Discover an enigmatic region of ancient wonder, sacred ruins, rich culture and immense natural beauty
Classic Peru
Lima, Sacred Valley of the Incas, Machu Picchu, Cusco
Adventure
Romance
Culture
History
Photographic
Your journey at a glance
Immerse yourself in the sacred beauty of Peru on this 8-day itinerary that takes you to the heart of this captivating country.
Explore Lima, a city known for its outstanding cuisine, which encompasses specialties from ceviche and traditional coastal cooking to refined global fare. This energetic, sprawling metropolis promises visitors an unforgettable experience that is rich in culture, and high in excitement.
Discover the Sacred Valley shaped by sweeping rivers, and an abundance of fascinating archaeological monuments and indigenous people.
Marvel at Peru’s most sought-after drawcard, the famous ruins of Machu Picchu. This enigmatic stone citadel is tangible evidence of the Inca Empire, when it was at the peak of its power and achievement.
Your journey culminates in enchanting Cusco, an iconic UNESCO World Heritage Site known for its Andean countryside dotted with villages, high altitude hamlets, ruins, intricate silver jewellery, colourful handcrafted alpaca products and vibrant nightlife. Be captivated by this extraordinary journey that will most certainly entice you to return.
2 nights Lima | 2 nights Sacred Valley of the Incas | 1 night Machu Picchu | 2 nights Cusco
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Talk to one of our travel specialists to tailormake your stay to any of our destinations
A taste of what to expect…
Day 1: Lima
- Upon arrival in Lima, you will be warmly welcomed by a representative from &Beyond who will drive you to your hotel
- Spend the evening at leisure
Day 2: Lima
- This morning, you will embark on a guided city tour of Lima’s historic downtown, beginning with a visit to the Main Plaza and the surrounding monuments: the Cathedral, built in 1534 and an architectural masterpiece; the Presidential Palace, where the soldiers guarding the palace offer an excellent photo opportunity; the Archbishop’s Palace, City Hall, the Desamparados train station, and the Moorish-style houses and balconies along Lima’s old streets.
- Explore the Larco Archaeological Museum, founded in 1926, is the world’s largest private collection of pre-Columbian art with an astonishing array of gold, silver, semiprecious stones and textiles. The collection’s predominant strength is in Mochica ceramics, from the north coast of Peru, of which the erotic ones are the most famous. Their notoriety ought not to obscure the fact that the museum presents a complete view of the cultural development of ancient Peru through a selection of its 45,000 pieces, housed in a colonial building of the 18th century.
- Enjoy lunch at the Cafe del Museo Restaurant followed by a transfer back to your hotel.
Day 3: Sacred Valley of the Incas
- Morning private transfer to the Airport of Lima for your flight to Cusco
- On arrival in Cusco, your guide will be waiting for you to transfer to the Sacred Valley of the Incas, a 1h30 scenic drive
- On your way you will have the opportunity to visit Awanakancha, where you will learn the tradition of weaving, a private initiative that brings together 14 rural communities, in which textiles made by the people of these communities are on display. Besides the exposition of weavings, the Awanakancha also has a display of the different types of indigenous camelids: the llama, the vicuña, the guanaco (though the latter is currently in danger of extinction).
- Make a stop at the local village of Pisac, famous for its colourful market which attracts tourists from all over the world to try their hand at bartering for local sweaters, ponchos, wall hangings, jewellery and goods.
- Spend the rest of the day acclimatising to altitude
Day 4: Sacred Valley of the Incas
- This morning you will visit Chinchero, a small Andean Indian village located high up on the windswept plains of Anta. The village mainly comprises mud brick (adobe) houses, and locals still go about their business in traditional dress.
- Continue on to Moray. The main feature that impresses is its system of circular agricultural terraces, which are up to 330 feet deep. They are build using retaining walls connected by an irrigation system. Moray can be considered a crop lab– they used the terraces to create micro-climates and grow various products.
- After lunch visit Maras, the salt mines, or the famous “salt pools” The salt mines of Maras are still in use today. These days there are thousands of pools, or pocitos, with each pocito yielding around 150 kilograms of salt per month. You can visit the salt mines and explore them along narrow paths. It’s fascinating to watch locals harvest the salt, a process that hasn’t changed in thousands of years.
Day 5: Machu Picchu
- This morning please meet your guide in the lobby of your hotel, who will transfer you to Ollantaytambo Train Station.
- Before boarding the train to Machu Picchu, you will have the opportunity to visit the town of Ollantaytambo, with its Inca streets of stone, traditional square homes and small markets. You will also have time to explore its ruins and hike up to an Incan temple for a majestic view of the town.
- Departure from Ollantaytambo train station to Machu Picchu on the Vistadome train.
- Explore the enigmatic citadel of Machu Picchu accompanied with your expert guide for three hours. They will lead you through the site, providing archaeological and historical information on key areas of interest, including Intihuatana (the Sun Dial), the Sacred Plaza and the Temple of the Sun.
- This is an opportunity to revel in the energy and atmosphere of one of the most significant and spectacular archaeological sites on the planet, surrounded by the cloud forest, Wayna Picchu and Inti Punku (the Sun Gate), the entrance to the Machu Picchu Inca trail.
Day 6: Cusco
- This morning rise early and enjoy the prospects of a walk through Machu Picchu at sunrise, something which people of strong spirituality believe to be the highlight of a visit to Machu Picchu.
- Today you will have the option to do one or two of these hikes:
- Huayna Picchu, one of the highlights of a visit to Machu Picchu. The views of the Citadel and surrounding landscape are extraordinary from the top and well worth the climbing effort.
- Inti Punku or Sun Gate, it takes about an hour each way and is an uphill strenuous hike on the way out to the Gate.
- Inca Bridge, constructed of a few narrow logs perched above a sheer vertical drop – is believed to have served as a secret entrance to Machu Picchu.
- Machu Picchu Mountain, large granite steps comprise most of its trail and wind all the way to the top. The steep climb is a challenging but rewarding hike and the 360-degree views at the top are a gorgeous reward.
- Spend the rest of the morning continue touring Machu Picchu with your guide.
- Bus transfer to Aguas Calientes train station to board the deluxe Hiram Bingham train back to Cusco.
Day 7: Cusco
- This morning, meet your guide in the lobby of your hotel for your for the Cusco City Tour and visit of the nearby ruins. Visit the Cathedral of Cusco, the mother church of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Cusco.
- Continue to Koricancha Temple, the most impressive example of how Inca and Hispanic cultures fused together.
- After a short 15 minute drive from Cusco, you will reach Sacsayhuaman, an imposing display of Inca architecture. There are still questions about its real purpose during the Inca period.
- Then continue to Qenqo: an immense, rocky promontory, marked by carved steps, wells, and channels. You will see Puca Puccara – or Red Fort – and Tambomachay, where the architecture of the Inca baths consists of a group of structures built with precisely cut stones.
Day 8: Departure
- Private transfer to Cusco Airport for your flight to Lima
- Assistance at Lima Airport to connect with your outbound flight
08 Days | From USD 5,997
Choose a rate that suits your budget and view the full tour. Please keep in mind that these tours can be tailormade by speaking to one of our Travel Specialists.
Rates based on 2 guests sharing double accommodation. Children and small group rates are available on request.
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