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-Cuzco, Cuzco-Puerto Maldonado, Puerto Maldonado-Lima
• Five nights of 3-star hotel accommodation, two nights of 3 star rainforest lodge
• Three-day Amazon rain forest lodge excursion
• All meals included while at rain forest lodge
• Nazca Lines and south coast tour – including all transport, over flight of the Nazca Lines, and tour of Ica and Huacachina with bilingual guide
• Breakfast – included every morning with your hotel stay
• Private Machu Picchu excursion – including bilingual guide, round trip Vistadome or Executive train fare, transportation to/from ruins/Aguas Calientes, and entrance to the Machu Picchu sanctuary
• Private Cusco city tour including entrance fees, private vehicle, driver and professional guide
• Private Lima city tour including entrance fees, private vehicle, driver and professional guide
• The Cuzco Visitor’s Ticket – which includes entrance to the ruins in and around Cuzco and the Sacred Valley, and many churches and museums in Cuzco
• 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 insurance is not included through Southern Crossings, cancellation insurance is advisable.

Detailed trip itinerary

Day 1 – Arrive Lima to begin your Nazca, Amazon, Machu Picchu tour!  City tour today or upon your return.

Arrive in Lima anytime today and private transfer to your hotel. If arriving during the day, your hotel will be in the neighborhood of Miraflores, with good artisan markets 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’ll 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 Pucllana” 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 – South coast excursion

It’s not just Nazca and Amazon on this action-packed tour!  The least expected places can really have a nice effect on your experience.  An early morning bus ride down Peru’s south coast brings us first to Ica, center of Peruvian wine making. We’ll visit a local vineyard and distillery, check out mummies at the Ica Museum, and try out sandboarding at Huacachina Oasis. Overnight in Ica.

Day 3- Nazca Overflight and south coast excursion.

We’ll continue on to Nazca in the early morning. Buckle up and get ready to be amazed as the splendor and magnificent art of the Nazca lines unfold beneath you. Hundreds of animals, trapezoids and ruler-straight lines lie across the rocky Nazca plateau, clearly seen only from the air. Some say it is an ancient calendar. Others suggest a beacon and runways for alien spacecraft. Still others believe it was just an ancient culture’s way of saying hello to their gods. There are even theories that Nazca and Amazons connected and shared ideas.  Perhaps, while soaring over them, you’ll develop a theory of your own. After your flight, you’ll be transferred to the bus station in Nazca for the return journey to Lima and back to the hotel.

Day 4 – Morning flight to Cuzco. City and ruins tour.

A short morning flight brings us to the famous Inca city of Cuzco. After checking into our 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 into the artwork. Onward to Coricancha church, where the colonial and Incan architectures are on display side-by-side directly contrasted with each other. 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 Cuzco in the late afternoon.

Day 5 – Tour of Machu Picchu.

A beautiful early morning train journey across the high plain above Cuzco then down the Urubamba Valley to majestic Machu Picchu. Known as one of the greatest architectural achievements in the world, this historic sanctuary is considered one of the seven man-made wonders of the world. After a guided tour, take time for independent exploration of this magnificent site. Return train to Cuzco in the evening.

Day 6-7 – Amazon lodge. Excursions by boat and on foot to view flora and fauna.

This morning we’re off to the Amazon rain forest! Travel by air to the city of Puerto Maldonado and then transfer to a motorized dugout canoe for the trip upriver to our jungle lodge. Our cabins at the lodge have modern bathrooms and comfortable beds with mosquito nets, and the food here is great. Take an afternoon walk through the rain forest with an experienced naturalist guide, come back for dinner, then set off again for a nocturnal jungle canoe ride to spot caiman! The next day’s activities will include a visit to an oxbow lake to look for giant river otters, monkeys, macaws and other wildlife as well as jungle walks led by an experienced, English speaking guide. You’ll witness an array of medicinal and otherwise interesting flora and fauna, as well as gain some insight into native Amazonian peoples and traditions.

Day 8 – Morning flight to Lima. Departure day.

We really hope you enjoyed your Nazca and Amazon vacation!  Enjoy early morning activities at the jungle lodge and then transfer by boat back to Puerto Maldonado. After a late morning or afternoon flight to Lima, you’ll have the rest of the day free to enjoy the capital city’s many museums, restaurants, cafes and other sights. Private transfer to the international airport today, your flight may depart any time after 4pm.

Extra accommodation

We will gladly arrange additional accommodation for you before or after your trip.

Extra activities

Add extra activities such as river rafting, horseback riding, mountain biking, hiking, climbing, zip lining, surfing and free days to your custom itinerary. Ask about these options and we’d be happy to add them to your quote. If you have any special requests or interests like birding, cooking or crafting that you would like to explore please let us know!

Accommodation Upgrades

This tour includes 3-star hotels. We would be happy to give you an upgrade to four- or five-star. If you would like to select a specific hotel let us know your preference. We can then work it into your custom itinerary.

Is this trip for me?

Splendor of Peru is an 8-day cultural tour which includes a visit to a rain forest lodge, a small plane flight over the Nazca Lines and some walking around ruins and on city tours is included. As always, a certain patience is required for the inconsistencies and occasional delays of developing-world travel.

Joining the tour

On all Southern Crossings tours, you are met at the airport by one of our representatives (holding a Southern Crossings placard), who will accompany you to our joining hotel. No bargaining or being swindled by airport taxis.

Single Person Supplement

A single person supplement will be added to your quote if you will be travelling alone.

Pre-trip planner for Nazca and Amazon – “Splendor of Peru” trip

Required documents

All travelers to Peru are required to have a passport valid for at least six months from date of entry. Visas are not required for E.U., U.S., Canadian, Australian or New Zealand passport holders. For other nationalities, please consult the nearest Peruvian embassy or consulate. An onward ticket and proof of funds may also be required at entry and should be available to show to immigration. Traveler’s checks, currency, or a bank statement, from the bank or printed off the internet, are sufficient for proof of funds.

Required immunizations

Travelers may wish to receive hepatitis vaccinations and should be current on all other standard vaccinations. The rain forest area of Peru (approx. 3500 ft. and below, east of the Andes) is a malarial and yellow fever zone. The yellow fever vaccination is recommended and travelers may wish to take malarial prophylaxis. Please consult your physician or local health department for more information.

Climate

Rain is possible at any time of year, especially in high mountains and cloud forest, and one should always be prepared. The climate in sites we will visit is as follows: Cuzco: days are warm if sunny, slightly chilly if cloudy. Nights are cold in Cusco. Machu Picchu: similar to Cuzco, but warmer and with more chance of rain. Lima: warm to hot days, cool evenings, almost never any rain. Amazon basin: hot and humid year-round. We recommend light clothing (in weight and in color) that fully covers arms and legs to avoid mosquito bites. Ica/Nazca: dry and warm desert climate which can be cold at night.

Money guide

The unit of currency in Peru is the nuevo sol. Automatic cash points are available in Lima and Cuzco. Visa, MasterCard, Plus, and Cirrus are the most common usable types of cards. Traveler’s checks are difficult to cash (American Express is best, but you may be charged 5-8% to cash) or a Visa or MasterCard for cash advances are also options. Do not bring Money Grams or International Money Orders, as they are extremely difficult to exchange. Banks and exchange houses are available in Lima and Cuzco. For currency, U.S. dollars are recommended and most easily exchanged. Please note that cash must be untorn. It can be older looking, but even the slightest tear on an edge will make it unchangeable. Acceptable bills come out of the ATMs in country. Expect to spend about US$5-12 on a meal, US$2 on a beer, water or soft drink in Peru. Artisan market prices are usually lower than people expect. Alpaca sweaters, for example, run between $5 and $30. Currency Converter