Meals: B Breakfast L Lunch D Dinner
Arrive at Lima's Jorge Chavez International Airport. Transfer to your hotel in Miraflores district.
Morning tour of Lima's colonial center and modern districts. Afternoon flight to Cusco. Rest and acclimatize.
Half-day tour of Cusco including the Plaza de Armas, Cathedral, Qorikancha (Temple of the Sun), and nearby archaeological sites. Afternoon at leisure.
Full day exploring the Sacred Valley of the Incas. Visit Pisac market and ruins, lunch in Urubamba, and the impressive Ollantaytambo fortress. Overnight in the Sacred Valley.
Morning at leisure. Scenic train journey to Aguas Calientes through the Urubamba gorge. Overnight in Aguas Calientes.
Early bus up to Machu Picchu for sunrise. Guided tour of the citadel (approximately 2 hours). Free time to explore. Afternoon train and transfer back to Cusco.
Transfer to Cusco airport for your onward journey.
| ACCOMMODATION | Price per traveler (USD) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Option | LIMA | CUSCO | AGUAS CALIENTES | DOUBLE | SINGLE |
| Tourist | La Castellana (Lima) | Antawasi (Cusco) | Wiracocha Inn (Aguas Calientes) | $1,195 | $1,359 |
| Superior | La Hacienda (Lima) | Tierra Viva Plaza (Cusco) | Santuario (Aguas Calientes) | $1,359 | $1,695 |
| Premium | BTH Lima Golf (Lima) | Casa Andina Premium (Cusco) | El Mapi (Aguas Calientes) | $1,645 | $2,319 |
| Deluxe | Casa Andina Premium (Lima) | Palacio del Inka (Cusco) | Sumaq (Aguas Calientes) | $2,255 | $3,429 |
NOTE: We book the hotels listed in the itinerary whenever possible. During busy seasons or when booked within 90 days of the tour date, we may need to substitute hotels of equal or higher category.
+ Vistadome train upgrade: USD $90.00
The Lima city tour visits the historic downtown district (a UNESCO World Heritage Site) including the Plaza Mayor, the Cathedral with its baroque facade, the San Francisco Monastery and its famous subterranean catacombs, the elegant colonial church of San Pedro, and the Plaza San Martin. You also visit the Larco Museum in the Pueblo Libre district, home to an exceptional collection of pre-Columbian gold artifacts and erotic ceramics. The tour passes through the modern cliff-top Miraflores district overlooking the Pacific Ocean.
Yes. Round-trip domestic flights between Lima and Cusco are included in the package price. We book the flights after your tour confirmation and provide the tickets. International flights to Lima are not included and must be booked separately. We recommend arriving in Lima the day before Day 1 if your international flight is overnight, to avoid any jet-lag disruptions to the tour.
No trekking is required. You travel from Cusco to Aguas Calientes by comfortable Expedition train (or Vistadome upgrade) through the Urubamba gorge, then by bus from Aguas Calientes up to Machu Picchu. The visit to the citadel includes walking on uneven stone paths and some stairs but nothing aerobically demanding. Comfortable walking shoes or light hiking shoes are all you need.
You have approximately 4 hours at Machu Picchu. The first 2 hours are a structured guided tour of the main sectors. After that you have free time to explore further, take photographs, visit sections the guide did not cover, or simply sit and absorb the atmosphere. Entrance tickets permit a defined block of time at the site — we manage the timing to maximise your experience.
Yes. Aguas Calientes has a good selection of hotels from budget to boutique. Our package includes a comfortable hotel in the town centre close to the train station and main plaza. Spending the night there means an early bus to Machu Picchu the following morning, arriving before the majority of day-trippers from Cusco — giving you a calmer, more atmospheric visit in the early hours.
Lima is at sea level — no altitude concerns. Cusco sits at 3,400 m (11,150 ft), which causes many visitors mild symptoms (headache, slight fatigue) for the first 24–48 hours. We recommend taking it easy on arrival and avoiding alcohol. Aguas Calientes is at 2,040 m (6,690 ft) — much lower and warmer than Cusco, which many visitors find a pleasant relief. Machu Picchu itself is at 2,430 m (7,972 ft).
Absolutely. This 7-day tour can be combined with extensions to Puno and Lake Titicaca (add 3 days), Arequipa and the Colca Canyon (add 3–4 days), or the Nazca Lines and Paracas Reserve (add 2–3 days at the start). We can build a custom multi-week itinerary combining any combination of these destinations. Contact us with your available dates and we will design the perfect itinerary.
The perfect first trip to Peru for someone who wants to see Machu Picchu without the physical challenge of the trail. Starting in Lima was the right call — the Larco Museum alone made the Lima day worthwhile. The train through the gorge to Aguas Calientes was gorgeous, and Machu Picchu in the early morning before the crowds was something I will never forget.
Travelling with my teenage daughter who had just recovered from an ankle injury — the non-trekking format was ideal. Every transfer was punctual, every hotel well-chosen. The guides in Cusco and at Machu Picchu were outstanding — genuinely passionate about Inca history and culture. My daughter said it was the best trip of her life.
The 7-day format covered all the highlights without feeling rushed. I particularly valued the Sacred Valley day — Pisac market is spectacular and Ollantaytambo fortress is astonishing. The train ride was beautiful. Machu Picchu surprised me with its scale — photographs simply do not prepare you for the reality of standing inside it.
My wife and I are in our mid-60s and were worried this might be too physically demanding. It was not — it was perfectly calibrated. Comfortable transport, well-paced itinerary, excellent hotels. The guide at Machu Picchu spent three hours with us instead of the scheduled two because we had so many questions. Superb service throughout.
I chose this over the trekking package because I had only 7 days available. Absolutely no regrets. The Lima-to-Cusco flight was smooth and seeing the Andes from above was spectacular in itself. The night in Aguas Calientes in a lovely riverside hotel, then up to Machu Picchu at first light — that morning will stay with me for the rest of my life.
Secure your spot with a deposit starting from US$ 250. Permits are limited and popular dates sell out months in advance.