Itinerary
- Day 1
Lima
You'll arrive in Lima and head to your hotel to settle in. That afternoon, walk through the Historical Center, a UNESCO site with some significant colonial architecture. Santo Domingo Convent and the Cathedral are worth seeing, and the Larco Museum has a good collection of ancient Peruvian pieces if you have time to look around.
Included Activities
- Guided tour of Historical Center of Lima
- Visit Santo Domingo Convent
- Visit Lima Cathedral
- Visit Larco Museum with warehouse access
Landmarks/POIs Santo Domingo Convent Lima Cathedral Larco Museum Plaza Mayor - Day 2
Lima to Paracas
A bus takes you to Paracas Bay where you'll catch a flight from Pisco airport to see the Nazca Lines from above. Those massive geoglyphs of animals and insects are pretty striking when you're looking down at them. You'll get back to Paracas by afternoon and have free time to rest or do whatever you'd like.
Included Activities
- Nazca Lines overflight from Pisco airport
Landmarks/POIs Nazca Lines Paracas Bay - Day 3
Paracas to Lima
Early morning means you're on a boat heading out to the Ballesta Islands to watch sea lions, penguins, and seabirds in their natural habitat. On the way, you'll see the Chandelier geoglyph. The bus ride back to Lima takes up most of the afternoon.
Included Activities
- Boat tour to Ballesta Islands
- Wildlife viewing at Ballesta Islands
Landmarks/POIs Ballesta Islands Chandelier Geoglyph - Day 4
Lima to Cusco
After breakfast, you'll transfer to the airport for your flight to Cusco (your own arrangement). Once you arrive, start at San Cristobal Plaza for views over the city. San Pedro Market is worth a walk through, and then you'll tour Korikancha temple, Santo Domingo Church, and Cusco Cathedral during the afternoon.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- City tour of Cusco - San Cristobal Plaza
- San Pedro Market visit
- Korikancha temple visit
- Santo Domingo Church visit
- San Blas neighborhood walk
- Inca Roca Palace visit
- Twelve Angle Stone visit
- Cusco Cathedral visit
Landmarks/POIs San Cristobal Plaza San Pedro Market Korikancha Temple Santo Domingo Church San Blas Inca Roca Palace Twelve Angle Stone Cusco Cathedral - Day 5
Cusco
Morning visit to Sacsayhuaman fortress gives you those panoramic views of the region. From there you'll see Qenqo shrine with its old sacrificial altar, then head to Puca Pucara viewpoint and Tambomachay monument. You have the afternoon free to wander around Cusco on your own.
Included Activities
- Visit Sacsayhuaman fortress
- Visit Qenqo Inca Shrine
- Visit Puca Pucara viewpoint
- Visit Tambomachay monument
Landmarks/POIs Sacsayhuaman Qenqo Puca Pucara Tambomachay - Day 6
Sacred Valley
This day covers the Sacred Valley with several stops. Chinchero has an archaeological complex and colonial church worth checking out, and you'll learn how alpaca weaving works there. Moray's terraces show how the Incas used the landscape for agriculture. After lunch, you'll see Ollantaytambo's temples and bathrooms, and the views from the heights are quite something.
- Meals
- Lunch
Included Activities
- Visit Chinchero archaeological complex
- Visit Chinchero colonial Church
- Alpaca wool weaving demonstration
- Visit Moray agricultural complex
- Visit Ollantaytambo archaeological complex
- Visit Temple of the Ten Windows
- Visit Inca bathrooms
- Visit Temple of the Sun
Landmarks/POIs Chinchero Moray Ollantaytambo Temple of the Ten Windows Temple of the Sun - Day 7
Machu Picchu
You'll take a train toward Machu Picchu, then board a bus for the winding road up the mountain with views of the Urubamba River canyon below. A guide walks you through the terraces, temples, and urban sections of the Lost City. After lunch, you head back by train to return to Cusco.
- Meals
- Lunch
Included Activities
- Train journey to Machu Picchu
- Bus transportation to Machu Picchu citadel
- Guided tour of Machu Picchu
Landmarks/POIs Machu Picchu Urubamba River - Day 8
Departure
Your departure day involves a transfer to Cusco airport for your flight home. Tour staff will help you with any connections when you reach Lima. If you want to stay longer or add nights in Lima, that can be set up depending on what works for you.
Optional Activities
- Additional nights in Lima
- Trip extensions
- Additional transfers
