In Depth Peru with Amazon Stay

Fly from the UK to Peru’s stately capital city, Lima. On arrival you will be met and transferred to your hotel. The rest of the day is free to relax and refresh before the adventure begins.

The morning is free for you to relax or begin your explorations independently. This afternoon, meet your knowledgeable guide and head out into the city. The first stop is Huaca Pucllana, an impressive and vast archaeological site in the heart of the Miraflores district. Continue to the beautiful Plaza de Armas, the heart of the city’s historic centre, to admire the grand colonial architecture, From here you’ll enter the cool calm of both Lima’s magnificent cathedral and the Santo Domingo Convent to discover more.

Transfer to the airport and fly to Puerto Maldonado. You’ll be met at the airport and taken, by boat, to your rainforest lodge; out on the river, you’ll get a taste of the diversity of the Amazon, spotting birdlife as you go. Arrive in the Tambopata National Reserve and settle into your bungalow before a short tour of the local nature.

Spend the morning on Lake Tres Chimbadas, canoeing gently along its shoreline on the lookout for wildlife like giant otters, turtles and the sansho bird. After lunch at the lodge, venture out onto the paths of the surrounding area always on the look out for a whole wealth of incredible animals. You’ll do the same after dinner, to spot a whole new variety of creatures that come out after dark

If there is time, take a final, early morning wander in the nature around the lodge. Then, journey back along the river to reach the airport and fly to Cusco. On arrival, transfer into the Sacred Valley.

Drive to the village of Huilloc and discover the rich culture and traditions of the locals. Participate in daily activities like working the fields, making textiles or preparing for ancestral ceremonies then enjoy lunch with a local family. Continue to Ollantaytambo, visiting the ruins of its Incan fortress and bustling town square. Later board the train for the scenic journey to Aguas Calientres, the town at the foot of Machu Picchu.

Starting early, ascend to Machu Picchu by bus with your guide. Pass through the gates and begin on an informative walking tour of this mysterious citadel. Pass buildings, temples and plazas, stopping often to admire spectacular views of terraces and the surrounding mountains. Return to Aguas Calientes for lunch before boarding a train for Cusco; on arrival you will be met and transferred to your hotel.

The centre of Incan Empire, high in the Andes Mountains, Cusco has much to discover. Today, you’ll explore with a knowledgeable guide, beginning at the Koricancha, once the Incas most sacred temples. Continue to the Plaza de Armas and the city’s cathedral then ascend to the Incan fortress of Sacsayhuaman followed by Tambomachay Archaeological complex. Return to Cusco.

Transfer early to the train station and board the Titicaca Train, one of the world’s most scenic rail journeys. Played onto the train by local musicians, onboard you’ll find two 1920s style dining cars where you can dine as you pass through breathtaking landscapes. Arrive in Puno, on the shores of Lake Titicaca, and be transferred to your hotel.

Meet your guide at the hotel then board a motor launch to Taquile Island. Home to a well-preserved Andean way of life, here you’ll meet master weavers who produce some of Peru’s finest textiles. Explore the island then take a boat to the Chucuito Peninsula to visit a rural community and enjoy a buffet lunch at a fisherman’s house. On the return to Puno, pause at the remarkable floating islands of the Uros people, meet the families who live on them and tour their homes.

Leave the shores Lake Titicaca behind and drive across the high plains to Chivay Village, stopping to admire the scenery en route. On arrival, the rest of the afternoon is free – the nearby La Calera hot springs are a great and relaxing option!

Begin the day early, visiting Cruz del Condor to watch majestic Andean condors soaring over the dramatic canyon in the early morning thermals. Return to Chivay, stopping at the Antahuilque viewpoint to admire 1,500-year-old agricultural terraces. After lunch, travel to Arequipa.

With a guide, explore the ‘White City’, admiring colonial cathedrals, churches and monasteries as you stroll its atmospheric streets. Delve into the city’s pre-Colombian roots and colonial era as you visit the Basilica Catedral de Arequipa and the Yanahuara viewpoint for panoramas over the city and the surrounding volcanoes. Find tranquillity in Santa Catalina Monastery, then visit the “Ice Maiden” Juanita, a 550-year-old Incan mummy, at the Santuarios Andinos Museum. Travel to the airport and fly to Lima.

You will be met in your hotel lobby and transferred to the airport for your flight back to the UK.