On This Trip
- Visit Arequipa and Santa Catalina convent
- Visit Cuzco
Peru has an array of "must see" sights that are positioned to see in a logical order. Whilst the bustling city of Lima is a worth a night or two for museum lovers, many people see it as a springboard for the rest of the country.
Flying southeast of Lima, the beautiful whitewashed city of Arequipa is reached, idyllically set at the foot of El Misti and Chachani volcanoes. Taking the road out towards the Colca Canyon opens up an area of rugged landscape dominated by volcanoes and herds of llama and vicuna. Descending into the Colca Valley brings a change of scenery with fertile land dotted with small villages where farming still takes place on pre-Inca terracing.
The steep walls of the Canyon are home to families of the mighty Andean Condor and an early morning excursion to see these majestic birds hit the thermals is a must. Continuing by road to Puno passes by serene lake scenery offered by the Lagunillas Lakes before arriving at the bright blue waters of Lake Titicaca. From Puno sail to the floating Uros Islands that are made from tortora reeds that grow on the lake. Also, learn about traditional dress and farming methods directly from the islanders of Taquile Island.
Back on dry land, Puno is the place to board the train to Cuzco for the fantastic altiplano train journey. In Cuzco, the capital of the vast Inca Empire, visit many of the highlights in the compact centre as well as many of the surrounding Inca ruins. From Cuzco you will take a spectacular flight into the Amazon basin. The vast Tambopata Reserve is renowned for its unspoilt nature in such an accessible location and is a great place to see some of the rarer mammals including river otters as well as a multitude of birdlife. Upon returning to Cuzco, the highlight of the trip is left to the end. Driving into the stunning Sacred Valley, the larger Inca ruins of Pisac and Ollantaytambo are visited before staying in one of the remote hotels in the valley.
The next day the train to Machu Picchu provides a fantastic journey along the banks of the raging Urubamba River. Spending a night in Aguas Calientes really finishes off this itinerary in style as a second day can be spent exploring the magical ruins before returning to Cuzco.
Places Visited
- Lima
- Lake Titicaca
- Machu Picchu
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