The Best of Peru-10 days

Lima the Capital of Peru

The tour starts in the capital of Peru, the second largest city in South America, and there is no shortage of places to visit in Lima. Indigenous groups first settled in the town as part of the Inca Empire. However, when the Spanish conquered the Incas in the 1600s, the city became the capital of the Spanish colony. Thus, Lima is rich in history and culture, making it a great place to explore. Lima is located along the central Pacific coast of Peru in a combination of tropics and desert. Nestled between three rivers, the city was built upon the coastal plain. It has long since been a bustling metropolitan center and has remained one of the most important cities in South America. Because of its unique geography and climate, there is no shortage of activities to do in Lima, Peru. From water sports along its coast to paragliding, sand boarding or exploring the desolate desert in an ATV, there are plenty of adventure activities in and around the city. When searching for culture and cuisine, expect an abundant variety of experiences. The city is full of colonial cathedrals, museums and government buildings, and some of the finest eateries in South America. 

 

Barranco, Lima

 

Cusco

Cusco is a destination in its own right due to its historical importance in South America, its impressive blend of cobblestone streets, colonial period architecture and that unmistakable Peruvian charm. Cusco’s designation as the gateway to the beautiful Sacred Valley and Machu Picchu further promotes Cusco as a must-see destination in Peru.  Cusco is by far Peru’s most famous city with visitors, and for a good reason, there are plenty of epic things to do in Cusco. Although it has long been a center for Inca and other Andean natives, the discovery of Machu Picchu in the early 1900s put Cusco on the map. It is now the central hub and gateway for visiting Machu Picchu and other Inca ruins scattered throughout the Sacred Valley. The city is situated high in the Peruvian Andes. It lies in the Huatanay River valley and, despite its high elevation of 3,400 meters, has a moderate climate most of the year.

 

Plaza De Armas, Cusco

 

Machu Picchu citadel

Most people arrive at this iconic archaeological site by train. Machu Picchu ruins can then be reached by bus from the town of Aguas Calientes or Machu Picchu Pueblo). This tiny hub was built to ferry tourists up to Machu Picchu; however, it is the most convenient location to base yourself when visiting the ruins. It's also possible to take the train from Poroy, just outside of Cusco, or the town of Ollantaytambo to Aguas Calientes and visit the ruins on a day trip. However, this option can leave some visitors feeling that their time at the ruins was somewhat hurried. We recommend staying in Aguas Calientes so you can take your time exploring the ruins rather than having to run to catch a return train. Machu Picchu is a fascinating place; on a guided tour of the site, you'll have a much fuller experience of some of the theories about this impressive archaeological site. Bear in mind that much of the history and purpose of Machu Picchu remains a mystery to historians, and quality guides will be sure to make that clear rather than offering information that could be misleading.

 

Machu Picchu

 

Puno

Nestled on the high Andean plateau lies the picturesque Lake Titicaca, a shimmering inland sea that the Inca believed to be the sun's birthplace. Indeed, it's not hard to understand why at breathtaking few days of enjoying stunning vistas and exploring mysterious archaeological sites. The Uros islands are what most people come to see and, despite a large number of visitors, are definitely worth the trip. These ancient people learned how to build and survive on floating islands made out of totora reeds in an attempt to escape Inca colonization over 500 years ago. Best of all, their traditions have been kept alive, albeit now primarily as a tourist attraction.  Later is a visit to another non-floating island of Taquile with male knitters and delicious trout lunches, fished from Titicaca, amongst other quirky and fascinating traditions. 

 

Lake Titicaca

 

This ten-day tour encompasses the essence of Andean Peru and allows some downtime to explore by yourself for a richer, fuller experience of The Best of Peru. Contact us here to book this 10 day trip in Peru.