THE COMPLETE PERU TOUR 16D-15N

OVERVIEW

This tour is for those who wish to see the whole of Peru in just over two weeks. We plan this entire itinerary for your ease and the simplicity of seeing as many places during your trip to Peru.

We start the trip by picking you up in Lima. Then we enjoy a city tour after you have recovered from the travel. Then driving down the coast of Peru we hit Paracas and see the National Park and Ballestas Islands. Next, going to Ica we have a city tour and see the beautiful desert oasis ‘Huacachina’. From here, we take a breathtaking flight over the Nazca lines and then move on to the city of Arequipa. Here we enjoy a city tour before heading to the Colca Canyon for a couple of days. A bus is then taken to get to Puno where we stay and enjoy Lake Titicaca. Staying in a home-stay here for one night we really understand and appreciate the life and culture of living here. Next, we drive to Cusco where we spend our remaining days enjoying and exploring; the city, the Sacred Valley and finally Machu Picchu. 

ITINERARY

DAY 1: ARRIVAL IN Lima

You will be met upon your arrival at Lima airport by one of our representatives, who will explain to you all the plan for the following days and deliver the trip documents.

We will then drive you to your hotel for the night in Lima.

Duration of this drive: 1 hour approximately

Once we arrive at the hotel, we will help you to check in and make sure that you are comfortable. We will then go over the itinerary for following days and provide you with all of the relevant tickets of entry.

The rest of the day will be at leisure to rest and relax and enjoy the facilities of the hotel. Please ask our representative or the hotel staff for recommendations to enjoy in the area.  

Accommodation: 01 Night in a Lima hotel included

Meals: —

DAY 2: LIMA city tour

At 9:00 hrs, the guide and driver will meet you at the hotel in to pick you up and start the tour to Lima city.

Today, you will visit Pachacamac, a Pre-Inca archaeological complex, drive through Pantanos de Villa (panoramic visit), a preserved area in the middle of the city, have lunch in a local restaurant. Afternoon visit of Lima, UNESCO site, visit The Convent of San Francisco and its chilling catacombs, walk the streets of Lima.

Highlights of this tour include:

– Pachacamac, an impressive Pre-Inca Ceremonial Centre overlooking the sea.

• – A drive through a natural protected area, marshes in the middle of the city.
• – Historic downtown of Lima (Unesco site), walk through its most important streets to         observe its architecture, monuments, traditional bars, etc.
• – Visit the Convent of San Francisco, its solemn library and its chilling catacombs.

After the tour has concluded, we will return back to the Lima hotel where you can enjoy the evening.

Accommodation: 01 Night in a Lima hotel included

Meals: Breakfast and lunch

DAY 3: LIMA – paracas

At 6am you will be picked up with transport from your hotel in Lima to Paracas. You will have a driver that will come to your hotel and wait for you in the lobby before your departure. The driver will then take you to the main bus station where you will board a bigger bus that will drive you directly to Paracas.

Upon your arrival in Paracas, you will meet your tour guide and driver for the day. They will take you to the start of your tour around the National Reserve Park in which Paracas is most famous for. 

The tour will begin at 2pm and will last the duration of the afternoon. All entrance tickets will be provided throughout the tour. 

Once the tour has concluded, you will be taken to your hotel to spend the night in Paracas.

Accommodation: 01 Night in a Paracas hotel included

Meals: Breakfast

DAY 4: PARACAS – ica

At 7am after breakfast, you will be picked up and taken for a guided trip around the Ballestas Islands. This tour will take roughly three hours including transport there.

After the tour and once you have returned back to shore, a bus will be there to take you to Ica City.  

Duration of this drive: 1 hour and 30 minutes approximately

On arrival in Ica bus station, you will be transferred to the start of the tour. This transfer will take about a further 20 minutes to arrive. 

At 2pm after you have had a chance to rest after the bus journeys, you will be taken for a detailed tour that will last until about 4 / 5pm. After the tour you will have free time to explore Huacachina and then taken back to your hotel for the night in Ica.

Accommodation: 01 Night in an Ica hotel included

Meals: Breakfast

DAY 5: ICA – Nazca 

After breakfast, you will be picked up by your driver and taken to the local touristic bus stop. From here you will hop on the bus that will drive you to the Nazca lines. 

Duration of this drive: 2 hours approximately

Once you arrive in Nazca you will have tickets to fly over the Nazca lines at 11:30am. When you have landed again you will have a transfer out of the Nazca area with time to explore on your own beforehand.

Later you will be driven to Arequipa on the night bus. 

Accommodation: N/A

Meals: Breakfast

DAY 6: AREQUIPA

Upon arrival in Arequipa, you will be met at the bus station with a driver with your name on a sign. They will take you directly to your Arequipa hotel for this night and help you to check in. 

Once you have checked into your hotel you can spend the remainder of the morning relaxing and recovering from the bus journey. 

At 2pm your city tour of Arequipa will begin. Your guide will come to your hotel and pick you up to begin the tour. A detailed tour lasting the duration of the afternoon will be given.

After your city tour of Arequipa has concluded, you will be taken back to your hotel where you will spend the night. 

Accommodation: 01 Night in an Arequipa hotel included

Meals: Breakfast

DAY 7: colca canyon

After breakfast, you will be picked up by your driver and driven to the Colca Canyon. Once you arrive at the Colca Canyon you will begin your two day tour. Seeing all of the main sites you will have an English speaking guide who will explain all of the different places in detail. 

All entrance tickets will be provided to you. 

At midday lunch will be served at a local restaurant. After lunch will be served to you, you will continue to the tour through the Colca Canyon. 

Once the tour has come to an end you will be dropped at your hotel where you will spend one night. 

Accommodation: 01 Night in a Colca Canyon hotel included

Meals: Breakfast and lunch

DAY 8: COLCA CANYON – puno

This morning you will be picked up by the same guide from the previous day. You will then all continue with the second day of the Colca Canyon tour. Again, all of your entrance tickets will be provided throughout the day. At midday you will enjoy lunch at another local restaurant in the Canyon.

After lunch you will be transferred to the Chivay where you will board the bus that will take you to Puno.

Duration of this drive: 6 hours approximately

Upon arrival in Puno, one of our representatives will meet you at the bus stop and transfer you to your hotel for the night. 

Accommodation: 01 Night in a Puno hotel included

Meals: Breakfast and lunch

DAY 9: lake titicaca

After breakfast, at approximately 6.30am, the bus will pick you up and drive to the port, where you will board the boat to the Uros Islands, the famous floating Islands of Lake Titicaca. 

You will stay around 45 minutes, in which time you can observe the way of life of the people living there. 

Then you will continue by boat to Taquile, arriving at the port on the north of the island, from where you will begin a walk of around one hour to the highest point on the Island. 

You will visit the main square and the market. The main attraction of Taquile Island is that the people continue in the life style established by the Incas.

You will enjoy of lunch in a local restaurant.

After lunch you will continue the tour and you will finish on one of the floating islands where you will spend one night.

Accommodation: 01 Night in accommodation on the floating villages included

Meals: Breakfast and local lunch

DAY 10: LAKE TITICACA – puno

This morning you will wake up on one of the floating islands and enjoy breakfast with the locals whilst enjoying the amazing scenery. 

After breakfast, you will board the boat once more and continue the tour. Stopping at midday for lunch.

Once you have eaten, the tour will continue for a while longer. Soon after the boat will dock and you will be transferred to your hotel in Puno where you will spend the night. 

Accommodation: 01 Night in a Puno hotel included

Meals: Breakfast and lunch

DAY 11: PUNO – cusco

Early that morning after breakfast you will be picked up from your hotel by your driver and taken to Puno’s bus station. You will then take a touristic bus from Puno to Cusco.

On our trip of about 10 hours, you will have 4 excursions and guided tours of the places of interest along the southern corridor of the altiplano. 

You will visit the temple at Andahuaylillas known as the Sistine Chapel of the Americas, the Inca temple of Raqchi, the high pass of La Raya at 4335 meters above sea level, and the Inca Aymara museum of Pukara. Each tour will take from 20 to 40 minutes.

Afterwards you will enjoy the typical buffet lunch in a comfortable restaurant in the city of Sicuani.

Upon arrival in Cusco, a Pachatusantrek representative will be waiting for you to go to the hotel where you will stay overnight.

Accommodation: 01 Night in a Cusco hotel included

Meals: Breakfast and lunch

DAY 12: CUSCO city tour

The morning will be free for you to explore Cusco on your own and acclimatize to the change in altitude. Please feel free to utilize the tickets that were given to you the previous day – this will give you access to all of the places within Cusco. 

At 13:30 hrs, we will meet you at the door of the Cathedral, in the main Plaza, to start the group guided city tour. Our representative will explain to you how to get the Main Plaza from your hotel. You can also take advantage and have lunch there before the tour.

This tour includes the visits to the Main Plaza, where the Cathedral is located. This Cathedral is impressive because of its paintings from the Cusco school. 

Next you will visit the Temple of the Sun, known as the Qorikancha, this enclosure was one of the most important buildings in the time of the Incas, its walls were covered with gold plates and it was built in honor of the Sun God (Inti).

Lastly you will visit the four ruins surrounding the city of Cusco; Q´enqo, Pukapukara, Tambomachay and Sacsayhuaman, the latter being one of the best architectural works of the Tawantinsuyo (Inca empire).

The tour will usually finish at the main plaza, or if you wish you can stop at Centro Qosqo de Arte Nativo, where there is a folk show. Ask your guide about this for more information.

Return to hotel, overnight.

The rest of the day will be for leisure, resting and relaxing for a better acclimatization.

Accommodation: 01 Night in a Cusco hotel included

Meals: Breakfast 

DAY 13: sacred valley of the incas

At 7:00 hrs, we will pick you up from the hotel and we will walk a short distance to the meeting point.

You will go to the Sacred Valley of the Inkas, visiting the complex of Pisac on the way, located 33 km/ 20 miles from the city of Cuzco. Pisac is one of the most important archaeological sites in the Sacred Valley, as it was during Inka times, the city was built in the form of an animal; Pisac means partridge, and it has the same shape. There are agricultural terraces built by the Inkas which are still used today.

With military, religious and agricultural constructions, the site would have had at least a triple function.

After visiting the typical and famous Pisac market, you will enjoy the lunch in a local authentic restaurant.

Then you will continue your journey to Ollantaytambo (2792 masl / 9160 ft). Ollantaytambo was an important fortress, due to its great surrounding walls, it was actually used as a storage city, strategically located in the Sacred Valley. 

It is a living Inca town, and its narrow stone streets make it an attractive and relaxing place. 

Later, when the tour has concluded – you will be taken to Ollantaytambo where you will be guided to the train station. Here, you will all board the Voyager train that will take you to Aguas Calientes. 

Upon your arrival at Aguas Calientes train station you will be met by the hotel staff.

At 19:00 hrs, the tour guide for Machu Picchu will go to the hotel and give you a briefing and arrange the time for the tour to Machu Picchu next day. 

You will arrange all the details with the guide (meeting time, point)

Accommodation: 01 Night in an Aguas Calientes hotel included

Meals: Breakfast and lunch

DAY 14: machu picchu

Today, you will go to the bus station where you will take the bus to the archaeological complex of Machu Picchu, knows as the “Lost City of the Inkas” where you will visit its principal plazas and temples.

The tour of Machu Picchu will allow you to understand the high level of development the Andean civilization achieved through the Inkas.

As a supremely religious site, Machu Picchu demonstrates the superior knowledge achieved in both astronomy and astrology. This knowledge was gained by measuring dry and rainy seasons through the solstices, and was indispensable for the development of agriculture. 

Your tour will be a detailed tour lasting the duration of the morning. Once the tour has concluded, you will have the opportunity to explore Machu Picchu on your own. After the tour, you will enjoy lunch in Aguas Calientes.

In the afternoon, you will take the train back to Poroy (Cusco’s closest station), where our driver will be waiting for you to drive back to the hotel in Cusco. 

Duration of this driving: 20 minutes approximately

Accommodation: 01 Night in a Cusco hotel included

Meals: Breakfast and lunch

DAY 15: cusco free day

Today will be yours to enjoy the city of Cusco on your own. You will have all of the necessary tickets from the first day at your disposal to use today. Therefore, you can go to any of the sites or ruins with your tickets and walk around on your own. 

Please ask a member of our team if you would like recommendations on places to go, eat or drink for this day and we will be more than happy to advise.

Accommodation: 01 Night in a Cusco hotel included

Meals: Breakfast 

DAY 16: CUSCO – Airport

Breakfast will be served at the hotel. The morning will then be yours to enjoy and relax. 

2 hours before your flight, we will pick you up and take you to the airport. Once we are at the airport we will help you to check in and make sure that you get on your flight safely. 

Accommodation: N/A

Meals: Breakfast 

PRICE

Group Service – Price per Person
1	2	3	4 – 10
USD	USD	USD	USD
Private Service – Price per Person
1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10
USD	USD	USD	USD	USD	USD	USD	USD	USD	USD

SERVICES INCLUDED

• Transfer in Lima: From the airport to the hotel – Day 1 
• 02 nights of hotel in Lima – breakfast included – Day 1 & Day 2
• Full day tour in Lima – Day 2
• Transportation, guide and entrance tickets – Day 2
• Transfer from Lima hotel to bus stop – Day 3
• Bus from Lima to Paracas – Day 3
• Transfer from Paracas Bus station to Paracas National Park – Day 3
• 01 night in a Paracas Hotel – Day 3
• Ballestas Islands morning tour – Day 4 
• Transfer to Paracas Bus Station – Day 4
• Bus from Paracas to Ica – Day 4
• 01 night in a Ica Hotel – Day 4
• Transfer from Ica hotel to bus station – Day 5 
• Bus from Ica to Nazca – Day 5
• Transfer in Nazca – Day 5
• Nazca over flight tour – Day 5
• Overnight bus from Nazca to Arequipa – Day 5
• Transfer from Arequipa Bus station to hotel – Day 6
• 01 night in Arequipa Hotel – Day 6
• City tour in Arequipa – Day 6
• Colca Canyon 2 day tour – Day 7 & Day 8 
• Colca Canyon Lunch – Day 7 & Day 8
• Entrance tickets to the Colca Canyon – Day 7 & Day 8
• 01 night in the Colca Lodge – Day 7
• Bus from Chivay to Puno – Day 8
• Transfer from Puno bus station to Puno hotel – Day 8
• 02 nights in Puno Casa Andina Hotel – Day 8 & Day 10
• Lake Titicaca 2 day tour –  Day 9 & Day 10 
• Lunch on Lake Titicaca – Day 9 & Day 10
• 01 nights accommodation on the floating village – Day 9 
• Transfer to Puno bus station – Day 11 
• Bus from Puno to Cusco – Day 11
• Transfer to Cusco hotel – Day 11
• 04 nights in a Cusco Hotel – Day 11, 12, 14 & 15 
• Half day guided city tour in Cusco – Day 12  
• Transportation and guide – Day 12
• Entrance ticket to the Cathedral – Day 12
• Entrance ticket to the Temple of the Sun – Day 12
• General tourist ticket – valid for 10 days – starting day – Day 12
• Full day Sacred Valley tour – group service – Day 12
• Buffet lunch at a Sacred Valley restaurant – Day 13
• Inca Rail train ticket from Ollantaytambo to Aguas Calientes – Day 13  
• Briefing for the tour to Machu Picchu – Day 13  
• 01 night of hotel in an Aguas Calientes Hotel – Day 13  
• Guide to Machu Picchu – Day 14 
• Entrance fee to Machu Picchu – Day 14
• Round trip bus ticket to Machu Picchu – Day 14
• Lunch in Aguas Calientes – Day 14
• Inca Rail train ticket from Aguas Calientes to Poroy – Day 14
• Transfer from Poroy train station to Cusco – Day 14
• Transfer from Cusco hotel to airport – Day 16

SERVICES not INCLUDED

• International airfares
• Airport departure taxes or visa fees
• Excess baggage charges
• Additional nights during the trip due to flight cancellations
• Alcoholic beverages or bottled water, 
• Snacks,
• Insurance of any kind
• Laundry
• Phone calls or messages
• Not detailed meals
• Extra expenses
• Tips (optional)

DETAILS

WE RECOMMEND THAT YOU BRING

• Comfortable walking shoes (trainers and sandals)
• Warm clothing (hat, gloves, socks)
• Waterproof clothing (poncho – during rainy season)
• Cap
• Sunglasses
• Sun block
• Insect repellant
• Water bottles such as Nalgene
• Basic medical kit
• ID / original passport (it is necessary to carry it to Machu Picchu)

PLEASE NOTE

• Ask for our other combinations of 4 days programs, we have more possible alternatives
• The mentioned prices are based on hostels, please ask our prices for other kind of lodging and categories of hotels
• This program can be quoted in private services too
• Payments by bank deposit or wire transfers. payments with credit cards apply 10% of commission

USEFUL INFORMATION

Rates for not resident in Peru

Foreigners who are not resident in Peru are exonerated from paying the 18% extra on hotel rates, and must present their Immigration card (given to them upon entrance to Peru) for this. If they do not, the hotel has every right to charge them the aforementioned percentage on top of the published rate. 

Group services

Shared service tours can vary depending on the wishes of the group and organization with the service provider. Please check the differences between our shared and private service tours.

Dry temperature (from April to October)

Average of maximum temperature of 25 ºC and minimum of 5ºC

In the months of June and August the temperature could be 0ºC (32 ºF), this the season known as freeze

The climate conditions are:

Freeze mornings, at noon it could be warmer, cold afternoons and windy and very cold nights

Rainy season (from November to March)

Maximum temperatures average of 20 ºC and minimum of 10ºC

The weather conditions are:

Rain at any moment, the weather changes very often. It could be warm in the mornings and windy in the afternoon.

Currency

It is possible to pay with all the credit cards (the majority of commercial places accept them); you can also use soles, dollars or Euros.

It is easy to Exchange dollars to national currency in a very trustable and safe way through banks or exchange houses or at your same hotel

Please remember that when you are traveling in Peru, you have to carry bills of low denomination for extra expenses, tips, taxis, purchases, etc

Safety

The tourist areas are safe, but it is always recommendable to have some care with your personal effects. We suggest you to leave your value stuff at the safety box at the hotel.

It is recommendable to walk in a safety way inside the city

Once you need a taxi service, please call to an authorized agency, you can ask for this at the hotel front desk.

Altitude sickness

The city of Cusco is located at 3400 meters (11155 feet), this is why it is easy to feel headache, fatigue, short breath. We suggest you to drink coca tea (a millenary plant with medicinal effects. This is a sacred plant in the Andean World.

If you have heart problems please ask to your doctor before your trip to Cusco.

In case of any emergency with this altitude sickness we have a specialized medical stuff.

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IMPORTANT ENVIRONMENTAL NOTE

Pachatusantrek is committed to following the principles of ecotourism in our operations, and request the understanding and cooperation of trekkers, especially by not contaminating the waters and in the adequate disposal of non-biodegradable waste.  We must also respect the customs and traditions of the local people.