What’s included in the trip

• Private airport pickup at the beginning of trip and drop off at end of the trip.
• Southern Crossings bilingual guides.
• All other internal transport excluding transport to optional restaurants, bars, sights and excursions.
• Domestic flights – Lima-Cusco, Cusco-Lima.
• Four nights of 3-star hotel accommodation.
• Breakfast with all hotel stays.
• Private Machu Picchu tour including bilingual guide, round trip Vistadome or Executive train fare, transportation to/from ruins/Aguas Calientes, and one-day entrance to the Machu Picchu sanctuary including Huayna Picchu or Machu Picchu Mountain entrances (if available at the time of booking).
• Private Sacred Valley excursion with entrance fees, private vehicle, driver and professional guide.
• Private Cusco city tour including entrance fees, private vehicle, driver and professional guide.
• Private Lima city tour with entrance fees, private vehicle, driver and professional guide.
• Cusco Visitor’s Ticket which gives entrance to the major ruins, churches and museums in and around Cusco.
• 24-hour customer support line while on tour.

What’s not included

International flight to/from Lima, pre- & post- tour accommodation, visas, vaccinations, personal insurance, meals except where specified above, drinks, laundry, souvenirs or tips. Medical travel or cancellation insurance is not included through Southern Crossings.

Detailed trip itinerary

Day 1

Arrive in Lima and private transfer to your hotel. If arriving during the day, your hotel will be in the neighborhood of Miraflores, with good artisan markets, green parks, beaches and restaurants, and you’ll have an included city tour in the afternoon. The city tour lets you explore the wonders of the colonial capital, you visit the famous Plaza de Armas, as well as the impressive Cathedral in the Plaza and the beautiful San Francisco church. You also get a chance to take in some beautiful views of the coast at Parque de Amor.

Lima City Tour – Option 2: Larco Museum & Huaca Pucllana (upon request). Let us know if you would prefer this tour over the Cathedral Tour (or both for an extra fee). We could also plan a tour of the Huaca Pucllana at night if you have time in Lima. The site is lit up until midnight and looks amazing!

The Larco Museum is housed in an 18th century viceroyalty-era mansion. Surrounded by beautiful gardens, the Larco Museum is a stimulating and inspiring space in which visitors can enjoy and learn more about the fascinating history of ancient Peru. The cultures gallery provides a clear and captivating narrative account of more than 5000 years of pre-Columbian Peruvian history. Visiting the Larco Museum with their more than 45,000 meticulously catalogued archaeological objects, is a unique experience.

The Archaeological Complex “Huaca Pucllana” was an Administrative and Ceremonial Center of the Lima Culture, a society that developed at the Peruvian Central Coast between 200 AD and 700 AD. Located in today’s district of Miraflores the “Huaca Pucllana” was built around 500 AD. “Pucllana” is one of the most important ancient monuments in Lima. Based on the “Huaca Pucllanas” architecture and found objects, it is believed that the complex was the heart of development of the “Lima Culture” and served as a ceremonial and administrative center.

If arriving late at night, you’ll be close to the airport for a bit more sleep before your next day’s flight, and you’ll have your city tour of Lima upon your return.

Day 2

A short morning flight brings us to the famous Inca city of Cusco. After checking into your hotel, we set out to explore the incredible capital of the Inca Empire. We head to the picturesque Plaza de Armas to the cathedral to see the colonial influence in the city, and we can admire the stunning architecture of the church and also the native influences subtly woven in into the artwork. Onwards to Coricancha church, where the colonial and Incan architectures are on display side-by-side directly contrasted with each other. Then you’ll get a taste of Cusco by visiting the San Pedro central market. Afterwards we make our way above the city to the imposing fortress of Sacsayhuaman where we can marvel at the incredible stonework and architecture of the Inca civilization. We head back to Cusco in the late afternoon. Overnight in Cusco or overnight in the Sacred Valley if you are concerned about the altitude (the Sacred Valley is 645m, 2,000ft lower than Cusco), we can add this to your itinerary.

Day 3

This morning we’re off to the Sacred Valley, and then on to Machu Picchu on the afternoon train. Fifteen hundred feet lower than Cusco, the warm and fertile Sacred Valley was of immense strategic and agricultural importance to the Incas. We’ll visit two sites today: Ollantaytambo and Pisac. Pisac is a beautiful Andean town with a great handicrafts market. After browsing in the artisans´ market and bargaining for Andean goods (optional), we’ll head up to the imposing Inca fortress/temple above the town. Continuing on, Ollantaytambo is the only Inca village still inhabited in the present day. Peer through ancient, trapezoidal doorways into courtyards where life has changed little in 500 years, then explore the huge ruins which loom above the town. Afternoon train to Aguas Calientes, below Machu Picchu, where we’ll spend the night. Machu Picchu tour tomorrow! You may visit the medicinal sulfur hot springs tonight if you wish.

Day 4

Sunrise at majestic Machu Picchu! Known as one of the greatest architectural achievements in the world, this historic sanctuary is considered one of the seven manmade wonders of the world. On your private guided Machu Picchu tour, you will visit the guardhouse, main gate, agricultural zones, temple of three windows, astronomical observatory, main square, sacred rock, group of three doorways, royal enclosures, temple of the condor, fountains and tower areas. After the tour, take your time and enjoy this magnificent place. During peak visiting hours (10-2), try a hike on one of the surrounding Inca trails on Wayna Picchu or Machu Picchu Mountain. Return by train and car to Cusco in the evening.