The Wonders of Peru

Trip Itinerary

Days 1-2: Lima

Day 1 - Welcome to Peru

¡La bienvenida a Peru! Upon your arrival at Jorge Chavez International Airport in Lima, you'll be greeted into the City of Kings by our Wayfairer local guide. Following a long journey, relax in the comfort of a private car whilst escorted to the sea-facing neighbourhood of Barranco. 

Your boutique guesthouse Villa Barranco is immersed in colourful gardens just a stone's throw from trendy coffee shops, bars, and murals alive in colour. It's the perfect base for exploring the city, a sheltered oasis tucked away from the city's chaos. Enjoy a drink on the rooftop and settle into a sleepy evening following your journey. 

Day 2 - Past & Present City Tour

Following an alfresco breakfast on the veranda, you will be taken to Lima's historic centre by our knowledgeable guide. It is here that your walking city tour will begin, where the tomb of Spanish conquistador Francisco Pizarro remains. The buildings surrounding, such as Torre-Tagle Palace and the Basilica Cathedral of Lima, are archetypal depictions of the city's colonial past. Discover the subterranean catacombs of the Convent of San Francisco, followed by a guided visit to the Larco Herrera Collection, where ceramics, textiles and jewellery from Peru's indigenous communities are brought together in a 17th-century vice-royal house. In the charming gardens of the Museo Larco, try out some of Peru's gastronomic delights in a truly special spot for lunch. 

After a morning of city excursions, you'll be escorted back to Barranco, where you can explore the surroundings at ease. This area is famous for the writers, poets and artists who have lived here and expressed what it means to be Peruvian. The colourful murals serve as a testament to this. This part of the city is like a canvas, and each brick wall hosts many stories to tell. 

Days 3-7: The Sacred Valley

Day 3 - Eat like Incas

Your journey to the Sacred Valley begins today. This morning you will be escorted by your private car to Lima airport for a short flight to Cusco. After just 1.5 hours, you will arrive and be met by our Wayfairer representative, who will transfer you to Ollantaytambo in the Sacred Valley. 

The drive to your accommodation will be breathtaking in more ways than one. Cusco is located at a higher altitude than Machu Picchu, but as you travel further into the valley, the air will become easier to acclimatise to. Today you will enjoy an Andean traditional Pachamanca lunch - a special occasion where families come together to give thanks for the food that the land provides. Experience the unique cooking method where food is buried in a ground oven and learn about the history of this ancestral lunch. Take a stroll through the organic garden where all the produce of today's meal grows, and feel fulfilled after eating fresh organic vegetables, salads and a variety of tubers with lamb, pork and chicken. Following your meal, visit Café Mayu coffee roastery and Andean Distillery in El Albergue, tucked away in the train station. 

This afternoon, visit Ollantaytambo, one of the most representative building complexes of the Inca Empire and the site of one of the Spanish Conquistadors' rare strategic defeats. Famous for its terraced fields, Ollantaytambo was a very effective fortress and a religious centre. It stands tall today, a testimonial to the power of the Incas. Enjoy an afternoon of ambling through this intricately designed town before being escorted to your eco-lodge, Las Qolqas - a brand new luxury-tented accommodation in a spectacular setting overlooking the rivers of the valley.

Day 4 - Moray & Maras

The trails through the Sacred Valley are utterly spectacular. These ancient networks have been carved out from hundreds of years of exploration, curiosity and passion for the land. Today's excursion will combine culture, history and nature at a slower Andean pace on foot.

From the small village of Maras, our Wayfairer specialist will guide you to the salt terraces that are approximately an hour's hike away. From the Raqchi viewpoint, gain spectacular views of the vistas of the valley. As you approach, gleams of dazzling light reflected off the Maras salt terraces might give the illusion of a sheet of snow or frost - the stunning sunlight has that effect here. This is a historically prominent place, the salt was extracted from these mines during Inca times, and the same method has been used ever since. 

From here, you will continue to the community of Misminay, where you'll receive a warm welcome with music and typical dances. Learn about the Andean families' lifestyle, by sharing some of their daily activities with them and enjoy a delicious and traditional lunch prepared with local products before beginning the hike towards a viewpoint of the otherworldly terraces of Moray. Enjoy spectacular landscapes with the mountains as a backdrop. After an amble of 45 minutes, you will be rewarded with an amazing view of Moray at your feet. Moray's circular terraces hidden among the hills are similar to that of a Greek amphitheatre. Surrounded by an impressive backdrop of snow-covered mountains, Moray served as an open-air agricultural lab for adapting crops to different environmental conditions.  

Day 5 - Community Cultivations

This morning, walk to a delicious buffet breakfast through the blossoming botanical gardens of your lodge. Feed your soul on Las Qolqas' fresh produce and breathe in fresh mountain air before setting off on your day trip to Chinchero. 

Today you will get to know the diversity of Peru's agriculture by talking to the agricultural engineer and Sacred Valley local - Manuel Choqque. You will be introduced to his research and experiments with native potatoes and tubers to produce the wildest-coloured varieties with heightened nutritional properties. Mr Choqque has been recognised as Producer of the Year 2018 by Summum for his important work. You will be welcomed into his home, where he will explain his work and present you with a sample of some of the 370 varieties of potatoes he holds in his repository. Taste some of these with a traditional uchucuta sauce, make out of Peruvian hot peppers. 

Manuel is also innovating with his Andean tuber wines (made out of ocas and mashwas) and native potatoes' distillates (vodka). On your exclusive tour, taste these wines and spirits in different combinations, remaining thankful that our driver will escort you back.

Day 6 - Machu Picchu Citadel

After nourishment and a comfortable night’s sleep, this morning, you will begin your excursion to one of the New Wonders of the World, Machu Picchu. You will be met by your guide at the train station just minutes away from your hotel, and board the Vistadome train for the hour-and-a-half journey up to Machu Picchu Pueblo. Sit on the left-hand side of the train to gain panoramic views of the valley as you approach the ancient citadel. No great expectations will prepare you for the magnitude of Machu Picchu’s awesome beauty. The winding avenues blanketed in green, unique and mysterious stone structures and celestial monuments will be deeply uncovered and explained by your expert guide. 

After your private tour and a picnic on a secluded site, make your way to Huayna Picchu, the mountain that overlooks the citadel. For adventurous travellers, climb up the dizzying heights of the Incan steps carved into the rock face to gain sublime views over the citadel. 

Following your descent, sink back into the comfortable seats of the train to Ollantaytambo, where you will be picked up by our Wayfairer representative and driven to Cusco. We will ensure you have all your belongings before taking you to your new boutique lodge, Antigua Casona San Blas.

Day 7 - Colourful Cusco

After arriving in Cusco in the evening last night, you might have caught a glimpse of just how beautiful this city is. Your boutique hotel is in the artistic and trendy district of San Blas, renowned for incredible food and vibrant contemporary culture. Have a delicious breakfast made for you at Antigua Casona San Blas in the sunny courtyard before setting off on a day's city adventure. 

Today you will have a fascinating tour of Cusco, also known as the Imperial City of the Incas. Learn about the city's history, the daily life of its people and its importance for the Andean region. Beginning at the city’s iconic local market - for local people, the city’s real, beating heart - explore the colours, flavours and traditions of both a modern and traditional Cusco. Continue onwards to the Koricancha, also known as the golden temple, the most important temple in the Inca Empire and the centre of worship of Inti, the Sun God. Although the Spanish Dominican order built a church on top of the original temple, the Koricancha foundations and stonework are still visible. Leaving this Inca temple, we continue to the fortress of Sacsayhuaman. Built with massive blocks of stone, this imposing example of Inca military architecture is located on the outskirts of the city.

Your day will be accompanied by our hand-picked guide whose intimate knowledge of Cuscos history and present goes unparalleled. Finish up with a relaxing spa treatment back at the hotel.

Days 8-9: Arequipa

Day 8 - Journey to the White City

This morning, your driver will pick you up from your Cusco hotel and take you to your flight departing to Arequipa. Upon arrival, you will be met by our Wayfairer Travel representative and escorted to your boutique hotel in the Historic Centre. 

In the afternoon, you will begin your tour with a walk through the Main Plaza, as well as through the most representative streets of the city. Arequipa guards the base of the volcanoes that loom surreally overhead, and the white sillar curves lend themselves perfectly to the virtues of a beautiful location. Weave into the depths of the town, discovering the colourful Santa Catalina Convent, a monastery as vast as a fortress. This cloister, built in the 16th century, is a huge construction which once served as a town within itself, housing 450 nuns. Traditionally, the oldest daughters of Arequipa’s aristocratic families entered the convent in their early teens and spent their lives there. Immerse yourself in the history of vibrant frescoes painted in garish primary colours and discover Arequipa’s Centro Historico. 

Day 9 - Volcanic Vistas

This morning, after breakfast, you will be picked up by your private driver to journey to Chivay.

Along the way, there will be many pit stops and photo opportunities, so have your cameras ready. Your first stop will be at 3900 meters in the national reserve - Pampa Cañahuas. Continuing onwards towards the Colca Valley, stop at a restaurant 4000 meters above sea level. Enjoy a cup of coca tea to acclimatise to the high altitude and enjoy even more breathtaking views of Misti, Pichu Pichu and Chanichani. The landscape up here is like no other. Onwards, you will stop on the pampas of Toccra, where there are great viewing opportunities of llamas, alpacas, vicuñas and many Andean birds. Lookout on the Andes from the Pata Pampa pass, situated 4900 meters above sea level, and marvel at the eight volcanoes surrounding that which form the circle of fire. From here, descend down to Chivay, the most important town of the Colca Valley, and enjoy a hearty traditional lunch.

Head onwards to your lodge, secluded in the valley. Colca Lodge is a special lodge with exclusive access to its own thermal hot springs. This is the perfect spot to unwind after a long journey over mountains to get here, so sit back and enjoy a local brew whilst watching the sky turn pink from your terrace. 

Days 10 - 12: Colca Canyon

Day 10 - Valley Relaxation

This morning have a slow rise and enjoy the peace and quiet of the Colca Valley. Each bedroom in your lodge provides a doorway and entry into the expansive gardens. Sit on your private terrace, observing the vastness of the landscape, or the intricate movements of a feeding hummingbird. 

Perhaps spend the day enjoying the virtues of the Eco-Thermal Spa, boasting glass-panelled windows overlooking the fast-flowing river. Or even exploring the farmland of Colca Lodge, where a series of barns with alpacas, llamas and long-haired suris graze peacefully alongside your lodging, is an incredible way to spend your day at ease.

Day 11 - Condor Safari

You’ll literally be rising with the birds this morning. Set off at the crack of dawn with your experienced and knowledgeable Wayfairer guide to get up close and personal with the largest flying bird on Earth: the Andean Condor. The magnitude of the wingspan of this spectacular bird cannot be overstated. They are colossal. You will be taken to an exclusive and secluded spot to interact with these birds in a setting far from the tourist traps. Watch the Condor glide and dive into the deepest crevices and perch high on clifftops. If you plan your visit between March and June, this is when these beautiful creatures are their most active. Afterwards, stop by Maca and Yanque to visit its colonial churches. Your last stop is at the Mirador lookout point of Antahuilque, where terraces have the shape of an amphitheatre. 

Today, you will then head back down to Arequipa, stopping in Patahuasi en route. Admire the Bosque de Piedras, a surreal collection of mushroom-like stones eroded by the wind that stand sentinel over the Río Sumbay.

Day 12: International Flight Departure

Day 12 - International Flight Departure

Sadly today marks the end of your tour of Peru's highlight destinations. Once visited, we guarantee you'll need to return for more. Perhaps have a look at our alternative, off-the-beaten-track adventures for future travel inspiration to Peru.  

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