SOUTHERN CROSS: FROM PISCO TO PUNO AND MACHU PICCHU

Holiday in Peru

Our classic Peru holiday: a southern tour

A holiday in the south of Peru offers a fantastic set of options for any traveller: scenery from desert to glaciers, nature from sea-lions to andean condors and cities from the modern metropolis of Lima to the lost Inca city of Machu Picchu. This trip tries to combine all the sights that make the south of Peru such a great holiday destination!

You'll start your holiday in Lima and then head down the pan-American highway to Pisco. From there you will have a short trip out to the 'Peruvian Galapagos' - the Ballestas Islands, before heading on to Nazca for a flight over the famous Nazca Lines.

After that, we start to climb up into the Andes, first to Arequipa, where you can visit the superlative Colca Canyon, and then up to Lake Titicaca where you will visit the reed islands of the Uros and the 'real' island of Taquile before moving on to the ancient Inca capital of Cusco for a visit to the Sacred Valley of the Incas and Machu Picchu...

Download Factsheet

Depart on this Peru holiday any day in 2010 for £1495pp

Our prices include almost everything and we're totally flexible on dates. See details below or download our factsheet for this Peru holiday.

Holiday Itinerary

Lima Day One - Your Peru Holiday Begins!

Arrive in Lima on an evening flight as you begin your holiday in Peru! You will be met at the airport and driven to your hotel in the trendy Miraflores area of the city in time to take a walk around the elegant Parque Kennedy and perhaps to take in an evening meal on your first night in Peru. Of course, since this is your first night on holiday in Peru, then if you're feeling up to it then Miraflores is a great place for a night out...

Paracas Day Two - Paracas Nature Reserve

You will have a free morning so you can relax after your flight and then in the afternoon we will pick you up from your hotel to go to the bus station, where you will catch a coach bound for the beautiful Paracas peninsula, to the south of Lima, along the Pan-American highway. You'll have a free afternoon here to relax at your beachfront hotel and, of course, it's only polite to try the famous local brandy!

Ballestas Islands Day Three - Ballestas Islands

In the morning we'll pick you up and take you to the harbour where a boat will be waiting to whisk you out to the Ballestas Islands - Peru's very own answer to the Galapagos! You can see loads of birds and sealife including flamingos, sea-lions and dolphins! In the afternoon you will have a short journey further down the Pan-American to the town of Nazca.

Nazca Lines Day Four - Fly over the Nazca Lines

To ensure optimum conditions (and optimum photos!) you'll need to get up early this morning for us to take you to the airstrip for your flight over the mysterious Nazca Lines. Experienced and knowledgable pilots will make sure you get the most out of this intriguing spectacle. In the afternoon you will return to Nazca to catch a first-class coach to the White City of Arequipa. You will arrive here late tonight and we will meet you and take you to your hotel.

Arequipa Day Five - The White City

You will wake up this morning in Arequipa - the White City. This is probably the most beautiful city in Peru - a kind of Seville at the foot of a snow-capped volcano! You will have the whole of the day free to rest and relax or to visit some of the fantastic sights in Arequipa such as the monastery of Santa Catalina.

Colca Canyon Day Six - Into Colca Canyon

This morning you will set out from Arequipa on a guided tour of Colca Canyon. The Canyon is deeper than the Grand Canyon and is home to a stunning array of wildlife and also some great natural hot springs! You will stay overnight in a hotel in Chivay, a small town right in the middle of the Canyon, where you can enjoy some traditional music and food.

Andean Condors Day Seven - Back from Colca Canyon

A very early start this morning, as your guide and driver take you to the 'Cruz del Condor', a natural viewpoint opposite the nesting-sites of the famous Andean Condors. We'll arrive in time to see these majestic birds launch themselves into the Canyon as they set out on their day's hunt. After spending more time in the Canyon, you will return to Arequipa in the evening to enjoy some of its superb andean cuisine (can we recommend the stuffed peppers!?!) in one of the restaurants overlooking the bustling and beautiful main square.

Arequipa Day Eight - Free day in Arequipa

We've given you another full free day in Arequipa, as we know it's such a lovely place that people don't want to leave! If you've already seen everything in the city itself then perhaps today might be a good day to walk up to the Yanahuara mirador for its stunning views across the city to the snow-capped peak of the El Misti volcano?

Puno Day Nine - Travel to Puno

This morning we will take you to the bus station to catch the coach to Puno, on the shores of Lake Titicaca. Many people find the elevation a little hard to handle at first so you may just want to rest up in your hotel and then have a wander around the town, so you will have the rest of the day free to get used to the altitude - we recommend you try the coca tea: it's natural, it works and it's definitely the Real Peru!

Lake Titicaca Day Ten - Lake Titicaca

Today you will leave your hotel in the morning for an all-day trip out onto Lake Titicaca. You will get the chance to visit the floating reed islands and also the stunning 'real' island of Taquile, with its Inca ruins. The lake is truly a very special place and as you feel the sense of peace and tranquility you get out in the middle of the lake you can understand why it became the focal point for successive Andean religions. If you'd like a really fascinating RealPeru experience, then ask about arranging to stay the night on the island of Amantani with a local family?

Andes Day Eleven - Along the Andes to Cusco

Today you will catch a coach right along the Andes as your holiday in Peru continues. As well as the fantastic scenery, you will stop at some interesting Inca sites along the way before you arrive in the ancient Inca capital of Cuzco, where we will take to your hotel just off the main square.

Cusco Day Twelve - Free day in Cusco

We've given you a free day in Cuzco here. There's loads to do and you should be pretty used to the altitude by now so you should be able to really explore the city - our 'PeruPack' will help you find all the best places!

Urubamba Day Thirteen - The Sacred Valley of the Urubamba

A full day away from Cuzco today as you journey into the Andes for a tour of the Sacred Valley of the Urubamba. As you wind your way along one of the beautiful valleys in the world, you will be able to visit the village of Pisac (including its famous market and temple) and the temple-fortress of Ollantaytambo. You really begin to feel the spirit of the Incas as you visit these extraordinary locations. But in many ways this is just preparation for...

Machu Picchu Day Fourteen - Machu Picchu

In many ways today is the climax to your holiday in Peru. You will set off early in the morning to take the scenic train along the valley of the Urubamba to Machu Picchu, giving you the full afternoon at this breathtaking lost Inca city. Gazing down on this semi-mythical city, high up in the cloud forest is an unforgettable experience that will stay with you forever. After a full day at this amazing site, you will return by train to Cusco in the early evening.

Lima sunset Day Fifteen - Back to Lima

After a final free morning in Cusco, you will be driven to the airport to catch an afternoon flight back to Lima. This evening, if you haven't already, then one thing you must try before your Peru holiday is over is the Peruvian national dish: cebiche. It's an exquisite dish of white fish marinated in lemon and lime and it tastes out of this world.

Lima's Pacific Coast Day Sixteen - Last day on holiday in Peru

We have left the rest of your last day on holiday in Peru free for you to explore on your own. A last chance to do some shopping, perhaps? If you'd prefer us to organise something for you, of course, we'd be more than happy to. Most international flights for the UK leave fairly late at night so we will pick you up from your hotel in the evening to make sure your Peru holiday ends perfectly by getting to the airport in plenty of time to catch the flight back home.

Options

Easy upgrades

As we've said, we can tailormake your itinerary to your exact specifications, and you can have a look at our Peru Guide or some of our other Peru Holidays for ideas about how to add to this holiday, but we can also offer you some easy optional extras which fit into this exact itinerary:

Inca Trail trek to Machu Picchu Trek the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu - from £190pp

This trip takes you to Machu Picchu by train but if you'd like to keep thing authentic, then why not trek the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu instead. It will only add three days to this itinerary and is an amazing experience that you will remember for the rest of your life.

Peru homestay on Amantani Homestay on Lake Titicaca - from £40pp

For a slice of the Real Peru, why not extend your trip on Lake Titicaca and stay overnight with a local family on the island of Amantani? You'll get much more time to experience the beauty of the lake this way, as well as getting a real taste of true Andean hospitality...

Peru Amazon Jungle An Amazon Jungle Adventure - from £300pp

Take a walk on the wild side and add a few days in Peru's Amazon rainforest. You can stay in a range of excellent jungle lodges which allow you to see a truly incredible range and variety of wildlife, all within a short flight from Cusco...

Nazca Lines Ica The Nazca Lines from Ica - from £220pp

If you'd rather avoid some of the coach journeys along the coast and up to Arequipa, then one option for you would be to do your flight over the Nazca Lines from Ica. This way you don't have to travel to Nazca by coach and then come back to Lima and fly up to Arequipa.

Tailormade for you

Of course, what we want you to remember is that we're here to offer you any guidance and advice you need. We're not about trying to sell you more than you want - we want you to have the holiday that's right for you, so give us a call or send us an email and we can start to find out what sort of Peru holiday is right for you!

Prices

Because all our Peru holidays are tailormade, our prices are flexible and depend on the accommodation and activities you want. If you want to change the length of this holiday, or the activities you do, or the type of accommodation you use - let us know! We can send you a tailormade itinerary, including price, absolutely free!

Our standard price for this trip is £1495 per person. This price is based on two people sharing a double or twin room in our standard 3-star accommodation (details available on request).

And what does it include?

We know that you need to be able to see how much things are going to cost you, so everything that you read about on the previous page is included in this price. The only "biggie" that we don't include is your international flight to and from the UK as these can vary depending on the time of year. However, we will do all the research for you and find you the best deal going, so you don't to have expend any effort here.

Just to be absolutely clear, here is what you're getting for your money on this holiday:

  • All accommodation in superior hotels we have personally checked out
  • All transfers
  • All internal transport, including flights
  • All entrance fees
  • Half-day guided tour to the Ballestas Islands
  • Full-day guided tour of the Sacred Valley
  • Full-day guided tour of Machu Picchu
  • Full-day guided tour of Lake Titicaca
  • Two-day guided tour of Colca Canyon
  • Flight over the Nazca Lines
  • Lunches on Sacred Valley and Titicaca tours
  • All meals in Colca Canyon
  • Full buffet breakfast every day

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