Peru Express: Lima and Treasures of Cusco

On this day, we will welcome you at Jorge Chávez International Airport in Lima and then transfer you to your hotel located in the Miraflores district, an hour's drive from the airport. This afternoon, you can take the opportunity to visit the most traditional residential areas of Lima, Larcomar, and enjoy the magnificent view of the sea.

In the afternoon, we will pick you up from your hotel to begin the City Tour, which will last approximately 2.5 hours. We will start our tour with a panoramic view of the “Huaca Pucllana,” a magnificent ceremonial and archaeological center built in the 4th century AD and considered a “Sacred Village” by the Incas.

We will visit the Historic Center of Lima, where you will see more than fifty monuments and colonial buildings, including the Paseo de la República, Plaza San Martín, Plaza Mayor, Government Palace, Archbishop's Palace, Cathedral Basilica, and Municipal Palace, among others.

Afterwards, we will visit the CENTRAL RESERVE BANK MUSEUM, where you will see the “Treasures of Peru” collection, a select exhibition of gold, ceramic, and textile objects from various pre-Columbian cultures. Then we will visit the MONUMENTAL COMPLEX OF SAN FRANCISCO, which is the largest display of colonial religious art in America. The visit to its underground crypts known as the “Catacombs” is a highlight.

Finally, we will visit contemporary Lima and take a walk through the most traditional residential areas of Lima: El Olivar de San Isidro, Miraflores, Costa Verde, and Larcomar.

At the appropriate time, transfer to Jorge Chávez International Airport to board your departure flight to the city of Cusco.

We welcome you at the airport and offer you a private transfer to your hotel in Cusco.

In the afternoon, at approximately 1:00 p.m., your adventure begins in the majestic main square, where our tour will start. We will begin with the Cusco Cathedral Basilica, considered by many to be the most significant monument in America, which houses more than 300 priceless paintings by mestizo artists. Then we will walk through the narrow stone streets and head towards the Qoricancha, considered the largest Inca temple because it housed the most important priests who worshipped the sun god. After marveling at the examples of Inca architecture, we will continue our tour and visit Sacsaywaman, which comes from the Quechua word meaning “sated or satisfied falcon,” which houses enormous stone constructions and is the site of the “Inti Raymi” sun festival. Then we will visit Qenko, a Quechua word meaning labyrinth. We will continue our tour by visiting Tambomachay, which was built from carved rocks that form a beautiful set of channels and waterfalls fed by springs. Finally, we will arrive at Pukapukara, which means “red fortress,” as the stones used in its construction have turned this color due to their high iron content.

Full-day excursion. We will pick you up at 8:00 am from your hotel and head towards the Sacred Valley of the Incas. We will start by visiting the archaeological centre of Pisac, located an hour from Cusco, which will give you an idea of the advanced knowledge achieved by the Incas in architecture. From one of its many natural viewpoints, we will observe the impressive landscapes and snow-capped mountains of the Sacred Valley. We will have the opportunity to appreciate its famous and picturesque artisan market and its different forms of trade.

At midday, along the banks of the Vilcanota River, we will continue our journey to Urubamba to enjoy a delicious Novo Andino buffet lunch featuring exquisite Peruvian cuisine.

In the afternoon, we will visit the fortress of Ollantaytambo, which was a strategic military centre. It is in Ollantaytambo that we will board the train to Aguas Calientes so that we can visit Machu Picchu the following day. Overnight stay in Aguas Calientes.

Very early in the morning, we will head to the bus station to ascend 400 metres in altitude over the course of 30 minutes. Finally, we will arrive at the Inca citadel of Machu Picchu and enjoy the sunrise; the view is breathtaking. We will enjoy a guided tour for approximately 2 hours so that you can learn more about the history and architecture of the Inca city of Machu Picchu. You will be amazed by the Inca buildings and temples, as well as the natural environment that surrounds them. After the tour, you will have free time to continue exploring and take photos to remember your visit.

In the afternoon, we will take the bus back to Aguas Calientes, where you will have time to have lunch, rest, and explore the town of Aguas Calientes. At the appointed time, we will board the train back to Ollantaytambo, where staff will be waiting to transfer you to your hotel in Cusco.

Important: Schedules may vary based on train departures and the train service you choose.

Very early, at approximately 4:30 am, we will pick you up from your hotel and head to the town of Cusipata-Paucarpata (3310 meters above sea level), a 2-hour journey southeast of the city of Cusco, located on the road to the Ausangate snow-capped mountain, where we will enjoy a delicious breakfast. We will then continue our journey for 1 hour until we reach the checkpoint and begin the hike (those who do not wish to walk can rent a horse at the entrance checkpoint).

We will begin our 1-hour and 30-minute hike up the mountain until we reach the summit. We will walk along a trail that gradually changes the landscape between intensely colored mountains and small streams of icy water. We will reach the summit of the wonderful 7-color mountain (Vinicunca); our guide will begin with an explanation to help us better understand the origin, orography, ecosystem, and color of the mountain of colors.

Finally, you will have time to take souvenir photos, contemplate the fascinating landscape, and observe the typical flora and fauna of the Andes, including llamas and alpacas. At the appropriate time, we will resume our hike back to the starting point, where we will enjoy lunch before boarding the bus back to the city of Cusco, arriving at approximately 6:00 p.m.

At approximately 9:00 p.m., we will pick you up at your hotel and transfer you to the Cusco Bus Terminal for your trip to Puno.

Breakfast at the hotel and take the opportunity to explore the main streets, visit churches and museums surrounding the historic center of Cusco; you can also sample the famous Peruvian cuisine. At the appropriate time, transfer to Alejandro Velasco International Airport in Cusco to board your departure flight to Lima.

We have several options to suit your budget. The price of your package will depend on whether you come in a group or want a private tour (minimum 2 people). Also, it will depend on the type of train and guide you select. The price we will offer you will be PER PERSON.