Millenary Peru

DAY 1: ARRIVAL IN LIMA
Upon landing at Lima airport, we will escort you to your hotel situated in the bustling heart of Lima. The rest of the day is yours to explore or relax. Overnight at the hotel.

DAY 2: LIMA CITY TOUR AND LARCO MUSEUM
Your morning begins with a visit to the remarkable Larco Museum in the charming district of Pueblo Libre. Established by Peruvian archaeologist Rafael Larco Hoyle in 1926, this museum resides in an 18th-century mansion surrounded by lush gardens.

The Larco Museum offers an extensive collection of over 5,000 pre-Hispanic ceramic artifacts, as well as gold and silver pieces, and pre-Columbian erotic pottery. Through its chronological galleries, you'll gain insights into Peru's ancient civilizations.

Following this, we proceed to Lima's historic center, recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1988. Here, you'll explore grand squares, colonial mansions, and delve into the rich history of the area. We will tour the Aliaga House, a colonial mansion dating back to 1536, renowned for its exquisite art and history. Descendants of Jerónimo de Aliaga, a Spanish conquistador, still inhabit this architectural masterpiece.

Our journey continues to the Plaza de Armas, the birthplace of Lima in 1535 and the site of Peru’s independence declaration in 1821. Historically, it served as a market and a venue for public executions.

From the Plaza de Armas, admire significant buildings like the Government Palace, the Archbishop’s Palace, and the Municipal Palace. We will visit Lima’s Cathedral, a UNESCO Cultural Heritage Site, constructed during the 16th-century Spanish conquest.

After the tour, you'll be transported back to your hotel for an overnight stay.

DAY 3: LIMA / AREQUIPA CITY TOUR
At the scheduled time, we will escort you to Lima airport for your flight to Arequipa. Once there, you’ll be transferred to your hotel in the city center.

The city tour begins at the beautiful Plaza de Armas and the adjacent Arequipa Cathedral, originating from the 17th century. We explore the Cathedral and the Church of the Society of Jesus (1590), showcasing local baroque architecture with stunning paintings and murals.

You'll also visit the Monastery of Santa Catalina, a medieval cloister founded in September 1579, still active today. This mysterious convent covers 20,000 square meters, built from sillar, a hallmark of local architecture.

The tour includes stops in the districts of Yanahuara and Carmen Alto, offering panoramic views of Arequipa’s landscape and the encircling volcanoes: Misti, Chachani, and Pichu Pichu. Capture these moments with photos.

Finally, we visit the main square of Cayma district and the Church of San Miguel Arcángel de Cayma. The tour concludes with a transfer back to your hotel. Overnight stay.

DAY 4: AREQUIPA / CUSCO
At the agreed time, you'll be taken to Arequipa airport for your flight to Cusco. Upon arrival, you'll be transferred to your hotel. Enjoy the rest of the day at your leisure. Overnight stay.

DAY 5: PISAC AND OLLANTAYTAMBO WITH OVERNIGHT IN AGUAS CALIENTES
Today, we explore the Sacred Valley of the Incas.

About 30 km from Cusco, we arrive at the quaint town of Pisac, known for its vibrant traditional market and archaeological site, featuring stone temples and structures with views of the valley and terraces.

Next, we head to Urubamba for a delicious buffet lunch at a traditional riverside restaurant.

Following lunch, we visit the town of Ollantaytambo and its fortress, a remarkable example of Inca architecture that served as a military, religious, and agricultural hub, offering stunning valley vistas and advanced irrigation systems.

The day concludes with a visit to Chinchero and its lively market, showcasing Andean ceramics and textiles.

You'll then board a train at Ollantaytambo station bound for Aguas Calientes. Upon arrival, our team will assist with your hotel check-in. In the evening, a briefing on the next day’s Machu Picchu visit will be provided. Overnight stay.

DAY 6: FULL DAY AT MACHU PICCHU
Embark on a 30-minute bus ride featuring breathtaking views of the Urubamba River and its canyon. Machu Picchu, translating to “Old Mountain,” welcomes you with its extraordinary terraces, stairways, ceremonial sites, and urban areas, exuding a unique energy.

During our 2.5-hour guided tour, delve into the history of this exceptional site. Afterward, enjoy free time to explore further or, for the adventurous, hike Huayna Picchu or Machu Picchu Mountain (optional).

Alternatively, return to Aguas Calientes for a delightful lunch (optional) at one of its fine restaurants.

At the designated time, take the train back to Ollantaytambo, followed by a bus transfer to Cusco. Overnight stay.

DAY 7: CUSCO PUNO BUS TOUR

Early morning, transfer to the bus station.

Board the tourist bus in Cusco for a 1-hour journey to the scenic south valley, where our first stop is Andahuaylillas, located at 3,093 meters above sea level.

This charming Andean town features an architectural gem from the 17th century, the Sistine Chapel, adorned with impressive gold leaf and paintings from the Cusco art school.

Inside the Church of San Pedro de Andahuaylillas, admire Baroque-style ceilings and walls, many crafted by Peruvian painter Luis de Reaño. A must-see on your travel bucket list.

The bus ride continues for 1.5 hours to the archaeological site of Raqchi, our second stop at 3,450 meters above sea level. The temple of Wiracocha was built beside the Vilcanota River in the 15th century, with towering walls, aqueducts, and tombs.

Raqchi features circular storehouses called Colcas, used for storing grains like quinoa, potatoes, and corn. Notably, Raqchi is part of the famed Inca Trail.

The tour to Puno by bus continues to Sicuani for a buffet lunch at a local restaurant, serving regional dishes, vegetables, desserts, and hot drinks like mate de coca.

After lunch, a 40-minute bus ride takes us to the highest point of the tour, La Raya Pass, at 4,335 meters above sea level. This marks the border between Cusco and Puno. Here, we pause to admire the snow-capped Chimboya and capture the stunning landscapes.

The final visit is to the Museum of Pucara, located over an hour from La Raya Pass. The museum showcases monoliths, stone sculptures, and ceramics from the Pucara culture, a civilization from the highlands of Peru and Bolivia.

Finally, the tourist bus takes us two more hours to the city of Puno. During the journey, enjoy the scenic Andean heartland, passing through Juliaca, before arriving at the Puno bus station at 05:00 p.m.

Transfer to your hotel for an overnight stay.

DAY 8: UROS AND TAQUILE ISLANDS

After breakfast at your hotel in Puno, you'll be transferred to the lakeside port. A boat will take you to the floating islands of the Uros.

Located 7 kilometers northwest of Puno, the Uros are an ancient society inhabiting artificial islands made from totora reeds, which grow in the lake.

To construct the Uros islands, totora reeds are woven densely, forming a natural layer. Houses, also made of reeds, are built atop, with outdoor cooking to prevent fires.

Lake Titicaca sits between Peru and Bolivia at 3,812 meters above sea level, in the Andean Altiplano, making it the highest navigable lake in the world.

On the floating island, you'll interact with the locals, learning about their customs and lifestyle. Over 200 families live here, speaking Aymara and Spanish.

Later, we journey to the island of Taquile, a 1.5-hour boat ride away. Unlike other Aymara-speaking islands, Taquile is Quechua-speaking and retains Inca cultural traces in its architecture.

This is the second-largest island in Lake Titicaca, stretching 5.5 kilometers. Its splendid textile art is recognized as a UNESCO heritage. The island's highest point reaches 4,050 meters above sea level.

Here, experience the local culture and friendly people, whose livelihoods include tourism, fishing, and agriculture.

Enjoy a typical Andean meal and then head back to the port of Puno, where transportation awaits to take you to your hotel. Overnight stay.

DAY 9: TOMBS OF SILLUSTANI AND TRANSFER TO JULIACA'S AIRPORT

We will pick you up from your hotel for a visit to the archaeological site of Sillustani Puno, perched atop a peninsula on Lake Umayo, 22.3 miles from Puno and Lake Titicaca.

This site features around 90 funerary towers constructed by the Kolla culture, an Aymara community that predated the Inca Empire. Numerous mummies have been discovered in these towers, including priests, leaders, and nobles, buried in a fetal position with possessions such as gold, silver, and ceramics.

The preservation of these burial towers is remarkable, made of stones that fit together perfectly. The Kolla culture's architecture and engineering were advanced for their time. Some towers reach 12 meters, with the Lagarto Chullpa being the tallest and most iconic.

The Sillustani tour continues with a visit to a local family that raises alpacas, showcasing their food processing, lifestyle, looms, and ancestral customs.

At the tour's end, you'll be transferred to Juliaca airport for your departure. Arrival in Lima and transfer to your hotel. Overnight stay.

DAY 10: DEPARTURE FROM LIMA.

At the agreed time, we will transport you to Lima airport.