551 - Lima, Nazca Lines, Cusco, Sacred Valley & Machu Picchu

Day 1

LIMA: Arrival and city tour

Arrival to Lima International Airport and transfer to your hotel. After check in, we will start a half day city tour visiting the best of Lima. We will visit the modern and colonial part of Lima, called the city of the Kings. We will start with the districts of Miraflores and San Isidro, where you will make a panoramic visit of the impressive Huaca Huallamarca. Then, we will go directly to the Historical Center, to visit the Convent of Santo Domingo, declared UNESCO Cultural Heritage of Humanity and where the remains of our patron saints San Martín de Porres and Santa Rosa de Lima lie. Then, we will go to visit the Plaza Mayor, which is surrounded by the Government Palace, the Archbishop’s Palace, the Municipality and the Cathedral. Finally, we will make a stop for a small tasting of the typical Pisco Sour! After the tour, we will visit the Larco Museum, which houses the unsurpassed private collection of Treasures of Ancient Peru. This collection inspires the visitors, to discover and understand more than 5000 years of history of Ancient Peru through more than 45,000 pieces! Amazing isn`t it?

Then, return to the hotel and free time. You can add any of the optional activities available below.

• Lima by night + Dinner Show
  Enjoy the magic of the night in Lima

Day 2

FROM LIMA TO PARACAS

After breakfast, transfer to bus station to take bus to Paracas.

Welcome to Paracas, a destination where the desert and the sea come together in spectacular landscapes, an excellent ecological destination for lovers of nature and marine biodiversity; Located next to the cities of ICA, the cradle of pisco, Peruvian drink par excellence and where you can find a true oasis in the desert, and NAZCA, an area full of mystery, mysticism and archeology.

After arrival to Paracas, transfer to the hotel.
You will have the rest of the day to rest and enjoy the hotel and climate of the region.

Day 3

PARACAS: Enjoy the incredible Nazca Lines!

After breakfast in your hotel, and in the morning, you will be transferred to the local airport to board the plane that will fly over the incredible Nazca Lines, located on the pampas of the same name. Be ready to enjoy the great variety of geoglyphs from the sky, which represent figures of animals and stylized plants, which are distributed among a huge labyrinth of straight, trapezoids, triangles and spirals, engraved on the earth and preserved for about 2,000 years. It`s an unforgettable experience.

Then, return to the hotel and free afternoon.

Day 4

PARACAS: Visiting Ballestas Islands

After breakfast, transfer to the local pier to take a boat trip to the Ballestas Islands, where you can see thousands of birds, sea lions and seals in their natural environment. Be ready to see the famous Candelabra design, a figure of the Nazca culture engraved in the desert. At the end of the tour, you will descend from the boat and be transferred to your hotel or back to Lima depending your next step.

Good bye Paracas!

BACK TO LIMA

Transfer back to Lima and overnight

Day 5

LIMA - CUSCO

After breakfast, tranfser to airport to take flight to Cusco.

Good bye Lima!

CUSCO: Arrival and visit the city

After arrival, check in in your hotel in Cusco. If you arrived in the morning, some free time to rest. Then, we will start a half day visit to the incredible city of Cusco. We will enjoy some incredible places in this ancient city: Korikancha Temple, the local Cathedral, Sacsayhuamán, Kenko and Puca-Pucará ruins.
It`s a visit to the imperial city, a living example of the mix of Andean and Spanish culture in the Americas. The tour begins at the Koricancha Temple, the ancient Inca palace and main center for the worship of the Sun God. Be ready to take some great photos of this incredible place.  Then, you will visit the Plaza de Armas, where you will visit the Cathedral. Make a stop at the Mirador San Cristóbal, from where you will enjoy a beautiful view of the city. Continue ascending to the Sacsayhuaman Fortress, an imposing example of Inca military architecture that dominates the city. Then, you will visit the archaeological sites of Kenko, enjoy the panoramic view of the Puca-Pucara archaeological complex. Finally, you will visit the Inka’s Expression art workshop, which presents artists working in silver, paint and wood; ideal visit to understand Andean art.

Return to the hotel and free time to rest. Overnight.

Day 6

CUSCO-SACRED VALLEY OF THE INCAS: Ollantaytambo and Racchi

After breakfast, we will start our second day of visits in the area. We will start visiting Chinchero, a small and picturesque town that houses an important Inca archaeological center built at the end of the 15th century, as well as a beautiful and traditional church. Free time to enjoy this unique place. Then, on the way to Ollantaytambo, we will stop at the Racchi viewpoint, where you will have some of the best views of the Sacred Valley. Amazing! Free time for lunch. You can taste some typical dishes of the Sacred Valley and taste a pisco!. Continue to Ollantaytambo, one of the most representative architectural complexes of the ancient Inca Empire and one of the few places where the Spanish conquerors lost an important battle. Well known for its platforms, Ollantaytambo was a very effective fortress that also served as a temple. Finally, continue to the town of Ollantaytambo, known as “the only living Inca city”; It is the best existing example of Inca urban planning, with stone streets that have been inhabited since the 12th century.
Overnight is in the Sacred Valley today.

Day 7

SACRED VALLEY - MACHU PICCHU: Visiting a unique place on earth

After breakfast, we will start one of the most incredible visits you can do in Peru and South America. We will visit Machu Picchu

Early in the morning and after breakfast, we will transfer you to the train station. Be ready today, to visit one of the world’s most famous landmarks: the citadel of Machu Picchu. The excursion begins on board the train to approximate to the area of Aguas Calientes.  Upon your arrival in Aguas Calientes, you will begin your ascent to Machu Picchu, where, surely, you will live one of the most unforgettable experiences you can have in South America. Once there, you can walk through every corner of one of the Seven Wonders of the world, accompanied by an expert guide, and enjoy free time to explore the area. At the appropriate time, you will descend to the town of Aguas Calientes and later board the return train to Cusco, via the Ollantaytambo station. Upon your arrival, you will be transferred to your hotel and overnight

Day 8

CUSCO: Good bye Cusco, Sacred Valley and Machu Picchu!

After breakfast, free time until transfer to bus station or airport.

Good bye Cusco!