WESTERN PERU
8 DAYS

You will visit Peru’s largest coastal wildlife sanctuary – Paracas Reserve – that includes the Ballestas Islands (home to thousands of birds as well as sea lions and fur seals). Fly over the mysterious Nazca Lines. Then visit Colca Canyon and admire the largest flying bird in the world – the condor, soaring effortlessly on its 3m+ wingspan.

Day 1

You will be transferred to the bus station. You will travel through arid desert by bus along the Panamerican highway to the coastal oasis of Pisco, the town sharing its name with the white-grape brandy produced in this region.

Day 2

In the morning you will be transferred to the Paracas harbor and will take a tour of the Ballestas Islands. The islands are home to thousands of resident and migratory sea birds, including pelicans, boobies, terns, cormorants, and gulls. The birds share the islands with herds of sea and fur lions. In the afternoon you will take a tour to explore the Paracas Peninsula.

Day 3

In the mid morning you will travel to the pleasant colonial town of Ica and visit the beautiful Laguna Huacachina, surrounded by huge sand dunes. You will continue through a small oasis and arid coastal mountains to Nazca, in a fertile valley irrigated by a pre-Hispanic aqueduct.

Day 4-5

You will take an early morning flight over the mysterious Nazca Lines. The giant animal and geometric figures are believed to have been etched on the desert sands by the Nazca people more than 1,500 years ago. There are other theories as well. But no one completely knows, what are the Nazca Lines. In the afternoon you start you journey to Arequipa. It is a long ride; you will arrive to Arequipa in the early hours of the following morning and will be transferred to your hotel. You have the rest of the day free to acclimatize and rest. Arequipa is one of Peru’s most attractive cities, full of colonial churches and monasteries, including Santa Catalina convent. The area around the city is a land of volcanoes, thermal springs and some of the world’s deepest canyons.

Day 6

Today you begin your 2 days tour to the Colca Canyon. You will travel past Chachani Volcano, and later through the Reserva Nacional Salinas and Aguas Blanca, where vicunas are often sighted. Overnight in Chivay.

Day 7

Early in the morning you will travel to Cruz del Condor, passing a remarkable landscape of pre-Inca and Inca terraces. From the Cruz del Condor lookout, you will enjoy the impressive views and will have a chance to see the majestic Andean Condors. In the afternoon you return to Arequipa.

Day 8

You are transferred to the airport for you flight back to Lima.

SUMMARY 

Inclusions: 1 domestic flight, flight over the Nazca Lines, all breakfasts, transportation, guides, entrance fees

Start and Finish: Lima

Accommodation: Comfortable accommodation with private facilities

Trip Grade: Easy

Dates: As Extension to Peru OR daily

Cost: US$ 1,345

Note: Please note that all itineraries and prices are subject to change.

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