Reception at the airport of Lima and transfer to your hotel in Miraflores.

At proper time you will be transferred to station to take the bus to Paracas. At approx. 4.30am you depart with a high quality bus (air conditioned coach with reclining seats) from Lima and arrive at 8.00am in Paracas. On arrival you will be assisted to start with your boat trip to the Ballestas Islands. Here we enjoy close-up observations of dozens of sea lions as they swim near the boat or sun themselves on shore. We watch hundreds of various marine bird species and with some luck even one of the famous Humboldt penguins. After the boat excursion you will continue your bus trip to Nazca. Upon arrival transfer to your hotel and time to relax at the hotel pool.

In the morning you will be picked up from your hotel and brought to the little airport in Nazca where you will take the flight over the famous Nazca Lines. A large number of lines, not only parallels but also geometrical figures such as an enormous monkey, a bird with a wing span of over 100 meters, a spider, are cut into the stony desert. The lines are best seen from the air and our over flight (approx. 30 minutes) gives you the best opportunity to do so. In the afternoon we will take you to the bus terminal from where you take a regular bus to Arequipa.

We arrive to Arequipa in the early morning. The remaining of the morning is at leisure to recover from bus trip. In the afternoon we explore the city.In the afternoon we will explore the city. Some of the old buildings were made from white volcanic material (sillar) which has given it the name of the ‘white city’. We will visit the Main Square, the Cathedral, La Compañia and San Francisco churches. We continue to the extraordinary Santa Catalina Convent. This cloister, built in the 16th century, is a huge structure that once served as a town within itself housing 450 nuns.

After the breakfast we leave Arequipa towards Chivay in the Colca Canyon. On the way we pass through the national reserve Pampa Cañahuas where we hopefully can see wild vicuñas, llamas and alpacas. From the viewpoint of Patapampa we can enjoy the beautiful scenery of the snow covered mountains and nearby volcanoes Mismi (5597m/18360ft), Misti (5825m/19110ft) and Chachani (6075m/19930ft). After the 4 hour drive we arrive to Chivay, Colca’s most important town where we have lunch. In the afternoon you can visit the hot springs and pools (entrance fee not included) or you can visit the local market of Chivay. We spend the night in a lodge in the valley.

Early in the morning we leave for to an observation point in the Colca Canyon. On the viewpoint (Mirador Cruz del Condor) we look out for condors and if we are lucky we will see the flight of this majestic bird with the largest wingspan in the world. On the way back we visit picturesque towns like Yanque or Maca. We can see colonial churches, gently people with typical needlework dresses and hundreds of pre Inca terraces with Andean growings. Back in Chivay we have lunch and return to Arequipa where we will arrive in the late afternoon.

We say goodbye to Arequipa to continue our trip across the Altiplano to Puno. Our bus climbs up the Andean mountains to reach average altitude en of 4500 m (14700 ft) on the route. After a 6-hour ride we reach the city of Puno on the shores of Lake Titicaca.

You will be picked up from your hotel after your breakfast and brought to the port of Puno. From here we take a motorboat and after approx. 2 hours we will arrive at the Uros Islands. Fishermen and hunters inhabit the floating islands of the Uros. The residents of the Uros use the cattail, a type of rush, which grows in the lake, to create the conditions that ensure the islands stay afloat. Then we will visit the Taquile Island, including lunch in the cooperative restaurant. Taquile Island is famous for its craft production, particularly for its beautiful textiles. On the island there are countless pre-Inca and Inca ruins as well as Inca terracing. In the afternoon we will return to Puno where you spend the night in your hotel.

Early in the morning we depart to Bolivia. We drive along the south side of Lake Titicaca to the town of Copacabana, on the boundary between Peru and Bolivia. Once in Copacabana we boat to the mythic Island of the Sun. We visit the garden, steps and fountains of the Incas, the Pilkokaina Inca Palace and the small community of Yumani. After the visit we have the chance to enjoy the overwhelming panoramic view of the lake and surrounding mountains before we leave the island towards Copacabana.

After breakfast we visit the famous Dark Virgin and its church in Copacabana, have lunch and can take a short stroll around the town before you start your overland trip to La Paz. On arrival you will be transferred to your hotel.

After breakfast we head towards Puno. We pass through the Bolivian Highlands and take a stop in Tiwanaku. Tiwanaku is one of South America’s most important archaeological sites and considered the cradle of the American man. The origin of these ruins is until today topic of discussion. Our guided tour includes the visit to the ‘Gate of the Sun’, the ‘Akapana’ pyramid, and the ‘Kerikala’ Palace as well as aqueducts and the monoliths ‘Ponce’ and ‘Fraile’. Then we continue to the frontier between Peru and Bolivia where you pass the immigration control. Afterwards we drive the rest of the way to Puno.

In the morning we transfer you to the bus station. A pleasant eight-hour bus trip takes us through picturesque Andean landscapes dotted by small villages and herds of llamas and vicunas. Our destination is Cusco, however we'll visit various places of interest. One is Andahuaylillas known by its baroque church dating from the 17th century. Our bus will climb to La Raya Pass (4,335 m/ 14,172 ft) to enjoy a panoramic view of the snow-capped Andes. Then our tour continues to Raqchi to visit the Viracocha Temple. This was the only Inca temple featuring cylindrical columns covered by fine clay layers. Upon arrival in Cusco you will be transferred to your hotel.

This morning we drive to the Sacred Valley to visit Pisaq and Ollantaytambo. Hundreds of visitors and people from remote communities dressed in their traditional and colorful attires to attend the Pisaq market and offer their products. Today, the market also has a tourist element, so there is an opportunity to buy souvenirs. Then we will drive through the Sacred Valley and have lunch in a restaurant. In the afternoon we visit the archaeological site of Ollantaytambo, where the Temple of the Sun and the Terrace of the Ten Niches stand out. Ollantaytambo was the site of the only successful Inca battle against the Spanish conquerors and the only town in the area to still retain its original Inca layout. Afterwards we make a short visit to the market and church of Chinchero before we return to Cusco where we spend the night.

In the morning we take you to the train station to board the train to Machu Picchu. On arrival a small coach takes you up the steep roads to the entrance of the citadel. In the "lost city of the Incas" we will have our guided tour (2-3 hours) in which you will visit the most important and interesting places of Machu Picchu. After that you will have free time to explore the complex on your own. Machu Picchu remained for centuries undiscovered by the Spaniards, only to be found in 1911 by Hiram Bingham. The uniqueness of its location and the genius that went into its construction make this Inca archaeological site truly one of the great wonders of the world.

After breakfast you have the rest of the morning free to roam around the majestic site of Machu Picchu, climb the Wayna Picchu and get panoramic pictures from Machu Picchu. In the afternoon you will return through the mountainous switchback passes to Cusco, where you will be met and transferred to your hotel.

Transfer to the airport of Cusco for your early morning flight to Lima. Upon arrival you will be transferred to your point of interest. At proper time you will be transferred to the airport in Lima for your international flight.

- Accommodation based on double room in the selected hotel category
(for single room consider single supplement)
- Private Services with local English, German, French or Italian speaking guide
- Shared Services with local English/Spanish speaking guide (Non private services)
- Domestic flights: Cusco - Lima
- Excursion to Ballestas Islands in shared boat for Private Services, but with English, German, French or Italian speaking guide
- Flight over the lines of Nazca
- Train ticket Cusco-Aguas Calientes-Cusco in Vistadome Class
- Bus Aguas Calientes-Machu Picchu-Aguas Calientes
- Entrance fee to Machu Picchu and bus Aguas Calientes-Machu Picchu-Aguas Calientes for second day visit are included!
- Public bus Lima-Paracas, Paracas-Nazca, Nazca-Areqipa, Arequipa-Puno, Puno-Copacabana, Copacabana-La Paz (not escorted)
- Tourist bus Cusco-Puno with English/Spanish speaking escort for Shared and Private Services
- Private transportation La Paz-Puno (not escorted)
- All transfers from/to hotels
- Excursions according to itinerary
- Entrance fees to the mentioned sites in the itinerary
- Meals as specified in the itinerary