- ✓ Taste Peru’s finest flavours in Lima and Arequipa’s bustling markets
- ✓ Spot soaring condors in the epic Colca Canyon landscapes
- ✓ Walk the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu’s awe-inspiring Sun Gate
- ✓ Sail Lake Titicaca and visit traditional floating reed islands
Your Peru and Bolivia adventure starts in the capital city Lima, before heading to Arequipa where you’ll explore the city before heading up to the Colca Canyon. Next, you’ll travel to Cusco for the short trail to Machu Picchu and spend a couple of days mountain biking, hiking or just relaxing in the Sacred Valley. Then, you’ll cross the Altiplano to Lake Titicaca where you’ll explore Titicaca’s islands by boat and on foot before heading to Bolivia for an adventurous end to your trip.
Days 1 & 2 – Market Plazas of Lima
You’ll start your Peru adventure in Lima. A proud Latino city, often cloaked in mist from the Pacific Ocean and with a famed food scene, Lima fizzes with energy and is more than just a handy starting point for your holiday. You’ll spend two nights in a cosy hotel in a pleasant part of town.
The following morning you’ll be shown around the lively Miraflores food market and the charming colonial centre by your local Limeño guide. You’ll learn a little about the history of the city, as well as trying some of the local snacks.
Days 3 & 4 – Culture and Cookery in Arequipa
The next stop on your Peru trip - Arequipa - is a short flight from Lima. Arequipa is an understated highlight of Peru. It’s an attractive city with a distinct personality and a striking volcanic backdrop. Wander along cobbled streets to the local market and enter an explosion of colour, sounds and smells, before exploring the nooks and crannies of the fascinating Monasterio de Santa Catalina.
During your stay you’ll also step inside a local home where you’ll prepare a traditional Peruvian meal. Learn the secrets of how to cook perfect quinoa, chicha or caldo verde from your Arequipeño host.
Days 5-7 – Condors in the Colca Canyon
Around twice as deep as the Grand Canyon, the Colca Canyon slices through the Andes and affords some of the most spectacular views on the continent. Joining a small group, you’ll depart Arequipa with a scenic drive past volcanoes, lakes and grazing alpacas, before arriving at your lodge in the town of Coporaque. In the afternoon you can relax or head out hiking through this striking landscape with your guide.
The following morning you’ll head to the deepest part of the canyon – a nesting site for the huge Andean condor, where they glide on thermals close above your head. In the afternoon you can hike or relax in the nearby hot springs. In the early evening, you’ll meet Josefina and Oswaldo, who live in the valley and will be your hosts for the night. They speak very little English, but you’ll get by with sign language and a phrasebook! You’ll have a simple, private room with a shared bathroom, where you can settle in before heading out with your group for dinner.
When you return from the Colca Canyon, you’ll spend another night in Arequipa.
Days 8 & 9 – Explore the Cobbled Streets of Cusco
Today you’ll take the short flight to Cusco, the Inca heartland and a city of colourful contrasts. You’ll spend two nights in a cosy pousada, set in the heart of the artistic San Blas district. Cusco is the gateway to Machu Picchu and the Sacred Valley. Travellers from all over the world meet here before heading into the mountains, making it a lively hub of restaurants, bars and museums.
The next morning you’ll embark on a history focused walking tour of the city with an English-speaking guide. 500 years ago Cusco was the beating heart of the Inca Empire, which, at its pinnacle, reached from Ecuador to Bolivia and Chile. The city may now be a thriving modern hangout, but it’s peppered with echoes of its Inca past.
Day 10 - A short trek to Machu Picchu
Today you’ll take the train to the starting point of the Camino Real trail, where your guide will be waiting. From around 2,300 metres above sea level, you’ll cross a footbridge over the Urubamba River and follow part of the ancient Inca trading route towards Machu Picchu. Along the way, you’ll pass smaller Inca ruins and enjoy views of the surrounding mountains. There are some steep uphill sections, making this a fairly challenging trek, so a reasonable level of fitness is needed.
You’ll stop for lunch at Wiñay Wayna, an ancient Inca settlement tucked into the mountainside among beautifully preserved terraces and ruins. From here, the trail winds downhill through shady cloud forest towards the Sun Gate. As you emerge from the trees, you’ll catch your first glimpse of Machu Picchu spread out below you. From the Sun Gate, you’ll continue down to Aguas Calientes, where you can relax in the town’s hot springs before settling into your comfortable hotel in the centre.
Days 11 & 12 - Venture into the Sacred Valley
After a good night’s sleep, you’ll be up early and back on the bus to Machu Picchu. As the morning sun warms the valley, the mist begins to lift from the ruins, revealing the Lost City in all its glory. You’ll explore the site on an official guided tour with your group, hearing about the history, mysteries and legends surrounding this remarkable Inca citadel.
After your visit, you’ll take the train to Ollantaytambo, a beautifully preserved Inca town tucked into the Sacred Valley. Its cobbled streets, ancient terraces and mountain backdrop make it a lovely place to slow down for a couple of days. Your main luggage will be waiting at a cosy guesthouse near the centre, within easy reach of the village’s restaurants and cafés. The next day is free to enjoy Ollantaytambo at your own pace. You could climb up to the Inca fortress for sunrise and watch the valley wake up, wander among the terraces, take a short hike or explore nearby ruins on horseback. There’s no set schedule, so you can make the most of this peaceful corner of the Sacred Valley however you like.
Day 13 - Return to Cusco
After your time exploring the ancient Inca ruins, you’ll travel back to Cusco, which is about 90 minutes travelling time. You’ll stay another night in the same hotel.
Days 14 & 15 – Typically Titicaca
Next, you’ll take a bus to Puno, a lively town perched high in the Andes on the shores of Lake Titicaca. You’ll spend two nights here, with time to get used to the altitude before heading out onto the lake. By boat, you’ll visit its islands and communities, meeting local families and learning about their way of life. You’ll see the famous floating reed islands, help prepare lunch in traditional underground ovens and glide across the calm waters surrounded by mountains.
For the Incas, Lake Titicaca was a sacred place and was believed to be the birthplace of the sun. Today, its vast blue waters, remote islands and high-altitude landscapes make it one of the most striking places in Peru. Spending time with the communities who live here gives you a glimpse into a way of life that has remained closely connected to the lake for generations.
Day 16 – In Search of the Sun God
From Puno, you’ll make your own way to the bus station and board a bus bound for Copacabana in Bolivia. The journey takes around two hours, passing through the spectacular high-altitude landscapes around Lake Titicaca. You’ll cross the border into Bolivia, where you’ll complete the straightforward immigration formalities before continuing by bus to Copacabana, just 20 minutes away. Your hotel is right on the shores of Lake Titicaca, so you’ll arrive in time for lunch with the lake as your backdrop.
This afternoon, you’ll meet your group and head out by boat across the deep blue waters to Isla del Sol, an island steeped in Inca legend and believed to be the birthplace of the first Inca king. With your guide, you’ll explore its peaceful trails, ancient sites and beautiful landscapes before returning to Copacabana in the late afternoon. It’s a memorable introduction to Bolivia and a chance to experience the legendary Lake Titicaca from a completely different perspective.
Days 17 & 18 – Wandering through the Lanes of La Paz
The following day you’ll head to the bus station to catch the bus to La Paz. The travel is usually about 4 hours and on arrival there will be a driver waiting to transfer you to your hotel.
La Paz is unlike anywhere else, sprawling through a deep Andean valley at around 4,000 metres above sea level, with snow-capped peaks rising around it. You’ll stay in a cosy hotel in the city centre, within walking distance of sights including San Francisco Cathedral and the famous Witch’s Market. Take it easy at first while you adjust to the altitude, then head out to explore the city’s colourful markets, lively plazas and winding streets at your own pace.
There’s no set itinerary here, giving you the freedom to decide how you spend your time. Browse stalls selling colourful textiles and llama-wool goods, stop for a coffee and watch the city go by, or simply soak up the atmosphere of one of Bolivia’s most distinctive cities.
Days 19-21 - A pinch of salt!
Today you will be collected from your hotel in La Paz and transferred to the bus station to catch the 11 to 12 hour night bus to Uyuni, the gateway to the Salt Flats. After you arrive in Uyuni, you’ll have the rest of the day to explore this dusty little town – it isn’t much to look at, but there are a few restaurants and bars to keep you occupied.
Early the following morning, you’ll set off by jeep across the Salar de Uyuni, the world’s largest salt flat, travelling with a small group and English-speaking guide. First, you’ll stop at Uyuni’s eerie train cemetery, where rusting steam engines and old carriages are slowly being reclaimed by the elements, before continuing to the salt-mining village of Colchani to see how the salt is collected and used. Out on the vast white plains, the landscape is dazzlingly bright in the dry season, while between December and March, a thin layer of water can transform the salt flats into a giant natural mirror. You’ll stop for lunch on Isla de Pescadores, a rocky island covered in towering cacti, before continuing across the Salar in search of wildlife such as flamingos, llamas, Andean foxes and, if you’re very lucky, pumas. You’ll return to Uyuni in the late afternoon, with time for a well-earned hot shower.
Please note that weather conditions can affect the route, so some flexibility may be needed.
Days 22 & 23 - Time to head home
After three unforgettable weeks exploring Peru and Bolivia, it’s time to make your way back to La Paz. A short one-hour flight brings you to the city for one final night, staying in the same comfortable hotel as before. It’s a chance to slow down, enjoy one last Bolivian meal and reflect on everything you’ve seen, from the Andes and Lake Titicaca to ancient Inca sites and the vast salt flats. The following day, we’ll arrange a private transfer to the airport in time for your international flight home, bringing your Peru and Bolivia adventure to a close.
Accommodation
