Compare Lima, Cuzco, Machu Picchu and Sacred Valley- Most Adventurous Tour by Yampu Tours vs Peru with Machu Picchu 2023 Classic Group by Insight Vacations

Day 1

Overnight flight to Lima.

Day 2

Upon arrival, you will be met by our staff to assist you with your connecting flight to Cusco. Upon arrival in Cusco, you will be greeted and transferred to your hotel. This afternoon is at your leisure to acclimate. Cusco’s elevation is approximately 3,400 meters (11,200 feet), so we highly recommend resting as soon as you arrive for a few hours and taking in some coca tea.

Note: Check-in is normally after 2 pm. Early check-in may be granted subject to availability (not confirmed). Also, if you take a day flight to Lima, we can accommodate a night at the airport hotel (at extra cost). Please ask your Yampu Travel Consultant.

Day 3

This morning enjoy a private walking tour of Cusco where you will visit the Korikancha Temple, or Temple of the Sun, and the Cathedral and its Art Museum. During your private tour today you have the option to visit the Casa Concha museum or the San Pedro Market.

The Casa Concha museum was recently renovated and houses over 360 archaeological pieces from Machu Picchu, recently returned by Yale University.

San Pedro Market is a lively, local market where you will receive a briefing about the local Andean ingredients and have an opportunity to purchase them. This market visit is a great opportunity to interact with the locals either selling or purchasing items from the market.

This afternoon there will be time for lunch before continuing to the nearby water shrine of Tambomachay (the Inca Fountains), Puca Pucara (the Red Fortress), the amphitheater of Kenko and finally the Sacsahuaman Fortress. This afternoon, return to your hotel for an evening at your leisure.

Note: For more adventurous travelers, we suggest an optional sunset horse back riding tour through the Sacsahuaman Ruins. Please ask your Yampu Travel Consultant for more information.

Day 4

This morning you will depart for the Urubamba River located in the Sacred Valley of the Incas (north of Cusco). Here your guide will give you an introductory lesson on safety and equipment for your rafting trip along the Urubamba. Your tour will last for approximately two hours in rapids of varying classes, II, III, IV+, and V, depending on the route selected based on your ability and the season. The Ollantaytambo Class III runs from May to December; the Quiquijana Class III from December to May; and the Chuquicahuana Class III, IV and V also December to May. The Chuquicahuana is the hardest route and will have a safety guide in the kayak with you at all times. We recommend the harder route only for those with expert experience.

After your rafting tour of the Urubamba River, you will enjoy lunch at a local restaurant. After lunch you have the unique opportunity to support the local community of Cachiccata in the Sacred Valley by planting a tree to help the ongoing reforestation process in Peru. If time does not allow, a member of the Yampu team will be able to plant the tree for you in the community.

Day 5

This morning you will transfer to Chincheros to enjoy a bike tour. You will have a brief discussion before beginning your biking adventure, passing by the Huaypo lagoon, and the archaeological site of Moray and the salt mines of Salineras. This tour ends in Urubamba, where you will enjoy lunch before returning to your hotel for an afternoon at your leisure.

Day 6

This morning you will transfer to the train station. The train takes us through the Sacred Valley of the Incas up to the town of Aguas Calientes. From here, you will board a bus to the mountain-top citadel of Machu Picchu. You will then have a guided tour of the ruins. Machu Picchu, the Lost City of the Incas, was a flourishing ceremonial and agricultural site, probably the gateway to the jungle marshes of the Inca Empire. The central buildings were erected with the polished stone works of the Cusco imperial style, though the site was probably occupied well before the Incas started their expansion. It was associated with the earth cult revolving around the coca leaf, which was a privilege of the Inca royal family and priests. You will have time to enjoy a light lunch or snack and return to your hotel at your leisure. In the evening, we will enjoy a wonderful dinner at the hotel or in the village of Aguas Calientes.

Note: Government regulations limit the number of visitors to Machu Picchu daily. Entrance is subject to availability. Please book with plenty of notice so we may confirm your entrance to the ruins for today and tomorrow.

Day 7

This morning you will be met at your hotel for hike through the ruins up to Inti Punku or the Sungate for an unforgettable view of ruins as you watch the sunrise. For those who are most adventurous, you may want to enjoy a hike to Huayna Picchu (which means Young Mountain). This hike is quite steep and sometimes exposed. In the afternoon you will board the train to return to Cusco. Upon arrival, train station reception and transfer to your hotel.

Note: Government regulations restrict the amount of hikers on Huayna Picchu daily. If you are interested in this hike please notify your Yampu Travel Consultant at booking so we may confirm your entrance (subject to availability).

Day 8

This morning you will transfer to the airport to take the flight to Lima. Upon arrival in Lima you will be greeted for airport reception and transferred to your hotel.

This afternoon enjoy a tour of Lima’s Bay by bike, discovering the best spots of the city. You will enjoy a visit to Barranco, the old and bohemian neighborhood of the city, and its mansions, bars and parks. Your tour also visits the neighborhood of Chorrillos with its old fishing pier, beaches, and promenade. Finally, you will bike through the vibrant district of Miraflores with its amazing cliff edge sidewalks and parks that overlook the ocean. This tour will also give you the opportunity to view the many old houses, colonial mansions and some of the best restaurants in Lima, well-known for its cuisine. You will enjoy a snack in a traditional old bar or cafe in the area before returning to your hotel in Lima for an evening at your leisure.

Note: You may also chose to participate in tandem paragliding flights today with an experienced instructor. Due to weather conditions, bookings must be done and paid for locally.

Day 9

Today you will transfer to the airport for your international flight home.

Day 1: Welcome to Lima

Arrive in Lima for the first day of your journey. In the evening meet your Travel Director and fellow travelers at the hotel bar for a welcome dinner and drinks.

Day 2: Explore Lima Relaxed Start

Explore the colourful capital of Peru this morning with your Local Expert. Delve into its colonial past and see key attractions, including the Cathedral of Lima, the Government Palace, the Archbishop’s Palace and City Hall. Visit the San Francisco Monastery and its underground cemetery. One for those with an appreciation for art, head to Museo Larco, a private museum located in Lima’s Pueblo Libre District. It is the highest-rated museum in South America and houses the largest collection of Pre-Columbian art. Indulge in a Highlight Lunch with an 18th-century garden as your backdrop. After lunch, meet a local guide who will take you around the Museo Larco and share the museum’s private collection with you. Delve into Peruvian culture, its ancient history and the country's religious beliefs. Return to your hotel and enjoy an evening at leisure.

Day 3: Lima to Sacred Valley

Take a transfer to the airport in the morning, where you'll catch your flight to the ancient capital of Cusco. Begin your tour of the Sacred Valley, while taking in impressive views on your scenic drive along the way. After a few stunning photo stops, enjoy lunch at Altar Inca, surrounded by some of the most impressive views of the region. Enjoy a leisurely trip to your hotel for the next couple of nights, where the evening is yours to do as you please. We recommend that you rest in order to adjust to the altitude comfortably.

Day 4: Explore Sacred Valley Relaxed Start

Start the morning off with a visit to the Maras salt pans, where the Incas harvested their salt. Today, the salt from Maras is exported to the entire world. Move on to an Incan laboratory in Moray, an archaeological site close to Cusco. Find out more about the ideal altitude to grow crops in the Sacred Valley. Join a MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® experience as you visit a local traditional Quechua weaver in the Sacred Valley and learn about the importance these textiles have in shaping personal and regional identities. Afterward, make your way to Laguna Piuray, where you’ll enjoy a Pachamanca, a traditional Peruvian feast, for your Highlight Lunch. In the evening, transfer to Hacienda Huayoccari, where you'll discover this gem of the Sacred Valley while exploring its grounds and small museum. Sit down for a special Peruvian dinner before heading back to your hotel, the luxurious Aranwa Sacred Valley Hotel.

Day 5: Explore Machu Picchu

Transfer to the station for your IncaRail train ride. Enjoy lunch on your way to Machu Picchu pueblo, the gateway village to Machu Picchu. On the way, visit the Ollantaytambo ruins, followed by a stop at a local house in the village’s cobblestoned old town and visit with the family living there. In the afternoon, visit Machu Picchu, where you’ll meet your Local Experts for a guided visit in small groups. They will take you through the ruins and explain their historical and archaeological significance, as well as the importance of their location. Set high in the Andes Mountains, it offers spectacular scenery and history, dating back to the 15th century. End your day with a relaxing dinner and drinks at your hotel.

Day 6: Machu Picchu at Leisure

Take in the breathtaking landscapes of Machu Picchu for a second time. Spend your morning exploring at your own pace, with your Travel Director on hand to answer any queries you may have. The afternoon is yours at leisure. Relax back at your hotel or perhaps explore the town of Aguas Calientes on your own. Spend the evening as you please before sitting down to a Highlight Dinner with your fellow travelers.

Day 7: On to Cusco

After breakfast, return by train to Ollantaytambo, where you will transfer to the ancient city of Cusco. Once the capital of the Inca Empire, Cusco showcases a mix of Spanish colonial architecture, ancient remains and a lively cosmopolitan scene for modern inhabitants. On arrival in Cusco, head out on a walking tour with a Local Expert. Visit its cathedral and the Korikancha temple, the most important temple in the Inca Empire. The evening is yours at leisure. Ask your Travel Director for local restaurant and bar recommendations.

Day 8: Exploring Cusco

Start your day with a walking tour of Sacsayhuaman, a citadel built in the reign of Pachacuti Inca Yupanqui, the ninth Sapa Inca of the Kingdom of Cusco. Afterward, choose to join a local expert on a guided hike of the Inca ruins at Puca Pucara. Alternatively you can explore the artisan bohemian neighborhood of San Blas and visit the prestigious art galleries. After lunch at Pachapapa, visit San Blas Church and the surrounding streets, before making your way to San Pedro Market, where you will find local produce. Later, make your way to the city’s planetarium, for a private, after-hours tour. Learn about astronomy, cosmology, and its influence on Andean culture. While here, try some local delicacies paired with hot wine.

Day 9: Leisure time in Cusco Relaxed Start

Choose between an optional visit to Rainbow Mountain, the ChocoMuseo, where you’ll learn more about the chocolate making process, or perhaps relax and simply enjoy the facilities at your hotel? Set in a beautiful 16th century building, make the most of this boutique hotel’s signature spa and Andean-inspired healing treatments, massages, facials and custom spa packages. In the evening, join your fellow travelers for a memorable Celebration Dinner at Calle del Medio, where you will toast to your adventures and end of your trip.

Day 10: Depart Cusco

It’s time to say goodbye to your fellow travelers as your trip comes to an end. Take a private transfer to Alejandro Velasco Astete International Airport.