12-Nights Peru with Machu Picchu & the Nazca Lines - Small Group from $7,790

Insight Vacations

OFFER ID 1515185

Peru With Machu Picchu & The Nazca Lines - Small Group
Feast on Peruvian delicacies in Lima, tour the ancient Korikancha temple in Cusco and adventure through the Ollantaytambo ruins of Machu Picchu, on this 13-Day exploration of Peru. Embark on a Private Planetarium Tour in Cusco and uncover the influence of astronomy on Andean culture. Join a Local Expert in Machu Picchu for a guided tour through the ancient ruins-set high in the Andes against breathtaking backdrops. Visit the salt pans of Maras in the Sacred Valley where the Incas used to harvest the mineral and visit with a local Quechua Weaver to learn their ancient weaving techinques in a private presentation. In Paracus, be sure to pause at the Pisco distillery to sample this tasty local aperitif.

Dining Summary

12 Breakfast (B)
6 Lunch (L)
6 Dinner with Wine (DW)

Choice Highlights

Choose between two carefully selected activities
Cusco: Explore the bohemian neighborhood of San Blas and visit the prestigious art galleries.
Cusco: Join a guided hike of the Inca ruins in Puca Pucara.

Additional Included Highlights

Prices include economy air and air-related charges for the flights between Lima - Cusco. This trip experiences high elevations, we recommend guests with preexisting medical conditions talk with a doctor prior to travel.

Authentic Dining

Lima: Make your way to Lima's Pueblo Libre District and indulge on a lunch in the Museo Larco's 18th century garden.
Sacred Valley: Make your way to the small lagoon of Laguna Piuray where you’ll enjoy your lunch of Pachamanca, a traditional Peruvian feast.
Cusco: Enjoy an immersive slow-cooked Cusquenian lunch at Pacha Papa. Lunch will be served al fresco at the courtyard of a historic mansion in the artsy neighborhood of San Blas.
Cusco: In the evening, join your fellow travelers for a memorable Celebration Dinner at Calle del Medio, where you'll enjoy innovative interpretations of classic Peruvian Creole dishes while toasting to your new adventures.
Lima: Unwind at your luxury abode, before meeting your Travel Director and fellow travelers in the evening for a dinner.

Insight Choice

Cusco: Explore the bohemian neighborhood of San Blas and visit the prestigious art galleries.
Cusco: Join a guided hike of the Inca ruins in Puca Pucara.

Insight Experiences

Machu Picchu: Enjoy a guided visit with a Local Expert.
Cusco: Visit Cusco's planetarium to learn more on how the Incas interpreted the stars. After a reception with hot wine (or tea) and appetizers, local experts will explain and share stories about the influence the stars had on Andean culture. You'll then be led to a room specially accommodated to view the ancient night skies, weather permitting.
Paracas: Take to the skies on your Peru tour to see the iconic Nazca Lines, archaeological enigmas scratched in the ground 500 B.C. and A.D. 500. Gaze down in awe of these massive designs and patterns you can only view from above. Your private flight will show you many of the lines, complete with their names and a bit of history. From above, you’ll observe the different types: straight, geometric (such as triangles, rectangles, trapezoids, spirals, arrows, zigzags, and wavy lines), and pictorial (including a spider, hummingbird, cactus plant, monkey, whale, llama, duck, flower, tree, lizard, dog, and even a mysterious humanoid figure). Some of the animal geoglyphs are up to 1,200 feet long! You’ll also learn why the Nazca culture created these lines in the desert plains of the Rio Grande de Nazca River basin and how the Nazca people were able to carve out such massive designs.

Make Travel Matter

Sacred Valley: Visit a local traditional Quechua weaver in the Sacred Valley for a private textile presentation. You'll learn about ancient weaving techniques and the importance these textiles have in shaping personal and regional identities.

Top Rated Highlights

Cathedral of Lima: This morning, explore Peru's buzzing capital with your Local Expert, including the Cathedral of Lima, the Government Palace, the Archbishop’s Palace and City Hall.
Lima: After lunch, meet a local guide who will take you around the Museo Larco, a private museum located in Lima's Pueblo Libre District and home to the largest collection of Pre-Columbian art.
Sacred Valley: The Maras Salt Mine will inspire the mind of any curious traveler. Learn how salt once harvested by Incas at this site is now exported to the entire world. Discover how the Incas found a water stream with high salt content and learned - in Pre-Incan times - how to build terraces to extract salt. You’ll be amazed at how, to this day, it is not known where the water actually comes from and has only been measured in the last 20 years during which the flow and intensity has not changed.
Sacred Valley: Peru’s Incan history and archaeology will inspire the mind of any curious traveler. At the Moray Incan laboratory northwest of Cusco, learn how the Incas determined the ideal altitude to grow crops in the Sacred Valley. You’ll be fascinated by how this ancient culture learned how to build these terraced circular depressions on a high plateau at an altitude of about 11,500 feet and experimented with different kinds of soils and temperatures to grow their crops.
Machu Picchu: Transfer to the station for your 360° IncaRail train ride. This train ride offers an unforgettable experience journeying through the Andes Mountains in style with large panoramic views allowing guests to enjoy the amazing scenery of the lush mountains and the Urubamba River en route to Machu Piccu Pueblo.
Sacred Valley: On the way, visit the Ollantaytambo ruins, consisting of a large fortress built in the 1400s, a steppe

12 nights from $7,790 per person

Itinerary

Click here for Full Itinerary Details

Itinerary Details

Insight Vacations: Peru with Machu Picchu & the Nazca Lines - Small Group

Day 1 - Arrive Lima
Arrive in Lima for the first day of your Nazca excursion. Situated in southern Peru, Nazca Lines is made up of around 300 geoglyphs, spread over 500 square meters. These include impressive animal and plant drawings. In the evening, meet your Travel Director and fellow travelers at the hotel bar for a welcome drink.
Accommodations: MGallery Manto, Lima

Day 2 - Coastal Paracas Relaxed Start
In the morning, head out on a leisurely coastal drive to the beach town of Paracas. Known for its sandy beaches, wildlife and the Paracas Candelabra geoglyph, you'll take in the area from above with an aircraft ride over the mysterious Nazca Lines. This top-rated highlight is truly the best way to experience this stunning UNESCO World Heritage Site in all its glory. In the evening, catch up on your day, as you enjoy dinner with your fellow travelers at your luxury hotel.
Accommodations: Paracas, a Luxury Collection Resort
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner with Wine

Day 3 - Ballestas Islands and Peruvian Wildlife
Have your cameras at the ready as you head out on a scenic cruise to the Ballestas Islands famous for their rock formations and marine life. Explore this beautiful area before heading to the nearby city of Ica for lunch. Visit a pisco distillery for a tasting of the local spirit, followed by a stop at a local museum, where you’ll learn more about the city’s culture. With the rest of your evening free, take the opportunity to relax at your beautiful resort right on the beach. Take a cooling dip in one of their two swimming pools or stroll through the fragrant gardens.
Accommodations: Paracas, a Luxury Collection Resort
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Day 4 - Coastal Peru and Lima
The final day of your Nazca extension will begin by the coast. Meet a local fisherman who will talk to you about their daily life and routine. Later, enjoy lunch at a historic hacienda on your way to Lima. You’ll get a tour of the plantation and learn more about a dark chapter in Peruvian history and the area’s heart-breaking past of slavery in the cotton business. You’ll also visit the long tunnels which were used to bring slaves from the coast to the hacienda. Unwind at your luxury abode, before meeting your Travel Director and fellow travelers in the evening for a Welcome Dinner with drinks.
Accommodations: MGallery Manto, Lima
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner with Wine

Day 5 - Explore Lima Relaxed Start
Explore the colorful 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 Casa Aliaga, an impressive mansion that has been home to the Aliaga family for 17 generations. 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 Expert 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.
Accommodations: MGallery Manto, Lima
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Day 6 - 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.
Accommodations: Aranwa Sacred Valley Hotel & Wellness, Urubamba
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Day 7 - 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.
Accommodations: Aranwa Sacred Valley Hotel & Wellness, Urubamba
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner with Wine

Day 8 - Explore Machu Picchu Relaxed Start
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.
Accommodations: Sumaq Machu Picchu, Aguas Calientes
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner with Wine

Day 9 - Machu Picchu at Leisure Relaxed Start
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.
Accommodations: Sumaq Machu Picchu, Aguas Calientes
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner with Wine

Day 10 - On to Cusco Relaxed Start
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 Qorikancha 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.
Accommodations: JW Marriott El Convento, Cusco
Meals: Breakfast

Day 11 - Exploring Cusco Relaxed Start
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.
Accommodations: JW Marriott El Convento, Cusco
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Day 12 - Leisure time in Cusco Relaxed Start
Choose the optional visit to 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.
Accommodations: JW Marriott El Convento, Cusco
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner with Wine

Day 13 - Chincha and return to Lima
Lands so rich with history they will leave you spellbound. Embark on your return to Lima, stopping at Hacienda San José in Chincha. On your insightful tour, learn how this former slave plantation portrays a dark chapter of Peruvian history. Tour the original building and baroque chapel, viewing frescoes, agricultural equipment, a web of catacombs and underground tunnels which were used to bring the slaves from the coast to the Hacienda. After immersing yourself in Peru’s history, your tour concludes with a drop-off at the Lima airport.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Featured Destinations

Cuzco

The Cuzco (Cusco) region of Peru combines Inca legacy with Spanish colonial architecture in an atmosphere at once provincial and sublime. The chaotic marketplaces where campesinos barter grain or potatoes for multi-colored fabric belie the mute spirituality of the Lost Cities, where Inca stonework conveys order and balance. Such diversity enhances this inspiring nine-day adventure. The blue sky radiates with an intensity achieved only at high altitudes (the city of Cuzco lies 11,150 feet above sea level), while the landscape offers its unique pattern of exacting agricultural grids and tangled jungle masses.

Excursions

CUZCO: Pottery workshop by Totemiq - 3 hours

Machu Picchu

Sacred Valley

Paracas Bay

Lima

Lima, "the City of the Kings," became the effective capital of the Viceroyalty of Peru, established 1560. Today, a visit to Lima may serve as a unique Peruvian experience that offers a glimpse into the Andean world, Spanish tradition and the country's modern aspect. Visit handsome old buildings and baroque churches that testify to the city's religious background and the Plaza de Armas, shared by the realms of the Catholic church, municipality and national government. The pre-Inca ruins of Pachacamac lie a short distance south of the city. Once a ceremonial site, Pachacamac has been the most important religious center of the Andean world since before the age of Christ. Stop and admire The Temple of the Sun and the Moon, Lima's outstanding museums, and Machu Picchu - a "Jewel in the Mist."

Excursions

LIMA: Lima´s boardwalks and gastronomic experience - 4 hours

LIMA: Participative cocktail class offered by Hotel B - 1.5 hours

Huacas and Shrines on a bike (Lima - 4 hours)

Lima is a big and modern city, it has been in continuous occupation for almost 2,000 years. Scholars have found more than 30 archaeological sites at different locations within the city limits. “HUACAS” are pyramidal constructions with superimposed platforms ending on a flat top, they were used for religious and administrative purposes by prehispanic civilizations along the Peruvian coast.
Our specialized Guide and his assistant will pick you up at the hotel with the bikes and the necessary equipment for the activity. After the briefing you will ride along one of the principal avenues of Lima towards the heart of Miraflores while enjoying the architecture and everyday life of the city folks. The first stop is at Huaca Pucllana, built 1,300 years ago, this visit is a great introduction to the history of Lima, traditions, cuisine and economic activities of ancient inhabitants. Then, we continue to the commercial and financial district, San Isidro, to visit Huaca Huallamarca, which has been through a magnificent restoration by the City Hall, you´ll appreciate the contrast between history and modern life. Finally, we return to the hotel completing a 12 km circuit on the bike. This activity is offered for mornings and afternoons. It lasts for 4 hours. The advantage of being at sea level and our moderate weather is that we can provide it all year round. We include a vehicle as support in case someone in the group decides to stop biking during the tour.

Highlights:

Huacas, pyramidal constructions
Bike to admire the arquitecture

Tour Duration: 4 hours
Tour can operate: the morning or afternoon
Wheelchair Accessible: No
Physical Activity Level: Moderate/Heavy (we provide a vehicle as support in case someone in the group decides to stop biking during the tour)

Inclusions:

Transportation from/to hotel (as back up)
Guide
Bikes
Assistant
Bottle of water

Not Included:

Items not mentioned in the Included section

Historical and Natural Sanctuaries (Lima - 6 hours)

Walking the history center of Lima (4 hours)

WHAT YOU'LL VISIT
Depart the pier to Lima's main square where the Spanish conqueror, Francisco Pizarro, founded the "City of Kings" in 1535. The Government Palace, Lima City Hall, Archbishop's Palace, and the Lima Cathedral surround the square.
Lima was founded to be the capital and most important town of the Spanish domain in South America until the 18^th century. The Historical Center represents the model of architecture and urban planning of Spanish colonial cities with high political, economic and cultural importance, as devised by Charles V in 1542.
Our expert Guide will take you to the colonial section of Lima, you will walk among historical monuments, religious and political buildings located within the perimeter declared Cultural Heritage by UNESCO in 1988. This learning experience will allow you to appreciate typical examples of Hispanic American baroque style as well as some other different styles like Art Nouveau.
Besides the stops for great pictures of Limenian architecture, you will have the opportunity to visit Casa de Aliaga, a mansion still inhabited by the same family since the foundation of the city, an extraordinary experience that will take you back in time. To finish the experience, we will visit the Dominican Convent, which was the first catholic order to arrive in Perú with Francisco Pizarro and they have a lot of history, traditions, and sainthood to impress our travelers.

Highlights:

Colonial section of Lima
Visit Casa Aliaga, a mansion still inhabited by the same family since the foundation of the city
Dominican Convent

Tour Duration: 4 hours
Tour can operate: daily
Wheelchair Accessible: No
Physical Activity Level: Light/Moderate
Inclusions:

Transportation from/to hotel
Expert Guide
Entrance fees
Bottled water
Snack

Not Included:

Items not mention in the Included section

The Amano Textile Museum (4 hours)

Museo Larco (4 hours)

Vacation Details

Valid Date Ranges

11/17/2024 - 11/29/2024

from $7,790 per person

* This departure has been designated a guaranteed departure by the operator, meaning that the minimum number of guests has been met, although still subject to weather and other conditions.

Prices Start At

from $7,790 per person

Length

12 Nights

Air City

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Vacation Rating

Deluxe

Remarks

Trip prices are per person, land only, based on double occupancy and reflect applicable discounts. Trip prices and discounts are subject to change. Airfare is additional. Tour prices, dates and itineraries are correct at the time of the website going live, however are subject to confirmation at the time of booking. Other restrictions may apply.

All fares are quoted in US Dollars.

OFFER ID

1515185

Reference this number when contacting our agency so we may better serve you. Also keeping this number handy will allow you to locate this document again quickly.

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12-Nights Peru with Machu Picchu & the Nazca Lines - Small Group from $7,790

Itinerary Details

Excursions

CUZCO: Pottery workshop by Totemiq - 3 hours

Excursions

SACRED VALLEY: Hat making lessons at Maras community - 1 hour

Excursions

LIMA: Lima´s boardwalks and gastronomic experience - 4 hours

LIMA: Participative cocktail class offered by Hotel B - 1.5 hours

Huacas and Shrines on a bike (Lima - 4 hours)

Historical and Natural Sanctuaries (Lima - 6 hours)

Walking the history center of Lima (4 hours)

The Amano Textile Museum (4 hours)

Museo Larco (4 hours)

Vacation Details

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