Peru Culture & History Tour: Explore Lima, Cusco & Machu Picchu

$1,343
Duration
6 days
Language
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About This Tour

Peru is a wonderful destination with activities for all tastes and preferences. On this six-day trip, travel through two of the country’s most important locations while trying new flavours, learning about local history, appreciating traditional art, and collecting countless good memories along the way.

TOUR HIGHLIGHTS:

Lima: Declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO, the Peruvian capital combines history with modernity. In its historical centre, colonial architectural structures stand right next to the Pacific Ocean, all seeped in a deeply bohemian atmosphere.

Cusco: The ancient Inca capital is a fascinating blend of pre-Columbian culture and Spanish architecture. Its temples, squares and streets are surrounded by hills that hide amazing locations, such as Sacsayhuaman and Qenqo, Puka Pukara and Tambomachay.

Sacsayhuaman: An immense Inca fortress erected in the 15th century that stands on top of a hill above Cusco. Its large stones are a sign of its grandeur that continue to amaze visitors 500 years later.

Machu Picchu: The ‘lost city of the Incas’ is the main location that attracts thousands of people to Peru. Hidden amongst the vegetation, it invites visitors to step into the country’s past through its rooms, temples, bridges and religious sites, all built in outstanding harmony with the surrounding natural landscape.

Activities
Suitable For
Accessibility
Max People
10
Operator

Inclusions

TOUR GUIDE:

  • Operated with English, Spanish or French speaking local guide on a private basis

ACCOMMODATION:

  • 5 nights of accommodation 

ACCOMMODATION OPTIONS

Day 1-2; Lima:

Standard Hotel Category = El Tambo II or similar 3*

Superior Hotel Category = José Antonio Deluxe or similar 4*

Deluxe Hotel Category = Hyatt Centric San Isidro or similar 5*

Day 3- 5; Cusco

Standard Hotel Category = San Agustin Internacional or similar 3*

Superior Hotel Category = Hilton Garden Inn or similar 4*

Deluxe Hotel Category = Aranwa Cusco Boutique or similar 5*

OPTIONAL EXTRA:

Pre-night in Lima:

Standard Hotel Category = El Tambo II or similar 3*

Superior Hotel Category = José Antonio Deluxe or similar 4*

Deluxe Hotel Category = Hyatt Centric San Isidro or similar 5*

Post-night in Cusco:

Standard Hotel Category = San Agustin Internacional or similar 3*

Superior Hotel Category = Hilton Garden Inn or similar 4*

Deluxe Hotel Category = Aranwa Cusco Boutique or similar 5*


MEALS:

  • 5 breakfasts.
  • 2 lunches on days 2, 5

TRANSPORT:

  • Private transfers from and to the airport
  • Shared transfers from and to the train stations
  • Roundtrip train to Machu Picchu in Expedition Service (PeruRail) or Voyager (IncaRail)
  • Bus Aguas Calientes/Machu Picchu/Aguas Calientes.

ENTRANCE FEES AND ACTIVITIES:

  • All the activities mentioned in the programme: Gastronomic experience and The trips of Aiapaec at Larco Museum on day 2 (Lima); Workshop of ceramic glazed in Cusco, Coricancha, Cathedral and Sacsayhuamán on day 4, Machu Picchu on day 5. ; Boleto Turístico de Cusco (BTC ticket) included.

Exclusions

  • Personal expenses, drinks and meals not explicitly mentioned in the programme.
  • Tips for driver and guide.
  • International flights to Peru.
  • Domestic flights (it is advised to book the first flights in the morning).
  • Domestic and foreign airport taxes.

Tour Plan

Expand All
Day 1 ARRIVAL LIMA

Arrive at Jorge Chavez International Airport in Lima. Upon arrival, a representative will be waiting to greet you at the airport and the transportation service will transfer you to your hotel at the scheduled time. Spend the rest of the day at your leisure in Lima, the capital of Peru and a city steeped in history. During Colonial times, the Historic Centre of Lima, known as the ‘Ciudad de los Reyes’ (City of Kings), was the political, administrative, religious and economic centre for the Spanish in Peru. The historical centre is a UNESCO-listed World Heritage Site. Lima is now a modern metropolis and is currently undergoing an exciting process of cultural and economic change. Take the opportunity to rest and recover after the flight or head out into the city for your first glimpse of life in Peru´s sprawling capital city. Alternatively, you can book our optional Magic Water Circuit with Dinner: Magic Water Circuit with Dinner (private basis):A modern system of fountains certified as the largest in the world by the Guinness World Records. Built-in Exhibition Park, the Magical Water Circuit attracts crowds during summer and winter, being one of the new favorite attractions of Lima. See yourself and enjoy our water cruise that is followed by a unique gastronomical experience at a restaurant, accompanied by a delicious dinner.Notes: Private service. Not available on Sundays and Mondays. Start time: 17:30 hours. Duration 4 hours. Includes Pick-up and Drop-off, Bilingual guide (Spanish and English), Admission to Magic Water Circuit, and Dinner.Overnight in Lima

Day 2 LIMA

In the morning, after breakfast, walk along the boardwalk and enjoy the views of the Pacific Ocean from the only South American capital with direct access to the sea. End this morning stroll with a delightful gastronomic experience: learn to prepare delicious Peruvian dishes that you’ll then enjoy for lunch. Return to your hotel to rest before continuing to the Larco Museum, located in the traditional district of Pueblo Libre and housed in a beautifully restored colonial mansion. Considered one of the 20 best museums in the world, it has amazing pre-Hispanic collections that you can discover in a fun way with ‘The trips of AiApaec’, an activity aimed at families that combines games and dynamics to teach children and adults about Peru's past.Overnight in Lima

Day 3 LIMA - CUSCO (90 min By flight; not included)

Start the day with breakfast at the hotel, then take a transfer to the airport to fly to Cusco (arriving no later than 10:30). You will be met by one of our representatives in Cusco who will transfer you to your hotel. In the afternoon, once you are checked in, make the most of the rest of the day, which is free for you to enjoy Cusco at leisure. You can start exploring the city by wandering aimlessly through its fascinating streets, gazing at churches and trying local delicacies, and relaxing in one of its many squares, filled with vibrant Inca charm. Alternately, put your feet up at the hotel and enjoy a relaxing day before continuing your thrilling adventure the following day, or you can book our optional tour: 
Half-Day South Valley Tour: Tipón, Pikillaqta, and Andahuaylillas (private basis):
A unique tour that includes visits to the most important attractions between Cusco and Puno. Being the first to explore breath-taking archeological sites Tipón and its impressive rural colonial mansion where the Incas constructed an impressive irrigation system in harmony with nature that is still perceived by the surrounding population. In Pikillacta, the best-preserved pre-Inca cities we´ll follow the remains of the Wari culture, ancestor of the Incas, and in the beautiful Church of Andahuaylillas, also called "The Sistine Chapel of America” we´ll see the Wari´s marvelous original pipe organ. Take the most advantage of our tour and enjoy a day away from the hustle and bustle of the city. Notes: Private service. Start time: 13:00 hours. Duration 4.5 hours. Includes Pick-up and Drop-off, Bilingual guide (Spanish and English), Admission to Andahuaylillas and BTC (Cusco tourist ticket).
Overnight in Cusco

Day 4 CUSCO Let your imagination soar in two magnificent workshops offered by Art Trail, an artistic and cultural development project that aims to rescue local Cusco traditions and give them a new life through art. The first workshop, Cusco Colonial Glazed Ceramics, will teach you how to make a traditional Cusco figure, a Pucara horse or bull, which will be glazed and dried for you to take away. The second workshop, Colonial Gold Leaf, gives you the opportunity to decorate your work with gold leaf, using a traditional technique recovered by Art Trail and applied to contemporary crafts. Both workshops are taught by renowned Cusco artists, and after the sessions your two personalised works will be delivered to your hotel the following day, so you can take a unique piece of Peruvian art back home. In the afternoon, enjoy a guided tour of the former capital of the Inca Empire. The tour begins at the Santo Domingo Convent, a building constructed on the site of Coricancha, one of the most important Incan complexes dedicated to sun worship. According to historic records, the original temple walls depicted scenes of nature and were covered in gold leaf. After Coricancha, visit the imposing cathedral in the Plaza de Armas, then head to the Cusco hills, where you’ll find the fortress of Sacsayhuaman and panoramic views of Cusco.

Overnight in Cusco

Day 5 CUSCO - MACHU PICCHU - CUSCO (150 km - 4 hrs by land / 3hr by train)

Enjoy breakfast at the hotel then transfer to the Ollanta station to begin your trip to Machu Picchu. Enjoy the approximately two-hour train ride through spectacular Andean landscapes to Aguas Calientes, also known as ‘Machu Picchu Pueblo’, the last stop from where you’ll take a bus to the most important archaeological site in Peru. Machu Picchu, which means ‘Old Mountain’, is a UNESCO-listed World Heritage Site and one of the seven new wonders of the world. It is believed it was built for the Inca emperor Pachacútec around 1450 as a holiday residence. The citadel was abandoned just over 100 years later – probably as a result of the Spanish Conquest – although historians have never uncovered why it was abandoned, or how it escaped the destruction that other Inca settlements faced. Instead, the jungle slowly engulfed its stone construction, covering it in a thick vegetation that kept it hidden and protected until the ‘lost city of the Incas’ was brought to international attention in 1911. At the end of the tour, take a bus back to Aguas Calientes for lunch. In the afternoon, you’ll be taken to Aguas Calientes station, from where you’ll board the train back to Cusco.
Overnight in Cusco

Day 6 DEPART CUSCO

After finishing your breakfast at the hotel, check out and transfer to the airport, where you’ll catch a flight to Lima. Although this is the last day of your journey, we hope that your memories of this remarkable region, bursting with both culture and history, will last a lifetime. 
Breakfast included.

Meeting / Pickup

Pick-up only: Customers must be picked up from selected pick-up locations.

What to Bring

Comfortable and light clothing is recommended for visiting the coastal areas of Peru, while for the high Andean area the use of warm clothing is recommended. It is not recommended that visitors wear sleeveless shirts, shorts, short skirts or short clothes when visiting religious temples or official buildings. Sunscreen, sunglasses, hat and mosquito repellent can be very useful during your stay.

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Please Note

Day 1: Optional extra Magic Water Circuit with Dinner does not operate on Sundays and Mondays

Rates do not apply to Peruvians or residents with more than 60 days of stay. If passengers are Peruvians or exceed 60 days of stay, sale taxes (18%) will be collected by our local operator

Domestic flight from Lima to Cusco must arrive not later than 10:30hrs. Noon arrivals are too late.

Please note that Check In in most hotels begins at 13:00 hrs. Clients will be subject to the availability of the room if they arrive before, waiting in the hotel lobby

If your trip includes the visit to high altitude cities such as Cusco and Puno located at more than 3400 meters (11 200 feet above sea level), do not forget to take precautions in order to avoid altitude sickness. Passengers who have heart problems or high blood pressure should check with their doctor before travelling

Upon arrival is recommended to rest for few hours, drink coca tea and eat lightly. As a reference Machu Picchu is located at 2400 meters (8 000 feet above sea level)

IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT THE NEW ENTRANCE REGULATIONS TO MACHU PICCHU

The current restrictions on visits to Machu Picchu allow a maximum stay of 4 hours in the citadel accompanied by a guide during the first entry. If the visitor tours an alternate route (Mountain Machu Picchu or Huayna Picchu) the passenger will have 3 hours to for this purpose, additional to the 4 hours in the citadel. If the passenger wishes to enter the citadel again during the afternoon shift or the next day, he must acquire previously an additional ticket to enter in the new shift. There is no ticket sale in the archaeological zone.

It is forbidden the follow objects: professional cameras that require lights and tripods, or with telephoto lenses with a weigh higher than 2 kilos (in order to use them, special authorization is needed, as well as the payment of an additional fee), drones, selfie sticks, sprays, high heels, walking sticks without rubber tip, banners and posters, sharp objects and backpacks bigger than 40cm x 35 cm x 20 cm. 

INSTRUCTIONS

Carry the same document that you presented to the agency, given that the train tickets and entrance to Machu Picchu will be issued with the same information

In all train services to Machu Picchu, the passenger can carry only hand luggage (backpack, bag or briefcase) weighing no more than 5kg / 11lb on the train to / from Machu Picchu. You will find your luggage at the chosen hotel. Allowed size: 62 linear inches 157cm (height + length + width)

NEW PLASTIC REGULATION:

After the prohibition of the access of single use plastic items to 76 natural areas including Machu Picchu, it is important to use reusable bottles. 

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