Tour Dates: May 5th to 19th, 2024
From its amazing archaeological treasures to its gastronomic delights and from its rich history to its melting pot of cultures, Peru offers visitors a wide array of attractions—and on this tour; you’ll experience its highlights. Discover Lima’s colonial heritage steeped in history with pre-Columbian ruins and Spanish colonial buildings. Encounter the vibrant local culture of Lake Titicaca, walk the halls of a historical convent in colonial Arequipa, and delight in views of the Sacred Valley from the comfort of the train to Machu Picchu. Marvel at the strange, mysterious beauty of the Nazca Lines, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Whether watching for wildlife or exploring Incan culture, strike travel gold in this incredible country.
Lima (2 nights), Paracas (1), Nazca (2), Arequipa (2), Sacred Valley (2), Aguas Calientes (1), Cusco (2), Puno (2) and Lima (1)
Peru Highlights:
- Uncover the ancient mystery of the Pachacamac Temple
- Cruise around the Ballestas Islands, spotting penguins, sea lions, and more
- See the enigmatic Nazca Lines, whether they’re the work of ancient civilizations or something more supernatural
- Explore the eerie desert graveyard of Chauchilla
- Experience the historic and renowned pottery culture at a local workshop
- Sample pisco at an Ica Valley winery, and help a chef prepare local dishes in Arequipa
- Arequipa city tour including the Santa Catalina Convent
- Enjoy a special lunch complete with live Andean music
- Learn the centuries-old methods of spinning, dyeing and weaving
- Explore the mysteries of the universe as told through the eyes of the Incas at the Cusco Planetarium
- Guided boat tour of Taquile and Uros Islands on Lake Titicaca
- Sacred Valley and Ollantaytambo ruins guided tour
- Scenic train ride and guided tour of the greatest icon of ancient South America, Machu Picchu
- And much more...
2024 Inca Explorer Tour Dates & Prices
May 5th to May 19th, 2024
Tour Cost per person based on double occupancy $4790.00 CAD
Single Supplement $1000.00
Air Fare: Flights to Peru are available from many Canadian cities. Contact our office for air fares and flight information.
Call for air fares from your city
In order to make each tour a special experience space is limited to 20 people. We encourage you to book early to avoid disappointment and for the best air fares.
Flights: Call us for flight and air fare information from your closest airport in Canada as we can often access flights not easily found on the Internet and offer alternatives.
Tour price includes:
- 15 nights’ accommodation based on double occupancy
- Meals: all breakfasts, 4 lunches and 7 dinners
- All admissions and cultural visits listed in itinerary
- Air conditioned motor coach transportation
- Fully escorted by a Canadian Tour Leader and Colombia (naturalist) guide
Itinerary
May 5th – Lima – Allpa Hotel & Suites – 2 nights
Welcome to Lima, the capital of Peru which lies on the country's arid Pacific coast. Though its colonial center is preserved, it's a bustling metropolis and one of South America’s largest cities. From exploring historical landmarks to digging into signature cultural dishes, Lima packs a ton of diversity.
Arrive late this evening and transfer to your hotel.
May 6th – Lima – Allpa Hotel & Suites
Following an orientation, discover Lima’s fascinating history during a colonial tour through the historic city center, a UNESCO World Heritage site. Admire the artwork at San Francisco Monastery and enter the catacombs. View the elegant Cathedral and Government Palace at Plaza de Armas. Explore Lima’s modern side with a visit to the fashionable suburbs of Barranco and Miraflores for insight into the daily life of the Limeños.
This evening, get to know your fellow travelers during a welcome dinner of artfully crafted Peruvian dishes; you will quickly discover why Peru is consistently named the world’s top food travel destination.
Breakfast and Dinner
May 7th – Paracas – San Agustin Paracas – 1 night
After breakfast, journey to Paracas along the Pan American Highway, which cuts through a barren desert landscape. During the drive we will stop at the site of the ancient Pachacamac Temple. This enormous site is very impressive, with great pyramidal temples, dwellings, remains of frescoes decorating the adobe walls and other fascinating archaeological constructions built by different cultures.
Relax in this sleepy seaside town and sample Peru's national drink, the Pisco Sour.
Breakfast
May 8th – Nazca – Casa Andina Standard Nazca – 2 nights
We're taking to the water this morning for a fascinating cruise around the Ballestas Islands to view sea lion colonies, penguins, and other bird life before we continue our journey to Nazca.
Nestled in the Ica Valley of Peru, amidst the foothills of the Andes, lies the oldest distillery in the Americas. We join an on-site expert to learn about the production of wine and spirits in Peru, before we end with a tasting. A local lunch will be adored on the grounds of the vineyard.
Breakfast and Lunch
May 9th – Nazca – Casa Andina Standard Nazca
Ancient Egypt is not the only place where the dead were mummified in elaborate rituals; it occurred in Perú too. Today we visit Chauchilla, a 1,500-year-old cemetery located near Nazca that provides an extraordinary glimpse into how a pre-incan society treated their dead. For many years this pre-Inca place was looted by treasure hunters, who ransacked the place completely, taking away all the treasures the mummies kept in their tombs for centuries. These grave robbers just left behind the corpses, which can be seen today all over the ground. In addition to skulls and bones, you also can see several tombs centuries’ old, as well as long human hairs, ceramic fragments and others remains scattered on the desert surface.
This afternoon we visit a pottery studio for a demonstration by a local artist.
(Option to take a flight over the mysterious Nazca Lines $115 USD)
In the evening, enjoy a traditional Pachamanca dinner. “Pachamanca” specifically refers to the technique of cooking the food underground with hot stones, as the dish can be made with many variations of Andean ingredients.
Breakfast and Dinner
May 10th – Arequipa – Hotel Conquistador – 2 nights
After breakfast, a long drive along the coastline takes us to the city of Arequipa for the night.
Breakfast and Dinner
May 11th – Arequipa – Hotel Conquistador
Enjoy a walking tour around this white city, including a visit to the historic convent of Santa Catalina.
Dig into Arequipa’s renowned regional cuisine with a cooking class led by a chef at a traditional “picantería” restaurant. We start our experience by visiting the long-established local market to buy the ingredients needed to prepare the dishes. Try local favourites like “cuy” (guinea pig), Rocoto Relleno (stuffed spicy peppers) and sample a glass of “chicha”.
Breakfast and Lunch
May 12th – Sacred Valley – San Agustin Urubamba – 2 nights
Fly to Cuzco, in the heart of the Inca civilization. Journey through the Andes to the majestic Sacred Valley of the Incas; the agricultural center of their grand empire. Learn the centuries-old methods of spinning, dyeing and weaving traditional textiles during a visit to Chincheroa, a living museum of the Peruvian Andes. After a short lesson on the local language, stop in the main square to browse the colorful handicraft market. Settle into your hotel nestled in the heart of the Sacred Valley.
Breakfast and Dinner
May 13th – Sacred Valley – San Agustin Urubamba
Enjoy a full day exploring the Sacred Valley. Our first stop is Pisac to test our bartering skills, interact with the local craftsmen and purchase hand-made souvenirs. Then we visit Potato Park, a network of rural agricultural communities working to preserve more than 700 species of potatoes. Learn about potato cultivation before enjoying a tasty lunch made from local products.
Next we visit Ollantaytambo. The quaint village is the best surviving example of Inca city planning, with narrow cobblestone streets that have been continuously inhabited since the 13th century.
Breakfast and Lunch
May 14th – Aguas Calientes – Hatun Inti Boutique – 1 night
Today we travel by train on a journey to Aguas Calientes (Hot Springs Town). Sit back and enjoy the one and a half hour journey of stunning scenery following the Urubamba River Valley.
The afternoon is free to visit the 'Manuel Chávez Ballón' museum and orchid exhibition, thermal baths, butterfly house or maybe set out on the 1 day Inca trial hike.
Breakfast and Dinner
May 15th – Cusco – Casa Andina Standard Cusco Plaza – 2 nights
Wake up early for breakfast before we begin our short bus journey to the gates of Machu Picchu where we will watch the sunrise. After entering the Citadel begin a guided walking tour (approximately two hours) of the complex. Enjoy some free time to explore the mysterious city at leisure before returning to Cusco by train.
Breakfast
May 16th – Cusco – Casa Andina Standard Cusco Plaza
A full Cusco city tour is on the agenda for today. We start in the city centre viewing the Incan foundation; the famous Cathedral Basilica of the Assumption of the Virgin and the Temple of the Sun. Enjoy a visit to the market of San Pedro before exploring Inca ruins in the hills surrounding Cusco.
Following dinner visit the Cusco Planetarium, surrounded by the natural beauty of the Llaullipata Ecological Reserve. Use telescopes to gaze up at the sky and see thousands of stars. Spot the constellations of the southern hemisphere, and learn about the ancient Incas’ relationship with the cosmos.
(Option – Folklore Show and Dinner $30 USD)
Breakfast
May 17th – Puno – Hotel Royal Inn Puno – 2 nights
Today we have a full day journey to Puno on the shores of Lake Titicaca.
Breakfast and Dinner
May 18th – Puno – Hotel Royal Inn Puno
After breakfast, we travel to the port of Puno to board our motor boat that will take us to the floating Uros Islands. More than 65 small floating islands exist today and we will visit two of them to learn about the history and lifestyle of the Uros people. Explore a bit further afield on the Lake, reaching the Taquile Island. The island is a traditional Quechua speaking community, full of ancient agricultural terraces and some ruins dating back to the pre-Inca times. The Taquile population was relatively isolated from the mainland until 1950s, and the notion of the community and family is still very strong among them. The weaving tradition of this Island goes back to early civilizations, thus keeps elements from pre-Inca Andean cultures alive in the present. Once we reach the island there is a traditional lunch awaiting our arrival. We will then have free time to explore the island before returning to Puno.
Breakfast and Local Living Lunch
May 19th – Lima – Allpa Hotel & Suites – 1 night
After breakfast, transfer to the airport for our flight to Lima. On arrival at Lima airport a transfer will be arranged to the hotel where the rest of the evening is at leisure before our included farewell dinner.
Breakfast and Dinner
May 20th – Flight Home
This morning you will be picked up from the hotel and transferred to the airport.
