Wander the mysterious puzzle of heritage leading through 2,000 years of history during your 10-day Peru culture tour. Witness Machu Picchu at sunset on an exclusive guided tour and soar above the Nazca lines for a sensational view of the mysterious desert. Traverse dazzling colonial architecture and trek to ruins in the Sacred Valley. Delight in epic scenery and an adventurous spirit during your Peru tour.
Customizable Itinerary
Day 1
Lima - Some of the World's Finest Seafood
Before the heritage comes the seafood. Lima has a revered culinary scene. Here, they will fuse flavors from across the Pacific and craft dishes the rest of the world desires to copy. Even if you are not a seafood person, Lima will be the place to try as the tastes are vastly different to what you may have had before. Ceviche is the most famous dish, but it is only served at lunchtime after the fresh catch is brought in each morning. So, after a midday arrival and plenty of time to relax at the hotel, you will have reservations at a restaurant from one of the World’s Top 50 Restaurants list, where the tasting menu will provide a journey through unique Peruvian flavors.
What's Included:
Day 2
Lima - Highlights of Old Lima and Flight Above the Nazca Lines
Day 3
Arequipa - Exploring the Conquistadors City and Story
Day 4
Colca Canyon - Remote Villages and Ancient Terraces of the Collaguas
Day 5
Puno - Traditional Villages to Inca Mythology
Day 6
Puno - The Floating Islands and Communities of Lake Titicaca
Day 7
Cusco - A Local Flight to the Old Incan Capital
Day 8
Pasacto Ollantaytambo - Discovering the Sacred Valley of the Incas
Day 9
Aguas Calientes - Taking the Train to the Lost City
Day 10
Aguas Calientes - Departure
Trip Highlights
- Wander the mysterious remains of Machu Picchu and stay until sunset, remaining after everybody else has left
- Fly above the Nazca Lines and wonder about their history
- Visit traditional villages and markets in the Colca Valley, where the heritage dates back to a pre-Inca Collaguas culture
- Cruise on the waters of Lake Titicaca and meet with tribal communities that live on the floating islands
- Explore a dazzling colonial city with a day in Arequipa, which is a place that has been made rich by conquistadors
- Discover the Sacred Valley of the Incas, including salt pans and the fortress town of Ollantaytambo
- Uncover Lima’s Spanish and Incan heritage, and then taste the culinary heritage the capital has created
- Cross remote and majestic landscapes, including a train to Machu Picchu and traversing the Colca Valley
Detailed Description
Peru is famous for Machu Picchu, the lost city of the Incas and one of the new seven wonders of the world. This mountainous nation is a jigsaw puzzle of histories and mysteries, where so many of the stories went unrecorded. Communities still live on floating islands, seemingly cut off from the rest of civilization. Markets still celebrate pre-Incan beliefs while cities blend Spanish indulgence with Incan styles. The results are breathtaking as this private tour joins the dots from 2000 years of changing heritage.
Ten days is more than adequate for you to explore Peru in depth, although it does not allow time to include remote cultures of the Amazon. Instead, most of your time is spent in the mountains, where the landscapes have continually brought quarrel and change. It is wild up here, and there were not any written records before the Spanish arrived. Yet, the history you seek is not necessarily pieces from a museum or storybook. For example, sublime Collaguas terraces still stand, forming the architecture of more recent mountain villages. Also in Cusco, you will discover how Incan stone became the foundation for a Spanish city. Some stories are still not known, so while you have the best of Peru’s historical guides, there are times you must use your imagination to decipher as to what really took place.
Kick start the tour in Lima, where the heritage blurs more than a millennium of change. Although the capital does not host the most exciting aspect of your trip, there are beautiful landmarks here as well as some of the world’s finest seafood cuisine. On day two, you tour the old city and fly above the Nazca Lines, before a flight on day three takes you to Arequipa. This mountain city is Spanish and mostly unchanged, with cobbled lanes, a grand plaza, and sublime old churches. Colca Canyon takes you into nature on day four, and traditional villages and pre-Incan culture will punctuate the journey. This continues on day five as you pass llamas and alpaca on route to Puno and the birthplace of Incan mythology.
You will spend two nights on the banks of Lake Titicaca. Day six is all about the water, visiting the floating islands of Uros and Taquile, where tribal life is remarkably unchanged. Of all Peru’s historical destinations, it is the area around Cusco that is most unmissable. Machu Picchu is the most famous Incan leftover, and it is saved for last. You will take the train there on day nine and spend the afternoon in the citadel. By staying at the only hotel by the ruins, you will spend more time in Machu Picchu, enjoying it after the crowds have departed. In between, days seven and eight are stuffed with historical sights, from the old Incan capital itself to the Sacred Valley. There are so many stories and histories here, which is something that is symbolic of a private vacation to Peru. Make sure your perfect Peruvian vacation is an unforgettable one by seeing additional Peru travel ideas.
Starting Price
$3,600 per person (excluding international flights)
Your Zicasso trip is fully customizable, and this sample itinerary is a starting place for your travel plans. Actual costs are dynamic, and your selection of accommodations and activities, your season of travel, and other such variables will bring this budget guideline up or down. Throughout your planning experience with your Zicasso specialist, your itinerary is designed around your budget. You can book your trip when you are satisfied with every detail. Planning your trip with a Zicasso travel specialist is a free service.
What's Included
- Accommodations
- In-country transportation
- Some or all activities and tours
- Expert trip planning
- 24x7 support during your trip
Your final trip cost will vary based on your selected accommodations, activities, meals, and other trip elements that you opt to include.
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