13-Day Grand Peru Expedition: Lima, Southern Coast, Arequipa, Cusco Region

This immersive 13-day photography expedition is the ultimate exploration of Peru, connecting the coast, mountains, highland communities, canyons, and the Inca heartland. From the colonial charm of Arequipa to the surreal beauty of the Rainbow Mountains, from private flights over the Nazca Lines to astro-photography beneath Ausangate’s glaciers, this tour is packed with bucket-list moments and hidden gems.

Accompanied by a professional photographer and local guides, you’ll uncover Peru’s cultural depth, natural drama, and human warmth—one frame at a time.

💬 Note: This itinerary is fully customizable. Let us tailor it to your group’s needs and creative interests.

🌟 Highlights

✔ Lima Photo Day Tour
✔ Arequipa “White City” & Colca Canyon with condor photography
✔ Community experience & astro-photography near Rainbow Mountain
✔ Exclusive flight over the Nazca Lines
✔ Ballestas Islands wildlife cruise in a private boat
✔ Full-day at Machu Picchu with guided visit and solo photography time
✔ Authentic Andean community day with portrait sessions
✔ Reflection landscapes at Lake Huaypo & Maras Salt Mines
✔ Natural hot springs, night skies, and glacier peaks at Ausangate
✔ Local markets, traditions, and food throughout

📅 Sample Tour Itinerary Overview

Day 1–2: Arrival in Lima & Full Photo Day Tour

Warm welcome, coastal scenes, street life, and colonial gems through a photographer’s lens.

Day 3–5: Arequipa & Colca Canyon

Explore the white city and journey into the Colca Valley—capture volcanoes, vicuñas, and Andean condors soaring through one of the world’s deepest canyons.

Day 6–8: Cusco, Sacred Valley & Machu Picchu

Visit Chinchero for traditional textiles and portraits, then explore Lake Huaypo and Maras before riding the train to Aguas Calientes. Photograph Machu Picchu at dawn with time to roam freely.

Day 9–11: Community Immersion & Rainbow Mountain

Spend a full day with a local Quechua family, explore hidden valleys, then head into the Andes to photograph the lesser-known side of Rainbow Mountain and the majestic Ausangate. Enjoy hot springs and an optional astro-photography session.

Day 12–13: Return to Lima via Paracas & Nazca

Fly to Lima, drive to Paracas, enjoy golden hour at the desert-ocean national park, then cruise the Ballestas Islands and fly privately over the Nazca Lines for a stunning aerial experience. Final night in Lima.

✅ Included

✔ All transport from arrival to departure (flights, trains, boats, private vehicles)
✔ Domestic flights: Lima–Arequipa, Arequipa–Cusco, Cusco–Lima
✔ All accommodations (double occupancy – ask for single supplement)
✔ Entry to all archaeological and natural sites
✔ Select meals including traditional village lunches
✔ Professional photography guide throughout
✔ Local guides in cultural and wildlife locations
✔ Private Ballestas Island cruise and Nazca Lines flight

🚫 Not Included

✘ International flights
✘ Personal insurance (required)
✘ Dinners and some lunches for flexibility
✘ Optional extras (e.g., Lake Titicaca or Huacachina)

🎒 What to Bring

Full camera kit (wide, zoom, portrait lens, tripod, filters)
Rain gear, sun protection, repellent
Warm clothes for Andes, light gear for desert & jungle
Bathing suit for hot springs
Travel insurance & positive energy!

💰 Tour Pricing

Pricing is personalized based on travel dates, room preference, and group size.
📩 Email us for your custom quote at [email protected]

🌎 This Is More Than a Tour—It’s a Story Waiting to Be Told

Let Peru’s vast landscapes, vibrant cultures, and ancient legacies become the canvas for your photographic journey. You won’t just visit Peru—you’ll experience it, frame by frame.

1 Review

Departure/Return Location

Lima Airport
Departure Time

Flexible
Return Time

Flexible
Dress Code

Comfortable seasonal clothing & shoes
Included

Accommodation

Entrance Fees

Guide

Local Flights

Lunch

Meals

Photo Assistance

Transport
Not Included

Extras

Insurance

From our gallery

What you will see..

Tour Plan

DAY 1

Pick up at Lima Airport.

Rest at your hotel in Miraflores.

DAY 2

Lima Photo Day Tour

DAY 3

In the morning we will take a flight to Arequipe

Arrive in Arequipa - Probably Peru's most beautiful city, the so called "Ciudad Blanca" or white city.

In the afternoon we will make a city tour where you’ll see colonial buildings, the first jail in Arequipa, a monastery, Juanita mummy museum, love park and much more.

DAY 4

Pick up from your Hotel in Arequipa between 07:45 - 08:00. We begin our trip to the one of the deepest Canyons of the world, taking the highway from Yura, bordering the snow-covered volcano Chachani towards Cañahuas Pampas. We stop for coca tea at the Aguada Blanca National Park, the habitat of the beautiful South American camelid, the vicuñas, alpacas, and llamas. At Tocra lake we will be able to appreciate a variety of migratory birds, sometimes flamingos. We will pass the crater of an extinct volcano (Chucura) and then stop at the famous volcanos panoramic viewpoint, at a high 4.800 meters above sea leavel. From here we can view a great part of the western mountain range, where you can truly appreciate the Pre- Inca farming Terraces / platforms know as "andenerias". Approximately 13:30, Arrival to Chivay and stop for Lunch (not included).

At 15:00 our private transport will transfer to us towards the colorful town "pueblito" of Coporaque, from where we will initiate an walk of approximately 2 hours, to enjoy the beautiful landscapes and nature of this side of the valley; as well as a pre-Inca cemetery located in the skirts of a mountain. You will notice that this region was intensively populated by andean communities.

At 17:00 on return from the walk you have the opportunity to enjoy the thermal baths in the lime kiln whose thermo-medicinal waters are between 35o to 38o degrees Celsius in the swimming pools. (US$ 3 entry)

DAY 5

Early breakfast, we continue 06:30 in our private transport to the view- point called " Cruz del Cóndor " about 1.5 hour drive into this National Park where you have a very beautiful view of Colca Canyon. This is also the place where you will be able to observe several flying condors, sometimes passing very close to you (up to a few meters overhead). Just near this area your tour guide will show you the Pre-inca tombs hanging in the mountains.

Plenty of time to spend in this natural region for pictures and gentle walking around the San Pedro cactus area. On the return we will stop in the towns of Pinchollo, Maca and Yanque, with their beautiful colonial churches, as well as in the viewpoints of Choquetico and Antahuilque, from where we will observe impressive andenería farming platforms of the valley, and tombs in pre-Incas scale models. Lunch at 13:00 then Return and Arrival to the City of Arequipa 17:00 to 18:00 Hrs.

DAY 6

Flight Arequipa-Cusco in the morning.

After we finally reach Cusco in the morning we get settled in our hotel room then in the afternoon we will have a small walk in the streets of the old capital of the incan empire.

DAY 7

We begin the day in the town of Chinchero where we will get to meet some of the locals, learn about the dyeing and weaving of the textiles this region is so famous for, afterwards we will get the opportunity for portait sessions of the ladies here in their typical clothes of this town.

Later on, we will enjoy the amazing reflections on one of the most stunning lakes of the sacred valley, Lake Huaypo.

We will finish with the last sun rays over the salt mines of Maras. We end the day with taking the famous train in the beautiful city of Ollantaytambo to Aguas Calientes. This scenic journey is the best way to experience the Sacred Valley all the way to Machu Picchu.

DAY 8

We will spend the morning and mid afternoon in the lost city of the Incas - Machu Picchu. Enjoy 2 hours with a local guide who will explain everything about this archaeological location and then you will have plenty of free time for your photography.

We will take the train back to Ollantaytambo and then a private transport to Calca where we will spend a relaxed night lost in the Sacred Valley.

DAY 9

We leave our hotel around 8am. Stop at the local market for a portrait session and to try some fresh peruvian specialities after breakfast. Here we can also buy some bread for the community we later visit.

From here we drive 1 hour through scenic valleys to the community where we will meet with our hosts. Once we have arrived in our host house we will drink a welcome tea. From there one of the parents will lead us to the local school, we can gain an insight into the local life and education of children in the Andes, the kids will be on their break when we arrive so be prepared for lots of fun and portrait opportunities.

From there we will head back for lunch time, delicious local food prepared for us by our hosts.

After enjoying a portrait session, we will head a little higher up in the Valley. From there we will have an amazing view over lakes and mountains. Our models will be joining us, so get your camera ready.

Around 5pm we will start the return to Cusco. Upon Arrival we have dinner and get some rest at the hotel.

DAY 10

Early in the morning we will go to the unknown side of the famous Rainbow Mountain. The normal tourist route brings about 1000 people per day to the most common tourist path of the famous mountain. However most people do not know that it is possible to visit the other side of this mountain range. That is exactly where we will take you, deep into the Andes.

We will spend the night close to the mountain Ausangate in a Quechua community. Enjoying the hot springs is a must in this location and if the weather permits it, get ready for an Astro-Photography night workshop.

DAY 11

Around 5pm we will start the return to Cusco. Upon Arrival we have dinner and get some rest at the hotel.

DAY 12

Flight back to Lima in the morning.

From Lima, we will drive directly to Paracas.

We will enjoy the sunset in the fabulous national Park.

DAY 13

Early morning it will be time to visit the Ballestas Islands. They are like a small sample of the famous Galapagos. Get on a comfy and private speed boat before anyone else and expect to see Penguins, sea lions and lots of different birds.

From there we will get to Pisco Airport to catch your flight over the Nazca Lines.

Night in Lima.

Tour Location

Lima - Peru's capital city is a cultural and culinary hotspot. With a mix of modern and colonial architecture, Lima is a photographer's paradise. From the stunning Plaza de Armas to the colorful district of Barranco, there are plenty of opportunities to capture the vibrant essence of Lima.

Paracas - Located on Peru's south coast, Paracas is a beautiful beach town with a fascinating history. The Ballestas Islands, also known as the "Galapagos of Peru," are a must-visit for nature and wildlife photographers. The incredible rock formations, sea lions, and thousands of seabirds are just some of the highlights.

Huacachina - A small oasis town surrounded by sand dunes, Huacachina is a photographer's playground. From dune buggies to sandboarding, there are plenty of adrenaline-pumping activities to capture. And the sunset over the desert is a sight not to be missed.

Nazca - The Nazca Lines are one of the world's great mysteries. These ancient geoglyphs, etched into the desert floor, can only be seen from above. A flight over the lines is a once-in-a-lifetime experience for aerial photographers and adventurers alike.

Arequipa - Known as the "White City" due to its stunning white buildings made from volcanic ash, Arequipa is a beautiful city with a rich history. The Plaza de Armas and the Monastery of Santa Catalina are just two of the many photo opportunities in this charming city.

Colca Canyon - Twice as deep as the Grand Canyon, Colca Canyon is a breathtaking natural wonder that is a must-visit for landscape photographers. The vast canyon, picturesque villages, and soaring Andean condors are just some of the highlights.

Cusco - The ancient capital of the Inca Empire, Cusco is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a photographer's dream. From the stunning architecture of the Plaza de Armas to the colorful markets and narrow streets of San Blas, Cusco is a city steeped in history and culture.

Machu Picchu - One of the most iconic and photographed destinations in the world, Machu Picchu is a bucket list destination for many. This ancient Inca citadel, set high in the Andes, is a must-visit for photographers looking to capture the incredible architecture and stunning natural surroundings.

Rainbow Mountain - The stunning and colorful Rainbow Mountain, also known as Vinicunca, is a natural wonder that is a must-visit for landscape photographers. The hike to the top is challenging but well worth it for the incredible views and the opportunity to capture one of the world's most unique natural wonders.