Taste of Peru

Discover the rich cultural heritage of Peru's colonial cities; sites of outstanding natural beauty with a spectacular Andean mountain backdrop; archaeological delights; and the country's jewel in the crown - Machu Picchu, the magnificent 'Lost City of the Incas'.

Tour overview
•   Explore Lima and its colonial quarter
•   Stay in the historic Sacred Valley
•   Travel by train to Machu Picchu
•   Explore fascinating Cuzco
•   Cruise the stunning Galapagos Islands
•   Spend two nights in Quito

Guide

•   The Taste of Peru tour is escorted by local English-speaking guides, as is the Northern Gems pre-tour and the Galapagos cruise extension.
•   The Titicaca and Amazon extensions are unescorted, as are the Quito and Guayaquil sections of the Galapagos extension. However, assistance will be provided by our local representatives.

MEAL PLAN
•   Prices include breakfast daily and lunch on Day 6.
•   The Galapagos and Amazon extensions include breakfast, lunch and dinner during the cruise.
•   The Northern Gems pre-tour includes breakfast daily plus lunch on Days 4 and 6-11.

ACCOMMODATION
•   The hotels featured are of a four star standard.
•   The Northen Gems pre-tour includes three star hotels in Chachapoyas, Leymebamba and Cajamarca.

GROUP SIZE
•   Maximum nine passengers.

MINIMUM NUMBERS
•   This tour is subject to minimum numbers of passengers (please call for further information).

GRATUITIES
•   Tipping is at your discretion. We recommend that you tip at the end of the tour.

DAY 1 - LONDON TO LIMA
Fly from London Heathrow to Madrid with British Airways, then on with LAN Airlines to Lima, arriving the following day.

DAY 2 - LIMA
Upon arrival in Lima, transfer to Casa Andina Private Collection, Lima in the Miraflores district for a two-night stay.

DAY 3 - LIMA
Spend the day at leisure, discovering this fascinating city's many cultural delights. Explore the colonial quarter with its historic cathedrals and plazas, as well as the capital’s modern districts.

DAY 4 - LIMA TO SACRED VALLEY
Board a flight to Cuzco, the Incas' ancient capital, and transfer by road to the Sacred Valley. Stay at Casa Andina Private Collection, Sacred Valley for two nights. Enjoy free time to relax or explore this unique region.

DAY 5 - SACRED VALLEY
Enjoy a full day free to explore at leisure and discover the beautiful Sacred Valley of Urubamba, a stunning 26-mile-long valley that was once the heart of the Inca Empire. Perhaps visit the small Andean-Indian village of Chinchero, which is believed to be the mythical birthplace of the rainbow, and the fascinating ruins of Ollantaytambo, one of the most impressive Incan archaeological sites.

DAY 6 - SACRED VALLEY TO CUZCO
Transfer to Ollanta Train Station and board the Vistadome train to mystical Machu Picchu. Take a guided tour of the legendary citadel, an impressive architectural feat and a remarkable testimony to the skills of the Inca. Enjoy lunch at a local restaurant in Machu Picchu and return to Cuzco in the afternoon, where you'll spend two nights at Casa Andina Private Collection, Cuzco.

DAY 7 - CUZCO
Enjoy a day at leisure exploring the fascinating city of Cuzco, which claims to be the continent’s oldest continuously inhabited city and is a treasure trove of archaeological remnants from the Inca civilisation.

DAY 8 - CUZCO TO LIMA
Fly from Cuzco to Lima and transfer to Casa Andina Private Collection, Lima for one night’s stay.

DAY 9 - LIMA TO LONDON
LAN Airlines flight to Madrid, then on with British Airways to Heathrow, arriving the following day.

YOUR CHOICE OF EXTENSIONS

GALAPAGOS ISLANDS
The Galapagos Islands are home to an incredible variety of wildlife, much of it endemic to these ‘enchanted islands’. Explore Quito for two nights, then enjoy a three-night Galapagos cruise aboard the MV Santa Cruz.
DAY 9 - CUZCO TO QUITO
Fly to Quito for two nights at the Hilton Colon.
DAY 11 - QUITO TO GALAPAGOS CRUISE
Fly to San Cristobal. Board the MV Santa Cruz for your three-night cruise, visiting the remarkable islands of San Cristobal, Hood, Floreana, Fernandina and Isabela where you can observe bird colonies, turtles and other wildlife (for full details please see Days 8 to 11 of our full MV Santa Cruz cruise).
DAY 14 - GALAPAGOS CRUISE TO GUAYAQUIL TO LONDON
Fly Baltra to Guayaquil and stay overnight at the Hilton Colon. Next day fly overnight to Madrid with LAN Airlines and onwards with British Airways to Heathrow.

LAKE TITICACA
Located between Peru and Bolivia, stunning Lake Titicaca is the world’s highest commercially navigable lake.
DAY 8 - CUZCO TO LAKE TITICACA
Spend another night in Cuzco. The next day, board the Andean Explorer train to Puno (10 hours) for three nights at Libertador Lake Titicaca, Puno with time at leisure exploring this magical region, the cradle of Inca civilisation.
DAY 12 - LAKE TITICACA TO LIMA TO LONDON
Fly to Lima and stay overnight at Casa Andina Private Collection, Lima before your overnight flight to Madrid with LAN Airlines and onwards with British Airways to Heathrow.

NORTHERN GEMS (PRE-TOUR)
This private itinerary delves into northern Peru's rich archaeological history.
DAY 1 - LONDON TO LIMA
Fly Heathrow to Madrid, then overnight with LAN Airlines to Lima. Transfer to Casa Andina Private Collection, Lima for one night.
DAY 3 - LIMA TO TRUJILLO
Fly to Trujillo and transfer to the Libertador Trujillo for two nights. Enjoy a full-day tour of the city and visit the distinctive pre-Inca ruins of Chan Chan. Travel north by road to the Brujo archaeological complex and Cao Museum, and spend two nights at Costa del Sol Hotel in Chiclayo. Visit the 4,000-year-old temple of Ventarron and the Royal Tombs of Sipan.
DAY 7 - TRUJILLO TO CHACHAPOYAS TO CAJAMARCA
Full-day transfer to Chachapoyas for two nights at Hostel Villa de Paris. The next day explore the fortress of Kuelap, colonial Jalca Grande, the Utcubamba River Valley and finally the city of Leymebamba. Stay overnight at Casona Leymebamba. The next day drive to Cajamarca, enjoying fantastic Andean views ahead of two nights at Laguna Seca Hotel & Spa to visit the Necropolis of Otuzco and the pre-Inca aquaducts and petroglyphs of Cumbe Mayo.
DAY 12 - CAJAMARC TO LIMA
Fly to Lima to start the Taste of Peru tour.

AMAZON CRUISE
Explore the magic and beauty of the Peruvian Amazon.
DAY 8 - CUZCO TO AMAZON CRUISE
Fly from Cuzco to Iquitos via Lima and board the luxurious MV Aqua for a four-night cruise. Visit a Manatee Rescue Centre and Pacaya-Samiria Reserve, and enjoy a fascinating night safari along Pacaya River in search of night herons, fishing bats and caimans.
DAY 12 - AMAZON CRUISE TO LIMA TO LONDON
Fly to Lima and stay overnight at Casa Andina Private Collection, Lima. The next day fly overnight with LAN Airlines to Madrid and onwards with British Airways to Heathrow.