Compare Tailored tours to Nazca Lines, Rainbow Mountain, Machu Picchu by Conde Travel vs Lights of Peru, The Inca Empire by Say Hueque

DAY 1: ARRIVAL IN LIMA – CITY TOUR

When you arrive to Lima, we transfer you from the airport to your hotel. At 12.30 we will pick you up to take a city tour with a duration of four hours approx. We will start the tour with visiting San Martin Plaza and Jiron de la Union which is a fascinating boulevard that leads to the Plaza de Armas, the main plaza. Next is the Monastery of San Francisco, a World Heritage Site. This monastery is renowned for its Spanish Baroque architecture .The first cemetery of Lima –the Catacombs- is hidden underneath these monastery floors. Our driver will take you to your hotel where you will have the rest of the day at your leisure.

DAY 2: LIMA – CARAL

Today, we will travel to the oldest city in the Americas! Early in the morning, we will pick you up from your hotel in Lima to drive to the Valley of Supe. Along the route there are many villages, agricultural areas and beautiful sights of the Peruvian coast. When we arrive, we will start with a guided tour through the complex about the many archaeological discoveries that have been made in this area. You’ll witness the 6 pyramids, an amphitheatre and a temple. It is believed that this area was first inhabited between 2000 and 2600 BCE. After the 2-hour-tour we will go to the city of Huacho where we will have lunch. Then we will start our journey back to Lima, where you’ll spend the night.

DAY 3: LIMA – PARACAS

Today, you have the morning and afternoon at your leisure to explore the city. After breakfast you are free to see the many beautiful sights in the city. Check out the beautiful Parque Del Amor in Miraflores, the many museums, take a bike ride along the coast, or eat at one of the many culinary hotspots the city has to offer. In the afternoon, we will pick you up from your hotel to drive for approximately 4 hours to Paracas where we will spend the night.

DAY 4: PARACAS – BALLESTAS ISLANDS – NAZCA

In the morning, after breakfast, we go to the Chaco Harbor in Paracas. Here, we will begin a remarkable boat trip to the Ballestas Islands, three small islands filled with wildlife just a few minutes from the coast. On the journey to the islands, we will be able to see the “Candelabro”, a giant hieroglyph in the shape of a candleholder. When we arrive to the Ballestas Islands, we will stay on the boat while observing the frenzy of amazing animals including noisy but playful furred seals and sea lions, as well as a huge number of sea birds including, Humbolt penguins, pelicans, tendrils, Inca terns, Peruvian boobys, red legged cormorants and guanays. After our tour of the islands, we will have lunch and start our journey to Nazca where we spend the night.

DAY 5: NAZCA LINES FLIGHT – HUACACHINA – LIMA

After breakfast in your hotel, we will transfer you to the airport from where we are going to take a 50 minute flight over the incredible Nazca Lines. During this flight over the Nazca Lines, we will be able to see the most fascinating figures such as: the monkey, hummingbird, tree, parrot, astronaut, dog, condor and others. After our flight, we will have enough time to have lunch before we drive to Ica where we will visit the beautiful Huacachina Oasis. Lined with palm trees, the blue-green oasis is surrounded by sand dunes on which you can have a wild, unforgettable sand buggy ride and sand-boarding adventure. After this adventure in the Peruvian desert, our private transportation will take us back to Lima where you will stay in a hotel for the night.

DAY 6: ARRIVAL TO CUSCO – LEISURE DAY

After breakfast, a Machu Travel Peru staff member will pick you up from the hotel and escort you to Lima International Airport where you will take a flight to Cusco. This flight will only take one hour and ten minutes. You will have the rest of the day to yourself to explore this beautiful city. Because of the altitude difference with Lima it is recommended to take plenty of rest and drink coca tea to acclimatise. 

DAY 7: SACRED VALLEY VIP TOUR

An amazing tour awaits us today. We will start our VIP excursion through the Sacred Valley of the Incas in Chinchero, where we will join a traditional weaving workshop. This village is mainly comprised of mud brick (adobe) houses and the locals still go about their businesses in traditional dress. The walls and roofs of this town are covered in beautiful floral and religious designs. We will be part of the most remarkable textile hand making shows and see great presentations made by locals. We continue with a guided tour to the non-traditional Moray circuit, a unique archaeological group that is one of a kind. The gigantic circular depressions in the ground surface, with their respective irrigation canals were believed to be an agriculture investigation centre of the Inca’s. Then we drive to the salt mines located 7 km from Moray, pass through a typical Spanish village called Maras. To the northwest of the town of Maras, we will find around 2000 small wells that local people still use today to provide themselves with salt. Then we go to the next stop, Urubamba, where we will enjoy a great lunch. Afterwards we continue to Ollantaytambo where you’ll have the rest of the night at your leisure and spend the night in a hotel.

DAY 8: INCA TRAIL – OLLANTAYTAMBO – CHACHABAMBA – WIÑAYHUAYNA – AGUAS CALIENTES

Early in the morning after breakfast we will transfer you from your hotel to the train station. We will take the train around 6.10 am make sure to be there at least 30 minutes in advance. The train ride will last for about 1.5 hours until we reach kilometre 104 where we start our trek. The guide will direct you on foot to the ruins of Chachabamba where the tour will begin. From there the journey will continue and we will pass a small and refreshing waterfall on the way to the ruins of Winay Wayna where the impressive platforms will demonstrate the skill of Andean engineering. After lunch we will continue the walk to Inti Punku (Puerta del Sol) from where we will have the first sight of Machu Picchu as a beautiful panoramic of the town on the hill. From here we will take the bus to Aguas Calientes where we will spend the night, have dinner and prepare for the following day up at Machu Picchu.

DAY 9: MACHU PICCHU – AGUAS CALIENTES – OLLANTAYTAMBO – CUSCO

At 5:30 am, after breakfast, we begin the trek to Machu Picchu where we will have a guided tour of the different sectors of the archaeological complex tour, including the Intihuatana or sundial, used by ancient Peruvians settlers. Afterwards you’ll have some free time to explore the sites for yourself. To climb the mountain of Huayna Picchu (optional), you can choose the 2nd group 10:00 a.m. The walk takes only about an hour, and it’s absolutely worth it, the view is breath taking and the experience will be unforgettable. At a given time we take the bus down from Machu Picchu to Aguas Calientes and board the train of 6.00 pm (it is also possible to reserve a train earlier) back to Ollantaytambo and then go by bus to Cusco.

For the end of your tour we have two different options: if you like trekking than there is the combination of 2 tours in the Cusco area and the famous Rainbow Mountain. The Rainbow Mountain tour is more challenging because of the altitude and the amount of walking. The second option is a 3 day tour to the jungle in Tambopata, with the option to extend to a fourth day if you skip the 6^th day of free time in Cusco.

OPTION 1:     

DAY 10: South circuit & Cusco City Tour

We will pick you up from your hotel at 8.30, heading south towards Puno. Approximately 45 min from the city of Cusco, we find the archaeological site Tipon. At Tipon we can appreciate the Inka terraces, construction of ruins on ancestral grounds and also creations of hydraulic irrigation canals from Inka time. After that we will continue to Lake Huaqarpay, a protected area at the top of a plateau in the Andean town of Pikillaqta, which is a pre-Inca citadel built by the Wari culture. The last point that we will visit is Andahuaylillas, a village with a small chapel known as the Rome of America, where we see paintings by renowned painters from Cusco, massive ceilings and pristine architecture. Finally, we return to Cusco where we arrive at 12.30. In the afternoon, our city tour of Cusco will begin, between at 13.10. First, we will visit the Cathedral of Cusco, located on the Plaza de Armas. Then our tour will continue to Qorikancha (The Temple of the Sun) and the Convent of Santo Domingo as well as to several of the city’s impressive archaeological ruins such as Sacsaywaman, Qenqo, Pukapukara, and Tambomachay. Our tour will finish at the main square. At this time, you might like to enjoy a tasty dinner in one of the many nearby restaurants. Alternatively, we can arrange to drop you off at your hotel. Just tell your guide what you are in the mood to do.

DAY 11: RAINBOW MOUNTAIN

We will pick you up from your hotel at 3:00am and head south through the town of Urco to the Cecacupe District (2 hours by bus). We continue along the road through small villages until we arrive to the community of Hanchipata - Quesuino (1 hour and 20 minutes by bus), the ideal starting point to walk the route. We follow the path to Pitumarca where we’ll have breakfast. We will see many mountains such as Ausangate, beautiful blue lagoons, and many other natural sites. The walk to Vinicunca (Rainbow Mountain) will last approximately 3 hours. At this peak we will savour the view for about an hour taking photos of the beautiful scenery before descending the path back to Pitumarca to have lunch and return to Quesuino to our bus. It will take 2.5 hours to drive back to Cusco.

OPTION 2:     

ITINERARY

DAY 10: MONTE AMAZONICO LODGE – TAMBOPATA

Early in the morning after breakfast we will transfer you to the airport of Cusco where to board a 1-hour-flight to Puerto Maldonado. When you arrive, you will be transferred to the office of Monte Amazoníco Lodge. You will meet a representative of our agency who will give a final briefing about your tour before you leave for your adventure. It is difficult to transport large luggage, so we suggest that you carry just what is needed for the trip. You will travel for about 2 hours by a 4-wheel-drive truck to a destination on the banks of the Tambopata River. From this here, you will take a boat to the lodge "Monte Amazoníco – Tambopata” where you will be welcomed with a lunch. In the afternoon, you will take an introductory walk into the rainforest where you will have the opportunity to see many animals in their natural habitat. You may see amphibians, mammals, reptiles, birds and wonderful insects. In the evening we’ll have dinner at the lodge and rest. 

DAY 11: MACAW CLAY LICK – CHUNCHO CLAY LICK

We wake up very early, at 4:30 am, to go on an incredible journey by boat to the world's largest macaw clay lick; El Chuncho. The journey takes about one and a half hours and on the way you will have the opportunity to see many animals such as capybaras (world's largest rodents), tapirs, and if you are lucky, the most beautiful South American feline; the jaguar. Many of our clients have witnessed and photographed encounters with these beautiful creatures. After arrival to the macaw clay licks, you will see hundreds of parrots of 11 different species come to eat clay adjacent to the river bank. From your chair, you will witness one of the most beautiful natural sights of birds in the world. There will be many parrots and the most colourful macaws of America: reds and greens, blues and yellows. They all come to gather to eat clay, a necessary part of their daily diet that helps them to eliminate toxins. On a good day of you will see hundreds of these wonderful animals flying over you. It is an experience of a lifetime. After our visit, we return to our lodge for breakfast and you’ll have some time to rest. Later in the morning, you will walk through the botanical garden in the company of our guide where you can learn about the fruits, trees and medicinal plants in the area. After lunch, we follow the same route back to Puerto Maldonado where you will be transferred to the airport or bus station.

DAY 12: END OF TOUR

Today our tour concludes. After breakfast we will transfer you back to the airport as you will be on your way home or your next travel destination. 

Day 1: Welcome to Your 8-Day Trip to Perú - Lima

Transfer from the airport to your hotel – Day at leisure

Upon your arrival in Lima, we’ll be waiting to drive you from the airport to your hotel. Enjoy your leisure time in Lima!

Lima is the capital of Peru; the jumping-off point for nearly all trips to the country. In the Colonial Era, it housed the viceroyalty, making it the most powerful city-hub of South America.

Today, its native and foreign heritage coexist; its well-preserved, amazing colonial churches and archeological sites (heading south to Caral Sacred City) exist in harmony with Peru’s beautiful beaches overlooking the Pacific Ocean and its delicious seafood.

Day 2: City Tour in Lima

Today we’ll pick you up at your hotel to explore Lima’s old town, a UNESCO World Heritage Site packed with fascinating historic buildings.

We’ll start with a scenic tour in the colonial downtown, which expands from the Main Square, where you can appreciate the grandiose architecture of the Spanish Empire, like that of the Cathedral, which was built up in the 16th century and finished after 80 years of hard work!

Our next stop will be to Casa Aliaga, a colonial mansion that was granted in 1535 by chief conquistador Francisco Pizarro to Jerónimo de Aliaga, one of his captains.

The last part of this historical day tour in Lima will be dedicated to the Larco Museum. Located in the traditional Pueblo Libre district, this meticulously maintained museum is housed in a beautifully restored viceroyal mansion. Its exhibits boast the most complete pre-Hispanic collection of gold and silver artifacts, as well as pieces of ancient erotic art.

Since we’re on the topic of love encounters, we’ll finish the day at the “Love Park” built in 1993 to celebrate love in all its forms. Nestled in the upscale coastal district of Miraflores, you can admire the cliffs from its colorful mosaic benches and take in the most beautiful view of the Pacific Ocean.

After enjoying this romantic place and meeting the famous sculpture which immortalized the tender kiss of two passionate lovers, we’ll drive you back to your hotel.

Day 3: Continue Your Perú Travel Itinerary - Cuzco

Transfer from your hotel to Lima airport
Today we’ll pick you up at your hotel and take you to Lima airport to continue your 8-day trip in Perú. Take an hour’s flight to Cuzco, maybe the most international destination of Peru, since (but not only because…) Machu Picchu, the world-renowned Inca fortress, is located only 4 hours away! 

Transfer from the airport to your hotel in Cuzco

Upon your arrival in Cuzco, we’ll drive you to your hotel. Enjoy the rest of the evening exploring the city at your own pace.

Day 4: Pisac and Ollantaytambo Fortress - Cuzco

Full-day tour to Pisac and Ollantaytambo Fortress
Continue exploring the Sacred Valley, and visit Pisac, famous for its craft market where you’ll find the most exquisite pieces of jewelry, ceramic, and textile craftwork. We’ll continue our trip by visiting the archeological site of Pisac to admire the stone terraces built by the Incas, and last, we’ll head to Ollantaytambo to visit its stunning fortress. Admire the remaining towers and walls that used to keep the citadel safe and the royal guests it used to host. You will sleep in Cuzco tonight, at the end of the day, a transfer will drop you at your hotel.

Day 5: Travel to Machu Picchu - Return to Cuzco

Tour to Machu Picchu, discover the legendary city!
Your tour to Machu Picchu begins with a 4-hour train ride to Aguas Calientes (literally, hot water). This town is also known as “Machu Picchu Pueblo” and is the last stop before entering the remains of the most important archaeological site in Peru. Machu Picchu means “Old Mountain” and is considered a World Heritage Site by UNESCO.

You’ll finally reach Machu Picchu (the ancient sanctuary and retreat for the Inca Pachacutec) after a short transfer by bus through the mountains.

Here, when we arrive at the exact destination that is the highlight of your trip, we will have special moments which will most certainly be cherished forever. Enjoy your first impressions of this jaw-dropping place, and breathe the magic in the air.

At the end of the tour, you will take a bus back to Aguas Calientes and the train back to Cuzco where a transfer will drive you to your hotel.

Day 6: City Tour in Cuzco

City tour in Cuzco and archeological sites

Today we’ll pick you up at your hotel to start your Cuzco tour with a visit to the Coricancha, also known as the “Temple of the Sun” the construction of which was ordered by Inca Pachacútec (1438-1471).

This is where the Sun (Inti, in Quechua) was worshipped during the reign of the Inca Empire, and during that time its walls were fully covered with gold sheets and its courtyards were adorned with golden corn and life-sized sculptures of llamas.

We’ll continue on to visit the Cathedral, the most important building in the Main Square (whose construction lasted almost a century) and one of the most splendid Spanish colonial churches in America.

Our next stop will be the Sacsayhuamán fortress, an emblematic Incan piece of work, which protected the Holy City. The Sacsayhuamán complex was constructed with giant megalithic blocks, the transportation and construction of which continue to be a mystery.

This day will end with a visit to some archeological main attractions. You’ll visit Qenqo, located just over 2 miles away from Cuzco City, an archaeological complex mainly used for religious purposes, and where it is believed that agricultural rituals took place.

You will finally visit the vestiges of Puka Pukara, located 4.5 miles away from Cuzco. Puka Pukara, which means “red fortress”, was an architectural complex presumably used for military purposes.

At the end of this full historical and natural immersion in Cuzco’s heritage, we’ll drive you back to your hotel.

Day 7 Hike to Humantay Lagoon - Cuzco

Hike to Humantay Lagoon

You will leave Cuzco early in the morning heading to Soraypampa. On the way, pass by the city of Limatambo, an important entrance to Cuzco during the Inca Empire, and see the archaeological site of Tarawasi. Make a quick breakfast stop in a local restaurant before reaching Soraypampa and begin a mountain hike to Humantay Lagoon. Enjoy the stunning scenery of this wonderful place and enjoy the relaxing atmosphere. Heading back to Cuzco, take lunch at a restaurant along the route.

Day 8 The End of Your 8-Day Travel Itinerary to Peru

This is the end of your 8-day travel itinerary to Peru…at least for now! At the appropriate time, we’ll pick you up from your hotel and head to the Cuzco airport to take your flight.

Keep on exploring other amazing destinations in Perú. Fire up your wanderlust with our featured trips to Argentina, Chile, Brazil, and Peru.