MACHU PICCHU, LAKE TITICACA, CUSCO, SACRED VALLEY, LIMA, AND PARACAS
Iconic and highly sought out, the natural wonder of Machu Picchu’s towering green mountains and dry-stone wall structures is just one of Peru’s most enticing attractions. Along with getting to visit this ancient Inca settlement in the High Andes, you’ll have the chance to admire even more of Peru’s breathtaking landscapes with stops at the Sacred Valley and Lake Titicaca. Next, immerse yourself in fascinating history and lively culture during stays in the country’s most vibrant cities, including Cusco, Puno, and Lima. Continue to Paracas where you’ll see the incredible Nazca Lines from the air and the lovely Ballestas Islands from the sea! From discovering renowned archaeological sites and sampling authentic cuisine to browsing colorful craft markets and cozying up to llamas and alpaca, this trip is a Peruvian dream. 5/5 stars on Tripadvisor!
Shorten Your Trip! Enjoy our Enchanting Peru tour visiting Peru’s highlights from Cusco to Machu Picchu to Lake Titicaca and Lima.
Welcome to Lima, the capital city of Peru. This afternoon, we'll start our guided tour of the modern side of Lima, visiting the districts of San Isidro and Miraflores which feature modern architecture, shopping centers, and beautiful parks overlooking the ocean like "El Olivar" and "Parque del Amor". We'll drive through Lima's downtown where we can see several colonial buildings and monuments. In the historical center, admire the colorful colonial architecture around Plaza San Martín and the Plaza de Armas where we can also see the Government Palace, Cathedral, and Municipality. We'll visit the San Francisco Monastery, and explore its underground maze of tunnels and catacombs. We'll end our day at the Larco Museum where we can appreciate a collection of pre-Columbian ceramics, textiles, gold, and silver pieces totaling over 45,000 artifacts. This evening, we'll enjoy a variety of regional dishes at the Café Del Museo in the museum's lovely terraced garden filled with colorful flowers.
Accommodations: José Antonio Deluxe Hotel or similar Meals: Dinner
Day 2: Lima – Cusco – Sacred Valley
After breakfast this morning, we'll fly to Cusco and then travel by bus onward to the Sacred Valley of the Incas. Along the way, we'll enjoy a buffet lunch at Princesita Restaurant. In the restaurant's gardens, we'll experience a Shaman ceremony, introducing us to the ancient rituals of Peru. During the ceremony, the shaman will thank Pachamama, or Mother Earth, and welcome us to Cusco. After lunch, we'll continue through the Sacred Valley to Awanakancha, a weaving center that still uses ancient weaving techniques and traditions. Here, we'll also see the four camels of South America - llamas, alpacas, vicuñas, and guanacos. We'll also learn more about how natural plants are used to dye the precious wool of these animals. Next, we'll check in at our hotel and enjoy some free time before we gather together for dinner at our hotel.
Accommodations: Sonesta Hotel Posadas del Inca Yucay or similar Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Day 3: Sacred Valley
On today’s full-day excursion, we'll visit the world-renowned and colorful Indian market in Pisac where many beautiful crafts are traded. Later, we'll travel through the lush valley to Ollantaytambo and explore the splendid ruins of this massive ancient fortress. The village below is a fine example of the Incas incredible urban planning skills. This evening we'll enjoy dinner together at the hotel.
Accommodations: , Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Day 4: Sacred Valley – Machu Picchu – Cusco
Embark today on an expedition to Machu Picchu. We'll travel by train through the lush Urubamba Valley passing along stunning scenery. We arrive in Aguas Calientes where we'll take a bus up the steep mountain to “the Lost City Of the Incas”. The beauty of its location and the genius construction make Machu Picchu travel the jewel of all Inca settlements and is theorized to have been an observatory. To this day nobody can explain how the Incas managed to transport the huge blocks of limestone for the city’s construction onto the mountaintop. Our expert guide will lead us through the ruins and share the amazing story of Machu Picchu. We'll have some free time to further discover the mystical ruins and absorb the beauty of this enchanting site. Later, we re-board the train to the Sacred Valley and from there, journey to magical Cusco by bus.
Accommodations: Sonesta Hotel Cusco or similar Meals: Breakfast
Day 5: Cusco
Cusco is a vibrant town, dotted with archaeological sites. This morning we'll enjoy a guided walking tour visiting the city's most important Incan and Colonial landmarks. We'll visit Qoricancha, the Incan temple of the sun which later served as the foundation for the Catholic monastery of Santo Domingo. Next, we'll visit the cathedral, considered the best repository of colonial art from the Cusco school. The cathedral was built over the palace of the Inca Wiracocha, which was considered the religious and political center of Cusco during the Inca era. We'll also walk through the Incan street of Loreto, which perfectly showcases Cusco's old town and remarkable Inca walls. This afternoon is free to explore Cusco independently! Consider a visit to the amazing ruins of Sacsayhuaman, an Inca architectural masterpiece with fabulous views of the city below.
Meals: Breakfast
Day 6: Cusco at Leisure
Today is free to explore this magical city independently! Cusco has so much to offer from incredible museums like Museo de Arte Pre-Colombino (MAP) and the Museo Inka, or spend the day exploring local markets or the picturesque San Blas district! We may also consider joining an optional tour Moray with its unique circular agricultural terraces and the Maras salt ponds or a visit to the chocolate museum!
Accommodations: Meals: Breakfast
Day 7: Cusco – Andahuaylillas – Puno
After breakfast this morning, we'll travel by bus through the Peruvian highlands along snow-covered peaks before we descend down to Puno located on the edge of Lake Titicaca. En route, we'll visit the colonial church of Andahuaylillas, nicknamed the Sistine Chapel of the Americas, with its lovely simple exterior and beautifully ornate interior.
Accommodations: GHL Hotel Lago Titicaca or similar Meals: Breakfast
Day 8: Lake Titicaca
Today we'll discover the uniqueness of the Uros, islands that literally float on Lake Titicaca, the world’s highest navigable lake. We'll meet resident families dressed in traditional and colorful outfits who welcome us and show us their homes, boats, and islands made of totora reed. Every year, they replenish the islands with a new layer of reed and continue to maintain the Aymara language and other traditional ways of living. Next, we'll take a boat ride to the island of Taquile. Be amazed by this matchless island with elaborate pre-Inca terraces, unpaved roads where there are no cars, no electricity nor pollution. Learn about the people’s unchanged lifestyles for thousands of years and their unique traditions based on community collectivism. On the island, men are taught to knit and women weave and yarn, blending these crafts into their unique social arrangements.
Accommodations: , Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Day 9: Puno – Lima
After breakfast, we'll visit a local house where we'll learn how a local family works their fields and more about their daily life and customs. After our visit, we'll continue to Juliaca airport for our flight back to Lima. This evening, we'll enjoy dinner together at a local restaurant.
Accommodations: Jose Antonio Deluxe or similar Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Day 10: Lima – Paracas
Early this morning we'll travel south by bus* to Paracas, a coastal village renowned for its climate, beautiful beaches, and rich marine wildlife and ecosystems. After we check into our hotel, we have the rest of the day at leisure to relax or enjoy our hotel's amenities.
*Small groups under 10 will utilize a public motorcoach escorted by an English-speaking host.
Accommodations: La Hacienda Bahía Hotel Paracas or similar Meals: Breakfast
Day 11: Paracas
This morning, we'll board our aircraft at Pisco airport and fly over the mysterious Nazca Lines. Located in the arid Peruvian coastal plain, these pre-Columbian geoglyphs were scratched onto the surface of the ground between 500 BC and 500 AD and are among archeology's greatist enigmas thanks to their size, nature, quantity, and continuity. This UNESCO World Heritage Site is made up of a series of complex designs with some designs up to 300 meters long.
Meals: Breakfast
Day 12: Paracas – Lima
This morning, we'll board a speedboat bound for Ballestas Islands. On our way out to the Pacific Ocean, we'll pass by the National Reserve of Paracas and during a short photo stop, we'll be able to take photos of the "El Candelabro" figure etched into the side of a hill. Once we reach the islands, we'll have a chance to see animals in their natural environment from our boat. There are thousands of different birds like cormorants, pelicans, and penguins plus other animals like sea lions. This afternoon, we'll travel back to Lima.
Note: The Ballestas Islands are protected and not to be walked on. We will not leave the boat during this excursion but will get close enough to take photos of the animals.
Meals: Breakfast
Day 13: Depart Lima
After breakfast, our journey through enchanting Peru comes to an end.
Meals: Breakfast
Guided Tour Pricing
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Rates are per person based on double occupancy. Single supplement applies when not sharing a room. Select a date above to see the rates for that specific departure.
For more information on this tour, please contact us here or call us during business hours (Monday-Friday from 9:00 am - 5:30 pm Eastern) at 1.800.337.7773.
Reservations and Payments Reservations can be made online or by phone (1.800.337.7773) and will be confirmed upon receipt of your non-refundable, non-transferable deposit, which must be received at the time of reservation. Deposits are $300 per person. Full payment is due 90 days prior to departure. Space and prices subject to availability. Please see the smarTours Terms and Conditions for complete booking information.
Featured Accommodations
Sonesta Posadas Del Inca Yucay Hotel
Once an 18th-century monastery, this beautiful hotel is located in the heart of the Sacred Valley and is surrounded by gorgeous gardens. Your hotel room features a digital safe, hairdryer, and WiFi.
Just blocks from the main square, the Sonesta Hotel Cusco boasts a restaurant and bar with excellent food, laundry service, and rooms with a hairdryer, minibar, safe-deposit box, and WiFi. Av. El Sol 954 Cusco, Peru
Located in Lima's cosmopolitan Miraflores district, enjoy the hotel's swimming pool, gym, restaurant and WiFi! Rooms here have a hairdryer, coffee kit, safe, and WiFi.
Slow the pace of your tour with a pre- and/or post-night stay so you can arrive refreshed, acclimate to the time zone if needed, and depart leisurely, ensuring a seamless transition into and out of your journey.
Pre-Night in Lima
From $69 per person based on double occupancy
Start our tour off on the right foot! Arrive a day early and enjoy more time to recover from travel, adjust to any time differences, and feel well-rested and relaxed on our first day of touring.
Post-Night in Lima
From $69 per person based on double occupancy
Extend your stay by one night at the end of our tour to make the most of additional free time for exploring our final city, shopping for last-minute souvenirs, or dining at that restaurant you’ve been wanting to try. Or, use this extra day to relax before beginning the journey home or to your next destination.
Optional Tours
Enhance your trip with these optional tours. Indicated optional tours are available to pre-book when you reserve your trip and can be added to your reservation up to final payment. This is the best option to guarantee your spot on your preferred optional tour! Optional tours require a minimum number of participants. Optional tours are non-refundable unless they do not operate.
Some optional tours can be purchased in-destination and may cost extra. The payment methods and currency information to purchase tours in-destination will be provided on final documentation.
Ruins of Cusco
$60 per person
Day 5 Afternoon Tour
We'll journey into the past as we explore the different Inca ruins around Cusco. We'll start at Sacsayhuamán, the Inca ceremonial fortress dedicated to the sun. Here we'll admire the gigantic rocks used to build the site and the way they were perfectly fitted together with some are as high as 8.5m (28ft.) and up to 200 tons. Next, we'll head to nearby Qenqo, a temple carved in a gigantic monolith. Enjoy stories about the tunnels and chambers that were hand-carved by people thousands of years ago. We'll continue to the Puca Pucara Fort with its strategic location, large walls, terraces, and stairs was a military checkpoint for the Inca Empire. End your tour at the Inca Baths known as Tambomachay and learn about the aqueducts and channels that allow the water to flow naturally.
AVAILABLE TO PRE-BOOK!
Maras & Moray
$106 per person
Day 6 Morning Tour
We'll start our morning tour at Moray with its unique circular agricultural terraces. The pre-Inca platforms have underground irrigation channels, different soils, and changing temperatures, which made it ideal for a plant nursery and research center. Walk down 30m (98ft) and appreciate its ingenuity and splendor. About seven miles away, go to Maras and admire over 3,000 salt ponds with a stunning view of the Andes Mountains in the background. To this day, a network of water canals fills the ponds, the water evaporates, and the salt is harvested by hand.
AVAILABLE TO PRE-BOOK!
Chocolate Museum and Workshop
$50 per person
Day 6 Afternoon Tour
On this afternoon tour, visit the chocolate museum and learn about cacao’s history, the cacao tree, and the different processes to make chocolate. Then, roll up your sleeves and get to work. First, help roast the cacao beans and remove the husk. Then, grind the nibs to form a paste. To this paste, add your favorite ingredients: almonds, nuts, coffee beans, etc. While you wait for your chocolate to harden, sip on a cup of chocolate tea brewed from the husks or taste fresh hot chocolate. Once your chocolate bar is ready, bring it home to savor.
AVAILABLE TO PRE-BOOK!
What to Expect
Max Group Size: 30 travelers
Activity Level: Level 3
Expect most included touring to require walking and standing periods of up to 4 hours at a time (up to 2 times per day). Included touring may feature hikes, stairs, and/or climbs which may be on hilly and/or uneven terrain at potentially high altitudes. Learn More
Pacing Level: Moderate
Expect full-day tours most days with some limited free time at specific sites, for meals, and/or in the evenings. You can expect several early mornings and/or long travel days by bus (don’t worry—there are always comfort stops!), and you may expect to stay in most accommodations for 2+ nights (with limited 1-night stays). Learn More
No Additional Entry Requirements for U.S. Passport Holders
A valid passport is required for international tours. Currently, there are no additional entry requirements for U.S. passport holders, but this can change at any time. Before travel, both U.S. and non-U.S. passport holders should visit our Passports & Visas page to reconfirm entry requirements.
This tour includes destinations with high altitudes. In Cusco, the elevation is 11,000 ft and may be a consideration for those with heart conditions or those affected by altitude. Please consult with your physician.
For more detailed information about this tour and destination, visit our Before You Depart section.
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