Peru With Machu Picchu (Summer, Nazca Lines, Classic)

13 days
From $301/day
$3,916
From: 
$4,817
4.6/5 Excellent
100+ reviews  
97%
Trip last updated: 11/4/2024
Trip type
Group Tour
Lodging level
Premium - 4 star
Physical level
Moderate
Trip pace
Balanced schedule
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Overview

Highlights

    • Machu Picchu: Transfer to the station for your 360° IncaRail train ride. This train ride offers an unforgettable experience journeying through the Andes Mountains in style with large panoramic views allowing guests to enjoy the amazing scenery of the lush mountains and the Urubamba River en route to Machu Piccu Pueblo.
    • Sacred Valley: On the way, visit the Ollantaytambo ruins, consisting of a large fortress built in the 1400s, a stepped terrace, and an area known as the Princess Baths, where ceremonial bathing took place. Later, stop by a a local house in the village and meet the family living there.
    • Aguas Calientes: Peru’s Incan history and archaeology will inspire the mind of any curious traveler. With a full day, you have the option to return to Machu Picchu for a different circuit. Or, take advantage of a day at leisure in Aguas Caliente – the town of Machu Picchu of 3,400 residents - to stroll along the river, go shopping for that perfect local souvenir or grab a coffee all midst the cloud forest.
    • Cusco: Once you arrive, head on a walking tour of Cusco with a Local Expert. Explore what's known as the "historic capital" of Peru as you discover its ancestral magic through visits to the cathedral and the Qorikancha temple.
    • Cusco: Start your day with a walking tour of Cusco, before heading to Sacsayhuaman.
    • Paracas: A windswept coastline and haven for wildlife. The Ballestas Islands are a wildlife sanctuary that hold over 200 species of birds including Peruvian boobies, Inca terns, pelicans, red-legged cormorants and Humboldt penguins. You’ll treasure this opportunity to see these penguins in their natural habitat alongside a plethora of different birds.
    • Paracas: The pride of Peru and their national drink, Pisco is a must-try on any trip to Peru. Visit the beautiful Hacienda La Caravedo to learn about how Pisco was traditionally made on this unique opportunity to see the oldest, continuously operating distillery in the Americas established in 1684 and the biggest distillery in South America. In addition to learning about this tasty beverage, you’ll love learning how the distillery has plants on their rooftop to offset Co2 emissions.
    • Cathedral of Lima: This morning, explore Peru's buzzing capital with your Local Expert, including the Cathedral of Lima, the Government Palace, the Archbishop’s Palace and City Hall.
    • Lima: After lunch, meet a local guide who will take you around the Museo Larco, a private museum located in Lima's Pueblo Libre District and home to the largest collection of Pre-Columbian art.
    • Sacred Valley: The Maras Salt Mine will inspire the mind of any curious traveler. Learn how salt once harvested by Incas at this site is now exported to the entire world. Discover how the Incas found a water stream with high salt content and learned - in Pre-Incan times - how to build terraces to extract salt. You’ll be amazed at how, to this day, it is not known where the water actually comes from and has only been measured in the last 20 years during which the flow and intensity has not changed.
    • Sacred Valley: Peru’s Incan history and archaeology will inspire the mind of any curious traveler. At the Moray Incan laboratory northwest of Cusco, learn how the Incas determined the ideal altitude to grow crops in the Sacred Valley. You’ll be fascinated by how this ancient culture learned how to build these terraced circular depressions on a high plateau at an altitude of about 11,500 feet and experimented with different kinds of soils and temperatures to grow their crops.
    • Machu Picchu: Enjoy a guided visit with a Local Expert.
    • Cusco: Visit Cusco's planetarium to learn more on how the Incas interpreted the stars. After a reception with hot wine (or tea) and appetizers, local experts will explain and share stories about the influence the stars had on Andean culture. You'll then be led to a room specially accommodated to view the ancient night skies, weather permitting.
    • Paracas: Take to the skies on your Peru tour to see the iconic Nazca Lines, archaeological enigmas scratched in the ground 500 B.C. and A.D. 500. Gaze down in awe of these massive designs and patterns you can only view from above. Your private flight will show you many of the lines, complete with their names and a bit of history. From above, you’ll observe the different types: straight, geometric (such as triangles, rectangles, trapezoids, spirals, arrows, zigzags, and wavy lines), and pictorial (including a spider, hummingbird, cactus plant, monkey, whale, llama, duck, flower, tree, lizard, dog, and even a mysterious humanoid figure). Some of the animal geoglyphs are up to 1,200 feet long! You’ll also learn why the Nazca culture created these lines in the desert plains of the Rio Grande de Nazca River basin and how the Nazca people were able to carve out such massive designs.
    • Sacred Valley: Visit a local traditional Quechua weaver in the Sacred Valley for a private textile presentation. You'll learn about ancient weaving techniques and the importance these textiles have in shaping personal and regional identities.
    • Cusco: Enjoy an immersive slow-cooked Cusquenian lunch at Pacha Papa. Lunch will be served al fresco at the courtyard of a historic mansion in the artsy neighborhood of San Blas.
    • Cusco: In the evening, join your fellow travelers for a memorable Celebration Dinner at Inka Grill, where you'll embark on a journey of flavors from Ceviche Palteado to Quinotto and Aji de Gallina.
    • Lima: Unwind at your luxury abode, before meeting your Travel Director and fellow travelers in the evening for a dinner.
    • Lima: Make your way to Lima's Pueblo Libre District and indulge on a lunch in the Museo Larco's 18th century garden.
    • Sacred Valley: Make your way to the small lagoon of Laguna Piuray where you’ll enjoy your lunch of Pachamanca, a traditional Peruvian feast.
    • Optional - Choose between two carefully selected activities
    • Optional - Cusco: Join a guided hike of the Inca ruins in Puca Pucara.
    • Optional - Cusco: Delight your senses during a guided tour of the San Pedro Market.

What's this trip about?

    Feast on Peruvian delicacies in Lima, tour the ancient Korikancha temple in Cusco and adventure through the Ollantaytambo ruins of Machu Picchu, on this 13-Day exploration of Peru. Embark on a Private Planetarium Tour in Cusco and uncover the influence of astronomy on Andean culture. Join a Local Expert in Machu Picchu for a guided tour through the ancient ruins—set high in the Andes against breathtaking backdrops. Visit the salt pans of Maras in the Sacred Valley where the Incas used to harvest the mineral and visit with a local Quechua Weaver to learn their ancient weaving techinques in a private presentation. In Paracus, be sure to pause at the Pisco distillery to sample this tasty local aperitif.
Itinerary focusClassic Highlights
Group sizeStandard Group - 25 + people
Age range65+, 50 - 64, 36 - 49, 18 - 35, 12 - 17, 6 - 11
Flights and transportN/A
Start CityLima
End CityLima

Travel Themes

Activities

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Itinerary

Travel Map

Day 1: Welcome to Lima

Arrive in Lima for the first day of your journey. In the evening meet your Travel Director and fellow travelers at the hotel bar for a dinner and drinks.

MGallery Manto, Lima

Dinner with Wine

Day 2: Explore Lima Relaxed Start

Explore the colorful capital of Peru this morning with your Local Expert. Delve into its colonial past and see key attractions, including the Cathedral of Lima, the Government Palace, the Archbishop’s Palace and City Hall. Visit Casa Aliaga, an impressive mansion that...

Day 3: Lima to Sacred Valley

Take a transfer to the airport in the morning, where you'll catch your flight to the ancient capital of Cusco. Begin your tour of the Sacred Valley, while taking in impressive views on your scenic drive along the way. After a few stunning photo stops, enjoy lunch at A...

Day 4: Explore Sacred Valley Relaxed Start

Start the morning off with a visit to the Maras salt pans, where the Incas harvested their salt. Today, the salt from Maras is exported to the entire world. Move on to an Incan laboratory in Moray, an archaeological site close to Cusco. Find out more about the ideal a...

Day 5: Explore Machu Picchu Relaxed Start

Transfer to the station for your IncaRail train ride. Enjoy lunch on your way to Machu Picchu pueblo, the gateway village to Machu Picchu. On the way, visit the Ollantaytambo ruins, followed by a stop at a local house in the village’s cobblestoned old town and visit w...

Day 6: Machu Picchu at Leisure Relaxed Start

Take in the breathtaking landscapes of Machu Picchu for a second time. Spend your morning exploring at your own pace, with your Travel Director on hand to answer any queries you may have. The afternoon is yours at leisure. Relax back at your hotel or perhaps explore t...

Day 7: On to Cusco Relaxed Start

After breakfast, return by train to Ollantaytambo, where you will transfer to the ancient city of Cusco. Once the capital of the Inca Empire, Cusco showcases a mix of Spanish colonial architecture, ancient remains and a lively cosmopolitan scene for modern inhabitants...

Day 8: Exploring Cusco Relaxed Start

Start your day with a walking tour of Sacsayhuaman. Afterwards, explore with Insight Choice. Choose to join a Local Expert on a guided hike of the Inca ruins at Puca Pucara. Alternatively, you can explore the lively and colorful San Pedro Market. Later, make your way ...

Day 9: Leisure time in Cusco Relaxed Start

Today, explore Cusco at your own pace. Perhaps head out on an optional visit to the ChocoMuseo to learn about chocolate making. Another active option is a hike to the Rainbow Mountain. Or maybe relax and unwind at your hotel, set in a beautiful 16th- century building....

Day 10: From the Andes to the Coast

Depart Cusco and fly to Lima. From here, enjoy a leisurely coastal drive to the beach town of Paracas. Known for its sandy beaches, wildlife and the Paracas Candelabra geoglyph. With the rest of your evening free, take the opportunity to relax at your beautiful resort...

Day 11: Paracas & the Nazca Lines

Take in the area from above with an aircraft ride over the mysterious Nazca Lines. This is truly the best way to experience this stunning UNESCO World Heritage Site in all its glory. Then head to Ica, stop at a local museum, where you’ll learn more about the city’s culture.

Paracas, a Luxury Collection Resort

Breakfast, Dinner with Wine

Day 12: Ballestas Islands and Peruvian Wildlife

Have your cameras at the ready as you head out on a scenic cruise to the Ballestas Islands famous for their rock formations and marine life. Explore this beautiful area before heading to visit a pisco distillery for a tasting of the local spirit. Then head to Ica, stop at a local museum where you'll learn more about the city's culture.

Breakfast, Lunch

Day 13: Chincha and return to Lima

Embark on your return to Lima, stopping at Hacienda San Jose. You'll get a tour of the plantation and learn more about a dark chapter in Peruvian history and the area's heart-breaking past of slavery in the cotton business. End your tour in Lima.

Breakfast, Lunch

Dates & Availability

Price from
$3,916
Price per day
$301

Peru With Machu Picchu (Summer, Nazca Lines, Classic) Reviews & Ratings

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Tour Operator

Insight Vacations

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Associations

United States Tour Operators Association

Details

Accommodation:

  • MGallery Manto, Lima
  • Aranwa Sacred Valley Hotel & Wellness, Urubamba
  • Sumaq Machu Picchu, Aguas Calientes
  • JW Marriott El Convento, Cusco
  • Paracas, a Luxury Collection Resort

Group size:

Standard Group - 25 + people

Maximum number of people in group:

40

Trip Excludes:

    Meals included:

    • 12 Breakfast (B)
    • 6 Dinner with Wine (DW)
    • 7 Lunch (L)

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