SOUTHERN PERU
About this journey
From volcanic landscapes to the timeless waters of Titicaca.
Travel through the soul-stirring landscapes of southern Peru: from the white-stone beauty of Arequipa and the depths of Colca Canyon to the vast Altiplano and the sacred waters of Lake Titicaca.
This private journey moves at an unhurried pace with local guides, shaped by dramatic nature, living Andean traditions, and the quiet beauty of the highlands.
Choose your preferred hotels, add a night with a host family on a Lake Titicaca island, or continue on to Cusco, Machu Picchu, or Bolivia.
Itinerary
Welcome to Arequipa
Arrive in Arequipa, a city framed by the volcanoes Misti, Chachani and Pichu Pichu. A private transfer takes you to your hotel, with the rest of the day free to relax and enjoy your first impressions of the White City at your own pace.
Stories Carved in White Stone
Discover the essence of Arequipa, from its elegant historic centre to the colourful courtyards of the Santa Catalina Monastery, a city within the city. Wander through the lively San Camilo Market and pause at viewpoints framed by the surrounding volcanoes. Lunch at one of the city's renowned traditional restaurants introduces the distinctive flavours of Arequipeño cuisine.
Across the high Andes
Leave Arequipa and journey towards the Colca Valley as the road climbs into the high Andes. Cross the Salinas y Aguada Blanca National Reserve, where vicuñas roam freely across vast high-altitude plains, then continue through Patahuasi, Incawasi and Patapampa, surrounded by volcanoes and sweeping Andean scenery. Arrive in Colca and enjoy the rest of the afternoon at a slower pace: settle into your hotel, take in the mountain surroundings or relax in the warmth of Colca's thermal waters.
Guardians of the Canyon
Set out early for Cruz del Cóndor, where the canyon falls away more than a thousand metres below. As the morning air warms, Andean condors rise from its depths to glide, unhurried, just above you: one of the most quietly humbling moments in the Andes. Continue along the valley through Yanque and Maca, past colonial churches and pre-Inca terraces still farmed by families who have tended them for centuries. The afternoon belongs to Colca itself: a slow walk among the terraces, the warmth of thermal waters, or simply the changing light over the valley.
Into the heart of Altiplano
Leave the canyon behind and climb towards the high Altiplano, where the landscape turns vast and silent. Snow-capped volcanoes line the horizon, vicuñas and alpacas graze on golden grass, and mirror-like lagoons hold the sky, sometimes with flamingos at their edge. By late afternoon, the road opens onto Lake Titicaca, shimmering at over 3,800 metres. Puno welcomes you as the light softens over the water.
Where the Lake Holds Its Stories
Lake Titicaca has been held sacred since the earliest Held sacred since the earliest Andean times, Lake Titicaca is, in Inca tradition, the place where the world began. Set out across its deep blue waters to the Uros, floating islands woven by hand from totora reeds, where families have made their lives on the water for generations. Continue to Taquile, an island of stone paths and terraced hillsides where tradition is not preserved but lived. Its textiles, recognised by UNESCO, are read as much as worn: each pattern and colour carries a story, and the weavers are the keepers of its language. Return to Puno in the afternoon, with your last evening of the journey by the water's edge.
Until the next horizon
Morning light settles over Lake Titicaca one last time, as the journey from the silence of the canyon to the stories of the lake lingers in memory. A private transfer then takes you onwards: home, or to the next chapter of your travels, whether Cusco, heart of the Inca world, or across the lake into the highlands of Bolivia.
Included / not included
INCLUDED
- Handpicked stays in Arequipa, the Colca Valley and Puno, with daily breakfast.
- Private transport and transfers throughout, including airport or bus station transfers as required.
- Local guides who share the nature, history and living cultures of southern Peru.
- Guided discovery of Arequipa, Santa Catalina Monastery and San Camilo Market, with a traditional lunch.
- Scenic journey through the Salinas y Aguada Blanca National Reserve to the Colca Valley.
- Cruz del Cóndor experience, with visits to the villages of Yanque and Maca.
- Access to Colca's thermal waters, at your hotel or nearby.
- Scenic overland journey across the Altiplano, from Colca to Lake Titicaca.
- Lake Titicaca boat journey to the Uros floating islands and Taquile.
- Entrance fees to the places you visit and protected areas.
- Dedicated support throughout your journey from the Nayra Travel team.
NOT INCLUDED
- International and domestic flights, unless otherwise specified in your proposal.
- Meals and beverages not featured in the itinerary.
- Optional experiences and extensions.
- Late check-out and additional hotel services.
- Personal expenses.
- Gratuities
- Travel insurance.
HAND PICKED HOTELS
Choose a stop on the journey to see the accommodation available. Warm hospitality, elegance and an unbeatable location; if you have a place in mind that you don’t see here, we’ll book it for you anywhere in Peru.
