Lima to La Paz - 14 days

Welcome to Peru! Upon arrival at Lima airport you’ll be met and transferred to our hotel in the popular Miraflores district of the city. The rest of the day is free to relax or explore the city before our welcome meeting at 6pm this evening where you will meet your tour leader.

Today we explore the beautiful city of Lima, also known as the 'city of kings', we'll visit the well preserved historical centre. Making our way through Plaza San Martin, we'll also take in Plaza Mayor, the Government Palace and the City Hall. Our tour of the city continues with a visit to the San Francisco Monastery and it's famous underground crypts which are home to an estimated 70,000 remains. This bright yellow architectural wonder is also home to an incredible library, holding thousands of antique texts, some of which pre-date the conquest in the 16th century. Later we'll head through the residential districts of San Isidro and Miraflores, passing by Huaca Pucllana, a clay pyramid that was the ceremonial and administrative centre of the Lima culture and later considered a sacred town by the Inca's. Next up we'll stop at El Olivar park, a peaceful space where we'll find olive trees that were brought to Peru in the 15th century. Our final stop on today's tour of Lima is El Parque del Amor, this romantic spot is situated on the cliffs of Miraflores overlooking the Pacific ocean. The rest of the day is at leisure for you to explore this fascinating city at your own pace. With Lima fast becoming one of the gastronomic capitals of the world, be sure to taste some of the delicious local cuisine.

Lima - Puerto Maldonado. Transferring to the airport this morning we board our flight to Puerto Maldonado. We’ll then travel by canoe to our wonderful jungle Eco lodge. After lunch we will embark on a walk along the property’s nature trails. Your guide will explain the importance of the rainforest and the vital role that this ecosystem plays in the equilibrium of the planet. As the sun begins to set we head back in the canoes, hopefully spotting some of the nocturnal animals that are found in this area as well as learning about the constellations.

Puerto Maldonado - Cusco. This morning travel back to Puerto Maldonado before flying onwards to Cusco, after arriving into Cusco you'll have the chance to relax and adjust to the altitude. This beautiful city full of history and intrigue, is located 3,399m above sea level.

Cusco - The Sacred Valley. Bidding farewell to Cusco we travel on to the Sacred Valley today. Our first stop is the popular Pisac markets where we will have the chance to see the variety of colourful handicrafts on offer. Originally only held on Sundays, Pisac Market was a place for artisans from across the region to trade in their products. Today the market is a daily occurrence where locals and visitors alike can find some of the finest textiles, jewellery and clothing typical of this area of Peru. Then we travel on to the remarkable Ollantaytambo fortress which was constructed to guard the entrance to this part of the valley and protect it from possible invasions of tribes from the jungle lowlands. One of the best examples of Incan architecture, many of the inhabitants of Ollantaytambo still live according to the customs and traditions they have inherited from generations of ancestors, leading to it being known as a living Inca town.

Sacred Valley - Machu Picchu - Cusco. We have an exciting day ahead, starting with a short drive to the Ollantaytambo train station where we'll take a scenic train journey to Aguas Calientes early this morning, remember to look out the windows as the scenery along the way is utterly breathtaking. Watch as the landscape changes from Andean Highlands to the beginning of the Jungle. Upon arrival we board the bus up to Machu Picchu where you'll enjoy a guided tour of the magnificent lost city and have plenty of free time to explore and take photos. For many visitors to Peru, Machu Picchu is the main highlight and rightly so, with its incredible history and beautiful views it's a truly mystical part of the country. Macchu Picchu was built in the 15th, believed to be as an estate for the Inca Emperor Pachacuti, it was abandoned only a century after completion during the Spanish conquest, however, it lay largely unknown until 1911 when the American historian and explorer Hiram Bingham brought it to the worlds attention. Later this afternoon take the train back to Cusco.

Enjoy a free day in Cusco today to explore the city at your own pace. Alternatively you may wish to partake in one of the optional activities on offer today. You may wish to join a trip to the small town of Chinchero, an authentic Andean village. Or perhaps try your hand at a Peruvian culinary experience, with a unique insight into Peru's food and culture. A local chef will aid you in creating some exquisite dishes.

Cusco - Puno. After an early breakfast, we’ll travel by bus to Puno, passing by the lovely Wacarpay Lake, with spectacular views of the mountains reflected in its calm waters. Along the way we’ll make a couple of stops, the first one being in Andahuaylillas to see the Church of San Pedro, which has been given the nickname the Sistine Chapel of the Americas. Moving along, we pass through herds of llamas and spectacular landscapes until we get to Ayaviri, an important livestock and textile centre. Here, we’ll be able to lay eyes on the Temple of Kalasaya, remnants of a Pucara structure. After a stop for lunch at a countryside restaurant, we continue on to Puno, our base for the next two nights.

Puno - La Paz. Bidding farewell to our Peruvian tour leader we travel by public bus around the shores of Lake Titicaca and across the border to La Paz in Bolivia. At an altitude of 3660 metres, La Paz is one of the world’s highest cities. The imposing Mount Illimani looms in the background whilst below lies a valley full of sensational surprises. Buildings cling to the sides of the canyon that the city was built in and spill spectacularly downwards. Sprawling shanty towns give way to affluent high-rise apartments as the city’s central tree-lined thoroughfare runs through the downtown core.

On day 13 we'll head out to explore this captivating city, starting with a tremendous perspective of the city at the Killi Killi viewpoint, we'll make our way to Murillo Square, the main square in La Paz and home to the Presidential Palace, the National Congress of Bolivia and the Cathedral of La Paz. Be sure to look out for the clock on the Bolivian congress building, which in 2014 was changed by the Bolivian government to turn anti-clockwise. The government at the time said it was to help Bolivians to treasure their heritage, question established norms and think creatively! Our exploration continues as we descend into the mesmerising Moon Valley, this rocky landscape which has been created by centuries of weathering is quite an incredible sight. Next we'll take a ride in a cable car across the city, giving an impressive panorama of the city on one of the most innovative and ecological uses of mass public transport. We'll find ourselves at the witches market next, where many mystical objects of Andean rituals and sorcery are on sale, from dried frogs to llama foetuses for Aymara rituals. We then continue to the beautiful San Francisco church with it's exquisite carvings on the facade, it is one of the largest colonial architectural complexes found in Latin America.

Today our tour comes to an end with a transfer to the airport. Alternatively opt to extend your stay to explore La Paz and perhaps visit the spectacular Uyuni Salt Flats - we can arrange a private tour for you upon request.