Peru
Footsteps of the Chasquis on the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu
Chasqui Active Tour - 14 Night Itinerary
An active Tour of Peru, with day walks in the Colca Canyon and the Sacred Valley. The tour finishes with the incredible Inca Trail trek to Machu Picchu.
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Travel Highlights
- An active tour of Peru, walking through stunning mountain landscapes.
- Discover historic Lima with its fascinating museums and excellent fusion cuisine.
- Visit the colonial city of Arequipa and watch condors in the Colca Canyon.
- Continue to the birthplace of the Inca civilisation at Lake Titicaca
- Admire the stunning mountain scenery along the Andes
- Visit the Inca Empire in Cusco and walk in the Sacred Valley countryside
- The highlight is your trek along the Inca Trail to the legendary Machu Picchu
Tour Route
- Lima - 2 Nights
- Arequipa - 1 Night
- Colca Canyon - 1 Night
- Lake Titicaca - 2 Nights
- Sacred Valley of the Incas - 3 Nights
- Inca Trail to Machu Picchu - 3 Nights
- Cusco - 2 Nights
- Return via Lima
This itinerary can be tailored to your preferences by our specialist advisors, who can provide a guaranteed price based on your choice of departure date, route, duration, flights, cabin, hotels, transport and excursions.
Request QuotationTour Itinerary
Lima
2 NightsDay 1 - Fly to Lima
Day 2 - Welcome to Lima
Day 3 - Optional tours
- Full Description
- Accommodation
Fly to Lima
Depart the UK on an overnight flight to Lima.
Wednesday, 26 March 2025
Welcome to Lima
Arrive Lima in the morning. You will be met at the airport by your tour guide who will take you to your hotel for a 2-night stay including breakfast. Your guide will provide a short walking introduction to the local area. It is also an opportunity for our guide to give advice, explain your programme and answer any questions you may have. In the afternoon take a guided tour of the city including the historic centre. Visit the Presidential Palace, Plaza San Martín and the Larco Herrera Museum, with a fabulous collection of ancient artefacts from all over Peru.
Thursday, 27 March 2025
Optional tours
Lima is known as the "City of Kings" and has an interesting and attractive historic centre containing valuable examples of colonial and republican architecture. The commercial and administrative centre of the Spanish empire in South America, bringing a period of prosperity to the city
Today, enjoy a choice of optional guided tours, including: a tour to the Pachacamac ruins, a sacred and ceremonial site dating back to the beginnings of Christianity; a culinary tour of Lima by night; a full day visit and flight over the Nazca Lines - incredible geoglyph figures of animals, birds and geometric figures etched in the desert; a visit to the Paracas Islands; or a walking tour discovering Lima's wonderful array of street food.
Ursula Leonardo
Allpa
This small contemporary hotel is located in the heart of Miraflores, with plenty of access to local conveniences such as restaurants and shops. The rooms are comfortable, spacious and modern although simple in character, and all with modern amenities such as WiFi, air conditioning and private facilities. The hotel has a bar and restaurant serving…
Casa Andina Private Collection
The stylish Casa Andina Private Collection is located in the heart of Miraflores, close to many excellent restaurants. The 148 rooms are furnished in the modern European style, with modern amenities and private facilities. There is a lounge, swimming pool, bar, restaurant, and adjoining sandwich cafe for light snacks.
Accommodation is on a bed and breakfast…
Hotel "B"
A superbly renovated family house in the bohemian area Barranco, Arts Hotel "B" is a fusion of high-ceiling historical elegance and modern cultural sophistication. The rooms are spacious and elegant with modern amenties, some with balconies overlooking the boulevard or the square. The restaurant offers excellent modern Peruvian cuisine, providing the highest levels of service.
Accommodation…
Arequipa
1 NightDay 4 - Tour of Arequipa & Santa Catalina Convent
- Full Description
- Accommodation
Tour of Arequipa & Santa Catalina Convent
Leaving Lima in the early morning, travel by plane to Arequipa set in a rich green valley at the foot of the mighty El Misti Volcano. Transfer to your chosen hotel for a 1 night stay. The buildings in the centre have been built almost exclusively of the volcanic material 'sillar', a white, porous rock, giving Arequipa its nickname of 'The White City'.
Your guide and transport will meet you at your hotel for a delightful guided tour which visits the church of La Compania and other colonial buildings, including the Plaza de Armas and the Cathedral. The Santa Catalina Convent once held some two hundred nuns and is a maze of colourful alleyways and rooms and provides a fascinating insight into the way the nuns once lived.
Posada Del Monasterio San Augustin
In a perfect location in front of the Convent of Santa Catalina, the characterful San Agustin Posada del Monasterio Hotel is a traditional Sillar house dating back to the 18th century. It has been completely restored preserving its architectural heritage with modern touches.
The hotel has 46 rooms, a restaurant serving international and local dishes and…
Casa Andina Premium
Formerly the old Mint, the Casa Andina Premium Arequipa has been beautifully restored into a modern first class hotel with lots of character. The hotel is well located in front of the Santa Catalina Convent and within easy walking distance from the Plaza de Armas.
Public areas include a restaurant and bar. There is free Wi-Fi…
Colca Canyon
1 NightDay 5 - Travel through scenic mountains to Colca Canyon
- Full Description
Travel through scenic mountains to Colca Canyon
Today we head for the hills with a scenic drive to the Colca Canyon, passing majestic volcanoes and the stunning mountain landscapes on a desert plateaux. Lunch is included today. We drive to the Cruz del Condor and walk along the top of the canyon, observing condors soaring above. You will stay 1 night at a local hotel in the Canyon.
Lake Titicaca
2 NightsDay 6 - Puno, Lake Titicaca
Day 7 - Tour of Uros and Taquile Islands
- Full Description
- Accommodation
Puno, Lake Titicaca
This morning, we take a walk past the extensive Inca terracing and through the villages of Cabancay, Chivay & Mara, whose local ladies still dress in their traditional embroidered dresses and hats. After an included lunch, we continue by road over the Altiplano to Puno, on the shore of Lake Titicaca, where we stay for 2 nights.
Monday, 31 March 2025
Tour of Uros and Taquile Islands
Today enjoy a fascinating full day boat trip exploring the unique floating Uros Islands on Lake Titicaca. You will meet the local villagers who still live in a traditional way - fishing in the lake and dressing in a style not changed for centuries. We continue to the rocky island of Taquile with just 2000 inhabitants. Here, it is the men that do the knitting of the warm garments and textiles required for living in the highest lake in the world.
Manuel Quispe
Casa Andina Premium
The Casa Andina Premium, Puno is a few minutes’ walk outside of Puno city centre, including Lima Street which is very popular amongst tourists and locals alike.
The hotel lobby boasts a stone fireplace, ideal for warming up after being out in cold weather. It has 53 rooms, all with TV, FREE Wi-Fi, telephone, en-suite bathroom…
Libertador Hotel
The Libertador Luxury Hotel is a beautiful and spacious hotel sets on the Esteves Island overlooking Lake Titicaca, the world´s highest navigable lake. All the rooms have a wonderful panoramic view, from where you can see the most beautiful sunrises. The hotel is located only 5 minutes from downtown Puno, 45 minutes from the airport…
Casa Andina Private Collection
Located on the shores of Lake Titicaca, in the surroundings of Puno city, the Casa Andina Private Collection Puno sits at 3,800 meters above sea level. Each of the 46 rooms includes a cable TV, heating, telephone, safe deposit box and a large private bathroom with hairdryer. The hotel features an excellent restaurant with stunning…
Sacred Valley of the Incas
3 NightsDay 8 - Journey to Cusco
Day 9 - Full day tour of the Sacred Valley
Day 10 - At leisure in Cusco
- Full Description
- Accommodation
Bus or train journey to Cusco
Journey by bus (tourist class), private vehicle (first class, Peru Rail's excellent scheduled train service to Cusco. We also recommend upgrading to the Andean Explorer, where lunch and high tea are served at your seat and entertainment provided along the way. Whatever mode of travel you choose, you will enjoy an unforgettable journey across the Andean altiplano, offering dramatic landscapes, stopping at local villages and meeting local people who will try to sell you their authentic textiles and handicrafts
On arrival in Cusco, you will be met by our representative and taken to your hotel in the Sacred Valley, staying for 3 nights.
Wednesday, 02 April 2025
Full day tour of the Sacred Valley
Enjoy our extensive, special full day tour of the Sacred Valley. We begin by visiting the market at Chinchero, where locals come to barter and sell local produce and handicrafts. We also visit a local weaving collective to learn the traditions of weaving by hand on a back-strap loom. Next you will proceed to Moray, thought to have been an open-air crop laboratory of the Incas and continue to the pre-Inca salt pans of Maras.
After lunch, we visit the stunning fortress town and ruins of Ollantaytambo. This large archaeological complex is believed to have been a significant agricultural, administrative, social, religious and military centre. The town itself is geometrically perfect; with straight streets, trapezoidal doors and Inca drainage systems. Finally we travel to the colonial town of Pisac, built on the ruins of an Inca citadel and located at the entrance to the immensely fertile Urubamba "Sacred" Valley. Here you can see the bustling market and watch the sunset over the mountains from the ruins.
Thursday, 03 April 2025
At leisure in Cusco
Today is at leisure to relax in your hotel or explore more of the Sacred Valley on an optional excursion.
Fernando Chara
Pakaritampu
The Pakaritampu Hotel is located in Ollantaytambo in the heart of the Sacred Valley; ideally situated for exploring the Sacred Valley, starting the Inca Trail, and taking the train to Aguas Calientes. The hotel has large gardens hosting a variety of local plants and flowers and is a series of four separate buildings, built according…
Rio Sagrado
North of Cuzco City, along the shoreline of the Urubamba River, lays the region properly baptized as the Sacred Valley of the Incas, lands where mysterious mountains seem to still guard ancient and lost temples built for the Inca sun god Wiraqocha. Centrally located 3.2 kilometers from the Town of Urubamba, 15 minutes away from…
Explora Valle Sagrado
Part of the Explora group of lodges the Valle Sagrado lodge offers all you would expect of a luxury hotel with a design inspired by the local environment and culture. Located in a secluded hacienda and ancient corn plantation, amidst the mountains that were once the centre of the Inca Empire, it includes all meals,…
Inca Trail to Machu Picchu
3 NightsDay 11 - Trekking the Inca Trail
Day 12 - Ancient Inca Trail trek through scenic passes
Day 13 - Ancient Inca Trail trek - ruins at Phuyupatamarca and Winaywayna
- Full Description
Trekking the ancient Inca Trail
We offer two ways to trek the famous Inca Trail: with a private guide, porters and cook; or for a lower cost per person, you can take the trek as part of a small group. Regardless of whether you travel in private or as part of a group, you will spend three nights under canvas, with all meals, guide, sleeping bag, equipment and porters provided. After a road transfer from your hotel, we begin the trek at Cusichhaca bridge from where we head uphill on the ancient Inca Trail experiencing cloud forests and jungle, past old Inca ruins and running streams. We visit local communities and admire the most incredible scenic views.
Saturday, 05 April 2025
Ancient Inca Trail through scenic passes
We continue on our trek through the plains of Lluichapampa, just below the dreaded Dead-Woman's Pass. As the altitude is high today, our pace is slow as we climb this stunning pass. When you reach the top, we relax and take in the magnificent views. From here, we descend into the valley for lunch ready for another climb in the afternoon. En-route we pass the ruins at Runkuracay and Sayacmarca. Camp tonight is in a sheltered, tropical area of the Sacred Valley.
Sunday, 06 April 2025
Ancient Inca Trail trek - ruins at Phuyupatamarca and Winaywayna
We start today walking through cloud forest along the ancient Inca pathways finally reaching the 3rd pass. Here we visit the ruins of Phuyupatamarca from where we continue downhill to Winaywayna ruins in time for lunch. This is our magical location where we make camp for the night. We have a leisurely afternoon so you have time to visit the ruins at Winaywayna.
Cusco
2 NightsDay 14 - Machu Picchu and Cusco
Day 15 - Guided tour of Cusco
- Full Description
- Accommodation
Guided tour of Machu Picchu
An early morning start today to get to Intipunku, the Sun Gate, in time for sunrise. It is a very special experience to view Machu Picchu emerge through the clouds as the day begins. We take a short walk to the awe-inspiring sanctuary of Machu Picchu itself for a guided tour of the site. You have the option of climbing Huayna Picchu, the mountain that shadows Machu Picchu, offering fabulous views and photo opportunities. In the afternoon, we return to Cusco on the Vistadome train. On arrival, transfer to your chosen hotel for a 2 night stay.
Tuesday, 08 April 2025
Guided tour of Cusco
Enjoy your final day in Peru with a guided tour of Cusco. Beginning in the main square of Cusco we visit the cathedral, built by the Spanish on Inca foundations and with an unusual local variation of the painting of the Last Supper. We also visit Qoricancha, the Temple of the Sun, part of which survived having a Colonial church built on top of it. From the city centre we travel into the mountains above Cusco to visit the archaeological sites of Sacsayhuaman, Puca Pucara and Kenko. The mighty fortress and complex of Sacsayhuaman was built with massive stones, some weighing over 100 tons, and which all fit together like a jigsaw, without mortar.
Marvin Abato
Maytaq Wasin
Situated in the heart of the Incan empire, only a few steps away from the main plaza, the Maytaq Wasin Hotel is contemporary in design, boasts high ceiling and plenty of natural light. There is a shaded terrace with views of the hills and chic common areas with modern decor. The hotel is only 150…
Casa Andina Premium
This beautifully renovated 18th-century manor house, just 4 blocks from Cusco’s main square – Plaza de Armas, is complete with authentic colonial character. It offers the intimacy of a boutique hotel but the comforts and services of a much larger property.
The hotel has 93 air-conditioned rooms offering private bathroom, safe, minibar, safe, TV, kettle and…
Belmond Monasterio de Cusco
Built 300 years ago atop Inca foundations, the building was originally the Seminary of San Antonio Abad. In 1995, the seminary was tastefully converted into a luxury hotel while still preserving its original architecture of arched galleries surrounding two elegant colonial style courtyards. The Belmond Monasterio de Cusco is Cuzco's premier hotel, providing its guests…
Return via Lima
Day 16 - Flight to Lima and return home
Day 17 - Arrive in UK
- Full Description
Flight to Lima and return home
Morning to explore Cusco, before boarding an afternoon flight to Lima to connect with the overnight flight back to the UK.
Thursday, 10 April 2025
Arrive in the UK
Arrive in the UK in the morning.
Price Guidelines
| Season | Low Season | High Season | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Travel Dates | April-June & September-November | December-March & July-August | ||
| Room Arrangement | Tourist | First | Tourist | First |
| Multiple Travellers - Twin Rooms | £4,618 | £5,466 | £5,254 | £6,248 |
Prices are a guideline per person, for travel within the next year and booking early and are subject to availability. Please see below what is included and request a detailed quotation with a guaranteed price for your specific departure date and for Special Events, Summer, Christmas, New Year's Eve & Easter.
What's Included
- 17 Days/14 Nights
- International flights (2 overnight)
- Internal flights
- Accommodation as shown on the itinerary
- 14 breakfasts, 4 lunches, and 3 dinners
- Transfers to and from airports
- Transport throughout the itinerary
- Note - tourist pricing use shared transport, first class use private
- Excursions listed, all with expert, English-speaking guides
- Exclusive list of restaurant suggestions
- Prices are per person
- Prices for Special Events, Christmas, New Year's Eve, Easter on request
Complete a form or call our specialist advisors to start planning your trip. Please provide as much information as possible, and we will aim to respond to your enquiry the same or next working day.
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