Colca Canyon to Machu Picchu: 12-Day Luxury Peru Tour

Arrival in Lima

Welcome to Peru! Because most international flights land late at night when domestic connections are unavailable, we prioritize your absolute comfort. Upon arrival, our team will warmly greet you and assist you to one of the best premium hotels located steps from the Lima airport terminal. Rest peacefully to recharge for your domestic flight the next morning.

Arrival & City Walking Tour

We will escort you to the Lima airport for your included domestic flight to Cusco. Upon landing in the ancient Inca capital, your private guide will welcome you and transfer you to your hotel. We begin with a private Imperial Cusco walking tour through historic San Blas, followed by the famous 12-Angled Stone and the majestic Cusco Cathedral on the Plaza de Armas.

Qoricancha & Megalithic Ruins

We then visit Qoricancha (the Inca Temple of the Sun) and the vibrant San Pedro Market. After an excellent local lunch, we head to the hills above the city for a private tour of Sacsayhuaman, featuring limestone blocks weighing up to 125 tons, along with the ceremonial sites of Qenqo, Puca Pucara, and Tambomachay.

Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Pisaq Market & Andean Communities

After breakfast, descend into the lower elevation of the Sacred Valley alongside the Vilcanota River. Arrive at the colonial town of Pisaq to explore its cobblestone streets and traditional artisan market. You will then visit an Andean highland community where local hosts demonstrate ancestral alpaca weaving techniques and cultivate native heirloom potatoes.

Pisaq Ruins & Inkariy Museum

After a delicious farm-to-table lunch, explore the archaeological citadel of Pisaq, renowned for its sweeping agricultural terraces carved into dramatic mountain cliffs. Later, we visit the Inkariy Museum, an immersive exhibition showcasing the pre-Hispanic civilizations that shaped Peru. Relax for the night at your handpicked Sacred Valley hotel.

Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Chinchero Palace & Moray Laboratory

Your private Sacred Valley exploration continues to the Archaeological Park of Chinchero, the former royal estate of Inca Tupac Yupanqui. We then venture to Moray, an extraordinary Inca agricultural laboratory featuring deep concentric circular terraces designed to create distinct microclimates.

Maras Salt Mines & Ollantaytambo

Next, we visit the striking Maras Salt Mines, consisting of over 3,000 shimmering white salt pans harvested since pre-Incan times. To conclude the day, we transfer you to the living Inca town and monumental fortress of Ollantaytambo, where you will spend the night surrounded by ancient stone architecture.

Included Meals: Breakfast

Scenic Train & The Citadel

Prepare for an unforgettable highlight! Board the scenic train in Ollantaytambo for a picturesque 1.5-hour journey along the Urubamba River into the cloud forest. Upon arriving in Aguas Calientes, your private guide will escort you via the Consettur shuttle bus directly to the gates of Machu Picchu, the Lost City of the Incas.

Guided Exploration & Free Afternoon

During your comprehensive private tour, you will uncover the history of the citadel, visiting the Sun and Condor temples, ceremonial fountains, and royal quarters. Afterwards, we return to Aguas Calientes via shuttle bus, where you will enjoy lunch and relax at your selected hotel in Machu Picchu Pueblo.

Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Train Return & Andean Cooking

In the morning, board the return panoramic train to Ollantaytambo, where your private driver will meet you to ascend back to Cusco. In the afternoon, immerse yourself in Peru's world-renowned gastronomy with a private Cusco cooking class led by a professional Peruvian chef. You will prepare iconic Andean dishes, enjoying an appetizer, main course, dessert, and a celebratory Pisco Sour toast.

Included Meals: Breakfast, Dinner (Prepared during class)

Andahuaylillas, Raqchi & La Raya Pass

Early in the morning, embark on a spectacular overland journey across the Southern Andes towards Puno. Along the way, visit the colonial church of Andahuaylillas—known as the "Sistine Chapel of the Andes"—and the monumental Inca temple of Wiracocha at Raqchi. After a traditional buffet lunch, cross the breathtaking La Raya Pass (4,335m / 14,222ft), arriving at your hotel on the shores of Lake Titicaca by late afternoon.

Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Uros Floating Islands

Today, navigate the highest navigable lake in the world. Our first stop is the Uros Floating Islands, hand-built entirely from buoyant totora reeds. Meet the local families who maintain these ancestral islands and enjoy a peaceful ride aboard a traditional reed boat.

Taquile Island Homestay

We continue across the azure waters to Taquile Island, world-renowned for its UNESCO-protected textile heritage. After a lunch of fresh lake trout, enjoy a scenic walk along stone trails with panoramic views of the Cordillera Real mountains. In the evening, you will be welcomed into a comfortable local family lodge for a home-cooked Andean dinner and a tranquil night under the stars.

Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Island Morning & Return Journey

Wake up to a breathtaking sunrise illuminating the vast waters of Lake Titicaca. After breakfast, enjoy a guided walk to explore Taquile's pre-Incan agricultural terraces and ceremonial lookouts. Following lunch on the island, we navigate back to Puno for a restful evening at your lakeside hotel.

Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Crossing the High Andes

Bid farewell to Lake Titicaca as we journey by private vehicle towards the Colca Canyon. This scenic 6-hour drive traverses dramatic highland reserves dotted with emerald lagoons, grazing alpacas, wild vicuñas, and Andean flamingos. Cross the towering Patapampa Pass (4,850m / 15,912ft)—the Mirador de los Volcanes—offering sweeping views of the Ampato, Sabancaya, and Misti volcanoes.

Thermal Baths & Valley Relaxation

Descend into the fertile Colca Valley and check into your handpicked lodge. Spend the afternoon at your leisure—stroll through traditional valley villages, soak in natural volcanic hot springs, or unwind surrounded by terraced mountain peaks.

Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Cruz del Condor

Early in the morning, we travel along the dramatic rim of the canyon to the famous "Mirador Cruz del Condor," overlooking a sheer drop of 1,200 meters. Here, you will witness the awe-inspiring flight of majestic Andean Condors gliding effortlessly on morning thermal currents against the backdrop of Colca Canyon.

Journey to the White City of Arequipa

After a scenic walk along the canyon rim, stops at colonial viewpoints, and a freshly prepared local lunch in Chivay, we begin our descent toward Arequipa. A picturesque 4-hour drive brings you to the UNESCO-listed "White City," celebrated for its gleaming sillar volcanic-stone architecture.

Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Farewell to Peru

Enjoy a leisurely breakfast at your hotel in Arequipa. At the coordinated time, your private chauffeur will transfer you to the Arequipa airport for your included domestic flight back to Lima (approx. 1.5 hours), connecting seamlessly with your international flight home.

Included Meals: Breakfast