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Days
10
Price from
51120
Map of Best of Peru including Peru

Discover the grand history and resilient ancient cultures of Peru during this 10-day tour

Fall in love with Peru’s lofty beauty and discover the grand history and resilient ancient cultures that continue to thrive in its cities and mountains on this 10-day tour. Explore the ornate Cusco Cathedral with a celebrated academic, wonder at the stark white salt pools set into the hillside of the Sacred Valley and take a guided tour of the awe-inspiring Inca citadel that is Machu Picchu.

Start
Lima, Peru
Finish
Lima, Peru
Destination
Peru
Style
Peregrine
Code
PSPS
Physical rating
Trip rating
5 reviews
Ages
Min 15
Group size
Min 1, Max 12

Peregrine trips are now operated by Intrepid Travel

Why you'll love this trip

  • Discover the breath of Peru's diverse heritage, from the gorgeous Spanish colonial architecture of Lima to the Aymara and Quechuan Indian cultures of Puno

  • Marvel at the mother of all Inca cities, breathtaking Machu Picchu. Enjoy a guided tour of the ruins and free time to explore on your own

  • Enjoy plenty of time in gorgeous Cusco, the perfect place to launch into further outdoor adventures or simply relax and take in mountain views with a pisco sour in hand

  • The floating reed islands of Uros on Lake Titicaca are astounding in concept, construction and history. Take a boat tour on the world's highest navigable lake and stay with a local family there

Is this trip right for you?

  • Due to the high altitude of the places we visit some people can suffer altitude sickness, regardless of age, gender or fitness. It even happened to Sir Edmund Hillary! Please see the ‘Medical and Health Information’ section of the Essential Trip Information for more details.

  • There are a couple of long journeys on this trip, in particular from Cusco to Puno, which is a 7-hour drive in a private van. Although this may be tiring, it's a great chance to sit back and enjoy the passing scenery and chat to your fellow travellers.

  • Please ensure you bring sturdy walking shoes and comfortable clothes. There are a number of days when you’ll spend time walking around sites or on tours.

  • Visitors are not permitted to explore Machu Picchu without a Machu Picchu guide (not our trip leaders) and must follow set routes within the site. This trip includes two guided visits of Machu Picchu and each visit is approximately 1.5 - 2 hours long. Once your guided visits conclude, you will need to leave the site and personal exploration of Machu Picchu is not permitted. Your leader will provide more information to ensure you get the most out of your visits to this incredible site.

  • You may also want to consider our trip Peru, Argentina & Brazil Highlights if you have more time to explore South America.

peru machu picchu group tour ruins
peru machu picchu
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Peru Cusco
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Peru Lake Titicaca
Peru Lima
Peru Sacred Valley

Itinerary
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On arrival to Lima's Jorge Chavez International Airport you will be met by a Peregrine representative and transferred to your hotel. Meet your leader and fellow travellers at the hotel for a pre-trip briefing, usually held at 2 pm. After the meeting, your leader will take you on a brief orientation tour of the Miraflores area. Your in-depth city tour will be tomorrow morning. Lima has some of the best cuisine in South America and is especially renowned for its seafood. Perhaps sample Peru's national dish of ceviche this evening, raw fish marinated in lime juice and often served with hot peppers.
Accommodation
  • Hotel Antigua Miraflores or Similar (1 night)
Included Activities
  • Complimentary airport arrival transfer
  • Lima - Leader led orientation walk of Miraflores
Meals Included
There are no meals included on this day.
Special Information
Some people can suffer altitude sickness in Lima, regardless of age, gender or fitness! Please see the ‘Medical and Health Information’ section of the Essential Trip Information for more details.

It’s very important that you attend the welcome meeting as we will be collecting insurance details and next of kin information at this time. If you are going to be late please let your travel agent or hotel reception know. Ask reception or look for a note in the lobby for more information on where the meeting will take place.

Take a flight from Lima to lofty Cusco today, then make a two-hour minivan journey to Urubamba. Set in the heart of the Sacred Valley of the Inca, Urubamba is a small town named for the river that cuts through the mountains and mainly functions as a transport hub and base from which to explore the surrounding ruins.
Accommodation
  • Hotel Hacienda del Valle or similar (1 night)
Included Activities
  • Lima - Guided tour, including San Francisco Monastery, the Catacombs and Central Market
Meals Included
  • Breakfast

Some of the region’s most captivating historical sites are on the itinerary today. First up is the small town of Maras. Known for the thousands of individual salt pools set into the surrounding hillside that date back to Inca times, these white terraces stand out even in an environment known for its physical and man-made beauty. From here, continue to Moray, an Inca archaeological site on a high plateau featuring a series of concentric terraces that are sure to stun in their design and scope. Enjoy lunch at the small community of Chichbamba, then continue by train to the town of Aguas Calientes in preparation for tomorrow's visit to mighty Machu Picchu.
Accommodation
  • Hotel Hatun Inti Classic or similar (1 night)
Included Activities
  • Sacred Valley - Community visit & lunch
  • Sacred Valley - Maras Salt Mines Visit
Meals Included
  • Breakfast
  • Lunch

Rise early for a 5.30 am for a 30-minute bus ride along the winding road to Machu Picchu. The first views of Machu Picchu against a backdrop of forested mountains will likely stun even experienced and worldly travellers. Enjoy a 1.5- to 2-hour guided tour through the magnificent ruins and learn about the site’s known history and the ancestral people of the region. The true purpose behind Machu Picchu may always be a mystery, since no historical records of the complex exist. In fact, none were made in the first place, since the Inca had no written language. Some historians have argued it was a place of spiritual worship; others, a military stronghold, and some even think it was a prison. Most archaeologists, however, believe it to be the 15th-century headquarters of ‘he who shook the earth’, Emperor Pachacuti. Later return by bus and train to Cusco, where you'll spend the night. At 3450 metres (11,150 feet) above sea level, it’s important to take time to acclimatize to the city’s altitude, so perhaps take it easy this evening.
Accommodation
  • Hotel San Agustin Plaza or similar (1 night)
Included Activities
  • Machu Picchu - Guided visit
Meals Included
  • Breakfast
Special Information
The first bus from Aguas Calientes to Machu Picchu departs at 5.30 am. The estimated arrival time is between 6–6.30 am. The sun rises at Machu Picchu at approximately 5.30 am, therefore it's not possible to be there in time for sunrise.

Due to Peregrine's internal safety policy, our leaders are specifically prohibited from recommending or assisting with booking trips to the mountaintop ruins of Wayna Picchu.

Today, enjoy a comprehensive guided tour of Cusco. This city is South America's oldest continuously inhabited city, and was the home of the Inca for two centuries before the Spanish invaded and built their first capital here. Today Cusco is a fascinating combination of both cultures. This tour includes a visit to the Cusco Cathedral with specialist guide, Professor Alfredo Hinojoza Galvez, a born and raised Cusconian and academic considered an icon in the colonial art and tourism world. Alfredo is uniquely placed to offer special insight into Cusco Cathedral, which is also a World Heritage site. Following the tour, perhaps ask you leader for a restaurant recommendation or seek out aji de gallina (creamy chicken) or Quechan classic causa (potato casserole).
Accommodation
  • Hotel San Agustin Plaza or similar (1 night)
Included Activities
  • Cusco - Walking Tour: Main Square, San Blas Square, Coricancha Temple, San Pedro Market & 12 Angle Stone.
Meals Included
  • Breakfast

Enjoy a free day to explore Cusco at your own pace. Perhaps visit the San Pedro market in the morning and wander among the colourful produce and early-bird crowds. You could pick up some fruit and other snacks and make the 45-minute walk to Sacsayhuaman. Another incredible example of Inca ingenuity, Sacsayhuaman was an important religious site that features imposing stones stacked together to form a wall complex. Photographs do not do these towering walls justice. If you are still struggling with the altitude or simply prefer to relax, maybe take a seat at a cafe overlooking the Plaza de Armas and watch the world go by with a pisco sour or two.
Accommodation
  • Hotel San Agustin Plaza or similar (1 night)
Meals Included
  • Breakfast

Depart today for Puno, the ‘Folklore Capital of Peru’, which lies on the shore of vast Lake Titicaca. The journey will take around seven hours, though there will be a stop en route at Juliana, a lively town known for its traditional street dancing. Upon arrival in Puno at around 3.30 pm, take a lead-led orientation walk around town. Puno is known for the vibrant celebration of many festivals, particularly February’s Virgen de la Candelaria, a blend of town-wide feasting, Catholic devotion and flamboyant carnival. Even if your visit does not coincide with a festival, Puno is sure to delight with boundless joviality and good cheer year-round. In the evening perhaps head out for dinner with the group, your leader will be able to recommend some fantastic places to eat.
Accommodation
  • Hotel Hacienda Plaza or similar (1 night)
Meals Included
There are no meals included on this day.

Depart the hotel before 7 am and set off to explore Lake Titicaca, the highest navigable body of water in the world. Be enchanted by the striking scenery and encounter waterfront communities on a cruise around the lake today. Stop in at the incredible floating Uros Islands, constructed by the Uros people as a form of protective isolation in ancient times. Built completely from multiple layers of totora reeds, the structures are constantly replenished with fresh material as the reeds beneath rot away. Next call into Taquile Island, where knitting is a strictly male pursuit and women do the spinning, resulting in famed woollen handicrafts. Return to Puno for a final evening in the Altiplano.
Accommodation
  • Hotel Hacienda Plaza or similar (1 night)
Included Activities
  • Lake Titicaca - Floating Uros Islands & Taquile Island
Meals Included
  • Breakfast
  • Lunch
Special Information
Please be aware that the altitude means the sun can be extremely strong, so make sure to wear a hat and sunscreen, even on cloudy days.

Today, on the way to the airport, visit the crumbling chullpas (funerary tours) of Sillustani, the tallest of which is 12 metres. Spend some time wandering among the remnants of this pre-Inca cemetary and look closely for the ancient carvings that are still visible on many of the structures. Later, catch a flight to Lima. Perhaps head out for a final meal with your fellow travellers and toast to the adventure that has been.
Accommodation
  • Hotel Antigua Miraflores or Similar (1 night)
Included Activities
  • Puno - Sillustani archaeological site
Meals Included
  • Breakfast

Today your Peruvian adventure comes to an end after breakfast. Flights out of Lima can be booked anytime, as there are no planned activities following check-out. If you're planning to spend a little more time in Lima, consider booking an Urban Adventure tour to get beneath the city's skin. Fallen in love with Peruvian food? Perhaps learn some tricks of the cuisine on a Lima Home Cooked Tour. Find out more at urbanadventures.com/lima-tour-lima-home-cooked.
Optional Activities
  • Lima - Private Lima: Home Cooked Tour Urban Adventure (price from) - USD83
  • Lima Coast Biking Tour - Urban Adventures - USD52
Meals Included
  • Breakfast
Want to tailor this itinerary?

Meals

8 breakfasts, 2 lunches

Transport

Boat, Bus, Private vehicle, Plane

Accommodation

Hotel (9 nights)

Included Activities

  • Complimentary airport arrival transfer
  • Lima - Leader led orientation walk of Miraflores
  • Lima - Guided tour, including San Francisco Monastery, the Catacombs and Central Market
  • Sacred Valley - Community visit & lunch
  • Sacred Valley - Maras Salt Mines Visit
  • Machu Picchu - Guided visit
  • Cusco - Walking Tour: Main Square, San Blas Square, Coricancha Temple, San Pedro Market & 12 Angle Stone.
  • Lake Titicaca - Floating Uros Islands & Taquile Island
  • Puno - Sillustani archaeological site

Essential trip information

Want an in-depth insight into this trip? Essential Trip Information provides a detailed itinerary, visa info, how to get to your hotel, what's included - pretty much everything you need to know about this adventure and more.

View Essential Trip Information

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