Highlights of Peru

Our tour starts in Cusco, once the beating heart of the mighty Inca Empire and now known as the archaeological capital of the Americas. The Spanish-style city of today, with its terracotta rooftops, arcaded plazas and steep winding alleyways, stands upon tremendous Inca foundations. Traces of the Inca legacy are everywhere, from the stone walls that line the city streets, to the museums filled with artefacts and relics. For those arriving in time, our tour leader will meet you in the hotel reception at 6.00pm for a welcome meeting and for those that wish, there'll be the option to go out for dinner at a local restaurant. There are no activities planned today, so you're free to arrive in Cusco at any time. If you'd like an airport transfer today, you'll need to arrive into Alejandro Velasco Astete International Airport (CUZ), which is around a 15-minute drive away. Should you miss the welcome meeting, your tour leader will inform you of any essential information as soon as you catch up.

This morning, we'll take a walking tour through the historic city of Cusco, starting at the colossal archaeological site of Sacsayhuaman, a stone fortress that remains deeply embedded in the city's cultural identity. Then, winding our way along an old Inca trail, we'll head down to the colonial neighbourhood of San Cristobal, where the plaza gives us a sweeping view over the city's rooftops. Navigating the narrow streets of the old city, we'll reach the aqueduct of Sapantiana, a hidden engineering marvel known only to locals. This aqueduct directs us to arty San Blas, where coffee shops converge with artisan workshops. Entering the main Plaza de Armas of Cusco, the focal point of the city, we're welcomed by the baristas of Three Monkeys Coffee who serve up some speciality coffees made from locally-sourced beans. Then, once revived, we'll continue walking, gazing upon the Qoricancha complex, once the Incas' most sacred site dedicated to the Sun God. Our final destination is Mercado de Wanchaq, a local hot spot jammed with rows of colourful stalls and filled with the aromas of seasonal fruit. Sipping at freshly pressed juice, we'll watch the sellers hawking their wares before returning to the hotel. The walking tour is approximately 4 kilometres/2.5 miles and is expected to take around four to five hours. This afternoon has been left free to relax and acclimatise, or perhaps to further explore Cusco.

Today we head into the the Sacred Valley, a fertile strip of agricultural land flanked either side by the mighty Andean mountains, which once formed epicentre of the great Inca Empire. We start at the fortress of Ollantaytambo, a striking Inca site that once served as a military, agricultural and religious stronghold. Perched strategically on the mountainside, its well-preserved stone terraces and intricate engineering demonstrate the skill and craftsmanship that the Incas possessed. After exploring the fortress we continue into Ollantaytambo town, the only living settlement that still preserves the original Inca street layout. Changing pace, we head out of the town and drive to the village of Misminay, a small Andean community which is home to many of the porters who work along the Inca Trail. We'll share a hearty home-cooked lunch with one of the families, all of which is prepared from locally sourced ingredients. Our time here provides a unique insight into this traditional Andean community's way of life, from the way they live off the land to their music and cultural beliefs. After lunch we continue on to our hotel in the Sacred Valley, where the late afternoon is free.

Rising early this morning, we'll take the expedition train, which rumbles its way alongside the Rio Urubamba, flanked by high cliffs and peaks, taking a scenic journey towards the mountain town of Aguas Calientes. Once a tiny village of no more than a few houses, this town is now bustling with travellers and trekkers coming to-and-from the famous 'lost' city of Machu Picchu. This masterpiece of ancient civilisation remained undiscovered by the outside world until it was 'found' by an American archaeologist, Hiram Bingham, in 1911. We'll spend two and a half hours exploring the mountain-top stronghold via the classic route which starts at the iconic viewpoint before winding its way through the citadel, past the Temple of the Sun and the agricultural centres. After exploring Machu Picchu, one of the seven wonders of the modern world, we'll return to the valley floor and catch the train back to Ollantaytambo where we continue by private bus to Cusco, a journey of approximately four hours.

Today we'll follow the legendary route taken by the first Inca ruler - Manco Capac - which spans the mountains and high passes between Cusco and Puno. It's a long but rewarding day, with some interesting stops along the way to break the journey. We first stop in the village of Andahuaylillas and its so-called 'Sistine Chapel of the Americas', its ornate baroque interior housing an extensive collection of paintings and murals. We'll also stop at the archaeological complex of Raqchi with its Inca stone structures which stand at some 12 metres/40 feet high. Continuing on, our bus snakes its way up to the northern limit of the Altiplano, crossing the high point of La Raya pass (4,335 metres/14,222 feet). The scenery is vast and desolate but magnificent, and we might even spot flocks of llamas and alpacas grazing on the windswept pastures. We should reach the shores of the great Lake Titicaca in the late afternoon/early evening, with the total journey taking approximately 11 hours including stops.

Straddling the border between Peru and Bolivia, Lake Titicaca sits at an altitude of 3,800 metres above sea level, and is South America's largest lake. Regarded by the Incas as the birthplace of the sun, Titicaca has long been a place of myth and spirituality. Its still waters are pocketed with traditional reed islands which are home to the Uros people, who continue to live much as their ancestors did - fishing, crafting, and building their floating homes from layers of reeds. Today we'll take a boat trip on Lake Titicaca to explore these floating islands. Starting on Uros Island, we'll learn how the island has been crafted from totura, a reed-like papyrus that grows in the shallows and is used in most aspects of the Uros people's life, including the construction of their boats and homes. We'll then continue to the lesser-visited island of Taquile which has preserved much of its Inca and pre-Inca heritage. Here, the islanders still speak the language of the Inca - Runa Simi or Quechua. After lunch, we'll take to the the waters of the high-altitude lake again, heading back by boat to the city of Puno, where we should arrive back by the early evening.

We make our way to the town of Juliaca this morning, around a one and a half hour journey from Puno. From here we fly onto Lima, the biggest city in Peru and the so-called culinary capital of South America. Lima offers foodies a wealth of cuisine to sample, from fresh ceviche served in local markets to world-renowned fine dining, the food here draws influences from Indigenous, Spanish, African, and Asian flavours. Outside of its food-scene, Lima is a modern cosmopolitan city, littered with reminders of its colonial and pre-Hispanic past, particularly in the historical centre. After checking into our hotel, we have some free time this afternoon to explore Lima, or perhaps you might prefer to escape the busy traffic of the city for a little calm on the nearby Pacific Coast walking paths.

This morning has been left free, or if you'd prefer to explore there is an optional tour into Lima's colonial past, taking in the city's incredible Plaza de Armas and the Convent of Santo Domingo. It is also possible to visit nearby Pachacamac, an important archaeological site located on the Lurin River, just outside of the Lima metropolitan area. This afternoon we set off on foot for a walking tour of the the artistic neighbourhood of Barranco. This area has a reputation for creativity, with some of the best street art in the city. As well as beautiful architecture and a seafront walk, we'll visit the workshop of Victor Delfin (a renowned Peruvian artist), which will give you a sense of Barranco's bohemian beginnings (note that the artist isn't always in residence). We'll stroll along the boardwalk to the Bridge of Sighs, a spot popular with romantics and that offers sweeping views out to the Pacific Ocean. Along the way we'll take a break to enjoy a Peruvian coffee at a speciality coffee and chocolate shop.

Our trip ends after breakfast at our hotel in Lima. There are no activities planned today, so you're free to depart from Lima at any time. If your flight is departing later in the day, luggage storage facilities are available at our hotel. If you'd like an airport transfer today, you'll need to depart from Lima's Jorge Chavez International Airport (LIM) , which is around a one-hour drive from our hotel. If you're travelling on to the Amazon, you'll be transferred to Jorge Chavez International Airport this morning for your flight to Puerto Maldonado.