Climb the 43-ft platform to gaze across the Nazca Lines, the desert canvas etched by a pre-Columbian culture. From this vantage, trace the elegant geometry of the Tree and Hands figures, scored into tawny pampa that seems to ripple to the horizon.

Hear how these ancient desert geoglyphs (c. 200 BCE–600 CE) may have served ritual or astronomical purposes. The wind whispers over gravel plains as you pause for photos and reflection on one of archaeology’s great enigmas.

Explore Cusco with a local guide, from the ornate Cusco Cathedral to the artisan lanes of San Blas. Step by the sacred precinct of Coricancha and see how Inca stonework anchors Spanish colonial mansions along cobbled streets.

Then browse the San Pedro Market, where Andean cheeses, tropical fruit, and herbal remedies reveal a living culinary culture. This rich walk decodes the city’s Inca-Spanish fusion and the rhythms of daily life in the former imperial capital.

Pedal out of the city for mountain biking through the Andean countryside, tracing dirt roads and single-track past terraced fields and adobe hamlets. Expect big-sky views and crisp highland air.

Guides set the pace and route to suit the group, with helmets, bikes, and support vehicle provided. An active way to see rural life beyond Cusco’s stone lanes. This experience is at additional cost, bookable on tour.

• 1 Dinner (D)
• 4 Breakfast (B)

• Paracas: Mother nature has her favourites, and the Paracas National Reserve is one of them. We’ll take a tour of this protected natural area guilded with deserts, islands and the beautiful blue ocean. 
• Nazca: Climbing up 43 ft in the sky, you’ll see the fascinating group of geoglyphs called the Nazca Lines from a (really) tall tower. Think: desert artwork of spiders, spirals and a mysterious astronaut-like human.
• Arequipa: Get to know the ‘white city’ better. Explore the highlights like Plaza de Armas and take some pics of the incredible backdrop of volcanoes.
• Cusco: Your chance to pick up some mementos at San Pedro Markets and then see Cusco Cathedral, San Blas and Coricancha.
• Sacred Valley: See llamas IRL and learn how Indigenous communities use weaving to share stories, identity, and culture — a tradition passed down without written language (and help keep ancient skills alive by providing sustainable income for local artisans!) Your visit here will help support the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 11: Sustainable Cities & Communities.
• Machu Picchu: It’s the moment you’ve been waiting for! Time to explore the Incan citadel with your new Contiki fam. #travelgoals

Ride the Inca Rail from Ollantaytambo along the boulder-strewn Urubamba River, watching peaks give way to Andean cloud forest. On arrival, board the shuttle that climbs to the sanctuary’s terraces and stone gateways.

With your expert guide, step into Machu Picchu to read its temples, squares, and agricultural benches — highlights may include the Temple of the Sun and sweeping viewpoints over the citadel’s green saddle. A profound encounter with a UNESCO icon framed by shifting mist and orchids.

• Mexico City: You’ll now book and pay for your Free Time Add-Ons through WeTravel — a simple website link where you can browse all the FTAs, pick what you’re keen on, and pay directly by card, in any currency. You’ll get the link in your Welcome Email, usually 3–5 days before your trip starts. Once you’re in, it’s easy: check out the pics, descriptions and prices, add your chosen experiences to your cart, then check out online. You can book before your trip starts or while you’re on the road, up until each activity’s booking deadline.Missed the link? No stress. Your Trip Manager can share it with you on trip too.

Join a guided city tour of Arequipa’s elegant core, framed by arcaded plazas and volcanic peaks. Admire the Plaza de Armas, the baroque facade of La Compañía, and the vivid blue and red walls of the Santa Catalina Monastery district.

Discover how the city rose from white sillar stone, quarried from ancient lava, giving Arequipa its nickname, the “White City.” Views toward El Misti, Chachani and Pichu Pichu complete a skyline where Andean geology meets colonial grace.

Visit a community-run center to meet llamas, alpacas and vicuñas, learning how their fine fibers support highland livelihoods. Watch a traditional weaving demonstration as artisans spin, dye, and loom patterned textiles by hand.

Discover natural dyes from cochineal and local plants, then try your hand at Sapo, the beloved Andean tossing game. Your visit helps support local artisans and safeguard skills passed down for generations across the Sacred Valley.

Roar across the golden dunes of Huacachina on a thrilling dune buggy ride, then strap in to sandboard South America’s largest dunes. Guides tailor slopes to your comfort level, from gentle glides to adrenaline-pumping drops.

As the sun slants low, pause for panoramic photos of palm-ringed lagoons and rippling sand seas. Safety briefing and boards included. This experience is at additional cost, bookable on tour.

Challenge yourself on the hike to Rainbow Mountain (Vinicunca), where mineral bands streak a high-Andean ridge in kaleidoscopic hues. Expect thin air near 5,000 m altitude and sweeping views toward glaciered peaks.

Your guides manage pacing and rest stops while sharing how geology and climate forged these mineral-streaked slopes. Weather can shift quickly; warm layers are essential. This experience is at additional cost, bookable on tour.

Roll up your sleeves for a hands-on class where you’ll mix a pisco sour and prepare ceviche with lime, ají and just-caught fish. Under a chef’s guidance, plate colorful classics using Andean tubers and coastal herbs.

As dishes come together, learn how migration and terroir shaped Peru’s star cuisine. Sit down to an interactive dinner featuring what you’ve cooked, paired with lively conversation. This experience is at additional cost, bookable on tour.

Unwind in Cusco with an Andean massage that blends therapeutic techniques and aromatic coca-leaf or muña oils to ease altitude-tired legs and shoulders. Soft lighting and Andean music set a restorative mood.

Skilled therapists help you reset between high-energy days, leaving you limbered, calm, and ready for more exploring. Choose from targeted or full-body treatments. This experience is at additional cost, bookable on tour.

Explore the Paracas National Reserve on a guided coastal drive where ochre desert meets cobalt Pacific. Pause at wind-carved headlands and soaring cliffs to scan for seabirds riding thermals and photograph vast, salt-bright horizons.

Learn how currents and wind sculpted this stark landscape, then admire Playa Roja’s rust-red sands and the wave-battered remains of La Catedral’s arches. With the ocean roaring below and Pacific horizons stretching wide, this is Peru’s desert coast at its most dramatic.

Contiki

Gather in Lima to meet your crew over a hosted dinner in stylish Miraflores, where chefs blend Pacific-fresh seafood with highland flavors. Savor staples that define the country’s cocina — think bright citrus, ají peppers, purple corn — and toast the start of your adventure with a classic pisco sour.

Set amid the capital’s coastal vibe, this shared meal frames Peru’s culinary story, from pre-Hispanic ingredients to modern Nikkei influences. It’s a relaxed, convivial introduction that sets the tone for authentic, locally rooted experiences ahead.