Peru Tour 15 Days: Lima, Nazca, Arequipa, Puno and Cusco
Overview
Discover the magic, history and diversity of the Andes and the Pacific coast with our Peru Tour 15 Days and 14 Nights package. This complete circuit will take you to explore the most iconic destinations in the country, combining wildlife, pre-Inca mysteries, majestic Andean landscapes and vibrant local culture.
Your adventure will begin in Lima and descend along the southern coast to observe the fauna of the Ballestas Islands and fly over the enigmatic Nazca Lines. We will continue to Arequipa, the famous "White City", to enter the Colca Canyon, natural habitat of the Andean condor. Then, we will navigate the waters of the ancient Lake Titicaca in Puno, sharing with the communities of the floating islands of Uros, Amantaní and Taquile.
The trip will culminate in the ancient capital of the Inca empire, where you will enjoy the best tours in Cusco. You will get to know the amazing architecture of the city through the Cusco City Tour, you will tour the Sacred Valley of the Incas and you will be breathless in front of the citadel of Machu Picchu, the largest tourist attraction in Cusco. Book this dream trip and experience the best of tourism in Cusco, Peru and the entire country!
Detailed Itinerary
Day 1 – Arrival in the city of Lima
Welcome to Peru
Upon your arrival at Jorge Chávez International Airport in Lima, our team will be waiting to offer you a warm welcome. We will pick you up and safely transfer you to your selected hotel so you can rest and prepare for your great expedition.
Day 2 – Paracas and Tour to the Ballestas Islands
Trip to the Coast and Wildlife
At 03:45 hrs., we will pick you up from your hotel in Lima to transfer by bus to the port of Paracas, arriving at approximately 08:00 hrs. At 09:30 hrs. We will move to the port to begin navigation. For two hours, we will explore the Ballestas Islands, the most important wildlife sanctuary on the Peruvian coast. We will observe sea lions, seals, penguins and guano birds. Upon our return, we will appreciate the “Candelabro”, a gigantic figure drawn in the sand on the side of a hill, with a style similar to the Nazca Lines. Afterwards, we will take our bus to Nazca. Upon arrival, we will provide you with assistance and transfer to the hotel.
Day 3 – Flight over the Nazca Lines and Trip to Arequipa
Overflight and Pre-Inca Mystery
Very early in the morning, we will move to the Nazca airfield. We will board a small plane for a 45-minute flyover over the pampas. From the air, we will appreciate the mysterious Nazca Lines, gigantic figures of animals and plants (such as the monkey, the spider and the hummingbird) drawn by the ancient pre-Incas for a purpose not yet discovered. In the afternoon, we will take the bus to the city of Arequipa. Upon arrival, you will receive assistance and transfer to your hotel.
Day 4 – City Tour Arequipa and Monastery of Santa Catalina
Arequipeño Colonial and Baroque Architecture
After breakfast, we will begin the tour of the city of Arequipa. We will visit the traditional San Camilo market and the La Compañía church, which houses 66 canvases from the Cusqueña School. Then, we will tour the main square, the imposing Cathedral, the Tristán del Pozo House (one of the most notable examples of Arequipeño baroque) and, finally, the beautiful Monastery of Santa Catalina, a colonial citadel that still houses cloistered nuns. Overnight in Arequipa.
Day 5 – Arequipa, Colca Canyon and Thermal Baths
Vicuñas and High Mountains
At 04:00 a.m. We will head towards the Colca Valley. We will pass through the Pampa Cañahuas National Park and the Aguada Blanca National Reserve, habitat of vicuñas and alpacas. We will reach the highest point of the route at 4800 meters above sea level. Then, we will descend towards the town of Chivay, where we will settle in the hotel. In the afternoon, we will visit the Calera thermal baths, a relaxing tourist complex with pools of thermal waters from the volcano. Return to Chivay and spend the night.
Day 6 – Cruz del Cóndor and Trip to Puno
The Flight of the Andean Condor
Very early, we will leave for the Cruz del Cóndor viewpoint, a strategic point where the largest bird in the world is usually observed in full flight over the canyon. During the return, we will pass through the picturesque towns of Maca, Coporaque, Achoma and Yanque. We will have time for lunch. In the afternoon, we will leave by bus from Arequipa to Puno. Upon arrival, assistance and transfer to the hotel.
Day 7 – Lake Titicaca: Uros and Amantani Islands
Navigation and Living Culture
Pick up from the hotel to transfer us to the port and embark on a motor boat excursion on the ancient Lake Titicaca. We will visit the Floating Islands of the Uros, built with layers of reeds by the "Aquatic Tribe". Then, we will continue to Amantani Island, inhabited by natives of the Quechua language dedicated to ceramics and fine textiles. Known as "the Island of Love" for its powerful energy, here we will spend the night in the home of a local inhabitant, enjoying his warm hospitality.
Day 8 – Taquile Island and Return to Puno
Weaving Masters
After breakfast and free time in Amantani, we will leave mid-morning by boat to Taquile Island. This island is famous because its inhabitants have developed one of the best hand weaving techniques in the world. We will have lunch in the town, walk through its hills and archaeological sites. In the afternoon, we will return to Puno and transfer to the hotel.
Day 9 – Ruta del Sol: Trip from Puno to Cusco
Southern Altiplano Corridor
At 07:30 hrs., transfer to the bus station for a journey of approximately 8 hours to Cusco. We will have guided tours at: the Inca Aymara museum of Pukará; the Paso de la Raya (4335 meters above sea level); the Inca Temple of Raqchi (dedicated to the god Wiracocha); and the colonial temple of Andahuaylillas, known as the "Sistine Chapel of America." At noon in Sicuani, we will enjoy an included buffet lunch. Arrival in Cusco at 4:00 p.m. and transfer to your hotel.
Day 10 – City Tour in Cusco and Surrounding Ruins
The Heart of the Inca Empire
Free morning to rest. In the afternoon, we will begin the City Tour of the city of Cusco. We will visit the Plaza de Armas and the Cathedral, with its delicate woodwork. Next, we will explore the Qorikancha (Coricancha) or Temple of the Sun. We will leave the historic center of Cusco to admire the great fortress of Sacsayhuamán, famous for its stones assembled with astonishing precision. Finally, we will visit the temples and shrines of Qenqo, Puka Pukara (Pucapucara) and Tambomachay. Return to the hotel.
Day 11 – Sacred Valley of the Incas and Trip to Aguas Calientes
Platforms and Fortresses
The tour begins with pickup at 08:00 a.m. 25 minutes away, we will make a stop at the Taray viewpoint for a spectacular view of the Sacred Valley. We will go to Pisac to visit its archaeological center and artisan market. After a buffet lunch at a coordinated tourist restaurant, we will explore the imposing Inca fortress of Ollantaytambo. At 4:00 p.m., we will board the train to Aguas Calientes. There, our staff will transfer you to the hotel. At 7:30 p.m., the guide will give you details for the Machu Picchu tour.
Day 12 – Tour to the Machu Picchu Citadel
The Wonder of the World
Pick up from the hotel to go to the bus station and go up to the citadel. We will begin the guided tour of Machu Picchu for approximately 2 hours, discovering the history of its temples and terraces. Then, you will have free time to tour the Sanctuary. The return will be on the 4:00 p.m. train (you must be at the station 30 minutes before). In Ollantaytambo, mobility will wait for you to return to the city of Cusco and transfer to the hotel.
Day 13 – Flight from Cusco to Lima
Return to the Capital
Breakfast at the hotel. At the indicated time, transfer to Cusco airport to take the flight to the city of Lima. Upon arrival, we will welcome you and transfer you to your selected hotel in the capital.
Day 14 – City Tour in Colonial and Modern Lima
History and Modernity
In the morning, we will begin the city tour visiting the historic center (Colonial Lima). We will appreciate more than 50 monuments, highlighting the Paseo de la República, Plaza San Martín, Plaza Mayor, Government Palace and the Cathedral Basilica. We will enter the Monastery of San Francisco and its famous catacombs. We will continue towards Modern Lima, visiting San Isidro with its 17th century El Olivar Park, and Miraflores with its spectacular view of the Pacific Ocean. Night in hotel.
Day 15 – Departure Transfer (Optional Day 16)
End of the Journey
Breakfast at the hotel. According to the itinerary of your international flight (scheduled for the 15th or 16th), we will transfer to Jorge Chávez Airport. End of our services.
What's Included?
Included
- Transfers: All airport/hotel/station transfers indicated in the itinerary in Lima, Nazca, Arequipa, Puno and Cusco.
- Interprovincial Transportation: Tourist bus tickets on the route Lima – Paracas, Paracas – Nazca, and Nazca – Arequipa.
- Rail Transportation: Train ticket (round trip) route Ollantaytambo – Aguas Calientes – Ollantaytambo.
- Transportation in Machu Picchu: Up and down ecological bus ticket (Aguas Calientes – Machu Picchu – Aguas Calientes).
- Accommodation (14 nights): 03 nights in Lima, 01 night in Nazca, 02 nights in Arequipa, 01 night in Colca (Chivay), 02 nights in Puno, 01 night in a local family home (Amantaní Island), 03 nights in Cusco and 01 night in Aguas Calientes.
- Professional Guide: Guided tours (Spanish / English) in all destinations.
- General Tickets: All tickets for the mentioned excursions on the coast, mountains and south.
- Special Tourist Tickets: Cusco Tourist Ticket (BTC), Colca Valley Tourist Ticket (BTVC) and the official entrance ticket to the citadel of Machu Picchu.
- Food en route: Buffet lunch in Sicuani (Day 9) and buffet lunch in the Sacred Valley (Day 11).
Not Included
- Flights: International air tickets and national air tickets (Example: flight from Cusco to Lima on the 13th).
- Meals not described: Lunches and dinners during days off or in the city, not specified in the itinerary.
- Extra expenses: Tips for guides or drivers, snacks, drinks and personal expenses.
Recommendations
- Documentation: It is mandatory to carry an original passport or physical and current DNI (Required for hotels, trains, flights and Machu Picchu).
- Money: Bring cash in local currency (Peruvian Soles) for food not included and the purchase of handmade souvenirs.
- Clothing by Zone: Peru has microclimates. Bring light clothing for Lima, Paracas and Nazca; but very warm and windproof clothing for Arequipa, Puno and Cusco.
- Footwear: Use comfortable trekking shoes or sneakers, essential for walking through the cobbled archaeological sites.
- Protection: Use sunscreen, a hat or cap and sunglasses throughout the Andean route.
- Altitude Sickness: The trip ascends gradually, but it is recommended to drink plenty of water and coca leaf infusions when reaching high areas such as Colca or Puno.
FAQs
The circuit is extremely complete. Start on the coast visiting Lima, Paracas and Nazca. Then it ascends to the Andes passing through Arequipa, the Colca Canyon, Lake Titicaca in Puno, ending in Cusco, the Sacred Valley and Machu Picchu.
No, air flights, such as the internal flight from Cusco to Lima scheduled for the 13th, are not included in the package price. We suggest you purchase them in advance.
During the visit to Lake Titicaca (Day 7), you will live a real experiential tourism experience. You will spend the night in a modest but warm room inside the house of a native family on the island.
Yes, the program includes all the detailed tickets, including the Cusco Tourist Ticket, the Colca Ticket and the official entrance to the Inca citadel of Machu Picchu.
Breakfast is included in all hotels. In addition, two buffet lunches are included: one on the route from Puno to Cusco (Sicuani) and another during the Sacred Valley tour. The other meals are on your own.
The itinerary is designed to promote acclimatization. By gradually climbing from the coast towards Arequipa, and then to Puno, your body adapts better before reaching the tourist attractions of Cusco.