Best of · DAY TRIPS FROM PERU
Somewhere between breakfast and the last bus back, these 11 day trips from peru hand you a mountain, a coastline or a second country. Priced and timed below.
Travel from Cusco to Machu Picchu with hotel pickup, round-trip train and shuttle transport, entrance tickets, and a local English or Spanish-speaking guide. Choose Expedition, Vistadome, Executive Class 360, or Voyager service. Guides such as Ronaldo, Hector, Paul, and Edgar lead the 2 to 3-hour citadel visit.
“Very well organized. The train ride is a memory we will hold on to for life. Would HIGHLY recommend.”
From Lima, you’ll visit the Ballestas Islands for sea lions, Humboldt penguins, and seabirds, then continue to Ica for lunch and pisco tasting. The afternoon brings a dune-buggy ride and sandboarding at Huacachina Oasis. English and Spanish guides, transportation, entrance fees, and fixed-point pickup are included.
“It was incredible. The guide name is Scott and I highly recommend it. It has knowledge about the country and he's proactively entertaining all the guest. The experience itself it's worth it, from the boat (I suggest to seat in the front) and the buggy on the desert. The landscape it's breathtaking. Pisco degustation is a fun experience and the product it's nice. While sandboarding was disappointing, you just lay down on a wood board, do one descend and that's it”
Leave Lima around 4:00 to 5:00 am with an English- and Spanish-speaking guide such as Miguel Angel, Mayer, or Raúl. Cruise past sea lions and penguins at the Ballestas Islands, visit CulturPisco for tastings, then ride a dune buggy and sandboard at Huacachina. Expect a full 16.5-hour day.
“Everything went exactly how it was supposed to be if not better, pick up arrangements were on time and precise, transportation was smooth, just the necessary stops on the road, services for meals also on point. Our guide Mayer was always attentive and understanding doing his best to accommodate everyone, coordination was neat so we never ran into any issue, everything was in place and just waiting for us to do them, extreme experience included and despite feeling a tad bit at loss for a sec, everything was under control so we could enjoy ourselves without worries, kudos to South American Secrets!”
Travel from Cusco through Pisac, Urubamba, and Ollantaytambo before taking a tourist or panoramic train to Aguas Calientes. The next morning, a guide such as Uriel leads you through Machu Picchu. Hotel pickup, transport, entrance, buses, accommodation, and lunch in Aguas Calientes are included, with groups capped at 15.
“I loved both days of this trip. William the guide for Sacred Valley (day 1), and Uriel for Machu Picchu (day 2) were both excellent. I cannot praise them enough. Their knowledge was exceptional. I do not speak Spanish, both of them made sure that I did not miss out on any of the information and explained everything in English to me. The buffet lunch on day 1 was lovely. Reasonably priced. The lunch on day 2 that was included was lovely as well. I cannot recommend this trip enough. If I have one negative it was the train journey from Ollantaytambo to Machu Picchu. One side of the train…”
Leave Lima before dawn for the Ballestas Islands, a Nazca Lines flight over the Palpa Desert, and Huacachina Oasis. English-speaking guides such as Miguel, Aymen, Sergio, and Christian have led this long day, which includes transport, the boat ride, and flight. Bring cash, water, snacks, and patience for the road.
“Although it looks pricy, the quality and comfort of tour is extraordinary. The guide Rudi managed the time so well and let me personalize the activities in each attraction.”
Start with a 3:00 am pickup in central Arequipa, then cross the Andes to Colca Canyon. See condors at Cruz del Cóndor, walk to canyon viewpoints, visit villages and terraces, soak in volcanic hot springs, and continue to Puno by bus. English and Spanish guides are available.
“Très belle excursion pour voir les condors et de superbes paysages!!”
Leave Lima at 5:00 AM for the Ballestas Islands, where you can see sea lions, Humboldt penguins, seabirds, and El Candelabro. Continue to Ica for lunch and pisco tasting, then ride a dune buggy and sandboard at Huacachina. English and Spanish guides include Mishell, Jean, and Álvaro on different departures.
“Adoromos o passeio, nossa guia, Mishell foi incrível, aprendemos muito sobre o Peru, a cultura, costumes e história pre colombiana. O passeio pra Islas Ballestas é lindo, mas leve blusa, faz frio no barco, o cheiro de fezes de ave é bem forte, mas é parte do local mesmo, não tem jeito! Vimos muitas aves marinhas, alguns pinguins de Humboldt e muitos lobos marinhos. Já em Huacachina se prepare pra levar protetor solar, o sol do deserto queima muito. O passei de buggy foi bem radical, adoramos, visuais incriveis e únicos do oasis, vale a pena escorregar de sandboard se tiver coragem, mas tire coisas de valor do bolso e…”
Travel south from Lima with an English or Spanish-speaking guide, including Frendy or Sonya depending on the departure. Fly over the Nazca Lines in a small aircraft, then ride a dune buggy, try sandboarding, and watch sunset at Huacachina. Hotel pickup covers selected Lima districts. Meals and aerodrome fees cost extra.
“The tour day was very long, and was well worth the effort. Sonya was an informative and friendly guide. The Nazca Lines flight is not for the faint of heart or for those who are prone to motion sickness. And the Huacachina buggy ride feels like a roller coaster ride. We saw beautiful places and had a great experience.”
Travel from Arequipa to Salinas Lagoon, stopping at Chiguata, Alto Simbral, volcano viewpoints, flamingo areas, and Lojen Hot Springs. An English or Spanish-speaking guide such as Herbert leads the day, with transport included. Breakfast, lunch, hot springs, and reserve entry cost extra.
“The trip was very nice except no one mentioned anything regarding the altitude we would be exposed to. Some of us had really bad headaches because we were not prepared. The driver was ok. Had some issues with the pick but everything else was ok”
Start with a 2:30 to 3:00 AM pickup in Arequipa, then travel to Colca Canyon for breakfast, Cruz del Condor, Maca Village, Chivay, La Calera hot springs, and high-altitude viewpoints. An English-speaking guide leads the 14-hour trip, with transport and breakfast included. Bring cash for entry fees, lunch, and the hot springs.
“A very worthwhile experience. Guide took care to explain in English to us. We were the only 2 English speaking tourists. The rest speak Spanish.”
Start around noon with hotel pickup in Puerto Maldonado, cruise the Madre de Dios River, then walk 55 minutes through Tambopata National Reserve to Sandoval Lake. Paddle by canoe in search of giant otters, monkeys, parrots, and black caimans. English and Spanish guiding is offered, with groups capped at 12 per guide.
Pick a coastline, a mountain pass, a ruin or a cellar.
