Lima – Paracas – Huacachina – Cusco – Sacred Valley – Machu Picchu – Rainbow Mountain Package – 7 days
General description
Exploring Lima, Paracas, Huacachina, Sacred Valley, Machu Picchu, Cusco City, and Rainbow Mountain – 7 Days
On this 7-day tour, you will explore the essential places of Lima, the City of Kings, the beautiful areas of Paracas and Huacachina, and Cusco, the marvelous Inca capital with its mysterious and magical buildings. You will experience magical sites such as Sacsayhuamán, Chinchero, Pisac ruins, and Ollantaytambo.
The tour continues through the Sacred Valley and then connects to the lost city of the Incas, Machu Picchu, which you will explore on a guided tour. Finally, to complete your trip in Cusco, you will hike to the popular Rainbow Mountain.
Detailed Itinerary
Day 01: International Arrival in Lima
Upon arrival in Lima, our representative will be waiting for you with a sign with your name clearly marked. You will be greeted and transferred to your hotel in our private transport. The journey from the airport to the hotel will take approximately 1 hour. Then, you will do the City Tour: Lima Colonial & Contemporary.
At the appropriate time, the guide will pick you up at your hotel and lead you on a guided tour called The Essential Lima. You will visit “The City of Kings,” including the outstanding architectural sites of the main square, where the Government Palace, City Hall, the Cathedral, and the Archbishop’s Palace are located.
The tour will continue with a visit to the San Francisco Convent, an architectonic jewel dating back to the 16th century. On our way to the modern area of the city, we will cross the exclusive district of San Isidro, the new financial center of the city. Our tour will finish in Miraflores, where you will visit the “Parque del Amor” (Love Park), an excellent place to take in the beautiful scenery and fresh air of the sea. At the end of the tour, we will drive back to your hotel.
• Hotel in Lima: Tierra Viva Hotel or similar category
Day 02: Lima city Paracas National reserve Huacachina (shared service)
We will pick you up from your hotel in Lima at 6:00 am, and we will drive to Paracas in private transportation. We will arrive at the Chaco Wharf, where we will take a boat to visit the Paracas National Reserve. During the excursion, we will stop to see the amazing Candelabra figure drawn on the hillside of Paracas. Nobody knows for sure who created this figure; some theories suggest that pirates may have drawn it as an orientation point. Our guide will share more information about this mystery.
Afterwards, we will reach the Ballestas Islands, where you will enjoy the local sea fauna. We will go around the islands, passing through big caves and natural rock formations that are home to pelicans, Humboldt penguins, seals, and dolphins.
Then, you will continue the tour in our private transportation, which will take you to the Huacachina Lagoon, a natural oasis in the middle of the desert surrounded by beautiful palm trees. Here, you can enjoy the landscape, go sandboarding, or ride a dune buggy through the desert. At the end of the tour, you will return to Lima City.
• Meals provided: Breakfast
• Hotel in Lima: Tierra Viva Hotel or Similar Category
Day 03: Arrival to Cusco
We will pick you up at the Cusco airport and take you to your hotel. You will have some time to settle in, and then we will return at 1:00 pm to start the Cusco City Tour.
We will begin the tour at the most important temple of the Inca Empire, the Sun Temple (Qoricancha). Here, you can observe detailed and intact architecture, and within the temple, you will see smaller temples dedicated to the moon, rainbow, stars, lightning, and thunder. Today, the Santo Domingo Church stands on top of the temple.
From there, we will go to an important religious site called Sacsayhuamán, which features immense stones. Although the site was religious, the Spanish considered it a military fortress because of its location and the way it was built.
Next, we will visit Qenqo, a site built in a natural rock formation representing the Andean constellations and the concept of the three worlds, each symbolized by sacred animals: the condor, puma, and snake.
After that, we will travel to Puka Pukara, which was a shelter for travelers coming to Cusco from the Amazon. It was also a military center used to protect the nearby temple located at Tambomachay.
Our last stop is Tambomachay, known as the Temple of Water, where the Incas practiced religious traditions tied to water to rejuvenate the land. This tradition is famously known as the Fountain of Eternal Youth.
From there, we will return to the city and drop you off at your hotel at around 6:00 pm.
Meals provided: None
Hotel in Cusco: Siete Ventanas or similar category
Day 04: Sacred Valley Tour to Aguas Calientes
We will pick you up at your hotel at 8:00 am for the Sacred Valley tour. Our first stop is one of the most important archaeological sites in the region, Pisaq, where you will see Inca burial grounds, ancient irrigation systems, and astronomical centers. We will visit the ruins and terraces for about an hour.
After exploring the ruins, we will descend to the town of Pisaq. Here, we will first stop at a local silver factory to see a demonstration of how they process and create beautiful jewelry. Next, we will walk through the cobblestone streets to the plaza, where locals sell produce and souvenirs. You will have some free time to browse and shop.
After finishing our visit in Pisaq, we will drive to the town of Urubamba for a buffet lunch featuring both delicious Peruvian and Western cuisine. From there, we will head to Ollantaytambo, where we will visit the ruins built on terraces with massive stones at the top. This site was an important religious and astronomical center and was also used as a military fortress during one of the largest battles the Incas fought against the Spanish.
After a short evening snack in Ollantaytambo, we will take the train to Aguas Calientes. Upon arrival, we will transfer you to your hotel around 9:00 pm, giving you the rest of the night to relax or explore the town.
Hotel in Aguas Calientes: Terrazas del Inca or similar category
Day 05: Machu Picchu
After an early breakfast at your hotel, you will meet your guide and take a 25-minute bus ride up to Machu Picchu. You will enjoy a 3-hour guided tour, exploring important sites including temples, plazas, terraces, and canals. Please note that some temples are open only at specific times.
After the tour, you will take the bus back down to Aguas Calientes, and in the afternoon, return by train to Ollantaytambo and then by bus to Cusco, where you will be dropped off at your hotel.
Hotel in Cusco: Siete Ventanas or similar category
Day 06: Rainbow Mountain
We will pick you up from your hotel in Cusco at around 4:30 am and drive approximately 3 hours south of Cusco. Along the way, we will stop at a local restaurant for breakfast, then continue along a mountain road passing through traditional villages and fertile valleys. On clear days, you will have spectacular views of Ausangate Mountain, the tallest peak in the Cusco Province at 6,384 meters (20,945 feet).
The hike begins at 4,350 meters (14,271 feet) and takes about 1.5 hours to reach the top of Rainbow Mountain. Although the trail is short and gradual, we will hike slowly due to the altitude, enjoying the scenery and spotting herds of llamas and alpacas along the way.
At the summit, at 4,980 meters (16,338 feet), you will witness the incredible red, orange, yellow, green, and purple colors of the mountain, caused by the minerals in the soil. You will have the option to hike an additional 50 meters (164 feet) for perfect photo opportunities.
After enjoying the views, we will begin the descent, reaching our vehicle in about 1 hour. On the way back, we will stop for a buffet lunch at a local restaurant. We will return to Cusco and drop you off at your hotel at approximately 4:00 pm.
Day 07: Departure
We will pick you up from your hotel in Cusco and take you to the airport for your departure flight.
Included
- Transfer from Lima airport to the hotel and city tour in Lima, including entrance tickets (food not included).
- Tour from Lima to Paracas and Huacachina in a private vehicle. The Ballestas Islands tour will be in a shared group, including ATV rides, sandboarding, and entrance tickets (food not included).
- Food: Lunch included in the Sacred Valley and Rainbow Mountain (other meals not included).
- Guide: Local guide in Lima; guides will accompany you in Cusco, the Sacred Valley, and Machu Picchu. All guides are licensed and speak fluent English and Spanish.
- Transportation: Private transportation to and from the airport and tour destinations. Round-trip train tickets on the Expedition service from Ollantaytambo to Aguas Calientes and back to Cusco. Round-trip bus tickets to Machu Picchu and back to Aguas Calientes are included.
- Entrance Fees: Entrance to Machu Picchu, full tourist passes to all major archaeological and historic sites in Cusco, the Sacred Valley, and Rainbow Mountain.
- Accommodations: 2 nights in Lima, 1 night in Aguas Calientes (Waynapata B&B), 3 nights in Cusco. All hotels subject to availability.
Not Included
- Breakfast (provided by your hotels).
- Any other meals not specified above.
- Hotel upgrades (optional; see options separately).
Recommendations
- Original passport
- Backpack to carry your things
- Good sneakers or light hiking boots
- Bathing suit (if you would like to enjoy the hot springs in Aguas Calientes)
- Camera
- Rain gear (especially if traveling in the wet season, from October to March)
- Comfortable clothes
- Bug repellent
- Money to buy souvenirs
- Sunscreen and sunglasses
- Tip for your guide (optional)
Prices
Price
- 2 persons: 1350 USD per person
- 3 persons: 1320 USD per person
- 4 persons: 1290 USD per person
- 5 persons: 1260 USD per person
Additional Options
- Huayna Picchu: If you are interested in climbing Huayna Picchu, the mountain overlooking Machu Picchu, there is an additional fee of $65 USD per person for us to buy your entrance ticket. Spaces are limited, so please let us know when booking if you would like to hike Huayna Picchu, and we will reserve it for you.
- Hotel Upgrade: Included in this package are accommodations in comfortable B&B Hotels in Cusco and Aguas Calientes. However, if you would like to upgrade to 3, 4, or 5 star hotels, we offer the following prices:
- 3 Stars: $140 USD total for double rooms and $120 USD total for single rooms (Rumi Punku in Cusco and Tierra Viva Machu Picchu in Aguas Calientes)
- 4 Stars: $500 USD total for double rooms and $400 USD total for single rooms (Costa del Sol in Cusco and Casa del Sol in Aguas Calientes)
- 5 Stars: $970 USD total for double rooms and $870 USD total for single rooms (Palacio del Inka in Cusco and Inkaterra Machu Picchu Pueblo in Aguas Calientes)
Please note that all hotels and room types are subject to availability, and we will confirm them once your reservation is made. Prices may change during holidays or peak season. We work with many hotels in Cusco and Aguas Calientes, so if there is a specific hotel not listed that you prefer, let us know and we can provide a price, or you can reserve directly.
-
Vistadome Train: Our price includes train tickets on the Expedition train. If you would like to upgrade your return train from Aguas Calientes to Cusco to the Vistadome train, the price is an additional $40 USD per person. Please note that this option is subject to the train schedule.
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
7 Days
Destination
Cusco, Lima, Ica
Type of activity
Packages in Peru
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