Best of Peru - Premium Adventure

Welcome to Lima, the busy capital of Peru. There's plenty of adventure on your trip, but today's all about settling into the hotel. You will be met at the airport and transferred to our hotel in the Miraflores district of Lima. There will be a notice board in the hotel reception with details of where and when the group welcome briefing will be held. Stay: Casa Andina Select Miraflores (four-star).

We have an early start today for our flight to Arequipa, known as the White City due to the pale volcanic stone used to construct many of the fine colonial buildings. This picturesque city is surrounded by 19,685ft (6,000m) tall volcanoes, including the near-perfect cone of El Misti. Lunch will be at an Arequipa picanteria (a traditional lunchtime restaurant). Our afternoon tour has us exploring the historic city centre, including the Plaza de Armas (main square), and finishes at the colourful, serene Santa Catalina convent, which was built in 1580 and is still cared for by the nuns who reside within. Stay: Hotel Mint, Arequipa (four-star) (B/L).

A spectacular drive over the Andean high plains, known as the Altiplano, brings us to the Colca Canyon, one of the deepest canyons in the world. On the way, we pass volcanoes and will almost certainly see vicuñas (relatives of the lama) in the highlands, before we cross the Patapampa Pass (16,110ft/4,910m), which marks the descent into the canyon itself. As we take the winding road to the town of Chivay for a short stop, the sight of the green, fertile canyon terraces is a contrast to the barren yet beautiful Altiplano landscapes.

This is the first day we may feel the effects of altitude. We don't linger at the top of the pass, but spend the night around 11,810ft (3,600m), so take it easy on arrival and enjoy the natural hot springs at Colca Lodge. Overlooking the Colca River, the Colca Lodge is a jaw-dropping location to spend the next two nights. Stay: Colca Lodge Spa & Hot Springs, Colca Valley (four-star) (B/D).

We spend a full day exploring the Colca Canyon, starting with a visit to the Cruz del Condor, the best place to see mighty Andean condors as they glide on the morning thermals. We also see ancient tombs that line the cliffs on one side of the canyon and make stops in the villages along the way, which house several interesting colonial churches.

In the afternoon, we set off on foot from Colca Lodge to visit the nearby pre-Incan ruins of Uyo Uyo. After, we return for another rejuvenating soak in the natural thermal pools before dinner. Stay: Colca Lodge Spa & Hot Springs, Colca Valley (four-star) (B/D).

Today, we drive through the high mountain plains to Puno on the shores of Lake Titicaca. En route, we can spot vicuña herds before making a short visit to the pre-Inca burial towers (chullpas) of Sillustani. Our hotel tonight is ideally situated on the Lake Titicaca shores – the perfect place to watch sunset over the lake. Stay: Casa Andina Premium Puno, Puno (four-star) (B/L).

Enjoy a full day on Lake Titicaca as we visit the floating islands of Uros and Taquile. First, we take a boat to Uros where the community has been living on rafts made of reeds for centuries; though many have now moved to the mainland, there are still a couple of thousand who remain on the islands anchored close to Puno. A reasonable amount of their income is now provided by strictly regulated tourism, but they still fish the lake and barter with mainland communities to obtain daily essentials.

Afterwards, we visit Taquile, home to a community known for their male-only weavers and traditional lifestyle. The panoramic views of the lake from the island are incredible, and it is often possible to see the snow-capped peaks of the Cordillera Real in the distance. Stay: Casa Andina Premium Puno, Puno (four-star) (B/L).

In the morning, we take a relaxing journey across the stark yet beautiful Altiplano, which separates the Andes from the jungle. On the way to Cuzco, we make stops to stretch our legs, visit some of the most interesting sites and have lunch. We arrive in Cuzco this afternoon with time for an introductory walking tour of this historic city, which features both Inca and colonial architecture. Stay: Xima Hotel, Cuzco (four-star) (B/L).

This morning, we explore the heart of the Inca Empire, seeing the highlights of Cuzco both in and above the city. In the centre, Cuzco Cathedral and Qoricancha (Sun Temple of the Incas) feature arguably the finest example of Inca stone craft. On the hill overlooking Cuzco, we visit the monolithic stone fortress site of Sacsayhuaman, where the Incan armies made their last stand against the Conquistadores. As we head into the Sacred Valley to Ollantaytambo, we visit the immense Inca fortress and explore this unique village, where many streets and facades remain unchanged and continuously inhabited since Inca times. Stay: Del Pilar Ollantaytambo, Ollantaytambo (four-star) (B/L).

We wake early for a scenic train journey through the Urubamba River Valley (approximately 1hr 20min) to the trail checkpoint at Km104, where we disembark and start our full-day Inca Trail trek to Machu Picchu. We begin by climbing 3600ft (1097m) to the beautiful ruins complex of Wiñay Wayna (Forever Young). We'll take it nice and easy on this part of the trail, with plenty of stops to catch our breath and take in the spectacular views. At Wiñay Wayna we will relax and enjoy our box lunch.

From there we head off along one of the most beautiful (and relatively flat) sections of the Inca Trail, winding past wild orchids to finally arrive at the famous Sun Gate (Inti Punku), where we get our first full sight of Machu Picchu. Our afternoon arrival offers great photo opportunities as we descend into the ruins complex for classic photos. With our full tour tomorrow, we exit the site and board the bus to Aguas Calientes to enjoy a well-earned meal, shower and a comfortable bed for the night in preparation for our early return to Machu Picchu. Stay: Tierra Viva Machu Picchu Hotel, Aguas Calientes (four-star) (B/L).

To beat the daytrippers from Cuzco and reach the ruins as early as possible, we book early morning buses and entry tickets to Machu Picchu. The Inca citadel is one of the architectural and engineering marvels of the ancient world, enhanced by a mountain backdrop of staggering immensity. The Spaniards never found it; the Incas left no records of it, and so Machu Picchu remained a great enigma, a city lost for centuries in the jungle until it was rediscovered in 1911 by American historian Hiram Bingham. After our tour, we catch our afternoon train to Ollantaytambo (1hr 30min) with a short drive to our hotel in the Sacred Valley to relax and celebrate our Machu Picchu adventure. Stay: Casa Andina Premium Valle Sagrado Hotel & Villas, Ollantaytambo (five-star) (B/D).

This morning, we depart the scenic Sacred Valley as we head up to the traditional weaving community of Chincheros. Along with amazing views of the valley and Vilcabamba mountain range, Chincheros also offers the unique cultural opportunity to enjoy a traditional Andean pachamanca lunch, which is hosted by and supports the local community. This is a real culinary treat, in which the food is wrapped, then buried underground with hot stones to cook it slowly. After, we return to Cuzco with free time to explore solo. Stay: Xima Hotel, Cuzco (four-star) (B/L).

Today has been left free for exploring Cuzco, one of the most beautiful cities in South America. The Plaza de Armas is a fantastic spot for people-watching. The Mercado San Pedro is the place to try local produce and there are many handicraft markets to shop for souvenirs such as alpaca jumpers and scarves. If you fancy something more active, there is an array of other optional activities available from Cuzco including paddleboarding on a lake, mountain biking, or a combination of via ferrata and zip-lining in the Sacred Valley. Stay: Xima Hotel, Cuzco (four-star) (B).

We leave Cuzco early today and take a short flight to Puerto Maldonado.

Upon arrival, we transfer to the riverfront for a 25-minute boat ride along the Madre de Dios River to reach our jungle accommodation at the Inkaterra Hacienda Concepcion lodge, next to the protected Tambopata National Reserve. The reserve is home to a vast number of animal species, plus a variety of plant life greater than almost anywhere in the world. After lunch, we have the option to hike into the rainforest with our expert guide, who will introduce us to the amazing variety of Amazonian flora and fauna. We continue the exploration and take a twilight river cruise, viewing nocturnal creatures as they wake. Stay: Inkaterra Hacienda Concepción, Puerto Maldonado (four-star) (B/L/D).

The varied activities today will generally include a mixture of expertly guided walks along the forest trails, or time spent in canoes to explore Lake Sandoval. This serene lake is home to thousands of bird species, endangered giant river otters, red howler monkeys, red-bellied macaws, anacondas, side-neck turtles and black caimans. We can also go high into the canopy for a completely different view of the forest via a network of canopy walkways. An evening walk is also offered to observe the wildlife and the rainforest by night. Stay: Inkaterra Hacienda Concepción, Puerto Maldonado (four-star) (B/L/D).

Enjoy your last morning waking to a cacophony of jungle sounds before we set off by boat from the lodge, visiting the Butterfly House before our departure flight from Puerto Maldonado back to Lima.

Upon arrival in Lima, we transfer to our Miraflores hotel and the city bustle.

Tonight, we have a special farewell dinner in Lima at a fantastic restaurant at the base of the pre-Incan site of Huaca Pucllana. Stay: Casa Andina Select Miraflores, Lima (four-star) (B/D).

The trip comes to an end today after breakfast and it's time to bid Peru and the rest of the group goodbye. Transfers to Lima Airport are available for all flight inclusive clients in time for the group flight today (B).