Peruvian Vacation in 7 Days - Explore from Lima to Machu Picchu

The 7-day tour will begin with a personalized reception at the Lima airport by your guide and driver, who will accompany you in private transportation to your hotel in Lima.

At 1:30 p.m., you will be picked up at your hotel for a 4-hour city tour of Lima.

The first part of the tour will focus on the historic center of the Peruvian capital, where you will visit emblematic places such as:

• The Plaza de Armas (main square)
• The Government Palace
• The Cathedral of Lima
• The Archbishop's Palace
• The Cordano Bar (the oldest bar in Lima)

The second part of the tour will take you to the traditional district of Pueblo Libre, home of the privately owned Larco Museum. This museum houses over 45,000 original ceramic pieces, and is housed in an 18th century mansion built on top of a 7th century pre-Columbian pyramid. Marvel at the countless treasures on display in one of the world's most prestigious museums dedicated to gold and silver. The Larco Museum's exclusive collection of pre-Columbian erotic ceramics makes it one of the most visited attractions in South America.

At the end of the tour, you will be taken back to your hotel in Lima.

5:00am: Pick up from your hotel in Lima.

Travel 245km along Pan-American highway to Paracas, a tourist resort in the province of Pisco. Stop for breakfast in the city of Chincha on the way (optional). Arrive in Paracas 7:45am.

8:00am: Depart in boat to Ballestas Islands. Here you can appreciate the famous Candelabra, an immense petroglyph located in the Bay of Independence in Paracas. 30 minutes offshore you can observe the biodiversity of marine fauna and marine birds’ resident in the Ballestas Islands including Guaneras, Peruvian Piquero, Cormorant Guanay, Cormorant of Red Legs, Zarcillo, Peruvian Pelican, Humboldt Penguin, Sea lions and dolphins. After 2 hours, you will return to shore.

10:00am: 1 hour drive in private transport to the city of Ica.

11:00am: Visit the award winning Vitivinicola Winery ‘El Catador’. Here you’ll learn about artisanal wine and pisco making processes and have a taste of the liquors made in the winery.

1:00pm: Take lunch in Ica (optional), and drive to Huacachina.

2:30pm: Visit to the Oasis and Lagoon of Huacachina. A natural oasis located 5km west of Ica. It’s emerald green waters are surrounded by huge sand dunes and an abundance of palm trees and eucalyptus trees (introduced species). It is also home to the carob tree species known as Huarango, which is used for resting migratory birds that pass through this region. Here you will take a 90 minute tour in beach buggy (tubular). An activity perfect for people who like speed, adrenaline and wind in their face! And do not mind a sand bath from the buggy climbing up and down the massive dunes! At the end of the tour you will return to the Oasis of Huacachina to walk alongside the lagoon and take photos.

6:30pm: Depart Huacachina to begin journey in private transport back to Lima.

10:30pm: Drop off at your hotel in Lima where you will stay the night.

Day 3 will begin with breakfast in your hotel in Lima.

Your private transport will then pick you up and drive you to Lima airport to board your mid-morning flight to Cusco.

After a 90 minute flight, you will land in Cusco to be greeted by your guide and driver, who will accompany you in your private transport to your hotel in Cusco.

Once at the hotel you can relax and enjoy an aromatic cup of coca-leaf tea and take lunch (not included) in one of the local restaurants, before beginning the afternoons’ tour of Cusco.

At 1.30pm you will regroup with your tour guide and private transportation to commence the tour of the Inca capital. The 4-hour tour will take you on a journey through Cusco’s most prominent historical sites such as the Temple of the Sun or Qoricancha, which was the religious, geographical, and political center of Cusco during the period of the Incas. The astounding Inca fortress of Sacsayhuamán, whose stonework is so impeccable that it is said ‘will endure as long as the world itself’. And finally, Q’enqo, a sacred Incan pilgrimage site, that once served as an astronomical observatory and mummification house.

On the City Tour Cusco, your personal tour guide will also accompany you round the famous San Pedro market and Plaza de Armas before returning you back to your hotel for 6pm.

Day 4 of the tour starts with breakfast at your hotel in Cusco.

7:30am pick up from your hotel in Cusco. After a 1-hour drive through the Sacred Valley of the Incas, you’ll briefly stop at the Mirador de Taray to capture breathtaking photos of the valley from one of its famous viewpoints.

A further 30 minute drive will bring us to the archaeological park of Pisaq, the home of the famous Intihuatana ‘sundail’, and the first Inca fortress of the tour. Fulfilling many functions including ceremonial, religious & astronomical, the 15th century Inca refuge of Pisac is rich in history and offers one of the most spectacular views of the Sacred Valley from above.

After guiding you through the incredibly well-preserved stonework of the archaeological site, your guide and your transport will accompany you back down the valley for a peruse through the towns iconic market, cobbled streets and authentic plazas.

The afternoons’ tour will begin surrounded by the natural beauty of Urubamba. The largest town in the sacred valley and our lunch destination for the day. With a multitude of restaurants to choose from, you can treat yourself to anything from local cuisine to a buffet lunch from only $20 USD (optional extra cost).

After lunch, your transport will take you alongside the Urubamba River, to the picturesque town of Ollantaytambo. Here your guide will accompany you through the bustling local markets and the famous Inca fortress that towers above the town. The strategic position and architectural sophistication of the site, offers visitors some of the most spectacular views of the sacred valley from above. The exquisite stonework and rich history of Ollantaytambo will take you and your guide on an impressive journey through Inca antiquity, before you complete the days’ tour of the sacred valley at Ollantaytambo train station.

The final journey of the day will be aboard the tourist train to Aguas Calientes (Machu Picchu town). The 1-hour 45 minute train ride will treat you to breathtaking scenes of snow-capped mountains, Inka farming terraces and of course more remarkable Inka ruins. After which you will once again be greeted by your tour guide, and escorted to your hotel in the town of Aguas Calientes, the home of Machu Picchu.

Day 5 will begin with breakfast in your hotel in Aguas Calientes.

At 6:30am your guide will escort you the bus station where you will board the tourist bus to Machu Picchu. The scenic route from Aguas Calientes takes you on a 30 minute bus ride up the mountainside to the entrance of the Inca citadel. Once inside, you will be taken on a 3-hour tour of Machu Picchu where you will make your way through the Inca city with your personal guide. Aswell as visiting the famous sites of the temple of the sun, the central plaza and the stepped terraces, you will have plenty opportunity to take the bucket list photos you came for atop the panoramic viewpoint of Machu Picchu. Before boarding the bus back down the mountain, your guide will also allow you time to explore the mysteries of the sanctuary alone.

Once you have regrouped with your guide and taken the bus back to Aguas Calientes, there will be time to take lunch in one of Machu Picchu towns’ many restaurants (optional extra), before boarding the train back to Ollantaytambo. There you’ll be greeted by your guide and private transportation who will take you on the 2-hour drive back to your hotel in Cusco. Arrival time in Cusco is approximately 6.30pm.

*There will also be time to climb Huayna Picchu mountain or Machu Picchu Mountain in this tour after your guided tour of the Inca citadel. However please be aware, this will be an extra cost of $70 USD per person and will involve an extra 2-hours hiking. Return to Cusco will therefore be aboard a later train and arrival time in Cusco will be approx. 8.30pm.

The Rainbow Mountain and Red Valley tour starts with pick up at 5am from your hotel in Cusco.

Your private transportation will take you on a 2-hour drive through the picturesque towns and valleys of the Peruvian Andes until we reach the town of Cusipata. Here we will stop for a delicious breakfast in a local restaurant amidst the stunning backdrop of the surrounding mountain range.

After breakfast, your driver will transport you a further 90 minutes up the valley to the start of the hike. Accompanied by your guide, you will begin at elevation 4,650 m / 15,255 ft. If you do not wish to hike the 90 minute trail to the first viewpoint, our Rainbow Mountain tour offers you the option to hire the services of a horse to carry you for the first hour up the trail to viewpoint. Please bear in mind that if you wish to reach the highest viewpoint, you will need to hike the final 20 minutes on foot, to the summit at 5,040 m / 16,535 ft.

Once you have arrived at the viewpoint, you will be treated to the beautiful views of Vinicunca and its natural formation of mineral rich striking colours, including vibrant shades of red, orange, yellow, green, and blue. 

The mountains surrounding Vinicunca comprise the breathtaking hills of the Red Valley. The mountains get their name from the distinct presence of iron oxide in the rock, giving visitors a unique viewpoint of a deep red mountain range. Should you wish to view the valley from the Mirador del Valle Rojo, your guide will accompany you along the trail for an additional 30 minutes to enable you to get some even more astonishing photos. Thankfully, the red valley is much quieter than the trails of Rainbow Mountain, treating you to an exclusive experience amongst the Cordillera de los Andes.

Once you have taken in your surroundings and bagged as many photos as you can carry, you will descend back down the mountain with your guide. Your driver will be waiting for you to return at the end of the hike, ready to transport you back to the restaurant in Cusipata for a well-deserved rest and lunch.

The final leg of the tour will be the 2-hour drive back to Cusco. Arrival at your hotel is approximately 4pm.

Day 7 will begin with breakfast in your hotel in Cusco.

At the appropriate time you’ll be picked up by your guide and driver, and transferred to Cusco airport in plenty time to board your return flight to Lima.