Compare Essential Peru by Exodus Travels vs Traditional Peru by Adventure Unbound

Day 1 Start Lima

Welcome to Lima, the busy capital of Peru. There’s plenty of adventure on your trip, but today’s all about settling into the hotel.  You will be met at the airport and transferred to our hotel in the Miraflores district of Lima. There will be a notice board in the hotel reception with details of where and when the group welcome briefing will be held. Accommodation: Hotel El Tambo 1 (or similar)

Day 2 Drive south to Paracas and tour the Ballestas Islands; to Ica

Day 3 On to Nazca; see the Nazca Lines; optional scenic flight

We drive towards Nazca, stopping to visit the viewing platforms overlooking the Nazca Lines. These are one of the great archaeological mysteries, consisting of enormous drawings and patterns etched in the desert sand. In the afternoon, there is usually time to take a scenic flight over the Nazca Lines (additional cost), weather permitting. Due to the small planes used, this is not suitable for those with a fear of flying or who suffer from travel sickness. As an alternative, your leader can help arrange optional visits to the nearby burial grounds, Antonini Museum or the planetarium. Accommodation: Casa Andina Hotel/Alegria (or similar)

Day 4 Turn inland from coastal desert, climbing high into the Andes

We turn inland from the coastal desert today, climbing high into the Andes on a long (around 12 to 13 hours) but spectacular drive. We’ll pass through the largest vicuña reserve in the country, so look out for these smaller wild relatives of the llama. This region has only recently become easily accessible to tourists due to an upgrade of the Abancay/Chalhuanca road. The altitude here can make physical exertion difficult; the highest point we reach today is Negro Mayu, a pass at 15,092ft (4,600m) above sea level. We recommended that you rest in the evening. Tonight, we stay in Abancay on the road to Cuzco. Accommodation: Hotel de Turistas Abancay (or similar)

Day 5 Drive to Cuzco, visiting Inca sites on the way

We set off towards Cuzco this morning, stopping to visit the Inca Saywite stone and Tarawasi ruins. The glaciated summits of the Vilcabamba mountain range and the descent into the Apurimac River valley demonstrate the dramatic contrasts of the Andes; expect stunning scenery throughout today's roughly seven to eight-hour drive. It is recommended to take it easy upon arrival into Cuzco and to drink plenty of water to allow your body time to acclimatise to the altitude (11,155ft/3,400m). Accommodation: Hotel Casa Andina Koricancha (or similar)

Day 6 Free day to explore Cuzco

To help you acclimatise, we embark on a relaxed walking tour this morning, which takes in the historic buildings and winding streets of Cuzco. The rest of the day has been left free for exploring on your own. The Plaza de Armas is a fantastic spot for people watching, and the Koricancha Sun Temple in the Santo Domingo Church and monastery is worth a visit. The Mercado San Pedro is the place to try local produce and there are many handicraft markets to shop for souvenirs, such as alpaca jumpers and scarves. Outside the town are more Inca ruins, notably the fortress of Sacsayhuaman where the Inca armies made their last stand against the conquistadors. A combined entrance fee (tourist ticket) for these sites and many others is recommended – please see the Optional Excursions section below for prices. Sightseeing excursions to places outside Cuzco, including the Sacred Valley of the Incas, are also available. Please ask your tour leader. Accommodation: Hotel Casa Andina Koricancha (or similar)

Day 7 Train to Aguas Calientes; tour of Machu Picchu

For most people, the highlight of the trip is the visit by train to one of the greatest ruins in the world, the lost city of Machu Picchu. This is one of the architectural and engineering marvels of the ancient world, in a mountain setting of staggering immensity. The Spaniards never found it; the Incas left no records of it, so Machu Picchu remains a great enigma, a city lost for centuries in the jungle until it was rediscovered in 1911 by the American historian Hiram Bingham. We transfer (approximately two hours) to Ollantaytambo railway station to catch a train to Aguas Calientes (the town below Machu Picchu). The railway line follows a beautiful route through the Urubamba River valley. In the afternoon, we take a short bus ride up the winding road to Machu Picchu for a guided tour of the ruins.  Visiting in the afternoon tends to be quieter than the mornings and the mist that shrouds the ruins at dawn has usually dispersed. Please note that exploring the ruins involves a reasonable amount of walking, including up and down steep and uneven stone steps. Accommodation: Terraza de Luna (or similar)

Day 8 Free morning or optional second visit to Machu Picchu; afternoon return to Cuzco by train and by road.

We have a free morning to sleep in, relax and enjoy the buzz of this little town in the jungle below the ruins. Should you wish to visit Machu Picchu again this morning, you need to purchase a second entrance ticket in advance.  This will allow you further time to explore the Lost City on your own – for the second visit it is not mandatory to have a guide. Please contact your sales representative for details. In the afternoon, we board the train back to Ollantaytambo and then continue by minibus to Cuzco, arriving in the late evening. Accommodation: Hotel Casa Andina Koricancha (or similar)

Day 9 Free day for optional excursions

Day 10 Drive to Lake Titicaca, with stops en route; boat to Amantani Island for homestay

Today we travel for eight to 10 hours along the Vilcanota River and onto the altiplano, the high plains separating the Andes from the jungle. Although it is quite a long drive, the views are often spectacular. There are scheduled stops at interesting sites to help break up the day and we will get to appreciate the immensity of the Andean landscapes. This afternoon, we arrive at the shores of Lake Titicaca (12,467ft/3,800m above sea level) and board a boat for our trip to Amantani Island. A hike around the island offers great views across the lake, while the night spent with a local family is a fantastic cultural insight into lives very different to our own. A packed lunch is included today. Accommodation: Amantani Island homestay (basic)

Day 11 Explore the island; afternoon boat to Puno visiting the floating reed islands

We explore the island in the morning before boarding our boat for the three-hour journey to Puno on the lakeshore. On the way, we visit Uros Island. The Uros have been living on reed rafts for centuries, and although many have now moved to the mainland there are still a couple of thousand who remain on the islands. A reasonable amount of their income is now provided by strictly regulated tourism, but they also still fish the lake and barter with mainland communities for daily essentials. Accommodation: Casona Plaza Hotel (or similar)

Day 12 Drive across the altiplano to Colca Canyon

Today we head across the altiplano again. This time we cross to the southwest, heading back towards the coast to the high Colca Canyon (a five to six-hour drive). En route, we see vicuñas and possibly flamingos, crossing the Patapampa Pass (15,781ft/4,810m) before descending into what is considered the second-deepest canyon in the Americas (the deepest, the Cotahuasi Canyon, is also in Peru). There is time in the evening for an optional visit to the hot springs near the main town of Chivay (11,926ft/3,635m) – a warming pleasure after the chill of Lake Titicaca. Accommodation: Hotel Pozo del Cielo (or similar)

Day 13 Morning condor viewing; afternoon drive past huge volcanoes to the White City of Arequipa

Rise early to view condors soaring on the morning drafts rising out of the canyon. We then ascend out of the canyon and cross Patapampa Pass on our way to Arequipa, which is known as the White City due to the pale volcanic stone used to construct many of its colonial buildings. The picturesque city has a year-round pleasant climate and is surrounded by towering volcanoes, including the near-perfect cone of El Misti. Accommodation: Su Majestad Hotel (or similar)

Day 14 Morning visit Santa Catalina Convent; afternoon fly to Lima

In the morning we visit the huge, serene convent of Santa Catalina. Built in 1580 and only opened to the outside world in the 1970s, it offers a rare insight into the lives led by the nuns and has changed little through the centuries. There are still around 20 nuns living in the northern corner of the complex. In the afternoon or evening we fly to Lima where we will transfer to our hotel in Miraflores. Accommodation: Hotel El Tambo 1 (or similar)

Day 15 End Lima

Today we start our return journey home, although there may be time for optional tours of Lima, including visits to the Gold Museum and tours of the historic downtown. You could also join our optional trip extension to the Amazon rainforest, where you explore lakes, rivers and jungle trails in search of incredible wildlife.

Day 1: Peru

 Welcome to Peru! Fly into Lima and meet with your Peru Unbound guide before traveling to your accommodations for the evening.

Accommodation: Selected Hotel

Day 2: Lima - Cusco - Sacred Valley

Meals Included: Breakfast and Lunch

Accommodation: Selected Hotel

After breakfast, fly from Lima to Cusco. After landing, travel to the Sacred Valley, where the colorful Pisac Indian Market and the massive Ollantaytambo fortress await. Locals from all over this Peruvian region gather at the picturesque town of Pisac to sell their wares at the traditional market. Pick up a memento and see local culture in action before stopping for a fresh lunch.

This afternoon takes us to the fascinating city of Ollantatambo, known for its extensive Incan urban planning as well as their incorporation of large boulders and stone structures. There are many sights to be had here, including temples, terraces, storehouses, quarries and military defenses—and all retain the ancient Inca artistry that makes this region so amazing.

Note: For this day, we recommended flights that arrive to Cusco before 11:00am.

Day 3: Chinchero - Maras - Moray

Meals Included: Breakfast and Lunch

Accommodation: Selected Hotel

After a hearty Peruvian breakfast, set off toward Chinchero. Here, we visit the remains of an Incan palace, a colonial church set up on enduring stone foundations and ingenious cultivation terraces.

Our travels then take us to Maras, a town known for its "trabajos de sal,” or series of saltwater pools. Locals fill the waiting pools with saltwater taken from Maras’ natural springs; after several days, the evaporated water leaves a heap of salt waiting to be collected. We then journey to the nearby agricultural terraces of Moray, where scholars believe the Incas attempted to craft their own microclimate in the hopes of helping plants adapt to the high altitude.

Day 4: Ollantaytambo - Agua Calientes

Meals Included: Breakfast

Accommodation : Selected Hotel

Enjoy a leisurely morning where you may explore the extensive sights of the Ollantaytambo village or visit the ancient Ollantaytambo fortress on your own. This afternoon, board a train at Ollantaytambo. This scenic train ride is considered one of the most beautiful in the world, so enjoy the views as you speed your way through stunning Peruvian countryside up to Machu Picchu Pueblo. Upon arrival in Aguas Calientes, settle into your hotel and discover what sights and authentic Peruvian cuisine await you this evening.

Day 5: Machu Picchu - Cusco

Meals Included: Breakfast and Lunch

Accommodation: Selected Hotel

After an early breakfast, head out to journey toward the Sanctuary of Machu Picchu. You have a full day of exploring ahead of you as you walk through ancient monuments and see into Inca’s still palpable past.

You also have the chance to hike up Huayna Picchu today at an additional extra cost. The trek affords sweeping views and new perspectives on iconic landmarks. After the morning’s adventures, rest with some lunch before returning to catch the train to Ollantaytambo. Once we’ve pulled into town, you’re taken to Cusco—our final destination for the day. More historic sights and tasty Andean dishes await you this evening.

Day 6: Cusco City Tour

Meals Included: Breakfast

Accommodation: Selected Hotel

You have another day of discovery ahead of you as you venture into Cusco. Ancient Incan monuments and Spanish Colonial landmarks are on the agenda today. A highlight of the day is the Warrior’s square, or Huacaypata to the Incans. This “Main Square” has witnessed historic events and retains its ancient allure. You also tour the Spanish El Triunfo Cathedral, constructed   on top of the Incan temple of Suntur Wasi (House of God). The cathedral houses impressive altar engravings and an attractive pulpit.

We continue viewing religious monuments with a tour of the Santa Domingo convent here—yet another Spanish landmark laid over the foundations of an Inca Temple. Below the convent lies the remains of the Inca temple of  Koricancha, or Temple of the Sun, whose walls were said to be coated in gold. We finish our afternoon with a stop at the neighboring ruins of Sacsayhuamán, an extensive Incan fortress, and the ancient city of Cusco.

Day 7: Cusco - Lima

Meals Included : Breakast

Accommodation: Selected Hotel

Wake early and travel to Cusco’s airport, where you catch your flight back to Lima. Upon arrival, settle into your hotel and enjoy a leisurely afternoon exploring more of Lima’s cultural highlights.

Day 8: Lima - City Tour - Airport

Complete your adventure with one final half-day tour available in either the morning or afternoon. Meet your guides and travel to the Historic Centre of Lima, a UNESCO World Heritage Center. As you tour the “City of Kings,” stroll through San Martin Square, or “Plaza de Armas” where the Archbishop’s Palace, Cathedral, Town Hall and Government Palace are located. Our tour then takes us to San Francisco Church, a masterpiece of Colonial architecture preserving the best examples of Colonial religious art in America. We finish today’s excursion up with a visit to the renowned Larco Herrera Museum. Browse the comprehensive display of over 45,000 pre-Columbian archaeological objects chronicling over 3,000 years of Peru’s history.

After our tour of the Historic Centre of Lima, return to your hotel before heading to the Lima airport to meet your return flight.