza de Armas |
| Day 15 | Depart | End Itinerary |
Days 1-2 Lima
Overview:
Arrive in Lima, the capital of Peru, a city of plazas, churches and museums.
Enjoy a half day tour of Colonial Lima and Larco Herrera Private Gallery, containing a fascinating array of beautifully modelled pottery, unique gold and silver work, mummies and erotic ceramics from the pre-Inca civilisations. There is also an impressive display of ceramic pieces from the Moche culture which brings animals, plants and anthropological deities to life.
Featured Accommodation
Hotel B
Hotel B was built in 1914 as a private residence. This gleaming white house has undergone a 2-year restoration that preserves the original opulence and reflects the glamour of the Belle Époque – with a modern twist in its use of vintage and designer furniture.
It is located in the heart of Barranco, a bohemian-revival neighbourhood filled with historic houses and surrounded by galleries, boutiques, restaurants, and only minutes from the Pacific Ocean. After the lavish conversion, the mansion reopened as an ‘arts-boutique’ hotel, featuring a unique art collection curated by an adjacent renowned gallery. A 3-level contemporary annexe has been added and houses seven of the 17 guestrooms, along with the hotel’s signature restaurant.
Day 3-4 The Sacred Valley
Overview:
Fly from Lima to Cuzco and transfer to your accommodation in the Sacred Valley.
Explore the Sacred Valley on a full day tour.
This beautiful and fertile valley, just beyond Cuzco, features scattered villages, incredible ruins and stunning views of snow-capped mountains.
Featured Accommodation
Sol y Luna
The Sol y Luna, meaning “Sun & Moon” in English, is named for its yellow Andean adobe casitas (little houses). This charming lodge lies in a tranquil setting 1km outside Urubamba in the Sacred Valley. It is enclosed in a red-walled courtyard, encircled by eucalypts and green mountains, while gardens of white margaritas, purple salvia and red fuschias crowd around each bungalow.
The casitas feature high beamed ceilings, ceramic-tiled floors, and a rustic décor of colourful woven rugs, hand–painted frescoes and Peruvian folk art. The lodge’s restaurant is the best in the valley, renowned for its Novo-Andino fusion cuisine. Add a spa and massage centre and a small outdoor pool and you won’t want to leave!
Inkaterra Hacienda Urubamba
Located in the Sacred Valley between Cuzco and Machu Picchu, Peru, the Inkaterra Hacienda Urubamba is a modern, stylish contemporary hacienda that is the newest addition to the Inkaterra collection. The perfect sanctuary to acclimatise before heading to Machu Picchu guest can soak up the culture and history whilst being spoiled to incredible views, exquisite architecture and meals made from produce grown on the hotels’ 100 acres. All of the 12 rooms in the Casa Hacienda and 24 stand-alone luxury casitas feature incredible views of the Sacred Valley and Peruvian style architecture.
Day 5-6 Machu Picchu
Overview:
Catch the train from the Sacred Valley to Machu Picchu, the fabled lost city of the Incas. For centuries Machu Picchu lay undiscovered in the jungle until, in 1911, the American historian Hiram Bingham stumbled upon it almost by accident. Although little is known about the ‘Lost City of the Incas’, it is obvious by the quality of the stonework and the abundance of ornamental sites that Machu Picchu must have been an important ceremonial centre. Enjoy a guided tour of the incredible ruins. Stay overnight in nearby town of Aguas Calientes or alternatively you have the opportunity to stay at Sanctuary Lodge located next to Machu Picchu entrance gate.
In the morning you have the opportunity to return to Machu Picchu to further explore the ancient ruins or you can enjoy the morning at your leisure. In the afternoon return to Cuzco by train. You may wish to indulge and travel on board the Hiram Bingham Luxury Train.
Featured Accommodation
Belmond Sanctuary Lodge
The Belmond Sanctuary Lodge is the only hotel situated at the entrance to the historical citadel of Machu Picchu.
The rooms are comfortable and well-appointed, and the hotel’s service is impeccable. There are two restaurants – one serving a daily lunch buffet to all comers, and the other with delicious à la carte fare and reserved for the exclusive use of hotel guests.
Inkaterra Machu Picchu:
The Inkaterra Machu Picchu Pueblo Hotel is set among lush Andean cloudforest on a private 5-hectare mountainside reserve overlooking the Urubamba River. It has been built as a pueblo (village) of cosy 1 and 2 storey, tile-roofed whitewashed cottages, and to reach their rooms, guests follow stone pathways meandering through gardens, past waterfalls and trees alive with birds and butterflies.
Many of the guestrooms have balconies and most have an open fireplace. All feature beamed ceilings, tiled floors with colourful rugs, decorative local crafts, alpaca blankets and handmade wool coverlets.
Day 7-8 Cuzco
Overview:
Enjoy a full day Cuzco city tour. Visit the Incan ruins of Kenko, Tambo Machay and the renowned fortress of Sacsayhuaman.
Spend the following day at leisure. You may wish to relax, visit some local markets and shops or continue to explore this fascinating ancient city.
Featured Accommodation
Inkaterra La Casona
Inkaterra La Casona is a sumptuous yet sensitive conversion of a 16thC colonial manor house to a boutique hotel. This exquisite property on Las Nazarenas Square is an oasis between the San Blas artist district and Cuzco’s vibrant main plaza.
Thought to be the first Spanish construction built over an Inca complex, and later occupied by conquistadors and their descendants, La Casona operates like a private residence with all areas exclusive to its small number of guests. Amenities include ornate sitting and dining rooms, a private spa, reading lounge and outdoor terraces. The luxury suites feature stone fireplaces, original Inca wall hangings, Spanish icons and plush Baroque furnishings, discreetly blended with contemporary touches everywhere.
El Mercado Tunqui
The El Mercado Tunqui is named for the market on whose former site it is built. El Mercado is a warm and friendly, yet contemporary, boutique hotel that has embraced the market concept, with references displayed in the vibrant décor and lively atmosphere. Its breakfast room serves typical Peruvian dishes freshly cooked on the spot, just like a street vendor, while a juice lady circulates.
Rooms are well-appointed and offer Wi-Fi, free use of tablet computers and complimentary hot drinks. Suites have fireplaces and stand-alone bathtubs; some have a terrace or a private dining/living room. And there’s a charming courtyard and a stylish bar/restaurant where you can enjoy Peruvian tapas.
Day 9-10 Puno, Lake Titicaca
Overview:
Catch the Andean Explorer Train across the vast altiplano from Cuzco to Puno. This journey is considered by some to be one of the great train journeys of the world. You will pass through starkly beautiful landscapes and many small villages before arriving at Juliaca where the train stops for a short time before continuing to Puno on the shore of Lake Titicaka.
Enjoy a full day tour of Uros, an archipelago of manmade floating reed islands & Taquile Island where you will find some of the highest-quality handicrafts in Peru.
Featured Accommodation
Titilaka Lodge
Luxury on the shores of Lake Titicaca. Situated on a secluded private peninsula overlooking Lake Titicaca, Titilaka Lodge is an all-inclusive retreat, relaxed yet elegant, its contemporary design created to harmonise with the stunning landscape.
Its 18 Dawn and Dusk suites feature heated floors and spa bathrooms, with large oversize tubs and massage showers and each has an exceptional view of either the sunrise or sunset over the lake. And Titilaka offers its guests superb dining while wrap-around terraces provide the perfect vantage to enjoy sunset cocktails.
Casa Andina Private Collection
The Casa Andina Private Collection Puno is a reflection of its altiplano location, built with rustic local materials of stone, wood and clay tiles, while large stone fireplaces warm the lobby lounge and restaurant.
The glass-walled restaurant, the sunny terrace/bar, and many of the guestrooms take full advantage of the hotel’s privileged location at water’s edge, enjoying the panoramic lake views. Although rustic in appearance, decorated in an unpretentious Andean style, rooms are a good size and feature modern amenities including Wi-Fi while suites have also have a separate living room and spa baths.
Day 11-12 Colca Canyon
Overview:
Depart Puno bound for Colca Canyon in a comfortable, air-conditioned private vehicle. Along the way, pass through beautiful stark landscapes and many small villages. Stop to visit the unspoiled colonial town of Lampa, known as the “Pink City” due to the colour if its buildings. After arriving at your lodge in Colca Canyon you will have time to enjoy the hot springs.
Spend the day in Colca Canyon, one of the deepest canyons in the world. You will visit local towns and scenic lookouts hoping to see the majestic condor in flight. The views are spectacular so be sure to have your camera handy.
Featured Accommodation
Las Casitas del Colca
Las Casitas del Colca stands close to the heart of Colca Canyon. It offers seclusion and exclusivity with 20 individual casitas scattered among meandering paths and gardens. Supremely yet simply comfortable, they are decorated with the beauty of the locale in mind and an emphasis on natural materials.
Each casita boasts a lounge area with sofa and an open fireplace, beamed ceilings, a marble bathroom with double sinks and a bathtub located under a glass roof – so you can lie back and stargaze at night! All casitas have a private terrace with a piping-hot plunge pool and an outdoor shower.
Day 13-14 Arequipa
Overview:
In the morning visit the town of Chivay, with its market and handicraft shops, before setting off in your private vehicle to Arequipa. The rural countryside is very picturesque with small colonial villages and rows of pre-Inca terraces that are still in use today. The road climbs out of the Colca Canyon reaching the highest part of the journey at Patapampa (4,800m). As the road descends into Arequipa there are great views of Misti and Chachani volcanoes.
Arequipa is the second largest city in Peru. It is located in a beautiful valley at the foot of the snow-capped “El Misti” Volcano, and is known as the “White City” because it is mostly constructed from white volcanic material. Arequipa has fine Spanish buildings and many old and interesting churches.
Enjoy a half day tour of Arequipa including the Plaza de Armas, the Jesuit La Compania Church with its beautifully painted chapel, and the famous Santa Catalina Convent which was only opened to visitors in 1970 after centuries of mystery. The convent is a walled village within the city where you can spend many hours wandering amongst the myriad corridors and rooms and listening to its fascinating history.
Featured Accommodation
Casa Andina Private Collection Arequipa
The Casa Andina Private Collection Arequipa was originally the city’s Mint. This traditional building dates from 1794 and was remodelled just a few years ago to open as a fine hotel. The restoration uncovered original frescoes, reliefs, and even a chapel, and the architecture is now an interesting mix of contemporary and colonial.
Located in either the original manor house or the new annex off the second colonial courtyard, all suites and rooms are spacious and many have views of the city. The gourmet restaurant, bar, and courtyard are evocative areas in which to relax, with their white volcanic stone walls, thick columns, and stucco.
La Hosteria
La Hosteria stands in the historic centre of Arequipa, just a block from the Santa Catalina Convent and close to the commercial area and restaurants. This charming and well preserved 19th century colonial hotel is a traditional B&B with a flower-bedecked courtyard, a lounge with carefully chosen antiques, and a sunny terrace where breakfast is served.
The pleasantly decorated rooms are light and quiet (front rooms may suffer some street noise) and the bathrooms, although small, have modern amenities. Apartment-style suites on the upper floors are spacious with large bathrooms and exceptional city views.
Day15 – Depart Arequipa
Overview:
To complete your Peru holiday you may consider adding a trip to the Nazca Lines or venture into the Amazon on an Amazon Lodge experience or Amazon River boat experience.