Meals: Breakfast

Meet the group and the local guide in the lobby for a tour of Lima. We will explore the center of Lima, a UNESCO World Heritage site, and the Huaca Pucllana dating back to between 200 and 700 AD. 

In the afternoon we will explore the Barranco district of Lima, known for its artistic and bohemian vibe, and the home and working place of many of Peru’s leading artists. Here we will also sample the street foods of Lima! 

Evening and Dinner will be at leisure. 

Overnight Lima, Pullman Lima Miraflores, or similar

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch 

After an early breakfast at the hotel, we will transfer to Lima airport for our flight to Cusco. Upon arrival we will drive north from Cusco to the Sacred Valley. Tucked between Cusco and Machu Picchu, the Sacred Valley is a truly special place. A slightly warmer climate, the gentle presence of the Andes Mountains, a sprinkling of ancient fortresses, and villages steeped in age-old traditions make it a can’t miss stop on our adventure. We will stop in Awana Kancha, an exhibition center of textiles and South American camelids, and at the Pisac market, consisting of dozens of stalls displaying and selling goods crafted by residents of the area. Pisac is also known for hosting one of the most important archaeological sites in the Sacred Valley on the slopes of the hills. It is perhaps the largest complex of platforms in the area. We will have free time to visit the area on our own. For lunch we will enjoy an authentic and unique experience at a lovely family-owned restaurant before heading to our hotel in the Sacred Valley. 

Overnight Sacred Valley, Inkaterra Hacienda Urubamba

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch 

This morning we will visit the town of Chinchero, a traditional Cusco urban center with a beautiful view of the valley. The inhabitants of this area preserve the artisan traditions and the inherited knowledge of the Incas and display them in their clothes and customs. In Chinchero there are also archaeological remains and a beautiful seventeenth-century church, one of the first Catholic buildings in Peru. We will then visit the Living Museum of Yucay to see demonstrations of the textile work, adobe, pottery, and silver work carried out in the same way they were done in antiquity- an original recreation of Inca traditions. 

We will enjoy a delicious lunch at a local restaurant before continuing to Ollantaytambo fortress. Ollantaytambo was a strategic military, religious and agricultural center that still dazzles with its stonework platforms and its imposing buildings that are four meters high. In this place, Manco Inca faced the Spanish troops of Hernando Pizarro. A place that is surrounded by magic and mystery, it is believed to have been a refuge for Inca royalty and nobility. The fortress was built with huge rocks brought from a quarry 6 kilometers away, near the Urubamba River. To transport these stones, the Incas had to divert the entire water channel around them, a feat of masterful engineering work. 

Dinner and evening at leisure. 

Overnight Sacred Valley, Inkaterra Hacienda Urubamba or similar 

Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

This morning we will say goodbye to the Sacred Valley and head to Ollantaytambo station to begin our journey to Machu Picchu. We will travel by Vistadome train to the town of Aguas Calientes where we will find handicraft markets and restaurants, and our hotel for the evening. We will then take buses to arrive at Machu Picchu, a masterpiece of engineering and architecture that is believed to have served as a sanctuary and resting place for the Inca Pachacutec. Machu Picchu, which means Old Mountain, is considered World Heritage by UNESCO and one of the world's new seven wonders. After our guided tour, we will take the buses back to our hotel for lunch and some down time.

Overnight Aguas Calientes, Inkaterra Machu Picchu Pueblo Hotel or similar 

Meals: Breakfast

This morning we have the option to hike Machu Picchu Mountain, the highest mountain in the area, and for further exploration of the archaeological site. This afternoon, we head to the train station to take the train to Cusco. On arrival, we will transfer to our hotel and spend the evening at leisure. 

Overnight Cusco, Palacio del Inka or similar 

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

We will spend the morning exploring the fascinating town of Cusco. We will take in the traditional and bohemian neighborhood of San Blas, residence of artists and craftsmen and the dynamic market of San Pedro. We will also see the beautiful main square, and visit the Cathedral and the Convent of Santo Domingo, which was built on top of the most important temple of the Inca Empire: Coricancha. Finally, we will see the impressive fortress of Sacsayhuaman before enjoying lunch at a local restaurant. 

Afternoon and evening are at leisure. 

Overnight Cusco, Palacio del Inka or similar 

Meals: Breakfast, Dinner 

In Cusco, recognized as the historic capital of Peru, every corner tells a story, and every story is captivating, mystical and inviting. Imagine walking through streets with names like “Ataúd” [Coffin], Siete Culebras [Seven Serpents] and “Arpías” [Harpies]. In these streets time seems to have stopped, every corner offers a piece of history, and the stones remain alive because they have survived intact. Cusco witnessed the arrival of the Spanish, and yet to this day it preserves an ancestral magic which captivates the thousands of visitors who each year form part of its living history. You have today at your leisure to explore this amazing city. Your Limitless Planet Travel Director can help you arrange transportation, etc. 

In the evening, we will enjoy a farewell dinner at a local restaurant. 

Overnight Cusco, Palacio del Inka or similar 

Meals: Breakfast

Today we will enjoy breakfast at the hotel before heading to the airport for our flight to Lima and our onward flights home.