9 Days – Lima – Paracas – Huacachina – Cusco – Sacred Valley – Short Inca Trail to Machu Picchu
General description
On the 9-day tour, you will explore the essential places of Lima, the City of Kings, the beautiful sites of Paracas and Huacachina, and Cusco, the marvelous Inca capital with its mysterious and magical buildings. You will have the opportunity to experience magical places such as Sacsayhuamán, Chinchero, Moray ruins, the Salt Mines, Pisac ruins, and Ollantaytambo in the Sacred Valley. Then, enjoy a 2-day hike connecting to the lost city of the Incas, Machu Picchu, which you will explore on a guided tour. Finally, to conclude your trip in Cusco, you will hike to the famous Rainbow Mountain.
Detailed Itinerary
Day 01: International Arrival in Lima
Upon arrival in Lima, our representative will be waiting for you with a sign clearly displaying your name. You will be greeted and transferred to your hotel in private transportation. The journey from the airport to the hotel will take approximately 1 hour. You will then have free time to rest and acclimate.
Lima Hotel: Tierra Viva Hotel or similar category
Meals provided: None
Day 02: Lima city tour- Colonial & Contemporary
At the appropriate time, the guide will pick you up at your hotel for a guided tour called The Essential Lima. You will visit “The City of Kings,” including the outstanding architectural sites of the main square, such as the Government Palace, City Hall, the Cathedral, the Archbishop’s Palace, and more.
The tour will continue with a visit to the San Francisco Convent, an architectural jewel dating back to the 16th century. On the way to the modern area of the city, we will pass through the exclusive district of San Isidro, the new financial center of Lima. The tour will conclude in Miraflores, where you will visit the Parque del Amor (Love Park), an excellent spot to enjoy the beautiful scenery and the fresh sea breeze. At the end of the tour, you will be driven back to your hotel.
Meals provided: Breakfast
Hotel in Lima: Tierra Viva Hotel or similar category
Day 03: Lima city – Paracas National reserve – Huacachina (shared service)
We will pick you up from your hotel in Lima at 6:00 am and drive to Paracas in private transportation. Upon arrival at the Chaco Wharf, we will take a boat to explore the Paracas National Reserve. During the excursion, we will stop to see the amazing Candelabra figure, a mysterious geoglyph on the hillside of Paracas whose origins are unknown. Some theories suggest it may have been drawn by pirates as an orientation point. Our guide will provide you with detailed information about this figure.
Next, we will visit the Ballestas Islands, where you will enjoy observing the local sea fauna. We will circle the islands, passing through large caves and natural rock formations that serve as homes for pelicans, Humboldt penguins, sea lions, and dolphins.
After the boat excursion, we will continue by private transportation to the Huacachina Lagoon, a natural oasis in the middle of the desert, surrounded by beautiful palm trees. Here, you can enjoy the stunning landscape, try sandboarding, and ride a dune buggy across the desert.
At the end of the tour, we will return to Lima.
Meals provided: Breakfast
Hotel in Lima: Tierra Viva Hotel or similar category
Day 04: Arrival to Cusco.
We will pick you up at Cusco Airport and transfer you to your hotel. You will have some time to settle in, and then we will return at 1:00 pm to begin the Cusco City Tour.
The tour will start at the most important temple of the Inca Empire, the Sun Temple (Qoricancha). Here, you can admire detailed and well-preserved Inca architecture. Within the temple, you will find smaller temples dedicated to the Moon, Rainbow, Stars, Lightning, and Thunder, among others. Today, the Santo Domingo Church stands on top of the original temple.
Next, we will visit Sacsayhuamán, an impressive site featuring massive stones. Although it was originally a religious site, the Spanish considered it a military fortress due to its strategic location and construction style.
From there, we will continue to Qenqo, a site built within a natural rock formation representing the Andean constellations and the concept of the Three Worlds. Each world is associated with sacred animals: the condor, puma, and snake.
After Qenqo, we will travel to Puka Pukara, which served as a shelter for travelers coming to Cusco from the Amazon. It was also a military center protecting the nearby Tambomachay Temple.
Our final stop is Tambomachay, also known as the Temple of Water, where the Incas performed religious rituals related to water to rejuvenate the land. This tradition is associated with the “Fountain of Eternal Youth.”
The tour will conclude with a transfer back to your hotel in Cusco at approximately 6:00 pm.
Hotel in Cusco: Tierra Viva or similar category
Day 05: Sacred Valley Tour.
We will pick you up from your hotel in Cusco at 7:30 am. In our private vehicle, we will head to one of the most important archaeological sites in the region, Pisac, to see Inca burial grounds, ancient irrigation systems, and astronomical centers. We will explore the ruins and terraces for about an hour. Afterwards, we will descend to the town of Pisac, located at the bottom of the valley.
In Pisac, we will first visit a local silver factory and watch a demonstration of how artisans process and craft beautiful jewelry. Then, we will walk through the cobblestone streets to the main plaza, where locals sell fresh produce and souvenirs. You will have some free time to browse and shop here.
After finishing our visit in Pisac, we will drive to the town of Urubamba for a buffet lunch featuring both Peruvian and Western cuisine. From there, we will continue to Ollantaytambo, where we will explore the ruins built on terraces with massive stones at the top. This site served as an important religious and astronomical center and was also used as a military fortress in one of the Incas’ major battles against the Spanish.
On our way back to Cusco, we will stop at the village of Chinchero, where you can see the remaining Inca buildings and terraces that were important for agricultural administration. We will then return to Cusco and drop you off at your hotel around 6:30 pm.
Meals provided: Breakfast
Hotel in Cusco: Tierra Viva or similar category
Day 06: Cusco – Chachabamba – Wiñaywayna – Machu Picchu – Aguas Calientes
We will pick you up from your Cusco hotel early in the morning (around 4:00 am) and drive to the train station in Ollantaytambo to take the train to Kilometer 104 (Km 104), which takes approximately three hours. Km 104 is an unscheduled train stop, giving you the unique feeling that the train is stopping just for you—an exciting start to an unforgettable adventure!
At Km 104, we will disembark and pass through the Inca Trail checkpoint to visit our first archaeological site, Chachabamba (2,170 m / 7,170 ft). These ruins served as one of the last shelters used by the Incas before reaching Machu Picchu. The site was also a religious and administrative center, featuring several buildings.
Next, we will gradually ascend for about three hours, climbing Inca stone steps while our guide points out the local flora and fauna along the trail. We will pass a tall waterfall before arriving at the archaeological site of Wiñaywayna (2,650 m / 8,700 ft), named after an orchid and meaning “Forever Young” in Quechua.
At Wiñaywayna, we will climb to the top of the ruins and enjoy lunch with an incredible view of the site and the Sacred Valley. This large site, perched on a mountainside, features experimental terraces that the Incas used to grow different crops. We will visit an important temple with seven windows dedicated to the rainbow and observe the impressive water channels that still function today.
After exploring Wiñaywayna, we will continue our hike for about 1.5 hours on a relatively flat part of the Inca Trail, with small ascents and descents along the way. Around 2:00 pm, we will reach the Sun Gate (Intipunku, 2,720 m / 8,920 ft), where we will enjoy our first breathtaking view of Machu Picchu. From here, we will descend to the ruins and take a bus down to Aguas Calientes, where you will check in to your hotel.
If time allows before dinner, you can relax in the natural hot springs in town—an unbeatable way to spend the late afternoon.
Meals: Box Lunch / Dinner
Accommodation: Hotel in Aguas Calientes – Terrazas del Inca or similar
Maximum altitude: 2,720 m / 8,920 ft
Minimum altitude: 2,040 m / 6,691 ft
Distance to walk: 12 km / 6.5 miles
Approximate walking time: 6 – 7 hours
Day 07: Machu Picchu – Cusco.
After an early breakfast, we will board the bus to Machu Picchu, the most mysterious city of the Incas. During the visit, our professional guide will share the fascinating history of this inspirational site. We will explore key landmarks, including the Sun Temple, Royal Palace, Main Temple, Temple of the Three Windows, and the Intihuatana sundial, ensuring an unforgettable experience. After the guided tour, you will have some free time to explore the site on your own.
If you have booked the Wayna Picchu hike, you will need to coordinate with our guide regarding your scheduled time for this additional trek. For those not hiking Wayna Picchu or Machu Picchu Mountain, there are optional activities available to enjoy on your own.
In the afternoon, we will return to Aguas Calientes to catch the train back to Ollantaytambo. Upon arrival at the train station, you will be transferred by car back to your hotel in Cusco.
Meals: Breakfast
Lowest Elevation: 2,040 m / 6,691 ft
Highest Elevation: 2,440 m / 8,052 ft
Day 08: Rainbow Mountain.
We will pick you up from your hotel in Cusco at approximately 4:00 am and drive about three hours south of Cusco. We will follow the highway and stop at a local restaurant for breakfast. Afterward, we will continue along a mountain road that passes through traditional villages and fertile valleys. On a clear day, you will be able to see the nearby snow-capped Ausangate Mountain, the tallest mountain in the Cusco region, standing at 6,384 meters (20,945 feet).
Hotel in Cusco: Tierra Viva Hotel or similar category
Meals included: Breakfast and Lunch
Day 09: Cusco – flight back to Lima.
At the scheduled time, we will pick you up from the hotel and transport you to the airport in Cusco for your flight back to Lima.
Included
- Pick up from Lima airport and transfer to the selected hotel.
- Lima Sightseeing Tour + entrance fees.
- Private round-trip transportation from Lima to Paracas and Huacachina.
- Ballestas Islands boat trip: 2-hour guided tour (shared group).
- Paracas National Reserve tour.
- Local guide for Huacachina tour.
- Entrance fee to the sand dunes.
- Transfer from the hotel to Lima airport.
- Pick up from Cusco airport and transfer to your selected hotel in Cusco.
- Guided tour to Chinchero.
- Guided tour to Pisac ruins and Pisac Market.
- Lunch in Urubamba.
- Guided tour to Ollantaytambo site and town.
- Expedition class train ticket to km 104 and back to Ollantaytambo.
- Entrance fee to Machu Picchu.
- Bus ticket down to Aguas Calientes and next day up to Machu Picchu and back down to Aguas Calientes.
- Expert guide for Machu Picchu tour.
- Transfer from the train station to Cusco hotel (Ollantaytambo – Cusco).
- Guided tour to Sacsayhuamán and Cusco city + entrance fee.
- Rainbow Mountain day trek (transport, entry fee, guide, breakfast, and lunch).
- Hotel nights in Lima, Cusco, and Aguas Calientes (Standard class 3*** hotels).
- Transfer from your hotel to Cusco airport.
Not Included
- International airfares.
- Domestic flights (Lima – Cusco – Lima).
- Excess baggage charges and airport departure taxes.
- Entrance fee to Huayna Picchu mountain.
- Meals not described in the itinerary.
- Cold drinks & sodas.
- Tips for guides, drivers, and transfers.
- Entrance fee to the hot springs in Aguas Calientes.
Optional Upgrades:
- Upgrade to Vistadome class train: 80 USD per person round trip.
- Huayna Picchu ticket: 70 USD per person (check availability).
Recommendations
- Walking boots
- Waterproof jacket, pants, or rain poncho
- Warm jacket
- Hat and gloves
- T-shirts
- Light clothing for sunny days
- Comfortable trousers
- Sun hat
- Sunscreen
- Insect repellent
- Water bottle
- Personal toiletries
Hotel Category Matrimonial room Standard Class Hotel 3***
Prices
Price:
- 2 persons 1600 USD per person
- 3 persons 1570 USD per person
- 4 persons 1540 USD per person
- 5 persons 1510 USD per person
Extra information:
- Vistadome Train: This upgrade is only available for your return train from Aguas Calientes to Cusco, and not for the train from Ollantaytambo to Aguas Calientes.
- Customized Itinerary: Although this is our suggested itinerary for this 5-Day Package, we can personalize it to better fit your preferences. For example, let us know if you will be spending more or less than 5 days in Cusco, if there are additional tours you are interested in, or any other services we can help organize for you.
Starting from
Duration
9 Days
Destination
Cusco, Lima
Type of activity
Packages in Peru
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