Upgraded Peru Explorer

Discover the cultures, history and landscapes of Peru on this two-week adventure that hits the must-see bucket-list items as well as the highlights of the southern coast. Spot wildlife and seabirds at the Ballestas Islands on the way to Nasca, home to the mysterious Nasca Lines, before diving into the cuisine and colonial charm of Arequipa. Explore the Sacred Valley and Machu Picchu from Cusco, and cruise on the highest navigable lake in the world at Lake Titicaca.

Day 1 Lima
Arrive at any time. Arrival transfer is included.

Day 2 Lima/Paracas
Drive south along the coast to the town of Paracas. Take an orientation walk with the CEO and enjoy a free evening to try one of the many nearby seafood restaurants.

Day 3 Paracas/Nazca
Set off by boat in the morning on an excursion to the nearby Ballestas Islands, home to sea lions, penguins and thousands of seabirds. Then continue to the Tacama Winery to learn about wine and pisco production in Peru with the opportunity to sample. In the afternoon drive to Nasca, with a stop en route at the oasis town and sand dunes of Huacachina.

Day 4 Nazca
Visit a pre-Inca cemetery in the desert to see the remains of mummies and pottery, then stop by a local ceramics studio for a demonstration of traditional techniques. Opt for an overflight of the Nasca Lines, mysterious ancient drawings etched on the ground that are best seen by air. For dinner, enjoy a delicious pachamanca meal, an age-old practice of cooking food buried in the ground underneath hot stones.

Day 5 Nazca/Arequipa
Travel south on a full-day drive along the coast and into the Andes to Arequipa, surrounded by volcanoes. Enjoy a free evening after settling into the hotel.

Day 6 Arequipa
Take a guided walking tour of Arequipa, discovering the historical centre and the 16th-century Santa Catalina Monastery. Afterwards dig into the region's renowned cuisine with a cooking class led by a chef at a traditional restaurant, and eat a delicious lunch of local delicacies. Spend the rest of the afternoon exploring the city or relaxing at a cafe.

Day 7 Arequipa/Cusco
Take a flight further into the Andes to Cusco, the capital of the Inca Empire and a UNESCO World Heritage site. Enjoy a free afternoon to acclimatize and to explore the city's plazas, shops and museums.

Day 8 Cusco/Urubamba
Send a full day exploring the Sacred Valley, stopping first at the G Adventures–supported Parque de la Papa, a rural Andean community working to preserve hundreds of varieties of native potato. Take a tour of the Inca Ruins at Pisac and Ollantaytambo, and enjoy a delicious lunch at the G Adventures–supported Parwa Community Restaurant in Huchuy Qosqo.

Day 9 Urubamba/Aguas Calientes
Board a scenic train along the Urubamba River to the town of Aguas Calientes, at the foot of Machu Picchu. The afternoon is free for optional excursions like a visit to the local hot springs or a nearby waterfall. Visit a botanical garden, or wander the handicraft stalls in town as you prepare for an early start the following day to go up to Machu Picchu.

Day 10 Aguas Calientes/Cusco
Rise early for a guided tour of Machu Picchu to explore the temples and terraces of the Inca mountaintop citadel. In the afternoon, return by train and private bus to Cusco.

Day 11 Cusco
Enjoy a free day in Cusco to continue to explore the city or to choose from a variety of optional activities like whitewater rafting, mountain biking or take a cooking class. In the evening visit the Cusco Planetarium to learn about the importance of astronomy to the ancient Inca and, weather permitting, look up at the stars through telescopes.

Day 12 Cusco/Puno
Travel from Cusco across the high Altiplano to Puno on the shores of Lake Titicaca, the highest navigable lake in the world. The rest of the day is free after checking into the hotel.

Day 13 Puno
Set off by boat on a guided tour of Lake Titicaca, stopping at the floating reed islands of Uros and then Taquile Island before having lunch with a local family in the community of Luquina Chico on the shores of the lake. Spend the rest of the afternoon free after returning to Puno or opt for a tour to the nearby pre-Inca burial site of Sillustani.

Day 14 Puno/Lima
Transfer to the Juliaca airport and take a flight back to Lima for one final night on the town.

Day 15 Lima
Depart at any time.