Things to do in Andes Mountains, Peru

Travel from Cusco to learn about the majestic Inca city: Machu Picchu and the ancient civilization living there. Discover the secrets that are hidden in it. Go back in time as you explore the streets of these ruins located in the Peruvian Andes.  Begin with an early morning pickup from your hotel in Cusco for transfer to the train station. Get on board and enjoy the comforts offered by the train during the journey to Machu Picchu. Choose from the option of a standard train or a Vistadome train that offers panoramic views. Enjoy the dynamic landscapes of the Peruvian Andes. Arrive in Aguas Calientes and take a bus to the entrance of the citadel of Machu Picchu. Learn about the history of this wonderful place. Depending on the option you select, enjoy a guided visit of Circuit 5. Visit Qolqas, the Agricultural Zone, the waterway, dry pit, Temple of the Sun, Inka House, water sources, set three covers, Pisonay Square, and the archaeological reserve. Take the bus back to Aguas Calientes and get recommendations for lunch. Board the train back to the Ollantaytambo or Poroy station where transportation will be waiting to take you to your hotel in Cusco.

Experience the incredible beauty of Rainbow Mountain on a guided hiking tour. You get a chance to see alpacas, llamas, and vicuñas while soaking in the stunning mountain views during the journey. Savor a local lunch before heading back to your accommodation in Cusco.  Your professional tour guide will pick you up from your accommodation in Cusco between 4:00 AM and 4:30 AM. After a 2-hour drive, you will arrive in Cusipata where you will stop for breakfast and buy water and snacks for the trek. Following breakfast, you'll travel one more hour to the hike starting point, at 4,850 meters. From there you will start your 3.5-kilometer trek to Rainbow Mountain over both flat and uphill terrain. During your hike, you will enjoy amazing views and encounters with wild alpacas, llamas, and vicuñas. Once you reach the top at 5,010 meters, you can make use of some free time to take a break, and if the weather is good, you will be able to enjoy views over Rainbow Mountain. You'll go downhill to the starting spot for another hour. Then, take transportation back to Cusipata where a local lunch will be waiting for you. Once you finish your buffet lunch you will travel back to Cusco, where you will arrive between 4:00 PM and 5:00 PM at Plaza de Armas.

After a convenient hotel pickup from either Paracas or Pisco, head to the Marina Turistica to start your adventure. Board a speedboat with your bilingual, Spanish and English-speaking guide, and jet out onto the sea towards the stunning Ballestas. Along the way, stop at the Paracas Peninsula to see the Candelabro, an enigmatic glyph carved into the side of the island — whose purpose, and creator, remain a mystery to this day. Afterwards, continue onwards towards the marine sanctuary of Ballestas. Gaze upon the rocky shores, filled to the brim with sunbathing seals, and penguins diving into the turbid waters to hunt underneath the surface — all alongside other beautiful specimens, like majestic pelicans, and colorful blue-footed boobies. You’ll then return to the Marina Turistica for a drive to Paracas National Reserve. An almost alien landscape, the Paracas National Reserve is composed of vast, sprawling deserts and high sandstone cliffs directly next to the bright, blue ocean. Driving through the reserve, see the Cathedral, an area where a vast rock formation once stood before being destroyed by a cataclysmic earthquake. Your tour caps things off with visits to Playa Roja and Lagunillas Beach, two stunning maroon-sand beaches that are truly one-of-a-kind. Having seen some of the world's most unique natural features, flora, and fauna, you'll hop back in the car for a convenient transfer back to your hotel.

Tackle the unforgettable Inca Trail, and enjoy a once-in-a-lifetime hike to Machu Picchu. Departing from Cusco, discover one of the world’s oldest pilgrimages on this 4-day trip and explore a cloud forest. Depart from your Cusco hotel early in the morning and drive 82 kilometers to the starting point in Llactapata. Begin your guided hike to the first campsite in Ayapata, located 3300 (10826 feet) meters above sea level. In the morning, make your way to Warmiwañuska, passing two mountains for a total of 10 hours of hiking. Traverse Dead Woman’s Pass, the highest point of the Inca Trail at 4215 meters (13829 feet). Then, cross the Runqurakay Pass, with 4000 meters (13123 feet) to Chaquicocha. After a good night's rest at Chaquicocha, take on the 6-hour trek to Phuyupatamarca and finally the archaeological site of Wiñaywayna at 2600 meters (8530 feet). Pass through a number of ecological zones, home to a diversity of flora and fauna. Spot orchids and bromeliads, as well as hummingbirds, foxes, and deer. Wake up early and hike for 2 hours to Machu Picchu through the Sungate, and enjoy a unique view of Machu Picchu. After exploring Machu Picchu, board the Panoramic train back to Cusco and be dropped off at your hotel in the evening.

Start with pickup from your hotel in Lima at around 05:00 AM, all depends your location in Lima, where you will board the coach for a 03:30-hour journey to Paracas town. Before getting to Paracas, we will stop to have breakfast. On your arrival in Paracas, make your way to the dock where you will board a speedboat to the Ballestas Islands. During your journey to Ballestas, see the enigmatic figure of the Candelabro, a stunning design drawn on the side of a hill in the Peninsula. There are many hypotheses regarding its origin, some believe it is related to the Nazca Lines but still found no proof or evidence that can define its creation. In the Ballestas Islands, you will see a stunningly rugged world filled with birds and sea lions. You will navigate around the islands at a distance allowed, and depending on the sea conditions, visit nearby caves. Return to the port at 11 am, and spend some time in Paracas where you will have free time for restrooms or a short time to relax. Then, continue to the next destination, Huacachina oasis. Have a small break to prepare for your desert tour; then board a buggy for 1-hour adventure across the sand dunes that surround the water source. Return to Huacachina and have time for refreshment. Continue towards to traditional vineyard and taste the best of the local wine and Pisco or lunch at the vineyard restaurant, then Drive back to Lima arriving and dropping off at your hotel. At around 21:30 or 22 pm On this one-day tour, you will have an assistant guide on the trip who will help you with your concerns on your trip.

Embark on a 2-day trek to the Colca Canyon, twice as deep as the Grand Canyon and an incredible sight. Look out for more than 100 kinds of birds, over 300 types of plants and more than 30 types of cactus. Head to Condor’s Cross for the best viewpoint in South America for seeing the Andean Condor, a gracious bird that can have a wingspan of up to 3 meters and weigh up to 12 KG. Day 1: Arequipa - Chivay - Condor’s Cross - Sangalle After an early morning (around 3:00-3:30 AM) pick-up from your hotel, head to Cabanaconde in the Colca Canyon. This is approximately a 6-hour drive from Arequipa, and on the way you’ll stop for breakfast. Continue to Condor’s Cross for a panoramic view of the canyon and the famous Andean Condor. Arrive at the beginning of your trek and start a downhill hike for about 3-hour from 3,300 to 2,100 meters above sea level into the canyon. Upon arrival, have lunch and take some time to rest in San Juan de Chuccho. Continue your journey and pass by the towns of Cosñirhua and Malata. Hike further into the canyon until reaching Sangalle, the deepest part of the canyon and 1900 meters above sea level. Sangalle is a lush green oasis with a tropical microclimate and some simple accommodation. Here you can enjoy the swimming pool after a long day of hiking. Enjoy dinner and spend the night here Day 2: Sangalle - Cabanaconde - Chivay - Arequipa or Puno Leave early morning (around 5:00 AM), and start hiking uphill for about 3-hour back to Cabanaconde town using torch lights for illumination. Enjoy spectacular views of the sunrise and eat breakfast upon arrival at Cabanaconde.  Head towards Chivay, viewing pre-Inca terraces, archaeological ruins, and colonial towns on the way. Around noon, arrive at the hot springs. Optionally take a dip in the hot springs and relax in waters of 38°C. In Chivay, have a buffet lunch in a local restaurant (not included). After lunch, start your return to Arequipa. On the way, you will descend from 4830 to 2325 meters above sea level, passing by a national reserve and Pampa Cañahuas. This is is a habitat for the four species of South American camelids (llama, alpaca, vicuña, and guanaco). Arrive in Arequipa late afternoon and be dropped you off next to Santa Catalina Monastery. If you choose the option to be dropped off in Puno, you will leave from Chivay after having lunch. You’ll arrive around 6:45 PM in Puno. You will also make a stop in Pampa Cañahuas to have great views of the local landscapes.

After pickup from your hotel or bus station in Nazca, transfer to the Nazca aerodrome. Meet your representative and go to the check-in zone to wait for your flight. Get briefed on the nature of your tour and on safety instructions. The flight lasts 35-minutes and you will see 12 of the most representative figures drawn on the stony surface of the Nazca desert. Look out for representations of animals and plants, distributed in a labyrinth of lines, trapezes, and triangles which have been preserved for almost 2,000 years. The Nazca Lines are some of the most incredible remains from an ancient culture. These designs, some as long as 500 meters, can be truly appreciated from the sky at an altitude of 1,500 feet. After your experience, fly back to the aerodrome and head back to your hotel in Nazca.

Witness Rainbow Mountain in all its glory, take some photos and explore the area on a day trip from Cusco with a guide. Set out on an adventure in the early morning with a hotel pickup. Head up the mountain, cross small villages, immerse yourself in the local culture, and have lunch after your hike. Begin your full-day tour in Cusco city, where you will be picked up between 4:15 AM and 4:45 AM. You will then drive in a comfortable van for 3 hours to the town of Cusipata, where you will have breakfast in a local family house. Following breakfast, head to the starting point of your hike. There are approximately 3 kilometers of flat land uphill, leading to the majestic "Mountain of Colors". The hike will take about 1.5 hours, depending on your level of fitness. Along the way, enjoy panoramic views of the valleys, wild llamas, alpacas, and vicuñas, as well as of the Andes and the nearby glaciers.  Once here, if the weather is good, get the first views of Rainbow Mountain. At the top, take a well-deserved break, which will also be your chance to catch your breath and enjoy the stunning views. After taking beautiful photos, begin your descent, where you will enjoy a delicious lunch upon your return. You will then take private transportation back to Cusco, where you will arrive at approximately 5:00 PM.

Depart Puno and journey to the floating islands of the Uros people on Lake Titicaca. Find out about how these islands are created by the locals using bundles of dried totora reeds. Learn the history of the area and interact with the locals to hear more about their life out on the water. Then, cruise over to Taquile Island in the largest part of Lake Titicaca. Experience life on the lake up close and get some stunning views of the Andes Mountains as a bonus.  Hear about the inhabitants of Taquile Island and how they descended from the Inca people to mostly work as farmers and weavers, and how they have inherited some distinct Inca traditions. Go for a medium-level hike on the island, known for its handwoven art and collective farms, and enjoy a lunch of local produce served in a local restaurant. Then, return to Puno city on the shore of the lake for the end of the tour services.

Day One: Puerto Maldonado to the Lodge. Be collected from the airport or bus station and taken to the port. Journey in a boat for an hour to the lodge. Be welcomed with refreshing fruit juice from the region and relax in your room. In the afternoon, visit Monkey Island across the Madre de Dios River. Find out about the different species of monkeys and have the opportunity to feed them. At night, search for a caiman with your flashlight. They are generally located on the banks of the Madre de Dios River. With luck you might see the capybara, which is the world's largest rodent. It can weigh 60 kilograms so is an impressive relative of the Peruvian cuy (guinea pig). Enjoy dinner and a good sleep back at the lodge.  Day 2: Lake Sandoval.  After an early breakfast, take a short walk (three kilometers/two miles) to Lake Sandoval, which is a piranha habitat; one of the largest in the Tambopata National Reserve. Take a rowing boat with the guide to appreciate the many different species of birds and monkeys including hoatzin, cormorant, jacanas, heron, eagles, howler monkey, squirrel monkey, black capuchin, tamarins, and sloths. If you are lucky, you will meet a family of giant river otters, each at almost two meters long, who are in danger of extinction. Perhaps you will see the largest alligator ever recorded at over four meters long. Enjoy a typical lunch at the lodge. In the evening, take a night walk to appreciate the diversity of insects, amphibians, reptiles, and other nocturnal animals here. Have dinner and another night at the lodge.  Day 3: Return to Puerto Maldonado.  Get up early for a pre-breakfast activity of a canopy walk. See the rainforest from the different perspective at 30 meters high with panoramic views of the Rio Madre de Dios. From the platforms you can observe the different species of birds including toucans and macaws. Return up the river to Puerto Maldonado. Here you will be transported to the airport for your flight to Lima or Cusco or transported to the bus terminal.