Cathedral of Arequipa with El Misti volcano
https://worldstrides.com/itineraries/peru-grand-tour/

Peru: The Grand Tour

From sacred to mysterious, the City of Kings to the heart of the Incan empire

Take your students on the grand tour of Peru. Journey from jungle to mountain and discover this rich country. Your Grand Tour includes visits to Chivay, Condor viewing, small picturesque towns, Lake Titcaca, and Cuzco, the heart of the Incan Empire. Meet with local students, then visit sacred Machu Picchu. Investigate Puerto Maldonado in the Amazon basin, then back to Lima.

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15 Days
Destinations Visited
LimaCuscoPunoSacred ValleyPuerto Maldonado
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67℉ Current Temp
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Highlights

Travel Route

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Your Adventure, Day by Day

Day 1 Fly to Peru
  • Arrive in Lima Fly across the equator to Peru’s bustling capital of Lima. Meet your Tour Director and begin exploring.
Day 2 Lima
  • Explore Lima Discover the "City of the Kings" and see the cathedral, the Plaza de Armas, the Church of San Francisco, and the Presidential Palace.
  • Larco Museum Visit the Larco Museum with its private collection of over 45,000 pieces of craftsmanship, showcasing 4,000 years of Peruvian history.
  • Add on: Peruvian Dance Lessons Immerse yourself in Peruvian culture! Learn traditional dances from the professionals and then sit back and admire a performance.
Day 3 Arequipa
  • Guided Tour Head to Arequipa this morning. A local guide introduces the Main Square, the Cathedral, Cloister and Polychrome Dome of Campania de Jesus during a walking tour of the city.
  • Explore Santa Catalina Monastery See its brightly colored walls, cobblestone streets, fountains and chapels.
  • Museum of the Catholic University of Santa Maria A visit to the Museum of the Catholic University of Santa Maria reveals "Juanita," a 500-year old Inca mummy discovered by an American archaeologist in 1995.
Day 4 Chivay
  • Travel to Chivay Travel through high desert plateaux where Vicunas and Llamas roam wild.
  • Visit the Springs at La Calera This afternoon enjoy a visit to the water springs at La Calera.
Day 5 Condor Cross-Colca Canyon
  • Visit Condor Cross This morning, head to the viewpoint Condor Cross to watch the remarkable, enormous Andean condors, a revered and endangered bird, as they soar above the canyon in search of carrion.
  • See the Colca Canyon You will see the depth of the Colca Canyon, considered the deepest canyon in the world.
  • Return to Chivay Continue through Cabanoconde and the beautiful towns of Maca, Pinchollo and Yanque, as you return to Chivay.
Day 6 Puno
  • Travel to Puno Discover the small towns of Coporaque, Chinina, Uyu Uyu and Ichupampa. Continue to Puno, the "folkloric capital of Peru," known for its artistic culture, specifically its dances.
Day 7 Lake Titicaca
  • Discover Lake Titicaca Explore one of the most famous sites in Peru. The Uros Floating Islands on Lake Titicaca were made by hand from the totora reeds found in the lake, and are still inhabited by native Inca.
  • Taquile Island Visit the island of Taquile and marvel at the traditional costumes worn by the locals.
Day 8 Racchi-Cuzco
  • See the Temple of Wiracocha This morning, head to Cuzco, the historic capital and heart of the Inca Empire. En route, visit Racchi and see ruins of the temple of Wiracocha, the great Inca god.
  • Visit the Chapel of Adahuaylillas This chapel is also know as the "Sistine Chapel of the Andes" for its breathtaking frescoes. Continue to Cuzco.
Day 9 Cuzco
  • Guided Tour Explore Cuzco with a local guide. Take in the sights of the city and surrounding areas, including the Korikancha temple, the ruins of Sacsayhuamán, and the Inca baths of Tampu Machay.
  • LEAP Pago a la Tierra

LEAP Activity | Pago a la Tierra

Discover ancient Incan rituals in one of the oldest traditions in the Andean World. With the help of Paqo, a wise man, participants ‘pay’ Mother Earth for everything she provides by gathering up and offering her a package filled with earthly gifts. The goddess is whimsical and the purpose of this ritual is to please her.

Day 10 Sacred Valley
  • LEAP Peruvian School Visit
  • Visit Pisac and Ollantaytambo Continue your journey along the Inca Trail with an excursion to the towns of Pisac and Ollantaytambo in the valley of the Urubamba.
  • Explore the Fortress of Ollantay Named for the Inca chieftain who once ruled the area, it was the only site in the Americas to successfully withstand the Spanish invasion!
  • LEAP Weaving Culture

LEAP Activity | Peruvian School Visit

Visit a Peruvian school to meet the students, learn about their culture, and discover the differences between the schools in Peru and the schools back home.

LEAP Activity | Weaving Culture

Step into the Andean world and discover the significant role textiles play in Peruvian culture. Learn how to spin, dye, and weave the fabrics that identified social and ethnic groups, and recorded important events. Create a small souvenir of your own

Day 11 Machu Picchu
  • Explore Machu Picchu Board a train and travel through the Sacred Valley for a full-day excursion to Peru’s most renowned destination, the lost Inca city of Machu Picchu. Set on a mountaintop, deep in the jungle, Machu Picchu remained unknown to the outside world until 1911.
  • Walking Tour Take a tour of the "Sacred City" with your local guide and enjoy the spectacular views.
Day 12 Puerto Maldonado
  • Fly to Puerto Maldonado Travel by plane to explore the intriguing town of Puerto Maldonado in the Amazon basin, the biodiversity capital of the world.
  • Jungle Walk Join your local guide for an interpretive jungle walk before getting settled for the night at your Eco-lodge.
Day 13 Puerto Maldonado
  • Visit an Ox Bow lake These jungle lakes serve as sanctuaries for a huge variety of animals, including dozens of bird species and fish. See parrots of all kinds, including the magnificent macaw.
Day 14 Lima
  • Fly to Lima Return to Lima this morning, enjoy a farewell lunch, and depart on an overnight flight to the United States.
Day 15 Arrive Home in the United States
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