Journeys: Explore Machu Picchu
Experience Overview
Delve into the historical mysteries and cultural treasures of Peru on this compact adventure. Discover UNESCO World Heritage sites—including the mountaintop citadel of Machu Picchu and historic Cusco—alongside knowledgeable local guides. Travel across the snowcapped peaks of the Andes, and get a glimpse of the ancient traditions that continue to endure in the misty valleys.
Highlights
- Explore ancient ruins in the Sacred Valley with our expert guide
- Take in mountain views on the scenic train to Machu Picchu
- Enjoy traditional treats and foods
Trip Details
Product Code: 2864
Tour Type: Small Group
Accommodation: Moderate
Transport: Private van, train, plane, walking.
Guide Language: English
Travel Styles:
National Geographic Journey, Extreme Adventures
Tour Operator:
G Adventures
Supplier Code: SPENG
Starts: Lima, Peru
Finishes: Lima, Peru
Duration: 8 days
Departures: Guaranteed
Physical Rating:
Average
Includes
Activities
- Your Journeys Highlight Moment: Traditional Andean Experience, Urubamba Your Journeys Highlight Moment: Cusco Planetarium, Cusco Your G for Good Moment: Parque de la Papa (Potato Park), Pisac Your G for Good Moment: Parwa Community Restaurant the Sacred Valley, Lamay Your Discover Moment: Cusco
- Arrival transfer
- Two-day Sacred Valley tour including Ollantaytambo, Moray, and Pisac ruins and pre-Inca salt pans
- Traditional pachamanca-style dinner
- Scenic train and guided tour of Machu Picchu
- Internal flights
- All transport between destinations and to/from included activities
Accommodation
- Hotels (7 nts).
- 7 breakfasts, 1 lunch, 1 dinner
Transport
- Private van, train, plane, walking.
Group Leader
- CEO (Chief Experience Officer) throughout, local guides.
Price
Price per person: (Double Occupancy) CAD $2,879 ($360 /day)
Itinerary
Day 1: Lima
Arrive at any time. Arrival transfer is included.
Get ready for a very busy tour exploring the best of Peru in a week. We recommend booking a pre-night in Lima (in particular if your flight arrives into Lima in the evening) to recover from international flights and rest up before the excitement.
Day 2: Lima/Urubamba
Board an early flight to Cusco, once the capital of the Inca empire, then drive to Urubamba through the scenic Sacred Valley. Explore the terraced salt pans of Maras, which have been used for salt extraction since pre-Inca times, and tour the Inca site of Moray—believed to have been an agricultural laboratory where priests would test soils and crops. Later, we'll enjoy a meal of local specialities, prepared in a pachamanca, or underground stone oven.
Day 3: Urubamba
Continue exploring the Sacred Valley with a visit to the G Adventures–supported Parque de la Papa, or Potato Park, a rural Andean community working to preserve hundreds of varieties of native potato. During this exclusive experience, you'll walk through the park with a local guide to learn about potato cultivation, traditional weaving, and the importance of both these practices to Andean culture. We'll also tour the fascinating Inca ruins of Ollantaytambo and Pisac and enjoy a meal at the G Adventures–supported Parwa Community Restaurant in Huchuy Qosqo.
Day 4: Urubamba/Aguas Calientes
Catch an early transfer to the Ollantaytambo station and board a train to Aguas Calientes, the gateway to Machu Picchu. Ride through lush Andean scenery, enjoying breathtaking views of ancient ruins and everyday life. Settle into your hotel in Aguas Calientes, and choose from a variety of optional activities: take a relaxing soak in the local hot springs, visit a beautiful botanical garden, or wander the handicraft stalls in town as you prepare for an early start the following day to go up to Machu Picchu.
Day 5: Aguas Calientes/Cusco
This morning, embark on a guided tour of Machu Picchu—the 15th-century Inca citadel famously introduced to the world by archaeologist Hiram Bingham in the April 1913 issue of National Geographic magazine. After being taken through the temples and terraces of this awe-inspiring UNESCO World Heritage site, return to Cusco by train.
Day 6: Cusco
Spend the day exploring charming Cusco. Opt to visit Plaza de Armas, the historic main square; the 15th-century Sacsayhuaman fortress; or some of the city's museums and ornate churches. This evening, we'll head to the Cusco Planetarium to learn about the importance of astronomy to the ancient Inca and, weather permitting, look out at the glittering, starry sky through telescopes.
Please remember that star gazing is completely weather dependent and sometimes there can be cloudy skies.
Day 7: Cusco/Lima
Fly back to Lima. Spend the rest of the day at your leisure or choose to take a half-day guided tour of the Peruvian capital. Visit the San Francisco Monastery, part of Lima's World Heritage-listed historic center, and descend into its famed catacombs. Wander across Plaza Mayor, the city's oldest public square, and enjoy Peruvian tapas and a tasting of pisco sours before returning to your hotel.
Day 8: Lima
Depart at any time.
Similar Tours
Tour Operator
G Adventures
G Adventures is an operator of small-group escorted tours. It is based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada with 28 offices worldwide. It offers more than 700 itineraries in more than 100 countries, and carries 200,000 travelers from 160 countries each year.
In Business Since 1990
Reviews
Mike - Traveled, August 2023
We had a wonderful time. Everyone we interacted with at G Adventures was amazing, including a late night visit from a doctor. Highly recommend this tour!
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 09/12/2023
mary ann - Traveled, March 2020
Our guide was exceptionally helpful and knowledgeable. The tour was fast paced but I wouldn’t have missed anything we saw. Only comment I can offer to help: emphasize how much easier it is to convert your money to soles rather than deal with American dollars.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 03/11/2020
Linda - Traveled, December 2019
I really enjoyed the tour. If I could ask for anything different, it would have been more opportunities to interact with the local community for a more immersive cultural experience.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 01/11/2020
Liliana· - Traveled, October 2019
Excellent itinerary that went to all the places I wanted to visit in the Sacred Vally culminating in Machu Picchu. The guides were funny , knowledgeable and always kept us informed on where we were going and what to expect. They answered all questions swiftly and gave us advise on where to eat or shop .
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 11/15/2019
Sharon - Traveled, October 2019
This tour was great! Alim was amazing and took very good care of us. My one suggestion is it would have been nice to know how much walking and climbing was expected during the tour.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 10/21/2019
Yasmine - Traveled, June 2019
It was a trip of a lifetime. It didn’t disappoint
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 08/08/2019
Marie - Traveled, February 2019
I really enjoyed my tour, small group was great, hotel breakfast was ok. One hotel had construction all day and couldn't relax in my room.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 03/07/2019
john - Traveled, October 2018
Outstanding first trip to Peru! Amazing opportunity to get a nice overview of Lima and Cusco. Travelling through the Andes and hiking the last 7 miles of the Inca Trail were priceless.This trip gives a broad overview of a LOT but obviously to really get into more detail on any given region.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 10/22/2018
Hasan - Traveled, June 2018
Fantastic tour, lovely food and great guide. Had enough time everywhere except Cusco..could have done with an extra day or two there, so it's worth adding extra days to your tour to do more activities around Cusco.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 07/17/2018
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