Around Cusco: Highlands, Sacred Valley and Amazon

From Lima to Cusco, through Nasca

Est Driving Time

9 to 15 days

Distance

1,114 km

Overview

Drive along the Pacific coast, then climb the Andes to cross them to Cusco. From the capital of Peru to the capital of the Inca Empire, you will travel through varied landscapes, from the coastal desert, including the enigmatic lines of the Inca civilization, to the highlands, dotted with lagoons and herds of camelids. From the highlands you will descend into fertile valleys populated by typical Andean villages dominated by the high Andean peaks

Leg 1

From Lima to Paracas

Est Driving Time

3 to 4 hours

Distance

244 km

Leave the capital for the peaceful desert and its many beaches popular with the people of Lima. On the way you can stop at Chincha, an Afro town, renowned for its gastronomy, music and dances. Nearby, the Hacienda San José will take you back to the gloomy history of the slave era.

Don’t miss visiting the Paracas National Reserve. Here, the wind sculpts incredible rock formations, and the beaches are out of this world. If you’re lucky, you’ll see pink flamingos flying over the lagoons. Take your time to walk and feel the sea breeze.

Leg 1 highlights

Leg 2

From Paracas to Nasca

Est Driving Time

4 hours

Distance

244 km

Once you have visited the Ballestas Islands (boats depart at 8 am from the port) and the Paracas National Reserve, take the road to Ica, where you can visit the vineyards producing the famous Pisco, and near which is the oasis of Huacachina. We recommend relaxing at the Huacachina Oasis and enjoying activities like sandboarding and dune buggy rides. You’ll feel the adrenaline rush! In the evening, sit back and watch the sunset over the dunes.Continue in the direction of Nasca, with a stop at Pallpa, to discover the famous geoglyphs of still mysterious origin.You can’t leave without flying over the Nazca Lines, an archaeological enigma best seen from the air. You can also visit the Cantalloc aqueducts, a masterpiece of pre-Inca engineering.

Leg 2 highlights

Leg 3

From Nasca to Puquio

Est Driving Time

5 hours

Distance

156 km

Today you will leave the coast and climb the Andes, by an impressive route. You will gradually arrive in a totally different environment: climate, vegetation, fauna and lora, habits and customs of the locals. Drive slowly and take advantage of the parking areas to enjoy stunning views of the Peruvian coast! At the entrance and exit of the charming little town of Puquio, you will find a lake where you can park for the night.
Puquio is the gateway to the Pampa Galeras reserve, where you can see wild vicuñas roaming freely. The Mirador de Huashua offers stunning panoramic views of the Andean highlands. Its thermal springs provide a relaxing escape in a natural setting. The town’s traditional festivals showcase vibrant music, dance, and Andean culture.

Leg 3 highlights

Leg 4

From Chalhuanca to Curahuasi

Est Driving Time

4 hours

Distance

190 km

Continue down the valley to the Apurimac River, the most distant tributary of the Amazon! Go visit the Pachachaca colonial bridge, built according to the tradition of the time, with egg whites! You will go up on the other side, crossing the town of Abancay, before reaching the forests overlooking the town. You will find several places to sleep there, or you will continue a little further to the archaeological site of Saywite or even Curahuasi, the capital of anise!

The Sanctuary of Ampay nearby is home to diverse flora and fauna. Its hot springs provide a relaxing retreat in a peaceful setting.

Leg 4 highlights

Leg 5

From Curahuasi to Cusco

Est Driving Time

3 hours

Distance

124 km

Today undulating road between valley bottoms and passes, which crosses many Andean villages. You will find a lot of tourist attractions of all types, such as the village of Limatambo, the viewpoint of Chonta, from where you can admire the flight of condors, or the village of Cachora where the Choquequirao trek begins.

Limatambo is a scenic gateway to the Andes, surrounded by lush valleys and mountains. The Tarawasi Archaeological Site showcases impressive Inca stonework and history. Its waterfalls and hiking trails offer great outdoor exploration. The mild climate and fertile lands make it a perfect spot for nature lovers.

Leg 5 highlights

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South Coast Desert

The southern coast of Peru stretches along the Pacific Ocean. Covered by an immense sandy desert, dotted with oases and green valleys with a flourishing agriculture. Also in these deserts, amazing pre-Inca cultures such as the Nazca culture developed.

Let yourself be delighted with the wine produced with exquisite and quality products. Enjoy sports in the middle of the desert, a unique adventure.

Chincha

Chincha offers different tourist attractions rich in culture and history.

Besides having beautiful beaches, enjoy the sun and know other places like the Sanctuary of Melchorita, El Carmen, the Huaca Centinela in Tambo de Mora, El Silencio, El Carrizal, among other recognized sites.

Waqra Pukara

Waqra Pukara, in Cusco, is an archaeological jewel surrounded by impressive landscapes. Its name in Quechua means “Fortress with horns”, due to the rock formations at the top. Built by the Qanchis culture and later adapted by the Incas, it combines history, architecture and mysticism.

To get there, a 2-3 hour hike is required after a trip from Cusco. The route offers views of the Apurimac River canyon and the Andes. Ideal for trekking and cultural tourism, Waqra Pukara promises a unique experience full of history and connection with nature.

Paracas National Reserve

The Paracas National Reserve presents a unique beauty of the Peruvian coast. Here you can find many marine species such as seals, birds, fish and shellfish.

It has one of the richest ecosystems in Peru and also protects the prehistoric sites of the Paracas culture and other civilizations that inhabited this amazing place.

Ballestas Islands

An impressive place located south of Lima. Here live several species protected by the Peruvian state.
On board a boat you can see sea lions, Humboldt penguins, flamingos and other marine species.

Upon arrival you will be amazed by the rocky formation of this place where a huge geoglyph called El Candelabro houses thousands of sea lions.

Nazca

These ancient geoglyphs are found throughout the Nazca desert, and to this day, they unleash many uncertainties because no one knows the message that the different drawings hold.

Puquio

Puquio is the capital of the province of Lucanas to the south of the department of Ayacucho, it offers a great variety of landscapes and pleasant climates that propitiate the formation of peaks with eternal snow, plateaus, lagoons and waterfalls.

Pachachaca

The Pachachaca, Historical Cultural Patrimony of Peru, is a tributary of the Apurimac River that joins the cities of Abancay and Andahuaylas. Its bed runs at the bottom of a deep canyon of alluvial origin. The construction is made of materials such as lime and stone.

The archaeological site of Saywite

The archaeological site of Saywite is located in the department of Apurimac. It is believed that this was a religious center at the time of the Incas, but it could also represent the cosmic vision of the Inca culture, associated with water, the fertility of the land and the forces involved in its existence.

Viewpoint of Chonta

The Chonta Condor Viewpoint is the natural sanctuary of the Andean condor, a bird sacred to the Incas. This place offers an impressive view of the flight of condors in their natural habitat as they fly over the landscapes of the Apurimac Canyon.

Cusco

Cusco, the capital of the Inca Empire, Navel of the World. Every corner of this magical city hides in its walls the history of a great empire extended in many countries. Today you can see in the different tourist attractions the advanced technology that the Incas managed to develop.