Itinerary

Day One
Evening arrival in Lima, drive to our hotel in the attractive quarter of Miraflores.

Day Two
Explore Lima, including the Plaza de Armas and colonial houses, and the world-class National Museum of Anthropology and Archaeology.

Day Three
Up the Pan-American Highway to Paramonga where the vast ruins of an Inca temple/fortress look out to sea. Hummingbirds and butterflies abound in impossibly arid surroundings. Sechin, where giant carved stone slabs depicting warriors, captives and  body parts surround the central plaza.

Day Four
Continue north to Trujillo, with ancient Moche city beneath the plain, flanked by the multi-layered Temples of the Sun and the Moon. Excavation is uncovering wonderfully preserved architecture and vividly painted decoration.

Day Five
The imperial capital of the Chimu people at Chan Chan, an adobe city with vast royal compounds, reservoirs and acres of baked clay architecture . Explore the colonial houses in Trujillo, with some free time and a brief visit to the eccentric Casinelli Museum in the evening.

Day Six
Ancient bones and fabric protrude eerily from the wind-eroded ground at the enormous mound of El Brujo, where excavation has revealed ceremonial palace structures and life-size friezes of chained captives. After lunch we first encounter the lords of Sipan, or their retainers, in the royal tombs.

Day Seven
Layer upon layer of personal jewellery and ritual objects from the burials of the lords of Sipan are on display in the world-class Sipan Museum. Time to wander through the extensive markets of Chiclayo, which include a whole section devoted to the practice of the curanderos (healers) - involving dead toucans, ground hooves, weird mushrooms and rites and rituals. Fly to Lima.

Day Eight
Your flight transports you from the arid coast to the verdant highliands. Arrive in Cuzco, capital of the Inca Empire at the head of the Sacred Valley. A day of rest and relaxation - we are at altitude now.

Day Nine
The Inca city of Cuzco, including the Corikancha (Temple of the Sun) site and Inca Museum. Then the fortress above at Sacsahuaman, and site of Q’enqo.

Day Ten
To Chinchero and the rural estate of an Inca king with spectacular mountain views. Descend via the salt pans to lunch in the Sacred Valley.

Day Eleven
Ollantaytambo, Inca town and vertiginous terracing leading up to the sacred temple precinct with wonderful views of the Urubamba Valley covered in ancient terraces. Lunch in a village far off the beaten track, including a potato-tasting and weaving demonstration.

Day Twelve
By train to Machu Picchu. We make our first visit to the ruins in the afternoon, to avoid the crowds who are obliged to come and go the same day.

Day Thirteen
This morning we await the sunrise at Machu Picchu, holy centre and private country retreat of the first Emperor of the Incas, Pachacutec. Time for individual wandering to absorb the unique magic.

Day Fourteen
Explore colonial Cuzco, with some free time this afternoon to relax and take in fully the grandeur of your surroundings.

Day Fifteen
Famous train journey from Cuzco to Puno on Lake Titicaca.

Day Sixteen
Take a boat to visit the floating islands on Lake Titicaca and drive to the remote, impressive burial towers at Sillustani.

Day Seventeen
Fly from Juliaca to Lima, time allowing further museum visit;  then return to London

Day Eighteen
Arrive London

NB The effects of altitude should be taken very seriously, especially by those with heart or breathing problems. However, neither age nor general fitness have been shown to effect your susceptibility. All our hotels at altitude have oxygen available.

More information from Andante Travels:

• View trip on provider's website
  www.andantetravels.com/…
• Company profile, experience, and history
• View all of their trips