Peru's Inca Treasures: Explore Machu Picchu, Cusco & Sacred Valley

$1,108
Duration
8 days
Language
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About This Tour

With fascinating archaeological sites that promise to inspire all history lovers and mesmerising landscapes, Peru is a dream destination for all kinds of travellers. Let this beautiful country amaze your eyes during this eight-day tour while getting in touch with its natural beauty, interesting history, and inspiring culture. Spend eight unforgettable days discovering the most emblematic locations of Peru such as the Sacred Valley, Machu Picchu and Cusco, the ancient capital city of the Incas. 

TOUR HIGHLIGHTS

Lima: The capital’s architectural ensemble has earned the UNESCO World Heritage Site status with attractions such as the Casa Aliaga, the Cathedral, and the Main Square.

Sacred Valley: Discover the ancient town of Pisac and the Inca fortress of Ollantaytambo among other impressive sights.

Cusco: Discover the former Inca capital, where the ruins of the former civilisation and the Spanish colonial legacy provide attractions such as the baroque Cathedral, the Sacsayhuaman and the spectacular Puka Pukara archaeological sites.

Machu Picchu: The lost city of the Incas is hidden on top of an Andean peak, offering mesmerising views of the mountains and a glimpse into the fascinating Inca past.

Activities
Suitable For
Accessibility
Max People
10
Operator

Inclusions

TOUR GUIDE:

  • Operated with bilingual English and Spanish-speaking local guides

ACCOMMODATION:

  • 7 nights’ accommodation 

ACCOMMODATION OPTIONS

Day 1-2 Lima:

Standard Hotel Category =  Tierra Viva or similar 3*

Superior Hotel Category = Jose Antonio Deluxe or similar 4*

Deluxe Hotel Category =  Pullman Lima Miraflores or similar 5*

Day 3-4 Sacred Valley:

Standard Hotel Category = AVA Spots or similar 3*

Superior Hotel Category = Casa Andina Private Valle or similar 4*

Deluxe Hotel Category = Inkaterra Hacienda Urubamba or similar 5*

Day 5 Aguas Calientes:

Standard Hotel Category =  Ferré Machu Picchu or similar 3*

Superior Hotel Category = El Mapi Inkaterra or similar 4*

Deluxe Hotel Category = Inkaterra Machu Picchu Pueblo or similar 5*

Day 6-7 Cusco:

Standard Hotel Category =  Tierra Viva 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 =  Tierra Viva or similar 3*

Superior Hotel Category = Jose Antonio Deluxe or similar 4*

Deluxe Hotel Category =  Pullman Lima Miraflores or similar 5*

Post-night in Cusco:

Standard Hotel Category =  Tierra Viva or similar 3*

Superior Hotel Category = Hilton Garden Inn or similar 4*

Deluxe Hotel Category = Aranwa Cusco Boutique or similar 5*


MEALS:

  • 7 Breakfasts 
  • 2 Lunches on Day 4 and 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) for Standard and Superior category and Vistadome Service (Perú Rail) or 360° (Inca Rail) for Deluxe category
  • Bus Aguas Calientes/Machu Picchu/Aguas Calientes.

ENTRANCE FEES AND ACTIVITIES:

  • All the visits mentioned in the above itinerary: Casa Aliaga, Cathedral and Larco Museum in Lima; Coricancha Temple, Cathedral, Sacsayhuamán, Qenqo, Puka Pukara and Tambomachay in Cusco; Living Museum of Yucay, Chinchero and Ollantaytambo in the Sacred Valley and Machu Picchu
  • Cusco Tourist Ticket (BTC)

Exclusions

  • Expenses of a personal nature. Alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages during meals. Meals not stated in the programme
  • Tips for driver and guide
  • Additional optional visits
  • International flights to Peru
  • Domestic flights: Lima - Cusco (Day 3) (we advise booking the first flights in the morning)
  • International and domestic airport departure taxes.

Tour Plan

Expand All
Day 1 ARRIVAL LIMA

Arrive at Lima Airport where our representative will be waiting for you to transfer you to the hotel in Lima. The Peruvian capital is a modern metropolis full of history, currently undergoing an exciting process of cultural and economic changes. 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 (shared 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: Shared 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

Begin your day with a delicious breakfast at the hotel. Explore Lima’s old town, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, packed with fascinating historic buildings. Start with a scenic tour in the colonial downtown. See the Main Square, where you can appreciate the grandiose architecture of the Spanish Empire. Admire Lima’s Cathedral, built during the 16th century and then visit the Casa Aliaga, a colonial mansion granted by chief conquistador Francisco Pizarro to one of his captains, Jeronimo de Aliaga. This is the only house from that time, still belonging to the same family. Continue to the traditional Pueblo Libre district and visit the Larco Museum, located in a beautifully restored viceregal mansion built on a pre-Columbian pyramid from the seventh century. The museum boasts a complete pre-Hispanic collection of gold and silver objects, as well as pieces of erotic art. Rest of the afternoon at leisure. Alternatively, you may book our optional tour (not included): 
Half-day Pachacamac Archaeological Complex Tour (shared basis):
Pachacamac is the most remarkable archeological site on the central coast of Peru. Throughout the centuries, it was occupied by many different Andean civilizations such as the Lima’s, the Wari’s, the Ichma’s, and lastly by the Inca Empire but the Pachacamac Oracle always remained a religious center. Take our Half-day Pachacamac Archaeological Complex Tour and discover the ancient secrets of the Inca´s “creator of the world” as they called Pachacamac, its pyramidal temples, and enclosures. We will visit the Site Museum which exposes pottery, textiles, shell and stone ornaments, as well as the wooden Pachacamac idol found during excavations.
Notes: Shared service. Start time: 09:15 & 14:15 hours. Duration 3.5 hours. Includes Pick-up and Drop-off, Bilingual guide (Spanish and English), Admission to Pachacamac archaeological complex and the site museum
Overnight in Lima.

Day 3 LIMA – CUSCO – SACRED VALLEY (90 mins by flight; not included)

After a tasty breakfast, enjoy a comfortable transfer from your hotel to Lima Airport to catch a flight to Cusco.  Domestic flight from Lima to Cusco must arrive not later than 10:30hrs. Noon arrivals are too late. A representative will meet and greet you, and then transfer you to the selected hotel in the Sacred Valley. Enjoy the afternoon at leisure, exploring the surroundings on your own. Your flight to Cusco is not included.
Overnight in Sacred Valley.

Day 4 SACRED VALLEY – CHINCHERO – OLLANTAYTAMBO – SACRED VALLEY (60 km – 1.5 hrs)

Breakfast at the hotel. During the morning, you are picked up from your hotel to visit the town of Chinchero, a traditional Cusco urban centre located at an elevated point with a beautiful view of the valley. The inhabitants of this area preserve the artisan traditions and the inherited knowledge of the Incas and display them in their clothes and customs. In Chinchero there are also archaeological remains and a beautiful seventeenth-century church, one of the first Catholic buildings in Peru. Then, you are transferred to the Living Museum of Yucay, a centre Andean traditions interpretations, where demonstrations of the elaboration of textile work, adobe, pottery and silverware are carried out in the same way in which they used to in antiquity; an original recreation of Inca traditions. Also, residents of the museum include llamas, sheep and alpacas, and they can be fed! . Upon arriving in Ollantaytambo visit its town, inhabited uninterruptedly since Inca times, and climb the iconic fortress, built next to a mountain. Later, have lunch in Ollantaytambo and live a superior Andean gastronomy experience in a restaurant, where the true spirit of the Sacred Valley is transmitted in a cosy atmosphere.! At the end of this activity, you are transferred back to your hotel. *On Sundays, also visit the local market. 
Overnight in Sacred Valley.

Day 5 SACRED VALLEY – MACHU PICCHU – AGUAS CALIENTES (75 km – 1.5 hrs)

After a delicious breakfast at the hotel, transportation service will pick you up and transfer you to the Ollanta Sation to board the train to Aguas Calientes, the nearest town to Machu Picchu. Following a scenic journey through dramatic Andean landscapes, arrive at the station in Aguas Calientes. Here you board a coach for a 25-minute ride to Machu Picchu. The ‘Lost City of the Incas’ is believed to have been built in the 1450s by Inca emperor Pachacuti as a holiday retreat, yet within a century the city would be abandoned following the Spanish conquest. The Spaniards never found it, so it was spared the destruction they brought on other Inca sites. Instead, it was slowly swallowed up by the jungle and hidden from harm. A guided tour explains the origins behind this awe-inspiring citadel, presenting its most prominent landmarks such as the monumental Main Square, the Royal Quarters, the Temple of the Three Windows, the Circular Towers, the Sacred Sun Dial, and the Burial Grounds. Return to Aguas Calientes for a tasty lunch at the famous Café Inkaterra, a beautiful thatched-roof restaurant hemmed in between the railway and a mountain. Enjoy the rest of the day free at leisure.
Overnight in Aguas Calientes.

Day 6 AGUAS CALIENTES – CUSCO (170 km – 4 hrs)

The delicious breakfast at the hotel is followed by a relaxing morning at leisure. This day we suggest returning on your own to Machu Picchu to visit the other attractions (second entrance ticket to Machu Picchu and bus from/to Aguas Calientes available as an optional extra). Spend the morning over Machu Picchu and discover its secrets. The best views are from Huayna Picchu (entrance to Huayna Picchu and bus from/to Aguas Calientes available as an optional extra; subject to space availability), which is about 360 metres above Machu Picchu, boasting an underground temple complex, and from Inti Punku, which offers even better views from about 390 metres above the citadel. Another option is the Inca Bridge, a secret military trial, which controlled access to the citadel. In the afternoon, transfer to the Aguas Calientes station and take the train back to Ollanta station. From here you will be transferred to your hotel in Cusco.
Overnight in Cusco.

Day 7 CUSCO Start the day with breakfast at the hotel. Today, enjoy a guided tour of this charming city, which was the capital of the Inca Empire. The tour starts with a visit to Santo Domingo Convent, a large Renaissance-baroque complex, which was built over the Inca Coricancha temple. It was one of the most important temples dedicated to the worship of the sun and its foundations are still prominent at the base of the convent. Ancient chronicles say the temple was covered in gold leaf and filled with golden representations of nature. Then, visit the Cathedral, the most imposing monument of the Main Square. After heading to the hills above Cusco to visit the remains of the fortress of Sacsayhuaman, whose imposing ramparts offer a stunning panoramic view of Cusco, and the ruins of the temple and amphitheater of Qenqo, where it is believed the Incas practiced agricultural rituals. After a stop at Qenqo, finally, visit Puka Pukara (‘Red fortress’ in Quechua) an Inca military complex located on a prominent hill. Its dwellings squares, bathrooms, aqueducts, walls, and towers can still be appreciated. Return to and drop-off at your hotel.

Overnight in Cusco.

Day 8 DEPART CUSCO

After breakfast, enjoy a pleasant transfer from the selected hotel to the airport.

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.

Please Note

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

Day 2: Optional Half-day Pachacamac Archaeological Complex Tour is not available on Sundays afternoon 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.

Please note that Check-In in most hotels begins at 1:00 p.m. Clients will be subject to the availability of the room if they arrive before, waiting in the hotel lobby

If your trip includes a 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 traveling

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)

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

We reserve the right to change itineraries and activities due to weather conditions, technical problems, or security reasons.

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 for this purpose, adding 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 the new shift. There is no ticket sale in the archaeological zone.

It is forbidden the following 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.  

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. 

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).

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