16-Day Peru Tour – Machu Picchu, Cusco, Lake Titicaca & Amazon

Full Itinerary

Day 1: Arrival in lima

Upon arrival at the Lima airport, a Peru for Less representative will meet you and accompany you to your confirmed Lima hotel.

You’ll have the evening to spend at your leisure. We recommend a stroll through the scenic Parque del Amor (Love Park), which has amazing views of Lima’s coastline.

Note: The times of the itinerary are approximate. 

• Accommodation: Hotel 3 Estrellas.

Day 2: Lima City Tour

Spend the morning resting and relaxing at your hotel or exploring more of the city on your own.

In the afternoon, you’ll meet your English-speaking guide for your exciting tour of Lima, which will take you to the city’s main historical, religious, and more interesting contemporary sites. Stops include the ruins of Huaca Pucllana in Miraflores followed by a visit to the colonial Plaza Mayor in the historic center. Here you’ll see the Government Palaces, the Cathedral where Francisco Pizarro is buried, and the San Francisco Monastery, famous for its catacombs where over 250,000 human bones are still on display. You’ll then check out some modern, upscale areas, including Larcomar, and return to your hotel in the early evening.

Note: The times of the itinerary are approximate. 
Accommodation: Hotel 3 Estrellas.

Day 3: Arrival in Paracas and Nazca Lines Tour

After breakfast at your hotel, you’ll be taken to the bus station for your trip to Paracas, a city located 3 ½ hours south of Lima and reached by a comfortable first class bus. It is a port town on the glimmering Paracas bay, near the famous Paracas National Marine Sanctuary. Upon arrival, you’ll be taken to your confirmed Paracas hotel.

After checking in, you’ll next head to the Pisco airport, located about 30 minutes by car from your hotel. Here you’ll take off on an exciting hour-long flight over the world-famous Nazca Lines. Built between 500 BC and 500 AD, the Nazca Lines are a World Heritage Site whose significance continues to perplex researchers despite more than half a century of careful study. After you touch back down on earth, you’ll be taken back to your Paracas hotel, arriving in the late afternoon or early evening.

Note: Flights from Pisco to Nazca require a minimum of two passengers per departure. Please contact your Travel Advisor for single passenger options.

Note: The times of the itinerary are approximate. 
Accommodation: Hotel 3 Estrellas.

Day 4: Ballestas Islands Tour and Return to Lima

Enjoy breakfast at your hotel before departing on an adventurous boat trip to the nearby Ballestas Islands, an important sanctuary for marine life. Here you’ll have an opportunity to see sea lions, fur seals, Humboldt Penguins, guano birds, and possibly even Green Sea Turtles and dolphins. On the way to the islands, you’ll also see the Candelabro, a nearly 595-foot (181-meter) long, candlestick-shaped symbol etched into the side of a hill that can be seen from the sea. The tour will last approximately 2 hours.

After your boat excursion, you’ll have some free time at your hotel before going to the bus station to return to Lima for the night. After you check in to your hotel, you’ll then have the evening in Lima to enjoy at your leisure, as well as some of the finest restaurants in the world.

Note: The times of the itinerary are approximate. 
Accommodation: Hotel 3 Estrellas.

Day 5: Arrival in Arequipa and Arequipa City Tour

After breakfast, you’ll be transferred to the airport for a morning flight to Arequipa, often called the “White City” due to its many buildings constructed of sillar, a white volcanic rock. Upon arrival, you’ll be greeted at the airport by one of our representatives who will take you to your confirmed Arequipa hotel to settle in.

Next, you’ll meet your guide at your hotel for your Arequipa city tour. During the tour, you’ll visit San Ignacio Chapel, the Plaza de Armas, a neoclassical Cathedral, and the Santa Catalina Monastery, a beautiful colonial convent that once housed 500 nuns. The tour will end at one of two famous miradores (lookout points), where you can appreciate views of the city framed by nearby Misti Volcano. Spend the evening as you wish. We recommend sampling the delicious local cuisine, which has brought well-earned fame to Arequipa.

Note: The times of the itinerary are approximate. 
Accommodation: Hotel 3 Estrellas.

Day 6: Colca Canyon Tour and Overnight

Start the day with a nurturing breakfast before setting off on a scenic drive to the Colca Canyon. This drive will take you through the stunning high altitude landscapes of Salidas y Aguada Blanca National Reserve. Keep your eyes open for wild vicuñas (smaller cousins of the llama) and viscachas (small animals that resemble rabbits). At the highest point of your journey, you’ll reach Patapampa Pass, located at a 15,300 feet (4,820 meters) above sea level. On the descent, you’ll begin to see pre-Inca agricultural terraces and awe-inspiring volcanoes in the distance.

Once in the town of Chivay, you’ll visit the main square and stop for lunch (not included). After lunch, ride to the Calera Hot Springs, renowned for the therapeutic effects of its thermal waters. You can either take a dip in the natural baths or just take in the stunning scenery. Later, you’ll be taken to your Colca Canyon hotel, where you can continue to relax amidst the pastoral beauty of this incomparable Andean landscape.

Note: The times of the itinerary are approximate. 
Accommodation: Hotel 3 Estrellas.

Day 7: Colca Canyon Tour and Arrival in Puno

Early this morning, you’ll meet your guide and will drive to the Mirador Cruz del Condor, one of the best viewpoints over the canyon and home to the famed giant Andean condors. The road leads past picturesque villages and pre-Inca ruins dominated by the Ampato and Hualca glaciers, both visible in the distance.

After lunch in Chivay, you will start your journey to Puno, between 5 and 6 hours from Colca Canyon by car with spectacular views on the way. Puno is at a higher altitude than Arequipa, and if you haven’t already sufficiently acclimatized, it is a good idea to take it easy upon arrival. Many of our recommended hotels are located along the lakeshore, so you will be able to take tranquil Lake Titicaca views as you rest and relax.

Note: The times of the itinerary are approximate. 
Accommodation: Hotel 3 Estrellas.

Day 8: Lake Titicaca Tour

Be sure to fuel up this morning, as this full-day experience will last around 9 hours. Your Lake Titicaca tour will take you to two of the lake’s most fascinating islands. First, the floating Uros islands are composed of about 32 islands constructed of many layers of totora reeds. While visiting the islands, you’ll be given the chance to learn about local customs, explore the reed homes, and ride on reed boats.

This exciting tour continues to Taquile Island, located about 30 miles by boat from Puno. During the boat ride, you’ll be able to enjoy amazing views of Lake Titicaca, perched at 12,500 feet in elevation, and of the surrounding peninsulas. You will visit the most important sites of the island and embark on a rigorous hike to a jaw-dropping viewpoint. Next, you’ll have time to enjoy a local lunch (not included), before your return by boat to Puno. You’ll arrive back in Puno in the early evening and will have time to relax in your hotel at your leisure.

* Note: Visiting Taquile requires a strenuous climb up 500 steps to the main part of the island. Elevation ranges from around 12,000 ft at the lakeshore up to 13,000+ ft at the highest point. Please take care with the high altitude.

Note: The times of the itinerary are approximate. 
Accommodation: Hotel 3 Estrellas.

Day 9: Arrival in Cusco

After breakfast in your Puno hotel, you will be transferred to the bus terminal for your journey to Cusco. The ride lasts between 9 and 10 hours and you will travel on a comfortable tourist bus that includes a stop for lunch, as well as guided visits to several ruins and tourist sites along the way.

You will arrive in Cusco in the early evening and a Cross Travel Peru representative will meet you at the bus station and accompany you to your hotel. You will have the remainder of the evening to spend at your leisure, resting at your hotel or enjoying the Cusco nightlife.

Note: The times of the itinerary are approximate. 
Accommodation: Hotel 3 Estrellas.

Day 10: Cusco City Tour

Spend the morning at your leisure. This is a good time to explore some of Cusco’s less-visited attractions including the famous San Pedro Market, the bohemian neighborhood of San Blas, or one of Cusco’s many fine museums.

In the afternoon, an expert guide will take you to some of the world’s best archeological sites, including the beautiful Cusco Cathedral, the sacred Temple of the Sun or Qoricancha, and the spectacular Sacsayhuaman fortress. In the late afternoon, you’ll return to your Cusco hotel. Spend the evening at your leisure enjoying the local cuisine, music, and the splendor of Cusco at night.

Note: The times of the itinerary are approximate. 
Accommodation: Hotel 3 Estrellas.

Day 11: Sacred Valley Tour

Explore the beautiful Peruvian countryside with a full-day tour of the magical Sacred Valley, home to several royal estates of Incan emperors. First, you will visit the town of Pisac, famous for its bustling indigenous market and for the beautiful Incan ruins on the hillside overlooking the city. Following your visit to Pisac, you will stop for lunch (not included) at a buffet restaurant offering a variety of Peruvian and international food near the town of Urubamba, named after the sacred river that flows through the region.

Next, you will visit the spectacular fortress of Ollantaytambo. These magnificent Incan ruins that were part of the royal estate of the Incan emperor Pachacuti. Later, you will be taken to your comfortable hotel in the Sacred Valley. If you’ve selected a hotel in Ollantaytambo, you can continue exploring the traditional Incan town at your leisure.

Note: The times of the itinerary are approximate. 
Accommodation: Hotel 3 Estrellas.

Day 12: Machu Picchu Tour

After breakfast at your Sacred Valley hotel, you will take a train to Machu Picchu, the hidden Inca citadel. This hour-and-a-half to two-hour train journey is one of the most scenic in the world, winding through mountain, river valleys, high jungle and mystical cloud forests. Upon arrival in Aguas Calientes, the town at the base of Machu Picchu, you will be met at the train station and accompanied to the bus station for a 20-minute ride up to the citadel.

Next, you will meet your expert, English-speaking guide for a tour of the most important sites in Machu Picchu, including the Intihuatana (Sun Stone), the Sun Temple, and the Room of 3 Windows. Plus you’ll be able to marvel at lush mountains that mystically conceal the ruins. In the late afternoon, you will take a comfortable train back to Cusco and then be transferred to your Cusco hotel for the evening.

Optional: If you would like to spend more time at Machu Picchu, this package can be customized to include an overnight stay in Aguas Calientes, which will allow you to make a second visit to the enigmatic citadel. On this second day, a Huayna Picchu and/or Machu Picchu Mountain hike can be added to your itinerary, to get a bird’s eye view of the ruins.

Note: The times of the itinerary are approximate. 
Accommodation: Hotel 3 Estrellas.

Day 13: Arrival in Puerto Maldonado

Meet your transfer to the airport for an early flight from Cusco to Puerto Maldonado in the Amazon rainforest. Upon arrival, a representative will meet you at the airport and accompany you to the port for your transfer by boat to your jungle lodge. As you leave the city of Puerto Maldonado behind, you’ll soon be enveloped in the completely different world of the surrounding rainforest as you travel up the Tambopata River, the jungle’s canopy towering on either side.

Upon arrival at the lodge, you’ll have time to settle in and relax as well as meet your guide and learn about the variety of activities that you will enjoy during your stay. Many of the lodges are located within the territory of the Ese’eja native community, and are built with the same materials and architectural techniques as those used by native communities throughout the Amazon. In the evening, you’ll enjoy a delicious dinner and have the rest of the evening at your leisure.

Note: The times of the itinerary are approximate. 
Accommodation: Hotel 3 Estrellas or Jungle lodge

Day 14: Amazon Tour

Mornings in the jungle always start early and today you’ll set out at dawn for your first Amazon adventure. Today, you may be able to spot caimans, turtles, hoatzins, toucans, and–if you’re lucky–endangered giant river otters that can reach a length of six feet! Morning tends to be the best time of day to see a variety of wildlife. You’ll then return to the lodge for lunch, before setting out for another adventure with your expert naturalist guide. This afternoon will focus on flora, and your guide will walk with you through the forest, pointing out hidden jungle inhabitants and numerous indigenous plants.

After dinner, you’ll head out into the jungle again for a night walk. Once the sun goes down, the jungle comes to life with a completely new assortment of nocturnal creatures that come out. Visitors often say that experiencing the jungle at night, on a dark trail with only a flashlight, is an unforgettable experience. Alternatively, you can simply relax to the sounds of the jungle in your cabana hammock.

*Note: The exact order of activities may vary due to weather conditions and other considerations. Your Amazon guide will provide details about the activities that you will enjoy each day.

Note: The times of the itinerary are approximate. 
Accommodation: Hotel 3 Estrellas or Jungle lodge

Day 15: Amazon Tour (Puerto Maldonado)

After breakfast, you’ll go for a jungle hike to learn more about how the forest is used by the local communities in everyday life. During the hike, you may see toucans as well as numerous other species of birds, different species of monkeys and even occasional sloths.

You’ll return to the lodge for lunch and will have time to rest and relax before setting out for another tour. This time, you’ll learn more about human life in the jungle, examining the type of fruits and vegetables that local communities grow. Return before dark to the jungle lodge for your last evening in the Peruvian rainforest.

*Note: The exact order of activities may vary due to weather conditions and other considerations. Your Amazon guide will provide details about the activities that you will enjoy each day.

Note: The times of the itinerary are approximate. 
Accommodation: Hotel 3 Estrellas or Jungle lodge

Day 16: Departure from Puerto Maldonado

After an early breakfast at the lodge, you’ll return to Puerto Maldonado by boat and will be transferred to the airport for your flight back to Lima and your journey home or on to your next destination.

Alternatively, you can customize this package in order to spend more time exploring the Amazon jungle or else can browse our full range of Packages tours in Peru and continue your exciting trip to Peru!

Note: The times of the itinerary are approximate. 
Accommodation: no included