DAY 01: UK - Lima
Depart London on your scheduled, overnight flight to Lima, via Bogota.
DAY 02: Lima
On arrival in Lima, you will be met and transferred to your hotel in Peru's elegant capital. Your afternoon tour of Lima, the City of Kings, takes you past the stately Government Palace, located in the Main Square, to the city cathedral, where the remains of conqueror Francisco Pizarro lie. Explore the highly embellished cloisters and entryway of San Francisco Monastery and its network of underground catacombs, used as cemeteries during the colonial period. Wander through the picturesque neighbourhood of San Isidro and the modern district of Miraflores with its beautiful parks, squares, cafes and restaurants. Return to your hotel, re-joining your group later this evening for a welcome dinner.
Dinner
DAY 03: Lima - Puerto Maldonado
After breakfast, transfer to the airport for your flight to the city of Puerto Maldonado, the gateway to the Amazon rainforest. Travel by boat to Corto Maltes Lodge, your Amazonian home, arriving in time for lunch. In the afternoon, trek to a brazil nut harvesting camp and learn more about this important Peruvian staple crop and its cultivation. Back at the lodge, relax by the pool or unwind in a hammock on the terrace before a night-time pre-dinner boat excursion to observe lurking caimans and the nocturnal animals of the Amazon.
Breakfast & Dinner
DAY 04: Puerto Maldonado
A 3-kilometre morning hike through the wildlife haven of Tambopata National Reserve takes you to Lake Sandoval where a ride in a rowboat allows you to appreciate the biodiversity capital of Peru. Spot river otters, macaws, howler monkeys and one of the world's biggest freshwater fish, the Paiche, from your lookout on the river and, conditions permitting, encounter the primates of the Amazon on Monkey Island. Ascend into the treetops after lunch and enjoy animal viewings and a spectacular sunset from the lodge's two lookout towers. A visit to a Shiringuero encampment gives insight into the collection of rubber and takes you into the evening, which can be enjoyed at your leisure.
Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
DAY 05: Puerto Maldonado
After breakfast, venture downriver by boat to a native farm for a tropical fruit tasting before visiting a native Machiguenga family, one of the ethnic groups of the Peruvian Amazon. Learn about the intriguing customs and language of this group, as they teach visitors about their ayahuasca ceremonies, hunting gear and medicinal plants before sharing one of their unique indigenous dishes. Return to the lodge for an afternoon at leisure and the chance to enjoy a refreshing swim, a cool cocktail or a relaxing massage (at a fee) before dinner.
Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
DAY 06: Puerto Maldonado - Cusco
Experience an early morning cacophony of sound and colour at a nearby clay lick, where parrots congregate to nibble on a type of clay native only to this region. After breakfast, a boat will carry you to the city centre of Puerto Maldonado where you can browse through regional products at a local market before catching your flight to Cusco. On arrival in Cusco, uncover the remnants of the city's Incan and colonial past on an afternoon tour. Marvel at the gold and silver leafed walls and skilful masonry of the Incas at Koricancha, enjoy the vibrancy of the colonial city square at the Plaza de Armas and visit the Cusco Cathedral with its ornately carved woodwork, crypts and paintings. Explore the masterfully constructed Incan rock fortress of Sacsayhuaman and the underground cave and temple of Kenko, then take in the panoramic views over the rocky ruins of Puca Pucara, an ancient military fort. Wander through Tambomachay, the Baths of the Inca where aqueducts and canals flow and pool in sacred baths, before stopping at "Inka's Expression" workshop to watch local artisans create beautiful silver pieces, paintings and wood carvings.
Breakfast
DAY 07: Cusco
Journey by train to one of the New Seven Wonders of the World - Machu Picchu. A full-day tour takes you around the tombs, temples and palaces of this ancient city of ruins, believed to be built for an Incan emperor. A city never uncovered by colonizing Spaniards, the structures and agricultural terraces of Machu Picchu are an untouched testament to the culture of this lost civilization. Set between two forested Andean peaks beneath swirling clouds, with llamas often roaming the mountainside, the 550-year-old site offers spectacular views in addition to its archaeological wonders. Have lunch in the nearby town of Aguas Calientes and journey home by train after the day's tour.
Breakfast & Lunch
DAY 08: Cusco - Puno
Depart Cusco and travel to Puno, visiting a number of fascinating attractions along the way. Your first stop is Andahuayillas, the 'Sistine Chapel of America', which boasts church walls covered with frescoes and a gilded roof. Continue onward to Raqchi, an Inca archaeological park. Explore the towering Temple of Wiracocha, built to honour and appease the supreme god of the Incas before visiting The Raya, a well-placed viewpoint that provides panoramic vistas over the Andes. Arrive in Puno in the early evening, with the remainder of the day at leisure.
Breakfast & Lunch
DAY 09: Puno
Today's highlight is a trip to Lake Titicaca, the highest and largest navigable lake on earth. The views from the top of Taquile Island can stretch to Bolivia on a clear day and are well worth the hour-long walk from the port. After lunch in a simple restaurant overlooking the lake, follow 535 stone steps to a fantastic observation point. Later, walk back down to the port and board a boat for a brief visit to the floating reed island of Uros to visit a local family home before returning to Puno.
Breakfast & Lunch
DAY 10: Puno - Arequipa
Witness the natural beauty of Peru on today's journey from Puno to Arequipa. Leaving in the morning, travel first to a lofty lookout point with far-reaching views over the Lagunillas Lagoon and the chance to spot rare Andean birds such as the giant Andean coot and the Andean goose. Stop at a restaurant for refreshments before visiting the plains of Pampa Canahuas where you can observe the unique 'vicunas', a local camelid, roaming the land. Arrive in Arequipa and check into your hotel before dinner.
Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
DAY 11: Arequipa - Nazca
A scenic 12 to 14-hour drive along the coastline takes you past dazzling white beaches, laidback coastal towns, arid desert plains and lofty mountain passes as you follow the great Pan-American Highway to the city of Nazca for your overnight night stay.
Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
DAY 12: Nazca - Paracas
The origin and purpose of the Nazca Lines - a multitude of intricate geometric patterns and figures etched into the rock of Peru's Nazca Desert - has been the subject of mystery and research for decades. The hundreds of figures range in complexity from simple lines to stylized hummingbirds, spiders, llamas and lizards, some as long as the Empire State Building. Get a bird's eye view of this fascinating archaeological feature on a 25-minute flight over the lines (subject to weather conditions). Back on land, trace your way to Paracas, stopping to visit a local winery and explore a traditional pottery studio. Stunning Huacachina Lagoon, your next stop, is a palm-fringed oasis nestled in the barren desert region of Peru. With a handful of quaint shops and dwellings lining the water's edge, the lagoon makes for a unique and quirky pit stop before your overnight stay in Paracas.
Breakfast & Lunch
DAY 13: Paracas
Board a shared boat for the morning's excursion to the Ballestas Islands, and the chance to see porpoises leaping through the surf, pelicans and cormorants swooping over the water and the famous prehistoric Paracas Candelabra petroglyph etched into the waterside dunes. An afternoon at leisure gives you time to relax or explore the sights of Paracas at your own pace.
Breakfast
DAY 14: Paracas - Lima
Start your day with a scenic 4-5 hour drive along the Pacific Coastline from Paracas to Lima, stopping for lunch along the way. Check into your hotel in Lima, with the remainder of the day at leisure. Later, re-join your group for a farewell dinner that marks the end of your Peruvian adventure.
Breakfast & Dinner
DAY 15: Lima - UK
After breakfast, transfer to the airport for your return flight to the UK, via Sao Paulo.
Breakfast
