Premium Peru in Depth with Ica Valley - 18 Days

Welcome to Peru! Your adventure begins in Lima, Peru’s colourful capital. You'll be collected from the airport and taken to your hotel where you'll meet your fellow travellers and local leader at a welcome meeting at 6 pm. If you arrive early, perhaps head out for a walk in the historical centre. After your meeting, get your first taste of Lima’s world-renowned food scene during a welcome dinner with your group and leader. Head out to a fantastic restaurant that’s popular with the locals and get acquainted with some of Peru’s best dishes. From fresh ceviche to pisco sours – you’ll soon find out why Lima is hailed as the culinary capital of South America.

Leave Lima and travel to the fabulous Vinas Queirolo, your accommodation for the next two nights and Peru's only hotel located within a vineyard. Sitting in the Ica Valley at the foothills of the Andes and surrounded by more than 500 hectares of vineyards, the setting couldn’t be more spectacular. Enjoy traditional bodega charm, spacious and stylish rooms, three swimming pools, tennis courts and a marvellous restaurant. On arrival, you may like to take a dip, play a game of tennis or simply relax poolside. The vineyards that surround your hotel produce Peru’s most famous wine along with the national drink, pisco. This afternoon, you'll have the option to take a scenic flight over the Nazca Lines. Etched into the landscape some 22 kilometres north of Nazca, these mysterious desert drawings remain a mystery. Just speak to your leader to arrange this activity.

Travel to the coast this morning to the Paracas Peninsula for an excursion to the Ballestas Islands. These islands are home to abundant wildlife, including pelicans, red-footed boobies, flamingos, sea lions and even penguins. You'll have the chance to get up close and personal with wildlife on a boat tour. Return to your accommodation in the afternoon where you’ll have the opportunity to explore the vineyards on a private tour with an expert sommelier. Hear the history of the vineyard and learn how they make wine and pisco. Cap off the day with drinks at a lookout point, watching the sun set over the landscape.

This morning you'll return to Lima and meet any new members joining your group. After, head out with your leader and fellow travellers for a welcome dinner at one of the city’s best restaurants, surrounded by views of ancient ruins. The creative chef offers traditional Peruvian dishes with a modern twist.

Start the day with a walking tour with your leader through downtown Lima. Admire the buildings of Plaza Mayor and visit the eerie catacombs of the Saint Francis Monastery, then head away from the tourist trail to Alameda de Chabuca Granda – an area popular with the locals. Later, catch a flight to Arequipa – a beautiful city with a UNESCO World Heritage-listed historic centre. When you arrive, head out for an orientation walk with your leader. Known as La Ciudad Blanca (The White City), Arequipa’s buildings have been built almost exclusively from a white volcanic material called sillar, giving the city a distinctive appearance. Situated in a valley at the foot of the El Misti volcano, the city stands against a truly remarkable backdrop.

This morning, meet a local guide who’s an expert on all things Arequipa and set out on a tour of the city. Explore Plaza de Armas, the city’s main square, then continue to the Santa Catalina Monastery while your guide shares stories of the city’s history along the way. Stop by the San Ignacio Chapel to appreciate its mural paintings. Visit the beautiful Basilica Cathedral of Arequipa with another local expert guide who will discuss the many layers of the building’s history – from its construction in 1656 to its subsequent destructions and reconstruction. The afternoon is free for you to make your own discoveries. Why not pick up an Alpaca jumper and meet the llamas and alpacas of Mundo Alpaca or take part in an active adventure in the surrounding hills and rivers. Or maybe visit the museum that houses 'Mummy Juanita' – the well-preserved body of a young Inca girl who died sometime between 1450 and 1480.

This morning, drive through the Altiplano high plains to the Colca Valley and Canyon. On the way you'll see grazing vicunas, llamas and alpacas, as well as stone cairns built by local Indigenous communities. More than twice as deep as the Grand Canyon, the Colca Canyon provides some breathtaking views. The pre-Inca terraces carved into its walls are still cultivated today, and the area is dotted with traditional Indigenous villages with locals in colourful dress. Stop at the highest point (4910 m) to take in views of the landscape below. Drive to the town of Chivay, where you'll have some time to soak up the local hot springs, then continue to your accommodation for the evening. Tonight, join your group around a bonfire at your hotel for a glass of vino caliente (hot wine), a traditional beverage here in Peru’s Andean region. Sip on this comforting mulled wine infused with warm, fragrant spices as you get to know your fellow travellers a little better.

Rise early this morning to visit the Cruz del Condor viewpoint, where Andean condors, one of the world's largest flying birds, can often be seen soaring in the air. After lunch, begin the drive to Puno. On the way, you'll stop at the Sillustani archaeological site, where you'll climb to the top of the hill to appreciate the ruined chullpas (funeral towers). These towers were built by a pre-Inca civilisation centuries ago to house the remains of noble men. Located on the shores of Lake Titicaca, Puno is full of Aymara and Quechuan Indigenous culture. The town is known as the folklore capital of Peru and is renowned for its traditional dances.

See the striking scenery and unique cultures of this region on a cruise around Lake Titicaca today. This morning, depart from the port in Puno, headed for the floating Uros Islands. The Uros people constructed these islands to isolate themselves from rival tribes in ancient times. They are built completely from multiple layers of totora reeds, which grow in the shallows of the lake. Call into Taquile Island, where you'll spend an hour walking to the top of the hill to see local traditional clothing and shops for woollen handicrafts. Explore this fascinating place before traveling back to Puno for the evening. Back at your hotel, watch the sunset over Lake Titicaca, while you sample wine and cheese in the garden.

Rise early and travel to Cusco. The journey will be broken up with plenty of stops, including a visit to the Raqchi Archaeological Site. Arrive in Cusco by late afternoon. Cusco is South America's oldest continuously inhabited city, and was the home of the Inca for two centuries before the Spanish built their first capital here. Today Cusco is a fascinating combination of both cultures. At 3450 m above sea level, it’s important to take time to acclimatise to the city’s altitude. After settling in at the hotel, take a casual walk around Plaza de Armas with your leader and pick up some excellent dinner recommendations along the way.

This morning, discover the best of Cusco on a walking tour. First, enjoy a special tour of the World Heritage-listed Cusco Cathedral with a local historian guide. Built on top of an Inca palace, the building is now one of Cusco’s greatest repositories of art, and your guide will share its history from past to present. Then, tour the Coricancha Temple with another local guide. The temple was once covered in sheets of gold that were eventually removed to raise a ransom for the life of Atahualpa, and later the Spanish demolished the temple to build a Dominican church on its foundations. After, head to the colourful San Pedro market. The rest of the day is yours – speak to your leader about the option to arrange a cooking class at a local restaurant using fair trade products, or the half-day Inkilltambo trek, exploring an archaeological site on the city’s outskirts.

Today you'll head for the Sacred Valley. Treasured for its climate, fertile land and the Urubamba (Sacred) River, the valley has long been the main source of food in the high Andes. Visit the AMA Restaurant in Urubamba – this cafe provides employment opportunities and job training for single mothers throughout the Sacred Valley. Have a snack and learn how this inclusive enterprise focuses on economic growth, gender equality and supporting vulnerable communities. Continue to the Willoq community to take part in an ancient cooking ritual known as pachamanca. This cooking method, which dates back to the time of the Inca empire, sees meats and vegetables marinated in spices and cooked slowly in the earth. You will also learn about traditional textile techniques used by the community – and you’ll even have the chance to make your own bracelet with the local women! Later, continue to the town of Ollantaytambo. Built over an ancient Inca settlement, this is one of the few places where the Inca defeated the Spanish. Explore the archaeological site with an expert local guide who will discuss the evidence of the Incas' engineering skills in the ruins of ancient aqueducts, irrigation canals, dams on the Urubamba River and towering sets of terraces.

Today’s journey from Ollantaytambo to Aguas Calientes will reveal some of the country’s most spectacular scenery. Board the 360 Machu Picchu Train – with high domed windows in each carriage, there are few better ways to view the Andes Mountains. The train also features an open-air observation carriage so you can marvel at the landscape from every angle. Disembark the train in Aguas Calientes, briefly drop your belongings off at your hotel, then take a short bus up the winding road to Machu Picchu, where you’ll be joined by a guide who will take you through the ruins and tell you stories of the history and ancestral people of this region. The true purpose behind Machu Picchu may always be a mystery, since no historical records of the complex exist. Most archaeologists, however, believe it to be the 15th-century headquarters of Emperor Pachacuti. Your leader can advise how to get the most out of your visit. Later, take the bus back down to Aguas Calientes to spend the night before heading back up to Machu Picchu first thing in the morning for your second visit.

Rise before the sun and take the winding road back up to Machu Picchu for another morning uncovering its secrets. On your second visit, explore more of the extraordinary architecture of the many temples, palaces and living quarters. The sight of the ruins of Machu Picchu against a lush backdrop of forested mountain is one you’re sure to remember. You'll have time along the way to take any photos you may have missed yesterday. Take the bus back to Aguas Calientes, then catch a standard train back to Ollantaytambo. From here, you'll make the drive back to Cusco for the evening.

Today you’ll catch a flight to Puerto Maldonado. When you arrive in the afternoon, take a bus to the port, where you’ll board motorised canoes and head into the Amazon rainforest. Keep an eye out for macaws, herons, alligators and capybaras along the way. Here you’ll find Inkaterra Hacienda Concepcion – your Feature Stay for the next two nights. Built in the heart of a 380-hectare private ecological reserve, this resort is focused on the conservation of local habitats and features 25 private cabanas plus an onsite team of expert local guides. Have lunch at the lodge, then explore the Concepcion Trails with an expert guide. As darkness begins to fall, join a guided Twilight River boat ride and see how many caimans you can spot lurking on the riverbanks. Dinner is a la carte and draws on local Amazon ingredients to create a meal to remember.

After breakfast, board a dug-out wooden canoe to quietly glide across Lake Sandoval, keeping an eye out for red howler monkeys, giant river otters and colourful macaws along the way. After lunch, you may like to walk along the Inkaterra Canopy Walkway – a 344 m network of suspension bridges that take you high above the forest floor to some of the best places to spot toucans, woodpeckers, monkeys and three-toed sloths. Join a night walk to discover the nocturnal activity in the surrounding areas or book into the lodge’s spa before you meet your group for dinner.

This morning, travel back to Puerto Maldonado, then take a flight to Lima, arriving in the early afternoon. Later in the afternoon, you’ll visit the renowned Larco Museum, which showcases an impressive collection of textiles, gold, jewellery and cultural artefacts from ancient Peru. Gain an insight into the role of art, rituals and ceremonies in ancient Peruvian culture and explore the 18th-century mansion that the museum is housed in. Your visit will be led by an expert on the museum’s collection who will share deeper insights and exclusive information about the artefacts. Tonight, get back together with your fellow travellers and leader for a farewell dinner at Cafe del Museo restaurant, located within Larco Museum. With a delectable menu of Peruvian delights, this final dinner is sure to leave you with a lasting memory of your time in Peru.

Your adventure comes to an end after breakfast this morning. If you would like to spend some more time in Lima, just speak to your booking agent ahead of time.