Our journey begins as we gather in Toronto for the direct evening Air Canada flight to Lima, the capital of Peru.

Arriving in Lima in the very early morning we transfer to awaiting rooms at our hotel located in the upscale district of Miraflores. Founded by the conquistador Francisco Pizarro in 1535, the city has a population in excess of five million. The morning has been left free to catch up on some rest. This afternoon enjoy a city tour of Lima which will introduce us to the city’s principal attractions: the Government Palace, the Archbishop and the Cathedral, the San Francisco convent and the marvellous Casa Solar de Aliaga, America’s best preserved colonial mansion. This evening, we will be treated to a special welcome dinner.
Sol De Oro Hotel, Miraflores (3 nights)

Peruvian cuisine is known the world over and today we will understand why. This morning we will explore the fruits, vegetables and other produce of this land, visiting a local market and sampling fresh juices. At a cooking class we will prepare traditional Peruvian drink and dishes: Pisco sour, Ceviche and Lomo Saltado before enjoying a delightful lunch at Qincha Restuarant. Visit one of Lima’s finest establishments, the Larco Museum, displaying a huge collection of pre-Colombian art and artefacts. This museum provides an excellent overview of Peru’s ancient history.

We fly into the heart of Peru to Cuzco, set in a natural basin in the Andes Mountains. On arrival, we will be met by our local guide and proceed to the Sacred Valley. Following lunch at the picturesque Wayra Ranch, which will include an exciting equestrian display, we will explore some of the exciting places of the Sacred Valley.
Hacienda San Agustin Urubamba (1 night)

Continue our exploration of the Sacred Valley in Maras, learning how the people extracted salt, and at the village of Chicheria where we discover the many uses of corn. Visit the circular terraces of Moray to see how and where crops were developed in ancient times. Following lunch at the Muña Restaurant, visit the fortress of Ollantaytambo which was built when the Spaniards were first arriving. This visit involves many steps. Nearby we find traditional Inca stone houses over 500 years old that are still in use.
Aguas Calientes (1 night)

This morning, we journey by rail to Machu Picchu through truly spectacular scenery of the Río Urubamba, with views of snow-capped Andean peaks in the distance. When we reach Aguas Calientes, small coaches will take us up the steep mountain to the ruins of Machu Picchu. The Incas hid Machu Picchu high in the clouds so that it escaped the empire-raiding Spaniards. We will enjoy a guided visit of the ruins with lunch included at Machu Picchu Sanctuary Lodge. This afternoon we return by rail to Cuzco, once the Incan capital and still one of the best preserved colonial cities in the Andes.
Cuzco Novotel (2 nights)

This morning’s city tour will feature the Santo Domingo Monastery, the Plaza de Armas, the cathedral built on the ruins of the Inca Palace and the old town with its magnificent restored colonial buildings. We shall also visit Sacsayhuaman and other Inca ruins located just above Cuzco, offering fabulous views of the city and mountains. Tonight we enjoy dinner at Incanto Restaurant.

Today’s spectacular coach journey takes us across the top of the world to Puno. Relax as towering mountains and rolling farm lands unfolds before us. Highlight visits will include the district of Andahuaylillas, an ancient Inca site noted for its beautiful baroque church, La Raya Mountain ranges and the Lithic Museum in Pukara. Puno is the folkloric capital of Peru, set on the banks of Lake Titicaca, the world's highest navigable lake.
Sonesta Posadas del Inca (2 nights)

Journey by boat to the floating islands of Lake Titicaca, Uros and Taquile. The Uros Indians live on floating ‘islands’ made by hand from totora reeds that grow in abundance in the shallow waters of the lake. This unique practice has endured since the time of the Incas. Today there are some 45 floating islands in the Bay of Puno. The largest, Huacavacani, has homes and a church while others have schools, a post office, and souvenir shops.

Visit Sillustani, by Lake Umayo, and see the huge cylinder shaped ruins used by pre-Incan tribes to bury their nobility. Continue overland to the awesome Colca Valley, crossing Pampa Canahuas, in the Aguada Blanca National Reserve, an area that is noted for its population of Vicunas. En route we will enjoy a picnic lunch while we can admire the pre-Columbian terraces, still being cultivated by the native Collaguas tribe.
Hotel Aranwa Colca (1 night)

This morning’s highlight will be the impressive views of the spectacular Colca Canyon, one of the deepest in the world at almost 10,000 feet. We pay a visit to Condor’s Cross, a wonderful vantage point from which we can see these wonderful birds. We make our way to Arequipa, passing the villages of Yanque, Maca, Achoma and Pinchollo.
Hotel to be advised (2 nights)

This morning we shall explore the White City and walk through the historic centre of Arequipa, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The local Jesuit Church is one of Peru’s finest examples of mestizo baroque style. The Convent of Santa Catalina, dating from 1579, contains a small town with homes for the nuns, cloisters, plazas, kitchens, refectory and much more.

After our short morning flight back to Lima, we travel south on the Pan-American Highway following the coast to the Paracas Peninsula, gateway to the south and a very pleasant seaside resort. En route we will be fascinated by the recent agricultural developments along the coast.
Aranwa Paracas Hotel (2 nights)

This morning we will experience the marvels of the Nasca Plains, from a small plane on our 90 minute charter flight, the best and only way to truly appreciate the scale and scope of the phenomena. This afternoon we plan to visit a local winery and the Oasis of Huacachina, where the desert has been reclaimed and turned into a farming paradise. Balance of afternoon and evening at leisure.

This morning we take an excursion by boat to the nature reserve of the Ballestas Islands where we have opportunities to see great varieties of wildlife including boobies, sea lions and penguins. With clear weather we can see from a distance the mysterious Candelabra markings. We return to Lima for a late dinner in the city then continue to the airport to catch our direct non stop overnight Air Canada flight to Toronto.