Welcome to Lima, the 'City of Kings'. You will be met at the airport and escorted to your hotel.

Morning colonial tour of Lima. The city has always been one of the most important cities in South America since it was founded by the Spanish conquistador Francisco Pizarro in 1535. Our sightseeing tour exclusively explores Lima's historic quarter and unlike the conventional tours it includes the visit to the ‘Casona San Marcos’. You will be able to retrace Lima’s colonial past as you explore the different rooms and courtyards of this house founded in 1605 by Jesuit missionaries. After the suppression of the Jesuits the house became the Royal School of San Carlos.

The first generation of intellectuals, playing a key role in Peru’s independence process, was educated here. Years later in 1867 the Casona was given to the University of San Marcos - America’s oldest and Peru’s most renowned university. Today, the restored ‘casona’ houses San Marcos University’s cultural center and is used as venue for graduation ceremonies and cultural conferences.

In the morning you will explore the city. Some of the old buildings were made from white volcanic material (sillar) which has given it the name of the 'white city'. Continue on to the extraordinary Santa Catalina Convent. This cloister, built in the 16th century, is a huge structure that once served as a town within itself housing 450 nuns. Traditionally the oldest daughters of Arequipa’s aristocratic families entered the convent in their early teens and spent their lives there, cloistered away. The convent complex has been beautifully refurbished, bringing the past vividly alive once more. Finally, you head to Yanahuara lookout point for a magnificent view of the Misti Volcano and the city.

In the early morning you leave Arequipa and head towards the valley. The road climbs the slopes of Chachani Volcano until it reaches a highland plain Pampa Canahuas (at 4,000 m/13,200 ft). In this National Reserve you can see groups of vicunas, the rarest and most timid of the South American camelids. In Vizcachani, you make a brief stop to drink a coca tea in the small restaurant owned by the community. This Andean drink will help you to adjust to the altitude. Continuing the trip you pass through Tojra a good place for spotting Andean birds.

Along the way, you visit Chucchura and Patapampa, the high Andean plain that lies at an altitude of around 4,800 m (15, 750 ft) and features the strategically-located ‘El Mirador de los Andes’ (the lookout point of the Andes). Here you can have an awesome view of Chila snow-capped mountain range featuring the volcanoes: Mismi (5,597 m/18,360 ft), Misti (5,825 m/19,110 ft), Chachani (6,075 m/19,930 ft) and the glaciers: Ampato (6,288 m/20,630 ft), Sabancaya (5,976m/19,606 ft) and Hualca Hualca (6,288 m/20,630 ft).

After four hours on the road, you arrive in Chivay, most important town in Colca Valley.

Early morning drive to an observation point, located between Maca and Cabanaconde, one of the deepest parts of the canyon. Here, you find the perfect spot to look down 1,200m (3,937 ft) into the canyon at Mirador Cruz del Condor. It’s here that the legendary condor, the bird with the largest wingspan in the world, can be seen rising and circling on the morning thermals, silhouetted against the magnificent backdrop of the mountain scenery. Afterwards you head to the town of Maca, dominated by the glaciers Sabancaya (5,976 m/19,607 ft) and Hualca Hualca (6,075 m/ 19,600 ft). You will visit its Baroque church considered one of the most original in the region. You continue to Yanque, once the headquarters of the Franciscan missionaries in the Colca. The church is also one of the most notable in the valley due to its Renaissance base with a Baroque upper level. Your last stop is at the Mirador (lookout point) of Antahuilque, where terraces have the shape of an amphitheater.

This is your last day in the Colca Valley you head first to the town of Coporaque boasting the oldest church in the valley with an impressive façade of 16th century Italian Renaissance design. Afterwards you say goodbye to Arequipa to continue your trip across Altiplano landscapes to Puno. After a 6-hour ride you reach the city on the shores of Lake Titicaca Puno.

You will enjoy a full day's excursion to Lake Titicaca, the highest navigable lake in the world. Traveling by motorboat you will visit the floating islands of the Uros and the lesser known community of Llachon. This is a small village located in the top of Capachica Peninsula 1 ½ hour min drive from Puno in a very scenic part of the lake, which separates the Bay of Puno from the main lake. This tiny community with only 1,300 inhabitants belongs to the Quechua ethnic group.

In this pristine environment the indigenous people still observe old traditions and laws. Most of them are farmers or weavers preserving ancient techniques. Llachon is especially famous for their elaborated textiles. Several patterns used in their traditional clothing are similar to those of original Inca textiles found in excavations. Several patterns aim at transmitting values to future generations as environment preservation and respect for life. These have influenced the style of textiles in the nearby area as well. As Llachon is an out-of-the-way attraction it rewards the visitor with genuine scenes of countryside life. The visits include walks throughout the village, visit to local families, observation of farming and weaving activities and tasting local food. Or you can just hike to a scenic spot to enjoy incredible lake views - one side the peninsula and a range of snowcapped mountains on the other side.

A pleasant eight-hour bus trip takes you through picturesque Andean landscapes dotted by small villages and herds of llamas and vicunas. Your final destination is Cusco, however you make three important stops along our way: the first one is La Raya Pass (4,335 m/ 14,172 ft) to enjoy a panoramic view of the snow-capped Andes. Lunch will be served in a typical restaurant in Sicuani. Then your tour continues to visit the Viracocha Temple. This was the only Inca temple featuring cylindrical stone columns covered by fine clay layers. The last stop is in Andahuaylillas known by its baroque church dating from the 17th century. Upon arrival in Cusco you will be transferred to your hotel.

This afternoon we walk through the major sites of interest in Cusco. We visit the famed Cathedral with its magnificently carved woodwork, ornate altar and many hundreds of canvases from the 17th-century ‘Cusco Painting School’. We continue exploring the cultural wealth of Cusco at the Temple of the Sun where we witness the incredible masonry of the Incas, an engineering feat that remains an enigma.

Afterward we walk along Hatunrumiyoc Street which is named for the 12-angled stone clearly visible in the remaining walls of what was Inca Roca's palace. We make a last stop in San Blas artisan quarter. Its steeped cobblestone alleys not only offer spectacular views of the city but are lined with workshops and galleries, a great way to soak in Cusco's artistic atmosphere. San Blas church houses an imposing pulpit considered one of New World’s finest woodcarvings.

You visit the Museum of Pre-Columbian Art hosted in a beautiful colonial casona, once residence of Count of Cabrera. This casona holds the only museum in Peru dedicated to rebound the arts of ancient Peruvian cultures and showcases an astounding pre-Columbian collection dating from 1250 B.C to 1532 A.D.

The art and artifacts were made by the Huari, Chimu, Nasca and the Inca cultures. Information labels for every artifact are available in English, Spanish and French allowing visitors to understand in which context of Ancient Peru were developed.

In the morning we drive towards Urubamba to visit its local market (1 hour from Cusco). Every Wednesday hundreds of farmers from the surrounding communities congregate here to exchange their products. Unlike in the touristy market in Pisaq there are not souvenirs on sale in this colorful market, but the market rewards the visitor with a genuine insight of life in the Andean countryside.

This lunch is something special as it is prepared by local and quite active retirees. Sample an Andean soup and the popular 'Lomo Saltado' prepared with fresh produce and served in their own homes. For the most adventurous ones in the group there is a chance to taste a crispy guinea pig. This experience offers a great opportunity to interact with locals in a not-touristy environment as to directly contribute to the community.

Our guide will take us to visit the age-old terraced salt mines in Maras. The dominant color is an intense white that burns like snow on a sunny day and are an impressive sight for any visitor. Salt was extracted from these mines from Inca times and the same method has been used ever since - all work is done by hand-. Sample a typical maize beer at a ‘Chicheria’ in the main square of the quiet Maras town famous for its carved lintels. And with a bit luck witness how some of Maras artisans design beautiful blankets, hats, baskets and pottery.

Today's excursion is a highlight for hikers. We head to Huchuy Qosqo also known as 'Little Qosqo'. You will follow an Inca path for approx. 5 hours along the valley sides, passing through tiny rural communities, fields cultivated with corn, potatoes, quinoa and with snowy peaks ever-present on the horizon. Huchuy Qosqo is regarded as the third most important Inca site in the Sacred Valley after Ollantaytambo and Pisaq. Unlike most of the Inca buildings adobe was used here as material to top stone walls.

Located on a plateau and surrounded by Inca agricultural terraces, Huchuy Qosqo has a spectacular setting and offers superb views of the Vilcabamba range. Reaching this site takes some effort, but you will experience it without tourist crowds.

Morning transfer to Ollanta train station. The train station is located at walking distance from your hotel'). The 1 ½ -hour train ride train takes you through the Sacred Valley of the Incas up to Machu Picchu. On arrival a small coach take you up the steep roads to the entrance of the citadel. Machu Picchu remained for centuries undiscovered by the Spaniards, only to be found in 1911 by Hiram Bingham. The uniqueness of its location and the genius that went into its construction make this Inca archaeological site truly one of the great wonders of the world. In the afternoon you will return through the mountainous switchback passes to Cusco, where you will be met and transferred to your hotel.

We suggest you to stroll through the streets of San Blas artisan quarter. Its steeped cobblestone alleys not only offer spectacular views of the city but are lined with workshops and galleries, a great way to soak in the artistic atmosphere. San Blas church houses an imposing pulpit considered one of New World’s finest woodcarvings. In case you may want to enjoy a good cup of coffee in a cozy atmosphere we suggest you to visit the Coffee Shop of Bartolome de las Casas Cultural Center. Here you'll find international newspapers as well as interesting books in different languages. Our last tip is strolling Cusco's streets on board an old wooden streetcar, now motorized. The tour lasts 85 min. and departs several times daily from the Plaza de Armas.

Flight to Lima. You will be transferred to the airport for your international flight.