Today is your departure day from your chosen airport, and the tour goes to Peru with connecting flight(s) along the way.

On arrival at the airport in Lima, you will be met by a representative from our partner in Peru, who will take you to your hotel. The trip to the hotel takes approx. 1 hour, and along the way, you will be provided with information about your tour as well as answers to any questions you may have.

The rest of the day is at your leisure.

Today you will go on an exciting half-day city tour of Lima, where you will experience both the modern district and the city’s historic centre, which is on the UNESCO World Heritage List. The Peruvian capital was founded in 1535 by the Spanish conquistador Francisco Pizarro after the Spanish conquest of the Inca Empire, and the buildings in the city’s historic centre therefore also bear the mark of the colonial period.

You will be picked up at your hotel and first walk to the city’s lively central square, Plaza Mayor. This square is beautifully decorated with red, white, and yellow flowers, tall palm trees, and a fountain with the guardian angel of the city on top. The square is surrounded by beautiful colonial buildings such as the Government Palace, the Archbishop’s Palace, and Lima’s impressive cathedral, where Pizarro remains at rest.

You will then visit the Church and Convent of San Francisco, the entrance of which is decorated with fine mosaic tiles from Seville. The church library is particularly famous with its more than 25,000 ancient texts, some of which date back to from before the conquest. Beneath the church are impressive catacombs with skulls and bones arranged in geometric patterns.

The tour then continues to the San Isidro district, known for its beautiful parks, such as the fabulous Parque El Olivar, and then to the modern district of Miraflores with its beautiful gardens, squares, boulevards, and charming cafés and restaurants.

The city tour concludes with a visit to the Larco Museum, one of Lima’s best-known museums, dedicated to pre-Columbian art. The museum houses an extensive collection of fascinating objects from various pre-Columbian cultures, including the Moche, Nazca, Chimú, and Inca.

The rest of the afternoon and the evening are at your leisure.

Lima is known as one of the world’s great culinary capitals. Here, you will find several world-class restaurants that offer unique flavours in a melting pot of traditional Peruvian cuisine and innovative fusion dishes. Lima attracts food lovers from all over the world with its gastronomic universe that offers an unforgettable journey through taste and creativity.

If you are a foodie or you just like good food, take a look at our optional excursion, where you have the opportunity to acquire greater insight into Peruvian gastronomy and taste some of the famous delicacies.

Today, you have the opportunity to decide for yourself what should be on the programme. Do you prefer a day on your own to explore the big city or are you perhaps curious about what animal life on Peru’s coast is like? If so, we offer two optional excursions that might be just the thing for you!

Discover what the local area has to offer with an excursion to the Palomino Islands, located just off the coast of Lima and especially known for their large colonies of sea lions. In addition to sea lions, you may also be lucky enough to spot Humboldt penguins and other fascinating birds on these islands.

Or go on a full-day excursion to the famous Islas Ballestas, which have a greater concentration of wildlife, and which are also known as the mini-Galapagos. If you are a bird enthusiast, this optional excursion is definitely a must! You can, for example, also encounter Humboldt penguins and sea lions on this excursion and perhaps even see dolphins or migrating humpback whales passing by.

If you prefer a day on your own in Lima, we recommend a relaxing walk along the coastline at Parque del Amor, where you’ll find a stunning view of the Pacific Ocean. You can also explore the bohemian Barranco district, known for its charming art galleries and the lively atmosphere that fills the area with creativity and energy.

If you did not make it to our gourmet experience yesterday, it is also an option today – depending on what else you are planning.

This morning, you will fly on to Cusco, the ancient Inca capital, which is beautifully situated in a gorge in the Andes at an altitude of 3,399 metres above sea level. The flight is short, approx. 1 hour and 15 minutes, with a spectacular approach and landing surrounded by tall mountains. You will be picked up at the airport and driven to your hotel, which is centrally located in this charming city.

The air is thinner when you are at an altitude of 3,339 metres, so if you get out of breath quickly from walking around the steep streets of the city, remember that it does not mean that you are in poor shape. Most people are affected by the thinner air. Remember to take it easy from time to time, to allow your body to slowly get used to being at a high altitude (to acclimatise). It is a good idea to drink plenty of water and possibly have a cup of muña or coca tea, which the locals recommend. Coca tea is made from coca leaves, which help the body adapt to the high altitude. Coca leaves have a great cultural significance in the Andes and are considered to be sacred. They contain caffeine and are used against, for example, hunger, cold, fatigue, and stomach aches. However, it is important to note that you cannot bring coca leaves back home with you or on your further tour. Muña tea, which tastes of mint, is slightly milder than coca tea and is caffeine-free. It alleviates the symptoms of altitude sickness while also having a calming effect on the body.

In the afternoon, an exciting city tour awaits you in and around Cusco, where you can experience why the city has been on the UNESCO World Heritage List since 1983. On this city tour, you will visit a number of sights, including the city’s central square, Plaza del Armas, which was called Haucaypata or the ‘Warriors’ Square’ in the Inca period, and where many important events have taken place. Here, you will also find Cusco’s cathedral, built in colonial times with stones from the Inca complex of Sacsayhuamán on top of the former Inca palace of Viracocha. The cathedral is a fine mix of the Incas’ impressive stonework and Spanish Renaissance architecture.

You will also visit the Inca Sun Temple Koricancha, the Q’enqo religious site, the ruins of Puka Pukara, the seaside resort of Tambomachay, and the important military complex of Sacsayhuamán, which offers stunning panoramic views of Cusco. Sacsayhuamán is an excellent example of the formidable architectural prowess of the Incas, with its impressive double walls built of solid stone cut perfectly to fit together. The city tour lasts approx. 5 hours.

The tour then returns to Cusco, where the evening is at your leisure.

The day is at your leisure. Explore the charming streets around the city’s central plaza, or stop by the San Pedro Market, where you will find everything from local produce and traditional street food to handmade goods and colourful souvenirs.

We also offer an excursion to the Inca ruins at Moray and the salt mines in Maras, where you get an insight into the Incas’ agricultural culture and where you can enjoy spectacular views of the salt mines.

If you are a foodie, or if you are just curious about Peruvian cuisine, we recommend our cooking class. Here, you will be introduced to Peruvian food culture, and you will also have an opportunity to try your hand at traditional dishes.

Today, the tour continues to the Urubamba Valley, which is best known as the Sacred Valley of the Incas. Pack a small backpack with clothes for the next 3 days, as only 5 kg of luggage is allowed on the train ride to and from Aguas Calientes when visiting Machu Picchu. This also applies if you choose to go on the 1-day Inca trek. Your remaining luggage can be safely stored at the hotel in Cusco until you return.

From Cusco, you will travel by bus along winding mountain roads towards the small town of Pisac. Along the way, you will pass agricultural fields, turbulent rivers, and dramatic mountain peaks, some of them covered by snow. There will be a stop at a textile enterprise where they will demonstrate how they produce their craft products. In Pisac, you will visit an interesting archaeological site and the town’s large Indian market. Here, you will have the opportunity to buy everything, from Peruvian wool sweaters and colourful bags to fine dolls and jewellery.

After lunch (at your own expense), you will continue to the charming town of Ollantaytambo, which is one of the only towns in Peru to have preserved its original Inca walls and network of roads with old, long stone walls and narrow cobbled streets. The town is best known for its impressive Inca fortress, which consists of steep terraces, temples, and military installations. It was here that the Incas managed to defeat the Spaniards, albeit only temporarily, in 1536.

After the tour, you will leave the group, which will head back towards Cusco, and check in at your hotel in Ollantaytambo. The rest of the day is at your leisure.

If you are lucky and it is a cloudless evening, you can look forward to a magical starry sky.

Today, you will travel by train to the small town of Aguas Calientes, which is located at the foot of the complex of the Inca ruins Machu Picchu. Sit back and enjoy the scenery as the train winds its way through the valley along the Urubamba River, with mountains on both sides. The beautiful train ride takes approx. 1.5-2 hours.

Upon arrival at the train station in Aguas Calientes, you will be picked up and taken to your hotel. You have the rest of the day to explore the town on your own. You can, for example, treat yourself to a visit to the town’s hot springs and relax in the naturally heated pools. Remember swimwear and a towel.

You can also purchase as an add-on an exciting 1-day Inca trek to Machu Picchu if you feel like embarking on even more adventures.

Today, you will get up early to visit one of the Seven Wonders of the World – the stunning complex of the ruins of Machu Picchu!

Machu Picchu is located on a steep, green ridge in the Urubamba Valley, surrounded by fairytale mist rainforest, green mountain peaks, and snow-capped mountain peaks on the horizon. It is said that the American explorer, Hiram Bingham, was the first to discover Machu Picchu on the 24th of July in 1911. However, this is not entirely true, but he was certainly the reason why the world became aware of the magnificent Incan city. The Spanish never discovered and plundered Machu Picchu, and the complex therefore has a special cultural significance and is regarded as sacred.

Machu Picchu was built in the mid-15th century during the heyday of the Inca Empire, and it was abandoned less than 100 years later, presumably due to a chickenpox epidemic. Before the Incan city was abandoned, it housed high-ranking officials, priests, servants, and virgins who were chosen to dedicate their lives to the Sun God. It was a magnificent city with temples, dwellings, streets, fountains, and aqueducts, through which water still flows down to the many agricultural terraces on both sides of the mountain.

You will be picked up at your hotel, and, together with your guide, you will take a bus up the steep mountain slope to the entrance (approx. 30 min). Here, you will start a tour of approx. 2 hours, where you will see the impressive buildings and get exciting insights into the culture and history of the Incas. After the guided tour, there will be time to explore the area on your own.

It is also possible to purchase, as an optional excursion, a hike to the top of one of the surrounding Andes mountains and experience fantastic panoramic views down over the Inca Empire. Choose from three different mountains: The Huchuy Picchu mountain, which is the lowest and easiest to climb; the Huayna Picchu mountain, which is steep and more challenging; and, finally, the Machu Picchu Mountain, which is said to be the most demanding hike of the three.

Afterwards, you will take the bus back to Aguas Calientes, where you can have lunch and relax before the tour heads back towards Cusco. The train departs in the late afternoon, and your guide will inform you of the exact departure time after the tour of Machu Picchu. Depending on the season, the transport back to Cusco may be a combination of train and bus.

Upon arrival in Cusco, you will be driven to your hotel.

Distance: 125 km

Transport time from Aguas Calientes back to Cusco (train + bus): 3.5 hours

The day is at your leisure, and you can explore the city’s small winding streets on your own.

If you want to experience even more of the magical Andes, we recommend that you purchase an optional excursion to Rainbow Mountain. The mountain is just one of many fascinating rainbow-coloured mountains outside Cusco. The beautiful colours are due to the mountains’ combination of colourful minerals that are formed in these surroundings. It is a truly unique experience to experience this spectacular sight of colours surrounding the summit of Rainbow Mountain at an altitude of just under 5,000 metres.

If you are not completely comfortable with the idea of venturing up into these heights, take a look at one of our other optional excursions or enjoy the day on your own in the city to buy your last souvenirs.

Enjoy your last evening in the city in one of the charming restaurants, where you can taste some of the national specialties like, for example, ‘Lomo Saltado’, which is a Peruvian stir-fry dish, or if you are feeling brave, you can order ‘cuy’, which is a popular local dish consisting of grilled guinea pig. Of course, you must also not miss out on a ‘Pisco Sour’, which is the country’s national drink, if you have not tried it yet.

It will now be time to say goodbye to Peru. Today you will be picked up at your hotel and driven to the airport, from where you will fly towards your chosen airport with connecting flight(s) along the way.

You will arrive in Europe carrying unforgettable experiences with you.