Lima to Paracas Tour & Ballestas Islands from Lima to the Heart of the Incas

Breakfast at the hotel. Between 09:10 and 09:40 hrs, we will pick you up from your hotel to start the panoramic city tour, where we will see the Colonial Centre, Main Square, Government Palace, the Cathedral, the Archbishop's Palace, and the Municipality of Lima. Then, we will visit the Convent of San Francisco, where you can see cloisters and catacombs from the Colonial era.

The tour starts with the panoramic view of Huaca Pucllana and the traditional, residential and commercial areas of Lima, to continue to the historical centre of Lima, and it ends with a spectacular panoramic view of the Pacific Ocean and the beaches of the Miraflores district.

At 14:00 hours, we will transfer you to the station to board the regular bus service to Paracas (approximately trip duration: 03 hrs.). Upon arrival, our staff will be waiting for you to transfer you to your hotel.

Overnight in Paracas.

Meals: Breakfast

Breakfast at the hotel. We will transfer to the Paracas pier to board the boat in which we will start the excursion in the direction of the Ballestas Islands. During the tour, we can appreciate the giant Candelabra outlined on the side of a hill facing the sea, and our local guide will tell you the various theories that have been woven around this enigmatic design.

Upon arriving at the Ballestas Islands, you will be able to observe different species that make up part of the local marine fauna, highlighting among them the Humboldt penguins, sea lions, gulls, pelicans, etc. (some of them are almost extinct).

Note: The exact time of departure to the Ballestas Islands is subject to the weather, as it is necessary that the port captaincy approves for navigation.

After making the tour of the islands, we will return to the mainland and, after a free time, we will transfer you to the bus station to continue the trip to Nasca. Upon arrival, our staff will be waiting for you at the station to transfer you to the hotel.

Overnight in Nasca.

Meals: Breakfast

Breakfast at the hotel. At the coordinated time, we will pick you up from the hotel to transfer you to the station and board the bus to the city of Ica. Upon arrival, we will go to the city's aerodrome, where we will enter an orientation room for the overflight and where we will be able to appreciate audiovisual material referring to the Nasca Lines (subtitled).

Then, in turns, we will board the aircraft to fly over the Nasca Lines to be able to appreciate the gigantic zoomorphic and geometric figures, drawn in low relief on the sands of the Nasca desert.

The Nazca Lines are located in the southern part of Peru, mainly on a desert plateau between the Ingenio and Nasca valleys. On this dark plain of more than 500 square kilometers, the ancient men of the Nasca culture drew enormous designs, representing geometric figures, animals, birds, plants, and straight lines that record the desert for several kilometers in all directions.

These images on the surface of the desert are so gigantic that the only way to appreciate them in their full dimension is by doing it from the sky. The true origin of these lines and figures is unknown; no one knows for sure who built them, or why. For some, these lines represent a gigantic astronomical calendar related to agriculture, for others, it is an alien navigation and airport plane. At the end of the overflight, you will be able to draw your own conclusions.

After the experience, we will transfer you to a tourist restaurant where you will have lunch included. Then you will have free time in the Huacachina Oasis to walk on your own or request a buggy ride at an additional cost (you must request it in advance).

At the end of the afternoon, we will start the trip by semi-cama bus (throughout the night) to the beautiful city of Arequipa. Upon arrival, reception and transfer to the selected hotel.

Overnight in Arequipa.

Meals: Breakfast and Lunch

Breakfast at the hotel. Free morning. At 14:00 hours, the White City opens up its doors in a tour that begins in the Carmen Alto viewpoint, from where we will be able to admire the beautiful landscape of farming terraces.

We will then continue to the colonial district of Yanahuara, famous for its church built in Andalusia style, and its viewpoint with its gorgeous architecture surrounded by sillar stone arches. Following, we will visit the Monastery of Santa Catalina, an impressive religious monument that has been closed to the public for nearly 400 years.

The city of Arequipa has several Spanish-type buildings and ancient churches built on the basis of ashlar (white volcanic stone), among which the Cathedral and the church of "La Compañía de Jesús" stand out.

Overnight in Arequipa.

Meals: Breakfast

Breakfast at the hotel. This day, we left the city behind the snowy Chachani, heading to Pampa Cañahuas, a national reserve of vicuñas, also known as the Colca window. On the way, we will see the cave of Mollepunco, and we will make a stop at the viewpoint of the Volcanoes. Arriving at the Town of Chivay, transfer and accommodation in your hotel. Afternoon at your leisure.

Overnight in Colca.

Meals: Breakfast

Breakfast at the hotel. Early in the morning, we will go to the viewpoint of the Cross of the Condor. Before us, the shocking flight of the condors, huge Andean birds on the brink of extinction,, and a symbol of the Andes Mountain Range. The view from this place allows us to appreciate the canyon's depth, considered one of the deepest in the world. On the road, we can appreciate the Maca and Yanque towns.

After the tour, we will have free time for lunch (lunch not included) and then continue our trip to the city of Puno. Accommodation at the hotel and overnight.

Overnight in Puno.

Meals: Breakfast

Breakfast at the hotel. At the indicated time, we will transfer you to the pier to begin our excursion to Titicaca Lake. In our first stop, we will visit the floating islands of the Uros, artificial islands, handcrafted by their inhabitants based on the Totora plant that grows in the same lake.

The Uros live basically from fishing, hunting, and gathering, as well as selling handicrafts and multi-coloured fabrics. During the tour, we can see and hear the legends of the Uros, their customs and folklore. To continue, we will visit Taquile Island, a place of spectacular beauty, where its inhabitants maintain ancestral customs, and we can share some of their experiences. Typical lunch in Taquile. It is worth noting that the whole journey of this day is made by sailing on Titicaca Lake, the highest navigable lake in the world.

Overnight in Puno.

Meals: Breakfast and Lunch

Breakfast at the hotel. Transfer to the bus terminal to board the tourist bus to the city of Cusco. On the way, we will visit the museum of the Pucara site, we will make a brief stop in "La Raya", the highest point of the route (4,335 m.a.s.l), we will visit the archaeological centre of Raqchi (one of the main temples to the god Wiracocha), and we will stop in Sicuani to taste a nice buffet lunch.

Finally, before arriving in Cusco, we will visit the church of Andahuaylillas, also known as the Sistine Chapel of South America. Arriving in the city of Cusco, our staff will be waiting for you to transfer you to the hotel.

Overnight in Cusco.

Meals: Breakfast and Lunch

Breakfast at the hotel. Free morning. Between 13:00 and 13:30 hours, we will pick you up from the hotel to start the tour of the colonial city, built on the bases of Inca palaces. In the tour, we will visit the Main Square, the Temple of the Sun, also known as Qoricancha, and the Cathedral of Cusco, where we can see beautiful paintings and sculptures. Then we will continue to the archaeological centre of Sacsayhuaman, a multipurpose place where the Sun, the Moon and the Earth were worshipped, and which was also used as a military fortress and an astrological centre.

Later, we arrived at Q'enco, a cult centre related to the fire element. We continue with Puca Pucara, a place used as a supply centre and Inca checkpoint, where wind ceremonies were also held. At the end of the tour, we will arrive at Tambomachay, centre of cult to water and fertility. Return to the hotel and overnight.

Overnight in Cusco.

Meals: Breakfast

Breakfast at the hotel. In the morning, we will start a tour where we visit the beautiful town of Pisac, its handicraft market, the popular fair and its narrow streets. Then we continue the tour through the Sacred Valley of Urubamba, where you can enjoy a nice lunch buffet.

Next, we will visit Ollantaytambo: an Inca city still inhabited that conserves a complex system of irrigation canals and foundations of that time, on which a large part of the town was built. The archaeological centre of Ollantaytambo has large groups of platforms, forts, canals and the Real Casa del Sol, a megalithic temple of great mystical value.

Overnight in Sacred Valley.

Meals: Breakfast and Lunch

Breakfast at the hotel. At the indicated time, transfer to the train station to begin the excursion to the Sacred City of Machu Picchu, recognized as one of the wonders of the world and declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The train takes us to the town of Aguas Calientes, from where we will ascend by bus to the Archaeological Center and start the guided tour that lasts approximately 2 hours. During the visit, you can see temples, squares, terraces, houses, barns, as well as the great biodiversity that exists in the surroundings. It is worth noting that the beauty of Machu Picchu is exalted by the extraordinary scenery in which it is located.

Around the citadel has been formed a National Reserve that has an area of 32,500 hectares, and that includes a constellation of archaeological monuments, which, in our opinion, were built as part of the Machu Picchu complex and not in isolation. At the indicated time, we will return to the town of Aguas Calientes, where we will have lunch included. Return to the city of Cusco. Upon arrival, our staff will be waiting for you to transfer you to your hotel.

Overnight in Cusco.

Meals: Breakfast and Lunch

Breakfast at the hotel. At the appropriate time, transfer to the airport to continue with your itinerary.

Meals: Breakfast