Magical Peru: 10 Days – 9 Nights

Itinerary

1. 1 DAY 1: Arrival in Lima +

   On this day, you will arrive in the "City of Kings." We will welcome you there and then transfer you to your hotel, where you can rest and enjoy a free afternoon.

   Overnight in Lima.

2. 2 DAY 2: City Tour and Huaca Pucllana in Lima +

   Lima City Tour. We begin our tour at Huaca Pucllana, taking in a panoramic view of this important ceremonial center belonging to the Lima culture. We then head toward downtown Lima, passing through the districts of San Isidro, Lince, and Cercado. Along the way, we will view the Palace of Justice, the Lima Museum, the Italian Art Museum, the French Palace, and Plaza San Martín. Our walking tour begins at the Plaza de Armas; here, in addition to admiring the Lima Cathedral, the Municipal Palace, the Government Palace, and the Archbishop's Palace, we will have free time to take photos of these landmarks. We will enter the Convent of San Francisco to visit one of its main attractions: the catacombs. These underground passages beneath the church served as a burial site for the city's early inhabitants and hold the remains of over 25,000 people. Finally, we will enjoy a panoramic view of the Park of Love (Parque del Amor), the Pacific Ocean, and Larcomar.

   Overnight in Lima.

3. 3 DAY 3: Paracas – Ballestas Islands – Huacachina – Dune Buggy Ride +

   You will be picked up from your hotel very early and we will head south to the city of Pisco to visit the Ballestas Islands. At the port of El Chaco, we will board a boat and begin our tour, during which we will view the "Candelabra" geoglyph and the rock formations of the Ballestas Islands. We will also see sea lions and a wide variety of birds, such as Humboldt penguins, boobies, Inca terns, pelicans, Guanay cormorants, turkey vultures, and many others. Upon arrival in Ica, we will visit a winery for a tasting session. We will also enjoy the stunning scenery of the Huacachina Lagoon, surrounded by massive sand dunes, and see the monument to the mermaid Huacachina as well as the local artisan center. In Huacachina, we will go sandboarding and take a ride in dune buggies.

   Return to Lima.

   Overnight in Lima.

4. 4 DAY 4: Arrival in Cusco and City Tour +

   We will meet you upon your arrival at the Cusco airport and transfer you to your hotel so you can get some well-deserved rest.

   In the afternoon, we will begin a city tour through the impressive streets of Cusco.
   We will start at the Cathedral and then head to the Qoricancha—also known as the Temple of the Sun. Both sites are located just steps away from Cusco’s Plaza de Armas; however, the four archaeological sites we will visit are situated about 20 km away.
   We will begin with Sacsayhuamán, followed by Qenqo, Pukapukara, and Tambomachay.

5. 5 DAY 5: Sacred ValleyDÍA 5: Valle Sagrado +

   We will start the day by heading to the bus terminal to board the bus that will take us to the train station in Ollantaytambo, where we will catch the tourist train to the town of Aguas Calientes. Upon arrival, we will take the tourist bus to the citadel's entrance and begin a guided tour of its main archaeological sites, including its various districts and plazas. There, we will have the opportunity to take the classic photo of Machu Picchu.
   In the afternoon, we will return to the city of Cusco by tourist train.

6. 6 DAY 6: Machu Picchu +

   We will start the day by heading to the bus terminal to board the bus that will take us to the train station in Ollantaytambo, where we will catch the tourist train to the town of Aguas Calientes. Upon arrival, we will take the tourist bus to the citadel's entrance and begin a guided tour of its main archaeological sites, including its various districts and plazas. There, we will have the opportunity to take the classic photo of Machu Picchu.
   In the afternoon, we will return to the city of Cusco by tourist train.

7. 7 DAY 7: Maras and Moray +

   We will begin the day with a hotel pickup and head to the picturesque village of Maras, known for its colonial streets and panoramic views of the Sacred Valley. We will continue to the impressive Maras Salt Mines, a complex of over three thousand natural salt pools that glisten under the Andean sun. Afterward, we will visit Moray, an ancient Inca agricultural research site featuring circular terraces that showcase ancestral wisdom regarding climate and crop management.

8. 8 DAY 8: 7 Color Mountain +

   We will depart very early for the beautiful Mountain of Seven Colors, also known as Vinicunca. En route, we will make a few stops—including the village of Cusipata for a buffet breakfast—before continuing to the checkpoint to begin our hike, ascending to an altitude of over 5,020 meters. At the summit, you can take in the stunning scenery of Vinicunca and get a close-up view of the sacred Apu Ausangate, as well as a magnificent view of the Red Valley surrounding the mountain. On the return journey, we will stop in the community of Cusipata for lunch before arriving back in the city of Cusco.

9. 9 DAY 9: South Valley +

   We will set off by tourist transport to Cusco’s South Valley. Our first stop will be the Tipón Archaeological Site, known as the "Temple of Water," where you can marvel at the advanced irrigation system and Inca agricultural terraces. Next, we will head to the Pikillaqta Archaeological Site, once a prominent pre-Inca city of the Wari culture. In addition to its rich history, you will enjoy panoramic views of the Huacarpay Lagoon wetlands in the town of Lucre. Finally, we will visit Andahuaylillas, home to the Church of San Pedro Apóstol—dubbed the "Sistine Chapel of the Americas" for its exquisite 17th-century colonial art. After our exploration, we will return to Cusco.

10. 10 DAY 10: End of the Trip +

    In the morning, we will check out of the hotel and then be transferred to the airport, bringing our incredible trip to a close.

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