Day 1: International Arrival - Lima
Welcome to Lima. Upon our arrival, we will be assisted at Lima Airport and then transferred to our hotel.
- Accommodation at the selected hotel in Lima.
- Meals included: None.
Day 2: Lima
We will have a free morning to enjoy at our own pace.
2:00 PM: City tour of Lima: Historic Center, Santo Domingo Convent, and Larco Museum.
Approximate duration: 5 hours.
Today, we will delve into the historical essence of Lima, preserved in its Historic Center, declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site. We will travel back to the colonial era as we walk through its streets and plazas, admiring emblematic monuments such as the Government Palace, the Cathedral, and the Archbishop's Palace. We will have the opportunity to enter one of Lima's most iconic ecclesiastical spaces, the Santo Domingo Convent, also a UNESCO World Heritage Site, which houses the relics of three Peruvian saints: Santa Rosa de Lima, San Martín de Porres, and San Juan Macías. The tour would not be complete without a visit to the Rafael Larco Herrera Museum, one of the most important in the country for its valuable collection of nearly 45,000 pre-Hispanic artifacts, especially from the Mochica culture. This museum is notable for being one of the first in the world to have open storage areas and to provide virtual access to its complete collection. We will marvel at the quality of its jewelry, textiles, and its enigmatic erotic room, dedicated to pottery alluding to fertility.
- Accommodation at the selected hotel in Lima.
- Meals included: Breakfast.
Day 3: Lima - Cusco
Transfer from your hotel in Lima to the airport to board your flight to Cusco. We suggest your arrival flight to Cusco lands before 11:30 am to be on time for your first excursion. Upon arrival, you will be assisted at Cusco Airport and then transferred to your hotel. Travel duration: approximately 30 min.
Recommendation: Upon arriving in Cusco, it is essential to dedicate at least a few hours to initial rest to facilitate acclimatization to the altitude. You can use this time to explore places in the city center, avoiding physically demanding activities. For this reason, it is advisable to opt for light meals during the first few days. Coca tea, or "mate de coca," is a valuable ally during this time. Hotels usually provide hot coca tea at the reception; do not hesitate to try it!
13:00 hrs: Half-day tour: San Pedro Market, Korikancha Temple, Cathedral, Sacsayhuamán, Kenko.
Approximate duration: 5 hours.
This charming half-day tour of Cusco offers us history, living culture, and art. We will appreciate how the Andean and Spanish cultures, as well as the past and present, coexist in harmony in the Imperial City. We will reach the center to walk the aisles of the San Pedro Market, the oldest in the city. Designed in 1925 by Gustave Eiffel, it now brings together hundreds of local product vendors. We will also visit Koricancha, which during the Inca Empire was a center of worship to the Sun, upon which the Santo Domingo Convent was later built. Its baroque-style facade built upon the solid Inca walls perfectly summarizes the cultural syncretism of Cusco. To appreciate the grandeur of the Incas, we will ascend to the monumental fortress of Sacsayhuamán, which with its enormous carved stone walls is one of the finest examples of Inca military architecture. We will also tour the archaeological center of Kenko, a ceremonial site dedicated to the worship of the Sun, Moon, and stars. We could not tour the city without visiting the Cathedral, the most important temple in the entire city. It was built by the Spanish over the palace of the Inca Huiracocha. Its interior holds a wonderful collection of colonial art composed of goldsmith pieces and representative canvases from the Cusco School.
- Accommodation at the selected hotel in Cusco.
- Meals included: Breakfast.
Day 4: Cusco – Sacred Valley
7:00 AM: Essence of the Sacred Valley: Chinchero, Textile Session, Moray, and Ollantaytambo.
Approximate duration: 10 hours.
In the Sacred Valley, we will find ancient history and living culture. We will visit Chinchero, where we will learn about its traditional textiles and the symbolism embedded in its designs and colors by visiting the Parwa Cultural Center. We will have the opportunity to appreciate the textile process for each piece, the materials used, the method for obtaining their natural dyes, and the weaving techniques passed down through generations. Furthermore, we will be able to see the artisans at work. We will also visit the Chinchero archaeological complex, one of the most impressive in the area, which during the Tahuantinsuyo (Inca Empire) was an agricultural and livestock center, with terraces and aqueducts. Nearby, we will see the exterior of the Church of Our Lady of Monserrat, built in 1607 over the ancient Inca palace. We will continue delving into the Inca world at Moray, which during the Tahuantinsuyo functioned as a laboratory and agricultural research center according to some studies. Its enormous concentric terraces and the variety of microclimates they create allowed for the growth of a wide variety of crops. We will enjoy local flavors at a restaurant during lunch and continue to Ollantaytambo, an ancient military, religious, and agricultural center of the Incas. We will tour the main temple and the terraces of the stone fortress. Its fortress, a display of Inca power, is strategically located on a mountainside, where we will explore its main temple, terraces, and fountains, while enjoying an unbeatable view of the town—the only one that maintains the original Inca urban layout.
- Accommodation at the selected hotel in the Sacred Valley.
- Meals included: Breakfast and Lunch.
Day 5: Sacred Valley – Machu Picchu
Recommendation: Due to train policies, each person is limited to carrying only one piece of luggage with a maximum weight of 5 kg in a small backpack for their stay in Machu Picchu. Therefore, we recommend bringing only the essentials. Sunscreen, sunglasses, a hat, and mosquito repellent can be very useful for your comfort during this excursion.
5:50 hrs: Visit to Machu Picchu with Voyager train round trip (Full-day tour)
Duration: 17 hours.
One of the most important tourist landmarks in the world awaits us: ¡Machu Picchu!
Our adventure will begin aboard a train bound for Aguas Calientes, also known as Machu Picchu Pueblo, a picturesque town at the foot of the iconic Inca citadel. During the train journey, we can enjoy the natural beauty of the surroundings. After a short bus ride up from Aguas Calientes, we will find ourselves facing one of the Seven Wonders of the Modern World – it will be an unforgettable sight! From there, we will explore the incredible ruins, learning all about the history and mysteries held within this mystical and impressive place. With incomparable landscapes everywhere, there will be plenty of opportunities to take spectacular photos! Once we have been recharged by the magical energy of Machu Picchu, we will return to Aguas Calientes where we will have time for lunch at a local restaurant; afterwards, we will have free time to explore the streets of this charming little town.
- Accommodation at the selected hotel in Aguas Calientes.
- Meals included: Breakfast and Lunch.
Day 6: Machu Picchu - Cusco
Visit to Machu Picchu
(Optional second entry)
We will have a free morning and can visit Machu Picchu for a second time, this time to walk around on our own, relax at the site, or take stunning photos. Afterwards, we will descend back to the town of Aguas Calientes. In the afternoon, we will board the train that will take us back to Cusco. Upon our arrival, we will be transferred to our hotel.
- Accommodation at the selected hotel in Cusco.
- Meals included: Breakfast.
Day 7: Cusco
5:00 hrs: Full-day excursion to the Rainbow Mountain: Vinicunca
Approximate duration: 12 hours.
Vinicunca, or the Mountain of Seven Colors, is one of the most popular attractions in Cusco. We will leave the hotel early to head towards Cusipata, and from there we will transfer to Phulawasipata, the starting point of the uphill hike. The path will be the perfect pretext to enjoy the nature of the place: herds of llamas and alpacas, as well as the majestic Apu Ausangate, the highest snow-capped peak in Cusco. We will also be able to talk with the local communities and see the potato fields they work on daily. After about an hour and a half of hiking, we will reach Vinicunca, at 5,020 meters above sea level (16,404 ft). The view we get will be the best reward. The minerals that make up the mountain's soil give its slopes and summit curious shades of red, purple, green, yellow, and pink, among other colors. Let's prepare our phones and cameras for this spectacle! From there, we will begin the journey back to Phulawasipata. After walking a total of 8 km, we will head to Cusipata, where we will enjoy a restorative traditional lunch.
- Total Hiking Distance: 8 km
- Minimum Altitude: 4652 masl (15,262 ft)
- Maximum Altitude: 5020 masl (16,404 ft)
- Hiking Hours: 3.5 Hours
- Difficulty Level: 3 out of 5
- Operational Restrictions: Not recommended from January to March due to the rainy season. Operation subject to weather conditions.
- Accommodation at the selected hotel in Cusco.
- Meals included: Breakfast, lunch at a local restaurant or box lunch.
