A 17-day group trip to Peru with a shared core itinerary covering the essentials—Arequipa, Titicaca, Cuzco and the Sacred Valley—that lets you choose how to reach Machu Picchu, by train or along the Inca Trail. Complete the route with the Tambopata jungle, colourful Cerro Vinicunca or the ecological haven of the Ballestas Islands.
But... wasn't the Nile the longest river?
We passed geography convinced that the Nile was the longest river. More recently, that honour went to the Amazon when its source was located at the foot of Nevado Mismi near Arequipa. Now that our route includes an excursion to the Amazon’s sources, another theory places them at Nevado Quehuisha. We leave that debate to geographers and continue towards the Apurímac River and Nevado Mismi, with far more spectacular scenery.
Rainbow mountains
After visiting Machu Picchu, we have a few free days in Cusco. Staying to enjoy the city is tempting, but we can also take an excursion to Vinicunca. From the viewpoint at 5,036 m, the mountain’s colours change with the sunlight.
Known as the “Mountain of 7 Colours”, Vinicunca is a magnificent challenge for mountain enthusiasts with time in Cuzco.
The mountain is not Machu Picchu
Machu Picchu is the impressive archaeological site in the photograph, but the mountain rising steeply in front is Huayna Picchu. Climbing the path to its summit is unforgettable, though you must book ahead and have a good head for heights.
Travel to Peru in August
Lying mostly in the Andes, Peru preserves the Inca legacy among its mountains. This trip to Peru, explores the country’s south, home to its main archaeological sites and some of the Andes’ most spectacular scenery. From Arequipa, we travel towards Colca Canyon, visit the Amazon’s headwaters, then continue to Lake Titicaca to stay on the Capachica Peninsula. The route crosses the Andes to Cusco and the Sacred Valley before climbing to Machu Picchu.
Travel itinerary to Peru
| DAY | ROUTE | MEALS | ACCOM. |
| 1 | Flight from home city – Lima | > | On board |
| 2 | Arrival in Lima. Visits. | > | Hotel |
| 3 | Flight Lima – Arequipa | D | Hotel |
| 4 | Arequipa. City tour | D | Hotel |
| 5 | Arequipa – Colca Canyon – Chivay | D | Hotel |
| 6 | Chivay – Amazon River headwaters – Crossing the Altiplano to Puno | D | Hotel |
| 7 | Puno – Uros Titino Islands – Taquile Island – Capachica Peninsula (Lake Titicaca) | D>A>C | Local house |
| 8 | Capachica Peninsula – Puno | D | Hotel |
| 9 | Trans-Andean crossing: Puno – Cuzco | D > A | Hotel |
| 10 | Cuzco. City visit | D | Hotel |
| 11 | Sacred Valley: Pisaq – Ollantaytambo. Train to Aguas Calientes. | D | Hotel |
| 12 | Sacred Valley: Machu Picchu – Aguas Calientes. Train to Ollantaytambo | D > C | Hotel |
| 13 | Sacred Valley: Salinas de Maras – Moray- Chincheros – Cuzco | D | Hotel |
| 14 | Cuzco. Optional Vinicunca Mountain visit | D | Hotel |
| 15 | Cuzco | D | Hotel |
| 16 | Flight Cuzco – Lima – Home city | D | On board |
| 17 | City of origin | > | > |
Optional classic Inca Trail trek
| 11 | Cuzco-Pisaq – Ollantaytambo – Chincheros – Cuzco | D | Hotel |
| 12 | Cuzco – Piscocucho. Trek to Wayllabamba Village | D>A>C | Camping |
| 13 | Trek: Wayllabamba – Warmiwañusca Pass – Pacaymayo | D>A>C | Camping |
| 14 | Trek Pacaymayo – Wiñayhuayna | D>A>C | Camping |
| 15 | Trek Wiñaywayna – Machu Picchu. Bus to Aguas Calientes and train to Cuzco | D | Hotel |
Optional Salkantay Inca Trail trek
| 11 | Cuzco – Mollepata – Challacancha. Trek Soraypampa – Humantay Lagoon | D>A>C | Camping |
| 12 | Trek: Soraypampa – Salkantay Pass – Huayramachay – Chaullay | D>A>C | Camping |
| 13 | Trek Chaullay – Collcapampa- Playa – Santa Teresa or Luccamabamba | D>A>C | Camping |
| 14 | Trek Santa Teresa – Hidroeléctrica – Aguas Calientes | D > C | Local hotel |
| 15 | Aguas Calientes – Machu Picchu. Train to Ollantaytambo. Transfer to Cusco | D | Hotel |
Jungle extension: Tambopata
| 14 | Flight Cuzco – Puerto Maldonado. Boat to Tambopata | D>A>C | Jungle lodge |
| 15 | Tambopata Jungle | D>A>C | Jungle lodge |
| 16 | Tambopata boat – Pto. Maldonado. Flight back to Lima and city of origin. | D | > |
Coastal extension: Nazca and Paracas
| 14 | Flight Cuzco- Lima. Bus Lima – Paracas | D | Hotel |
| 15 | Paracas: Ballestas Islands excursion, Pisco (optional Nazca Lines flight) – Ica – Paracas | D | Hotel |
| 16 | Bus from Paracas to Lima. Return flight to departure city | D | > |
Vinicunca trekking extension: 2 days / 1 night
| DAY | ROUTE | MEALS | ACCOM. |
| 14 | Cuzco – Pitumarka – Quesiuno – Pampachiri | D>A>C | Camping |
| 15 | Pampachiri – Vinicunca – Rainbow Mountain – Cuzco | D > A | Hotel |
Technical details of the trip to Peru
✔️ 17-day trip
✔️ Departure 5 August
✔️ From €2,950
This Peru trip explores the south, home to the country’s main archaeological sites and some of the Andes’ most spectacular scenery. From Arequipa we head towards Colca Canyon, visiting the sources of the Amazon, then continue to Lake Titicaca to spend the night on the Capachica Peninsula. The route continues through the Andes to Cuzco and the Sacred Valley, before climbing to Machu Picchu.
