arrow_back

17 Day itinerary in Peru, South America

The essentials of Peru : low carbon travel

Have you ever wanted to visit Peru's most spectacular sites and landscapes but got discouraged by how touristic and crowded these places could be ? Travelling makes you feel guilty as your carbon footprint gets bigger ? Well, this 17 days itinerary could match your wishes. It covers the essentials ... Read More

1 / 18
All Photos
Camille

By Camille

Overview

Physical Difficulty

Average
help_outline

Recommended Age

Everyone

Operated in

English, Spanish, French

GUIDANCE

Tour Guide, Driver

starting point

Lima

trip type

Private

trip attributes

Cycling

Kayaking

Hiking

Visit markets

Meet local people

Rural home stays

Indigenous culture

Outdoors & Nature

Food & Drink

Start/End

Night

Highlights

1

Lima, Latin America's gastronomic capital

2

The Pacific coast : between dunes and ocean

3

Kayaking and biking around Titicaca Lake

4

Cusco & Sacred Valley

Itinerary

Mid-Range Accommodation expand_more

Day 1

place Lima

Reception at the arrival of your international flight at Jorge Chavez airport in Lima and transfer to the hotel. An English representative will greet you at the airport and hand you over your travel documents.

Guide: Included for the day

Meals: Breakfast

Accommodation:

  • Mid-Range Accommodation: 3B Barranco's - Chic and Basic - B&B
Day 2

place Lima

Get ready for a gastronomic walking tour in the colorful district of Barranco. On the program visit of this emblematic district of Lima and tasting of the best traditional drinks and courses of the Peruvian gastronomy. Learn how to prepare the popular ceviche, causa, lomo saltado and the famous pisco sour cocktail. You will also enjoy some coffee and chocolate tastings, so emblematic of Peru, in small specialty stores.You will visit a local market to discover some of the most consumed fruits and vegetables of the country. Your guide will tell you the cultural and historical anecdotes behind each of these specialties. Do not forget your appetite during the tour, you will certainly need it! Free afternoon in Lima.

Guide: Included for the day

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Accommodation:

  • Mid-Range Accommodation: 3B Barranco's - Chic and Basic - B&B
Day 3

place Lima - Paracas

Departure by bus to Paracas. Go for a bike ride to discover the Paracas Natural Reserve, one of the most important preserved oceanic area in the world, counting with a lot of natural and archaeological curiosities.

Meals: Breakfast

Accommodation:

  • Mid-Range Accommodation: Hotel Emancipador
Day 4

place Paracas

Discover the breeding of scallops with Luis, who discovered in 2005 in the heart of the Paracas Reserve a great place for them to grow. You will go by boat to an island a few meters from the bay, where scallops are raised, and if you get lucky you will observe sea lions. For the more adventurous, dive into the ocean to get your own lunch. Upon your return, you will enjoy a seafood tasting. In the afternoon, departure for a walk on the Pacific, through the dunes of the Paracas reserve. The trail runs along the cliffs of the golden reserve, and ends after a two-hour walk on Mendieta beach. Then you sit on the rocks and watch the spectacle of nature: the sky is orange and reflected in the shadow of the cliffs! This is the perfect place to get to know the reserve out of the ordinary. If you are lucky you will observe the sunset from Mendieta beach.

Guide: Included for the day

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Accommodation:

  • Mid-Range Accommodation: Hotel Emancipador
Day 5

place Paracas - Nazca

Road to Nazca by bus. Departure towards the village of Copara, located about 10 minutes from the city of Nazca. You will walk through the village and observe the daily life of the inhabitants. You will cross mango trees, the passion fruit tree, cacti fields and avocados. Pick up and taste local fruits! After about 1h30 of walking without difficulty, you will reach the cemetery of Chauchilla, site dating from the Huari time (7th to the 9th century AD) whose skulls, mummies and textiles are in very good state of conservation, thanks to the drought of the area.

Guide: Included for the day

Meals: Breakfast

Accommodation:

  • Mid-Range Accommodation: Casa Andina Standard Nasca
Day 6

place Nazca - Arequipa

Departure between 4h00 and 4h30 in the morning to hike the Cerro Blanco, a giant sand dune located 20 km from the city of Nazca, surrounded by the Andes. Along the way you can enjoy the view of the valleys of Taruga and Las Trancas. After 5 hours of hiking, you will arrive at the top of the dune (2100 meters). The descent of the dune for the more adventurous, can be done in sandboard on a vertical drop of 800 meters. Altitude difference: + 1000m / - 800m Walking time: between 6h00 and 7h00 - Dificulty of the trek : medium. Departure by bus for a night journey to Arequipa, the white city.

Guide: Included for the day

Meals: Breakfast

Day 7

place Arequipa

At 11h, we invite you to enjoy a demonstration of the cuisine of the Andes and Arequipa. The Tio Dario Restaurant opens its doors (and its kitchens!), and its chef will show you his talents so you can master the best local recipes and Peru's most popular cocktail, the Pisco Sour! You will enjoy an exceptional atmosphere from the spring garden of the restaurant. Lunch included after the cooking class. Free afternoon to rest.

Meals: Lunch

Accommodation:

  • Mid-Range Accommodation: Hotel Boutique Villa Elisa
Day 8

place Arequipa

Departure for an half-day dedicated to the discovery of Arequipa, the white city. First, visit of the plaza de armas, the cathedral, the church and the Jesuit convent. After, you will go visit the Recoleta franciscan monastery, founded in 1648. Master piece of the colonial architecture, tipical of Arequipa, it shelters four magnificent and abolutely quiet cloisters. You can go up to the monastery mirador to enjoy the view over the city. End of the visit with the pointview of Yanahuara, located at 10 minutes on foot from the Recoleta. Free afternoon in Arequipa, the white city. Arequipa is the perfect city to stroll in the streets and between the colonial buildings : the Plaza of Armas and the cathedral, the cloister of the Jesus company or the district of San Lorenzo, picturesque district known as the oldest district of the city. Arequipa is also known for its textile crafts. The carefully crafted alpaca wool garments and leather hats are of exceptional quality!

Guide: Included for the day

Meals: Breakfast

Accommodation:

  • Mid-Range Accommodation: Hotel Boutique Villa Elisa
Day 9

place Arequipa - Puno

Enjoy a trip between Arequipa and Puno, with stops along the way, so you can appreciate the beauty of the landscapes and take as many photos as you want.

Meals: Breakfast

Accommodation:

  • Mid-Range Accommodation: Hotel Conde de Lemos
Day 10

place Titicaca Lake

At 7am, departure from your hotel in direction to the traditional village of Capachica, on the shores of Lake Titicaca. You start your downhill mountain bike ride from Capachica to Ccotos, about 2 hours of hike that will offer you magnificent panoramic views of the Lake, its islands and its surroundings. For lunch, you will enjoy a typical lunch prepared by a family from the community of Ccotos. After lunch and a few moments of tranquility on the shores of Lake Titicaca, you will leave for Puno in the middle of the afternoon by private transport.

Guide: Included for the day

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Accommodation:

  • Mid-Range Accommodation: Hotel Conde de Lemos
Day 11

place Puno - Cusco

From Puno to Cusco, you will enjoy the Highlands of the Andes, by disfruting an unforgettable experience with the PeruRail Titicaca Train. You will discover wonderful landscapes along the way to Cusco. The PeruRail Titicaca Train features an open-air observatory car, allowing you to take in the majestic views while enjoying the typical music and dances of the Peruvian highlands.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Accommodation:

  • Mid-Range Accommodation: inkarri hotel
Day 12

place Cusco

Departure for a half day dedicated to the discovery of Cuzco's historical downtown. Walk through the picturesque streets and squares of the San Blas neighborhood. Visit the Qoricancha (Temple of the Sun), and the Cathedral which has many paintings and other treasures of goldsmithery, silver and precious stones. Free afternoon in Cusco, navel of the Inca world. Free time in Cusco is generally appreciated for its walking possibilities in the many small cobbled streets of the city. You can also take advantage of this moment to make your last purchases of souvenirs: clothes, jewelry and decoration, the choices are endless in Cusco!

Guide: Included for the day

Meals: Breakfast

Accommodation:

  • Mid-Range Accommodation: inkarri hotel
Day 13

place Cusco

A 6-hour hike dedicated to visiting the ruins overlooking the city of Cusco. Ascent from San Blas to the ruins of Q'enko and Sacsayhuman. Visit of both sites. Then continue to Puka Pukara and Tambomachay for a walk on the hillside. Return to Cusco via different parts of the city.

Guide: Included for the day

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Accommodation:

  • Mid-Range Accommodation: inkarri hotel
Day 14

place Sacred Valley

This tour will allow you to discover the upper part of the Sacred Valley of the Incas. This excursion combines the best views of the valley and the snowy peaks of the Urubamba mountain range with the visit of the archaeological site of Moray and the Salineras de Maras. The starting point will be the village of Chinchero until you get to the Huaypo lagoon and then the archaeological site of Moray (visit included) You will then visit the Salineras de Maras and finish the excursion in Urubamba.

Guide: Included for the day

Meals: Breakfast

Accommodation:

  • Mid-Range Accommodation: El Albergue Ollantaytambo
Day 15

place Machu Picchu

Train to Aguas Calientes, starting point for visiting Machu Picchu. Arrival on Machu Picchu, wonder of the world. Machu Picchu is an ancient Inca city of the fifteenth century in Peru. Abandoned during the collapse of the Inca empire, the sacred city of the Incas was forgotten for centuries. It is considered a masterpiece of the architecture of this civilization. It was unveiled by the American archaeologist Hiram Bingham in 1911. Since 1983, the site is on the UNESCO World Heritage List. On July 7, 2007, Machu Picchu was named one of the Seven New Wonders of the World by the NewOpenWorld Foundation, an unofficial, commercial organization. Finally the site is part of a whole cultural and natural complex known as the "Historic Sanctuary of Machu Picchu". Access to the Machu Picchu site and hike of Montaña. Train back to Poroy. Reception at Poroy's train station and transfert to your hotel in Cusco.

Guide: Included for the day

Meals: Breakfast

Accommodation:

  • Mid-Range Accommodation: inkarri hotel
Day 16

place Cusco

Free day in Cusco, the capital of the Inca Empire. In the morning, you can go to the San Pedro market to discover the many varieties of exotic fruits that you will only find in Peru but also cusqueños breads, local cheeses, as well as Cusquenian florists and craftsmen of all kinds! You can then head to the Plaza de Armas to visit the cathedral of Cusco, surely the most beautiful religious monument in the country. Finally, we recommend you to visit the Qoricancha Temple. This Inca temple (the most precious of the time) was ravaged by the Spanish during the colonization. Its foundations were later reused to build the church of Santo Domingo. At the end of the day, you can go to the Sacsayhuaman archeological site that you will reach through the typical district of San Blas. Or wander around the cobbled streets of the colonial center of Cusco, where magic happens during sunset time. Free time in Cusco is generally appreciated for its walking possibilities in the many small cobbled streets of the city. You can also take advantage of this moment to make your last purchases of souvenirs: clothes, jewelry and decoration, the choices are endless in Cusco!

Meals: Breakfast

Accommodation:

  • Mid-Range Accommodation: inkarri hotel
Day 17

place Cusco - Lima

Time-off in the morning to relax. Transfer from your hotel to Cusco's airport. You will have an English speaking assistance from your hotel to the airport. Flight with destination to Lima.

Guide: Included for the day

Meals: Breakfast

What’s Included

Accommodation expand_less

  • 3B Barranco's - Chic and Basic - B&B
  • Hotel Emancipador
  • Casa Andina Standard Nasca
  • Hotel Boutique Villa Elisa
  • Hotel Conde de Lemos
  • inkarri hotel
  • El Albergue Ollantaytambo

Meals expand_less

  • Breakfast (16)
  • Lunch (6)

Transport expand_less

  • Airport Transfers
  • Flight from Lima to Arequipa
  • Touristic Bus
  • Private vehicules with drivers
  • Train between Puno and Cusco
  • Train to Aguas Calientes
  • Train to Ollantaytambo
  • Flight from Cusco to Lima

Activities expand_less

  • Gastronomical foot tour
  • Biking and hiking through Paracas National Reserve
  • Hand diving for scallops
  • Sandboarding dunes at Cerro Blanco
  • Cooking show
  • Kayaking and biking Titicaca Lake
  • Biking and hiking in the Sacred Valley

Extras expand_less

  • Entrance fees mentioned in the program

Not Included expand_less

  • Tips for Guides / Drivers
  • Meals / Drinks not mentionned in the program
  • International flights and National flights if NOT mentioned in the program.

About Camille

TEAM LEAD

verified Baboo Certified

star_outline 4.83 (6 reviews)

As a travel agent based in Lima since 2017, my specialty is tailored-made trips built on a sustainable way. You have your preliminary idea of travelling to Peru, I will share with you all my advices for an authentic and memorable trip through Peru.

Travel that Makes a Difference

By choosing to travel with us, you support local communities, wildlife, and the environment. We are dedicated to positively impacting the world through every journey we offer.

Let’s regenerate the planet together

We overcompensate your entire journey’s carbon footprint including flights - for free.

Learn more
FROM PRICE PER TRAVELER

$5,230.00 USD