12 Days Explore the Wonders of Peru
12 Days Explore the Wonders of Peru
Overview
Cusco *Sacred Valley *Machu Picchu * Nazca Lines *Lima.
Embark on a memorable adventure with your loved ones that seamlessly blends amazing activities with the iconic Inca Trail experience with the breathtaking Machu Picchu. Lima, Cusco, and Machu Picchu are the perfect destinations to discover the fascinating history, culture, and natural wonders of Peru.
Group Price
- The price per person for group expeditions are fixed based on a group size. However, we have optional arrangements for individual private and tailor-made preferences best suited for you, your family and friends.
- All prices are based on shared accommodation. Please inquire for a 1 guest private room accommodation quote
- Prices listed are not final. Please inquire for your final price quote.
2 pax | 3 pax | 4 pax | 5 pax | 6 pax | 7/9 pax | 10/12 pax |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
$5,871.00 | $5,248.00 | $5,079.60 | $4,976.40 | $4,886.40 | $4,785.60 | $4,706.40 |
Included/Excluded
- All transfers indicated in the itinerary
- All tours indicated in the itinerary
- Guided tours as mentioned in the itinerary (Local official guide in english or spanish)
- All meals specified in the itinerary
- All entrance fees to the above mentioned excursions
- Train ticket Expedition Ollanta /Machu Picchu Pueblo /Ollanta or Poroy
- Bus ticket Aguas Calientes- Machu Picchu- Aguas Calientes
- All applicable taxes
- English-guided tours as described in the itinerary
- International and domestic flights
- Flights Lima/ Cusco / Lima
- Airport & aerodrome taxes
- Excess baggage
- Alcoholic drinks, soda, or bottled mineral water
- Personal expenses
- Tips
- International or national personal telephone calls
- Meals not mentioned
- Optional post-tour (Cost given separately)
DAY 1: Arrival To Lima / Cusco – Sacred Valley
Welcome to Peru! Arrive at Lima Airport by scheduled flight. – Flight connection to Cusco.
Upon your arrival in Cusco, you will be met after luggage collection by the Nature Horizons representative and transferred to the hotel in the Sacred Valley. En route you will enjoy a scenic drive through a stunning landscape to the Sacred Valley of the Incas.
Visit the Textil Local Center, where weavers of more than 12 communities of Southern Peru exhibit the spinning, dyeing and weaving of Andean traditional textiles helping to preserve the traditional costumes. Your visit includes the opportunity to observe an exhibition and explanation of the four types of South American camels. Here you will find the finest of the traditional and industrial Andean textiles in South America.
Afterward, you will continue to the town of Pisac, renowned for its vibrant market where the local Indians meet to sell their merchandise as they have done for centuries. The handicraft market is open every day and is famous for its ceramic beads made into necklaces, earrings and other Peruvian artifacts.
- Overnight in Sacred Valley
- Meals included: — / — / —
DAY 2: SACRED VALLEY / FD Chinchero – Maras & Moras
Breakfast. Today you will visit the town and market of Chinchero, a picturesque Indian village located high up on the windswept plains of Anta, 3,762m above sea level. It’s one of 12 Andean communities that has retained the traditional social structure and urban design of Inca times. Local weavers have revived pre-Hispanic techniques featuring natural dyes and motifs inspired by daily life and the surrounding natural environment.
Lunch will be served at a local restaurant. The setting in Maras with stunning views of the Vilcanota mountain range makes this an experience delighting all the senses.
Next, we will head for Maras, driving through a patchwork of fields that blend into the snow-capped peaks of the Urubamba and Vilcabamba mountain ranges. The colonial village of Maras is known for its nearby salt pans, which have been harvested since pre-Columbian times. Today we’ll see locals collecting the salt in much the same way as their ancestors would have done 400 years ago.
We’ll also explore Moray, an intriguing Incan site where terraces are arrayed in concentric circles. It’s believed to have been used as an agricultural laboratory, testing growing conditions for a wide variety of crops.
Optional: Lunch at MUNDO MIL CENTRO Rest – A journey through ecosystems of heights (direct payment)
Web site: https://www.milcentro.pe
- Overnight in Sacred Valley.
- Meals included: Breakfast / Lunch / —
DAY 3: SACRED VALLEY / HD Kayaking or Standup Paddleboarding in Huaypo Lagoon
Breakfast. Your adventure begins in the beautiful Huaypo Lagoon, high in the Andes, which provides water for local communities and crops. Reflected in its blue waters are mesmerizing images of the surrounding mountains and nature.
Enjoy two hours of paddle-boarding or kayaking around the lagoon, absorbing the views and rich biodiversity
- Overnight in Sacred Valley.
- Meals included: Breakfast / Lunch / —
DAY 4: SACRED VALLEY – MACHU PICCHU / FD Inca Trail KM 104
Breakfast. We start the day by picking you up from your hotel early to transfer you to the train station of Ollantaytambo for 1.5 hours, from where you will board the train. towards km 104 of the railway line. You will also meet your tour guide and pass a control point of the Inca Trail. We’ll begin with a 3-hour uphill hike towards the archaeological complex of Wiñaywayna, where you will have time to explore and listen to a guided explanation of the ruins.
Afterward, you will eat lunch and walk for another two hours to the Intipunku Sun Gate, from where you will have a spectacular view of Machu Picchu. After that we will continue walking for about 45 minutes toward Machu Picchu and spend time taking pictures and enjoying the magic of the ancient city. Afterward, you will take a 30-minute bus ride to the nearby town of Aguas Calientes where you will spend a night in the hotel and enjoy a delicious dinner in one of the restaurants in the town.
- Overnight in Aguas Calientes
- Meals included: Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner
DAY 5: MACHU PICCHU – CUSCO / FD Machu Picchu
Breakfast. Visit this unique Incan citadel and its surrounding complexes on a private visit. Machu Picchu stands 2,430 meters above sea-level in the middle of a tropical mountain forest, in an extraordinarily beautiful setting. It was probably the most amazing urban creation of the Incan Empire at its height; its giant walls, terraces, and ramps seem as if they have been cut naturally in the continuous rock escarpments. The natural setting, on the eastern slopes of the Andes, encompasses the upper Amazon basin with its rich diversity of flora and fauna. Entrances to the citadel are included.
Enjoy a delicious lunch in the Machu Picchu Pueblo. The Vistadome train boasts of beautiful panoramic windows, offering unsurpassed views and photographic opportunities as you enter the Inca’s territory in search of Machu Picchu. With glass surrounding you on all sides, you will feel as if you are a part of Peru’s remarkable landscape.
Optional Train: Hiram Bingham, A Belmond Train is the most luxurious way to journey between Cusco and Machu Picchu. Its sumptuous 1920s-style carriages ensure a magical journey never to be forgotten. With two dining cars, a bar car, an open-deck observation car, and a Kitchen Car, the train can carry up to 84 passengers. On the journey to Machu Picchu, a gourmet brunch is served as you gaze through your window at the stunning Urubamba Valley.
At 16:50hs., you will board the bus to Aguas Calientes, where you will take the train to Ollantaytambo or Poroy. Upon arrival at the train station, you will meet your Nature Horizons representative for a private transfer to your hotel in Cusco.
- Overnight in Cusco.
- Meals included: Breakfast / Lunch / —
DAY 6: CUSCO / City Tour
Breakfast. At 9:30hs, you will enjoy a half-day tour of Cusco, which includes a visit to the cathedral on the Plaza de Armas and the Santo Domingo Temple, a Dominican church and convent built on the foundations of the Koricancha, an important Inca temple devoted to worship of the sun. Your tour also includes a visit to the impressive fortress of Sacsayhuaman, which overlooks the city of Cusco.
You will be impressed by the beauty and monumental scale of this important Incan construction. You will then continue to Qenqo, one of the finest examples of artfully carved rock showing complex patterns of steps, seats, geometric reliefs, and puma design.
The rest of the day is yours to enjoy Cusco at your leisure.
Optional: Dinner at Cicciolina Rest
Web site; https://www.cicciolinacuzco.com/
- Overnight in Cusco.
- Meals included: Breakfast / Lunch / —
DAY 7: CUSCO / FD Palcoyo – Rainbow Mountain
Breakfast. On a day’s excursion from Cusco to Palccoyo, experience wild, natural, and colorful landscapes hidden deep in the Andes. Most of the day’s excursion is achieved by car, as you travel more than 3 hours from Cusco to Palccoyo. It’s the perfect option for those wanting to witness the incredible beauty of these remote mountains, and the people who live there, without the crowds or a strenuous hike.
Be ready for an early-morning pick-up from your hotel at 6:30am. Journey through an undiscovered land of wild desert landscapes, snow-capped peaks and herds of alpaca as you head toward the ultimate destination – the Painted Hills hidden deep in the Andes.
You’ll reach Chacacupe town at around 9am, from where it is a further 40-minute drive to the starting point for Palccoyo. As you draw closer, you’ll begin to glimpse the first signs of the colored minerals that give the painted hills their distinctive hues and patterns. Set off with your guide for a walk to the rainbow mountains – there are actually three of them – learning about the distinctive geology as you go. You’ll also be able to view towering Ausangate Mountain, the highest in Peru, and explore the Stone Forest, whose incredible natural formations are the result of earthquakes occurring thousands of years ago.
There will be some free time to soak up the scenery before and after your explorations, and a delicious box lunch will be served as you admire the breathtaking panoramic views.
Returning to Cusco, you’ll be dropped off at your hotel at around 5:30pm.
- Overnight in Cusco.
- Meals included: Breakfast / Lunch / —
DAY 8: CUSCO / LIMA
Breakfast. Fly to Lima where one of our representatives will be waiting to escort you to the hotel in Lima. You will spend your first day exploring this vibrant city at your leisure or relaxing in your hotel.
Optional: Lunch at Astrid & Gastón – fusion fare
Web site; https://www.astridygaston.com/
Optional: Dinner at HuacaPucllana Rest.
Web site; https://www.resthuacapucllana.com/
- Overnight in Lima
- Meals included: Breakfast /– /–
DAY 9: LIMA: City Tour
Breakfast. At 9:30hs., you will meet your Nature Horizons guide to begin your Lima city tour that includes the Larco Museum. You will start by visiting the Plaza Mayor, which has been declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. Continue on to the cathedral, with its splendid carved stalls and gold-plated altars, the Government Palace, City Hall and the Archbishop’s Palace. Next, you’ll explore the San Francisco Monastery, which houses the largest exhibition of colonial religious art in America. From the historic center, travel through modern Lima to visit the fascinating Larco Museum, located in a unique 18th-century mansion. Among the many treasures, admire the collection of ancient Peruvian gold and silver and the renowned display of erotic ceramics.
Enjoy an afternoon at leisure in Lima.
Optional: CENTRAL – Contemporary Peruvian cuisine
Web site; https://centralrestaurante.com.pe/
- Overnight in Lima
- Meals included: Breakfast /Lunch /–
DAY 10: LIMA – NAZCA LINES OVERFLIGHT
Early this morning, you will meet your guide in the hotel lobby.
The experience begins with a private transfer to Pisco Airport (approximately 4 hours).
Upon your arrival at the airport, you will board a shared Cessna Caravan high-wing aircraft for a spectacular flight, gaining a bird’s-eye view over the Paracas Sand Dunes and enigmatic Nazca Lines.
Visible only from the sky, the Nazca Lines are a series of giant shapes and designs, some stretching for nearly 300 meters. Many theories have been formulated about their purpose, from runways for alien spacecraft to lines of a giant seismograph. However, German mathematician Maria Reiche, who spent her life studying the lines, came up with the most plausible theory that they formed a gigantic astronomical calendar based on the movement of the sun. Look out for more than 30 complex animal figures, such as a monkey, spider and hummingbird on this unforgettable flight. Afterward, you will return to your hotel in Lima by private transfer (approximately 4 hours).
TRAVEL SCHEDULE
Departs 6:30hrs (approx.) Duration 12hrs (approx).
- Overnight in Lima
- Meals included: Breakfast /Lunch /–
DAY 11: LIMA CULINARY
Breakfast. At the arranged time, you will meet your representative in the hotel lobby for your next experience. Considered the gastronomic capital of South America, Lima has bountiful attractions when it comes to food. Join us on a tour beginning at a local market and then continue to a well-known restaurant where the chef will show you how to make ceviche and introduce you to other seafood-based specialties. Sample the iconic Peruvian cocktail, pisco sour, and a couple of Peruvian dishes.
Immerse yourself in the colors, flavors and heritage of Peruvian cuisine. This experience begins with a demonstration of local products. You’ll then head to the kitchen for a sociable, friendly cooking class.
The experience is focused not only on how to cook, but also on the story of Peruvian cuisine. Learn about historical and social issues, the influences of other cultures, and how Peru’s gastronomy has evolved to become one of the most celebrated in the world today.
Optional: Dinner at Maido | Comida Nikkei
Web site; https://maido.pe/
- Overnight in Lima
- Meals included: Breakfast /Lunch /–
DAY 12: LIMA
At the agreed-upon time, please meet your Nature Horizons representative in the lobby for your private transfer to Lima Airport for your scheduled flight home.
- Meals included: Breakfast / — / —
ACCOMMODATION
Hotels:
Cities | Hotels 5* / Hab. Standard | NT |
Sacred Valley | Rio Sagrado, A Belmond Hotel ***** https://www.belmond.com | 3 |
Machu Picchu | Sumaq Machu Picchu Hotel ***** https://www.machupicchuhotels-sumaq.com | 1 |
Cusco | Monasterio, A Belmond Hotel ***** https://www.belmond.com | 3 |
Lima | Miraflores Park, A Belmond Hotel ***** https://www.belmond.com | 4 |
Total Nº of nights | 11 |
Cities | Hotels 4* / Hab. Standard | NT |
Sacred Valley | Aranwa Sacred Valley Hotel & Wellness **** https://aranwahotels.com | 3 |
Machu Picchu | Inkaterra Machu Picchu Pueblo Hotel **** www.inkaterra.com | 1 |
Cusco | Casa Andina Premium Cusco **** www.casa-andina.com | 3 |
Lima | Casa Andina Select Miraflores **** www.casa-andina.com | 4 |
Total Nº of nights | 11 |
Cities | Hotels 3* / Hab. Standard | NT |
Sacred Valley | Lizzy Wasi Urubamba *** https://lizzywasi.com/ | 3 |
Machu Picchu | Casa Andina StandarMachupicchu ***** www.casa-andina.com | 1 |
Cusco | Casa Andina Estándar Cusco ***** www.casa-andina.com | 3 |
Lima | Casa Andina Standar Miraflores***** www.casa-andina.com | 4 |
Total Nº of nights | 11 |
* In the case of non-room availability in the hotels mentioned above, we will use hotels of a similar category
What is the brief history of Peru?
Where is Peru Located?
What Countries Border Peru?
How large is the size of the country of Peru?
What is the currency of Peru?
What are the official languages of Peru?
What other languages and/or indigenous languages are there in Peru?
What is the capital of Peru?
What is the historic Capital?
What is the geography and climate of Peru like?
How many UNESCO World Heritage Sites are located in Peru?
What are the best places to go to in Peru as a tourist?
When is the best time to travel to Peru?
How do I get to Peru?
Do you arrange international airfare?
Do I need a visa to visit Peru?
Do you arrange trips for solo travelers?
Do you arrange group or join-in tours?
How do I book and pay?
Do I need any vaccinations to travel to Peru?
Do I need travel insurance?
Can I rent a car in Peru?
What currency do I need to bring?
What Should I pack?
- Comfortable sneakers or hiking boots
- Short and long-sleeved t-shirts
- Rain gear
- A fleece jacket
- Jeans or casual trousers
- Camera
- Backpack
- Insect repellent, lip balm and sun block
- Binoculars
Will my mobile phone work in Peru?
Where to Eat?
Where to Shop in Cusco?
When to Go?
WHAT YOU HAVE TO TAKE WITH YOU FOR THE CHOQUEQUIRAO TREK
- Original passport (it has to be the same you have used for booking your trek)
- Valid university card (if you booked as a student)
- Good daypack (the smaller, the better)
- Water storage: 2-3L reusable bottles (please do not bring disposable)
- Comfortable hiking boots with ankle support
- Sleeping bag (can be rented from SAM Travel)
- Headlamp: essential
- Toilet Paper, hand sanitizer, and small plastic bags
WHAT TO PUT IN YOUR DUFFEL BAG FOR THE CHOQUEQUIRAO 7 DAY TREK TO MACHU PICCHU
As a Direct Local Tour operator, we provide you with a duffel bag at your briefing and INCLUDE an extra pack horse who will carry up to 7 kgs or 14lbs, including your 2.5kg sleeping bag, mattress, and extra clothing. By Peruvian law, a duffel bag must not weigh more than 7 kilograms (15lbs). This limit is set to protect the health of the porters or horses. All bags will be weighed before being accepted. If you require more than 7 kilograms, it will be your responsibility to carry the extra weight with your day pack. In these 7 kilos, please count 2 kilos for your sleeping bag and 1 kilo for your sleeping pad. This leaves you about 4 kilos for your personal gear.
- 2 t-shirts
- 2 hiking pants at least
- 4 sets of undergarments
- 3 sets of hiking socks
- Bathing suit for the thermal waters
- Fleece/ thermals
- Warm clothes, down jacket — 2nd campsite temp around 3º C
- Waterproof gloves (even if they are ski gloves, take them)
- Comfortable shoes for camp
- Quick-dry towel. We provide small ones; you might prefer something larger
- A small bottle of soap: we provide warm water each day to wash.
- Battery Charger: No electricity along the trek
- Large plastic bags will be provided at the office to line your duffel bag
- Sleeping bag: It has to be at least -15ºC – This can be rented from us.
TOILETRIES
- Face moisturizer
- Hand sanitizer
- Wet wipes
- Toothbrush and toothpaste
- Personal medications
- First aid kit: band aids, moleskin, etc.
WHAT TO PUT IN YOUR BACKPACK FOR CHOQUEQUIRAO TREK?
We highly recommend a small backpack 30 to 40L for hiking during the day. A big backpack will not be allowed into Machu Picchu. The remainder of your belongings will be in your duffel bag at camp.
Water: Please supply your own water until the first lunch spot, then we will provide you with cold boiled water at every meal time. Please bring reusable bottles.
- Sun hat
- Sunscreen
- Insect repellent
- Headlamp: essential
- Wool hat
- Rain gear
- Fleece
- Snacks like chocolate bars, cereal bars, or any dry fruits
- Rain poncho (provided by Nature Horizons)
- Gloves
- Camera
- Hand sanitizer
- Toilet paper and a small plastic bag for waste
- Extra money for souvenirs, drinks & tips
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