Sumary of 8 day tour
Cusco expedition: Lima tour, Ica-Paracas, Machu Picchu and Rainbow mountain
Day 1. Arrival in Lima and Lima City Tour.
In the morning you arrive at Lima Jorge Chavez international airport, where a driver or guide will meet you and transfer you to your hotel in the Miraflores district (typically 30–45 minutes by car, depending on traffic). After check in and a short rest, at 14:00, you start the ancestral colonial and modern Lima city tour, which usually lasts about 4 hours.
• Overnight in Lima.
Day 2. Paracas (Ballestas Islands tour) – Ica (vineyards and Huacachina tour) – Lima (B)
Between 4:30 and 5:20 a driver or guide will Pick up from your hotel in Lima, Miraflores, Barranco, for a full day excursión to ballestas island, and Huacachina oasis, then you ride duna buggies and try sanboarding on the slopes, usually timed so you can enjoy the sunset ovr the desert. At 5:30 hrs. Departure from Lima and Return to Lima at 22pm.
• Overnight in Lima
Day 3. Arriving to Cusco and Cusco city tour (B)
• In the morning, transfer from the hotel, Welcome and transfer to the hotel in Cusco. At 13pm, guided Cusco city tour (6 hours)
• Overnight in Cusco.
At 9 or 13 hrs, Cusco city tour and its surroundings (6 hours).
Visit Qoricancha “temple of the sun” Sacsayhuaman, the massive Inca fortress with panoramic views of the city. Short stops at Qenqo (ceremonial site), Pucaapucara military checkpoint and Tambomachay wáter temple.
• Overnight in Cusco.
Day 4. The Sacred Valley Tour –conexión to Machu Picchu (B & L
At 07.00 your sacred valley of the Incas tour begins picking you up from your hotel en Cusco a scenic drive into the valley. During the day you visit key sites such as Chinchero, Moray the circular terraces and the salt mines, where salt has been harvested in thounsands of samll evaaporation ponds since pre.Inca times. Finally visit Ollantaytambo living museum. in the afternoon at 16:36 / 19:04 Travel by train from Ollantaytambo to the Machu Picchu village.
• Overnight in Machu Picchu town (Aguas Calientes).
Day 5. Machu Picchu Tour – Cusco (B)
On the day of your visit, you inter Machupicchu at the time indicated on your entrance ticket to Machu Picchu, explore the wonder of the world with tour guide and in the afternoon take your return train to Ollantaytambo – Cusco.
• Overnight in Cusco
Day 6. Rainbow Mountain Hike – Cusco (B & L)
Get ready for an unforgettable one-day experience on the Rainbow Mountain or Vinicunca.
• Depart Cusco at 4:30 – 5:00am.
• Homemade breakfast in the Cusipata town.
• At 8:30am. Start of the 1-and-a-half-hour hike to the Seven-colored Mountain Day Tour
• At 10:00am – 10:30am. Arrival to the rainbow mountain viewpoint.
• At 12:30pm. return by bus and lunch in Cusipata town.
• Arrival in Cusco at approximately 17:30
hike over 5,000 masl/16,404ft. Return to Cusco around 17:30
• Overnight in Cusco
Day 7. Humantay logoon trek (B-L)br />
Get ready for an unforgettable day hike to the Humantay Lagoon in the Andes mountain range.
• Depart Cusco at 4:30 am.
• Homemade breakfast in the Mollepata village.
• At 9:00am. Hiking start to the Humantay Lagoon
• At 13:00 hours. return by bus and lunch in Molepata town.
• Arrival in Cusco at approximately 18:00 hours.
Hike over 4200masl/13,780ft return to Cusco around 18:30
Day 8. Farewell transfer to Cusco airport – Lima – Home (B)
For your departure from Cusco, you should leave your hotel about 2 hours and 20 minutes before your flight so you can arrive at the airport around 2 hours in advance, which is the standard recommendation for domestic flights in Peru. The transfer from most central Cusco hotels to Alejandro Velasco Astete airport takes about 20-30 minutes in normal traffic, so this timing gives you a safe buffer for check in, baggage drop, and security
*Meals: B = Breakfast, L = Lunch, D = Dinner.
Note: This package can be modified according to your needs, you can add or delete destinations. If you wish to modify, contact us and we will gladly send you another itinerary and a new quotation.
Full description
DAY 1. ARRIVAL IN LIMA AND AFTERNOON LIMA CITY TOUR
Upon arrival at the Lima airport, a Cusco Expedition representative will meet you and go with you to your confirmed Lima hotel.
Lima city tour. At 14:00, Your tour is going to star in Miraflores followed by a visit to the colonial Plaza Mayor in the historic center. Here you’ll see the Government Palaces, the Cathedral where Francisco Pizarro is buried, and the San Francisco Monastery, famous for its catacombs where over 250,000 human bones are still on display. You’ll then check out some modern district. San Isidro and from the Costa Verde admire the beautiful panoramic view of the Pacific Ocean.
What’s included in the Lima City Tour
• Welcome at the airport and transfer from the airport to the hotel.
• Pick up at the hotel for the Lima city tour.
• Entrance fees to the sites visited
• Tourist transportation during the tour
• Professional tour guide
• Accommodation in Lima in a 3-star hotel
Not included
• Lunch and dinner
• International flights
• Additional expenses
• Tips (optional)
Physical Level: 1, Easy
Starting Altitude: 100m/328ft, Lima
Min Altitude: 30m/98.4ft, Costa verde
DAY 2. TOUR TO PARACAS-ICA- HUACACHINA -LIMA
Ballestas Islands tour and Huacachina tour. From 4:30 to 5:20 a.m., our staff and tourist mobility will pick you up at your hotel in Miraflores, Lima. Then, take a 4-hour trip to the Paracas port. Here, board a motorboat for an excursion to the Ballestas Islands. During the navigation, observe a beautiful candelabra similar to the Nazca lines and enjoy a great diversity of marine fauna composed of migratory birds; Humboldt penguins, pelicans, boobies, flamingos; sea lions and many others.
Then, return to the Paracas port and take your tourist mobility (11:30 a.m.) to go to the Ica city and visit a winery (vineyard), where you can see the process of making wine and the famous Peruvian pisco and will be invited to the tasting of different types of macerates and have lunch in the same winery. After lunch, you will drive to the Huacachina Oasis and stroll through the small and beautiful lagoon located in the middle of the desert and do the buggy and sandboard activity in the charming dunes.
At 5:00 pm, departure back to the Lima city. Arrival at approximately 22:00 pm
Next day flight to Cusco in the morning
What’s included in the Ballestas Islands and Huacachina tour
• Breakfast / snack at the hotel in Lima
• Pick up from your hotel in Lima
• Tourist transportation Lima – Paracas – Huacachina – Ica
• Motor boat to visit the Ballestas Islands.
• Entrance fees to the places to visit
• English speaking tour guide
• Buggy and sandboard rides
Not included
• Lunch and dinner
• Extra expenses
• Tips (optional)
• Hotel
Food: B & L
Physical Level: 1, Easy
Starting Altitude: 100m/328ft, Lima
Min Altitude: 2m/, 6.5ft, Ballestas Islands
Max Altitude: 400m/1,312 ft, Huacachina
DAY 3. ARRIVAL IN CUSCO AND EXPLORING CUSCO & CITY TOUR
Cusco city tour. At 9:00/13:00 hours, you will begin exploring the capital of the Inca empire and its surroundings.
First, visit and admire the temple of the sun or Qorikancha (golden enclosure), was the main temple, where every June 21st was worshiped the Sun God and today, on this ancient temple is the temple of Santo Domingo de Guzmán.
Continue your trip outside the city and visit the 4 archaeological sites built with giant rocks: Sacsayhuaman, Qenqo, Pucapucara and Tambomachay. Be surprised by its megalithic style walls, the greatest architectural work carried out by the Incas during their heyday.
Return to Cusco approximately 18:30 hours. Accommodation in Cusco.
What’s included in the City Tour Cusco
• Breakfast at the hotel
• Pick up from the hotel for the city tour
• Tourist transport for the tour
• English speaking tour guide
• Accommodation at the chosen Hotel in Cusco
Does not include
• Lunch and Dinner
• Extra expenses
• Tips (optional)
• Entrance to the places to visit 70 soles
• Qoricancha 20 soles
Food: B
Physical Level: 1, Easy
Starting Altitude: 3,350m/10,991ft, Cusco
Max Altitude: 3,700m/12,139ft, Tambomachay
DAY 4. SACRED VALLEY+MORAY SALT MINE-OLLANTAYTAMBO-MACHUPÍCCHU.
In our Sacred Valley tour, you will visit the following places:
• chinchero
• moray
• salineras de maras
• ollantaytambo
The meeting point to start the tour of the sacred valley is at 6:30 at your hotel. Once everyone is in the car, we ride for about 45 minutes to Chinchero town. To visit an Inca temple and a colonial temple you will also have time to visit a local family to learn about Andean textile handmade. After visiting chinchero you will go to Moray which are the circular terraces, where the guide will explain and you will have free time to explore the place and taking pictures, then you go to the village of Maras to visit the salt mines to appreciate the salt that the locals use to sell in the local markets. Then you will go to Urubamba town where you will have a delicious buffet lunch in the restaurant that you eat as much as you can. After lunch you will head towards Ollantaytambo which is the largest archeological site of the Sacred Valley of the Incas, after visiting Ollantaytambo you will take train at 16:36pm o 19:00 to machupicchu.
Upon arrival, be received and accompanied to your hotel.
What’s included in the Sacred Valley Tour
• Breakfast at the hotel
• Pick up from hotel for the tour
• Tourist transportation for the tour
• English-speaking tour guide
• Buffet lunch in Urubamba
• Expedition / Voyager train ticket from Ollantaytambo – Aguas Calientes
• Lodging in Aguas Calientes in a 3-star hotel
Not Included
• Dinner in Aguas Calientes
• Extra expenses
• Tips (optional)
• Ticket to salt mine 20 soles
• Entrance to the places to visit 70 soles
Food: B & L
Physical Level: 1, Easy
Starting Altitude: 3,350m/10,991ft, Cusco
Min Altitude: 2,050m/6,726 ft, Aguas Calientes
Max Altitude: 2,792m/9,160ft, Ollantaytambo
DAY 5: MACHUPICCHU TOUR -CUSCO
Machu Picchu tour. After breakfast and at the time indicated on your entrance ticket to Machu Picchu, take a 25-minute bus ride to the lost city of the Incas which sits a top a rugged mountain (2,450m/8,038ft). It is a mysterious city built by the Inca empire over 500 years ago, where you’ll marvel at the challenging lithic construction and the breathtaking scenery of the eastern Andes Mountain range.
After your 2-hour guided tour, take a bus back to Aguas Calientes and have lunch on your own. Later, board your return train to Ollantaytambo / Poroy in Cusco. Upon arrival, you’ll be contacted by our staff and transfer to at plaza San Francisco- Cusco.
Optional: If you would like to spend more time at Machu Picchu, this package can be customized to include an overnight stay in Aguas Calientes, which will allow you to make a second visit to the enigmatic citadel. On this second day, a Huayna Picchu and/or Machu Picchu Mountain hike can be added to your itinerary, to get a bird’s eye view of the ruins.
What’s included in the Machu Picchu Tour
• Breakfast at the hotel
• Bus ticket up and down Aguas Calientes – Machu Picchu – Aguas Calientes
• English speaking tour guide
• Entrance to Machu Picchu circuit 2
• Expedition train ticket Aguas Calientes – Ollantaytambo
• Transfer from the train station to Cusco
• Accommodation in Cusco in a 3-star hotel
Not included
• Entrance ticket to Huaynapicchu / Machupichu Mountain (optional 60USD)
• Lunch and dinner
• Extra expenses
• Tips (optional)
Food: B
Physical Level: 1, Easy
Starting Altitude: 2,050m/6,726 ft, Aguas Calientes
Min Altitude: 2,450m/8,038ft, Machu Picchu
Max Altitude: 3,350m/10,991ft, Cusco
DAY 6. TOUR TO RAINBOW MOUNTAIN
Rainbow mountain hike. To start the rainbow mountain tour, our tour guide and mobility will pass by your hotel in Cusco at 4:00 to 4:30am, depending your hotel location. Then, take a 1.5-hour drive to the Cusipata village where you will enjoy an energetic homemade breakfast prepared with local ingredients. Afterwards, continue your journey for another 1 hour to Phullawasi – Chillwani community and start uphill hike until you reach to Rainbow Mountain. As you hike up with your professional guide, enjoy the beautiful scenery and also see South American camelids and other high Andean animals in their natural habitat.
From the 7-colored mountain viewpoint, enjoy a complete compendium of the scenic beauty. Also appreciate the fifth highest mountain in Peru (Ausangate 6,384 masl / 20,944 ft) and take excellent photographs.
After marveling, start to return to the bus station. Then, enjoy a pleasant lunch and later return to Cusco. Arrival in Cusco around 17:30 hours.
What’s included in rainbow mountain tour
• Tourist minivan
• Breakfast and lunch
• Professional tour guide
• First aid kit and oxygen
• Wolking sticks
What’s not included.
• Dinner
• Extra expenses
• Tips (optional)
• Entrance tickets 30 soles
Maybe you don’t want to visit to the Rainbow Mountain, we have other alternatives for today:
Food: B & L
Physical Level: 2, Moderate
Distance Hiked: 5 km/3.1 miles, up and down
Tour Length: 3-hour trek, up and down
Starting Altitude: 3,350m/10,991ft, Cusco
Max Altitude: 5,200m/17,060ft, Rainbow Mountain viewpoint
DAY 7. SALKANTAY DAY HIKE & HUMANTAY LAKE
Get ready to visit the wonderful turquoise lagoon of Humantay, a very popular tourist destination in Cusco
Begin your adventure in Cusco. The professional guide and the tourist mobility assigned by Machupicchu Andes Tours will pick you up at your hotel in Cusco at 4:00 – 4:30am (depending on your hotel location). Then you will make a 2-hour trip to the Mollepata village, where you will make a short stop to enjoy your buffet breakfast carefully prepared with the local ingredients. Here you can also use the restrooms.
Then, continue your trip to the Soraypampa community, where you will start walking towards the Humantay glacier Lake. On the way, you will see the nature’s charm; Snow-covered mountains, deep valleys formed by small rivers of fresh water. Finally, contemplate the beauty of the colorful Humantay Lagoon, breathe fresh air and take many photographs.
After exploring everything, take your tourist mobility to return to the Mollepata village and enjoy the exquisite Peruvian food. After a rewarding rest, continue your trip back to Cusco. Arrival in Cusco approximately 18:00 hours.
Food: B & L
Physical Level: 2, Moderate
Distance Hiked: 3 km / 1.8 miles
Tour Length: 3-hour
Starting Altitude: 3,350masl/ 10,991ft, Cusco
Min Altitude: 3,880masl/ 12,730ft, Soraypampa
Max Altitude: 4,200 meters / 13,780 ft
Day 8. Farewell transfer to Cusco airport – Lima – Home (B)
For your departure from Cusco, you should leave your hotel about 2 hours and 20 minutes before your flight so you can arrive at the airport around 2 hours in advance, which is the standard recommendation for domestic flights in Peru. The transfer from most central Cusco hotels to Alejandro Velasco Astete airport takes about 20-30 minutes in normal traffic, so this timing gives you a safe buffer for check in, baggage drop, and security
Included:02 nights in Lima, 01-night machupicchu, 04 nights in Cusco,
All tours stated in the itinerary with English-speaking guides
Ground transportation
Breakfast at all hotels
Bus: Lima – Ica
Trains: Ollantaytambo – Machu Picchu – Cusco- Expedition Train for 3-star packages)
Budget tours are designed to offer the best value and comfort possible, and have some variations compared to our 3, 4, and 5-star packages. Contact us to learn more about our Budget tours..
Not Included:Lunches or dinners (unless otherwise specified)
Airport taxes
Some entrance fees
Meals not mentioned in the itinerary.
International and local airline tickets
Travel insurance
Entrance fee to Huayna Picchu Mountain and Machu Picchu Mountain (optional). For more information, have a look at our additional services tab.
Tips (optional)
Personal items and medications. Especially altitude sickness pills.
Recommendation:excursion a minimum of 30 days in advance is required.
A minimum of 02 participants is required.
Guiding tour in English and spanish
Before Traveling Original passports or personal documents (with which the reservations were made / copies are not accepted).
One light backpack or briefcase per person of 20 liters.
Trekking shoes or tennis shoes.
Clothing according to the season (rain poncho, windbreaker).
Sunscreen, repellent, wide-brimmed hat for sunny days.
Medicine and/or articles of personal use.
Camera or video camera.
Packing listFor the development of the 8 Day Cusco expeditonTours, you should bring the following:
A small personal backpack (max. 25 liters).
All the tickets you receive for visiting tourist sites, as well as train and bus tickets.
Personal document with which you made the tour booking (passport, ID card, student card or others).
Raincoat or poncho for the rainy season in Arequipa, Puno and Cusco (November to April).
Warm clothes for the Arequipa, Puno and Cusco tours. Especially hat, gloves and scarf to visit the Lake Titicaca and Rainbow Mountain.
Hat and sunscreen
Mosquito repellent (Machu Picchu)
Bottled water and some snacks
Personal medication and altitude sickness pills (Arequipa, Puno and Cusco)
Extra money (PEN)
Cameras and other.
