Compare Peru - The Family Adventure by Adventure Unbound vs Peru: See & Experience Almost it ALL in 12 Days, 1st Class Custom Tours by Charlie The Traveler

Day 1:

Welcome to an unforgettable, unbound Machu Picchu vacation! It's important to remember as you read this itinerary that our groups are limited to 12 guests, making our incredible Machu Picchu tours intimate in nature.

Upon arrival to Peru, we make the connections of the trip quite easy. Guests are greeted by one of our friendly airport officers and escorted to the night's hotel. Not all tour companies provide transfer service, but we aim to add superfluous service making the start to the vacation and being in a foreign country as smooth and relaxing as possible.

After a quick check in, guests are briefed on the fabulous adventure that awaits. They are given a handy "travel kit" which includes travel documents such as itineraries, transportation tickets and hotel information.

Day 2:

Meals Included : Breakfast, Lunch and  Dinner

Guest wake up rested and ready for an incredible journey!

After a delicious breakfast, guests return to the Lima Airport for a 90 minute flight over the beautiful Andes Mountains to Cusco, the heart of the Inca Empire. After the short flight, guests again will be met by one of our representatives in order to make the transition to the next hotel stress-free. Our accommodations for today will be situated at a prime location within the Sacred Valley of the Incas.

En route to the hotel, we will stop to visit the picturesque town of Pisac, an Andean village esteemed for its traditional market. This is a great place to pick up those souvenirs that will make the memories of your South American trip last forever. The market's primary day is Sunday; however, you will still be able to shop for fabulous buys no matter what day your travel with us happens to fall on. Locals from all over the Peruvian and Machu Picchu region come to sell here, making it a shopper's delight.

We continue to Urubamba, a town whose name literally means "flat land of spiders". We'll get to enjoy a nice lunch and then a fun Peruvian Paso horse presentation. Prepared to be wowed by what these amazing animals can do!

After our lunch and horse show, we visit the fascinating city of Ollantatamb. Ollantatamb is unique with its distinct Inca urban planning, huge boulders and stone structures. There are many sights to be had here, including temples, terraces, storehouses, quarries and military defenses. All retain the ancient Inca artistry that makes this region so amazing.

With a full day of exploring the sensational Sacred Valley, we arrive back at our hotel for a well-deserved rest. Dinner is included at the hotel.

Day 3:

Meals Included : Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Be sure to fuel up at breakfast for the adventure that awaits today! (Alternatively, guests can use this day to further explore the Sacred Valley on their own.)

This morning we are transferred to the point where we will begin our full day bike ride. We first pass the Huaypo Lagoon, a pretty area with a mix of terrains. Our ride here is easy on the eyes and also an easy ride with its small hills and simple corners.

We make a stop at the archaeological park of Moray, an interesting plateau area with terraces designed like corn mazes. Visitors marvel at the Incan ingenuity while also taking in the simple pleasures of the surrounding area.

After Moray, we continue to the nearby village of Maras. We'll partake in a tasty box lunch and then jump back on the bikes to the Inca salt terraces that this location is famous for.  All of that white is quite a sight!

A relaxing downhill journey into the Sacred Valley by Pichingoto and Tarabamba concludes the day's events. We return to our hotel for dinner filled with new memories of the amazing Sacred Valley on this Machu Picchu tour.

Day 4:

Meals Included : Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

After a good sleep and a delicious breakfast, we say goodbye to the Sacred Valley and are transferred to the train station. It's a 90 minute journey with stunning views that arrives at the archaeological sites of Chachabamba and Wiñaywayna.

A moderate hike of 4 miles (or about four hours) reward guests with the site of Wiñay Wayna. Guests soon see why its name means "forever young", with its gorgeous Incan agricultural centers and numerous terraces. All of these wonders are set on a hillside, making for a unique perspective.

We continue onto Intipunku or "Gateway of the Sun", a breathtaking ancient Incan metropolis. Guests have about an hour to explore this ruin-laden area (a tour of the Sanctuary of Machu Picchu will be provided the next day).

Finally our small groupl take a shuttle bus down the rolling hills to the village of Machu Picchu, where we will spend the night.

Day 5:

Meals Included : Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Today is all about Machu Picchu, one of Peru's most famous gems. A short 20 minute shuttle ride puts guests up close and personal with this incredible testament to ancient architectural greatness. The stone city was first found by Hiram Bingham in 1911 and has been amazing visitors ever since.

Machu Picchu is unique in that it was built on a spot ripe with vegetation and between two mountains. It even got its name after one of them (Machu Picchu, or "Old Mountain"). The neighboring mountain is fittingly called Huayna Picchu, or "Young Mountain". Below Machu Picchu is a jungle that is just exploding with flora and fauna.

Included today are tours of Machu Picchu's Sanctuary, but there will also be plenty of free time on your own to take in the delights of this wondrous monument. A hearty lunch will be provided within the Lodge after touring the Sanctuary.

ROW guests are pampered in our first class train as we travel back to Ollantaytambo Station (about two hours) where we dine and overnight in Cusco.

Day 6:

Meals Included : Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

After a delicious breakfast, we visit some of the fascinating attractions that the city of Cusco has to offer. Cusco's Spanish colonial monuments (including the Main Square) and cathedral are toured, both rich in historical importance and visually striking.

Guests then continue onto the Church and Convent of Santo Domingo, a Spanish building with a stoned exterior that was built right on top of previously existing Inca foundations. It is the site of a temple (Koricancha) where the ancient Incas used to worship the sun, and this temple is fabled to have had walls originally made out of pure gold.

After this "golden" visit we explore the surrounding ruins of Cusco, including Sacsayhuamán. Sacsayhuamán puts Stonehenge to shame with its three overlapping platforms of boulders, each over 360m long. It is thought to be designed as a fortress of sorts. Even if that wasn't its original purpose, there's no denying that Sacsayhuamán was yet another great accomplishment among a long list of others for the Incans.

We enjoy lunch at one of Cusco's best restaurants before being transferred to the local airport and boarding a flight to Puno.

Day 7:

Meals Included : Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

We have an early start today so guests don't miss a moment!

We visit the floating island of Uros by motorboat. These islands were actually handmade using natural reed material by the local Uros people! (see what they look like in the slideshow above) The islands are still inhabited and maintained by these people today.

After checking out the islands, we continue onto Llachon - Santa Maria and prepare for our kayak experience. After a safety briefing, guests are sure to be dazzled as they receive a unique (unbound!) opportunity to paddle alongside Amantani Island and take in the pristine beauty of Lake Titicaca.

Amantani Island is a welcome paradise from the hustle and bustle of daily life. We enjoy a lunch typical of the region and later travel by hike to a temple on the far end of Amantani. Our guests witness a richly hued, stunning sunset; then have a scrumptious dinner and celebrate with new friends with our home stay family. Overnight on Amantani Island.

Day 8:

Meals Included : Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

After a refreshing breakfast, guests jump back in kayaks and paddle from Amantani Island to Llachon Island. The journey is nothing short of magnificent with views of snow-capped mountains, all the while taking in the simple serenity Lake Titicaca provides.

On the Island of Llachon, we visit a friendly village where natives have kept their culture and ancestral roots unblemished for centuries. They even provide us with a fun weaving demonstration along with lunch!  After a walk alone the beach we return to get ready for dinner.

Dinner is served at the hotel later in the day. Overnight on Llachon Island.

Day 9:

Meals Included : Breakfast

One last chance for adventure awaits as we return by boat to Puno. The last order of business on the fabulous Machu Picchu unbound tour is a visit to Chulpass Sillustani. These fortified towers were the burial grounds for the Collas and Incas. They were once referred to as "houses of the soul", and the dry conditions often resulted in the bodies being mummified, although this was not done with intention.

After a flight to Lima Airport, guests are be met and assisted with international flight connections back home or on to other destinations with ROW like Ecuador or the Galapagos Islands. Hugs, kisses, phone numbers and emails are shared as guests part from new friends made and everlasting memories created.

Day 1: Where Architectural Legacies Remain

Originally founded as Ciudad de Los Reyes (City of the Kings), Lima has developed an important tourism industry. What stands out are the historic center, archaeological remains, nightlife, museums, art galleries, festivities, and popular traditions. The historic center of Lima was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1988. A large number of architectural legacies remain. Highlights include the Basilica and Convent of San Francisco, the Plaza Mayor, the Lima Metropolitan Cathedral, the Basilica and Convent of Santo Domingo, and the Palacio de Torre Tagle.

Note that we can provide you with a guided sightseeing tour only if you arrive before 4:00 pm.

Start point
Transportation will be arranged for you from the airport in Lima., Aeropuerto Internacional Jorge Chávez (LIM), Av. Elmer Faucett s/n, Callao, Callao 07031, Peru

Day 2: Vineyards, Exotic Drinks & a Buggy Ride on Huge Hills

We relocated from Lima to the city of Ica. There we are taken to two wineries. Peruvian wine dates back to the Spanish colonization of the region in the 16th century. After sampling some of the best wines and spirits Peru has to offer, we are taken to Huacachina. This village is built around a small oasis and is surrounded by sand dunes. We go dune bashing as well as sandboarding.

Day 3: Large-Scale Geoglyphs Seen From the Sky & Peru's Version of the Galapagos Islands

Before returning to Lima, we take a boat ride to the Ballestas Islands and then check out the Nazca Lines. The Ballestas Islands are an important sanctuary for marine fauna like the blue-footed booby. On the way to the islands, we see El Candelabro, a large-scale geoglyph that may have served as a beacon to mariners. The Nazca Lines were created between 500 BC and 500 AD. There are several theories as to why people of those times made these lines. Hear all about these different theories as we take a flightseeing tour over this group of geoglyphs.

Day 4: Exploring the Once Capital of the Inca Empire

We relocated from Lima to the colonial city of Cusco. Peru’s urban showcase destination Cusco is known for its rich heritage with the Inca and Spaniards as well as the charming architecture both empires left behind. Even though Cusco is also known for its proximity to the Machu Picchu archeological site, the city is popular in its own right. We are provided with a guided tour.

Day 5: Stunning Archaeological Sites Spread Across a valley

We make a day trip from Cusco to the Sacred Valley. The Chanapata civilization first utilized this area around 800 BCE because of the rich soil used for agriculture. The Qotacalla civilization lived here from 500 to 900 CE. The Killke civilization then lived here from 900 until the Incan Empire took over the region in 1420. The Incan Empire ruled this area until the arrival of the Spanish. Today remains of citadels and markets are found across this long valley.

Day 6: Multicolored Mountains Found Due to Melting Glaciers

We make a day trip from Cusco to Rainbow Mountain (a.k.a. Vinicunca). Mass tourism came after 2015, attracted by the mountain’s series of stripes of various colors due to its mineralogical composition on the slopes and summits. The mountain used to be covered by glacier caps, but these have melted due to global warming. We go horseback riding at Rainbow Mountain.

Day 7: Salt Evaporation Ponds in Use Since Inca Times & the Train Ride You Have Been Awaiting

Before relocating to the village of Aguas Calientes, we visited salt mines called Maras as well as an archeological site called Moray. Maras is well known for its salt evaporation ponds. There are over 5,000 of them, which have been in use since Inca times. Moray consists of several terraced circular depressions, the largest of which is approximately 30 meters (98 feet) deep. As with many other Inca sites, Moray also has an irrigation system.

Day 8: Experiencing One of the Seven Wonders of the World

Before returning to Cusco, we are provided with a guided tour of Machu Picchu. This 15th-century citadel is the most familiar icon of Inca civilization. The Incas built the estate around 1450 but abandoned it a century later at the time of the Spanish Conquest. Although known locally, it was not known to the Spanish during the colonial period. Machu Picchu remained undiscovered to the outside world until American historian Hiram Bingham brought it to international attention in 1911. Machu Picchu was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1983.

Day 9: Two Architecturally Enticing Cities From Morning to Night

Before relocating to the colonial city of Arequipa, we have free time to explore Cusco further: whitewashed and narrow streets, a gorgeous main square, grandeur sites, and red-tiled roofs. Cusco is undoubtedly one of Latin America’s prettiest historic cities.

Day 10: One of the Nation's Top Three Destinations, Home to the Andean Condor

Today we make a day trip from Arequipa to the very scenic Colca Canyon. It is home to Andean condors, giant hummingbirds, Andean geese, Chilean flamingos, mountain caracaras, rabbits, deer, foxes, and alpacas. The Colca Canyon is Peru’s third most popular tourist destination, and for good reason.

Day 11: A Provincial Capital Made of Volcanic Stone

Before returning to Lima, we are provided with a guided tour of Arequipa. This destination definitely does not feel so large, even though it is the second-largest city in the country. Arequipa is characterized by colonial-era churches and mansions. The historic center is small but charming nonetheless.

Day 12: Our Tour Ends Today

Transportation will be arranged for you to reach the airport in Lima.

Note that if you can extend your trip, consider doing so. Lake Titicaca is worth 2 days, as is the Peruvian Amazon.

Endpoint
Transportation will be arranged for you to reach the airport in Lima., Aeropuerto Internacional Jorge Chávez (LIM), Av. Elmer Faucett s/n, Callao, Callao 07031, Peru