Peru

Our journey begins as we gather in Toronto for our flights to Lima, the capital of Peru. Upon arrival, we transfer to our hotel in the upscale district of Miraflores. 

Innside Hotel (3 nights)   

The morning is free for some relaxation and rest. This afternoon enjoy a city tour of Lima, which will introduce us to the city’s main 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. Founded by the conquistador Francisco Pizarro in 1535, Lima is known for its rich history and vibrant culinary scene, boasting over 3,000 restaurants. This evening, we will come together to savour our welcome dinner. 

Peruvian cuisine is celebrated across the globe, and today, we’ll explore the reasons behind its widespread appreciation. Indulge in 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 beverages and meals: Pisco sour, Ceviche and Lomo Saltado before enjoying a delightful lunch at Señorío de Sulco Restaurant. Visit one of Lima’s finest establishments, the Larco Museum, displaying a huge collection of pre-Colombian art and artifacts. 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. For lunch, you'll have the opportunity to enjoy a delicious pachamanca, a traditional Inca dish cooked in hot rocks underground, with its name meaning "earth oven" in Quechua. Begin this experience by participating in preparing the pachamanca and learning about its rich history and culture. The menu includes chicken, pork, and lamb, a side with Andean potatoes, sweet potatoes, organic vegetables, homemade salad, traditional sauces, and purple corn drink (chicha morada). This activity lasts for 2 hours. Tierra Viva Valle  

Tierra Viva Valle (2 nights)

We continue our exploration of the Sacred Valley in Maras, learning about their salt extraction process. At the village of Chicheria, 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 Muña Restaurant, visit the fortress of Ollantaytambo, which was built when the Spaniards first arrived. This visit involves many stairs. Nearby, we find traditional Inca stone houses over 500 years old that are still in use. 

We journey by rail to Machu Picchu through the truly spectacular scenery of the Río Urubamba, enjoying 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 as a strategic vantage point. 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 north of Cuzco, offering fabulous views of the city and mountains. Tonight, we enjoy dinner at Inca Grill Restaurant.

Today’s spectacular coach journey takes us to Puno. Relax as towering mountains and rolling farmlands unfold 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 natives 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 Colca Valley in the Aguada Blanca National Reserve, an area that is noted for its population of Vicunas. En route, we will enjoy a boxed lunch while we admire the pre-Columbian terraces, still being cultivated by the native Collaguas tribe. 

Hotel Colca Lodge (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 majestic birds. We journey toward Arequipa, passing the charming villages of Yanque, Maca, Achoma and Pinchollo along the way. 

Casa Andina Premium (2 nights)  

We’ll immerse ourselves in the beauty of the White City as we explore 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, a very pleasant seaside resort. En route, we will be fascinated by the recent agricultural developments along the coast. 

Aranwa Paracas Hotel (2 nights)

We’ll take to the skies to experience a 90-minute flight over the mysterious Nasca Plains - the best way to truly grasp the vastness and wonder of these ancient geoglyphs. This afternoon we will 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.

Costa del Sol Wyndham Airport Hotel (1 night)

This morning we depart Lima to travel home. Arriving in Toronto, we make direct connections to our homes across Canada.