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Lima Highlands (Sacred Valley, Machu Picchu, Cusco)

Lima, Cusco and Machu Picchu

8 Days |
from $3000 per person
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Overview

The quintessential Peru itinerary, expertly designed to allow in-depth exploration and unique visits with expert local guides..

Experience

Browse through the day by day details and accommodation recommendations to see what's possible for an itinerary like this. Everything can be fully customized to your travel style and goals for the trip. The below outlines a 4 night / 5 day cruise, but shorter and longer cruise options are also available on many vessels.

Day 1
Welcome to Lima

You've arrived - welcome! After clearing immigration and customs and retrieving your luggage your adventure will begin. Our local partner has been expecting you and will be eager to greet you on arrival.

  •  International arrival.  You'll be met and welcomed by your private guide.
  •   Private transfer to your hotel. The trip from the airport to Miraflores hotels is about a 45 minutes.
    • Depending on your flight schedule you may have some free time to explore near the hotel.
    Lima Skyline
    El Barranco Neighborhood
    The pool at Miraflores Park
    Accommodations (2 nights)

    Miraflores Park by Belmond

    Hilton Lima Miraflores

    JW Marriott Lima

    Day 2
    Private Lima City Tour

    Today you will have a private tour of Lima's most iconic sights..

  •   You'll be picked up at your hotel by your private guide and will start on your in-depth excursion of Lima's coastal capital.
  •  You'll make your way to Lima's colonial downtown, visiting the Plaza de Armas, filled with unique and historic architecture from the era when Lima was the capital of the Spanish Empire in South America.
  •  Visit the interesting San Francisco Monastery nearby.
  •  Later you'll tour Casa Aliaga, an historic site with a number of interesting relics and insight into the colonial history of Lima.
  •  After the exploration of Lima's colonial downtown, you'll make a visit to the famous Larco Museum which houses a large number of Incan and Pre-Incan artifacts..
  •  This is a half day tour lasting about 4 hours, door to door.
    • Lima's Plaza de Armas
    Library in El Barranco
    Presidential Palace
    Day 3
    Travel to the Highlands | Tour Chincheros, Moray and Maras

    Travel to the Highlands where you'll begin your in-depth exploration of the Sacred Valley, iconic Machu Picchu, and Cusco.

  •  Transfer to the airport.
  •  Domestic flight from Lima to Cusco.
  •  Transfer to the Sacred Valley, with visits en route.
  •   You will be met by your private guide and driver and depart Cusco for Chincheros (about a 30 min. drive) where you'll visit the town and church of Chincheros.
  •  Enter the unique Chincheros Church, an ancient, rustic colonial building, and have a chance to interact with local weavers.
  •  After your visit you'll continue toward the Sacred Valley of the Incas and will make stops at both the iconic concentric-circle ruins of Moray and the Maras Salt Pans.
  •  You can hike all the way down into the center of the ruins if you wish.
  •  After Moray you'll visit the ancient Maras Salt Pans where you'll have the chance to view and learn about the many salt plots and how they've been cared for in a traditional way over the years.
  •  You'll be dropped off at your hotel in the Sacred Valley of the Incas at the end of the day.
    • Moray
    Church in Chincheros
    Terrace at Explora Valle Sagrado
    Accommodations (2 nights)

    Inkaterra Hacienda Urubamba

    Explora Valle Sagrado

    Belmond Rio Sagrado Hotel

    Day 4
    Private Pisac and Ollantaytambo Excursion

    Visit the Sacred Valley's most iconic ruin sites, deepening your understanding of Incan culture taking in the picturesque nature of the Peruvian Andes.

  •   In the morning your private guide and driver will pick you up from your hotel and you'll to the southern end of the Sacred Valley for a visit to the Pisac Ruins.
  •  You can hike down from the ruins to the town and market of Pisac if you wish (this is a short, 1-2 mile hike, all downhill, but if you prefer to go in the vehicle it's totally fine).
  •  After the market you'll make your way back to the central part of the Sacred Valley for lunch at a wonderful local restaurant in Urubamba.
  •  Later you'll continue to the northern end of the Valley and Ollantaytambo, one of the few Incan towns that exists today much as it did in Incan times.
  •  In the mid-afternoon you'll visit the Ollantaytambo Ruins, considered by some as the most iconic ruin site in the Sacred Valley (one of the few where interrupted Incan construction can be easily viewed, offering insight into how the Incas did their work).
  •  This is a half day tour lasting about 8 hours, door to door.
    • Pisac Ruins
    Ollantaytambo Ruins
    Urubamba River
    Day 5
    Travel to Machu Picchu | Privately Guided Ruin Visit

    Enjoy a privately guided visit to the most iconic ruin site in all of Peru.

  •  Private transfer to Ollantaytambo.
  •  Train to Machu Picchu (Aguas Calientes Town).
  •  Shuttle to Ruins.
  •   Your guide will will meet you at the train station upon arrival to Aguas Calientes and will help you make the most of your visit, based on your interests and his/her in-depth knowledge of the site.
  •  Ruin entrance tickets and shuttle bus tickets (for shuttle between the town of Aguas Calientes and the ruins themselves) are included.
  •  You will have time to explore many of the different areas of the ruins. There are several "circuits", and usually we recommend Circuit 2 for this first day.
  •  Lunch is included at the ruins today at the Sanctuary Lodge just outside the entrance.
  •  After your Machu Picchu visit you'll return on the shuttle to Aguas Calientes and your hotel for the evening.
    • Classic View of Machu Picchu
    Machu Picchu in the Mist
    Machu Picchu Pueblo Hotel
    Accommodations (1 night)

    Inkaterra Machu Picchu Pueblo Hotel

    Sumaq Machu Picchu Hotel

    Machu Picchu Sanctuary Lodge by Belmond

    Day 6
    Return Visit to Machu Picchu | Travel to Cusco

    Enjoy an unguided return visit to Machu Picchu early in the morning, and optional hiking. Then make your way to Cusco.

  •  Shuttle to ruins included.
  •  Train to Ollantaytambo (PM).
  •  Private transfer to Cusco.
  •   Make an early morning return visit to Machu Picchu today on your own.
  •  Ruin entrance tickets and shuttle bus tickets (for shuttle between the town of Aguas Calientes and the ruins themselves) are included.
  •  Today you will have the chance to do "Circuit 3" along with the short Huchuy Picchu hike (about 3/4 of a mile and usually takes about 30 minutes).
  •  This is a great hike for getting some different and great views (Note: If anyone would like to do one of the more difficult Huayna Picchu or Machu Picchu Mountain hikes, please just let us know).
  •  After lunch you'll catch your train back to Ollantaytambo or Cusco where you'll be met and transferred to your hotel..
    • Depending on your train schedule you may have some free time to explore near the hotel. 
    Hiking at Machu Picchu
    Machu Picchu View
    View in Cusco
    Accommodations (2 nights)

    Palacio del Inka

    Palacio Nazarenas by Belmond

    Casa Cartagena Cusco

    Day 7
    Private Cusco Tour

    Today you have a half day privately guided tour of Cusco, which also includes surrounding ruins above the city (vehicle to those sites).

  •   Visit Koricancha, the Plaza de Armas and other areas of importance in town.
  •  Walk the hilly cobblestone streets and paths, discovering hidden gems of the city and Incan Ruins which most everything in the city was built upon by the Spanish after their arrival.
  •  Private vehicle transportation to Sacsayhuaman and other ruin sites (e.g. Tambomanchay, Puka Pukara, Qenqo) above the city.
  •  The exact surrounding ruins mentioned above that you'll visit can vary (except Sacsayhuaman, which you'll always visit) depending on your pace and interests. If you have specific interests please let your guide know..
  •  In the afternoon you'll be dropped off at your hotel and will have the balance of the day at your leisure.
  •  This is a half day tour lasting about 4 hours, door to door.
    • Koricancha
    Sacsayhuaman
    Cusco Market
    Day 8
    Depart for Home

    Today your adventure comes to an end and you'll begin your journey home.

  •  Private transfer to the airport
  •  Domestic flight from Cusco to Lima.
  •  Check in and board your flight home.
    • If you'd like to extend your trip there are a number of other destinations in Peru and elsewhere that can be added. Just let us know!

    What to Expect

    • Guided Excursions Activities every day to choose from, in the company of expert local guides.
    • Hand-Picked Lodging Options Curated accommodation options that match your travel style and enhance your travel experience.
    • Transportation Airport to hotel and excursion transportation in comfortable vehicles with Trip Harvest guide and driver.
    • Local Flights Coordinated with and issued by our flight consolidator (*quoted and paid for separate from land itinerary).

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