Best of Peru

In the morning, transfer back to the airport for a quick flight to Arequipa (7,660 ft.), known as the “White City,” due to the many colonial buildings built of the area’s white volcanic rock. Upon arrival, take time to relax or explore on your own before an afternoon city tour. During the tour, visit Yanahuara, La Compania and the Convent of Santa Catalina, famous for its labyrinth of secluded rooms. Return to your Arequipa hotel for the evening. (B)

Depart Arequipa and ascend to the high elevation grasslands or puna, for incredible views of Mount El Misti and other snowcapped volcanoes lining the horizon. Throughout today’s drive, keep any eye out for herds of llamas, alpacas and the endangered vicuña. Descend into the Colca Valley where you pass the settlements of Chivay and Coporaque before arriving at the Colca Lodge near Yanque. The afternoon is free for you to relax in the pristine thermal baths, arrange a spa service or walk to the nearby town. (B)

Today starts with an early departure to Cruz del Condor. Journey to a viewpoint over the canyon to watch condors as they leave their rocky sanctuary on the morning’s warm air currents, slowly ascending over the horizon. If you like, enjoy a short hike along the rim of the Colca Canyon for spectacular views! In the afternoon, return to the Colca Lodge and enjoy the natural hot springs in an impressive setting. (B)

After breakfast, set off for today’s six hour journey over the Andean plains to Puno, an altiplano town near Lake Titicaca. There will be opportunities to stop along the way to stretch your legs and try traditional coca tea, which can help with the high altitude reached during this drive (max 15,700 feet). Before reaching Puno, explore the mysterious pre-Inca ruins called chullpas (funerary towers), the finest of which sit on a windswept peninsula in Lake Umayo at Sillustani. The Colla people, a warrior tribe that spoke Aymara, buried their elite in these giant cylindrical tombs, some up to 40 feet tall.  Many archeologists consider this complex stonemasonry superior to Inca engineering. Arrive to Puno in the late afternoon and settle into your lakeside accommodations overlooking for the evening. (12,510 ft) (B)

This morning, board a boat to explore Lake Titicaca, the world’s highest navigable lake that is considered the birthplace of the Incan people. These frigid vividly blue waters are the remnant of an ancient inland sea that stands in stark contrast to the parched altiplano, a gorgeous natural gem. The first stop is the floating islands of Uros, where you spend time with locals who share how these islands were created and what daily life is like. Next cruise over to Taquile Island, a small island known for its colorful textiles and distinct culture, which hasn’t been heavily influenced by outsiders due to it’s remote location. Enjoy a local lunch and optional hike around the island before returning to your Puno hotel in the late afternoon. (B, L)

Your Peru travel continues with a short morning flight to Cusco. Upon arrival to Cusco, you are met your guide and taken on a quick tour of the beautiful Plaza de Armas on the way to your hotel. The remainder of the day is free for you to relax or explore the fascinating mix of Cusco cultures on your own. (10,856 feet) (B)

*Optional train upgrade from Puno to Cusco runs Monday, Thursday and Saturday. Please inquire for more details.

Today begins with a guided walking tour through Cusco to see the colorful markets, the colonial cathedral and Koricancha, the impressive Temple of the Sun. After a lunch of regional cuisine, you tour the remaining prominent Inca sights in and around Cusco. These include the fortress of Sacsayhuamán, with its megalithic stone terraces; Kenko, with carved stone surfaces and subterranean altars; Puka Pukara the small fortress that once protected the royal capital; and the water temple, Tambo Machay. In the late afternoon, you’ll return to the comfort of your hotel to relax or continue to explore Cusco on your own. (B)

Today’s Peru tour begins with a guided excursion through snowcapped mountains to the legendary Sacred Valley of the Incas. The first stop is Pisac’s hilltop citadel, featuring the civilization’s agricultural terracing along the steep valley walls, panoramic views of jagged granite peaks and the temple ruins. Descend down to the town of Pisac, known for one of the best Andean textile markets in Peru. After taking in some of the local culture and enjoying a traditional lunch, depart for Ollantaytambo (9,185 feet), a small town with an impressive Inca fortress. Stay overnight at a hotel in Ollantaytambo. (B,L)

Start the day off with a refreshing walking tour of the Ollantayambo ruins. Next, head to the train station, where you board the Vistadome train for the first leg of today’s unforgettable journey to Machu Picchu! Enjoy the panoramic views as the train follows the Urubamba River into the lush cloud forest, before arriving at the Aguas Caliente train station. Stop for lunch in town and then  board a bus that will take you to the gates of Machu Picchu (7,875 feet). Spend the afternoon exploring the famous ruins with your guide. Return to Aguas Calientes, where you will have time to relax and enjoy dinner at your hotel. (B,D)

Today, you’ll have the opportunity to experience Machu Picchu during the early morning hours. Explore the numerous ruins including an optional climb to the sacred peak of Huayna Picchu. By midday, you return to Aguas Calientes for lunch and an early afternoon train ride back to Ollantaytambo. Your private van will be waiting at the station to deliver you to the Chinchero textile market, where members of the local weavers’ collective will explain the traditional weaving methods of the Sacred Valley. Continue on to your Cusco hotel for the evening. (10,856 feet) (B)

Huayna Picchu Hiking Details: 1.25 miles; approximately 2-3 hours hiking, the trail is narrow and very steep. Altitude min/max: from 7,875 ft to 8,835 ft.

Transfer to the airport for your flight to Puerto Maldonado, hub of the easternmost region of the Peru Amazon. Upon arrival you will be met by the naturalist guides and taken to the pier to board a motorized dugout canoe for your 45-minute trip downriver to reach the lodge. After getting settled in your accommodations and receiving an orientation, your Amazon adventure begins. On the first afternoon, accompany your guide on the walking trails around the 2,000 acre reserve to get acquainted with the neo-tropical rainforest environment. After dinner, you may join an evening excursion on the Madre de Dios River to look for caiman and other nocturnal Amazon wildlife and view the southern constellations. (B,L,D)

During your stay, enjoy a range expeditions, accompanied by bilingual naturalist guides, on land and water, including canopy walks, dugout canoe trips and rainforest hikes. Here is a sample itinerary: This morning, hike deep into the Tambopata National Reserve through terra firma forest to reach Lake Sandoval for a dugout canoe ride around this beautiful oxbow lake. Here you will learn about conservation efforts and the native flora and fauna. Be on the lookout for species such as the endangered giant river otter, blue and yellow macaws, red howler monkeys and black caiman. Return to the lodge for a delicious lunch and an afternoon siesta. In the late afternoon, you take a twenty-minute ride aboard a motorized canoe to the Inkaterra Canopy Walkway Interpretation Center. Ascend one of the 98-ft towers and cross the seven hanging bridges that connect the treetops 91 feet above the forest floor. After descending, you walk along the 656-ft wooden bridge over the aguajales palm swamps, home of the legendary anaconda. Here you will learn about the fauna and flora of these flooded ecosystems, part of the largest natural monoculture in the Peruvian Amazon rainforest. Return to the lodge for a delicious dinner, followed by an optional night walk. (B,L,D)

Transfer back downriver to Puerto Maldonado where you’ll be transferred to the airport for your flight to Lima and your connecting international flight home, marking the end of Southern Explorations’ services. (B)