12-Day Peru Tour: Lima, Machu Picchu & Lake Titicaca

Condors soar above Colca Canyon at dawn, one of the world's deepest gorges.

A 12-day guided tour of Peru starting in Lima and moving through the coast, highlands and Sacred Valley to reach Machu Picchu, with a live guide in English or Spanish. The itinerary includes the Nazca Lines (by overflight), Ballestas Islands, Lake Titicaca, Colca Canyon and the archaeological sites around Cusco: all transport between cities, 11 nights of hotel accommodation and entry fees are included. Passport details are required at booking; the Nazca overflight holds 12 passengers maximum and is not recommended for children under 8; Machu Picchu tickets are non-refundable and date changes incur a new ticket purchase.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1: Welcome to Lima, The City of The Kings

• Arrival in Lima and transfer to hotel
• Afternoon tour: Love Park and Huaca Pucllana
• Visit Main Square, Cathedral, and Santo Domingo Convent

Day 2: Lima to Paracas by bus: Pampas de Nasca Enigmas

• Transfer to bus station and depart to Paracas
• Fly over Nazca Lines
• Free afternoon in Paracas

Day 3: Paracas National Reserve & Bus to Lima

• Boat tour to Ballestas Islands
• See the Chandelier geoglyph
• Transfer to bus station and depart to Lima
• Arrival and transfer to hotel in Lima

Day 4: Lima to Arequipa by air. City tour

• Transfer to airport and fly to Arequipa
• Arrival and transfer to hotel
• Free morning
• Afternoon city tour: San Lazaro, Carmen Alto viewpoint
• Visit Yanahuara district and Santa Catalina Monastery
• Visit Main Square and Church of the Society of Jesus

Day 5: The volcanos route, Pampa Cañahuas and Chivay

• Travel to Colca Valley via Chachani foothills
• Cross Pampa Cañahuas vicuñas reservation
• Stop for lunch en route
• Free afternoon and optional thermal baths visit

Day 6: Colca Canyon, Cruz del Cóndor and Route to Puno

• Visit Condor Cross viewpoint early morning
• Visit Maca and Yanque towns
• Lunch
• Bus trip to Puno
• Arrival and transfer to hotel in Puno

Day 7: The Titicaca Sacred Lake and its islands

• Visit Uros floating islands
• Visit Taquile Island and explore
• Typical lunch on Taquile Island
• Return to Puno

Day 8: Route of the Altiplano

• Depart to Cusco by tour bus
• Visit Pucara Museum
• Lunch and view at La Raya
• Visit Racchi Temple of Wiracocha
• Visit Andahuaylillas chapel
• Arrival and stay in Cusco

Day 9: Cusco and Archaeological Park of Sacsayhuaman

• Visit Sacsayhuaman fortress
• Visit Inca Shrine Qenqo
• Visit Puca Pucara viewpoint and Tambomachay
• Afternoon city tour: San Cristobal Plaza
• Visit San Pedro Market
• Visit Korikancha temple and Santo Domingo Church
• Walk San Blas to Main Square, visit Cathedral

Day 10: Chinchero, Moray and Ollantaytambo

• Visit Chinchero village and textile center
• Visit Inca plaza and colonial church
• Visit Moray archaeological site
• Lunch
• Visit Ollantaytambo village and temples

Day 11: Machu Picchu, the Lost City

• Board train at Ollantaytambo station
• Arrive Machu Picchu station and bus up
• Visit Machu Picchu ruins
• Lunch
• Return by train to Cusco
• Transfer to hotel in Cusco

Day 12: Farewell day

• Departure transfer

The experience

The tour begins in Lima with a meet-and-greet at the airport and a same-day visit to the Historic Centre: Love Park in Miraflores overlooking the Pacific, the Huaca Pucllana ceremonial site, the Cathedral, and the Santo Domingo Convent where the remains of 17th-century saints rest. From there, a bus carries you south to Paracas for a small-plane overflight of the Nazca Lines, enormous geoglyphs visible only from the air that depict animals and insects. The plane accommodates up to 12 passengers. The next morning, a boat tour visits the Ballestas Islands to watch sea lions, Humboldt penguins and pelicans, then you return to Lima by bus.

A domestic flight takes you to Arequipa, where an afternoon tour covers the white city's colonial districts, Carmen Alto viewpoint with views of three volcanoes (Misti, Chachani, Pichu-Pichu), the Santa Catalina Monastery, and the Cathedral. From Arequipa, the route climbs into the highlands toward Colca Canyon, crossing the vicuña reservation of Pampa Cañahuas where wild camelids roam the high Andean grasslands. At dawn on day six, you stand at the Cruz del Cóndor viewpoint to watch Andean condors ride the thermals above one of the world's deepest canyons. After visiting the colonial towns of Maca and Yanque, a five-hour bus journey takes you to Puno on Lake Titicaca.

A full day on Lake Titicaca includes visits to the Uros, floating islands handmade from totora reeds, and Taquile Island, where residents maintain ancestral weaving traditions and wear colorful traditional dress. Lunch is provided on the island. The route then crosses the altiplano toward Cusco, stopping at the Pucara Museum for local ceramics, La Raya (the natural border between regions), the Temple of Wiracocha at Racchi, and the chapel at Andahuaylillas. In Cusco, a full day covers Sacsayhuaman fortress with its colossal stone construction, the Inca shrine Qenqo, Puca Pucara, Tambomachay, the San Pedro Market, the Korikancha temple (the "Gold Enclosure"), and the Cathedral. The Sacred Valley leg visits Chinchero village famous for weaving, the concentric agricultural terraces of Moray, and Ollantaytambo, the last living Inca village, with its Temple of the Ten Windows and Sun Temple.

The final full day reaches Machu Picchu: a train departs from Ollantaytambo station and descends the Urubamba river canyon to the archaeological site, where you explore the terraces, staircases, ceremonial areas and urban zones. Lunch is included. A return train and transfer complete the day, and you spend the final night in Cusco before the departure transfer. All bus tickets between cities, hotel stays, guided tours, and site entries are included. You arrange your own meals and gratuities. A live guide conducts the tour in your choice of English or Spanish.

What’s included

• Bus transport between Lima, Paracas and Lima.
• the Nazca Lines overflight.
• the Ballestas Islands boat tour.
• all guided tours and excursions listed in the itinerary.
• 11 nights of hotel accommodation (category depends on your option).
• all transfers to and from airports, hotels, train stations and bus stations.
• entry to Sacsayhuaman, Qenqo, Puca Pucara, Tambomachay, the Korikancha temple, Chinchero, Moray, Ollantaytambo, and Machu Picchu.
• lunch on Taquile Island and lunch on the day of Machu Picchu.
• a live guide in English or Spanish throughout.

Options for this experience

8 options

Guide in English or SpanishNo fixed time

Guide in English or SpanishNo fixed time

Guide in English or SpanishNo fixed time

See 5 more options

Guide in English or SpanishNo fixed time

Guide in English or SpanishNo fixed time

Guide in English or SpanishNo fixed time

Guide in English or SpanishNo fixed time

Guide in English or SpanishNo fixed time

You pick the guide language when booking. Options with the same name differ in details you'll see when you pick a date.

You see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates & prices

Before you book

Days and timesEvery day

AgesAdult (12 and older) · Child (4 to 11 years) · Under 4: can't be included in the booking

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.You can choose from 2 pickup points.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated yesterday

Good to know

Easy physical level

Operated by VIPAC Travel

Is this one for you?Book this if you want everything arranged (transport, hotels, entries) across Peru's regions in one package, rather than coordinating each leg separately.

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Top questions

What languages is the guide in?

Live guide in English and Spanish.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (4 to 11 years). Under 4: they can't be included in the booking.

What is the Nazca Lines overflight like, and who can do it?

The Nazca Lines overflight is a small-plane tour over massive geoglyphs depicting animals and insects that are only visible from the air. The plane holds up to 12 passengers and is not recommended for children under 8 years old.

Do I need to book domestic flights separately, or are they included?

The domestic flight from Cusco to Lima is not included in the tour price and must be arranged separately. However, all transfers to and from airports are included, and you'll provide your flight itinerary at booking so the tour can coordinate pickups and drop-offs.

What happens at Lake Titicaca, and how much time do I spend there?

Lake Titicaca includes a full day visiting the Uros floating islands made of totora reeds and Taquile Island, where residents maintain ancestral traditions and colorful dress. A typical lunch is provided on the island, and you return to Puno in the afternoon.

Can I change my Machu Picchu visit date if I need to?

Machu Picchu admission tickets are non-refundable and date changes are not accepted. If you need to visit on a different date, you must purchase a new entrance ticket at full price.

What are the accommodation options, and how many nights do I stay?

You stay 11 nights in hotel accommodation across Lima, Paracas, Arequipa, Colca Valley, Puno (two nights), Cusco (two nights), the Sacred Valley, and Cusco again. The tour offers single and double room options at Economy, Tourist, Deluxe and First Class levels, and the category you choose determines your hotel standard at each location.

Is altitude sickness a concern, and what should I do about it?

The tour climbs to high elevations in the Andes, particularly around Puno, Cusco and Colca Canyon, so altitude sickness is possible. The operator recommends bringing medicine or consulting your doctor before departure if you are prone to it.