The ancient allure of Machu Picchu and Sacred Valley meet the buzz and bustle of Lima and Cusco.
Starting in the gastronomic capital of Lima, sip pisco sours and admire colonial casas before heading to the rugged beauty of the Sacred Valley. Walk in the footsteps of the Incas as you admire one of the New 7 Wonders of the World rising above the clouds, then finish your trip in ancient, cultural Cusco. Keen to stay longer? Extend your trip with a visit to the fascinating Uros Islands.
Welcome to the Peruvian capital and 'City of the Kings', Lima. Rising above a long coastline of crumbling cliffs this city has a real sense of faded yet romantic grandeur, with historical sights a plenty and a culinary scene that is revered the world over. Settle in to your hotel and meet up with your Travel Director this afternoon, then the rest of the day is free to explore. Head to Parque del Amor to admire the Gaudi style architecture with beautiful views over Lima Bay, or take a wander around popular and bustling Miraflores. Tonight, in celebration of your first night in Peru, dinner should absolutely involve fresh ceviche followed by a tangy Pisco Sour as you toast to sunset.
Trip Summary Accomodation IconHotel - La Hacienda
Optional Experience
La Dama Juana Restaurant And Folklore Show
La Dama Juana Restaurant combines typical Peruvian food with traditional folkloric dancing. The food is served buffet-style in clay pots. As you dine, watch the energetic dancers perform colonial and Inca ceremonial dances. The costumes are colorful and the music is lively. Gratuity included. Total duration is approximately 3 hours. (Minimum 4 Guests)
Adult Price: $65.00*
* The Optionals and pricing listed here are a guideline only and subject to change.
Optional Experience
Magic Circuit Of The Water
The Magic Circuit of the Water is the world's largest fountain complex of beautiful interactive fountains featuring swaying water, colored lights and lasers dancing with the music. The Magic Fountain forces water to a height of more than 250 feet (80 meters). This optional experience is available Wednesday to Sunday. Total duration is approximately 2.5 hours. Gratuity included.
Adult Price: $27.00*
* The Optionals and pricing listed here are a guideline only and subject to change.
Day 2
Lima Sightseeing and Free Time
Today, discover the famous Plaza Mayor and Cathedral. See the Government Palace, Archbishop’s Palace and City Hall. Visit the San Francisco Monastery, an interesting museum featuring mysterious catacombs. Your afternoon is free. This evening join your Travel Director and fellow travellers as you dive deep into the essence of Peruvian food. Feast on an authentic meal at Mangos, a restaurant boasting nearly 15 years of service.
Flying into Cusco, welcome to the Incan capital of the world! Boasting the richest heritage of any South American city, Cusco is a wealth of archaeological greatness and the oldest continuously inhabited city on the continent. It's also the gateway to Machu Picchu, so throbs day and night with visitors exploring its ancient streets. Take in the ornate temples and Incan ruins as you arrive here, before heading to Awana Kancha to visit the regions furry and famous residents - llamas and alpacas. Here you'll also have the chance to learn about the local weaving process, a craft that has been kept alive for thousands of years, and browse different products made from the fur of camelids. Also stopping by Pisac Market, the most famous market in the Cusco region where local indigenous communities from all over come to sell their wares and produce, you'll finally drive the hairpin turned road that will lead you to the Sacred Valley, your stop for tonight.
Trip Summary Accomodation IconHotel - La Casona de Yucay
Today's the day! Up bright and early this morning, you'll travel to the ancient little town of Ollantaytambo to board the train to Agues Calientas, the Incan village at the base of Machu Picchu. Slowly chugging your way through the rugged lands of the Sacred Valley, feel the excitement levels build as you pass by village settlements and towering mountains, the landscape changing the higher you get. Making the last leg of the journey via shuttle, you'll finally arrive at the most famous archaeological site of South America and one of the New 7 Wonders of the World, Machu Picchu. Catching a first glimpse of this awe inspiring ancient city above the clouds is a moment you'll never forget, so be sure to take a few minutes just to soak it all in. Take your time exploring the vast complex of fascinating ruins and let the mind boggle at how it was all built, before descending the mountain and making your way back to the Sacred Valley.
Art fans are in for a treat this morning as you pay a visit to the workshop of Pablo Seminario, a respected artist who creates beautiful pottery using techniques, styles and influences reminiscent of ancient cultures from all across Peru. Keeping things local you'll then pay a visit a family home in Ollantaytambo to sample a drink favoured by the Incas. Made from malted corn and sugar, the taste of Chicha de Jora may be a bit of a crowd splitter but is a little taste of history, so needs must! Continuing on the road to Cusco you'll also stop by the fortress of Sacsayhuaman, a UNESCO World Heritage site that dates back to the 13th century, before arriving back into the Incan capital where the rest of the day will then be free.
Trip Summary Accomodation IconHotel - San Agustin Plaza
Trip Summary Meals IconIncluded Meals - Breakfast
Day 6
Cusco Sightseeing and Free Time
Kick off the final day of your South American Discovery with a sightseeing tour of ancient Cusco. Visit Coricancha, or the 'Temple of the Sun', the most important temple in the Incan Empire, before admiring the bounty of colonial art on display in the Cathedral. Walk down Loreto street and admire the handiwork of Incan stone masons before ending up shopping for local handicrafts in San Pedro market. With the rest of the day then free, why not join us for an Optional Experience visiting Moray and Moras to see Incan farming and salt mining techniques at play, head to 17th century Piquillacta to see the pre Incan citadel built by the Wari people, or treat your sweet tooth with a visit to the Choco Museum to learn more about the Peruvian chocolate making process. Tonight, you'll see out an incredible trip in style with dinner, folklore tales and dancing.
Visit Moray, the Inca agricultural greenhouse or laboratory that consists of four platforms that seem to disappear into a crater. At a depth of 500 feet (150 meters), the overlapping concentric circular stone rings widen as they rise. It was an experimental location the Incas used to study the adaptation of plants with agriculture. Next is the village of Maras, renowned for its ancient salt mines and wells. The salt has been used for economic purposes since the time of the Inca. You will meet the villagers who explain ancient salt mining techniques and have a chance to participate. Total duration is approximately 4 hours. Gratuity included. (Minimum 5 Guests)
Adult Price: $86.00*
* The Optionals and pricing listed here are a guideline only and subject to change.
Optional Experience
Visit and Workshop at Choco Museum
Visit the Choco Museum where you will learn the Peruvian chocolate making process from the cacao bean to the chocolate bar. You will participate in making the chocolate and experience the true feeling of a chocolate maker. Space is limited. Total duration approximately 2.5 to 3 hours. Gratuity included. (Minimum 4 Guests)
Adult Price: $45.00*
* The Optionals and pricing listed here are a guideline only and subject to change.
Day 7
Depart Cusco
1 New Wonder of the World and an incredible 7 days later, your trip will finally come to an end this morning. Leaving with priceless memories, a wealth of new knowledge and a wonderful group of new friends, you'll make your way to the airport today. Not done with Peru just yet? Why not extend your holiday with a few extra days in Puno and Lake Titicaca, or better yet fly on to Ecuador to join a ME to WE volunteering experience where you'll work on a sustainable development project deep in the heart of the Amazon rainforest.
Trip Summary Meals IconIncluded Meals - Breakfast
All optional experiences for this trip
Book with your travel director when you travel
Available on day 1
La Dama Juana Restaurant And Folklore Show
La Dama Juana Restaurant combines typical Peruvian food with traditional folkloric dancing. The food is served buffet-style in clay pots. As you dine, watch the energetic dancers perform colonial and Inca ceremonial dances. The costumes are colorful and the music is lively. Gratuity included. Total duration is approximately 3 hours. (Minimum 4 Guests)
Adult Price: $65.00*
* The Optionals and pricing listed here are a guideline only and subject to change.
Available on day 1
Magic Circuit Of The Water
The Magic Circuit of the Water is the world's largest fountain complex of beautiful interactive fountains featuring swaying water, colored lights and lasers dancing with the music. The Magic Fountain forces water to a height of more than 250 feet (80 meters). This optional experience is available Wednesday to Sunday. Total duration is approximately 2.5 hours. Gratuity included.
Adult Price: $27.00*
* The Optionals and pricing listed here are a guideline only and subject to change.
Available on day 6
Moray And Moras
Visit Moray, the Inca agricultural greenhouse or laboratory that consists of four platforms that seem to disappear into a crater. At a depth of 500 feet (150 meters), the overlapping concentric circular stone rings widen as they rise. It was an experimental location the Incas used to study the adaptation of plants with agriculture. Next is the village of Maras, renowned for its ancient salt mines and wells. The salt has been used for economic purposes since the time of the Inca. You will meet the villagers who explain ancient salt mining techniques and have a chance to participate. Total duration is approximately 4 hours. Gratuity included. (Minimum 5 Guests)
Adult Price: $86.00*
* The Optionals and pricing listed here are a guideline only and subject to change.
Available on day 6
Visit and Workshop at Choco Museum
Visit the Choco Museum where you will learn the Peruvian chocolate making process from the cacao bean to the chocolate bar. You will participate in making the chocolate and experience the true feeling of a chocolate maker. Space is limited. Total duration approximately 2.5 to 3 hours. Gratuity included. (Minimum 4 Guests)
Adult Price: $45.00*
* The Optionals and pricing listed here are a guideline only and subject to change.
All Optional Experiences
The Optionals and pricing listed here are a guideline only and subject to change.
Discover Sacsayhuaman, Coricancha and the famous San Pedro market before enjoying a magical evening featuring an entertaining folklore show
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Lima
Explore the "City of the Kings" and see the Cathedral, Government Palace, Archbishop's Palace, City Hall and visit San Francisco Monastery, famous for its catacombs
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Machu Picchu
Journey to the marvellous citadel of Machu Picchu, one of the New Seven Wonders of the World
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Sacred Valley
Visit the famous Pisac Market and stop at the Awanakancha Living Museum where you may see llamas, alpacas and vicuñas
On every trip
Unique or exclusive to Costsaver, here’s a sample of what’s included in your trip.
Audio Headsets Provided throughout your holiday to enhance your included sightseeing experiences
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Luxury air-conditioned coach
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All internal air included in trip cost
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Cherry-picked hotels, all tried and trusted
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Variety of Optional Experiences
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City orientation tours
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An expert Travel Director and separate driver
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All hotel service charges and tips, baggage handling fees and local taxes
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Train excursion to Machu Picchu
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Trip Notes
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For a trip with more exclusive Insider experiences, more included meals and upgraded hotels, see our Highlights of Peru or In the Footsteps of the Incas itineraries featured in the USA & Canada brochure.
Crossovers: All 2019 departure dates will operate as per the 2019 brochure. Itineraries, duration, hotels and inclusions may vary. Please inquire at the time of booking.
Land and Intra Air: Prices include economy air and air-related charges for the flights between Lima-Cusco, and require purchase of round-trip air travel on LATAM between your gateway city and the itinerary's start and end gateway cities (ticket number required). If flying with another airline between your gateway city and the itinerary's start and end gateway cities, the above prices will be higher.
Please note: This trip experiences high elevations, we recommend guests with preexisting medical conditions talk with a doctor prior to travel.
Passport: Guest passport information for flights is required at time of final payment.
Guaranteed Room Share is not available on this trip.
Trip prices are per person, land only, based on double occupancy and reflect applicable discount. Discounts are subject to availability and may be withdrawn at any time without notice.
Trip prices are correct at the time of the products going live, however are subject to confirmation at the time of booking. All trip information is correct at time of trips going live, however are subject to change - please confirm all details at time of booking.
Twin-share option not available for trips to South America, Costa Rica, Mexico, Alaska, Hawaii or for any holiday & cruise combination, or in Asia and Eastern Mediterranean except Highlights of Turkey (without cruise) & Best of Turkey. It's also not available on Small Group trips. Guided Vacations included in this restriction are Newfoundland and Labrador (DNLA) as well as Panama, the Canal & Beyond (LPAN).
For trips that are part of our Guaranteed Room Share, please note that there is a no smoking policy in all shared rooms. Solo travel is not accepted on guided Family Experiences holidays unless travelling as part of a family group.
