Ultimate Peruvian Adventure

Arriving into Peru's bustling capital of Lima, the former home of the Spanish Inquisition during colonial times, you will be met and taken to your hotel, set in the cosmopolitan district of Miraflores, which is a great place to settle into the city and enjoy your first evening soaking up the atmosphere, bars, restaurants and markets of the district’s central plaza. You can also indulge in your hotel's spa if you so choose.

After enjoying breakfast in the historic city of Lima, you will start a half-day guided city tour, taking in Lima's colonial centre. This UNESCO World Heritage Site contains some of the best-kept colonial architecture in South America. The Plaza Mayor is the historical centre, a colourful area where you can catch the changing of the guards and gaze upon the cathedral, presidential palace and other important buildings, including convents and museums. Lima's charms definitely lie in the grandeur of her architecture. After visiting the old centre, we suggest heading to the modern districts of San Isidro and Miraflores, passing through the district of Pueblo Libre, as well as the picturesque El Olivar Park. Your tour ends with a visit to the Larco Herrera Museum, which houses one of the best collections of pre-Columbian remains anywhere in Latin America. Tonight, why not head out and indulge in some of Peru's finest cuisine. The ceviche is a must!

Transfer today to the airport for your flight to Iquitos. Upon arrival into the city, a gateway to the Peruvian Amazon, you will be met by our local representative who will take you one and a half hours northwest towards Nauta (the oldest city in the department of Loreto). Nauta lies between Iquitos and the Marañon River. Once at the port of Nauta, you will board the luxurious Delfin III riverboat, assisted by the experienced crew. Enjoy Amazonian-Peruvian cuisine at dinner and a briefing session on the top deck, where guides will outline the adventures and the wildlife sightings to come.

Today you will be navigating the waters of the Samiria River and its tributaries. These riverbanks are home to an abundance of diverse and colourful wildlife such as river otters, capybaras, caiman, blue-and-yellow macaws, toucans, many species of monkey and more. Expert naturalists will also be on hand to help you spot the elusive and mysterious pink river dolphin. Later in the day as you float deeper into Pacaya-Samiria National Park, you might even get the opportunity to swim alongside these gentle creatures!

This morning you are back on solid ground as you embark upon a fascinating jungle trail walk, during which your guide will educate you about this unique environment and its flora and fauna. Later on you will visit the remote San Francisco community and get to meet the inhabitants of this indigenous village, who still live and thrive off the offerings of the jungle and rivers. After this busy day and another delicious meal on board, the vessel will head to Nauta Cano Creek with an opportunity for a night safari and the chance to spot caiman and nocturnal birds.

After enjoying a final breakfast on board and bidding farewell to the crew, disembark in Nauta and begin the 95km transfer back to Iquitos Airport. En route, we'll make a stop at the well-respected ACOBIA (which translates to The Rescue & Rehabilitation Center of River Mammals), an organisation that endeavours to rehabilitate manatees which have been captured for domestication, before reintroducing them to the wild. Following this visit, board your flight at Iquitos Airport to the city of Lima, where you will connect with another short flight to Arequipa. A driver will transfer you to your hotel for the night where you can relax after a long travel day.

Overnight: Casa Andina Premium Collection, Arequipa(B)

After a free morning to relax, today holds a day tour of 'The White City', Arequipa. This beautiful city is built almost entirely of ashlar, a type of white volcanic stone, and is located at a height of approximately 2,300 metres above sea level in the desert mountains of the Andes. Once picked up from your hotel you will visit the main square, one of the most beautiful in Peru, with stunning carved arches built from the pale white volcanic stone known as sillar. Visit the impressive Arequipa Cathedral, built in the 17th century and fully rebuilt after several earthquakes. Also on the agenda is the Church of the Society of Jesus and the Monastery of Santa Teresa, as well as the Carmen Alto Scenic Viewpoint, located in front of the Chili River (Arequipa's main river) which offers stunning views of the local surroundings. Explore the traditional Yanahuara Quarter, crossed by delightful small streets of cobblestones, before the tour ends at the spectacular Monastery of Santa Catalina. After lunch at a local restaurant you are free to explore this beautiful colonial city on your own.

Overnight: Casa Andina Premium Collection, Arequipa(B)

Meet your transfer early this morning as you set off on a 4-hour drive towards Colca Canyon. This is a spectacular journey through some breathtaking scenery, which involves some dramatic shifts in landscape, from brilliant white snowfields to arid cactus forests. Enjoy scenic views from a local restaurant during lunch (included) and drive across Pampa Canahuas, which is inhabited by herds of alpacas and vicuñas. Upon arrival in Colca, you'll arrive at your perfectly located lodge on the banks of the Colca River, set at 3,250 metres above sea level. Colca itself is a small but charming town for you to explore this evening.

Colca Canyon has a depth of 3,400 metres, making it one of the deepest canyons in the world, while its red- and orange-hued sides contrast with the surrounding snow-capped mountains. An early-morning start will take you to Condor Cross, where you stand a good chance of seeing Andean condors circling above the canyon. This is also an ideal spot to marvel at the picturesque surroundings, and while not the deepest point of the canyon, it is nonetheless one of the best for admiring its stunning natural beauty. On the way back to your hotel, you will visit the small towns of Maca – located at the base of the Sabancaya volcano – followed by Yanque, most noted for its church, which has an impressive Baroque facade.

Prepare for an early-morning pickup as you are met for your journey to Puno, on the shores of Lake Titicaca. You’ll drive through the Andean Plateau, past petrified forests and alongside sky-blue lakes populated by white flamingos drying their wings in the icy wind at more than 4,000 metres above sea level. After a drive of about five hours, you'll arrive in Puno in time for your lunch, before having the rest of the day free to unwind.

Overnight: Casa Andina Premium Collection, Puno(B, L)

After breakfast, you will set off on an exciting full day enjoying the highlight of Puno: the floating islands of Uros and Taquile. You will be taken by motorboat across the waters of Lake Titicaca, towards Uros, which has been constructed entirely out of tortura reeds by the lake's inhabitants, known as the 'Water Tribes'. After your visit to Uros, you'll continue by boat to Taquile Island, where the local Quechua-speaking community has developed its own social systems, as well as traditional hand-weaving techniques. Here we'll enjoy a rewarding lunch before walking around the small island to see the contrasting scenery of green vegetation and azure waters against the backdrop of the snow-capped mountains. We then return to Puno and your hotel where you can unwind for the rest of the day.

Overnight: Casa Andina Premium Collection, Puno(B, L)

Get picked up from your hotel and transferred to the train station for your journey aboard South America's first luxury train. Your train journey will pass through some of the most spectacular landscapes of the Peruvian highlands. Take advantage of the on-board bar, dining cars and observatory car. Along the way you can enjoy a gourmet lunch prepared with exquisite Andean ingredients, as well as music and dance shows on board. A representative will await you in Cuzco to transfer you to your hotel.

Overnight: El Mercado(B, L)

Today you will be taken on a tour of Cuzco, as well as the nearby Inca ruins. Widely considered to be the archaeological capital of South America, Cuzco has many examples of pre-Colombian ruins as well as some fine Colonial architecture. It is an intriguing mix of where the two cultures collide and the ideal place to learn and understand the culture of the Incas. The main sites on this half-day tour include the Plaza de Armas and its main cathedral, as well as the nearby Inca ruins of Korikancha, Kenko, Tambomachay, Puca Pucara and Sacsayhuaman, each with their own significance and historical context, which your guide will explain. After your tour, return to your hotel and enjoy the rest of the day at leisure, exploring Cuzco's many dazzling sights, from llamas roaming around the sun-filled cobbled plazas to local markets filled with the scents of local cuisine.

Overnight: El Mercado(B)

This morning it is time to set off towards the Sacred Valley of the Incas. The first stop on your tour here is Pisac Market, where the main square is packed with stands selling traditional Peruvian products made by the local people. Here you’ll find alpaca textiles, musical instruments and paintings, as well as other potential souvenirs. Lunch will be served at a local restaurant, after which you will continue to the far end of the Sacred Valley and the fortress of Ollantaytambo. Ollantaytambo was built to protect this part of the valley from invaders from the lowlands, and contains beautiful terraces and fine stonework. You'll then be taken to your beautiful hotel in the Sacred Valley.

This morning you are to be taken to the train station in Ollantaytambo for your train ride on the Cuzco – Machu Picchu railway line, where today’s adventure begins. Arriving in Aguas Calientes after two hours and a short transfer, you will finally reach Machu Picchu where a guided tour of the sacred Inca citadel awaits. After your visit, return to Aguascalientes for a delicious lunch at a local restaurant before returning by train to Cuzco.

Overnight: El Mapi Hotel(B, L)

This morning, spend some time at your leisure (you may decide to return to Machu Picchu for a second optional visit, fee not included) before taking the train back to Ollantaytambo for your journey back to Cuzco where you will be met upon arrival and transferred to your hotel. The evening is free for you to explore this picturesque town further.

Overnight: El Mercado(B)

After breakfast it will be time to commence your exciting journey into Peru's Amazon region, where you will take your short flight to Puerto Maldonado. Here you will be met by a representative of the lodge where you'll be staying and taken to the butterfly house. Enjoy a refreshing drink and walk around the house where a variety of colourful butterfly species, all native to the Amazon, can be seen. A number of other local wildlife species also make their home here in the butterfly house, including frogs and turtles. Once check-in has been completed, you will be driven across town to the port to join the exciting motorised canoe transfer to your river-based lodge, located around an hour upstream from Puerto Maldonado. This is a great way to start your jungle adventure.

Overnight: Inkaterra Reserva Amazonica(B, L, D)

In the Amazon, the early bird catches the worm, so you will set off around sunrise to make the most of the wildlife before the temperatures climb too high. This morning a canoe excursion will take you around Lake Sandoval in the Tambopota National Reserve. Expect to see some fascinating creatures such as giant river otters, howler monkeys, red-bellied macaws, sideneck turtles and many more. In the afternoon, you can take advantage of the network of canopy bridges around the lodge and admire the wildlife from the treetops. Walk home via the Aguajales swamps with a chance to see further wildlife in this wetland landscape.

Overnight: Inkaterra Reserva Amazonica(B, L, D)

After a final breakfast in this tropical wildlife haven, check out of your hotel and enjoy the 45-minute boat ride back downriver to Puerto Maldonado, where you will catch your flight back to Lima. Upon arrival, you will be met and transferred to your Miraflores hotel, where you will spend the last two nights of your journey.

Today you will be transferred early to the airfield in Pisco to board a light aircraft, which will take you over the Nazca Lines for a planned 1.5-hour flight (subject to weather conditions). The geometric lines are believed to have been created by the Nazca culture between 400 and 650 AD. There are many complex figures that form the shapes of a monkey, spider, hummingbird and condor, among others. After your flight over the Nazca Lines, continue over the Palpa Lines (weather permitting) which are believed to predate the Nazca Lines. After lunch in Paracas, return by vehicle to Lima for a relaxing evening.

Prepare for a pick-up from your hotel which will take you to the airport for your return flight home.