Group - Classic

Swift: Ultimate highlights of Peru

10 days from £2,790pp

Peru / Lake Titicaca


Places visited

Ollantaytambo

Overview & Highlights

This comfortable group holiday whizzes you through Peru’s must-see highlights. Visit Lima on the Pacific coast, Cusco, Machu Picchu and the Sacred Valley in the Andes. Superb landscapes and a mélange of cultural riches.

  • Cusco: guided city tour and visit to Sacsayhuamán temple fortress
  • Cusco: guided tour of the Sacred Valley of the Incas
  • Machu Picchu: guided tour of the ruins
  • Lake Titicaca: Uros Islands boat trip
  • Lake Titicaca: guided excursion to Sillustani

On this 10 day group holiday you will visit all the ultimate highlights of Peru. Ruined temples and fortresses of the Inca Empire surround Cusco, once the heart of the Inca world and now a graceful homage to Spanish colonial architecture. Beyond the ancient terraced hillsides of the Sacred Valley of the Incas lies the archaeological site at Machu Picchu, a must-see on the world’s scale. Finally, no trip to Peru is complete without a scenic trip across the wind-buffeted plains of the altiplano to the shores of the world’s highest navigable lake, Titicaca, a sacred body of water rimmed by snow-mantled Andean mountains.

The welcoming Peruvian people, combined with the country’s rich culture and diverse and beautiful scenery, make Peru an easy place to fall in love with: the Inca temples of Machu Picchu; Cusco and the Sacred Valley; Lake Titicaca’s vast expanse of shimmering sapphire waters are its top sights.

Itinerary

UK clients depart, arriving Lima, Peru, the same day.

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Day 1

Overnight in Peru’s monumental capital.

Those passengers arriving on an international flight will be met at the airport by the tour leader or a local representative who will escort you to the hotel. The scenes from your window on the half-hour drive to the hotel through Lima encapsulate the invigorating bustle of a modern-day Latin American capital.

Lima, the City of Kings, was once the capital of Spanish America, and the vestiges of its glorious past can still be seen in the faded grandeur of the colonial churches and traditional wooden balconies in the city centre. The explosive growth of the last 50 years, so typical of capital cities in the developing world, has transformed Lima into a dynamic and chaotic low-rise city of over 10 million people. In crowded streets, throngs of traffic race out towards Miraflores, a modern middle-class suburb on the coast, where your hotel is located. You’ll have time to explore in more depth on the final day of the Peruvian leg of your trip.

Day 2

Fly to and explore colonial Cusco, former Inca capital.

A flight of just an hour takes you to Cusco. The name Cusco derives from the Quechua word for navel, indicating its location at the centre of the Inca Empire, which reached its zenith at the same time as England was fighting the War of the Roses. Today its many impressive original Inca walls display extraordinary craftsmanship, while the bustling squares are dotted with ornate baroque colonial churches. It’s a vivacious city, where shoeshine boys and postcard sellers jostle for your attention in cobbled streets lined with handicraft shops and cafés. In the evening, the town centre fills with people flocking to the many restaurants, bars and cafés.

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Day 3

Guided tour of the city and Inca Sacsayhuamán.

Today an experienced guide gives you a half day tour of the city. You visit Q’oricancha, once the principal Inca Sun Temple, with extraordinarily intricate stonework, and then explore the colossal zigzag walls of Sacsayhuamán, brooding on a hillside above Cusco. In 1536 a desperate and defining three-day battle was fought between the Spaniards and the Incas around this fortress. The first conquistadors to see it were awestruck, and centuries later it is still an extraordinary and imposing sight.

There is also free time to explore Cusco; to wander through its cobbled streets bracketed by impressive Inca walls, to explore its colourful, bustling markets and splendid churches, and to stop at some of the many excellent cafés.

Walls in the Sacred Valley of the Incas, Peru

Day 4

Excursion to the Sacred Valley of the Incas; overnight.

Today, head out from Cusco over the high plains and descend to explore the fertile Sacred Valley of the Incas. Once the bread-basket of the Inca Empire, it was heavily populated in imperial times and scores of archaeological sites remain, where well-preserved ruins bear witness to the highly developed society that the Incas created. The drive passes through or close to several of the villages and temple fortresses which pepper the valley.

The Pisac complex, set high above and visible from the eponymous colonial village you will visit, is built on terraces carved into the steep hillsides. The engineering and preservation are unrivalled. From the flat valley floor this intricate hillside rises up like a green staircase to the heavens.

Continue along this picturesque, patchwork valley to the temple of Ollantaytambo. The snow-frosted Andean cordillera forms a stunning backdrop. Ollantaytambo, sitting strategically at the gateway to the Amazon basin, was never captured by the Spanish conquistadors, but the inhabitants decided that the settlement was too vulnerable and would eventually fail, and so they abandoned it. The fortress, the colonial grid plan and the Inca foundations are still intact and there are wonderful views down over the sloping hillsides and into the fertile valley. Spend the night in the tranquil valley.

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Day 5

By train to Machu Picchu; guided tour of the ruins.

Travelling for just 2hrs by train from Ollantaytambo, you reach the ruins of Machu Picchu. As the river Urubamba enters its narrow gorge between thickly-forested granite hills, there is room only for a single track, which hugs the right bank and passes through hamlets that are no more than a collection of shacks beside the railway. Close to the foot of the mountain on a saddle of which the citadel was built is the bustling village of Machu Picchu (formerly known as Aguas Calientes), dedicated to serving the many visitors with artisan markets, bars and restaurants.

The majestic ruined city, reclaimed from tropical cloud forest, is reached by minibus up a sinuous road, or on foot up a near vertical rocky path. The American explorer Hiram Bingham discovered it in 1911, by which time it was completely buried beneath jungle vegetation. It is perhaps the ruins’ location, on a ridge spur amid forested peaks and above a roaring river canyon, that most ignites the imagination. You will have a guided tour of the ruins.

Fancy hiking some of the Inca Trail without interrupting your tour? We can organise for you to walk the mini Inca Trail on this day, but still, have a guided tour of the ruins and stay with the group in the evening. Please ask us for more details.

Machu Picchu in Peru

Day 6

Optional re-entry to Machu Picchu; return to Cusco.

You have the optional opportunity to revisit the ruins, rail schedules permitting. There is also the chance for the more challenging hike to Huayna Picchu, the conical peak which juts out behind the ruins for wonderful views over the site. If you think you’d like to re-visit the site or climb Huayna Picchu please enquire with the office, as spaces are limited and it’s necessary to pre-book

You may prefer to relax and wander the narrow vehicle-free streets of Machu Picchu village, lined with souvenir shops and cafés. You return to Cusco on the afternoon train, arriving in the early evening.

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Day 7

Private road journey to Lake Titicaca.

Travel by private bus from Cusco to Puno, on Lake Titicaca, a spectacular 8 hour journey (including stops) that climbs to over 4,300m. Flanked by snow-capped peaks, the lonely road cuts its way through fields worked by men and oxen; an Andean landscape of adobe huts, and crops of corn and potato. After reaching the highest point of the journey, the bus crosses the altiplano, a large, windswept plain punctuated by occasional market towns, where bowler-hatted women tend their herds of llamas and alpacas.

The vast, indigo Lake Titicaca – almost an inland sea – sits on the Peruvian-Bolivian border, and the fish-laden waters and surrounding fertile soil are the lifeblood of the subsistence farming communities clustered in scores of adobe villages along the water’s edge. Legend has it that this mystical spot is the birthplace of Inca civilisation: the progeny of the Sun God emerged from its depths to found the empire in Cusco.

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Day 8

Boat trip to the Uros Islands and tour of Sillustani.

Today you set out on the lake aboard a motor boat to visit the Uros Islands: gliding over the deep glacial waters on a sunny day is a definite highlight. You alight on the floating islands, constructed entirely from the lake’s tortora reeds – the same material the islanders use to build their canoes – and the ground moves almost imperceptibly beneath your feet. During severe storms, the islands may break up into smaller islets. Once devoted to fishing, the inhabitants now earn their living mainly through selling handicrafts to tourists and, while this is a unique experience, it has the air of a living museum.

In the afternoon, there’s a guided excursion to the Chullpas at Sillustani, towering stone tombs said to be the burial site of the ancient Hatun Colla chiefs. The towers are on the treeless shores of a lonely highland lake; the landscape, while unremittingly bleak, is spellbinding.

Uros, Lake Titicaca

Day 9

Fly to Lima.

Take the morning flight to Lima (1 hour 40 minutes) where you might take an optional tour of the historic centre of the city, including the colonial Plaza de Armas, which is surrounded by monumental buildings from the Spanish colonial and republican eras. There is also time to visit one or two of the world-class museums. In the evening you could celebrate your last night on the cliff top in Miraflores or Barranco sipping a pisco sour cocktail  and watching the sun set over the Pacific.

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Day 10

Depart for international flight or extension.

UK clients arrive home the following day.

Essentials

Tour info

About Our Group Tours

To find out more about how our group tours including group sizes, solo travellers and why to choose us. Please click here.

Tour Leader

On this tour, you’ll be accompanied from start to finish by one of our exceptional Journey Latin America tour leaders. From the moment you land in Latin America until the day the tour ends they will deal with all the practicalities, expertly adapting to the circumstances and individual needs of the group. Rather than different guides in different cities, your leader will get to know the group and keep you informed and entertained as you go.

Summary Of Nights

10 days, 9 nights: Lima 1; Cusco 2; Sacred Valley 1; Machu Picchu 1; Cusco 1; Puno 2; Lima 1.

Accommodation

We use the following mid-range and upper mid-range hotels on this tour.

• Lima: Casa Andina Select Miraflores (2025 – Antigua Miraflores)
• Cusco: Casa Andina Premium
• Sacred Valley: Hotel Pakaritampu
• Machu Picchu: El Mapi
• Lake Titicaca: Posada del Inca

On very rare occasions these hotels can change, however please speak to one of our consultants who can provide full details for each departure if you have any doubts. Address and contact details will be sent out with your final documents.

Transport

2 flights (longest 1 hour 40 minutes); 2 train journeys (longest 3.5 hours); 1 road journey (8 hours approx, including stops). All road transport is operated privately for the group.

Meals

Breakfast daily, lunch day 4.

Optional Excursions

On this tour the price includes excursions in all the places you visit as per the itinerary. There will however likely be some free time when you may choose to take part in an optional excursion. These are booked locally through your tour leader once you are in Latin America, however we are more than happy to advise you of what is on offer in advance of your holiday so you can best plan the excursions that suit you.

For Peru – On all tours that visit Cusco we offer the chance to hike the mini Inca Trail as well as revisit Machu Picchu on the morning after the first visit. Time permitting, we may also be able to offer the climb up Huayna Picchu. If you are interested in any of these optional excursions, please speak to your travel expert in advance to arrange.

Travelling Alone

There is no extra cost for single travellers who are willing to share a room. You will be accommodated with another same-sex member of the group who is also travelling solo. For single travellers who wish to have their own room there are a limited number of single rooms available, which carry a surcharge.

Trip Suitability

There are some early mornings and one long day of travel on this trip. Any countryside walks are optional, some more strenuous than others, and you can discuss with your tour leader which are suitable for you around Machu Picchu. The streets in Cusco are cobbled and steep and you must be cautious at altitude.

Altitude

Your stays in Cusco, the Sacred Valley and at Lake Titicaca are at high altitude (2,800-4,000m). A small minority of visitors may suffer temporarily from altitude sickness. Symptoms vary; most common are mild headaches, slight nausea and breathlessness. If you don’t recover in a day or two speak to your tour leader; in very rare instances it is necessary to descend to lower altitudes. Most people are unaffected and if you drink plenty of water and allow your body to acclimatise (don’t exert yourself or drink alcohol) in the first couple of days after arrival, you will minimise your chances of suffering any symptoms.

Please refer to our Briefing Dossier for further information.

Climate

The coast has a moderate climate year round whilst the rainy season in the Andes runs between November and April when there are showers most afternoons. At altitude the sun can be strong in the day but temperature can drop significantly at night. We run this tour year round.

A comprehensive overview of the weather in all the regions you are visiting can be found in our Destination pages. Our Travel Experts can answer your questions on climate and further details will be sent with your confirmation documents.

Clothing, Equipment and Luggage

For day-to-day wear you should go prepared to encounter all seasons and should pack for warm days and cool nights. A daypack is essential for carrying rainwear, snacks, books/tablet and a water bottle as are comfortable walking shoes. Bring a hat with a visor, sunglasses and sun block.

Due to luggage restrictions on the train to Machu Picchu, you will leave the bulk of your baggage in the Cusco hotel, which will be waiting for you on your return. You can take up to 5kgs per person on the train. An overnight holdall/rucksack is recommended to separate your luggage for the time spent away.

Money

Please see the Country Info tab on this holiday for our latest currency information and advice about how to take your spending money. Tipping in Latin America is almost always done using cash. It is customary to tip tour leaders, local guides, drivers, boat crews and other service providers such as restaurant staff and porters. Full tipping guidelines are sent with your confirmation documents as is advice on local costs.

Health, Entry Requirements and Insurance

For health information on travelling to Peru including recommended vaccinations, please see https://travelhealthpro.org.uk/

All Latin American countries have specific entry regulations related to Covid 19. Please also check our Travel Hub for further information.

Holders of a full British passport do not require a visa, although passports should be valid for at least 6 months after the trip begins. Other nationalities should enquire with us or check with the consulates.

Travel insurance is essential. Details of our recommended policy can be found on the Travel insurance website.

Our full briefing dossier contains more information on vaccinations, visas and insurance and will be provided with your final travel documents or can be requested from your travel consultant at any time.

What's included in the price

  • Services of Journey Latin America tour leader
  • All land and domestic air transport
  • Accommodation as specified
  • Meals as specified
  • Excursions as specified

Included Excursions

  • Cusco: guided city tour and visit to Sacsayhuamán temple fortress
  • Cusco: guided tour of the Sacred Valley of the Incas
  • Machu Picchu: guided tour of the ruins
  • Lake Titicaca: Uros Islands boat trip
  • Lake Titicaca: guided excursion to Sillustani

What's not included in the price

  • Tips and insurance
  • Meals other than specified
  • Optional excursions
  • Some local airport taxes
Bartolome, Galápagos

Meet our team

Real Latin american experts

  • Maggie
    Maggie Wilson - Travel Expert

    Maggie visited Latin America on her first backpacking trip when she was 19. Since then, she has taken every opportunity to travel, and has managed to explore a lot of the region in subsequent trips.

  • Charlotte
    Charlotte Daubeney - Travel Expert

    Charlotte's fascination with Latin America began with a family holiday to Belize. She went on to study Spanish in school and at university before spending a year living in Santiago, Chile.

  • Lina
    Lina Fuller - Travel Expert

    Lina's passion for the continent where she was born really took off when she moved to Córdoba (Argentina) to study, spending the holidays travelling between Argentina and her native Colombia.

  • Paul Winrow Giffin
    Paul Winrow-Giffin - Travel Expert

    After graduating in Computer Science, Paul spent seven months travelling from Colombia to Argentina and came home hooked on Latin America.

  • Chris
    Chris Rendell-Dunn - Travel Expert

    Anglo-Peruvian Chris grew up in Lima and spent much of his adult life in between London and Cusco as a tour leader, before settling permanently in our London-based Tailor-made and Group Tours sales team.

  • Mary
    Mary Anne Nelson - Travel Expert

    Born in the Atacama Desert in northern Chile, Mary’s insider knowledge and dry sense of humour make her a highly valued member of the Tailor-made Holidays and Group Tour sales team.

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