On the way, Lima’s coastal setting quickly becomes clear: dry air, dense urban development and the Pacific below the high cliffs. Once at the hotel, there is nothing else that has to be fitted into the day. A walk along the malecón or dinner nearby makes a good start after the long-haul flight. Lima has plenty to offer, but the first evening is best kept relaxed.

The cathedral, monastic complexes and public buildings show Lima’s role as an administrative centre during the colonial period. At the same time, the guide places the city in a much longer historical perspective, since pre-Columbian cultures had already shaped the area. Later, the route continues towards Miraflores and Barranco, where parks, older villas, restaurants and ocean views reveal a completely different Lima.

A lunch of local dishes fits naturally into the day and makes food culture part of the story rather than a separate activity.

If the flight leaves later, there may be time for a walk, museum visit or lunch before the airport transfer. The transfer then leaves for the airport with plenty of time, as traffic across Lima can be slow even outside rush hour.

The flight goes to Cusco. From there, the transfer continues directly down towards the Sacred Valley, where the lower altitude gives the body more time to adjust.

From Cusco, the road descends towards the Sacred Valley and lower altitude. The change in temperature and vegetation becomes noticeable gradually, and views open across terraced slopes and the Urubamba River.

Pisac’s terraces climb the mountainside above the modern town and show how agriculture, defence and road networks were connected. The market offers a different perspective on life in the valley today.

Along the way, stops are made in smaller villages and at viewpoints over cultivated landscapes. The itinerary allows time for an unhurried lunch. With accommodation in the valley, the day does not need to be compressed into a long excursion from Cusco.

Moray’s circular terraces show how Inca architecture adapted to the landscape, while the salt pans at Maras have been used for generations and are still managed by local families. The excursion can also include a visit to a smaller village, a weaving demonstration or lunch in the countryside.

The pace is unhurried. The valley deserves more than a quick overnight on the way to Machu Picchu, and the lower altitude also makes it a good introduction to the Andes.

The journey continues towards Ollantaytambo. A guided visit covers both the major archaeological site and the living village below. Afterwards, the journey continues by train or road according to the next part of the itinerary.

The train leaves Ollantaytambo and follows the Urubamba River towards Aguas Calientes.

The train leaves the Sacred Valley and follows the Urubamba River towards Aguas Calientes. Along the way, the valley narrows and the colour and density of the vegetation change noticeably.

Early or later in the morning, depending on the booked entrance time, the bus climbs through the cloud forest to Machu Picchu. The guided visit follows the assigned circuit and focuses on how the Inca city was built into the mountain, how terraces stabilise the slopes and how water was channelled through the site.

After Machu Picchu, the train and connecting transfer return to Cusco.

The transfer takes you to the hotel. Cusco’s altitude affects people differently, including travellers who are normally very fit, so the arrival day is deliberately kept quiet.

Qorikancha shows this meeting especially clearly, while Plaza de Armas and the surrounding churches tell the story of the power structure that followed the conquest. San Blas and the smaller streets offer a more everyday perspective.

If altitude and energy levels allow, the day continues to Sacsayhuamán and other sites above Cusco. Visits are spread through the day with proper pauses, which works better at this elevation.

It can be used for San Blas, markets, museums and a long lunch, or for a shorter excursion to places around the city not covered during the guided introduction. Many travellers also appreciate a few hours without a guide. Cusco has enough everyday life to fill a free day naturally.

The journey then continues towards the Sacred Valley, the airport or the next destination. If the morning is free, a short walk or coffee in the centre is a better choice than another major visit.

The journey crosses the Altiplano towards Puno using the selected road or rail connection.

From Puno or Juliaca, the transfer continues to the hotel at or near Lake Titicaca. Even after previous days in Cusco, the lake sits higher still, so the first hours at Titicaca should remain quiet.

A stop at Uros provides an opportunity to understand how totora reeds are used in island construction and everyday life. A longer boat route may continue to Taquile, Amantaní or another community depending on boat schedules and local conditions.

The guide focuses on present-day life, agriculture and textile traditions and avoids turning local communities into a performance for visitors. Weather on the lake can change quickly, and wind affects both temperature and journey times.

The journey then continues by road, train or transfer to Juliaca airport according to the onward route. Altitude and road conditions mean the day is planned with plenty of time.

A transfer takes you to Juliaca airport for the flight towards Puerto Maldonado, normally with a connection according to the current flight schedule.

After the flight to Puerto Maldonado, lodge staff meet you and the journey continues towards the river. Depending on the lodge, part of the route is by road before the boat takes over.

Depending on the lodge and season, the excursion may visit an oxbow lake, terra firme forest or the river. The naturalist guide looks for birds, monkeys and other wildlife, but gives equal attention to plants, insects and the ecological relationships that keep the forest functioning.

After lunch and a rest, another activity explores a different part of the lodge surroundings. An evening excursion can be added when weather and the lodge programme allow.

Observation platforms, paddling, longer trails or a visit to a clay lick may be included depending on the lodge location and local regulations. There is also time around the lodge itself, where smaller birds, butterflies and monkeys can sometimes be seen without any excursion at all. The pace follows the heat. Early mornings and late afternoons are used actively, while the middle of the day is often quieter.

It might be a longer boat trip, another lake, an early morning at an observation site or a quieter day with shorter walks close to the lodge. In the rainforest, it rarely makes sense to schedule every hour far in advance. Weather, river levels and recent wildlife activity help determine the day’s choices.

The lodge’s fixed departure times are coordinated with the flight, and the transfer continues to the airport or next hotel according to the itinerary.

From Puerto Maldonado, the flight continues towards Lima and the international journey home. Exact times and connections are shown in the final itinerary.

Arrival in Scandinavia after the overnight flight.