Active Peru Itinerary
See Peru's iconic sites - with a thrilling twist. You'll visit Machu Picchu, Lima, Lake Titicaca and Cusco and you'll cycle, trek and white-water raft through the stunning landscapes.
12 days from £4300pp plus international flights.
Full itinerary
View Map
Call: 01473 890499
Start planning your tailor-made holiday now. Tell us what you want, and we will tailor make your perfect trip.
Day 1
Lima
You'll be met on arrival at Lima Airport and transferred to the Wyndham Costa Del Sol Lima Airport hotel, where you'll spend the night before your adventure begins. There's a swimming pool, spa and fitness centre on site, as well as a restaurant and bar, so you'll be able to unwind after your flight.
Day 2
Fly To Cusco
It's a quick walk back to the airport after breakfast to catch your flight to Cusco, where you'll be met on landing and taken to the colourful El Retablo boutique B&B, your home for the next three nights. After settling in and admiring the vibrant artwork and textiles that make the guesthouse's décor so charming and distinctive, you will be fully briefed about the adventure that lies ahead, then you will be free to start acclimatising to altitude and begin to get your bearings in the town.
Breakfast
Day 3
Cusco And Surrounds
Your guide will meet up with you after breakfast and discuss the options for exploring the sites of Cusco. This will be tailored to you so, depending on your interests, you could head out to the magnificent temple complex of Sacsayhuaman or the water shrine at Tambomachay for example. In Cusco itself there are fine colonial buildings including the Cathedral and La Merced church, and no visit to Cusco is complete without visiting the 15th century Korikancha - the former 'Golden Enclosure' of the Incas. Your day will include lunch at a restaurant in Cusco.
Breakfast, lunch
Day 4
White water Rafting
Today you have an invigorating experience ahead of you! You'll be collected from El Retablo after breakfast and driven the 1.5 hour journey to the Urubamba River. Your guide will assess your fitness and the water levels and decide on the precise launch point and will give you a comprehensive safety briefing. Then it's time to take to the water! For around two hours you'll descend with the river through beautiful mountain-edged scenery, running rapids in a lovely canyon. You'll be rewarded with a picnic lunch after your exertions, then driven back to Cusco where the remainder of the afternoon and evening are yours to spend as you wish.
Breakfast, picnic lunch
Day 5
Pisac Market And Cycling By The Urubamba River
After breakfast it's time to bid farewell to El Retablo as you're collected and driven to the market in Pisac. Here you will have time to wander among the hundreds of stalls that sell everything from local produce to textiles and other handicrafts. Next stop is Taray village, where you'll mount your trusty two-wheeled steed and embark on a bicycle ride that follows the course of the Urubamba River. You'll cycle through the beautiful agricultural landscape, past fields of quinoa, corn and kiwicha, stopping for a picnic en-route. Once you reach the end of the bike trail you will be taken to the terracotta-painted Pakaritampu hotel, set in lovely gardens at the base of the mountains. It's just a 10-minute walk into Ollantaytambo, where you will find shops, cafes and restaurants or you could choose to eat in the hotel's restaurant.
Breakfast, picnic lunch
Day 6
The Royal Inca Trail To Machu Picchu
You have an early start today, catching the train from Ollantaytambo to the starting point for the Royal Inca Trail. This is the final leg of the famous Inca Trail, and with your guide you will trek 5-6 hours through lush cloud forest, stopping to visit the ruins of Chachabamba and Wiñay Wayna (where you’ll have a picnic lunch) before you ascend the steep, centuries-old stairway to Inti Punku, the Sun Gate. This is where you will have that first, memorable view of Machu Picchu. You'll explore the sanctuary over the next two days, so after this tantalising glimpse of the iconic site you'll take the bus to Aguas Calientes and your accommodation for the next two nights, the contemporary-styled El MaPi, where you can rest and enjoy dinner.
Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Day 7
Machu Picchu
Today begins with a guided tour of Machu Picchu, then you'll be free to explore the site on your own. You will have lunch at a restaurant - precise timings will be determined by the entrance tickets, as time spent at Machu Picchu is limited to a maximum of 4 hours - then return to El MaPi, perhaps in time for a sauna or a spa treatment before dinner. Keep your Machu Picchu entrance ticket safe as you're returning to the sanctuary tomorrow.
Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Day 8
Machu Picchu To Cusco
This is your final chance on this holiday to capture photographs and mental images of Machu Picchu as you return to the site after breakfast, wandering at will to see any elements you may have missed or want to see again. Then you take the bus to the railway station and board the train for the scenic journey through the Sacred Valley to Cusco. You'll be driven from the railway station to El Retablo hotel.
Breakfast, lunch
Day 9
Luxury Train To Puno
After all the activity of the past few days you can (metaphorically) put your feet up as you'll be spending 10½ hours in comfort on the luxurious PeruRail Titicaca Train which travels from Wanchaq station in Cusco to Puno on the shores of Lake Titicaca. As you board the train in Cusco local musicians will perform, and on board you can enjoy a gourmet lunch in one of the two elegant dining cars which are styled after the legendary 1920s Pullman cars. The open-air observation car lets you take in the stupendous views, there will be traditional dance and music performances on board, and you'll be served afternoon tea as the journey reaches its final stages. On arrival at Puno you will be met and transferred to the Posadas del Inca Hotel. This contemporary hotel has a fabulous location on the shores of Lake Titicaca and, weather permitting, you might choose to dine on the terrace.
Breakfast, lunch
Day 10
Islands On Lake Titicaca
After breakfast, you'll take the short walk to the hotel's private pier for the boat trip to the Uros Islands. These man-made structures have been made from bundles of tortora reeds and are home to the Uros Indians. Your guide will tell you about the way of life and agricultural practices and explain how the islands are constructed. Then you'll travel to Taquile Island, where you'll have lunch and see the textiles the island is renowned for before returning to the hotel for the night.
Breakfast, lunch
Day 11
Flight To Lima
Today you will be collected from the hotel for the one-hour private transfer to Juliaca Airport for the 1.5 hour flight to Lima. A guide will meet you at Lima Airport and you'll be driven the 45 minutes to Miraflores, where you will spend the night at the Casa Andina Standard Miraflores Centro Hotel. Miraflores is the 'new face' of Lima, and this comfy modern hotel is close to markets, shops and good restaurants and within walking distance of the coast.
Breakfast
Day 12
Lima And Flight Home
You'll make the most of your last morning in Peru - your guide will take you on a tour of Lima, taking in the modern, cosmopolitan elements and the pre-Hispanic and colonial history and structures including the Convento de Santo Domingo. A visit to the Larco Museum gives you the chance to view the remarkable collection of gold and silver and you can try a dessert made from the Peruvian lucuma fruit - the 'gold of the Incas' - in the museum's Café del Museo restaurant. You'll then return to the hotel to collect your bags before being transferred to the airport for your flight home.
Breakfast
Call: 01473 890499
Start planning your tailor-made holiday now. Tell us what you want, and we will tailor make your perfect trip.
