Peru Trip: 20 Days

Pisco. While you may have never heard of this magical liquid, it is the national liquor of Peru! A grape brandy that is most commonly found in the country’s national drink, the Pisco Sour, on this trip you will be lucky enough to get a pisco tasting tour!

You will visit a small vineyard outside of Ica, be walked through the whole distillation process from start to finish, and then be led to the tasting room where you will sip a variety of pisco wines and liqueurs.

And while many a morning will be spent wishing you had imbibed one (or three) less piscos the night before (a hangover at high altitude is no joke!), pisco will undoubtedly be part of some of your fondest memories from your time in Peru. Don’t forget to take a bottle home with you to continue the good times!

ATVs, lake swimming, hiking, and ziplining all in one day? Read how we do it Free & Easy Style: Why bother just taking the road from Cusco (The Inkan Capital) to Salineras in a bus, when we can start our adventure in a little village called Cuzapata and crush some trails by ATV first?

The day begins with safety lessons on our guided ATV tour around rolling hills, beautiful countrysides, and stunning Lagunas. Care to take a dip in a high elevation lake? Go for it! Want to see vistas you can’t see any other way? No Problem!

From there we take private transport directly to the Salt Mines. These community-owned and harvested pools cannot be found anywhere else except in this hidden ravine that cuts into the sacred valley. The salty spring flowing from the mountainside has been utilized here for centuries, and still is today!

We go explore the salt terraces and definitely get to bring some samples home for the bbq. Finish off the day by flying across the valleys like a condor on huge ziplines with a view unlike any other. You won’t know which part of the day to tell friends about first! All in all, one epic day full of sweet views and no salty attitudes!

The Sacred Valley of the Incas, also known as the Urubamba Valley, encompasses the heartland of what was once the Inca Empire. Dotted with everything from rocky hills and mountains, to lush grass-covered terraces, it makes a beautiful backdrop for an adrenaline-packed day of adventure sports!

With both mountain biking and white water rafting available as very affordable options, you’ll want to grab this chance to see the Sacred Valley from a whole new perspective. Spend 3 hours paddling down a winding river with a seasoned guide leading you through epic rapids. Or, you could grab your mountain bike and peddle off for a day of adventures. Cycle through the picturesque valley and feel yourself be transported back to ancient times. You’ll be physically and mentally challenged, and will come out at the end of the day with a big smile and no regrets!

Hop on a boat and cruise out an hour or so into the Pacific Ocean off of Peru's southern coast to a group of small islands called the Ballestas Islands, an amazing sanctuary for a colourful variety of incredible animals.

First, be greeted by the barks and howls of the thousands of sea lions that sound like a wolf-pack surrounding you on every side. The playful sea lions are a curious bunch and will often approach the boats looking for new playmates, but the spectacle of creatures only gets more exciting as there is a large density of penguins and the infamous blue-footed booby, a hilarious bird with bright blue feet.

Often called the 'Mini Galapagos' because of the extraordinary display of wildlife, you'll have the chance to view over 1,500 different species of species when making the unforgettable trip out to the Ballestas Islands!

Arrive in Arequipa and tour the local market. Here you can try helado de queso (cheese ice-cream with cinnamon on it). Continuing on to the main market you can try salteado (veggie-like empanadas) and papa rellena (stuffed mashed potato balls), all very delicious and very Peruvian options!

Once inside the main market make sure to stop by the juice aisle and pick the fruits you would like in a fresh AF smoothie. You can keep it simple with your regular favourites, or try something new, such as chirimoya, granadilla, or lucuma.

Carrying on through the market we like to stop at our favourite fruit vendors to pick up some healthy fuel for the epic Colca Canyon hike we do. And to top it all off we end the market tour by the traditional medicine section so you can stock up on herbs, coca leaves, aloe vera, and more.

Take this opportunity to learn the difference between alpaca, llama, and vicuña hair fibres. You will also get the chance to sheer and naturally wash and colour the fibres using a wide range of dyeing agents. 

It doesn’t end there though, you will receive a thorough explanation of what certain textile patterns represent. And to make this experience truly epic, you will get to feed and take photos with the most adorable llamas. Don’t miss out on this opportunity if you want to have a truly local Peruvian experience.

Perched high up in the Andes Mountains, surrounded by lush green peaks and misty clouds, sits the lost Incan city of Machu Picchu. One of the 7 Wonders of the World and the most renowned archaeological site in the western hemisphere it's incredible in every way.

From its mysterious and elaborate temples to its out-of-this-world location, it's a sight that everyone should aim to see once in their lifetime. Our local Incan guide will take us on a spiritual journey up the mountain, stopping for Coca Leaf and thankfulness ceremonies along the way. This is one experience that will leave your soul rejuvenated.

After getting a taste of some of the local delicacies Peru has to offer, you’ll be itching to get in the kitchen and learn how to make some of these dishes on your own!

In the culturally rich city of Cusco, we have the opportunity to throw on some colorful aprons and get to cooking alongside our very own Peruvian chef. With step by step instructions on how to prepare a popular drink and delicious main dish, we leave the class ready to show all our family and friends back home the tasty treats Peru has to offer!

Wind down after some invigorating hikes and enjoy a tranquil yoga class in the beautiful Sacred Valley of the Incas just outside of Cusco, also known as the Urubamba Valley.

The quaint town of Pisac is surrounded by Incan Ruins and nestled along the same river that flows to Machu Picchu town known as the Urubamba River. Guided by an experienced and trained yoga teacher, we move through restorative poses and meditative postures to stretch out those sore legs post-Colca Canyon trek.

Palo Santo and gentle music fill the room to create a serene environment for quieting the mind as we connect deeper within ourselves. The energy from the ancient ruins that lay in Peru is known to be felt by locals and tourists alike.

Through this mindful yoga practice, we get the chance to receive the powerful energy that lies in the Sacred Valley. Leave this class feeling relaxed and rejuvenated, with an improved balance between body and mind.

Live a real-life Mario Kart dream on your very own Rainbow Road! Rainbow Mountain, also known as Vinicunca, is a ridiculously beautiful section of the Andes. It’s one of those hidden gems that few backpackers make it out to, and we couldn’t be more excited to offer it as an optional day trip on our FnEZ Peru trips!

Imagine glacial mountain streams that form a tapestry as they weave their way through lush green fields and pastures home to thousands of grazing alpacas, tiny villages consisting of mud-brick houses and locals in traditional outfits (along with the cutest wide-eyed children waiting to give you a high five), and finally, at the peak, an incredible mountain range lit up with spectrum of purples, greens, blues, yellows, and reds.

Don’t just take our word for it, though; this is something you NEED to experience for yourself. Once you get to the peak and your jaw hits the ground (erm…rainbow?), you’ll understand why we just keep going back. * * * NOTE: The optional Rainbow Mountain hike is our highest elevated hike. Because of the high altitude, we only recommend this hike for the physically fit. * * *

Nothing compares to the feeling you get the first time you paddle into a wave, stand up as it breaks and ride the face of it – this is the incomparable feeling of surfing. When you get it right, it feels right and you'll always ALWAYS remember that first time you caught that first wave.  Don't be surprised if this experience leads to an eternal addiction.

Surfing is arguably the most challenging sport in the world and requires you to learn much more than physical coordination. In order to surf a wave, you'll need patience, discipline, a lack of fear and an insatiable urge to have fun.  It's the timing of your prescence in the ocean combined with nature providing you with that perfect wave, just for you.  It's no coincidence that 6 of the countries that we run trips to (Indonesia, the Philippines, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Peru & Colombia) have wicked surf scenes because there's nothing quite like it.

When you first think of deserts you may think of huge expanses of nothingness, flat and dry with nothing to do for fun. But in some deserts, the wind has blown the sand into a wonderful terrain of mountains, valleys and wide-open plains that are a hell of a lot of fun to rip up and down on in a little vehicle designed for just that: a dune buggy.

Surrounding the oasis town of Huacachina in Peru there is a vast playground of sand dunes, big and small, that we’ve discovered are best explored with a couple of travel buddies in a dune buggy at break-neck speeds!

Best of all, if you need to catch your breath you can slow it down and enjoy the incredible views of gorgeous, coastal desert terrain that few have the chance to see in such a free and fun way!

What is the most epic end to a day of ripping around rollercoaster-style in giant dune buggies and sandboarding multiple peaks of the ever-changing dunes of Huacachina? Spending a night together with your FnEZ family camping right in the desert dunes.

This experience comes complete with a Peruvian fire-grilled dinner and all-you-can-drink Pisco sours, catered to us by our favourite local guides! Lay back, look up at the twinkling stars and vast nighttime sky, and revel in the marvels of our world.

It is a party and experience for the books, and not only will you wake up in awe that you just spent a night in your own private desert oasis, but you’ll get to witness one of the most epic sunrises of your life!  Come join us in Peru, breathe in the fresh air and take it all in as this is one of those 'once in a lifetime' experiences!

One of the best and most exciting feelings is just after you strap on your board and you're standing at the edge of a nice, big slope and about to slide your board that extra inch forward so you can start ripping down the mountain.

The sun is shining and the sky is blue, you're wearing hardly any clothes and it's nice and hot out - wait, what!? Yes, for all you snowboarders out there that think it's limited to the winter, think again, as sandboarding down huge mountain dunes in the desert offers its own spin on the sport.

And in the southern deserts of Peru, you can experience boarding in a whole new way when you climb up the massive sand dunes and gaze out across the beautiful desert hills and then tip your board over the edge and carve soft sand instead of snow in this exhilarating experience that is a must-do for every boarder, skier or lover of fun activities! And if you're not into boarding, try out a sand-toboggan…they’re actually faster!

Following the winding Colca River in southern Peru, the Colca Canyon is one of the deepest in the world. Its depth of 10,724 ft, or 3,270 m, makes it more than twice as deep as the Grand Canyon. And we get to hike it!

After 6 kms of tight switchbacks finally bring you to the bottom, you’ll enjoy a nice lunch with all your travel buddies before heading another 16 kms across the canyon to our overnight lodgings. Here you will most likely jump into the pool fully clothed and exhausted while feeling immensely proud of yourself for having survived the hike into the canyon.

Spend the night playing cards with your friends and trying not to nod off before hitting the hay at an early hour. If you’ve agreed to hike back out, you’ll be up at the crack of dawn for the 5 km trek straight back up the canyon. If your legs have given up on you from the previous day’s exertions, you can hire a mule to take you up.

With amazing views the entire time and some wicked condor sightings, the Colca Canyon trek will push you mentally and physically beyond your comfort zone, but the feeling of accomplishment is phenomenal indeed.

With cacao trees being native to the Americas, and Peru being home to one of the rarest cocao bean species around, a chocolate tour is definitely in order when visiting the country. Hit up an amazing chocolate workshop in Arequipa that will blow your chocolate senses.

The owner Javier will walk you through the  history of the cacao bean, talk about cocoa butter and its uses, have you sort and hand-grind some beans, and try a little Xocolatl (the drink of the Aztec kings). You are then shown the whole chocolate-making process and even get to make your batch to take home, choosing from ingredients like coconut, goji berries, cocoa powder, salt and so forth to make your chocolate bonbons extra tasty.

All the beans used in the shop are sourced from local producers and are certified Organic and Fair Trade. Afterward, you can hang out in the café and have some of the most amazing hot chocolate around, or try some of the local craft beers on tap, or even buy some chocolate liquor or body scrubs to take home with you. This is every chocolate lover’s dream!!!

Have you always wanted to fly like a bird? Then head out for an awesome paragliding session in Lima! Right on the edge of the Miraflores district (where we stay) and on a set of beautiful cliffs overlooking the ocean, multiple Peruvian paragliding schools are available to take you out.

Whether you take a one-day paragliding course or just fly tandem with a professional, there’s nothing like running off the cliff and feeling the wind grab the canopy as you soar away. From way up above Lima, you’ll get an incredible ocean view, see how huge the city really is (10 million people!), and your instructor can point out beautiful sights and cool restaurants for you to check out later. This is definitely an amazing way to start or finish your trip to Peru!