Day 1: Welcome to Lima

Reception at Lima’s Jorge Chávez International Airport and transfer to your hotel in the cosmopolitan district of Miraflores or Barranco, located along the majestic Pacific Ocean at an altitude of 80 meters above sea level. Lima, founded in 1535 as the “City of Kings,” represents a fascinating mosaic where colonial past and pre-Columbian traditions intertwine with 21st-century modernity. In the evening, if your arrival schedule allows, enjoy a stroll along the romantic Malecón, with its sculptural gardens and spectacular cliffs offering unique panoramic views of the Lima coastline as the sun sinks into the horizon.

Day 2: Lima to Cusco

After breakfast, transfer to the airport for your flight to the legendary city of Cusco. During the 1 hour and 15-minute journey, you’ll admire the impressive Andean landscape from above. Upon arrival in Cusco, located at 3,400 meters above sea level, our team will transfer you to your hotel located in the heart of the historic center. Spend this afternoon gradually acclimating to the altitude. To mitigate possible discomfort, we recommend constant hydration, slow movements, and enjoying coca leaf tea, an ancestral Andean remedy that facilitates adaptation to the mountainous environment. From your hotel window, contemplate the extraordinary architectural fusion that characterizes this city, where Inca foundations support elegant colonial buildings, in a living testimony of the cultural overlap that defines Peru.

Day 3: Sacred Valley of the Incas

After breakfast, begin a journey through the extraordinary Sacred Valley, located at a lower altitude (2,870 meters) than Cusco, where the benign climate and fertile lands allowed the development of the most important agricultural center of the Inca Empire. Your first stop will be the archaeological complex of Pisac, composed of impressive agricultural terraces, astronomical temples, and a necropolis in the heights. Take time to explore the colorful artisan market of the town, where local craftsmen offer textiles, ceramics, and silver jewelry crafted with ancestral techniques. Enjoy a buffet lunch featuring regional gastronomic specialties before continuing to Ollantaytambo, the only Inca city that continues to be inhabited since the 13th century. Its cobblestone streets, still-functioning water channels, and the imposing religious-military complex that dominates the village from the mountain constitute an extraordinary example of pre-Columbian urban planning. Overnight in a Sacred Valley hotel, allowing you to enjoy the tranquility and special energy that characterizes this privileged environment.

Day 4: Discovering Maras, Moray and Train to Aguas Calientes

The morning will be dedicated to exploring two fascinating and lesser-known archaeological sites in the Sacred Valley. First, visit Moray, an extraordinary Inca agricultural laboratory composed of concentric circular terraces that create different microclimates at each level, which allowed for the acclimatization and experimentation with various crops at different altitudes. A testimony to the advanced agricultural and scientific knowledge of this civilization. Continue to the Maras Salt Mines, an impressive complex of more than 3,000 salt pools stepped on the slope of a mountain, exploited from pre-Inca times to the present. The chromatic contrast between the crystalline white of the salt and the ochre of the surrounding mountains creates a landscape of extraordinary beauty. In the afternoon, transfer to the Ollantaytambo station to board the train to Aguas Calientes (2,040 meters). The approximately 1.5-hour journey winds alongside the rushing Urubamba River, offering privileged views of the ecosystem change between the Andean highlands and the high jungle edge. Arrival and accommodation in Aguas Calientes, where you can enjoy the special atmosphere of this town nestled between mountains and cloud forests.

Day 5: Machu Picchu / Return to Cusco

At dawn, board one of the first buses that ascend the zigzagging road to the entrance of the Machu Picchu citadel, located at 2,430 meters above sea level. Rediscovered for the modern world in 1911 by American explorer Hiram Bingham, this masterpiece of Inca engineering and spirituality remains as testimony to the extraordinary development achieved by this Andean civilization. Your visit will follow the assigned circuit according to the current regulations of Peru’s Ministry of Culture, allowing you to discover emblematic sectors such as the Temple of the Sun, the enigmatic Intihuatana (solar stone), the Temple of the Three Windows, and the different residential and agricultural neighborhoods, all explained in detail by your specialized guide. In the afternoon, return to Aguas Calientes to take the train back to Ollantaytambo, where private transportation will be waiting to take you back to Cusco, thus completing a day of profound historical and spiritual significance.

Day 6: Cusco City Tour (afternoon)

Free morning to rest or explore on your own the charming corners of the imperial city. In the afternoon, embark on a fascinating tour that will reveal the historical treasures of the ancient capital of Tawantinsuyo. Your exploration begins in the Plaza de Armas, the epicenter of Cusco life since pre-Columbian times. Here stands the majestic Cathedral, built on the palace of Inca Viracocha between 1560 and 1654, which houses invaluable artistic collections, including the famous “Last Supper” where a cuy (guinea pig) occupies the central place of the banquet. Continue to the Qoricancha, the main Inca ceremonial center dedicated to the veneration of the sun, upon whose foundations the Convent of Santo Domingo was built. Its perfect stone walls, which were formerly covered with gold, evidence the masterful Inca construction technique. Continue exploring the impressive archaeological complexes surrounding the city: the fortress of Sacsayhuamán with its imposing megalithic walls; the ceremonial amphitheater of Qenqo; the channels and fountains of Tambomachay; and the military checkpoint of Puka Pukara, strategically located on the Inca Trail.

Day 7: Humantay Lake

After breakfast, embark on a journey to another natural jewel of the Andean landscape. The approximately 3-hour journey will take you through the Limatambo Valley and the small village of Mollepata until you reach the trailhead at Soraypampa (3,900 meters). From here, begin a moderately demanding ascent hike (approximately 1.5 hours) that will reward you with the vision of the spectacular Humantay Lake, a turquoise mirror of water that rests at the foot of the imposing Apu (sacred mountain) of the same name, whose snowy peak is majestically reflected in its crystalline waters. This place, considered sacred in the Andean worldview, offers a deep connection with nature and ancestral beliefs. Your guide will perform a brief thanksgiving ceremony to Pachamama (Mother Earth), allowing you to participate in this millenary ritual that honors natural forces. Return to Cusco in the afternoon, where you will have free time to rest and recover energy.

Day 8: Rainbow Mountain (Vinicunca)

Prepare for the grand finale of your adventure with a very early departure (4:00 am) to one of the most impressive and photogenic landscapes of the Peruvian Andes. The approximately 3-hour vehicle journey will take you through picturesque Andean villages to the starting point of the trail to the Mountain of Seven Colors, also known as Vinicunca or Rainbow Mountain, located at 5,200 meters above sea level. The ascending hike (approximately 1.5 hours) passes through dreamlike landscapes where you’ll appreciate the traditional life of alpaca shepherds and Quechua communities whose practices have remained unchanged for centuries. Upon reaching the summit, be amazed by the unique geological spectacle in the world: multicolored strips of minerals that draw a gigantic natural rainbow on the mountain massif, creating a chromatic phenomenon that defies imagination. After enjoying this extraordinary landscape and capturing memorable photographs, begin the descent to return to Cusco in the afternoon.

Day 9: Transfer to the Airport

After a final breakfast at your hotel, enjoy free time according to your flight schedule. A representative will assist you with the transfer to Alejandro Velasco Astete International Airport for your return flight to Lima or your next destination. As you leave this ancestral land, take with you not only handicrafts and photographs but also the transformative energy that for centuries has captivated travelers from around the world, turning them into ambassadors of Peru’s cultural and natural wealth.

INCLUDES:

ACCOMMODATION

• 1 night hotel in Lima (selected category)
• 6 nights hotel in Cusco (selected category)
• 1 night hotel in Sacred Valley (selected category)
• 1 night hotel in Aguas Calientes (selected category)

MEALS

• 9 breakfasts at hotels
• 1 buffet lunch in the Sacred Valley
• Box lunch during the Rainbow Mountain excursion
• Box lunch during the Humantay Lake excursion

TRANSPORTATION

• All airport-hotel-airport transfers
• Private transportation during indicated tours
• Transportation for Rainbow Mountain and Humantay Lake excursions
• Round-trip train ticket to Machu Picchu (service according to chosen category)
• Round-trip bus ticket to and from the Machu Picchu citadel

TOURS AND ENTRANCES

• Cusco city tour (afternoon) with professional guide
• Rainbow Mountain (Vinicunca) excursion with specialized guide
• Humantay Lake excursion with specialized guide
• Full-day Sacred Valley tour with professional guide
• Maras and Moray visit with professional guide
• Entrance tickets to archaeological sites in the Sacred Valley (Pisaq and Ollantaytambo)
• Entrance tickets to Maras and Moray
• Guided visit to Machu Picchu according to available circuit
• Machu Picchu entrance ticket
• Partial Cusco tourist ticket (includes entrance to Sacsayhuamán, Qenqo, Tambomachay, and Puka Pukara)
• Qoricancha entrance ticket
• Rainbow Mountain entrance ticket
• Humantay Lake entrance ticket

SERVICES

• Official bilingual tour guides (Spanish and English)
• Permanent assistance throughout the tour
• Complimentary water bottle during tours
• First aid kit and oxygen during high-altitude excursions
• Trekking poles for the hikes (upon request)

DOES NOT INCLUDE:

AIR TRANSPORTATION

• International flights to/from Peru
• Domestic flights Lima-Cusco-Lima

MEALS

• Lunches (except those indicated)
• Dinners throughout the program
• Beverages during included meals

PERSONAL EXPENSES

• Tips for guides, drivers, and hotel staff
• Purchases and souvenirs
• Laundry services
• Phone calls
• Optional excursions not mentioned in the program
• Support horses in Rainbow Mountain or Humantay Lake (available for local hire)

OTHER

• Travel insurance (highly recommended)
• Emergency evacuation insurance for high-altitude excursions
• Expenses derived from problems beyond our organization (strikes, delays, cancellations, weather conditions, natural disasters, etc.)
• Airport taxes or departure fees
• Excess baggage charges

IMPORTANT:

• It is recommended to arrive at least 3 hours in advance for international flights and 2 hours for domestic flights
• A copy of a valid passport is required for reservation
• The Rainbow Mountain and Humantay Lake excursions are subject to weather conditions
• A minimum of 2-3 days of prior acclimatization is recommended for high-altitude excursions
• Please consult us about cancellation and modification policies