Wild Peru

Day 1 - UK - In flight

Titan’s VIP door-to-door travel service collects you from home for your flight to Lima.

UK - In flight

Day 2 - Lima

On arrival in the Peruvian capital, we’ll transfer to our hotel in the Miraflores district.

Hilton Garden Inn Miraflores, Lima (4-star)

Day 3 - Callao, Palomino Islands & Lima

Callao is Lima’s historic port area. The once-rundown Monumental Callao neighbourhood is now a thriving cultural quarter, with vibrant street murals, galleries, open-air cultural events and artists’ studios. We’ll spend some time exploring, before boarding a boat to the nearby Palomino Islands. Part of a National Marine Life Reserve, the waters here are home to sea lions, Humboldt penguins and dolphins, plus a wide variety of sea birds. We’ll pass the islands of San Lorenzo and eL Frontón, and the Cavinzas Islands, before arriving at the Palomino Islands. Here, you’ll have the chance to swim in the company of the playful sea lions (wetsuits will be available); if you’d prefer to stay dry, there will be plenty of wildlife to spot from the boat. In the afternoon, we’ll head back into Lima for a guided tour of the city’s highlights, including the cathedral and its chapels, the City Hall, and San Francisco Convent (which comes complete with ancient catacombs).

Hilton Garden Inn Miraflores, Lima (4-star)

Day 4 - Lima - Amazon rainforest

After a short flight to Puerto Maldonado, we’ll board a boat to transfer to our eco-lodge in the heart of a private rainforest reserve. This afternoon, a guided walk along the reserve’s trail system will introduce us to the incredible ecosystem here in the jungle. Later, we’ll head out onto the river and witness how the forest transforms once darkness falls.

Inkaterra Reserva Amazonica (4-star)

Day 5 - Amazon rainforest

We’ll make our way to Tambopata National reserve today, where we’ll enjoy a fantastic morning on Lake Sandoval. From our wooden canoes, we’ll keep an eye out for a host of wildlife, including endangered species such as giant river otters, red howler monkeys, red-bellied macaws, anacondas and side-necked turtles. Our afternoon will be spent walking through the tropical forest canopy on the Anaconda Trail, a quarter-mile route of walkways connecting eight observation platforms. From our elevated vantage point, we’ll hope to spot colourful toucans, woodpeckers, trogons, monkeys, sloths and much more.

Inkaterra Reserva Amazonica (4-star)

Day 6 - Amazon rainforest

This morning, we’ll travel by river to the Gamitana ravine, home to piranhas, caimans, turtles and abundant birdlife. On the way back, we’ll call in at a sustainable farm to learn about eco-friendly agriculture in the Amazon basin - a fascinating insight into how the local people are working to protect this land and improve the quality of life for their communities. Our afternoon will be spent at Hacienda Concepción, finding out about the uses and benefits of the incredible medicinal plants found in this part of the world. An evening walk gives us another chance to see the nocturnal side of the forest.

Inkaterra Reserva Amazonica (4-star)

Day 7 - Cuzco - Sacred Valley

After a short flight to Cuzco, we’ll transfer to our hotel in the Sacred Valley.

Sonesta Posadas del Inca Yucay, Sacred Valley (3-star)

Day 8 - Sacred Valley

Set within the Mantanay Private Conservation Area, Ensifera Camp is a sanctuary for the hummingbirds of the Sacred Valley. Accompanied by a naturalist guide, we’ll admire more than ten species of hummingbird fluttering around us - a wonderful experience. On our way back to the hotel, we’ll pause at the main square in Urubamba to appreciate its beautiful colonial church. The rest of the day is at leisure.

Sonesta Posadas del Inca Yucay, Sacred Valley (3-star)

Day 9 - Machu Picchu

The Incan city of Machu Picchu is in our sights today. You’ll have two options to reach this hilltop citadel: hike a section of the famous Inca Trail or take the train. If you’re hiking, we’ll head early to the train station to catch a service to km 104 of the trail. From here, it’s a scenic three-hour walk to the archaeological site of Wiñaywayna. There’ll be time to rest and explore the site’s houses, terraces, towers and museum. You can also visit the Inti Punku, or Sun Gate, where you’ll catch your first glimpse of Machu Picchu. The total distance up to Machu Picchu is 11 kilometres, which will take approximately 6-7 hours to walk. After an orientation of the citadel, you’ll return to the hotel, ready to explore Machu Picchu in depth tomorrow morning. If you’ve decided not to hike, we’ll travel by train to Aguas Calientes station, enjoying wonderful views on the way. From here, a bus will take us to the entrance of Machu Picchu. Following in the footsteps of the ancient Incas, we’ll make our way around the citadel, learning more about their way of life and soaking up the cinematic views across the mountains. After lunch at a local restaurant, we’ll make our way back to the hotel in Aguas Calientes.

El MaPi Hotel byInkaterra (4-star)

Day 10 - Cuzco

Those who hiked the Inca Trail yesterday will have the chance to return to Machu Picchu this morning to spend time exploring the citadel. We’ll then regroup for our train ride down to Ollantaytambo, where we’ll have lunch before starting our journey to Cuzco. On the way, we’ll stop off at a textile centre to watch traditional weaving and dyeing techniques, and have a go at hand-feeding the llamas and alpacas. We’ll also visit Pisac market, famous for its handicrafts - browse for souvenirs including pottery, textiles and traditional Peruvian jewellery.

Casa Andina Premium Cusco (5-star)

Day 11 - Cuzco

This morning, we’ll enjoy a guided walking tour of Cuzco. We’ll visit the convent of Santo Domingo, built on the site of an old Incan temple devoted to the Sun God; Compañía de Jesús church, a beautiful colonial building; and the Cathedral, with its wonderful blend of Gothic, baroque and Renaissance style, and its collection of mestizo art. The afternoon is at leisure.

Casa Andina Premium Cusco (5-star)

Day 12 - Huacarpay Lake, Rumichacha Lake & Sacred Garden

Enjoy a fantastic day of birdwatching in the Andean wetlands. We’ll have an early start to make the most of our time, heading first to Huacarpay Lake, a collection of lagoons, swamps and rivers at an altitude of more than 9,000 feet. We might spot peregrine falcons, Andean coots and yellow-billed pintails, plus endemic species including bearded mountaineers and rusty-fronted canasteros. A little way from Huacarpay is Rumichacha. Here, we’ll look out for white-tufted grebes, puna teals and the elusive plumbeous rail. Our final stop for the day will be the Sacred Garden sanctuary, where you’ll have the chance to photograph an array of hummingbirds up close.

Casa Andina Premium Cusco (5-star)

Day 13 - Lima - Paracas

After flying back to Lima, we’ll make our way to the beachside town of Paracas.

Casa Andina Select Paracas (4-star)

Day 14 - Ballestas Islands & Paracas National Reserve

We’ll rise early today for a journey across the Bay of Paracas to the Ballestas Islands. Residents of these islands include pelicans, penguins, buzzards, sea lions and tendrils - bring binoculars or a camera for close-ups. Back on dry land, we’ll explore a little of the Paracas National Reserve, including the famous La Catedral rock formation and Roja beach (known for its orange-red sands). The afternoon is free to relax or explore. An optional excursion can take you over the mysterious Nazca Lines by helicopter. These geoglyphs are thought to have been created thousands of years ago by the Nazca people. Some are simple lines, while others form patterns or shapes, which will be revealed as you soar over them.

Casa Andina Select Paracas (4-star)

Day 15 - Lima

We’ll make our way back to Lima today, spending the afternoon at the fascinating Larco Museum. Housed in an 18th-century mansion, the museum exhibits jewellery from more than 3,000 years of Peru’s pre-Columbian history. As well as gleaming gold and silver jewellery, you’ll be able to see some of the tools used to create it, which showcase the exceptional skill of the Peruvian gold and silversmiths.

Hilton Garden Inn Miraflores, Lima (4-star)

Day 16 - Lima - In flight

Our tour of Peru comes to an end today. We transfer to the airport for your overnight return flight to the UK.

Lima - In flight

Day 17 - UK

Upon arrival, your Titan vehicle will be waiting for the journey home.

UK