Footsteps of the Incas

Day 1 - UK - In flight

Our nationwide shared chauffeur service collects you from home for your flight to Lima.

Day 2 - Lima

Upon arrival you're free to explore.

Day 3 - Lima

We take a morning tour of the old ‘City of Kings’ (Lima’s original name). The city’s walls are laced with incredible history of political, cultural and economic importance, having played the role of capital of the Spanish dominions in South America from 1535 until the 18th century. We’ll explore the Old Town’s remarkable colonial architecture, Government Palace and the city’s historic squares. And we’ll stop at the cathedral and Larco Herrera Museum, where gold and silver from ancient Peru are displayed. The afternoon is free.

Day 4 - Lima - Arequipa

We transfer to the airport for our flight to Arequipa.

Day 5 - Arequipa

You can enjoy scenic views at every turn in Arequipa thanks to the three snow-capped towering volcanoes - Chachani, Misti and Pichu Pichu - that guard the UNESCO-listed city. This morning we embark on a tour - the city’s architecture is utterly remarkable and many buildings are made from locally sourced white volcanic sillar rock. Explore the fine old quarter of San Lazaro and the spectacular Monastery of Santa Catalina, Peru’s most important religious building and home to a delightful gallery of paintings and sculptures. Spend the afternoon at leisure, or take an optional excursion of your choice.

Day 6 - Colca Canyon

Today we travel into the Colca Canyon, marvelling at the colourful Andean Valley as we journey to Chivay. This charming small town in the southern Colca Canyon region has a cultural main square with views of terraced hillsides and snow-capped peaks.

Day 7 - Colca Canyon - Puno

At Colca Canyon’s Cruz del Condor, Andean Condors can be seen soaring gracefully on thermals rising from the stunning canyon. The scale of the canyon is truly breathtaking, with the summit of the nearby Ampato volcano over 5km higher than the canyon’s lowest point. Later, we travel to Puno.

Day 8 - Lake Titicaca

A full-day excursion to Lake Titicaca reveals an area of unbelievable beauty and legend. Believed by the Incas to be the birthplace of the sun, Titicaca is South America’s largest lake. We’ll see the Uros villages, whose inhabitants live on floating totora-reed islands, and Taquile Island, inhabited by Quechua-speaking natives. Here, we see a demonstration of traditional hand-weaving techniques - a snapshot of the remarkable lifestyle and culture of these Peruvian natives.

Day 9 - Puno - Cuzco

Today we travel from Puno to Cuzco in style, aboard the Pullman-style carriages of the Titicaca Train. This journey is about more than just getting from A to B. The scenery is absolutely spectacular (windswept fields, traditional villages and soaring mountains), but the onboard experience is just as special. Think gourmet Peruvian cuisine and live performances from local musicians. Sit back and take it all in as you weave through the Peruvian Andes. This is a journey of experience.

Day 10 - Cuzco

Cuzco was the once fabled capital of the Inca Empire, situated in the Peruvian Andes. Enjoy a captivating tour of the ‘Archaeological Capital of South America’, visiting the beautiful Plaza de Armas, Cuzco Cathedral with star-shaped ceilings and a lavish collection of famous paintings including Marcos Zapata’s impeccable ‘The Last Supper’. We also see the semi-circular Temple of the Sun and the ruins of Sacsayhuaman, the massive Inca fortress overlooking the city.

Day 11 - Cuzco - Sacred Valley

We travel to the Sacred Valley, stopping in the charming village of Pisac where Quechua people from the beautiful surrounding highlands come to sell their stock and purchase supplies in the lively market; with jewellery, ponchos, Andean instruments and ceramics it’s a shopper’s delight! Head to Ollantaytambo, where the aged remains include a series of steps and niches carved out of the cliff. Since the 13th century, this beautiful area has been a delightful place to leisurely wander through narrow, cobblestone streets making you feel as if you’ve stepped back in time.

Day 12 - Machu Picchu

Today is a real highlight as we travel by train to the magnificent lost Inca city of Machu Picchu. Tours here reveal the sheer scale of this historic, archaeological masterpiece, once buried in the jungle. The complex is considered to have been constructed at the height of the Inca Empire between the 15th and 16th centuries, and abandoned at the end of the latter. The group of approximately 200 structures were rediscovered in 1911, and declared one of the New7Wonders of the World in 2007. The ruins of temples, palaces, towers and fountains set against a dramatic backdrop of dark green forested mountains remain a symbol of the Inca Empire’s time in power.

Day 13 - Sacred Valley - Cuzco - Lima

Today we fly to Lima for an overnight stay.

Day 14 - Lima - In flight

Transfer to the airport for your overnight return flight to the UK.

Day 15 - UK

Upon arrival, your vehicle will be waiting for the journey home.