8-Nights Ultimate Peru: Lima, Sacred Valley, Machu Picchu, Cuzco, Lake Titicaca — CALL
Avanti Destinations
OFFER ID 1243747
Ultimate Peru
Fascinating Peru - rich in culture, history, and natural beauty - is a country that has so much to offer. Consider this program a good introduction to Peru. It covers Lima, the Sacred Valley, Machu Picchu, Cuzco, and Lake Titicaca - all a must-see for any first-time visitor. If you have more time, we highly recommend extending your stay - add an extension to a jungle lodge; see the Nazca Lines; there is much more to see in this country of many contrasts.
Includes:
- All Ground Transfers with Vistadome Train to Machu Picchu and Bus Ticket to Puno
- 2 Nights Lima
- City Tour
- 1 Night Sacred Valley
- Pisac Market and Ollantaytambo Ruins Tour with Lunch
- 1 Night Machu Picchu with Dinner
- 2 Entrances to Machu Picchu and 1 Guided Tour with Lunch
- 2 Nights Cuzco
- City and Ruins Tour
- 2 Nights Puno
- Uros and Taquile Islands Tour
- Daily Breakfast
8 nights | Call for pricing
Itinerary Details
Avanti Destinations: Ultimate Peru
Day 1 Lima
Begin your journey in Lima, Peru's coastal capital city founded by the Spaniard Pizarro in 1535. Lima, with its historic buildings and museums, offers visitors an introduction to the colonial history of Peru. Airport greeting and transfer to Miraflores (suburb of Lima) to your selected hotel. Overnight.
Centrally Located Hotel In Lima, ()
Day 2 Lima
After breakfast, you will be picked up for a half-day city tour of Lima. The three-hour sightseeing tour offers the best of modern and colonial Lima. It includes visits to the Government Palace, The Plaza Mayor, City Hall, and the 17th century San Francisco Monastery, followed by a drive through the modern suburb of San Isidro, with a stop at the pre-Inca pyramid of Huaca Huallamarca. Afternoon at leisure to explore, or arrange an optional tour. Overnight.
Centrally Located Hotel In Lima, (B)
Day 3 Lima, Sacred Valley
Transfer to the airport for an early morning flight to the ancient imperial capital of Cuzco. Situated at an altitude of 11,200 ft., Cuzco reflects both the Incan and Spanish cultures. Airport greeting and transfer by minivan to your hotel in the Sacred Valley. Experience an unforgettable view as you cross over the mountain from Cuzco and drop down into the Sacred Valley of the Incas. The road follows the meandering Urubamba River and passes through rich agricultural lands and picturesque villages. En route you will have a private excursion to Pisac Market and the Incan ruins of Ollantaytambo, including lunch. Note: It is recommended that you only bring an overnight bag with you to Machu Picchu. Arrangements will be made in the Sacred Valley to safely store additional luggage.
Centrally Located Hotel In Sacred Valley, (B,L)
Day 4 Machu Picchu
After breakfast, transfer to the Ollantaytambo Train Station and board the train to the village of Aguas Calientes (approximately 90 minutes), in the valley below Machu Picchu. There you will board a bus that will take you up the switchback road (approximately 20 minutes) to the legendary Lost City of the Incas. Enjoy a guided tour of the Ruins, followed by lunch at the Sanctuary Lodge (adjacent to the site). The rest of afternoon can be spent at leisure to explore the ruins, before returning by bus to Aguas Calientes (unless you are staying at the Sanctuary Lodge). Overnight.
Centrally Located Hotel In Aguas Calientes, (B)
Day 5 Machu Picchu
Morning at leisure to return to Machu Picchu for a second visit. The bus departs from Puente Ruinas station every 10 minutes, beginning at 5:30 am. Mid-afternoon (3:30-5:00 pm depending upon your train confirmation time) return to Ollantaytambo Train Station. Continue to Cuzco by minivan, arriving in the early evening. Transfer to your selected hotel. Overnight.
Centrally Located Hotel In Cuzco, (B)
Day 6 Cuzco
Morning at leisure. Afternoon city tour of Cuzco includes a visit to the Koricancha Temple and the Cathedral, followed by a visit to the nearby fortress of Sacsayhuaman, Kenko, Puca-Pucara and the Tambomachay ruins. After the tour, explore the city on your own. Cuzco is a city of plazas and colonial buildings with red tile roofs. Walk the City's ancient cobblestone streets, lined with the massive stone walls that are an Incan legacy. Return to your hotel. Overnight.
Centrally Located Hotel In Cuzco, (B)
Day 7 Puno
Travel from Cuzco to Puno by train, motorcoach or airplane. Transfer to your selected hotel. Overnight. By train: On Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday (April-October), OR Monday, Wednesday, Saturday (November-March), board an Orient-Express train at 8:00 am in Cuzco for a 10-hour train ride across the wind-swept altiplano to the town of Puno. By air: After a morning of leisure in Cuzco, board a DAILY LAN Peru flight at 3:05 pm (subject to change) for a 50-minute flight to Juliaca, the closest airport to Puno. By motor coach: Depart Cuzco at 8:00 am DAILY on an Inka Express motor coach. The scenic journey across the altiplano takes about 9 hours, with stops at Pukara, Raqchi, and Andahuaylilias, as well as a lunch stop at Las Tunas restaurant. Arrival into Puno is at approximately 5:00 pm.
Centrally Located Hotel In Puno, (B)
Day 8 Puno
After breakfast, depart for full day excursion to the floating reed islands, home of the Uros Indians, and a visit to the peaceful Quechuan community on Taquile Island. After lunch on Taquile, there is time to explore the island before boarding the boat to return to Puno. Transfer to your selected hotel. Overnight.
Centrally Located Hotel In Puno, (L,B)
Day 9 Lima
Depart from Puno to return home or continue on to another Avanti destination.
Centrally Located Hotel In Puno, (B)
Excursions
Huacas and Shrines on a bike (Lima - 4 hours)
Huacas and Shrines on a bike (Lima - 4 hours)
Lima is a big and modern city, it has been in continuous occupation for almost 2,000 years. Scholars have found more than 30 archaeological sites at different locations within the city limits. “HUACAS” are pyramidal constructions with superimposed platforms ending on a flat top, they were used for religious and administrative purposes by prehispanic civilizations along the Peruvian coast.
Our specialized Guide and his assistant will pick you up at the hotel with the bikes and the necessary equipment for the activity. After the briefing you will ride along one of the principal avenues of Lima towards the heart of Miraflores while enjoying the architecture and everyday life of the city folks. The first stop is at Huaca Pucllana, built 1,300 years ago, this visit is a great introduction to the history of Lima, traditions, cuisine and economic activities of ancient inhabitants. Then, we continue to the commercial and financial district, San Isidro, to visit Huaca Huallamarca, which has been through a magnificent restoration by the City Hall, you´ll appreciate the contrast between history and modern life. Finally, we return to the hotel completing a 12 km circuit on the bike. This activity is offered for mornings and afternoons. It lasts for 4 hours. The advantage of being at sea level and our moderate weather is that we can provide it all year round. We include a vehicle as support in case someone in the group decides to stop biking during the tour.
Highlights:
- Huacas, pyramidal constructions
- Bike to admire the arquitecture
Tour can operate: the morning or afternoon
Wheelchair Accessible: No
Physical Activity Level: Moderate/Heavy (we provide a vehicle as support in case someone in the group decides to stop biking during the tour)
Inclusions:
- Transportation from/to hotel (as back up)
- Guide
- Bikes
- Assistant
- Bottle of water
- Items not mentioned in the Included section
Historical and Natural Sanctuaries (Lima - 6 hours)
Historical and Natural Sanctuaries (Lima - 6 hours)
Highlights:
- Villa Wetlands, a natural reserve
- Pachamac, a historical sanctuary and important ceremonial center
The south limits of Lima house two important sanctuaries for the visitor: Villa Wetlands, a natural reserve holding a great variety of flora and fauna, its bodies of water attract a good array of biodiversity, they have identified more than 200 species of resident and migratory birds. And Pachacamac, historical sanctuary and important ceremonial center of the central coast in Perú, it was occupied by 4 consecutive civilizations before the arrival of the Spanish.
Our specialized guide and the vehicle will pick you up at the hotel. It´s necessary to reach Villa Wetlands early in the morning to enjoy the ecosystem. You walk for 2 km. around a lagoon facing the ocean with good opportunities for pictures and a clear understanding of the migratory patterns. The next stop is Pachacamac, the highlights of this massive archaeological site are visited. You will also enter the Site Museum displaying important pieces found during excavations, one of them is the wooden idol of Pachacamac, the most important prehispanic god in this area, carved in local wood more than a thousand years ago.
Return to the hotel is after noon, the activity takes almost 6 hours and you walk almost 5 km during the visits.
Tour Duration: 6 hours
Tour can operate: daily (excepts Monday)
Physical Activity Level: Moderate
Inclusions:
- Transportation from/to hotel
- Guide
- Entrance Fees
- Bottle of water
Not Included:
- Items not mention in the Included section
Walking the history center of Lima (4 hours)
Walking the history center of Lima (4 hours)
WHAT YOU'LL VISIT
Depart the pier to Lima's main square where the Spanish conqueror, Francisco Pizarro, founded the "City of Kings" in 1535. The Government Palace, Lima City Hall, Archbishop's Palace, and the Lima Cathedral surround the square.
Lima was founded to be the capital and most important town of the Spanish domain in South America until the 18th century. The Historical Center represents the model of architecture and urban planning of Spanish colonial cities with high political, economic and cultural importance, as devised by Charles V in 1542.
Our expert Guide will take you to the colonial section of Lima, you will walk among historical monuments, religious and political buildings located within the perimeter declared Cultural Heritage by UNESCO in 1988. This learning experience will allow you to appreciate typical examples of Hispanic American baroque style as well as some other different styles like Art Nouveau.
Besides the stops for great pictures of Limenian architecture, you will have the opportunity to visit Casa de Aliaga, a mansion still inhabited by the same family since the foundation of the city, an extraordinary experience that will take you back in time. To finish the experience, we will visit the Dominican Convent, which was the first catholic order to arrive in Perú with Francisco Pizarro and they have a lot of history, traditions, and sainthood to impress our travelers.
Highlights:
- Colonial section of Lima
- Visit Casa Aliaga, a mansion still inhabited by the same family since the foundation of the city
- Dominican Convent
Tour can operate: daily
Wheelchair Accessible: No
Physical Activity Level: Light/Moderate
Inclusions:
- Transportation from/to hotel
- Expert Guide
- Entrance fees
- Bottled water
- Snack
Not Included:
- Items not mention in the Included section
The Amano Textile Museum (4 hours)
The Amano Textile Museum (4 hours)
WHAT YOU'LL VISIT
This excursion brings us to the Amano Textile Museum, renowned globally for its extensive collection of archaeological artifacts from pre-Columbian Peruvian civilizations, as well as the significant efforts of Mr. Yoshitaro Amano in safeguarding the world's global textile heritage. The museum's inception followed Mr. Amano's decision to settle in Peru, leveraging his success as a Japanese entrepreneur.
During his journeys across Peru, Mr. Amano encountered relics abandoned by grave robbers. Recognizing their cultural importance, he dedicated a substantial portion of his time to recovering and preserving these artifacts scattered throughout Peru's coastal deserts. These treasures were then exhibited in his residence in Miraflores.
The Amano family remains deeply committed to advancing conservation and research initiatives centered on Peru's textile legacy, in accordance with the vision of the museum's founder, while also paying homage to his memory.
ACTIVITY LEVEL
Moderate level of activity (easy walking for short distances/stairs)
DURATION: 4 Hours
(Suggested) Departure Time(s) 10:30 and/or 14:30
Note: Filming and photography are not permitted in the Amano Textile Museum, we suggest leaving your cameras in the bus.
Museo Larco (4 hours)
WHAT YOU'LL VISIT
This excursion brings Larco Museum, founded by Rafael Larco Hoyle in 1926, to showcase ancient Peruvian history through its extensive collection of artifacts spanning 5000 years. Housed in an 18th-century viceroyalty mansion built atop a pre-Columbian pyramid, the museum is renowned for its erotic pottery, accessible archives, and beautiful gardens. Andres Alvarez Calderon, actual owner of the collection, emphasizes the importance of museums in preserving humanity's heritage and engaging the public through immersive experiences.
Since it was established in 1926, the Museo Larco has been acknowledged as a pioneer in terms of public access to its collections. It was one of the first museums in the world to open its storerooms to the public, and to provide online access to its entire collection, encouraging in this way the multidisciplinary research first promoted by its founder.
Larco Museum in focused on storytelling, allowing visitors to connect with Peru's ancient civilizations and their profound relationship with nature and the cosmos.
After this stop reboard the motor-coach to return to the pier.
WHAT YOU'LL SEE ALONG THE WAY
Museo Larco´s collections
ACTIVITY LEVEL
Moderate level of activity (easy walking for short distances)
DURATION: 4 Hours
(Suggested) Departure Time(s) 09:00 and/or 14:00
Flash photography is not permitted in the Museum.
Includes:
- Pick up/drop off at the Port of Callao.
- Touring in a private vehicle with air-conditioning. All vehicles are fitted with cellular phones.
- Qualified, registered English-speaking tour guide.
- Entrance fees.
- Bottled Mineral Water and Tissues and hand wipes provided to all guests.
- Tips to drivers and guides.
- Any services not mentioned above.
Lima - Half-Day Colonial City Tour & Larco Museum
Lima - Half-Day Colonial City Tour & Larco Museum
Discover downtown Lima’s most significant architectural gems from the viceroyalty period, including the Government Palace and the Cathedral. Your tour will also take you to the Convent of San Francisco, where you’ll marvel at priceless artwork and explore the famous catacombs.
No visit to Lima is complete without a stop at the Larco Museum. Set in a former mansion built on the site of a pre-Columbian temple, the museum houses a remarkable collection spanning 3,000 years of ceramics, textiles, precious metals, and mummies showcasing ancient preservation methods.
What makes the Larco Museum truly unique is its access to storage rooms, where you can see thousands of ancient Peruvian ceramic objects, including pots shaped like animals, plants, and people. Additionally, the museum features a special room dedicated to erotic artifacts—an exceptional collection of ceramic pots depicting various sexual positions, some of which survived despite being destroyed by Spanish conquerors.
Lima - Gourmet Experience: Half-Day Culinary Tour
Lima - Gourmet Experience: Half-Day Culinary Tour
Embark on a food lover's adventure through Lima’s exclusive restaurants, where you'll savor exquisite gourmet dishes and learn to prepare your own ceviche and pisco sour with a professional chef. This tour is designed to immerse you in the rich culinary culture of Peru, taking you through vibrant traditional markets, renowned eateries, and districts that showcase the city’s gastronomic excellence.
Vacation Details
* This departure has been designated a guaranteed departure by the operator, meaning that the minimum number of guests has been met, although still subject to weather and other conditions.
All fares are quoted in US Dollars.
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