- ✓ Cooking with a local family and helping out on a farm
- ✓ Explore many historical colonial cities on foot
- ✓ Trekking the classic Inca trail to Machu Picchu
If you’re short on time but itching to see the highlights of Peru, our Taste of Peru trip is a winner. Beginning in Lima, you’ll learn to cook Peruvian-style in volcano-flanked Arequipa, drive through the plunging Colca Canyon and sail over glassy waters on Lake Titicaca. Afterwards, you’ll trek the classic Inca trail to Machu Picchu.
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 & 6 – 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.
Days 7 & 8 – Typically Titicaca
You’ll spend the next two nights in the youthful town of Puno, from where you’ll set off on a boat trip to the islands and communities of Lake Titicaca. Meet the locals who call this place home, visit a floating reed island, help prepare your lunch using underground ovens, and sit back as you glide across the still waters. Titicaca was a sacred place for the Incas, believed to be the birthplace of the sun, and the lake remains one of the most peaceful and beautiful spots on the continent.
Days 9 & 10 – Explore the cobbled streets of Cusco
Depart Puno by bus and travel 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.
Days 11 - 14 - Inca Trail: following ancient footsteps
After spending time acclimatising in Cusco, you’ll set off on the classic Inca Trail, following an ancient route through the Andes towards Machu Picchu. Over four days, you’ll trek around 44 kilometres through changing landscapes, from mountain valleys and high passes to lush cloud forests. Along the way, you’ll pass ancient Inca ruins and checkpoints, with the toughest section taking you up to 4,200 metres at Dead Woman’s Pass. You’ll camp each night with a small group, local guide and porters, with plenty of uphill walking but equally impressive views to keep you going.
On your final morning, you’ll wake before sunrise and walk through the cloud forest towards the Sun Gate. As the early morning mist lifts, you’ll get your first glimpse of Machu Picchu spread out below the mountains. After time to explore the ruins, you’ll descend to Aguas Calientes before taking the scenic train back to Cusco, where a comfortable bed awaits. It’s a challenging few days of trekking, but following the ancient Inca route and arriving at Machu Picchu on foot makes it a memorable way to reach Peru’s most famous sight.
Day 15 - Depart Peru
What a trip! Today you’ll be transferred to the airport in time for your international flight home.
Accommodation
For this itinerary we offer the following options
A Taste of Peru - In Style accommodation
For the locations included in this itinerary we have alternative options available in terms of comfort. Our In Style options can be more luxurious, offer something unique or offer a more comfortable transport option – all with that local flavour! If you would like to upgrade your itinerary select our In Style option below.