Peru 16-Day Tour: Coast, Andes, Amazon + Domestic Flights

Between 09:15 and 09:30 a.m., we begin hotel pickups for a tour that blends modern Lima with colonial heritage. We visit the Love Park in Miraflores (Malecón Cisneros near the Villena Bridge), home to Víctor Delfín’s iconic “El Beso” sculpture and colorful mosaics, then continue with a panoramic view of Huaca Pucllana, a pre-Inca ceremonial site. At 10:00 a.m. we enjoy a panoramic look at San Martín Square, and at 11:00 a.m. we enter the San Francisco Monastery and Catacombs to visit the choir area, library, sacristy and crypts. We return to Miraflores around 2:00 p.m..

We depart Lima at 04:40 a.m. along the Pan-American Highway; around 06:00 a.m. we make a brief breakfast stop (passenger’s expense; a box breakfast is often provided or you may purchase items en route). In Paracas, at 09:30 a.m. we start a boat trip to the Ballestas Islands to see the Candelabra geoglyph and wildlife such as sea lions, Humboldt penguins and guano birds; at 10:00 a.m. we enjoy a traditional sweets tasting and later have free time for lunch around 01:00 p.m.. At 02:00 p.m. we visit an artisanal winery for a production explanation and tastings, and at 03:00 p.m. we head to the Huacachina Oasis; from 03:30 p.m. dune buggies and sandboarding are available as an optional activity. We return to Lima at 05:30 p.m..

At 09:00 a.m. we pick you up at your hotel and head to Callao. Around 10:30 a.m. we board a sea transfer to reach the yacht and begin our cruise past La Punta, then the historic El Camotal, continue toward San Lorenzo Island, and pass by El Frontón, while crossing the Cavinzas area with guano birds. We reach the Palomino Islets, home to more than 5,000 sea lions, and around 11:45 a.m. begin the highlight: a supervised swim with sea lions, with about 30 minutes around the islets and 20 minutes in the water; wetsuit and life vest are provided depending on availability and the activity is supervised by a lifeguard guide. We return and arrive around 01:30 p.m. for disembarkation, ending an unforgettable marine experience.

In the morning we transfer to the airport for your early flight to Iquitos. Upon arrival, local staff welcomes you and takes you to your hotel, with the rest of the day free to explore the city at your own pace.

After breakfast, you’ll receive a short orientation and then head to the port to board a fast boat on the Amazon River toward Heliconia Amazon River Lodge, enjoying rainforest scenery and the confluence with the Nanay River. On the way, we visit Monkey Island, a conservation project with free-roaming monkeys; upon arrival, you receive a welcome drink, check in and enjoy an Amazon-style lunch. In the afternoon, a guided 2-hour walk in the Yanamono primary forest introduces medicinal plants, giant trees and wildlife, followed by a night boat excursion to observe Amazon life under the stars; overnight at the lodge.

Very early, we take a birdwatching excursion by boat through nearby creeks to spot Amazon species during feeding hours, then return for breakfast and rest. Later, we visit a riverside Yagua community to learn about daily life and traditions along the Amazon. After lunch at the lodge, we head out for traditional fishing in an Amazon tributary with the option to fish for piranhas and the possibility of spotting the pink river dolphin; at night, a guided walk inside the lodge’s safe area reveals nocturnal rainforest sounds and wildlife, ending with dinner and rest.

After breakfast, we visit a lake on Yanamono Island to see the impressive Victoria Amazonica, the giant water lily famous for its enormous leaves and color-changing flowers. We return for lunch, then take a guided walk on Yanamono Island to learn how vegetation adapts to seasonal flooding, including aquatic plants and palms in a rich biodiversity setting; dinner and overnight at the lodge.

After breakfast, enjoy a peaceful canoe excursion on the Amazon River to explore flooded forests and small waterways while observing wildlife. We return for lunch and check-out, then, depending on flight time, transfer back to Iquitos and to the airport for your return flight to Lima.

In the morning we transfer to the airport for your flight to Cusco (approx. 3,399 m / 11,151 ft), where our team welcomes you and takes you to the hotel for initial acclimatization. In the afternoon, enjoy a ~4-hour city tour visiting Qoricancha, Sacsayhuamán, Qenqo, Puca Pucará and Tambomachay, then return to the hotel to rest and hydrate.

We depart between 06:30 and 07:00 a.m. with hotel pickup for the Sacred Valley. At 08:00 a.m. we visit Chinchero, continue to Moray at 09:30 a.m., and explore the Maras Salt Mines at 10:45 a.m. with more than 3,000 ponds. Around 12:30 p.m. there is time for an Andean buffet lunch (passenger’s expense), and at 02:00 p.m. we visit the Ollantaytambo fortress; free time in town and overnight in Ollantaytambo.

After a magical night in Ollantaytambo, at 9:00 a.m. we pick you up and cross the Sacred Valley and Andes to a mountain pass at 4,316 m / 14,160 ft for photos and ecological transitions. We continue to Huayopata Valley for an Andean-Amazon lunch, then take a walk to learn about Peruvian tea cultivation and artisanal production, including a tasting of black, green and white teas. In the afternoon, we walk through the cloud forest to look for nocturnal birds and mammals, ending with dinner and overnight.

We begin with tropical birdwatching and time for photos, followed by breakfast with local valley products. We visit coffee plots to learn the full high-altitude coffee process and prepare and taste freshly ground coffee, then enjoy a second traditional lunch prepared by local families. After lunch, we drive about 1.5 hours to Hydroelectric and start a 2-hour walk to Aguas Calientes along a natural trail rich in flora and fauna; hotel check-in and rest for the next day.

After breakfast, according to your entry time, we transfer to the station for the bus ride of about 25 minutes up to Machu Picchu (approx. 2,430 m / 7,972 ft). You must present your original passport and physical ticket at the entrance control, then enjoy a guided tour on the assigned circuit for around 2 hours. After the visit, we descend by bus to Aguas Calientes (25 minutes), have free time for lunch on your own, then take the train back to Ollantaytambo where our staff transfers you to your hotel in Cusco.

We pick you up between 07:30 and 08:00 a.m. to attend Inti Raymi, beginning at Qoricancha, continuing to Cusco’s Main Square for the symbolic handover of the khipu, and culminating at Sacsayhuamán for the main ceremony with offerings to the Sun and Pachamama, enjoyed from the Orange VIP Section for excellent visibility and comfort; return to your hotel afterward.

We depart at 04:30 a.m. toward Cusipata for breakfast, then continue to Ichupata for a short ATV briefing and about 10 minutes of practice before starting a 1 hour 30 minute ATV route through the stunning Red Valley. After the ride, we hike about 40 minutes via the Red Valley viewpoint to the iconic Rainbow Mountain (Vinicunca), with free time at the summit for photos, then descend, return by ATV to Cusipata for a local lunch and arrive back in Cusco around 5:00 p.m..