Discover the wonders of Peru with this 7-day itinerary, featuring an immersive experience through Lima, Cusco, the Sacred Valley, and Machu Picchu. Highlights include guided city tours, breathtaking archaeological sites, vibrant markets, and cultural landmarks, ensuring a perfect blend of adventure and history.
You will enjoy breakfast at your hotel, followed by a free morning in the city. At 2 p.m. we will begin your city tour in Lima, known as “The City of Kings”. This excursion offers a great combination of the attractions in Lima and its three historical periods: pre-hispanic, colonial and contemporary. Lima was part of the Inca Empire until it was founded by the Spaniard, Francisco Pizarro on January 18, 1535. During our guided tour we will travel along Lima’s millinery history.
You will be welcomed at the Cusco airport by our friendly representative and transferred to your hotel.
Remember, landing at 3,300 meters can be hard on the body. Do not feel concerned if you have shortness of breath or a small headache. This is common and should go away quickly. You can reduce the symptoms by staying hydrated with water and tea.
You will have a free day to acclimatize and visit the impressive main square of Cusco.
At 1 p.m., we will meet you at your hotel lobby to begin your tour. From here, you will head to Cusco’s Plaza de Armas, where you will visit the famous cathedral. Following, you will continue on foot through an ancient Inca-built street from the Plaza de Armas to the Q’oricancha, the Temple of the Sun. At the Q’oricancha you will be able to compare and contrast the building methods of the Incan culture and Catholicism. This was the key spiritual center of the Incas, which leads to all four quarters of the Inca Empire. There is also a bronze, high altar to be seen.
From Q’oricancha, your group will walk down Avenida El Sol, where you will take your bus 25 minutes outside of the city. You will be taken to the majestic Inca site, Sacsayhuaman, with its enigmatic, 200 ton monoliths, You will be able to hear from your guide and then, explore on your own.
From Sacsayhuaman, you will take a five minute bus ride to the Q’enqo Inca site to see its fascinating Incan altars. Following, you will take another five minute drive to Puca Pucara, a small, circular Inca site. The final stop on our tour is Tambomachay, a water temple with impressive water fountains, thought to be used by the Inca for bathing. We’ll then drive back down to Cusco where the tour ends in the main square, unless you are taking a private tour, in which case, we will return you to your hotel.
We will pick you up from your hotel at 8 a.m. for an all-day tour. During your drive to the Sacred Valley, you will visit Awanacancha (an alpaca farm and weaving center), Pisaq Ruins, Pisaq Market and Ollantaytambo. At 7 p.m. you will catch the train from Ollantaytambo to Aguas Calientes, the town located right at the foot of Machu Picchu. You will stay in a hotel here.
We will wake up early in the morning in order to catch the sunrise at Machu Picchu. You will have a two hour guided tour of the archaeological site.Y ou will be visiting the famous Sacred City of the Incas, the crystal city of the their civilization. Most people prefer to rise at 4 a.m. walk to the bus station to take one of the first buses up to Machu Picchu. It can be enjoyable to arrive at the ruins as soon as they open, at 6 a.m., to catch the magical mists on the ruins as the sun rises. After a 25 minute bus ride to Machu Picchu, your tour guide will take you to the best views. You will start your two hour guided walking tour exploring all of the famous places of this impressive citadel. The Temple of the Sun, The Royal Tomb, The Intiwatana (sun dial rock), Main Plaza, Temple of the 3 Windows, The Artisan Sector, the Condor Temple, and many others.
After your tour, you will return to the town of Aguas Calientes, where you will be able to grab lunch prior to your departure train. Your return train will be in the afternoon to the train station in Ollantaytambo. In Ollantaytambo , you will be dropped off at your hotel accommodation for the night .
We will pick you up at 8 a.m. from your hotel and take you to visit the Salineras of Maras, a huge salt mine which was used in the pre-colonial times. You will be able to see more than 3,000 evaporation chambers and salt pools, which they still use to process salt. Once you are done with Maras, you will visit Moray Inca ruins and the Inca Laboratory. This is where the different micro-climates of the region were researched. They also developed many strains of produce there. Later on, you will visit Chincheros and see a textile center. You will be shown alpaca and llama wool, handmade textiles and a demonstration on how they weave them. This town also offers some Inca ruins that were used to farm potatoes. You will end the tour with a visit to a Catholic church, which was built on top of the Palace of the Incas. Following, you will be driven back to Cusco and transferred to your hotel.
This unforgettable journey to some of the most iconic Peruvian gems has come to an end. Today, we will part ways with nothing but life-time memories.
Our representatives will come to your hotel in Cusco to pick you up and take you to the airport for your departure flight.