Peru Culture and Traditions
From Lima to Nazca, Arequipa, Cusco, Machu Picchu and Titicaca Lake
This fascinating journey invites you to discover Peru and its well-known locations as well as much less touristy places for an extraordinary trip in small groups on the ancient land of the Incas.
We will start in Lima where you will have the chance to discover the colonial past of Peru and the modern civilization before meeting Paracas and its natural reserve regarded as the sister of Galapagos Islands. Then, we will discover Nazca and Arequipa built in white volcanic stones which give a majestic presence unmatched for centuries to the city.
We will continue with the discovery of unique locations around and on the Titicaca Lake where you will discover the floating islands of the Uros and its inhabitants but also a very small village before arriving at Raqchi.
To finish, we will explore the outstanding Incas’ cities of Cusco, Ollantaytambo and Machu Picchu known as the Lost City of the Incas; a wonder of the world and UNESCO World Heritage Site.
YOU WILL ENJOY :
- Well-known sites and less touristy places of Peru
- An in-depth discovery of Peru in Lima, Paracas, Nazca, Arequipa, Titicaca Lake, Cusco, Ollantaytambo and Machu Picchu
- Machu Picchu: a wonder of the world ad UNESCO World Heritage Site
- 6 UNESCO World Heritages sites
- Nazca, Arequipa, Paracas sister of the Galapagos Islands, Cusco, Titicaca Lake and Machu Picchu.
For a request of quotation for this unique program or another private tailor-made tourist program, you can contact us. Localised in Cusco and without intermediaries, we offer unbeatable prices.
This trip will start with a minimum of 2 participants which means that if you are two people travelling together, you can be sure that this trip will take place on the dates specified on our website.
All of the hotels selected are chosen according to their quality and geographical location.
You will be in a double room (large bed for couples, two single beds in other cases). If you register for two people or more, please specify with whom you want to sleep. If you register alone, to avoid extra room charge, another person can share your room (no mixed room, except on request of the two people concerned).
Itinerary:
Day 1: Welcome in Peru
Welcome in the morning at the Lima International Airport by our on-site team in Peru.
Visit the city of Lima with our French-speaking guide to discover the “City of Kings” with its colonial history, monuments and sunset on the Pacific Ocean.
You will discover the most famous sites of the “City of Kings”: Plaza de Armas, San Francisco Monastery, the Cathedral and its old centre.
You will also discover Plaza San Martin and Plaza de Armas with its different buildings such as the Government Palace, the Basilica, the Cathedral and the Municipal Palace.
You will have the chance to visit the monumental San Francisco Convent, one of the finest examples of colonial religious art in America. You will see the Coral Room, the Monks Library and Saint Christie’s.
The afternoon will be free to rest, visit on your own or stroll in the district of Miraflores overlooking the ocean.
Night at the hotel in Lima.
Day 2: Paracas
The morning will be free to allow you to discover museums, visit a craft market, walk with a stunning view in front of the Pacific Ocean or just sleep in.
In the afternoon, with a comfortable bus, you will go to Paracas. (250 kilometres)
Night at the hotel in Paracas, a city on the edge of the Pacific Ocean.
Day 3: Paracas natural reserve: sister of the Galapagos Islands
The morning will be devoted to the Paracas Natural Reserve (Balestas Islands), considered as the sister of the Galapagos Islands.
On a boat cruise, you will be able to enjoy nature in all its splendour with a unique fauna and flora. You can also discover the famous candelabra of the Andes. You will then visit the city of Nazca.
Night at the hotel in Nazca.
Day 4: Nazca
From Nazca, you will board in small planes to fly over the Nazca lines (it is an option which lasts about 30 to 40 minutes). The Nazca lines can only be seen by plane in the air. These lines were most certainly designed by the Nazca civilization, which is one of the oldest pre-Inca civilizations in Peru.
Free time for lunch and then trip to Arequipa by comfortable tourist bus operated by the best company of Peru. Arrival in the evening in Arequipa.
Welcome by our team in Arequipa and night at the hotel.
Day 5: Arequipa
Discovery with our French guide of the famous city of Arequipa and its unique architectural features. Arequipa is surely the city that has most preserved its colonial atmosphere.
You will discover the city of Arequipa, its famous convent and its cathedral as well as its monuments dating back to the colonial time.
Night at the hotel in Arequipa.
Day 6: Discover the Altiplano
In the morning, the driver will drop you to the departure point of the tourist bus which will take you to Puno after a magnificent journey through the Altiplano where you will discover the pampa of Arequipa with its Vigognes, Lamas and Alpagas. You will also cross the protected and natural reserve of Salinas and Aguada Blanca. You will be welcomed by our team who will drive you to your hotel in Puno.
Night at the hotel in Puno.
Day 7: Discover Lake Titicaca
In the morning you will cruise Lake Titicaca with our English-speaking guide.
On the floating islands of the Uros, you will meet the inhabitants and discover their way of life inherited from their ancestors. The inhabitants live on islands built with totora, a kind of reed that grows in the area, especially in the Lake Titicaca.
On a boat, you will continue your journey on Lake Titicaca which will last two hours to arrive on the island of Taquile where you will discover its culture and millennial traditions. There, communities perpetuate the way of life of their ascendants and keep ancestral traditions alive.
Return by boat to Puno.
Night at the hotel in Puno.
Day 8: Discover the pre-Inca archaeological sites of the Altiplano to Lake Titicaca
By bus, you will leave for Cusco, the capital of the Incas. Along the way, you will stop and visit Andayualillas, a chapel that is considered as the Sistine Chapel of South America. This chapel was built and decorated by the artists and painters of the Cusco School after the Spanish conquest. The ceiling and murals are in solid gold with sumptuous decorations. You will then go to the Raqchi temple, where the Inca elite lived.
You can also buy souvenirs, including clothes made by communities on your way to Raya.
Arrival late in Cusco and night at the hotel in Cusco.
Day 9: Cusco, capital of the Inca Empire
Discover the Inca culture and civilization.
Cusco was the capital of the Inca Empire. From all over Peru, it is the city which has best preserved the past and time of the Incas. In Cusco, you will feel immersed and discover the unique atmosphere of the Inca capital.
Always with you English-speaking guide, you will discover Inca streets which date back centuries and have preserved their authenticity to arrive at the famous Golden Temple of the Incas which was one of the most important sites of the Incas.
By private vehicle, you will have the chance to visit sites around Cusco (30 minutes ride) such as Sacsayhuaman, Quenqo, Puca Pucara and Tambomachay. In these ancient sites, you will learn more about the way of life of the Incas including Inca baths, fortresses and many other treasures which can still be visited and discovered.
Return by private vehicle to Cusco.
Night at the hotel in Cusco.
Day 10: Maras, Moray, and Ollantaytambo
In the morning, you will leave in a private vehicle with your French-speaking guide for the famous Sacred Valley of the Incas including Salineras, Maras, Moray and Ollantaytambo.
You will cross the Sacred Valley and be able to appreciate its unique and magnificent landscapes. Maras will invite you to discover salt ponds where families still harvest salt by hand in the same natural pools in the heart of the Andes, as their ancestors the Incas used to do. Crossing marvellous landscapes, you will then discover Moray, the famous terraces where the Incas cultivated on the different levels of these terraces. You will then go to Ollantaytambo, a small authentic town which has preserved its historical architecture. You will visit and discover the sanctuary of Ollantaytambo with its temple of the Sun, the baths of the Inca priestesses and the Incas’ solar thrones. You will then take the famous train of the Andes to spend the night at the feet of Machu Picchu in the city of Aguas Calientes.
Night at the hotel in Aguas Calientes.
Day 11: Machu Picchu
In the morning, you will be driven to the sanctuary of Machu Picchu, wonder of the world (20 minutes). Its discovery is relatively recent since it was discovered in 1911 when it was still covered with vegetation. Machu Picchu, a UNESCO World Heritage Site is also one of the Seven Wonders of the World.
Once on site, in Machu Picchu, you will have the unique opportunity to admire this magical site with fascinating stories delivered by our guide in English. You will discover Machu Picchu outside the box.
Return by train.
Night at the hotel in Cusco.
Day 12: Lima
Our on-site team will drive you to the airport in Cusco and flight to Lima. Our team in Lima will pick you up at the airport and drive you to your hotel in Lima. The afternoon will be free so you can walk at your own pace, make your last souvenirs or go for a walk to the edge of the Pacific Ocean.
Day 13: Departure from Peru
Accompaniment to Lima International Airport to catch your international flight in the morning to go back to France or beginning of the personal and tailor-made extensions depending on your reservation contract.
If you want a tailor-made trip do not hesitate to contact us by phone or email for a quote or more information.
PRICE INCLUDED:
-Land transport in Peru and boat on Lake Titicaca as explicitly mentioned in the program
-1 domestic flight in Peru: Cusco-Lima
-Accommodation with breakfasts
-The service of English-speaking guides
-The entries of the sites and museums
-Activities and transportation explicitly mentioned in the program
PRICE DOES NOT INCLUDE:
-Meals except breakfasts
-Personal expenses
-Drinks
-Tips
-Insurance (luggage, cancellation, repatriation…)
-International flight tickets to Lima
-Possible extensions once the trip is over
– Aerial overflight of the lines of Nazca (about 87 euros)
-Airport fees for flying over Nazca Lines (around 8 euros)
If you wish, we can also book your international flight tickets from France to Peru.
Small groups only. If you are interested or want more information, feel free to contact us:
You can formulate your request in English, French and Spanish.
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Tour Reviews
Hello to all the team ,
Here are some of our most sincere thanks for organizing the trip as we had wished. Being used to trips organized on our own, we have for once left your team organized us our trip in Peru Chile and Bolivia. It was perfectly realized with professionalism, quality of listening and especially kindness. A big thank you to Henri for his kindness and his smile, to Paco, unique character passionate about his country and the thirst to transmit his knowledge; thanks to him, we became unbeatable on Peru and especially Machu Picchu thanks also to our driver who transported us in places difficult to reach and thanks also to all the other guides. And most importantly, a big thank you to Mr. Stéphane who was very caring calling us at each new step to ensure that we were well settled and that everything was going well. Here are some pictures of our tailor-made trip as a family through Chile, Bolivia and Peru.
I send you this little e-mail to tell you that we were delighted by our stay in Peru which went very well both in the North as well as in the South of Peru. The end of our trip, between the endearing Cuzco city, the major inca sites around and the Sacred Valley, was very dense and rich of all these beautiful discoveries of the Inca culture. We especially enjoyed our French speaking guide in the Sacred Valley who was excellent and very serious. We also realized that finally one more day in Cusco would have been not too much to explore the wealth of this city. The night in Ollantaytambo was a very good option because we were able to visit this beautiful little village by night and day then leave quietly by train to Machu Pichu where our guide was waiting for us. She was perfect and efficient, and the sulking sun finally returned in the early afternoon and the brightness was beautiful on the site. A wonder that far exceeds all the photos we had seen. Everything went well for the return to Cusco with our driver. A big thank-you. We will not hesitate to contact your agency for another trip.
The location of the hotels was very well chosen. Very efficient team, very present, always available. Perfect support service.
An unreal journey as the landscapes are worthy of a work of art. From the Nazca desert to Cusco then Machu Picchu to Lake Titicaca before arriving at the Salar of Uyuni where the infinitely large becomes palpable, we keep an unforgettable memory of this stay. A big thank you to all of you who made it possible.
We loved everything on our first trip to Peru. Machu Picchu really deserves its title of wonder of the world. We were admiring in front of such a marvellous architecture. We hope to be able to come back next time to discover the Amazon or the North of Peru.
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