Classic Machu Picchu, Nazca Lines, and the Inca Trail
13 Days/12 Nights
From $3,049 per person
(Dbl. Occupancy, Not Incl. Airfare)
Overview
Enjoy the Ica and Cusco Regions in this exhilarating tour of Peru. Fly over the mysterious Nazca Lines to discover what is known about their origins, and travel by boat to the Ballestas Islands to observe the marine life off the coast of Paracas. Continue on to Cusco to explore the four ruins that surround the city and the Sacred Valley of the Incas, and then hike the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu, Peru’s spectacular mountaintop citadel.
Lodging and Meals: This tour includes accommodations for 12 nights (4 nights in Lima, 1 night in Paracas, 3 nights in Cusco, 3 nights of camping on the Inca Trail, and 1 night in Machu Picchu), and 21 meals (12 breakfasts, 5 lunches, and 4 dinners).
Best Time to Go: April-October.
Destinations: South America and Peru.
Interests: Adventure, Camping, Culture & History, Hiking & Trekking, and Wildlife Viewing.
Places Visited: Lima, Ica & Nazca Lines, Cusco, The Sacred Valley, and Machu Picchu.
Day-by-Day Itinerary
Day 1: Lima.
Day 2: Lima-City Tour.
Day 3: Lima-Pisco-Nazca Lines-Paracas.
Day 4: Paracas-Candelabra-Ballestas Islands-Lima.
Day 5: Lima-Cusco-City Tour.
Day 6: Cusco-Sacred Valley-Awanakancha-Pisac Market-Ollantaytambo.
Note: The Indian market is open on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays from October to March, and daily from April to September. On the days of the week that the market is not open, you will be taken to the Inca ruins above the village.
Day 7: Cusco-Chilca-Inca Trail.
Day 8: Inca Trail-Warmiwañusqa-Pacamayo.
Day 9: Inca Trail-Runku Rakay-Sayacmarca-Wiñayhuayna.
Day 10: Inca Trail-Inti Punku-Machu Picchu.
Day 11: Machu Picchu-Cusco.
Note: Hiking Huayna Picchu requires a permit. To ensure availability, we recommend purchasing the permit at the time of booking.
Day 12: Cusco-Lima-Folkloric Dinner Show.
Day 13: Lima.
B = Breakfast, L = Lunch, D = Dinner
About the Inca Trail
The Incas built a vast network of roads to communicate with the four regions of their vast empire. The network was called Qapaq Ñan (the sovereign’s highway) or Inca Road, and was made up of stone paths suitable for two or three people with trains of llamas. Rivers were crossed by hanging bridges and the steep slopes were mastered with steps and ramps. There are remains of the Qhapaq Ñan throughout Peru that are still used to this day by local villagers and farmers. One of the most impressive and best preserved roads is the trail that links Cusco and Machu Picchu. Today, hiking the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu allows the visitor to step back in time and walk through a variety of eco-systems and dazzling scenery. The length of the 39 kilometers (24 miles) includes unforgettable views, archaeological remains; 400 different species of orchids and begonias, exotic trees like the pisonay, the queñual and innumerable species of fauna in their natural habitat, such as the cock-of-the-rocks, llamas and vicuñas, the white-tailed deer, the vizcacha and, if visitors are lucky, the endangered and vegetarian spectacled bear. The Inca Trail is one of the world’s leading trekking and camping routes. (Source: PromPeru)
A Note About Your Free Day in Machu Picchu
On your free day, you will be on your own. If you choose to revisit Machu Picchu, you will need to purchase a second entrance ticket, which currently costs $74 per person. If you are staying in Aguas Calientes, you will also need to purchase a round-trip bus ticket ($28 per person) for transportation to the site. The first bus departs at 5:30 AM. As an alternative to visiting Machu Picchu again, you can hike Huayna Picchu (a +/- 60 minute hike), or partake in another activity. The cost for hiking Huayna Picchu is $13 (in addition to the second entrance ticket). At the end of the day (mid-late afternoon), you will walk to the train station for the return ride to Poroy train station, where our local representative will be waiting for you to take you to your hotel in Cusco.
What's Included
Price Includes
- South American Vacations’ expert pre-departure planning services and documentation.
- Airport/hotel transfers including baggage handling.
- Bus transportation from Lima to Ica and private transportation from Paracas to Lima.
- Hotel accommodations including taxes and service charges.
- Excursion to Machu Picchu including overnight stay and transportation via Vistadome train.
- Inca Trail and other excursions as indicated on the itinerary including all applicable entrance fees.
- Double occupancy tents.
- Camping equipment: Bathroom tent, kitchen tent, dining tent, chairs, tables, and comfortable mattresses.
- Cook, porters to carry food, tents, and cooking gear.
- Porters for personal belongings (one for every two passengers).
- Coffee breaks during the trek, first aid kit/oxygen.
- Meals as indicated on the itinerary.
- Local, English-speaking tour guides.
Price Does Not Include
- International airfare.
- Domestic airfare.
- Meals not indicated on the itinerary.
- Gratuities to tour guides, porters, drivers, and hotel staff.
- Gifts and personal items.
- Travel insurance.
We will be happy to quote the cost of international airfare and travel insurance and to make these arrangements for you.
Accommodations
Lima
Paracas
3 Star – San Agustin Paracas
4 Star – La Hacienda Bahia Paracas Hotel
5 Star – Doubletree Resort Hotel Paracas
Deluxe – Hotel Paracas
Cusco
3 Star – Casa Andina Classic Cusco Plaza
4 Star – Hotel Novotel Cusco
5 Star – Libertador Palacio del Inka
Deluxe – Hotel Monasterio
Machu Picchu
3 Star – El Mapi Hotel
5 Star – Inkaterra Machu Picchu Pueblo Hotel
Deluxe – Machu Picchu Sanctuary Lodge
Additional Details
Group Private: All transfers (except on the Nazca Lines excursion) are private, and the city tours of Lima and Cusco, and the Sacred Valley of the Incas excursion are group tours for single passengers and 3 Star accommodations, and private for 4 Star, 5 Star, and Deluxe accommodations. The Nazca Lines overflight and Ballestas Islands boat tour are group tours. The Inca Trail to Machu Picchu hike is a group tour.
Elevations: Cusco is 10,912 feet (above sea level), the Sacred Valley of the Incas is 8,944 feet, the Inca Trail varies from 8,528 feet to 13,776 feet, and Machu Picchu is 7,900 feet.
Passport/Visa: U.S., Australian, Canadian, and EU citizens require a passport valid for at least six months from date of entry and return ticket for stays of up to 90 days. Citizens of other countries are advised to contact the Peruvian embassy in their country before traveling.
Travel Insurance: In order to protect your travel investment from unforeseen circumstances that may arise before or during your trip, we strongly recommend that you purchase travel insurance. We offer Allianz Travel Insurance’s Classic and other plans. The Benefits and Coverage Limits are summarized on our Travel Insurance page. Call your travel counselor if you have any questions or to purchase a plan.
To Book This Trip: We require a non-refundable deposit of $850 per person plus the cost of airfare (if we make the arrangements for you). The balance of the trip cost is due 60 days prior to departure.
