Welcome to Peru!
Start your journey in Lima, Peru's capital, where you'll enjoy a bike tour, explore local markets, and have authentic Peruvian food. Fly to Cusco to immerse yourself in the rich history of the Incas, visiting ancient temples and the Cusco Cathedral. Spend a meaningful day volunteering at a local orphanage before embarking on your trek along the iconic Inca Trail. This guided tour through stunning Andean landscapes and ancient ruins promises a beautiful and active trip, blending adventure, education, and cultural immersion for an unforgettable experience.
Enjoy your stay at this boutique hotel, an elegant mansion turned into a charming retreat, offering Lima's traditional hospitality in a great neighborhood.
Get moving and start the day with a bike tour that highlights the perfect combination of beautiful coastline, history, architecture, and enchanting atmosphere that the Peruvian capital offers. Your local guide will take you past beautiful houses, parks, shops, art galleries, restaurants, and traditional landmarks.
Enjoy lunch at a bustling local market in Lima's Surquillo district, known for its vibrant atmosphere and diverse offerings. This market is a haven for food enthusiasts, featuring fresh produce, seafood, meats, and a wide array of local ingredients. Sample traditional Peruvian dishes from the food stalls and get an authentic glimpse into Lima's culinary culture, a favorite spot for both locals and tourists.
Lima, the capital of Peru, was founded by Spanish conquistador Francisco Pizarro in 1535, on the site of an existing indigenous settlement. It quickly became the political and economic center of Spanish colonial rule in South America, known as the "City of Kings." The city's strategic coastal location made it a crucial hub for trade and administration. Today, Lima is Peru's largest city and a major financial, cultural, and industrial center. Its historic center, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, showcases a blend of colonial architecture and modern urban development, reflecting its rich history and contemporary significance as a vibrant, diverse metropolis.
Visit a museum in a beautiful early 20th-century mansion in Barranco, showcasing Peru's art. The impressive collection of Peruvian colonial art includes paintings, sculptures, silverwork, and furniture, spanning from the 16th to the 19th century. The lush gardens and well-preserved architecture add to its charm, making it a significant cultural and historical attraction in Lima.
The Larco Museum is a privately owned museum of pre-Columbian art, located in the Pueblo Libre District of Lima, Peru. The museum is housed in an 18th-century vice-royal building. It showcases chronological galleries that provide a thorough overview of 5,000 years of Peruvian pre-Columbian history.
Enjoy your stay at a charming hotel in Cusco, located in a great neighborhood and within walking distance of many attractions, including the Main Square and Sacsayhuaman ruins.
Cusco, once the capital of the Inca Empire, is renowned for its blend of Inca and Spanish colonial architecture, including the Qorikancha and Sacsayhuamán. Today, as a UNESCO World Heritage Site and gateway to Machu Picchu, it attracts visitors with its rich history, vibrant culture, and traditional festivals like Inti Raymi. Spend the day exploring Cusco's highlights.
Centro Artesanal Cusco is a popular market in Cusco, Peru, known for its vibrant array of traditional Andean crafts and souvenirs. Located near the city's historic center, the market features stalls selling textiles, alpaca wool garments, pottery, jewelry, and other handcrafted items. It's a great place to find unique gifts and experience the rich cultural heritage of the region. The market also offers opportunities to see local artisans at work, providing a deeper insight into traditional Peruvian craftsmanship.
Spend an afternoon volunteering at a non-profit, located just an hour outside of Cusco. You'll have the opportunity to support local children through a dynamic after-school educational and nutrition program. In a community facing high levels of poverty, they are dedicated to empowering children and providing them with the tools for a brighter future.
Saqsaywaman is a remarkable Inca archaeological site known for its impressive stone walls made of massive, precisely cut boulders. Built in the 15th century under the rule of the Inca emperor Pachacuti, this fortress-temple complex showcases the incredible engineering skills of the Incas. The site offers stunning views of Cusco and the surrounding landscape and is a significant cultural and historical landmark that highlights the ingenuity and craftsmanship of the Inca civilization.
The Cristo Blanco statue in Cusco, Peru, is a prominent landmark situated on Pukamuqu Hill, overlooking the city. This large white statue of Christ, standing 8 meters (26 feet) tall, was a gift from Palestinian Christians in 1945 as a token of gratitude for the hospitality they received in Cusco. The statue is illuminated at night, making it visible from various parts of the city. It offers panoramic views of Cusco and serves as a symbol of peace and protection for the city.
Cusco invites you to explore the ancient heart of the Inca Empire, offering a captivating blend of magnificent Inca ruins, stunning colonial architecture, and vibrant Andean culture high in the Peruvian Andes.
A list of recommendations will be provided.
Early wakeup and start to the day with lots to explore. Drive from Cusco to Piscacucho to begin the Inca Trail. Hike to the ancient Llactapata ruins, enjoying serene Andean landscapes. Have dinner and camp in the high jungle along the Inca Trail.
On Day 2 of the trail, start with an early wakeup and hike up to the highest point at 13,780 feet. Explore several Inca sites, including Runkurakay, Sayacmarca, and Phuyupatamarca, before hiking to the Wiñaywayna Archaeological Site. End the day camping near Machu Picchu.
Start the day at sunrise and enjoy trekking through what is known for being the most beautiful part of the Inca Trail. Hike through the Cloud Forest with views of Salkantay and the Vilcabamba range, before reaching the final peak at Phuyupatamarka (12,000 feet). Afterward, descend to the campsite near Wiñay Wayna, visiting the ruins of Phuyupatamarka and Intipata along the way. After lunch, relax and explore the Wiñay Wayna ruins with your guide. End the day with a celebratory dinner and prepare for an early start to catch the sunrise at Machu Picchu.
On the fourth and final day, start with an early breakfast before embarking on a stunning two-hour hike to Machu Picchu via the Sun Gate. At the top, enjoy a guided tour of Machu Picchu followed by free time to explore the site on your own.
Relax and enjoy the scenic train to Ollantaytambo.
Enjoy your stay at this charming hotel in Cusco, located in a great neighborhood and within walking distance of many attractions, including the Main Square and Sacsayhuaman ruins. The hotel features a terrace, lounge, and restaurant with great views.
Spend the day exploring the colorful streets of Cusco, where Inca stonework and colonial charm blend together and wander through vibrant markets, visit ancient ruins, and soak in the mountain views from every corner.
Please Note:
The sample itinerary and budget provided are based on a specific number of participants and chaperones. Final pricing per person will vary depending on your group size and any adjustments made to the itinerary. Please keep in mind that prices may fluctuate depending on travel dates, seasonality, and other factors.
Please email us at [email protected] or call us at 512.596.1642 for more information.
All of our trips are fully customizable—this sample itinerary is simply a starting point to give you a sense of what is possible! We are happy to tailor every detail to fit your group’s unique needs, interests, and preferences.
Is there a minimum number of guests required for this trip?
There’s no minimum number of participants required, but please note that the fewer people in the group, the higher the price per person. Larger groups help keep individual costs lower by sharing fixed expenses like transportation and guides.
What information will be provided before the trip?
Each traveler will receive a complete, dynamic itinerary that includes travel logistics, hotel details, tours, entrance information, meeting points, and more—everything you need to feel fully prepared.
Will there be a group meeting before departure?
Yes! We’ll schedule a pre-trip meeting (either in person or via Google Meet) to go over final details, answer questions, and ensure everyone is ready and excited.
Does Kairos Tours provide a Tour Director?
A Tour Director can be arranged to accompany your group upon request. Please note this may affect the overall cost of the trip.
Will the itinerary change from what’s currently listed?
Kairos Tours will make every reasonable effort to provide this trip in accordance with the descriptions provided. Although it is unlikely that we will have to make any changes to your reservation or cancel confirmed reservations, we reserve the right to do so should it become necessary or advisable, in our sole discretion. We’ll always prioritize the best possible experience for your group!
Are trip prices guaranteed?
All pricing is based on current estimates and subject to change due to factors like group size, travel dates, currency exchange rates, and seasonal variations.
Are meals included in the trip price?
Lunches and dinners are typically not included in the trip price, allowing for flexibility and the opportunity to explore local dining options. Personal incidentals, such as snacks, souvenirs, and optional activities, are also the responsibility of each traveler.
What if there are unexpected delays or issues?
Kairos Tours is not responsible for costs or disruptions resulting from circumstances beyond our control, such as flight delays, changes or cancellations, injuries, weather, war, natural disasters, strikes, social discourse, pandemics, etc., and/or other unforeseeable matters.
My name is David Mebane and I am a lifelong traveler that experienced my first international trip as a 2nd grader, and I haven’t stopped since. I founded Fat Tire Tours in Paris, France in 1999 and love showing people around the City of Light. That passion has grown to include other incredible destinations around the globe, and is the genesis for Kairos Tours. I don't know every destination on the globe, but I do know several well, and I love to take people with me to create experiences and memories that last a lifetime.
I live in Austin, Texas with my wife Kelly and our son Weston and daughter Caroline. However, we spend as much time as we can elsewhere since there is nothing better than an adventure with family and friends.
Peru's story is an astonishing journey through millennia, rooted in a land of breathtaking contrasts, from towering Andes peaks to arid coastal deserts and lush Amazon rainforests. Long before any great empires, ancient civilizations flourished here for thousands of years, building sophisticated societies whose mysteries still whisper across the landscapes. Imagine the brilliant minds of the Nazca, etching colossal geoglyphs into the desert, or the master artisans of the Moche, crafting intricate ceramics and grand pyramids. These early peoples, ingenious and deeply connected to their land, laid the foundational stones for a rich cultural tapestry, leaving behind incredible ruins that stand as enduring testaments to their pioneering spirit and deep wisdom.
Then, emerging from the Andean highlands, came the magnificent Inca Empire, a true "Empire of the Sun" that, in just over a century, built the largest empire in the pre-Columbian Americas. Their achievements were nothing short of miraculous: a vast network of paved roads spanning thousands of miles, defying the rugged terrain; incredible agricultural terraces that climbed mountainsides; and awe-inspiring cities like Machu Picchu, constructed with precision without mortar, seeming to blend seamlessly with the clouds. The Incas were masterful organizers, brilliant engineers, and deeply spiritual people, forging a cohesive society that lived in harmony with their environment, leaving a legacy of unparalleled architectural and cultural grandeur.
The arrival of the Spanish in the 16th century brought a dramatic clash of worlds, forever transforming the Andean landscape and society. This encounter marked the end of the Inca Empire but ushered in a new era, blending indigenous traditions with European influences to create the vibrant, diverse culture that defines Peru today. After centuries under colonial rule, the spirit of freedom burned brightly, culminating in hard-won independence in the early 19th century. Modern Peru is a captivating nation, a tapestry woven from its ancient past and its colonial heritage, boasting unparalleled natural beauty, a world-renowned culinary scene, and a people whose resilience and rich cultural traditions continue to inspire wonder.