In Lima: A hotel pickup will take you on a guided tour of the city, covering major attractions such as the historical center, San Martín Square, the iconic Plaza de Armas (the most treasured site in Lima’s historic district), and the Convent of San Francisco, known for its catacombs. The tour continues to the modern district of Miraflores, featuring the Park of Love, which offers breathtaking views of the Pacific Ocean. The guided tour of Lima lasts about 4 hours.

After the tour, you will be transferred to the terminal for a double-decker bus journey to Paracas Bay.

In Paracas: Upon arrival, you will be picked up and transferred to your selected hotel. Overnight in Paracas.

Meals: Breakfast.

In Paracas: Enjoy a boat excursion to the Ballestas Islands, often referred to as the “Peruvian Galápagos.” These rocky islands, accessible only by boat, are off-limits to visitors to protect their wildlife. They are famous for a remarkable variety of animal species, including birds (like geese and partridges), Peruvian cormorants, Bougainvillea pelicans, seagulls, and vultures, as well as small Humboldt penguins, dolphins, and sea lions that inhabit some of their beaches. The islands are located about 90 minutes off the coast of Paracas. Visiting this archipelago is significantly cheaper than a trip to the Galápagos Islands in Ecuador.

Next, visit the sand dunes of Ica and the Huacachina oasis: Begin with a guided tour of a traditional winery that produces grappa, including the renowned Pisco. You will learn about the entire Pisco-making process and tour the winery with an employee. After the winery visit, guests are invited to taste different varieties of Pisco and wines produced there. The tour continues with a visit to the Regional Museum of Ica, one of the most important museums on Peru’s southern coast, featuring fascinating artifacts from various cultures that lived in the region. Finally, we will head to Huacachina Oasis, located just 5 km from Ica’s center. Enjoy the serene atmosphere of this beautiful lagoon and explore the area for stunning photos. The towering dunes surrounding the oasis provide an excellent setting for sandboarding.

We recommend taking a dune buggy tour for an exhilarating experience on the sand—perfect for thrill-seekers!

At the designated time, you will be transferred to the terminal for a 2-hour bus ride to Nazca. Upon arrival in Nazca, you will be picked up at the bus terminal and privately transferred to your selected hotel. Overnight in Nazca.

Meals: Breakfast, lunch.

The Nazca Lines are geoglyphs drawn on the arid plateau between Nazca and Palpa, covering approximately 80 kilometers in southern Peru. There are over 300 distinct designs, including stylized representations of common animals in the area, such as whales, parrots, a lizard over 590 feet (180 meters) long, hummingbirds, condors, and a giant spider around 148 feet (45 meters) long. In total, the geoglyphs consist of over 10,000 lines, some measuring 98 feet (30 meters) wide and extending over 5.6 miles (9 km), making them easily visible from the air or from nearby hills. These figures include trees, wings (or shells), alligator astronauts, whales, dogs, hummingbirds, shells, condors, iguanas, blades, lizards, hands, mythological orcas, parrots, pelicans (or alcatraz), spiders, monkeys, snakes, spirals, stars, and more. The Nazca lines demonstrate impressive precision, with very small angles of deflection, and their proportions are remarkable, showcasing the ancient inhabitants’ advanced understanding of geometry.

At the scheduled time, you will transfer to the terminal for a double-decker bus trip to Arequipa. Upon arrival, you will be picked up and transferred to your selected hotel. Overnight in Arequipa.

Meals: Breakfast.

Exploring Arequipa: This city has been a UNESCO World Heritage site since 2000. Its charm comes from the fusion of Spanish and indigenous cultures, visible in its unique architecture. Known as the “white city” for the color of its buildings, Arequipa features the famous Santa Catalina Monastery and the Plaza de Armas, home to an impressive cathedral. During this guided tour, you will visit the Santa Catalina Monastery, a vast complex surrounded by beautiful walls, making it one of the most captivating religious buildings in Peru. The main square of Arequipa remains free of modern constructions, serving as an open-air museum of sillar architecture, which is distinctive and visually striking.

Trip to Chivay (Colca Canyon): This journey offers travelers the chance to witness one of the most breathtaking attractions, the Colca Valley and Colca Canyon. The first stop is at the Salinas and Aguada Blanca National Reserve to observe wildlife such as vicuñas, alpacas, and llamas. We will then stop at the Mirador de los Volcanes to admire a variety of volcanoes reaching over 16,404 feet (5,000 meters), including Misti, Chachani, Pichupichu, Hualcahualca, Sabancaya, Chucura, and the Chila mountain range. Upon arriving in Chivay, there is an option to visit the thermal baths in the afternoon. Overnight in Chivay.

Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner.

Colca Canyon Excursion: Today, you will visit several Andean villages, including Yanque, Maca, and Pinchollo, for brief stops and photo opportunities. The highlight of the tour is a stop at Cruz del Cóndor, where you can see the majestic Andean Condor in flight—a truly spectacular natural display! Afterward, return to Chivay for lunch, with leisure time to explore the village and enjoy the thermal baths. Overnight in Chivay.

Meals: Breakfast.

Trip to Llachon Community by Private Car: This route features breathtaking scenery. Along the paved road, you will pass through small towns and see a beautiful lagoon called Lagunillas, where trout farms are located. If you’re lucky, you might spot Andean flamingos and various other birds. A highlight of this journey is the burial towers of Sillustani, impressive cylindrical structures built long before the Incas. These towers are considered some of the finest and most perfectly cylindrical constructions of ancient Peru, unmatched in their perfection throughout South America. If time permits, an optional tour to Sillustani will provide insight into pre-Inca civilizations, allowing you to appreciate the beauty of Umayo Lagoon at the base of the Sillustani platform.

Upon arrival in Llachon, enjoy stunning views of the lake and take short hikes to surrounding hills with beautiful lookout points and ancient ceremonial sites. About 1,300 residents live on this peninsula, belonging to the Quechua ethnic group.

To Ticonata Island and Its Mummies: Take a short boat trip to Ticonata Island, where various archaeological remains have been discovered, including funerary baskets, mummies, and ceremonial vessels. These artifacts are currently displayed in the Tiahuanaco Museum located on the island. Overnight in the Llachon community homestay.

Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner.

To Taquile Island: Upon arriving at Taquile, we will walk along a narrow path, taking in the views of Lake Titicaca and the traditional houses of the Quechua people. In the main square, you will have some free time to explore independently. Later, we will enjoy lunch at a local restaurant, which typically serves grilled trout. After lunch, we will head down to the dock to board our motorboat for the continuation of our excursion.

To Uros Floating Islands: We will continue our journey to visit the Uros and their community. The Uros, or Uru, are an indigenous group living on the floating islands of Lake Titicaca, the highest navigable lake in the world. There is truly no other place like this on Earth. Finally, we will return to Puno and transfer to your selected hotel for an overnight stay.

Meals: Breakfast, lunch.

Route of the Sun from Puno to Cusco: This journey offers a delightful way to travel along the Puno route to Cusco while enjoying the famous “Route of the Sun.” The trip departs from Puno and heads to Cusco, covering nearly 248 miles (400 km) between the two cities, including five noteworthy stops:

• Pucará:Known as the Temple of Fertility.
• La Raya Pass:Recognized for its beautiful Andean landscape.
• Sicuani:A rural area where we will enjoy a delicious buffet lunch.
• Raqchi:Home to the Temple of Wiracocha, the creator of the Andean world.
• Andahuaylillas Colonial Temple:Often referred to as the Sixtine Chapel of America.

Pucará Museum: Located at an altitude of 12,467 feet (3,800 meters), Pucará was the first major population center in the Titicaca basin during the Late Formative Period (500 BC-200 AD). This site provides crucial insights into the origins of Andean civilization in the highlands. At its peak, it covered over a square kilometer and was home to thousands of bureaucrats, priests, artisans, farmers, shepherds, and possibly warriors. The Pucará style is characterized by impressive monolithic sculptures featuring a variety of geometric, zoomorphic, and intricate anthropomorphic designs, along with multicolored ceramics used for both ritual and daily purposes.

Abra La Raya: This pass sits at an elevation of 14,232 feet (4,338 meters) and serves as the watershed between the valley flowing into Lake Titicaca and the valley leading to Cusco and the Sacred Valley.

Marangani Buffet Lunch: Marangani (Sicuani) is located at an altitude of 11,617 feet (3,552 meters) and is a relatively large highland city, acting as a key junction for travelers heading to Puno or Arequipa. Surrounded by stunning snowy hills, you will enjoy a buffet lunch at our exclusive restaurant with a welcoming family atmosphere.

Raqchi – Temple of Wiracocha: At an elevation of 10,577 feet (3,225 meters), Raqchi features the most significant building in the complex, the “Wiracocha Temple.” According to ancient chroniclers, it was built by the Inca Wiracocha to honor the invisible Supreme God of the Andean people, Apu Kon Titi Wiracocha. This temple is a remarkable construction for its time, classified architecturally as a “Kallanka,” meaning a tall building entirely covered with straw.

Arrive in Cusco City around 5:00 PM. Upon arrival, you will be picked up and transferred to your selected hotel. Overnight in Cusco.

Meals: Breakfast.

From Cusco to KM 82: On this first day, our travel agency, Trippers Peru, will pick you up at 6:00 AM from your various accommodations and take you to the starting point at Chillca (Km. 77). This segment of the Inca Trail Premium includes a 4-hour walk to Piscacucho (Km. 82), where we will enjoy lunch. Throughout this trek, you will observe a wide variety of wild plants and local wildlife until we reach the archaeological center of Llaqtapata (9,678 feet / 2,950 meters), where your guide will explain the significance of this site. This area serves as the designated camping spot set by the Ministry of Culture.

Trekking Details: Duration: 5 to 7 hours; Distance: 12.5 km / 7.8 miles; Altitude: 9,678 feet / 2,950 meters.

Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner.

From Llaqtapata to Llulluchapampa: After enjoying a nutritious breakfast, we will start our hike along the creek called Cusi Chaca, passing through the villages of Tarachayoc and Hatunchaka. The Inca Trail Premium leads us to the Community of Wayllabamba, where we will find a small archaeological site that once served as a checkpoint for the Incas. Wayllabamba means “Green Meadow” in Quechua, and this town has Inca origins and is the last major town within the Inca Premium Trail network. Next, we will head to Ayapata, also known as “Three Stones,” where we will have lunch. After lunch and a well-deserved rest, we will continue our ascent to Llulluchapampa, where we will camp for the second night.

Trekking Details: Duration: 6 – 8 hours; Distance: 8.3 km / 5.1 miles; Altitude: 12,570 feet / 3,840 meters.

Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner.

From Llulluchapampa to Puyupatamarca: On this day, we will rise very early to tackle the Inca Premium Trail, as it will be another challenging but rewarding day. After breakfast, we will head toward the highest point of our trek, the Abra de Warmiwañusca (13,780 feet / 4,200 meters). We will reach this point in about 1.5 hours. After resting, we will begin our descent into the Valley of Pacaymayu, which translates to “Hidden River” (11,975 feet / 3,650 meters), a name also given to the river itself. Here, we will see beautiful waterfalls as we progress toward the second pass. We will take a brief stop for restrooms before starting the ascent together. On the way up, we will visit the archaeological center of Runkurakay, which means “Tower in Ovoid Form.” It is about a 45-minute hike to Runkuraqay (12,961 feet / 3,950 meters). Throughout the day, we will enjoy views of the Urubamba Valley and, as we reach the second pass, we will see the Aobamba Valley and the Vilcabamba mountain range. We will finally descend to Chakicocha, and depending on our physical condition, we may continue on to Puyupatamarca, where we will camp for the night.

Trekking Details: Duration: 6 – 8 hours; Distance: 7.3 km / 4.5 miles; Altitude: 11,975 feet / 3,650 meters.

Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner.

From Puyupatamarca to Aguas Calientes: On this fourth, more relaxed day, we will descend for almost 3 hours toward Wiñaywayna ruins (8,858 feet / 2,700 meters), a small Inca city known for its many fountains and stunning landscapes. This is a great place to have lunch and take a short nap. Afterward, we will head northeast for 1.5 hours to finally reach the Inti Punku (Sun Gate), where we will be greeted with the most impressive view of Machu Picchu. We will then make our way to the ancient city, where you will have ample time to explore and take photos from various angles, including the classic postcard view. We will hike for about 1 hour toward the sanctuary entrance and spend the rest of the morning with a 2-hour guided tour, followed by some free time to explore on your own.

In The Lost City of the Incas: Surrounded by natural beauty, this enchanting city offers stunning views framed by forested peaks. After a long day of trekking, we will take the bus to Aguas Calientes and then continue by train back to Cusco at either 2:30 PM or 7:00 PM. Upon arrival, you will be transferred to your selected hotel for an overnight stay in Cusco.

Trekking Details: Duration: 5 – 7 hours; Distance: 11 km / 6.9 miles; Altitude: 7,874 feet / 2,400 meters.

Meals: Breakfast.

Note: The exact locations for lunch and camping may change based on weather conditions, current Inca Trail regulations, and the group’s physical abilities.

Flight to Lima City: At the scheduled time, you will be picked up from your hotel and transferred to the airport for your flight to Lima.

In Lima City: Upon arrival, you will be picked up at the airport and transferred to your chosen hotel. Overnight in Lima.

Meals: Breakfast.

International Flight: At the indicated time, a private transfer will take you from your hotel to Lima airport for your international flight.

Meals: Breakfast.