Explore Peru 12 Days 11 Nights
Peru is an extraordinary and diverse country located in South America. It is a multicultural nation, filled with fascinating traditions, a unique gastronomy, and vast natural reserves. This unique country is home to 12 UNESCO World Heritage Sites and 84 of the 117 life zones on the planet. Peru is composed of three regions: the coast, the highlands (or Sierra), and the jungle. Peru has a variety of languages, including 47 indigenous languages spoken in the country, including Quechua and Aymara. However, Spanish is the official language.
- Overview
- Itinerary
- Inclusions
- Recommendations
- Faqs
- Pricing
- Enquire Now
On this 12-day trip around Peru, you will discover the most fascinating culture in our country. Our representative will give you a warm welcome at Lima Airport and prepare you to have a lifetime experience during these 12 days in Peru. This package perfectly combines different activities in the southern part of Peru. Begin at the Peruvian coast, where you will observe the culture and traditions, explore the deepest canyon in South America, have an experience navigating on the highest lake in the world, and be amazed by the Inca culture and its stunning landscapes. Be ready to discover the best of Peru!
Highlights:: Lima, Ica, Arequipa, Puno, CuscoItinerary at a Glance
- Day01
Welcome to Peru
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Day02
Tour to Paracas and Ica
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Day03
Explore The Ancient Nazca Lines
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Day04
Arequipa City Tour
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Day05
Colca Canyon tour
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Day06
Puno: Titicaca lake Tour
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Day07
Floating Islands Tour
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Day08
Sun Route to Cusco (by bus)
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Day07
Floating Islands Tour
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Day09
Sacred Valley tour
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Day10
Explore Machu Picchu
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Day11
Rainbow Mountain trek
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Day12
Cusco
Welcome to Peru
Our representative will pick you up from the airport in Lima, and transfer to your hotel in Miraflores where you can enjoy the afternoon there.
Accommodation: Hotel 3 starts
Meals: Breakfast at the hotel
Tour to Paracas and Ica
This day we'll begin our adventure in the south of Peru. Our representative will pick you up in your hotel between 4:00 and 4:30 am and head to Paracas. After about a 3-hour drive, we will arrive and board our boat that will take us to the wonderful Ballestas Islands, an important wildlife sanctuary along the Peruvian coast. There you will see sea lions, boobies, pelicans, penguins, and other marine birds. Then we'll drive to Ica, then directly to Huacachina, where our hotel is located. After lunch, we will explore the oasis, followed by the adrenaline-rush-filled adventure sports, including buggies and sandboarding.
Accommodation: Hotel 3 starts in Ica
Meals: Breakfast at the hotel
Entrance ticket Included
Transportation Included
Explore The Ancient Nazca Lines
Our bus will pick you up at your hotel after breakfast. We will head to Nazca, where you'll take a flight ride over the ancient and incredible Nazca lines. In the afternoon, you'll have time to relax and explore this city. In the evening, you will board the night bus to Arequipa, which is about 9 hours.
Accommodation: Bus night
Meals: Breakfast at the hotel
Flight ticket Included
Transportation Included
Arequipa City Tour
Our representative will pick you up at the bus station to transfer you to your hotel, where you can relax for a bit. In the afternoon, you will explore the city, and your guide will show you the most important tourist distinctions of this wonderful city.
Accommodation: Hotel 3 starts
Entrance ticket Included
Meals: N/A
Colca Canyon tour
The day tour to the Colca Canyon will start very early, between 3:00 and 3:30 a.m., with a pick-up from your accommodation and a drive to Chivay for breakfast. Afterward, we will continue driving towards Condor's Cross, where you will enjoy the impressive views of the deepest canyons in the world and spot the majestic Andean Condor that may be spotted flying just over your head. You can take amazing photos of these birds, whose presence creates a truly unique experience at the canyon. Our representative will transfer to the bus station.
Accommodation: Hotel 3 starts
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch along the tour
Entrance ticket Included
Transportation Included
Puno: Titicaca lake Tour
We will pick you up from the bus station and transfer to our tour of the floating islands on Titicaca Lake. You will explore the local culture and traditions and share the experience with local families. Our tour will begin with a trip on the boat along the lake for half an hour to arrive at Uros Island, where we'll explore and visit some local houses, then go to Amantani Island, where you will spend the night.
Accommodation: Overnight with the local family
Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner
Entrance ticket Included
Transportation Included
Floating Islands Tour
After your breakfast, we will continue exploring the islands. We will visit the lake and Taquile Island. We will visit two of these dozens of man-made islands, each constructed from native reeds found in the lake's shallow water, and learn about their distinct inhabitants and culture as we go. Finally, we will take the boat to return to Puno city. You have a hotel in Puno.
Accommodation:Hotel 3 starts
Meals: Breakfast with the family
Transportation Included
Sun Route to Cusco (by bus)
After an early breakfast, we will drive to the bus station to board the bus towards Cusco. This trip will take a full day with some stops along the route. We'll visit some Inca and pre-Inca buildings where you will enjoy some nice views too. Our representative will be waiting for you at the bus station and transferring you to your hotel in Cusco.
Accommodation:Hotel 3 starts
Meals: Breakfast at the hotel
Entrance tickets Included
Transportation Included
Sacred Valley tour
Today we'll explore the Sacred Valley of the Incas, driving from Cusco to Chinchero and the Moray Inca complex. We'll continue then towards the incredible Salt Mines, and at the end of our day we'll visit the Ollantaytambo Inca Complex, one of the most outstanding Inca buildings after Machu Picchu. Our guide will transfer you to the train station, where we'll ride for 2 hours to Aguas Calientes, where you will be spending the night.
Accommodation:Hotel 3 starts
Meals: Breakfast at the hotel
Entrance tickets : Included
Transportation : Included
Explore Machu Picchu
This is the most incredible day of our journey in Cusco. This day we will visit one of the new seven wonders: Machu Picchu. You will wake up early to board the bus from Aguas Calientes to Machu Picchu. Your guide will take you to the site so that you can feel the powerful energy of this fantastic archaeological site as you start exploring Machu Picchu. Our guide will show you the most important areas here for about two hours, and then you'll have some free time to explore Machu Picchu on your own. After this, we will return to Aguas Calientes and board the train to Ollantaytambo, followed by a bus drive to Cusco.
Accommodation:Hotel 3 starts
Meals: Breakfast at the hotel
Entrance tickets : Included
Transportation : Included
Rainbow Mountain trek
Your adventure to this incredible place will begin in Cusco, and your guide and the group will be heading 2 hours by car to Cusipata. Here we have a stop to enjoy the delicious breakfast, surrounded by incredible views, followed by an additional hour of driving to the trailhead of the 4600-meter path. We will be hiking for 2 hours until the view point of Rainbow Mountain, where you'll enjoy the stunning views and explore this unreal place. We return the same way to the bus station and drive towards the restaurant for our lunch, then board the bus to drive the rest of the way back to Cusco.
Accommodation:Hotel 3 starts
Meals: Breakfast and lunch along the tour
Entrance tickets : Included
Transportation : Included
Cusco
If time permits, you will take it easy on this last day and visit some local markets where you can purchase some souvenirs and explore the local San Pedro market. There you will appreciate all the local traditions of meals, fruits, different local products, and fully Peruvian handicrafts. Depending on your departure, our staff will pick you up from your hotel and transfer you to the airport or bus station.
Meals: Breakfast the Hotel
Transportation : Included
At Vidal Expeditions, we are transparent and provide the specific details of what is included and excluded in our tours. We know this is very important so that you know what exactly to bring and you don’t miss anything. We provide this information to ensure that you have an incredible experience during your cultural tour
WE INCLUDE
Vidal Expeditions Team Provide
Pre-Orientation
Once you book the tour with us, you will get a notification about the pre-orientation. During this pre-orientation you will meet with your cultural and adventure guide and the tour group in our office.
Professional Cultural Guide
All our tour guides have a great reputation in customer service. Our tour guides have graduated with tourism specialization from National University San Antonio Abad of Cusco. They have also studied English in a private language institute. They are patient, responsible, knowledgeable, passion for adventure and proud to have been born in the land of the Incas. We ensure our tour guides provide an excellent experience for you when you explore Cusco, and the famous Sacred Valley of the Incas.
Entrance Fees
Once we receive your details and the deposit for your tour, we purchase all the necessary tickets for your adventure. These tickets will be issued for the specific date of your tour. (Machu Picchu ticket, Train tickets, City tour and Sacred Valley tickets, Humantay lake and Rainbow mountain)
Transportations
Private Transport
All transportation during your tour is included. We will pick you up and drop you off to your hotel in Cusco for each adventure.
Hotels
Cusco
We will provide five evenings in Cusco in a 3 starts hotel near the Plaza de Armas
Aguas Calientes
One evening in Aguas Calientes
We can easily add extra nights before or after the tour, if you needed. Rooms are based on double occupancy, there is a surcharge for a single room. Upgraded the hotels are always possible. We can also book the tour without any hotels, if you prefer to book them by your own.
Equipment
Medical First Aid Kit
All tour guides of Vidal Expeditions are very well trained in First aid. They receive training courses every 6 months on how to assist to someone in an emergency. Also, they are trained how to supply a balloon oxygen in the case if someone requires it.
WE NOT INCLUDED
Water bottle
Every customer will need water during the activities. Before each activity we will stop at a shop, where you can purchase water and snacks.
Meals
Meals are NOT included in our package, however during the hiking tours such as the Humantay Lake and Rainbow Mountain, breakfast and lunch is included. Breakfast is included with your hotel stay.
Flights
Flying to Cusco, Peru can be tricky – delays occur often, and it is not uncommon for flights to be cancelled. Plan to arrive in the city at least two days before your tour start date.
Travel Insurance
We recommend to buy a travel insurance before to leave your country in case something happen during your visit to Peru.
Tips for our team
Tips are not included. Tipping the team is usual on any excursion in Cusco, although we pay good salaries to our entire team, tips are welcome as a token of your appreciation for the team hard work
At Vidal Expeditions we focus to make your trip an unforgettable experience and we want to provide all details which you need to know before to leave your country and start your life experience in Peru.
What you need to pack? Important- Passport
- Valid, STUDENT CARD (if you booked as a student)
- Immigration Card (given on the plane as you enter Peru)
- Good daypack (the smaller, the better)
- Water storage: Water reservoir like Camelback is encouraged - but enough for at least 2-3 liters.
- Comfortable hiking boots (lightweight with good soles)
FOR YOUR DUFFEL:
Porters or horses will carry up to 7 kg of your personal items. This must include your sleeping bag and air matt (if you bring/rent one). From us these two items weigh 3.5 kg.
- 2-3 wicking t-shirts
- 2-3 hiking pants
- 4 sets of undergarments.
- 1 Fleece
- 1 Warm, down jacket: gets very cold at night
- 1 Rain jacket and pants
- 1 sun hat
- 1 wool hat
- Headlamp: essential
- Waterproof gloves
- Comfortable shoes for camp or flip flops
- Walking boots
- Waterproof jacket/rain poncho
Battery Charger: There is no place to plug in while trekking!
Large plastic bags: to help organize and keep clean from dirty.
Sleeping bag: Recommend down bags for -10C at least
INSIDE YOUR DAYPACKS:
Daypacks can be any size for hiking, but we always say the smaller, the better. Inside Machu Picchu, bags larger than 25L will not be allowed in. If it is larger, you will need to store it outside citadel gates. But don´t worry, they have a secure storage facility. Water: we supply clean water at each meal. You are responsible for your first morning of water only as we won't have time to filter water until your first lunch.
- Sun hat
- Rain gear
- Fleece
- Camera
- Music (iPhone)
- Hand sanitizer
- Toilet paper and small plastic bag for waste
- Extra Money for Souvenirs, Drinks & Tips
- Earplugs
- Some snacks (Chocolate, fruits, energy bars, etc.)
TOILETRIES:
- Sunscreen
- Face moisturizer
- Bug spray
- Hand sanitizer
- Wet wipes
- Small towel
- Toothbrush and paste
- Toilet paper
- Personal medication
- First aid kit: band aids, moleskin, etc.
VIDAL EXPEDITIONS FAQs
Here some frequently asked question about the Inca trail to Machu Picchu
OUR BOOKING SYSTEM
At Vidal Expeditions, we try to make the best of us to booking system works as easy as possible for you, once you decided to do the Inca trail, we will send to you a booking form where you need to complete all the required detail which can’t be changed once it been confirmed, we need a previous deposit of $200USD per person. Once as soon as you paid it we immediately book a spot for the Inca trail once we have done with it, we will send you your invoice and confirmation that all the booking process has set up satisfactorily. ENTRANCE TICKETS AND BUS TICKETS To book our Cusco five days package you should do it in advance because there is a limitation in each group, the capacity is 10 people in per group only. Once you book the trip, our team will purchase your different tickets to enjoy your journey
For more details about these, please contact to Vidal Expeditions sales team. WHERE TO STAY DURING THIS TRIP? Peru is a big country enough to find different categories of hotels from 2 stars to 5 stars also there are Airbnb places where you can stay without any problem. Lima has nice hotels in Miraflores, this is the most recommended place to stay in Lima. Ica also has nice hotels however we recommend to stay in Huacachina because it more tourist place and safe. Arequipa has incredible hotels near to the city center, Puno offers a varied of hotel and Airbnb in different places around the lake. Cusco streets are narrow specially near to the main square and some streets are pedestrian with some stairs, we will send you a notify for the pick up if is not possible the access with our car and arrange another place to pick you up and drop off. Also is possible to stay in the Sacred Valley near to Urubamba city or Ollantaytambo. WHAT SHOULD I EXPECT AS FAR AS WEATHER? The weather in Cusco regions and part of the Andes is unpredictable even if the weather forecast says it’s sunny, we can’t trust in it. It is an impossible question for us to answer. Historically April through September is the dry season, November through February is the rainy season and March and October and bridge months - a mixture of both. But the clouds have not followed these rules in the last few years. Prepare for sun and rain no matter when you come. As far as temperatures go, that is consistent throughout the year. Mornings and evenings are always cold. Make sure to bring a fleece jacket for the mornings and a down jacket for the evenings. CAN I ADD EXTRA NIGHT IN CUSCO, SACRED VALLEY OR MACHU PICCHU? Yes! You can add an extra night in Cusco, Sacred Valley or Machu Picchu town, this program can be tailor made for you.
You also can add extra days in this program, day to rest between the tours or add extra days for another tour.
CAN I UPGRADE MY HOTEL? Definitely, Cusco has many great hotels and you are available to upgrade your hotel, you can contact to Vidal Expeditions team to provide you more details about it. HOW DIFFICULT ARE THE TREKS? The Rainbow mountain trek, is one of the challenge treks in Cusco, because you will reach over 5100 meters, and for someone who is not used to being at this elevation can be little difficult, however we have a great option to reach there with horse and avoid the hike up to the Rainbow mountain.
Vidal Expeditions team recommend you to do some exercises before to hike this trek, our sales team will provide you some advices for this. WHERE DO I STORE MY LUGGAGE? All of your luggage is not needed during the tours and should stay in Cusco. All the hotels have a storage or lockers where you can leave your luggage without any charge. Another option is to store with Vidal Expeditions team.
DO I NEED PROPER TREKKING EQUIPMENT? Yes, we always recommend to bring a good trekking boots, one with ankle support are extra helpful, especially for the inexperienced hiker, because you’ll be climbing down so many rocky paths created by the local people and alpacas.
Good rain jacket and pant will help you to protect from the rain and wind, because the Ausangate trek is located in the middle of the Andes and the weather can change easily.
Trekking poles also is helpful during the Inca Trail and Ausangate trek CAN I CLIMB HUAYNA PICCHU OR MACHU PICCHU MOUNTAIN? Yes. You can climb these mountains if you book these in advance, because the availability is only 200 people everyday and has extra cost.
Contact to Vidal Expeditions team for more details.
From: USD 00.00 per person
USD 000.00: from 4 people to more
Thank you for your interest in having an adventure travel experience in Peru curated by Vidal Expeditions. Please take a moment to complete our short form, so one our friendly Adventure Consultants could provide you all the information for your trip of a lifetime in Peru.
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