Lima, Cusco and Machu Picchu Luxury Vacation

This is a superb tour taking in some incredible sights in the South of Peru, including one of the new Wonders of the World, Machu Picchu, near the ancient Inca capital of Cusco. This Peru vacation uses luxury hotels and includes all private, high quality services to make your tour extremely comfortable.

Day 1

After your arrival at Lima airport you will be met by your driver AND English-speaking guide for your transfer to the Miraflores area of the city. You will be staying at the 5* Miraflores Park Hotel or the superb Casa Andina Private Collection. Enjoy the rest of the day as free time to wander the parks and browse the shops, and enjoy the world renowned Peruvian food.

When you arrive at your hotel you will also find a welcome bottle of Peruvian wine as a small gift from us.

Day 2

Today you will be collected from your hotel for a full day tour of colonial and modern Lima, visiting the Lima cathedral and the church and convent of San Francisco amongst other places of interest. After lunch, which is included in your tour at La Bistecca, you will visit a museum of your choice, for example the Gold Museum or the National History Museum. It´s a full day of sightseeing in this crazy but historic metropolis. This evening you will enjoy dinner and a show at one of our favorite restaurants where you will hear traditional music and see dances from all over Peru.  

Alternative "Culture and Contrasts" Lima City Tour

Day 3

This morning you will be transferred back to Lima airport by your driver for your short flight (1 hour) to Cusco.  Upon arrival in Cusco you will be met by a driver and an English-speaking guide for your 1 hour drive to your lovely hotel in the Sacred Valley of the Incas.

There are a number of reasons for taking you straight down to the valley, the most important of which is the altitude. As the Sacred Valley is several hundred meters lower than Cusco it is therefore at a more comfortable altitude for your arrival in the highlands. You then have time to acclimatize before you go back to Cusco. The hotel where you will be staying is the lovely Aranwa Hotel with the largest spa in Latin America (we include a massage session for you). You will then have a free afternoon and evening to enjoy the hotel and its facilities in the beautiful setting of the sunny valley.

• Video - Aranwa Modern Hotel
• Video - Aranwa Historic Hotel

Day 4

After pick-up from your hotel today you will enjoy a full day sightseeing tour of the Sacred Valley of the Incas. We will be visiting the Inca ruins and market at Pisac, the market is a great place to buy souvenirs and then the lovely Inca site at Ollantaytambo. You will have private transport, a driver and an English-speaking guide, plus a great buffet lunch in Yucay. You will then spend a second night down in the valley at the Aranwa Hotel.

Day 5

Today you will catch the luxury train to Machu Picchu. The Hiram Bingham service runs between Cusco and Machu Picchu and you will board the train in Ollantaytambo therefore allowing a more comfortable later start to your day. The distinctive blue and gold colors and elegant interior upholstery throughout the cars; 2 dining cars, a bar / observation car and a kitchen car really set the tone. English speaking guides are present on the train during the journey to give general information.
 
Upon arrival in Aguas Calientes your baggage will be taken care of and will be at your hotel for when you finish your tour. There is a spectacular 20-minute bus journey from Aguas Calientes up to the Machu Picchu ruins. Arrival at Machu Picchu at around 1pm gives passengers the advantage of entering the site at an hour when the majority of the visitors are already beginning to leave for their journey back to Cusco.

You will then enjoy an intimate small group tour of Machu Picchu led by a qualified English speaking guide before having some free time to explore the site by yourselves.  A light lunch will be served at the Sanctuary Lodge Hotel near the site entrance. Later on in the afternoon you will return to Aguas Calientes by bus and to your excellent hotel for the night. You will be staying at the Inkaterra Pueblo Hotel .

Hiram Bingham train description

Day 6

Today you will be able to visit the site again, with a private guide or on your own if you wish, the choice is yours. There is an early bus back to Machu Picchu at 05.30 to enable you to enjoy the sunrise (not guaranteed of course!) over the ruins if that attracts you. The bus and re-entry tickets are included in the price of your tour. Soak up the scenery and history of the place before taking the bus back down to catch the Hiram Bingham train back to Cusco.

During the return journey pre-dinner cocktails will be served in the bar accompanied by some live entertainment before passengers enjoy a 4-course, à la carte dinner, in the dining cars. The train pulls into Poroy station at around 9.30pm. You will be met at the train station and returned to your hotel in Cusco via a short road journey where another Peruvian gift from us awaits you in your room at the fabulous Monasterio Hotel.

Day 7

Today is a day for sightseeing around Cusco. In the morning you will enjoy a half day Cusco city tour visiting the Inca fortress of Sacsaywaman and other outlying sites, the Cusco cathedral and the most important temple of the Inca Empire, Coricancha, or Inca Temple of the Sun. You will then be free for the rest of the day to enjoy other Cusco attractions under your own steam or just sit in the plaza people watching.

On your last evening in Cusco feel free to wander the historic center a little more before dinning out, it is a truly beautiful city after dark (if a little cold!).

For restaurant suggestions please click here.

Day 8

Today you will be transferred to Cusco airport for your short flight back to the capital. In Lima you will be able to connect with your international flights home, but if you plan to stay longer we can arrange further hotels and sightseeing. You may also choose to connect with another of our vacations in Peru or elsewhere in Latin America.

All hotels are subject to availability at time of booking, there are many excellent options in addition to those shown above. Several room upgrades are available on this tour if you wish to discuss the options, although all the hotels are of a very high standard anyway. We can also offer extensions to other parts of Peru at a similar tour standard, the Nazca Lines, Lake Titicaca or the Amazon Jungle for example.

To see our entire range of Peru tours please CLICK HERE.