= 260 km, = 3.5 hours
Your Self drive Peru tour starts in the morning with a drive from Lima to Paracas.
In the afternoon you are free. Close to Paracas is the nature park of the same name, a park that offers shelter to various birds such as the pelican and the red and white flamingo.

Tip for fish lovers: Today is a good day to try a ceviche in one of the restaurants at the port of Paracas. Ceviche is a Peruvian fish dish with fresh, raw fish. Peruvians themselves love it. The fish is often caught the same morning by local fishermen and you can taste it!

Paracas  Peru

= 75 km, = 1.5 hours
In the morning you will visit the Ballestas Islands by boat. During this boat excursion it is possible to see different types of animals such as pelicans, penguins, seals, sea lions, dolphins and whales. You will also sail past ´el Candelabro´, a large drawing in the rocks, which can only be seen from the water.

After the boat excursion you drive to Huacachina, an oasis next to the city of Ica. In this area the weather is nice and sunny all year round. The place is ideal to recover in the sun, to sandboard from one of the many sand hills or to tear through the sand dunes with a driver in a buggy. You spend the night in Huacachina in a nice hotel with an outdoor pool.

Pisco Sour

The national drink of Peru called Pisco (a liqueur that Peruvians use for the cocktail Pisco Sour) originates from this region. The best Peruvian wines also come from this region. It is possible to visit one of the wineries with your rental car during your Self drive Peru tour. We would be happy to tell you about the possibilities.

Visit to wine farm

Huachina Peru

= 155 km, = 2.5 hours
In the morning you travel to the city of Nazca, known for the Nazca lines. In the afternoon you are free in Nazca, a town where the weather is always nice. A tip is to stop along the way at one of the stands along the side of the road where oranges and fresh orange juice are sold. The tastiest orange juice from Peru comes from here (near the town of Palpa). About half an hour's drive before Nazca you will see a lookout tower on the right side of the road, also called 'el Mirador'. From this lookout tower you can see a small part of the Nazca lines and figures. In Nazca you will also spend the night in a nice hotel with a swimming pool.

You have a free day in Nazca. Around Nazca there are several excursions to make.

Nazca lines Peru

Chauchilla

= 400 km, = 6.5 hours
Via the Pan American Highway, which you drive on from Lima, you drive through the desert and along the coast to the town of Camana. The town of Camana is absolutely not touristy and there is not much to see here. The chance is big that you will not meet any other, or at most a few 'lost' travelers. In Camana you will spend the night in a somewhat basic hotel, there are no real luxury hotels in this town. Around the central square of Camana you can find restaurants. The beach is within walking distance of the hotel.

= 185 km, = 3 hours
In the morning you drive from Camana, which is at sea level, inland and 'wind' your way up to the city of Arequipa at an altitude of 2300 meters. In the afternoon you are free in Arequipa. A tip is to take it easy this afternoon because of the altitude.

Eating a local's homes

Arequipa Tour

= 215 km, = 4.5 hours
You continue the journey Self drive Peru to the Colca Canyon. The route to the Colca Canyon is over 200 kilometers. Do not forget to take and drink plenty of water during this trip, the best remedy for altitude sickness. When you leave Arequipa you will see the volcanoes el Misti, Chachani and Pichu Pichu on the right. Stop at the local restaurant in the town of Cañahuasis for a nice cup of hot 'Mate de Coca' (coca leaf tea). Another good remedy for altitude.

Along the way you can stop wherever you want to enjoy the beautiful nature. Animals that you can encounter along the way are different types of birds, but also llamas, alpacas and vicuñas. The highest point of the route is at 4900 meters. From this point you have a sublime view of the many surrounding mountains and volcanoes, including the Ampato volcano where the ice mummy Juanita was found. After this you descend again to the town of Chivay in the Colca Canyon, which is located at an altitude of 3600 meters.

In Chivay you have the opportunity to have lunch. To catch your breath after the car journey and to get used to the altitude, we always find a visit to the medicinal hot springs of la Calera, just outside Chivay, very relaxing. You should bring your own swimwear and towels or you can rent them on site.
You will spend the night in the picturesque town of Coporaque, on the other side of the Colca Canyon, about a 20-minute drive from the town of Chivay.

NB: Just before Chivay you need to buy your own entrance ticket for the Colca Canyon. The cost for this is approximately 25 euros per person.

= 100 km, = 2.5 hours (there and back)
You get up early to enjoy the beautiful view of the Colca Canyon. In about an hour and a half you drive to the point 'Cruz del Condor' and you pass beautiful viewpoints over the Colca Canyon. Also make a stop at hanging tombs of the Collawas and in the beautiful villages on the route where the women often still walk in colorful, local costumes.
At the point 'Cruz del Condor' you can see with a bit of luck the majestic condor, the largest bird in the world, soaring by on the thermals of the warming air. The best time to see the condor is between 08.00 and 10.00 in the morning.

In the afternoon you are free. In the surroundings of Coporaque it is beautiful to walk.

Today you will make a day excursion on Lake Titicaca. In the morning you will be picked up from your hotel in Puno and taken to the port. You will sail to the Uros Islands in about half an hour. These islands are made entirely of reeds. On these islands you will get to know the local population, who mainly live from tourism and fishing. It is sometimes possible to sail a bit with a traditional reed boat.

After this you sail further on the lake to the island of Taquile. In clear weather you can see several snow-capped mountain peaks in the distance, a beautiful view. Taquile is a 'real' island. Together with your guide you take a nice walk on Taquile. There is a big chance that you will encounter knitting men on this island. This is a tradition that has been passed down from father to son for generations. You will arrive on Taquile around lunchtime. There are several restaurants here. If you like fish, try fresh trout (trucha in Spanish) from Lake Titicaca. At the end of the afternoon you return to the city of Puno.

NB: Instead of 1 day it is also possible to make a 2 day excursion on Lake Titicaca. On day 1 you will visit the reed islands of Uros in the morning and in the afternoon the island of Amantani, where you will also spend the night. On the second day you will visit the island of Taquile.

= 390 km, = 6.5 hours
Today's Self drive Peru tour is all about the long but beautiful drive from Puno to the former Inca capital Cusco. Along the way are a number of beautiful viewpoints and sites where you can stop. In any case, visit the border point la Raya of the provinces of Puno and Cusco with beautiful views of the surrounding mountains, the Inca site Raqchi and the beautiful Jesuit church in Andahuaylillas.

Arriving in Cusco, Orlando from our own Tura-Travel office in Cusco will visit you at your hotel. Orlando will be happy to help you with tips for interesting activities and nice restaurants. You will probably see Orlando more often in the coming days.

= 40 km, = 1 hour
Today you don't have to sit in the car for long. From Cusco you drive in about an hour to the town of Pisac, in the Sacred Valley. Pisac is known for its market. This market is one of the largest and most colorful in all of Peru. The morning is the best time to visit this market. Pisac also has a very beautiful Inca fortress of the same name. You can take beautiful walks at the fortress, the views are phenomenal. You will spend the night in a beautiful, private bungalow just outside the town.

= 60 km, = 1.5 hours
Today you will travel the shortest distance with your rental car during your Self drive Peru tour. You drive from Pisac to the town of Ollantaytambo, a drive of one and a half hours. On the way you drive further into the Sacred Valley, the place where the Incas started their expansion. This beautiful, fertile valley still has many remains from the time when the Incas ruled here. Well-known Inca fortresses that you can find in this valley are, in addition to those of Pisac, Chichero and Ollantaytambo. The town of Ollantaytambo itself is also well worth walking around in. You will spend the night in a cozy hotel in the town of Ollantaytambo.

NB: We would be happy to put together a nice route for this day with you.

In the morning you can take it easy. Leave your car in Ollantaytambo and in the early afternoon you take the train to Aguas Calientes, the town near Machu Picchu. You will arrive here mid-afternoon.

Tip for a nice walk: If you like walking, a walk to a local waterfall nearby is recommended. The walk takes about 4 hours (there and back). You start in Aguas Calientes and walk out of this town with the Urubamba River on your left. After about 20 minutes of walking you can cross the river via a bridge, but you go right. You pass a railway station and walk along the mountainside further over the track. Watch out for passing trains. The trains here do not go fast, but you should be off the track in time. After about an hour of walking on the track you will see a small restaurant with a terrace on your left. You can have a drink here. This restaurant is also the start of a walk of about 20 minutes through banana plantations to the local waterfall.

Early in the morning you will get up to experience the sunrise at Machu Picchu. The whole morning you will have time to enjoy Machu Picchu, one of the seven wonders of the world. At the end of the afternoon you will take the train back to Ollantaytambo, from where you will walk back to your hotel.

Climbing the Huayna Picchu

In 'the photo' of Machu Picchu you can see the mountain top Huayna Picchu on the right (in Quechua, the language of the Incas, this means 'young mountain'). You can reach this top via a steep climb. The climb takes about an hour. Tickets for the climb are limited and must be arranged in advance. We can purchase this entrance ticket for you.

NB: From Cusco there are several beautiful treks of 2 or 4 days to Machu Picchu. If you like walking you can also start one of these treks to Machu Picchu from day 15.

Inca Trail Peru

= 95 km, = 1.5 hours
Today you travel back from Ollantaytambo to the city of Cusco. A tip to visit this day are Moray and Maras.

Moray, an archaeological site, consists of a large number of terraced circles, the largest of which is over 30 metres deep. It is not known exactly why the Incas built these circles. It was probably an agricultural test station, where the Incas tested the effects of different climatic conditions on crops. The circles were built in such a way that due to the depth, the wind and the sun, there can be a temperature difference of up to 15 °C between the top and the bottom.

The salt pans of Maras consist of more than 3000 small pits in which salt is extracted by means of an ingenious system. Maras dates back to the Inca period and salt is still extracted in this way today. The area around Maras is extremely suitable for a beautiful walk.

NB: We would be happy to put together a nice route for this day with you.

You have two free days in Cusco. The city of Cusco has many highlights such as the cathedral on the Plaza de Armas, the church of Santa Domingo and the Inca fortress of Sacsayhuaman just outside Cusco. At Sacsayhuaman you can also enjoy the beautiful view over Cusco. Cusco has many nice museums, shops, etc. and is a city where you will not get bored quickly. We would like to tell you about the different possibilities for an excursion in and around the city of Cusco. A popular day excursion is to the Rainbow Mountain Peru, a stunning, beautiful, colorful mountain a few hours drive from the city of Cusco.

Eating guinea pig: In the Andes mountains, guinea pigs are often kept and eaten by local people at home. The guinea pig is seen as a delicacy that is reminiscent of rabbit meat. Several restaurants in Cusco have guinea pig on the menu. If you have always wanted to eat guinea pig, Cusco is a good place to do so. Don't be surprised if the guinea pig is served to you at the table with its head still attached!

Tips for activities this day:
– Have a taxi driver drop you off at the site of Sacsayhuaman (also known as 'Sexy Woman'). Sacsayhuaman is an Inca fortress with very large stones. The Incas have managed to get these stones on top of each other with ingenious techniques. You can take beautiful walks around Sacsayhuaman. From here you also have a beautiful view of the city of Cusco. It is easy to walk back from Sacsayhuaman to the city. All you have to do is keep descending. You will then automatically end up at the Plaza de Armas, the central square of Cusco and the lowest place in the city.

– Also visit the market of Cusco. This is the place where the Cuscueños (as the inhabitants of Cusco are called) buy all their stuff like clothes, food, etc. The most delicious, fresh jugos (fruit drinks) are prepared for you here.

Cusco is also the ideal starting point for a stay in the jungle. From Cusco there are bus trips and domestic flights to the town of Puerto Maldonado, in the middle of the rainforest. In the region we have contacts with several lodges in the jungle, from somewhat cheaper to very exclusive. We are happy to advise you on these different lodges.

Rainbow Montain Peru

Rafting Peru

Posada Amazonas Peru

= 200 km, = 4.5 hours
Winding through the Andes Mountains, you will drive with your rental car from Cusco to the city of Abancay in just under 5 hours during your Self Drive Peru tour. Please note that the road is of lower quality than you are used to. The city of Abancay is located at an altitude of 2300 meters, which is a lot lower than Cusco. There are few tourist attractions in the town. There is a good chance that you will be the biggest attraction yourself!

= 470 km, = 9 hours
Today is by far your longest travel day of your Self drive Peru tour. It is advisable to leave early today. On the way you will pass small 'sleepy' villages, where time seems to have stood still. In the town of Puquio, a good 5 hours drive from Abancay, there are a number of basic restaurants. However, take enough provisions with you for the journey. At the end of the day you will arrive in the town of Nazca, a place you already know.

= 450 km, = 7 hours
Today you drive the last leg of your Self drive Peru tour. You drive from Nazca back to Lima. You drive over the Pan American Highway that you already know.

Today you have a last free day in Lima. For example, this day you can visit the old center of Lima or make an excursion to Islas Palomino. At the airport you return your rental car and fly back home.

Lima Peru

Palomino Islands