Welcome to Peru!
Most flights from North America arrive in the late evening, so we've arranged a room for you right at the airport. Rest well tonight and begin your day fresh in the morning!
Just leave your heavy dive bag here at the airport luggage storage if you are continuing on to Galapagos.
Sunday, 20 June 2027: Lima to Cuzco and Sacred Valley of the Inca
Guests flying on LATAM and Delta can arrive in Lima this morning and join us for breakfast at the Costa del Sol hotel before our flight to Cuzco.
We will meet at the lobby of the hotel to walk across to the airport for the flight to Cuzco.
Upon arrival we will transfer to our hotel in Sacred Valley, a perfect location below Cuzco to acclimatize to the altitude. On the way to the Sacred Valley we will stop at Chinchero, a picturesque Andean town located 28 km from Cuzco at 3,754 meters elevation. Known as the "city of the rainbow," it is famous for its well-preserved Inca walls, a vibrant Sunday market, traditional textile weaving, and a 17th-century colonial church built upon an Inca palace. After exploring this unique place, we will continue our way to our hotel in the Sacred Valley where we will proceed to check-in.
After a couple hours to rest and enjoy the hotel grounds, we will meet at 7pm to enjoy our welcome dinner.
Overnight in Sacred valley
Meals included: Breakfast and Welcome Dinner.
Monday, 21 June 2027: Sacred Valley of the Inca - Machu Picchu
Breakfast at the Hotel. We will meet in the lobby to go to the train station where we will board our Vistadome train to Machu Picchu. The train departs at 7:45 am and arrives in Aguas Calientes at 9:15 am.
Take in the Andean scenery as we descend through the Sacred Valley of the Inca to Aguas Calientes town at the foot of Machu Picchu..
NOTE: Please bring only your duffel bag and a backpack for this one-night stay. The train does not permit larger suitcases. Those can be left with the driver for delivery to the hotel in Cuzco.
After arrival we will leave our bag and carry-ons with the Inka Terra Hotel staff, then ascend to Machu Picchu via a 30 minute bus ride.
Upon arrival at Machu Picchu, visit the Sungate/Inti Punku located on the top of the mountain. Inti Punku is one of the most important archeological remains associated with Machu Picchu. The Sungate is made up of several walls, windows, doors, and rustic terraces of stone.
The hike up is safe and not difficult, more like a longer walk on a gentle uphill grade.
Highlights of the hike: Visit the offering rock – About halfway through the hike you will find a rock, where in Incan times people who came from Cusco used to leave offerings. Nowadays, visitors bring coca leaves. Observe amazing landscapes – From the Sun Gate, you can see Machu Picchu from a different angle that cannot be seen from elsewhere. You will see the Vilcanota river, the Wayna Picchu mountain, Aguas Calientes town, and surrounding mountains. Take unique pictures – Some of the best photos of Machu Picchu that you can take are from the top of Sun Gate, as well as along the way. Bird watching – Hiking to the Sun Gate, there’s a chance you may spot some of the bird species that inhabit Machu Picchu area cloud forest, such as the cock of the rock, the Andean turkey, the tile tanager, the chestnut-breasted hummingbird, and the mountain watchmaker.
After this hike, we will return to the main entrance for some free time, restrooms, water, and a quick lunch.
At 2 pm we will re-enter the UNESCO site to visit the main Citadel.
Machu Picchu is divided into two sectors: agricultural and urban. Marvel at the Temple of the Sun, Intihuatana, sacred Temple of the Three Windows, main temple, and the carefully crafted shrines and tombs, doors, fountains, and plazas.
After the guided tour, we will return to the main entrance to take the bus back to Aguas Calientes and check in to the hotel. Rest and relax until suggested dinner time at 7:30 pm.
Meals included: Breakfast, snacks on the train, and dinner.
Tuesday, 22 June 2027: Wayna Picchu and return to Cuzco
Now you have another chance to see Machu Picchu in the morning and experience a much more challenging hike. After a quick early breakfast at the hotel, join Marco on the challenging hike up Wayna (or Huayna) Picchu. Watching the clouds break and the skies open to let the sun stream onto this amazing sacred site is the highlight of many travelers' visit to South America.
Meet in the lobby of the hotel at 6 am to take one of the first buses to Machu Picchu. Today’s circuit includes entrance to the Wayna (or Huayna) Picchu mountain behind the main Machu Picchu sanctuary. The steep hike to the top of Wayna Picchu and back takes around three hours. We will pass through part of the main sanctuary one last time as we return to the entrance around 10:30 am.
After our visit, we will take the bus back to Aguas Calientes and back to the hotel to pick up our luggage and board the train back through the mountains to the Sacred Valley and up to Cuzco. After arrival at Poroy station, we will proceed to our hotel in Cuzco to rest from the early start today!
Meals included: Breakfast, snacks on the train
Wednesday, 23 June 2027: Cuzco
After breakfast, visit the sights of Cuzco, beginning at the Santo Domingo convent monastery. Before the arrival of the Spaniards, this colonial monastery was the Koricancha temple, one of the most important temples devoted to worship of the sun. According to the chronicles, it was covered in gold leaf and filled with golden representations of nature. Included in the tour are stops at the Plaza de Armas and the Cathedral.
After visiting the most interesting sights of the city, we'll head to the countryside just outside Cuzco to visit some of the remarkable Inca ruins in the area. Included are the cult center of Sacsayhuaman, the temple and amphitheater of Qenko, and the Red Fortress of Puca Pucara. Lunch at Pachapapa included.
Rest of the day free to explore the city and enjoy the festive atmosphere in the streets and plazas in anticipation of the Inti Raymi festival!
Meals included: Breakfast and lunch
Thursday, 24 June 2027: Cuzco - Inti Raymi
The Sun, the most important deity in the Inca empire, was worshiped by the Incas. Therefore one of the most important observances during Inca times was that of Inti Raymi or Festival of the Sun, a celebration held near the winter solstice to honor the
god Inti (the Sun).
• 08:00 – 09:00 The festival begins at Koricancha (Temple of the Sun)
• 10:00 – 11:30 The second part takes place at the Plaza de Armas
• 13:00 – 15:30 The main ceremony takes place at Sacsayhuaman
This has been a long and exciting day so this afternoon there is time for shopping or just people watching in the Plaza while sipping some coca tea - the traditional Incan remedy for "soroche" - altitude sickness. Enjoy dinner at one of the excellent nearby restaurants.
Meals included: Breakfast and box lunch
Friday, 25 June 2027: Sacred Valley of the Inca
After breakfast and check-out, return to the Sacred Valley of the Incas on a scenic drive. Visit a religious temple and experience the customs of real cusquenean people. Continue to the Inca village of Pisac for an opportunity to bargain with vendors at its handicraft market. We'll stop for a visit at Awanakancha, where South American camelids are bred. Learn about the superb llama, alpaca and vicuna fibers as well as the ancient weaving techiques that are still in use.
Enjoy lunch at a local restaurant by the river. The restaurant offers a great selection of appetizers, main courses and sweets with a view.
After lunch we will continue down the valley to the town of Ollantaytambo, where we see Inca terraces and temples, and finally visit the fortress of the same name. With the completion of our visit, we will continue to our hotel in Sacred Valley.
Tonight you'll dine and overnight in Ollantaytambo or Urubamba.
Meals included: Breakfast and lunch.
Saturday, 26 June 2027: Return to Lima
After breakfast at the hotel, meet in the lobby to depart for the airport and our flight back to Lima. Upon arrival in Lima, transfer along the sea to our hotel in Miraflores.
After check-in, we'll begin with a walking tour of Colonial Lima, capital of the Vice Royalty of Peru. Visit the historic downtown and appreciate more than fifty monuments and
colonial edifices, such as the Paseo de la República, the San Martín Square, the Main Square, the Government
Palace, the Archbishop’s Palace, and the Cathedral Basilica.
Admire the “Treasures of Perú” collection, a fine selection of objects made of gold, ceramics and textiles from different pre-columbian cultures at the museum of the Banco Central de la Reserva.
Explore the catacombs of the monumental Convento de San Francisco, home to the largest collection of religious art in
the Americas.
After the Central Lima visit, we will go back to our hotel to freshen up.
Enjoy dinner at the incredible pre-Columbian Huaca Puccllana pyramid right in Miraflores, and overnight in Miraflores.
Sunday, 27 June 2027: Departure
Fly to Guayaquil, Ecuador today if you are diving from our Galapagos LGBTQ+ Liveaboard.
Non-divers continue home or elsewhere in South America..
Our Package Includes:
Accommodation
Transfers and meals described above
Sightseeing with English-speaking Peruvian guide
Vistadome train to and from Machu Picchu and two days entrance fees
Cuzco tourist tax
Not Included: International airfare to and from South America (contact us for suggestions) and on to Ecuador, domestic airfare between Lima and Cuzco and return, meals/beverages or optional activities not described in program above, tips, and personal expenses such as laundry. Deposit: $750 deposit to hold space. Second deposit of $1000 at six months. Balance due 90 days prior to departure.
| 
| FAQs 
