DAY 1: LIMA
Upon arrival to Lima, you will be welcomed outside of Customs by an English-speaking assistant holding a sign with your name on it. This representative will direct you to your awaiting vehicle and driver, and accompany you to your hotel to assist with check-in.
A welcome package containing a city map, tour vouchers, and other useful information will be waiting for you upon arrival to your first hotel. Accommodation: Casa Andina Select Miraflores or similar
DAY 2: LIMA
Founded in 1535 and declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1991, Lima’s history is both fascinating and tumultuous. Discover this history firsthand with your private guide and driver, beginning with a visit to the Larco Herrera Museum; host to what is likely the most comprehensive collection of pre-Columbian art in the world. Peer at ceremonial masks, elaborate busts, golden headdresses, necklaces and earrings, and a sweeping array of earthenware on an insightful curated tour led by an associate scholar of the museum. After lunch at the Larco Museum Café (included), your private guide and driver will take you to Lima’s historical center to marvel at centuries-old buildings such as the Government Palace and City Hall in Plaza Mayor. In the same square, completed in 1774, is the San Francisco Convent. An impressive example of Spanish Baroque architecture, it remains as striking today as it was in the 18th century despite the multiple earthquakes that have shook its foundation. Extensive catacombs underneath the convent host the remains of an estimated 25,000 individuals who were buried prior to the opening of Lima’s city cemetery; a visit to the aged tombs is one you won’t soon forget. Rounding out the day, stop by two of the city’s trendiest barrios, San Isidro and Miraflores. Stroll through well-tended promenades, lush city parks, past embassies, consulates and thriving businesses as you explore San Isidro and then enjoy sweeping views of the Pacific Ocean along the expansive, coastal boardwalk in Miraflores. Please note: Your tour of the Larco Herrera Museum will be led by an associate scholar and your guide will not join you.
From award-winning ceviche to mouth-watering Peruvian-Japanese fusion, inspired French-influenced Novoandina cuisine to farm-to-table organic delights, Lima has it all. Tonight, discover this buzzing gastronomic scene firsthand. Reservations will be made in advance at the restaurant of your choice, and round-trip transportation in a private vehicle will also be provided. Our Destination Experts top recommendations for fine dining in Lima include: Maido, Central, Astrid y Gaston, Nobu, Rafael and Chez Wong. Please note: Your meal is not included and will be paid for on location. Reservations are confirmed at the time of booking and are subject to availability.
DAY 3: LIMA – CUSCO – SACRED VALLEY
You will be privately transferred between your hotel and Jorge Chávez International Airport in Lima by a professional driver and an English-speaking representative.
Board a flight in Lima with direct service to Cusco. Approximate flight time is one hour and 15 minutes.
Enjoy a private transfer to the Sacred Valley, stopping along the way to tour Awana Kancha. A popular artisan outpost and a friendly place to experience alpacas and Andean culture, Awana Kancha textile mill is a fantastic place to observe traditionally-dressed women spinning colorful patterns before your eyes. Using the wool of alpacas, llamas, guanacos, and vicunas, the women create designs using natural dyes that have existed in the Andes since the time of the Inca. In addition to the textiles, visitors have the chance to hand-feed llamas or nurse baby alpacas with milk from a bottle. Following your visit to Awana Kancha, you will be transferred to your hotel in the Sacred Valley.
The effects of being at high altitude vary from person to person. While some travelers will experience no discomfort, others may find the process of acclimatization more challenging. To ensure an enjoyable experience in the coming days, take some time to rest and allow your body to adjust to the change in environment. Accommodation: Casa Andina Premium (Sacred Valley) or similar
DAY 4: SACRED VALLEY
Surrounded by snow-capped peaks, the idyllic town of Chinchero would be similar to many other quiet Andean villages that dot the land if not for the bustling open-air market found in the main square. World-famous, this colorful fair operates Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays, and is the best place in the country to barter for hand-woven dresses and carefully-crafted trinkets, or to simply peruse seemingly endless wares. Chinchero is also host to the remains of an Inca wall and an excellent fresco on the portico of the nearby colonial church, both of which will be visited. Carrying on with your guide and driver, visit Ollantaytambo Fortress, the last Inca stronghold to resist the Spanish conquistadors. It is an incredible example of Inca military architecture, found on the outskirts of the namesake town in an area known as Temple Hill, and is often the starting point for intrepid hikers heading out on the last leg of the journey to Machu Picchu along the Inca Trail. Lunch at Tunupa, a buffet-style restaurant featuring a range of Novo-Andean cuisine, is included.
The mandatory tourist ticket, necessary for explorations in and around the Sacred Valley, is included. This tourist ticket is valid for one day only.
DAY 5: OLLANTAYTAMBO – SACRED VALLEY – AGUAS CALIENTES – MACHU PICCHU
Note on Luggage: This morning, the private guide and driver who accompany you to the train station in the Sacred Valley will also transport your primary luggage back to Cusco for secure storage. You will bring a personal overnight bag aboard the train to Machu Picchu. Upon arrival to Aguas Calientes, you will disembark the train and meet your Machu Picchu guide immediately. This local guide will ensure your overnight bag is forwarded to your hotel in Aguas Calientes via hotel porters. This will allow you to continue directly to Machu Picchu. Upon arrival in Cusco, your primary luggage will be waiting for you.
In the company of a private driver and local representative, depart from the Sacred Valley en route to Ollantaytambo Train Station, the penultimate stop on your journey into the ancient capital of the Inca Empire.
Board a shuttle bus in Aguas Calientes and begin the 30 minute drive to ascend Machu Picchu Mountain on a switchback road carved into the mountainside. Buses depart frequently, leaving Aguas Calientes approximately every 30 minutes.
Set near the base of the imposing Pinkuylluna Mountain, meander through the sleepy town of Ollantaytambo to arrive at the centrally-located train station where you will bid farewell to your local assistant and board the iconic Vistadome. Having settled in, the train will depart along a route that traces the Urubamba River, affording striking views of the dramatic landscape as you approach the valley below Machu Picchu. After a two-hour journey, the Vistadome will pull into a train station on the foothills beneath the ancient citadel in the town of Aguas Calientes. Here, your local guide will welcome you together with local hotel porters who will transfer your luggage to your accommodation.
Please note, strict luggage restrictions apply aboard the Vistadome: 1) Only one piece of hand luggage is permitted per guest, weighing a maximum of 11 lbs (5 kgs). 2) Hand luggage cannot be larger than 62 linear inches. Baggage that exceeds weight or measurement restrictions will not be permitted. Please speak to your Destination Expert for more information.
Steeped in mystery, the mountain citadel of Machu Picchu has dazzled visitors since its discovery by American historian and explorer Hiram Bingham in 1911. Believed to have been constructed sometime around 1450 CE and abandoned just over a century later, it is one of the world’s most prized heritage sites, and for good reason; complementing a fascinating history and incredible architecture are unforgettable views of the surrounding mountain ranges and the wild Urubamba River some 2,000 feet below. With a private guide catering to your personal interests and providing an informative overview of the history and architecture of this ancient citadel, gain a firsthand understanding of – and intimate appreciation for – the pièce de résistance in Peruvian travel. Depending on the timing of your arrival, you will visit the Belmond Sanctuary Lodge, the only hotel found atop Machu Picchu, to enjoy a leisurely lunch either before or after your in-depth tour.
Board a shuttle bus at the entrance to Machu Picchu and make the 30 minute return to nearby Aguas Calientes. Shuttle buses depart frequently, leaving Machu Picchu approximately every 30 minutes. Accommodation: Inkaterra El Mapi Hotel or similar
DAY 6: AGUAS CALIENTES – MACHU PICCHU – CUSCO
Board a shuttle bus in Aguas Calientes and begin the 30 minute drive to ascend Machu Picchu Mountain on a switchback road carved into the mountainside. Buses depart frequently, leaving Aguas Calientes approximately every 30 minutes.
High in the mountains near Machu Picchu is a well-trodden, ancient rock pathway that leads the way to the ceremonial and traditional entrance to Machu Picchu citadel, known as Inti Punku (or Sun Gate). This trail is considered by many to be the most essential hike in Peru as it affords stunning vistas of the landscape and culminates in a spectacular view of the Machu Picchu citadel where the entire complex can be appreciated from a single vantage point. Roughly one mile in length, and including an ascent of approximately 1,000 feet, the flat-faced stones laid on the mountainside have been traveled for more than five centuries by a dizzying range of people, from the earliest Inca settlers to the intrepid travelers of the present. Today, with an expert local guide by your side, march in the footsteps of the Inca while enjoying dramatic views of the area, including the Urubamaba River, Machu Picchu and Huayna Picchu. Please note: this hike is considered to be moderately difficult, typically takes three to four hours to complete, and is not recommended for guests with mobility restrictions.
Board a shuttle bus at the entrance to Machu Picchu and make the 30 minute return to nearby Aguas Calientes. Shuttle buses depart frequently, leaving Machu Picchu approximately every 30 minutes.
After a fascinating experience in the heart of the ancient Inca world, it is time to depart for the Imperial City, Cusco. Board the Vistadome in Aguas Calientes and relax as you embark on the scenic, four-hour journey to Poroy Train Station near Cusco. The route follows along the Urubamba River, climbing and descending through mountainous terrain utilizing, where necessary, a series of switchback rails. Consider purchasing a light snack or refreshment to make this sojourn through the countryside even more enjoyable. Before long, you will arrive at Poroy Station near Cusco.
Enjoy a private transfer between your hotel and Poroy Train Station found just outside of Cusco alongside a professional driver and an English-speaking representative. Accommodation: El Mercado Hotel or similar
DAY 7: CUSCO
This three-hour, privately guided walking tour of Cusco begins with a pleasant stroll through the cobbled streets of the San Blas district where you will visit a colonial church notable for its incredibly ornate wood-carved pulpit. Carrying onward, proceed to the Koricancha Temple, once walled-in plated gold and featuring courtyard statues made of solid gold, Conquistadors described it as “fabulous beyond belief.” Today, the Church of Santo Domingo rests on the site of the original temple, making it an excellent location to learn about the intersection of Inca and Spanish culture and architecture from your expert local guide. Concluding with a visit to Plaza de Armas and Cusco Cathedral, this encompassing tour is an excellent introduction to the traditions and history of this incredible city.
Enjoy a private transfer between your hotel and Alejandro Velasco Astete International Airport in Cusco alongside a professional driver and an English-speaking representative.
Board a flight in Cusco with direct service to Lima. Approximate flight time is one hour and 25 minutes.
Depart from International Airport. End of itinerary.
Luxury Custom Tour from $2,999USD per person, land only
Please note this is a sample package only. Rates are per person based on double occupancy and subject to change without notice. Starting from rate based on travel in off peak months. Rates may be higher or lower depending on your specific travel dates and hotel selections. Package can be fully customized to the travelers needs. Airfare is not included but can be added. Valid US passport required for travel.
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