Peru 10 Day Tour: Huacachina, Colca Canyon and Machu Picchu

Summary

1. Day 01

   Arrival in Lima

   • •Airport reception and transfer to the hotel.
   • •Free day to rest.
2. Day 02

   Lima City Tour (4 hours)

   • •Visit ancient and colonial Lima.
   • •Tour of the Historic Center: Plaza de Armas, Government Palace, Municipal Palace, and Archbishop’s Palace.
   • •Visit to the San Francisco Convent and Catacombs.
   • •Tour of modern districts: San Isidro, El Olivar Park, Parque del Amor, and the Malecón.
3. Day 03

   Excursion to Paracas, Ica, and Huacachina

   • •Travel to Paracas (4 hours).
   • •Ballestas Islands tour (2 hours): wildlife viewing including sea lions, penguins, and the Candelabro geoglyph.
   • •Visit to El Catador winery with wine and pisco tasting.
   • •Experience at the Huacachina Oasis: sandboarding on the dunes.
   • •Return to Lima.
4. Day 04

   Lima – Arequipa

   • •Transfer to the airport for your flight to Arequipa.
   • •Arrival and free afternoon in Arequipa.
5. Day 05

   Arequipa City Tour

   • •Visit to the Carmen Alto and Yanahuara viewpoints.
   • •Tour of the Santa Catalina Monastery.
   • •Visit to the Plaza de Armas, Cathedral, and Church of the Company (Iglesia de la Compañía).
6. Day 06

   Colca Canyon – Travel to Cusco

   • •Early departure (3:00–3:30 a.m.) to Cruz del Cóndor viewpoint.
   • •Visit to colonial villages: Pinchollo, Maca, and Yanque.
   • •Stops at the Antahuilque and Choquetico viewpoints.
   • •Hot springs and lunch in Chivay.
   • •Stop at the Volcanoes Viewpoint (4,910 m above sea level).
   • •Observation of flora and fauna in the Tocra and Pampa Cañahuas wetlands.
   • •Night bus journey to Cusco (10 hours).
7. Day 07

   Arrival in Cusco – City Tour

   • •Reception and time for altitude acclimatization (3,400 m above sea level).
   • •City tour of the colonial city and Qoricancha (Temple of the Sun).
   • •Visit to archaeological sites: Sacsayhuamán, Qenqo, Pucapucara, and Tambomachay.
8. Day 08

   Sacred Valley – Aguas Calientes

   • •Visit to Pisac: artisan market and archaeological site.
   • •Route through Ccoya, Lamay, Calca, and Urubamba.
   • •Buffet lunch.
   • •Visit to the archaeological complex of Ollantaytambo.
   • •Train journey to Aguas Calientes (1h45min).
9. Day 09

   Machu Picchu – Cusco

   • •Early ascent to Machu Picchu.
   • •Guided tour of the citadel.
   • •Optional: hike to Machu Picchu Mountain or Huayna Picchu (USD 65 additional).
   • •Lunch in Aguas Calientes.
   • •Return by train to Ollantaytambo and transfer to Cusco.
10. Day 10

    Departure from Cusco

    • •Breakfast at the hotel.
    • •Departure transfer according to scheduled time.

Itinerary

• 1

  DAY 1Welcome to Lima

  Arrival in the city of Lima. A representative from our travel agency will be waiting for you at the airport to welcome you and transfer you to your selected hotel.

  Free day to rest.

  Accommodation: Selected hotel in Lima | Includes: Transfer, transportation.

• 2

  DAY 2Lima – City Tour

  Breakfast at the hotel.

  At 9:00 am, a representative from our agency will pick you up to begin your tour of Lima, the “City of Kings.”

  ANCIENT LIMA: We begin our journey exploring the modern district of Miraflores, where we will admire the impressive “Huaca Pucllana,” a pre-Inca ceremonial center built in the 4th century AD that has remarkably survived Lima’s urban expansion. We continue to the romantic Love Park on the Miraflores boardwalk, where we will enjoy spectacular views of the Pacific Ocean. The tour proceeds through the elegant district of San Isidro with its emblematic El Olivar Park.

  COLONIAL LIMA: Entering Lima’s Historic Center, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, we will discover more than fifty colonial monuments and buildings. We will walk along the Paseo de la República and San Martín Square, where our guide will share fascinating historical stories. In the majestic Main Square (Plaza de Armas), we will admire the Government Palace, the Archbishop’s Palace with its finely carved wooden balconies, the impressive Cathedral Basilica, and the City Hall.

  The highlight of our tour will be the visit to the San Francisco Convent, a 17th-century architectural jewel. We will explore its ancient library with historical texts, the magnificent wooden choir, the serene main cloister decorated with Sevillian tiles, and the mysterious underground catacombs, an old colonial cemetery full of fascinating history.

  At the end of the tour, approximately after 4 hours, you may choose to return to the hotel or stay to explore the modern Larcomar shopping center, beautifully integrated into the cliffs overlooking the Pacific Ocean.

  Free afternoon.

  Accommodation: Selected hotel in Lima | Includes: Transportation, guide, entrance fees.

• 3

  DAY 3Ballestas Islands + Huacachina Oasis + Ica Vineyards

  At the scheduled time, pick-up from the hotel.

  We will travel for approximately 4 hours to Paracas, where we will make our first stop at the Marina Pier. There, we will pass through the SERNANP control point to enter the Ballestas Islands. This excursion lasts around 2 hours, during which we will observe the fascinating marine wildlife and the famous sand formation known as “The Candelabro.” The guide will provide a detailed explanation of the flora and fauna of the area, where we will see sea lions, Humboldt penguins, and guano birds.

  After the guided visit, we will continue for about one hour to “El Catador Winery,” where we will enjoy a delicious meal and tour the winery, as well as taste some of the local wines and piscos.

  Then we head to the Huacachina Oasis, where we will experience an unforgettable adventure sliding down the desert dunes on sandboards. After this adrenaline-filled activity, we will take a walk around the oasis and capture beautiful photos.

  At the end of the tour, we return to the city of Lima for rest.

  Accommodation: Selected hotel in Lima | Includes: Transportation, guide, entrance fees, sandboarding, buggies, lunch.

• 4

  DAY 4Lima – Arequipa

  Breakfast at the hotel.

  At the scheduled time, we will transfer to the airport to take the flight to Arequipa. Welcome to Arequipa! Upon arrival, our team will receive you and take you comfortably to your hotel.

  The rest of the day is free for you to explore the city at your own pace, enjoy its colonial architecture, or simply relax.

  Accommodation: Selected hotel in Arequipa | Includes: Transfers.

• 5

  DAY 5Arequipa – Walking City Tour & Santa Catalina Monastery

  Breakfast at the hotel.

  In the afternoon, we will visit the city of Arequipa: the Carmen Alto viewpoint (where you can admire the Chilina Valley), the Yanahuara viewpoint, and the Santa Catalina Monastery, a “small city” from the 17th century that was opened to the public in 1970 after 400 years of cloistered life. This visit will transport you four centuries into the past as you walk through its numerous spacious courtyards and gardens, the kitchen, the servants’ quarters, and the stone laundry areas.

  We will continue to the Plaza de Armas, where we will see the Cathedral (its unique façade), as well as the Church and Cloisters of the Society of Jesus (San Ignacio).

  Accommodation: Selected hotel in Arequipa | Includes: Transportation, guide, entrance fees.

• 6

  DAY 6Adventure in the Colca Canyon (Full Day)

  Breakfast at the hotel.

  Our adventure begins very early, between 03:00 and 03:30 a.m., when we will pick you up directly from your hotel in Arequipa. We will immediately start our journey through the town of Yura, heading without stops toward the famous Cruz del Cóndor, with only a brief stop to enjoy a comforting breakfast along the way.

  Around 08:30 a.m., we will arrive at our main destination, the majestic Cruz del Cóndor, a privileged viewpoint where we can admire one of the deepest canyons in the world and observe the natural sanctuary of the majestic Andean condor in its natural habitat.

  During our return journey, we will make strategic stops in picturesque colonial villages such as Pinchollo, Maca, and Yanque, where we will appreciate their beautiful colonial churches that preserve centuries of history and architecture. We will also visit the impressive Antahuilque and Choquetico viewpoints, from where we will observe ancient tombs and pre-Inca models, as well as enjoy the spectacular landscape of the Colca Valley with its impressive traditional agricultural terraces.

  Around 11:30 a.m., in the town of Chivay, we will head to the relaxing hot springs to enjoy their medicinal waters. Later, at 12:30 p.m., we will have a traditional lunch in Chivay before starting our return journey to Arequipa.

  On the way back, around 1:30 p.m., we will stop at the impressive Volcanoes Viewpoint, located at 4,910 meters above sea level, the highest point of our route. We will continue to the Tocra wetlands, where we will observe a variety of wild birds along with herds of alpacas and llamas in their natural environment. Crossing the Pampa Cañahuas, part of the Aguada Blanca and Salinas National Reserve, we will have the opportunity to see groups of vicuñas, the elegant South American camelid known for producing one of the finest fibers in the world.

  Finally, around 5:00 p.m., we will arrive back in the city of Arequipa, concluding this enriching adventure through the magnificent Colca Canyon.

  Departure to Cusco by bus with Cruz del Sur or similar service at approximately 8:30 p.m. (approx. 10-hour journey).

  Accommodation: Overnight on board the bus | Includes: Transportation, guide, lunch, entrance fees.

• 7

  DAY 7Cusco – City Tour and Nearby Archaeological Sites

  Arrival in the imperial city of Cusco. Reception at the bus station and transfer to the selected hotel. Free time to rest and acclimatize to the altitude (3,400 m above sea level).

  Half-day City Tour

  Between 1:00 and 1:20 p.m., we will begin our tour of this fascinating colonial city built on Inca foundations. We will visit valuable paintings from the “Cusco School,” as well as Qoricancha or the Temple of the Sun, known as the Royal House of the Sun of Urin Cusco.

  We will continue to the four main archaeological sites surrounding the city: Sacsayhuamán, an impressive fortress located 5 km from the city center; Qenqo, an ancient sacred amphitheater dedicated to the worship of the Puma god where ritual sacrifices were performed; Pucapucara, a strategic reddish fortress that acquires its characteristic color at sunset; and Tambomachay, a temple dedicated to the worship of water. Finally, return to the hotel.

  Accommodation: Selected hotel in Cusco | Includes: Transportation, guide, entrance fees.

• 8

  DAY 8Cusco – Sacred Valley of the Incas – Aguas Calientes

  Breakfast at the hotel.

  At the indicated time, we will begin our excursion to the legendary Sacred Valley of the Incas. We will first visit the charming colonial town of Pisac, with its famous artisan market, and then ascend to its impressive archaeological site, where we will admire the magnificent agricultural terraces of Inca architecture. We will continue our journey through the picturesque villages of Ccoya, Lamay, Calca, and Urubamba.

  We will enjoy a buffet lunch before heading in the afternoon to Ollantaytambo to visit its monumental archaeological complex, a vast structure that served as an agricultural, administrative, social, and religious center during the Inca Empire (Tahuantinsuyo).

  Finally, we will take the train from Ollantaytambo to Aguas Calientes (a scenic 1 hour and 45-minute journey), where we will spend the night to prepare for the visit to Machu Picchu the following day.

  Accommodation: Selected hotel in Aguas Calientes | Includes: Transfer, lunch, guide, entrance fees, train.

• 9

  DAY 9Aguas Calientes – Machu Picchu – Cusco

  Breakfast at the hotel.

  Early in the morning, we will take the bus up to the magnificent citadel of Machu Picchu, rediscovered in 1911 by explorer Hiram Bingham. We will enjoy a complete guided tour of the main structures of this archaeological treasure, including the viewpoint, water mirrors, quarries, the Sacred Rock, the Main Plaza, and other important sectors.

  Optional: Opportunity to hike Machu Picchu Mountain or Huayna Picchu at an additional cost of USD 65 per ticket (subject to availability).

  We will descend to Aguas Calientes to enjoy lunch at a local restaurant.

  In the afternoon, we will take the return train to Ollantaytambo station, where a transfer will be waiting to take us back to the city of Cusco.

  Accommodation: Selected hotel in Cusco | Includes: Breakfast, lunch, train.

• 10

  DAY 10Cusco

  Breakfast at the hotel.

  At the appropriate time, departure transfer.

  Breakfast on this day will depend on the transfer schedule from the hotel.

  *** End of service ***

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