Explore Peru - Machu Picchu & Lake Titicaca

Let’s begin our Peruvian adventure holiday with a flight to Lima, Peru’s lively seaside capital city. Situated above a stunning coastline of rugged cliffs, Lima offers a striking contrast between high-rise modern buildings and pre-Columbian temples.

On arrival in Lima we will be met by our local expert guide and transferred to our hotel which is situated in the Miraflores District. Lying just south of downtown Lima, the Miraflores District is is the ideal base for a stay in Lima. It is an affluent area that is home to many restaurants, bars, nightclubs as well as shops, theatres, cinemas and art galleries.

3 star hotel in Lima’s Miraflores District (3 nights)

This morning we explore Lima through its food culture, focusing on everyday ingredients and local traditions rather than fine dining alone. We start in the Barranco district with a visit to a small artisan coffee roastery, where we learn about Peruvian coffee production and see how beans are selected and roasted on site.

We continue to a traditional local market to sample a variety of seasonal fruits and to learn about the ingredients that form the basis of Peruvian cooking. From here we head to Miraflores and visit a neighbourhood cebichería. With guidance from a professional bartender and the chef, we are introduced to two Peruvian staples: making a classic pisco sour and preparing fresh cebiche.

The experience concludes with a relaxed lunch at a restaurant located beside an archaeological site with pre-Inca remains, offering a simple setting to reflect on Lima’s mix of past and present.

You will have the remainder of the day at leisure to spend as you wish in Lima. Speak to our local expert guide for top tips on where to eat, drink and explore independently.

You will have one full day at leisure in Lima to explore this buzzing city at your own pace. Once called the ‘City of Kings,’ Lima is known for its friendly locals, rich culture, unique history and gastronomic delights. Visit one of the many art museums, relax at the beach, stroll along the beautiful boardwalks or learn about times gone by at one of Lima’s archaeological sites. Or you may simply wander the streets trying out the tasty cuisine. One thing is for sure, you will be spoiled for choice for things to see and do in Lima.

We visit the historic port district of Callao to explore a different side of Lima. After a short transfer from your hotel, we arrive at Casa Fugaz, a restored mansion that now serves as a cultural and arts centre. Here you meet your local guide and learn about the Fugaz project, as well as the history of the building, while visiting its studios, galleries and workshops.

Afterwards, we take a guided walk through the surrounding streets, known for their large-scale murals and street art. Along the way, your guide explains the background of Callao and how the district has used art as a way to reflect its history and identity.

And to end this experience, enjoy an entertaining graffiti class with the street artist Sesión, painting the panels of a neighbourhood garage. Return to your hotel.

After some time at leisure, let’s travel to Lima airport for our internal flight to Cusco. From there we will travel up hairpin turns to the Sacred Valley of the Incas and our home for the next two nights. (travel time approximately 2 hours / 70km)

Located north of Cusco, the Sacred Valley with its stunning mountain scenery was  the agricultural hub of the former Inca Empire. Now a destination in its own right, the Sacred Valley’s main attractions include the ancient ruins and bustling markets towns as well as lesser-known ruins and hikes, to fun adventure activities.

On arrival to our hotel we will have the rest of the afternoon to settle in and get used to the altitude. Then let’s join our fellow group members for an included dinner tonight and get to try some local Peruvian cuisine.

3 star hotel in the Sacred Valley (2 nights)

Today we walk through open countryside in the Sacred Valley, with wide views across farmland and surrounding mountains. The route begins near the circular agricultural terraces of Moray and follows a gentle trail towards the Maras salt pans, making this a good walk for acclimatisation.

Along the way, we pass fields worked by local families and see everyday rural life, with farmers herding livestock. The walk offers clear views across the Sacred Valley and towards the Urubamba mountain range, including several snow-capped peaks. We also see the colonial village of Maras from above before reaching the salt pans, which have been in use since pre-Inca times. A box lunch is included during the walk.

Dinner this evening is included at the hotel (set group menu).

Important luggage note
Please prepare your main luggage in advance for the Machu Picchu excursion on Day 6. Tomorrow you will travel by train with an overnight bag only.
Your main luggage will be transferred separately by our staff to your hotel in Cusco and will be waiting for you on arrival.

Train luggage allowance:
1 bag or backpack per person
Maximum weight: 8kg / 17lbs
Maximum size: 157cm / 62 inches (length + width + height)

This morning we are collected from our hotel in the Sacred Valley and travel a short distance to Ollantaytambo. Here we visit the well-preserved Inca ruins, set within one of the last remaining towns laid out on original Inca streets. The site includes terraces, stone walls and defensive structures, and once served as an important stop on royal journeys through the valley.

After the visit, we transfer to Ollantaytambo station and board the Expedition train to Aguas Calientes.

Train luggage allowance:
1 bag or backpack per person
Maximum weight: 8kg / 17lbs
Maximum size: 157cm / 62 inches (length + width + height)

On arrival in Aguas Calientes, lunch is included at a local restaurant before taking a short bus ride up to the entrance of the Historic Sanctuary of Machu Picchu. We explore the site on a guided visit, learning about its layout, construction and role within the Inca Empire. The citadel, brought to international attention in the early 20th century by Hiram Bingham, is set high above the Urubamba River and surrounded by steep forested peaks.

Following the visit, we return to Aguas Calientes and transfer to Casa Andina Machu Picchu for our overnight stay. Accommodation is in standard traditional rooms, with breakfast included.

After an early breakfast, we take the shuttle bus back up to the Historic Sanctuary of Machu Picchu for a guided visit of approximately two hours. The tour covers the main areas of the citadel and its immediate surroundings, with time to understand how the site functioned within the Inca Empire and how it relates to the surrounding landscape.

Machu Picchu, located at 2,430 metres above sea level, remained unknown to the wider world until it was brought to international attention in 1911 by Hiram Bingham. Set between steep forested slopes, the site is noted for its carefully constructed stonework, terraces and ramps, much of which remains intact today.

After the visit, we return to Aguas Calientes, where there is free time to explore the town or relax before the return journey.

In the afternoon, we board the Expedition train back to Cusco.
Scheduled departure: 15:20
Scheduled arrival: 19:05 at Poroy Station
(Timings to be reconfirmed)

On arrival in Cusco, we transfer to Munay Wasi Inn for our three-night stay. Accommodation is in standard rooms on a bed and breakfast basis.

At the scheduled time, your guide collects you from the hotel to begin a guided tour of Cusco. We start on Hatunrumiyoc Street to see the Stone of the Twelve Angles, part of the former palace of Inca Roca and a clear example of Inca stonework.

We continue with a panoramic visit to the San Blas district, known for its narrow streets and long-standing craft traditions. Here we visit San Blas Church, noted for its carved cedar pulpit, and view the surrounding neighbourhood from above.

From there, we stop at the San Cristóbal Viewpoint for views across the city, followed by a short visit to the Church of San Ana. We then explore San Pedro Market, where stalls sell local produce and everyday goods. A short stop at a traditional chichería allows a taste of chicha, a corn-based drink typical of the region.

The tour continues at Qorikancha, once the Inca Temple of the Sun and later incorporated into a colonial church. Nearby, we visit the Church of the Society of Jesus on the Plaza de Armas, followed by the San Francisco church. The tour concludes at Cusco Cathedral, the city’s main cathedral.

After the visit, we return to the hotel.

Today you will have a full day at leisure to explore Cusco. You can take things at a relaxing pace as you stroll along the narrow cobblestone streets or perhaps you would like to independently explore the breath-taking ruins of the original city of Cusco or sample some more of the famous Peruvian cuisine at one of the many authentic restaurants. Your local guide will be happy to make suggestions to suit your interests.

Early this morning we travel by road for approximately three hours to the rural community of Chonta, which sits at an altitude of around 3,380 metres. From here we begin a gentle walk through open highland scenery.

After about 20 minutes on foot, we reach the Huaco viewpoint overlooking the Apurímac Canyon. This area is known as a natural habitat of the Andean condor, and there is a chance of seeing condors gliding on the thermal currents below. Other wildlife in the area may include birds of prey and, occasionally, wild deer.

Following time at the viewpoint, we return to Chonta and begin the journey back to Cusco, arriving later in the day.

Today we travel by road from Cusco to Puno, passing through the South Valley and the high plateau beyond. The drive allows time to appreciate the changing landscapes along the route, with several stops included.

Our first stop is in the town of Andahuaylillas, where we visit its well-known church, often referred to as the Sistine Chapel of America due to its interior artwork. Built by the Jesuits in the 16th century on the site of an earlier Inca temple, the church is modest in size but notable for its detailed murals and painted ceilings.

We continue on to Raqchi, an important Inca archaeological complex. Here we visit the Temple of Wiracocha, a large rectangular structure once roofed with straw and supported by stone and adobe walls. The site also includes storehouses and residential remains, giving insight into its role as an administrative and ceremonial centre.

A further stop is made at the Pukara Museum, which presents artefacts from the pre-Inca Pukara culture that once dominated this region.

Lunch is included at a local restaurant en route.

We arrive in Puno in the late afternoon and check into the José Antonio Hotel Puno for a two-night stay. Accommodation is in standard rooms with breakfast and dinner included.

Today let’s explore more of Lake Titicaca, the world's highest navigable body of water, taking in in the Uros Floating Islands & Taquile Island. Situated in the Andes Mountains on the border between Peru and Bolivia, we will have the chance to admire Lake Titicaca’s stunning, shimmering blue waters. We will first visit the Uros Floating Islands,made of reeds, rising six meters above the lake level. They are anchored by logs and connected to each other by ropes. The main activities of the people who live here are fishing and handcrafting several items that they sell to visitors.

Next let’s travel to Taquile Island which is well known for its natural beauty, offering a spectacular view from its hills and its standing as a first-rate textile centre. Textile activities are very important to the local people. Here we will see men walking about in rubber sandals wearing black pants, white flannel shirts and beautiful, finely woven chumpis), covering their heads with finely knitted warm "chullos".

You will have one final morning at leisure for any last minute sightseeing or shopping of your choice. In the afternoon it will be time to say goodbye to Peru as we head to Juliaca airport for our internal flight to Lima and our onward overnight flight home

On arrival in Lima airport we will transfer from the domestic terminal to the international terminal for our onward overnight flight home to Dublin.