Best Value Experience: Huacachina, Nazca Lines, Colca Canyon, Lake Titicaca & Machu Picchu
With this complete Peru highlights journey, discover the diversity of Peru’s coast and Andes, from the colonial and modern flavors of Lima to the desert oasis of Huacachina and the mysterious Nazca Lines. Continue through the white city of Arequipa, the majestic Colca Canyon, and the ancestral communities of Lake Titicaca, before reaching Cusco, the Sacred Valley, and Machu Picchu, where you will also taste and cook authentic Peruvian food.
A smartly designed journey offering excellent value, with carefully selected group experiences, trusted local partners, and seamless logistics throughout.
Day 1: Arrival to Lima and Free day
Day 2: Shared Lima City Tour & San Francisco Catacombs
Day 3: Lima - Ica - Nazca
Day 4: Nazca - Arequipa
Day 5: Shared Arequipa City tour
Day 6: Colca Canyon Tour
Day 7: Colca Canyon Tour and bus to Puno
Day 8: Uros & Taquile Floating Islands tour
Day 9: Route of The Sun
Day 10: Private Half-Day Walking Tour Cusco
Day 11: Sacred Valley
Day 12: Private Machu Picchu Tour
Day 13: Palcoyo Trek
Day 14: Adios! Depart Peru
Arrival to Lima and Free day
Upon your arrival at Lima Airport, be transferred to your hotel. You’ll have the rest of the day at your leisure.
Explore the historic center of Lima, which is full of Spanish architecture. Visit Larco Museum, which is renowned for its extensive pre-Columbian art collection and is considered one of the top museums in South America. Continue to enjoy the unique flavors that Lima has to offer. Peru is regarded as the culinary capital of America and has been recognized as the world's leading culinary destination.
- Included: Breakfast
Shared Lima City Tour & San Francisco Catacombs
We start our tour in the Huaca Pucllana with a panoramic view of this important ceremonial center belonging to the Lima culture. We head towards the center of Lima, passing through the different neighborhoods of San Isidro, Lince and Cercado. We will appreciate the Palace of Justice, Lima Museum, Italian Art Museum, French Palace and Plaza San Martin. Our visit pedestrian begins in the Plaza de Armas where in addition to appreciating the Cathedral of Lima, Palacio Municipal, Government Palace, Archbishop Palace; we will have free space to take photos to attractions. We will enter the Convent of San Francisco and visit one of the main attractions its catacombs, which are a series of underground passages under the church, where the ancient inhabitants of the city were buried and where they are remains of those of 25,000 people.
Finally we will have a panoramic view of the Parque del Amor, Pacific Ocean and Larcomar.
*Starting times: 09:30 hrs. /14:30 hrs.
Bus to Lima & Shared Huacachina Adventure
In the morning, you will be picked up from your hotel and transferred to the bus station in Lima. From there, you will travel south along the Pan-American Highway to the valley of Ica. The city lies at an altitude of 186 meters and about 300 kilometers south of Lima, surrounded by the endless sand dunes of the Ica Desert. Ica is Peru’s most important wine-producing region and is also famous for “Pisco,” the main ingredient of the popular cocktail “Pisco Sour.”
Then it’s time for adventure! Head to the dunes of Huacachina and experience an exciting dune buggy ride (areneros) as well as sandboarding across the golden sand hills. Access to the buggies requires a short climb of about 80 meters.
The rest of the afternoon is at your leisure. Enjoy the sunset over the Huacachina Oasis.
*Travel time Lima – Ica: approx. 4 hours
Bus ride to Nazca
Be picked up from your hotel and travel by bus to Nazca. Upon arrival, be transferred to your hotel.
Duration of the bus ride: approx. 3 hours (Cruz del Sur)
Private Nazca Viewpoints tour: Cahuachi & Chauchilla Necropolis + Bus Journey to Arequipa
In the morning, you will begin a tour to the Nazca Lines viewpoints. From here, you can admire some of the gigantic figures etched into the desert floor. According to mathematician Maria Reiche and anthropologist Paul Kosok, the lines hold astronomical significance and are believed to represent “the largest calendar in the world.”
The tour continues to the Cahuachi archaeological site, one of the largest pyramid cities in South America, where you will visit the Great Pyramid, the temple, and the ceremonial complex.
Afterwards, the tour proceeds to the Chauchilla Necropolis (200–600 AD). At this archaeological site, you can observe ceramics, textiles, and mummies in their original tombs. Thanks to the dry desert climate, the mummies are remarkably well preserved, and it is even possible to see hair and skin remains.
At the end of the tour, you will be transferred back to Nazca. There will be time for lunch before boarding the bus to Arequipa, arriving around midnight after an approximately 10-hour journey.
- Tour duration: approximately 5.5 hours
- Included: Breakfast
Arrival to Arequipa
Upon your arrival to Arequipa, a private transfer will take you to your hotel.
*You'll need to wait till the check-in time of your hotel. You can make use of public areas or leave your storage at the storage of your hotel and explore the city. Alternatively, you can add an early check-in fee.
Shared Arequipa City tour
In the afternoon, you will start your city tour with an escape to the past, walking through the Monastery Santa Catalina. Then continue the visit toward the Compañia Church, famous because of its incredible Baroque style and the colorful Cupula of Saint Ignacio. Then head to Arequipa’s Main Square, visiting its peculiar Cathedral with their Neo-renaissance style. After, head towards the traditional district of Yanahuara, with its beautiful plaza and views of the volcanoes Misti, Chachani, and Pichu Pichu.
Shared Colca Canyon Tour Day 1/2
Start the day early, setting off on a scenic drive to Colca Valley. This drive will last around 3 hours and will take you through spectacular landscapes featuring snowcapped volcanoes and quaint Andean villages.
As the road climbs up to the Reserva Nacional de Salinas y Aguada Blanca, keep your eyes open for wild vicuñas (smaller cousins of the llama) and viscachas (small chinchilla-like rodents). At the highest point of your journey, you’ll reach Patapampa Pass, located at a breathtaking 15,300 feet (4,820 m) above sea level. Here, you'll visit Mirador de Los Andes (Lookout Point of the Andes) in Patapampa. This lookout point offers incredible views of the peaks of the various volcanoes surrounding Arequipa, including the Hualca Hualca, the Sabancaya, and the Ampato.
Next, descend down into the town of Chivay, where you’ll begin to see pre-Inca agricultural terraces that characterize the landscape of the canyon. Upon arrival in Chivay, you'll stop in the main square to enjoy lunch.
After lunch, transfer to your hotel.
The rest of the afternoon will be free to take advantage of the hotel’s amenities, enjoy the tranquility of your surroundings, and simply rest and rejuvenate for the next day.
You can visit any of the plenty of public natural thermal baths in the region, depending on the town your accommodation is located, some of them are La Calera (near Chivay), Tambo and Chacapi (near Yanque),and Sallihua (Near Coporaque). Here visitors can pay a few soles to enter, and relax in the warm waters.
Included: lunch, Breakfast
Shared Colca Canyon Tour and bus to Puno - Day 2/2
Early this morning, you’ll meet your guide and drive to Condor Cross Lookout Point, one of the best viewpoints over the canyon and home to the famed condors that gracefully soar on the thermal currents. The road leads past picturesque villages and pre-Inca ruins dominated by the Ampato and Hualca glaciers, both visible in the distance. Once you reach Cruz del Condor, you can stand at the viewpoint and gaze into the depths of the canyon, which stretches nearly 4,000 feet below.
You will return to Chivay where you can enjoy lunch and browse the local market before starting the journey by land to your Puno hotel. Puno is located 5-6 hours from Colca Canyon by road, and you will be able to enjoy spectacular views of the Andes on the way.
Puno is at a higher altitude than Arequipa, and if you haven’t already sufficiently acclimatized, it is a good idea to take it easy after arrival.
Included: lunch, Breakfast
Shared Uros & Taquile Floating Islands tour
Explore the Uros floating islands and Taquile Island on this full-day trip, one of our most popular excursions. Neither land, sky, nor water, but at the intersection of all three. Totora reed roots seve as the unique building material for the floating islands of the Uros Titino communities of Lake Titicaca.
This excursion offers a unique chance to meet the Uro-Aymara people, including skilled reed raftsmen and expert weavers, and learn about the ancient techniques that keep their islands afloat, preserving their remarkable heritage. In contrast, Taquile is a natural island,home to the Quechua people, renowned for their textile artistry, recently recognized by UNESCO as a Masterpiece of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity. Here, guests will witness the Quechua imagination come to life through their unique weavings. Enjoy an outdoor lunch with breathtaking views of the deep blue skies mirrored in the lake's waters, set against the backdrop of Bolivia's majestic Cordillera Real mountain range
Included: lunch, Breakfast
The Route of The Sun: Puno - Cusco
After breakfast in your hotel, we make our way to the bus station in order to board a Tourist Bus to Cusco.
During the journey that takes about 10 hours, you will have 4 excursions and guided tours to the temple of the Inka Aymara museum of Pukara, the Raya pass at 4.335 masl, the Inka temple of Raqchi, Andahuaylillas, or the Sistine Chapel of America. Each tour lasts 20 to 40 minutes, making this experience an unforgettable activity.
Upon your arrival in Cusco, be transferred to your hotel.
* Please note that you'll need to pay the boarding fee, which costs around USD 1.00 per person.
Included: lunch, Breakfast
Private Half-Day Walking Tour: Sacsayhuaman, Cusco Historic Center & San Pedro Market
Today's tour will begin with a transfer to the Fortress of Sacsayhuaman, which features immense stones. Although the site was religious, the Spanish considered it a military fortress because of its location and the way it was built. From here, walk through San Blas Neighborhood and then continue to the Plaza de Armas, where you'll observe the Cathedral. Just a few blocks away, you will explore one of Cusco’s most impressive buildings,Qoricancha or The Temple of the Sun, whose interior walls were said to have been covered in gold. Here, you can observe detailed and intact architecture, and within the temple, you will see smaller temples dedicated to the moon, rainbow, stars, lightning, and thunder, among others.
From Qoricancha, you will head to the local San Pedro Market. The locals shop at this market every day in order to stock up on produce and groceries making this market experience as authentic as Peru gets. The market is located indoors and includes many different food stalls and vendors. Be sure to try their endless selection of fresh fruit smoothies, which are the perfect refreshing treat.
* The transfer is to Sacsayhuaman, from here you'll continue on foot.
* The Qoricancha is closed to the public on Sunday mornings.
* Not available during the Inti Raymi (June 24th).
Shared Cooking Classes Ivanna Lescano
In the afternoon, walk to the workshop, which is located some blocks away walking, here experience a 90-minutes gastronomical journey that will take you throughout the Peruvian coast, highlands, and jungle! The workshop is situated close to the main square of Cusco and a short walk from most hotels.
Peruvian cuisine is famous thanks to its variety of flavors and ingredients, today you will enjoy, learn about the flavors and be part of the preparation of the most delicious Peruvian dishes! Fun and dynamic classes where everyone can participate regardless of previous cooking knowledge or experience.
Ivana Lescano Culinary Experiences, Is a true gastronomic immersion, 100% participatory and dynamic! Experience the diversity of Peru through its tastes - discover the extraordinary ingredients from the different Peruvian regions ranging from the coast, over the Andean mountains to the exotic Amazon!
In just 90 minutes, you will engage in our five-step course, you will not only learn about the preparation of typical Peruvian dishes but also include topics as the history of Peruvian gastronomy, concepts of the kitchen, tropical fruit, Pisco Sour preparation, and indeed the preparing and cooking of two of Peru’s most emblematic dishes: Ceviche and Lomo Saltado.
Steps
- Step 1: Getting into the Peruvian Cuisine (10 minutes): Our instructor/Chef will provide an introduction about the Peruvian culinary culture sharing her/his knowledge of history, biodiversity, and geography.
- Step 2: Ceviche 100% hands-on (30 minutes): Our first dish will be a delicate Peruvian ceviche made using fresh coastal fish with a mix of local ingredients that make it unique and unforgettable (100 % participatory activity).
- Step 3: Passion moment (15 minutes): During this step, you will prepare a beverage based in passion fruit. (100 % participatory activity).
- Step 4: Lomo Saltado Cooking Experience (30 minutes): After the demonstration and instruction given by our Chef, all of the participants will prepare their Lomo Saltados utilizing wok sauteeing techniques. We will then enjoy our meal! (100 % participatory activity).
After the classes, you can go around or walk to your hotel.
*Due to the central location of the workshop the transfers are not included.
Included: Breakfast
Shared tour to Pisac, Ollantaytambo & Train to Machu Picchu town
This morning you will depart from your hotel in Cusco and travel to Pisac, one of the most important archaeological sites in the region. Here you'll explore the ancient Inca burial grounds, irrigation systems, and astronomy centers. Next, go down to the town of Pisac located at the bottom of the valley. This town is famous for its bustling textile market. Select from a wide assortment of colors, styles, and designs for gifts and souvenirs to take home with you.
We'll stop for lunch, and enjoy a traditional Peruvian - Andean cuisine at a restaurant in the same Urubamba, conveniently located in a beautiful setting overlooking the Urubamba River. at a local restaurant.
From here, head to the ancient Incan city of Ollantaytambo, one of the few remaining places in the Sacred Valley that have retained its original Inca urban planning. Walkthrough the streets with Inca-era canals and view the ancient houses still in use today. Climb the agricultural terraces where you can enjoy an Inca’s-eye-view of the valley. From the top, you’ll be able to see some of the quarries from where the stone for Ollantaytambo was sourced. It’s amazing to think how far these large stones were transported from, especially considering the Incas didn’t have pack animals strong enough to carry them.
From here, take the train to Aguas Calientes (Machu Picchu town) for overnight.
Included: Lunch, Breakfast
Private Machu Picchu Tour
From Aguas Calientes, it's an easy 25-minute bus ride up to the Machu Picchu ruins.
This 15th-century Inca citadel is located at 7,970 ft (2,430 m) and is a masterpiece of engineering that served as a sanctuary and retreat for the Incan Emperor Pachacutec and his royal court. Machu Picchu, which means "Old Mountain," is considered a World Heritage Site by UNESCO and is one of the new Seven Wonders of the World.
Built as a seasonal residence for the Inca family, Machu Picchu was rarely home to more than 800 people, and during the royals' absence, a mere 100 servants would remain at the site to maintain the grounds. Machu Picchu was abandoned 100 years after construction and remained largely hidden to the outside world until the early 20th century.
Your private guide will lead you around the site and explain the different buildings and curious corners of the building complex (2.5 hours) . Approximately one-third of the site has been reconstructed into its original structure, giving visitors a sense of the grandeur and artistry of the original citadel.
After the tour, take the bus back to Aguas Calientes and grab lunch (not included) in the picturesque town center. Connect to your train to Ollantaytambo and then take a 2-hour land transfer back to your hotel in Cusco.
*Entrance hour to the Sanctuary of Machu Picchu is subject to availability; we will try to get the best circuit available.
*Duration of the private guided tour: 150 minutes (2.5 hours).
Included: Breakfast
Shared Palcoyo Trek: Small group
The Palcoyo Rainbow Mountain is only about 20 km from his famous sister "Vinicunca". While Vinicunca attracts thousands of visitors, Its smaller sister Palcoyo (4,900m/~16,000ft) with still no over-tourism, and is still one real insider tip. This mini trek is perfect for travelers who want to view the Colorful Rainbow Mountains in a relatively shorter and more gentle trek and a great option for those traveling with kids.
We pick you up early in the morning from your hotel. (On route, we´ll make a stop for breakfast).
The drive will be along the "Red River", we`ll make a stop for some minutes so you appreciate the Red River and the awesome pictures!
In about 3.5 hours drive, arrive at the starting point of the short hike. From here, it is a hike of approximately 50 Minutes via a short, relatively flat path. We have the prospect of seeing llamas, sheep, vicuñas, and alpacas. The summit lies on about 5000 meters above sea level. Once there, have time to enjoy the panorama and take pictures.
At this point, it is time to hike downhill. Finally, embark on the 3.5-hour drive back to Cusco (On route, we´ll make a stop for lunch).
Upon arrival to Cusco, be dropped off at your Cusco hotel. The approximate arrival time is 17:00 hrs.
More Information
- Maximum Altitude: 4971 m (16,309 ft)
- Time in car: 3.5 hours each way
- Distance Travelled: 7 km (4.3 miles)
- Approximate Walking Time: 45 – 60 min
- Difficulty: Easy – moderate
* Recommended months: April - October.
* Rainiest months: December - February: Possible erosions and landslides on the route.
* Pick up time from your hotel is subject to climate conditions.
*Red River, this natural event can be seen sometimes only during the rainy season – January to March. Due to red-mineral mudslides into the river. The red color is not warrantied.
Included: Lunch, Breakfast
Adios!: Fight to Lima, Depart Peru
At the set time, be transferred to the airport of Cusco, and board a flight to Lima.
End of our services.
*After the check-out time, you can store your luggage and explore the city. Alternatively, you can add a late check-out fee.
Complete Peru Highlights Price
All our Peru tours are based on private luxury service and can be fully customized to satisfy your personal needs and preferences. Please do not hesitate to contact us at sales@andeantravelexperience.com and receive full assistance planning your customized private tour in Peru.
Our prices often vary based on the requirements of your trip, and will depend on number of travelers, length of time, type of accommodation, etc.
What Included?
- Domestic Flights
- Accommodation for 13 nights (subject to availability).
- Meals as detailed in the program.
- Private transfers in all destinations.
- All mentioned tours as detailed in shared/private service with an English-speaking guide.
- All entrance fees in the mentioned tours.
- Machu Picchu Exploration:
- Round Train Tickets (Ollantaytambo - Machu Picchu town - Ollantaytambo)
- Round-trip bus tickets (Machu Picchu town - Machu Picchu - Machu Picchu town).
- 01 Entrance to Machu Picchu per person.
- Private Guided tour in Machu Picchu (2.5 hours)
- Private transfer from Ollantaytambo train station to Cusco.
- 24-hour support from our local team.
What is not Included?
- International Flights.
- Travel Insurance.
- Personal expenses.
- Tips.
- The meals that are not mentioned in the trip plan.
- Personal expenses.
- Travel insurance and repatriation insurance.
- Optional excursions, activities, and optional tours.








