EXPEDITION TO THE LAND OF THE INCAS

WELCOME TO PERU! Once the capital of the Spanish Viceroyalty, Lima is now a vibrant city where history, architecture, and one of Peru’s most celebrated culinary scenes come together along the Pacific coast.

Upon arrival at Jorge Chavez International Airport, our representative will welcome you and transfer you to your hotel in Lima.

Enjoy a day at leisure to rest, explore the city at your own pace, or discover Lima’s renowned culinary scene.

Discover more than 2,000 years of history in a city where colonial heritage and contemporary life come together.

You will be picked up at your hotel for a visit to Lima’s Historic Center. Walk through the Plaza de Armas and admire the Archbishop’s Palace, Lima City Hall, and the Government Palace. Continue to the San Francisco Convent, one of the city’s most emblematic colonial religious complexes.

Visit historic Casa Aliaga, a residence connected to the same family for more than 17 generations, dating back to Jeronimo de Aliaga, a companion of Francisco Pizarro.

Continue through some of Lima’s most representative neighborhoods, including San Isidro, El Olivar, and Larcomar. The tour also includes the famous Love Park (Parque del Amor), where you can enjoy spectacular views of the Pacific Ocean.

Transfer to Lima Airport for your flight to Cusco.

Upon arrival, our representative will welcome you and transfer you to your hotel. The rest of the day is yours to rest and begin acclimating to Cusco‘s elevation of approximately 11,000 ft / 3,400 m.

Overnight in Cusco.

A morning dedicated to discovering the fascinating history, art, and culture of the former capital of the Inca Empire.

Enjoy a relaxed breakfast before setting out on a pleasant walk through some of Cusco‘s most picturesque corners.

Begin at the San Cristobal viewpoint and continue through the traditional streets of San Blas to Siete Borreguitos, one of Cusco’s most photographed streets. Along the way, see the historic Sapantiana water channels. Finish at Cusco Cathedral, known for its remarkable collection of colonial art. One of its highlights is Marcos Zapata‘s ‘The Last Supper,’ a distinctive Andean interpretation in which a guinea pig appears as part of the meal.

Ancient towns, extraordinary landscapes, and a culinary experience in the heart of the Sacred Valley.

Travel into the Sacred Valley of the Incas, surrounded by impressive mountains and extensive cornfields, one of the region’s most representative crops. Here you will discover local corn varieties with surprisingly large kernels.

 Visit the traditional Pisac Market and then enjoy an included countryside lunch, an experience that combines local flavors, colors, and textures with the Andean landscape.

After lunch, continue to Ollantaytambo, one of the most fascinating towns in the Sacred Valley and one of the best-preserved examples of a continuously inhabited Inca settlement. Enjoy time to walk through its streets and discover the history of this remarkable place.

In the afternoon, board the train to Aguas Calientes, the gateway to Machu Picchu.

Overnight in Aguas Calientes (Machu Picchu Pueblo).

A day dedicated to discovering one of the finest expressions of Inca architecture, engineering, and water management.

 In the morning, take a bus ride of approximately 25 minutes to the magnificent Inca citadel of Machu Picchu, one of the New Seven Wonders of the World. With your guide, explore the areas included in your reserved circuit, which may feature the Guardian’s House, the Temple of the Sun, the Pachamama Sanctuary, the quarries, and the Intihuatana, among other sites included with your ticket.

The afternoon is at leisure to rest, visit the hot springs, or enjoy a relaxing massage at your own expense.

Overnight in Aguas Calientes.

Travel by train through the impressive Vilcanota Canyon and continue into a landscape where ancient Andean traditions remain part of everyday life.

 In the morning, board the return train to Ollantaytambo. Upon arrival, your private transportation will take you to the Maras Salt Mines, an extraordinary complex of thousands of salt pools where salt is still harvested using ancestral techniques.

Explore the Maras Salt Mines and discover how more than 4,000 small pools use naturally salty spring water to produce salt, as they have for centuries.

Continue along the Vilcanota mountain range, surrounded by snowcapped peaks. Pass through the town of Maras, known for its colonial streets and doorways, before reaching a local community for a closer look at the traditions and daily life of its residents.

Enjoy an authentic Andean lunch in the home of a local family, a wonderful opportunity to share flavors and traditions in a warm, genuine setting.

Return to Cusco.

Overnight at your selected hotel in Cusco.

At the scheduled time, transfer to Cusco Airport for your flight back to Lima.

Upon arrival, you will be met and transferred to your hotel.

Until we meet again.

At the scheduled time, transfer to Jorge Chavez International Airport for your departure

flight.

END OF TOUR

Thank you for visiting Peru and traveling with Inka Traces!