Highlights of Peru
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Experience Overview
You’re in for an adventure on this tour of Peru exploring Inca treasures, wild landscapes, and ancient legends, all topped off with the opportunity to sample classic Peruvian pisco sour. Step back in time at Machu Picchu, get lost in the heady buzz of a local market in Lima and discover textile art from a Quechua scholar.
Highlights
Dining Summary
- 3 Dinner (D)
- 7 Breakfast (B)
- 2 Lunch (L)
Must-see Highlights
- Explore Lima, Machu Picchu and Larco Museum
- Visit San Francisco Monastery, Ollantaytambo Ruins, Historic Sacsayhuaman, Cusco Cathedral, Qorikancha
- Scenic Drive through the Sacred Valley, panoramic train to Machu Picchu
- Scenic Train Ride to Machu Picchu aboard the Vistadome train
How You'll Travel
- Selected hotel dinners plus a locally hosted meal
- 4-star hotel and overnight cruise stays
Be My Guest
- Lima: Explore a local market with Chef Ignacio, then enjoy lunch at his cooking school where you'll learn to cook lomo saltado and craft the perfect Chilcano.
Iconic Experience
- Lima: Take in the highlights of Lima, the 'City of the Kings,' including a panoramic view of the ancient districts. Join a local specialist for a visit to the UNESCO-listed Historic Center. Learn how before it was destroyed by earthquakes in the mid-18th century, observing how the historic buildings display a collaboration between local craftspeople and others from the Old World. Then drive along the coastline as you learn more about the fascinating history of Peru's capital city.
- Cusco: Visit the mystical Incan stronghold of Ollantaytambo. These famous ruins are a massive Inca fortress made of large stone terraces stretching out across a hillside. Walk among the stone platforms, the sun temple of six monoliths and the Princess Baths fountain ― the Baño de la Nusta at the base of the ruins flowing from carved stone into a pool. Over your exploration, learn how the old town is an Inca-era grid of cobblestoned streets and adobe buildings.
- Machu Picchu: Soak in every moment of your Machu Picchu tour in style as you descend to the Lost City in the clouds aboard the Vistadome train. Traveling the Inca Trail, you’ll traverse dramatic landscapes with a panoramic view of the soaring peaks, river, and ruins. Sit back and relax as you enjoy this multi-sensory journey complete with background music, an informative audio commentary highlighting interesting sites, and an included light snack.
- Machu Picchu: Take a shuttle to the top of the mountain where you’ll meet your local specialist for a guided hike of Machu Picchu. You’ll learn about Machu Picchu’s history and the use of each section of including ceremonial, storage, agriculture, temples, astronomical, and observatory as well as the possible reasons why the Incas left Machu Picchu.
- Cusco: Enjoy the flavors of chicha, a Peruvian corn beer. Hear about how chicha is brewed by the local indigenous women and its history dating back to the time of the Incas as a favorite drink of the Andes. Learn about the two types of chicha, alcoholic sour chicha de jora made from fermented jora corn and the non-alcoholic, sweet chicha morada.
- Machu Picchu: The ruins of Machu Picchu beckon yet again and we enjoy one final opportunity to reconnect with its story. Journey to take in the ruins at sunrise spending some time on your own to explore the hill-top fortress. Soak in every moment at this iconic site, making stops at points of interest while your guide shares their insights on the archaeological sites.
- Cusco: Join your Local Specialist for a guided walk through Cusco's colonial center, including the nearby 13th-century Incan settlement of Koricancha. Here in Cusco’s Golden Temple of the Sun dedicated to the Sun God Inti, view the trapezoidal and irregular shapes and rounded edges. Note how the stones fit together and were built simply by placing them on top of each other without using any mortar. This staggered placement also enables them to withstand earthquakes.
- Cusco: Begin your day at the ruins of the UNESCO-listed Sacsayhuamán fortress overlooking Cusco. With zig zagging walls and ruins of giant stones, see how the shape and harmony of the landscape is similar to Machu Picchu. Stroll through this Incan architecture of sacred buildings such as residential buildings, towers, shrines, warehouses, roads and aqueducts. And while you may not be able to take in the grand scale, the complex design is based on the shape of the head of a puma, a sacred animal in Inca spirituality.
- Lima: Join a local specialist for a tour of the Rafael Larco Herrera Museum which houses the largest private collection of pre-Columbian Peruvian art in the world. You'll also explore the extensive collection of Peruvian gold and silver from ancient times. Learn the history of the museum founded by Rafael Larco on July 28th, 1926 in Trujillo followed by in 1958 when Larco moved his collection to Lima to a unique colonial residence built on top of a VIII century pyramid.
Dive into Culture
- Lima: You’re treated to a lesson on how to pour the perfect sour, Peru’s native drink. In the good hands of professional chef Ignacio, the results are sure to be delicious. Ignacio will explain the history of Pisco – a type pf wine, the typical Pisco Sour, and an internationally less known but locally more popular drink called “Chilcano”. This cocktail of pisco, lime juice, Ginger ale and bitters is a refreshing twist on the pisco sour that will have you eager to share the recipe with your friends.
MAKE TRAVEL MATTER®
- Cusco: Visit Manos de la Comunidad weaving center to learn about artistic traditions and the four Andean camels: Llamas, Alpacas, Vicuñas and Guanacos. Then step inside a private area to discover one of the traditions of the Sacred Valley called “linderaje”. This typical tradition of several communities reinforces the borders of each community and involves several customs, one of which is man dancing in typical women’s clothes. Then enjoy an exclusive lunch at a beautiful outdoor space near the Weaving Center. Your visit directly supports United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities.
- Sacred Valley: Meet the artisans working to preserve Peru’s textile heritage through a social project led by Nely Uscapi Levita and José Carlos Sallo Huallpayunca. With a focus on economic empowerment and education, this initiative supports women across Chinchero and beyond, helping them pass down ancestral weaving techniques while improving their livelihoods through sustainable craft. Your visit directly supports United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities.
Trafalgar Difference
- Sacred Valley: Admire your idyllic setting within the Sacred Valley and take in the 18th-century colonial-style features of Sonesta Posadas del Inca Yucay, a former monastery complete with plazas and cobbled streets.
Trip Details
Product Code: 28994
Tour Type: Group Tour
Accommodation: Deluxe
Transport: Private
Guide Language: English
Travel Styles:
Explorer, Budget
Tour Operator:
Trafalgar (CA)
Supplier Code: 104.682B
Starts: Lima, Peru
Finishes: Lima, Peru
Duration: 8 days
Departures: Not Guaranteed
Physical Rating:
Easy
Includes
Whats Included
- An expert Travel Director and professional Driver
- Cherry-picked hotels, all tried and trusted
- All porterage and restaurant gratuities
- All hotel tips, charges and local taxes
- Breakfast daily and up to half of your evening meals
- Must-see sightseeing and surprise extras
- Audio headsets for flexible sightseeing
- Luxury air-conditioned coach with Wi-Fi in most countries or alternative transportation (such as rail journeys)
- A Trafalgar Bonus all Intra-Air Flights: Lima to Cusco and Cusco to Lima, including porter service at all airports.
- Tickets for a ride aboard the Vistadome train to Machu Picchu
- Optional Experiences and free time
- On occasion, hotels of similar standard and location may be utilized.
Price
Price per person: (Double Occupancy) CAD $5325 ($666 /day)
Itinerary
The Capital of the New World extends a warm welcome on your epic voyage through the iconic and unexpected highlights of Peru. Meet your local host on arrival and transfer to your hotel in the upscale shopping district of Miraflores. This evening, you’ll join your Travel Director and fellow travelers for dinner.
Accommodation: SOUMA Lima, Vignette Collection
Meals: Dinner
Connect with the colonial heritage of Francisco Pizzaro’s 'City of Kings', admiring the colonial splendor of Lima’s UNESCO-listed Historic Center, with your Local Specialist. Stand in the birthplace of this ancient, yet modern city, surrounded by the Baroque façades of Cathedral of Lima and Palace of the Union. See the Church of San Francisco and discover its hidden catacombs. Celebrate Lima’s status as the culinary capital of South America and Connect With Locals when you meet Ignacio Barrios, who has worked alongside many of Peru's most award-winning chefs. We visit a local market where Ignacio will explain how Peruvian fruits, vegetables, seafood and meats are the basis of Peruvian cooking. Then, continue to Chef Ignacio's cooking school where we’ll enjoy a demonstration on how to prepare some of Peru's most popular dishes and have an opportunity to sample some at a Be My Guest experience with lunch before spending the rest of the day at leisure.
Accommodation: SOUMA Lima, Vignette Collection
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Fly to Cusco this morning and head straight into the Sacred Valley, where your day begins with a MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience at the Manos de la Comunidad weaving center. You’ll uncover the traditions of the Sacred Valley, called “lindaje”. After a lunch of local flavors, check in to your Stays with Stories experience at Sonesta Posadas del Inca Yucay, a former 18th-century monastery set among peaceful gardens. Later, connect with artisans working to protect Peru’s textile heritage. This MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience helps fund skills training and job creation across villages like Chinchero and Parobamba.
Accommodation: Sonesta Posadas del Inca Yucay
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
The mystical empire of the Incas takes center stage today. We visit the famous Sacred Valley stronghold of Ollantaytambo before boarding the Vistadome train (light snack included) for our epic journey to Machu Picchu, one of the New Seven Wonders of the World. Delve into the mysteries of this once-great civilization, admiring the 15th century stone ruins of temples, palaces and terraces perched high amidst the clouds. Join your local Specialist, who will take you through the ruins and explain their historical and archaeological significance, as well as the importance of their location.
Accommodation: El MaPi
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
The ancient ruins of Machu Picchu beckon again and you have an opportunity to re-connect with this ancient wonder. Board the train to the Sacred Valley, then head to the colonial city of Cusco, stopping en route at a local chicheria. Enjoy the sweet flavors of chicha as you learn how this Peruvian corn beer is brewed by the local women.
Accommodation: Sonqori Boutique Hotel
Meals: Breakfast
Embark on a sightseeing tour of the sacred city of Cusco this morning, admiring the 16th-century Spanish colonial buildings that stand on the foundations of former Inca temples and palaces. See the baroque Cathedral on the Plaza de Armas and 17th-century Church of Santo Domingo. Visit the ruins of the Sacsayhuaman fortress and see nearby warehouses where the Incas once stored their grain. The afternoon is free to explore on your terms.
Accommodation: Sonqori Boutique Hotel
Meals: Breakfast
A leisurely start to your day sees you return to Lima this afternoon. Meet a Local Specialist at the Larco Museum, which houses one of the largest private collections of pre-Columbian art in the world. This evening you'll join your travel companions for dinner in the museum's garden restaurant.
Accommodation: SOUMA Lima, Vignette Collection
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Our discovery of an ancient civilization has come to an end. We transfer to the airport for your onward flight or perhaps extend your stay at the Novotel Lima.
Meals: Breakfast
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Tour Operator
Trafalgar (CA)
Family owned and run since 1920, The Travel Corporation (TTC) is the world leader in immersive travel experiences across an extensive range of travel categories. Each year TTC's 40 award winning hospitality and travel brands connect over 1 million happy travellers to the world. We give you access to the 12 DMC’s behind these brands, so you can build your business by capitalizing on the extensive experience, local expertise, and financial assurance of TTC. LOCAL EXPERTISE The world leaders in travel for over 100 years, we offer unparalleled local expertise with a global footprint. Our 12 DMCs, led by experienced in-destination teams, deliver experience rich travel solutions in more than 80 countries. Additionally, our market based teams are on hand to support across our 40 offices worldwide
In Business Since 1931
Reviews
Shamima Adam - Traveled, March 2025
Discover Peru with Trafalgar Tours. Excellent service, at a consistent high standard. This trip was my 14th Trafalgar trip, and I have already booked my 15th trip with Trafalgar, for later this year. The trip itinerary is beautifully crafted and plays out seamlessly. The places/sites visited, the encounters with locals, the food served, together with the expert leadership of a knowledgeable & passionate Travel Director made for a memorable trip delivered at the high standard of Trafalgar Tours.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 04/19/2025
Angelica D. - Traveled, May 2024
Highlights of Peru May 2024! *Personal information removed by Feefo* was an excellent guide. Funny, knowledgeable, and patient. Trafalgar is lucky to have him on staff. He was even mindful of the little things like carrying extra Kleenex just in case we needed it and he is an amazing photographer. All the staff that I encountered were great. Too many names to remember. The hotels were good. The one in Lima was in my opinion the best; I like that it had USB ports, but the one we stayed at in Cuzco (former palace) had a beautiful center courtyard and a lovely mural painted in my room. The sights, food, and people I met on the Highlights of Peru tour were amazing. *Personal information removed by Feefo* was an excellent guide. He was funny, knowledgeable, and patient. I also enjoyed our visit to the llama farm and Chef *Personal information removed by Feefo* cooking demonstration. My only suggestion is, bring some Kleenex and hand sanitizer. The tour does a good job of finding clean restrooms, but if you are exploring on your own you may find that some restrooms don’t have toilet paper or soap. Safe travels!
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 05/26/2024
Megan Neely - Traveled, March 2025
Highly organized and packed full of activities. This was an amazing trip! The tour guide was so informative and organized! I would highly recommend this trip to anyone who was interested in Peru! Looking forward to my next Trafalgar vacation!
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 04/12/2025
Suzanne Podberesky - Traveled, June 2024
Highly recommend. Highlights of Peru tour. Excellent service by *Personal information removed by Feefo* , our tour guide, as well as numerous bus drivers and additional tour guides. We enjoyed visiting “ *Personal information removed by Feefo* house.” The Highlights of Peru tour was an exceptional experience. Our tour guide, *Personal information removed by Feefo* , was organized, professional, knowledgeable, and personable. While the trip does involve a lot of domestic travel (flights, trains, busses, etc.), everything was organized by Trafalgar, which gave us peace of mind. Highly recommend.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 07/13/2024
Trusted Customer - Traveled, June 2024
Very good service provided by the drivers, tour guides and tour director. Short comprehensive tour of the highlights of Lima, Cuzco, Machu Picchu, and the Sacred Valley. I enjoyed it. Our tour director, *Personal information removed by Feefo*, was wonderful, knowledgeable, patient, well organized and friendly.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 07/08/2024
Kee Koh - Traveled, July 2024
Highlights of Peru - Good Value for the Money, Excellent Tour Service taking care of every details. 1. Excellent Tour Director - *Personal details removed by Feefo* 2. Good Accommodations 3. Good Transportation 4. Take good care of every details 5. Visited Worthwhile Tourist Sites 6. Relaxing Itineraries.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 08/20/2024
Trusted Customer - Traveled, February 2025
Itinerary was great. Our travel guide kept us informed and motivated. He even assisted in our adjustment to the food , culture and atmosphere. My only complaint is that I would have preferred to be seated with my husband on the 2 flights and the train ride. For some reason my husband was matched with a single boisterous lady from Florida. Her behavior in some instances was not appreciated.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 02/23/2025
Trusted Customer - Traveled, September 2024
Some of the scheduled activities were postponed due to time constraints. The experience was amazing but there was a lot of back tracking to see things that we had passed on the way. This lead to a lot of travel time.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 10/15/2024
Funny - Traveled, August 2024
The tour director, guide, Freddy is very knowledgeable and passionate about Peru history and culture. I enjoyed the tour so much. However, I wish we could stay the one night in a hotel out side of Manchu Picchu instead of the town near train station. The hotel in the town wasn't bad but the bags were all over our food at the dining area. This is the reason I gave the tour a 4 star. Over all, it was a good tour.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 09/18/2024
Gerardo Manansala - Traveled, June 2024
Should have better hotels.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 07/10/2024
