Itinerary
- Day 1
Lima
You'll arrive in Lima and get transferred to your hotel. The rest of the day is yours to do what you like, whether that's checking out Plaza de Armas or diving into the local food scene. Lima's got some incredible restaurants and street food options, so this is a good time to grab dinner and get your bearings.
Optional Activities
- Explore Plaza de Armas
- Dine at Lima's world-renowned restaurants
Landmarks/POIs Plaza de Armas - Day 2
Lima to Paracas
After breakfast, head to the bus station for the scenic drive down to Paracas, which takes a few hours. Once you arrive, you'll explore the Paracas National Reserve with its dramatic cliffs and golden dunes. The Interpretation Center gives you background on the ancient Paracas culture that lived here, and you'll see the Cathedral rock formation rising up from the coast. Settle in for the night in Paracas.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Guided tour of Paracas National Reserve
- Visit Interpretation Center
- View Cathedral rock formation
- Learn about ancient Paracas culture
Landmarks/POIs Paracas National Reserve Cathedral rock formation - Day 3
Paracas to Ica
Early start with a boat tour out to the Ballestas Islands where you'll see sea lions, Humboldt penguins, and all kinds of seabirds. On the way, the captain points out the Candelabro geoglyph carved into the hillside. Later you travel to Ica, a smaller oasis town surrounded by vineyards and desert. It's a nice contrast to the coastal areas you've been exploring.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Boat tour to Ballestas Islands
- Wildlife viewing: sea lions, Humboldt penguins, seabirds
- View Candelabro geoglyph
Landmarks/POIs Ballestas Islands Candelabro - Day 4
Ica to Huacachina and Paracas
This morning it's off to the Huacachina Desert for some action. You'll do a dune buggy ride across the towering sand dunes, and if you're up for it, sandboard down the slopes. After all that, you head back to Paracas for the evening to relax and recover from the day's activities.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Dune buggy ride in Huacachina Desert
- Sandboarding
Optional Activities
- Visit local winery and taste Peru's pisco
Landmarks/POIs Huacachina Desert - Day 5
Paracas to Nazca Lines and Lima
You'll fly over the Nazca Lines today, seeing those massive geoglyphs from above that depict animals and geometric shapes. It's quite a sight from the plane. After landing, you take the bus back to Lima and spend the evening however you'd like, maybe grabbing dinner at a good restaurant or walking around the neighborhoods you didn't get to on day one.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Flight over Nazca Lines
Landmarks/POIs Nazca Lines - Day 6
Lima to Cusco
Morning flight gets you to Cusco, the old Inca capital sitting high in the mountains at 11,000 feet. You'll have coca tea to help your body adjust to the altitude, which makes a real difference. In the afternoon, you do a city tour covering the Cathedral, the Temple of the Sun (Qoricancha), and the Sacsayhuaman fortress overlooking the city. From there, you check out nearby ruins at Qenqo, Puca Pucará, and Tambomachay before heading back for the evening.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Guided city tour of Cusco
- Visit Cathedral
- Visit Temple of the Sun (Qoricancha)
- Visit Sacsayhuaman fortress
- Visit Qenqo ruins
- Visit Puca Pucará ruins
- Visit Tambomachay ruins
- Coca tea welcome
Landmarks/POIs Cusco Cathedral Temple of the Sun (Qoricancha) Sacsayhuaman Qenqo Puca Pucará Tambomachay - Day 7
Machu Picchu from Cusco
Up early for the main event of your trip. You catch the scenic train to Aguas Calientes, then ride a bus up to Machu Picchu itself. Your guide walks you through the ancient stone terraces, temples, and plazas, explaining what each section was used for and sharing stories about how the Incas built this place. After spending time exploring, you take the train back down to Cusco.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Guided tour of Machu Picchu
- Scenic train ride to Aguas Calientes
- Bus to Machu Picchu citadel
Landmarks/POIs Machu Picchu Aguas Calientes - Day 8
Cusco to Airport
Today you head to the airport for your flight home. You're leaving with memories of Peru's landscapes, the food, the history, and all the different experiences from the coast to the mountains.
- Meals
- Breakfast
