Peru's Sacred Cities

10 days
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Self-Guided / Independent Tour
There is no resisting the mesmerizing call to the Land of the Incas, and for good reason! From ancient architecture, cajon drum music, dancing the night away, and more, Peru is a siren call to those looking for colorful culture and ancient adventure.  Begin in the capital city of Lima, where Spanish and Inca architecture mix together in a beautiful blend of ...

Overview

Trip type
Self-Guided / Independent Tour
Lodging level
Standard - 3 star
Physical level
Easy
Trip pace
Flexible schedule

Highlights

    • Colonial & Contemporary Lima City Tour, including Larco Museum (4.5 hours)
    • Tour of Machu Picchu (The Citadel) with guide
    • Sacred Valley tour with visits to Ollantaytambo ruins & Pisac Market
    • Walking tour of Cusco
    • Sightseeing tour of Arequipa with Santa Catalina Monastery
    • Cross of the Condor

What's this trip about?

    There is no resisting the mesmerizing call to the Land of the Incas, and for good reason! From ancient architecture, cajon drum music, dancing the night away, and more, Peru is a siren call to those looking for colorful culture and ancient adventure.  Begin in the capital city of Lima, where Spanish and Inca architecture mix together in a beautiful blend of culture. Unwind in the new altitude with some coca tea, then follow your tour guides through the city's highlights. From there, hop aboard the train to Machu Picchu! Tour through the ancient citadel, snapping photos as you go of the amazingly well-preserved 7th Wonder of the World, composed of granite, limestone, temples and aqueducts. From the lost city, continue on to Cusco. Tour through the charming Sacred Valley, peruse outdoor markets of handmade items, and then move on to Peru's second largest city: Arequipa. Embark on a tour of the Colca, the world's second deepest canyon, see the Santa Catalina Monastery, and experience the unreal flora and fauna of the area before returning to Lima for your flight home.

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Details

Itinerary focusClassic Highlights
Group sizeIndependent
Age rangeNo age restrictions
Flights and transportRound trip airfare and all internal transport included
Start CityLima
End CityPeru

Travel Themes

  • Local Immersion & Homestays
  • National Parks
  • Nature & Wildlife
  • Relaxing Retreats

Destinations

  • South America
  • Peru

Attractions

  • Aguas Calientes
  • Arequipa
  • Cusco
  • Lima
  • Machu Picchu
  • Ollantaytambo
  • Sacred Valley

Activities

  • Bird watching
  • Culture
  • Historic sightseeing
  • History
  • Homestays & Cultural Immersion
  • Nature
  • Relaxing Retreat
  • Ruins & Archaeology
  • Trains & Rail

Trip includes

    • Round-trip economy class airfare to Lima (LIM)
    • All airport and rail station transfers
    • 1 night in Lima at the Hotel Arawi Miraflores Express, or similar
    • Colonial & Contemporary Lima City Tour with Larco Museum
    • One-way economy class flight from Lima (LIM) to Cusco (CUZ)
    • 1 night in Cusco at Hotel Los Portales Cusco, or similar
    • Expedition train from Ollantaytambo to Aguas Calientes
    • Roundtrip bus from Aguas Calientes to Machu Picchu
    • Tour of Machu Picchu with private guide
    • 1 night in Aguas Calientes at the Casa Andina Standard Hotel Machu Picchu, or similar
    • Expedition train from Aguas Calientes to Ollantaytambo
    • Sacred Valley tour with visits to Ollantaytambo ruins & Pisac Market
    • 2 nights in Cusco at Hotel Los Portales Cusco, or similar
    • Walking tour of Cusco with visit to the Cathedral & Koricancha
    • One-way, economy-class flight from Cusco (CUZ) to Arequipa (AQP)
    • Sightseeing tour of Arequipa with Santa Catalina Monastery
    • 1 night in Arequipa at the Casa Andina Standard Arequipa, or similar
    • 2 nights in Colca Canyon at the Casa Andina Classic Hotel Colca, or similar
    • 3-day Colca Canyon Excursion including: Tour through Aguada Blanca National Park
    • Cross of the Condor Tour
    • Eastern Colca Canyon Tour One-way, economy-class flight from Arequipa (AQP) to Lima (LIM)
    • 1 night near Lima at the Wyndham Costa del Sol Lima Airport Hotel*, or similar
    • Breakfast daily *Please note: This hotel does not offer triple rooms. If you are traveling as a group of three, you will have two separate rooms for this night.

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Itinerary

Day 1 Welcome to Lima!

Say "hola" to Peru! Upon arrival in Lima, you will be greeted and transferred to your hotel. In the evening, enjoy your first Peruvian meal near your hotel. 

Day 2 Lima - Cusco

Enjoy a sightseeing tour of Lima today before traveling to Cusco.

Day 3 Cusco - Sacred Valley - Machu Picchu - Aguas Calientes

Today, you will be brought to the train station of Ollantaytambo. Board the train and enjoy the stunning Andean views filled with small communities and snow-capped mountains in the Sacred Valley. When you arrive to Aguas Calientes, the small village nestled at ...

Day 4 Aguas Calientes - Machu Picchu - Sacred Valley - Cusco

Start your tour exploring the impressive ruins of Ollantaytambo, one of the few places where the Incas won a battle against the Spaniards. Climb up the platforms and enjoy the view above the village and onto the valley. Near the ruins, visit a typical home and ...

Day 5 Cusco

Enjoy your walking tour at the “Plaza de Armas” and visit the impressive Renaissance-style Cathedral today. Make your way through small alleys edged with Incan walls until you reach Koricancha, the temple dedicated to the sun, “Inti”. Believed to be the most important...

Day 6 Cusco - Arequipa

Today, transfer to Cusco airport for your flight to Arequipa in the south. Enjoy a sightseeing tour of Arequipa and the Santa Catalina Monastery en-route to your hotel. Admire the beautiful landscapes, fields and pre-Inca terraces from the Yanahuara and Carmen ...

Day 7 Arequipa - Colca

Today you will embark on a full-day tour of Colca Canyon, the world's second-deepest canyon! Here, you will drive through the Aguada Blanca National Park. Watch for herds of wild vicuñas, llamas and alpacas. Then, reach the tour’s highest viewpoint at 4,910 meter (16,...

Day 8 Colca

After an early breakfast, make your way to the “Cruz del Condor” viewpoint. Try to spot the immense Andean Condors as they fly, hunt for food, and appreciate the canyon's depths. Afterward, stop in the small towns of Maca and Yanque, renowned for their small c...

Day 9 Colca - Lima

Today, you will travel to the eastern side of Colca Canyon, to the villages of Corporaque and Ichupampa. Learn about the Colca’s indigenous cultures, and their traditions and customs.

Return to Chivay, where you have free time for lunch. Then, drive back...

Day 10 Depart Peru

Make your way to Lima airport for your flight back home. 

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Dates & Availability

Price From $3,414
Price per day$341
Last Updated: 4/15/2024

Check Current Availability, prices, specials with Great Value Vacations.

The total tour cost includes the tour price (regular or promotional) and the compulsory local payment. The promotional price is subject to change. Check directly with the operator for the latest price offer. The tour operator requires you to pay only the tour price to purchase your travel. The compulsory local payment will be paid when you join the trip. All prices are based on double, twin or triple share occupancy. Solo passengers will be accommodated in a double, twin or triple room according to availability with a passenger(s) of the same gender. Single supplement only needs to be paid if the passenger does not want to share and requests their own room. Discounts can only be applied at the time of booking and cannot be added at a later date, regardless of any changes made to the original booking.

Prices may vary due to local taxes and trip seasonality. Click "Request Info" to inquire directly with the tour operator for the final trip price.

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Accommodation

,Hotel Britania Miraflores Hotel Los Portales Cusco Waman Hotel Casa Andina Standard Puno Wyndham Costa del Sol Lima Airport
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Age Requirements
No age restrictions
Trip ID
Greatvaluevacations-PK-GC4P-SH-LSVC-LIM

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