Peru with Machu Picchu & the Nazca Lines - Classic Group
Peru with Machu Picchu & the Nazca Lines - Classic Group
$6002
Peru with Machu Picchu & the Nazca Lines - Classic Group
13 Days Starting and ending in Lima, Peru
Visiting: Lima, Sacred Valley, Machu Picchu, Cusco, Paracas, Nazca, Ballestas Islands
Tour operator:
Tour code:
ZPERPN20
Guide Type:
Fully Guided
Tour operated in:
EnglishInterests:
Cultural, Foodie and Wine Tours, Ruins-Archaeology, Wildlife Tours
Activities:
Tour Overview
Embark on an unforgettable journey through Peru with the "Peru with Machu Picchu & the Nazca Lines - Classic Group" tour. This cultural adventure takes you from the vibrant streets of Lima to the ancient wonders of Machu Picchu and the enigmatic Nazca Lines. Experience the rich history and breathtaking landscapes of the Sacred Valley, explore the bustling markets and historic sites of Cusco, and enjoy a scenic train ride through the Andes. Delight in authentic Peruvian cuisine with immersive dining experiences, including a traditional Pachamanca feast. Discover the wildlife of the Ballestas Islands and learn about the ancient art of weaving from local Quechua artisans. With luxurious accommodations and expert local guides, this tour offers a perfect blend of cultural exploration and relaxation.
Highlights
Itinerary
Day 1: Welcome To Lima
Location: Lima
Accommodation Name: MGallery Manto, Lima
Meals Included: Dinner
Arrive in Lima for the first day of your journey. In the evening meet your Travel Director and fellow travelers at the hotel bar for a dinner and drinks.
Day 2: Explore Lima Relaxed Start
Location: Lima
Accommodation Name: MGallery Manto, Lima
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch
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.
Day 3: Lima To Sacred Valley
Location: Sacred Valley
Accommodation Name: Aranwa Sacred Valley Hotel & Wellness, Urubamba
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch
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.
Day 4: Explore Sacred Valley Relaxed Start
Location: Sacred Valley
Accommodation Name: Aranwa Sacred Valley Hotel & Wellness, Urubamba
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
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.
Day 5: Explore Machu Picchu Relaxed Start
Location: Machu Picchu
Accommodation Name: Sumaq Machu Picchu, Aguas Calientes
Meals Included: Breakfast
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.
Day 6: Machu Picchu At Leisure Relaxed Start
Location: Machu Picchu
Accommodation Name: Sumaq Machu Picchu, Aguas Calientes
Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner
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.
Day 7: On To Cusco Relaxed Start
Location: Cusco
Accommodation Name: JW Marriott El Convento, Cusco
Meals Included: Breakfast
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.
Day 8: Exploring Cusco Relaxed Start
Location: Cusco
Accommodation Name: JW Marriott El Convento, Cusco
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch
Start your day with a walking tour of Sacsayhuaman. Afterwards, explore with Insight Choice. Choose to join a Local Expert on a guided hike of the Inca ruins at Puca Pucara. Alternatively, you can explore the lively and colorful San Pedro Market. Later, make your way to the city’s planetarium for a private, after-hours tour, sample some local delicacies and hot wine as you gaze at the night sky.
Day 9: Leisure Time In Cusco Relaxed Start
Location: Cusco
Accommodation Name: JW Marriott El Convento, Cusco
Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner
Today, explore Cusco at your own pace. Perhaps head out on an optional visit to the ChocoMuseo to learn about chocolate making. Another active option is a hike to the Rainbow Mountain. Or maybe relax and unwind at your hotel, set in a beautiful 16th- century building. In the evening, join your fellow travelers for a memorable dinner at Inka Grill.
Day 10: From The Andes To The Coast
Location: Paracas
Accommodation Name: Paracas, a Luxury Collection Resort
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch
Depart Cusco and fly to Lima. From here, enjoy a leisurely coastal drive to the beach town of Paracas. Known for its sandy beaches, wildlife and the Paracas Candelabra geoglyph. 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.
Day 11: Paracas & The Nazca Lines
Location: Nazca
Accommodation Name: Paracas, a Luxury Collection Resort
Meals Included: Breakfast
Take in the area from above with an aircraft ride over the mysterious Nazca Lines. This is truly the best way to experience this stunning UNESCO World Heritage Site in all its glory. Then head to Ica, stop at a local museum, where you’ll learn more about the city’s culture.
Day 12: Ballestas Islands And Peruvian Wildlife
Location: Ballestas Islands
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch
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 visit a pisco distillery for a tasting of the local spirit. Then head to Ica, stop at a local museum where you'll learn more about the city's culture.
Day 13: Chincha And Return To Lima
Location: Lima
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch
Embark on your return to Lima, stopping at Hacienda San Jose. 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. End your tour in Lima.
What's Included
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Meals
9 Breakfasts, 5 Lunches, and 4 Dinners with Wine are included.
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Guided Tours
Guided tours of key attractions including the Cathedral of Lima, Government Palace, Archbishop’s Palace, City Hall, Casa Aliaga, Museo Larco, Machu Picchu, Sacsayhuaman, Puca Pucara, San Pedro Market, and Cusco's planetarium.
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Transportation
Economy air and air-related charges for flights between Lima and Cusco are included. Also includes a 360° IncaRail train ride to Machu Picchu.
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Accommodation
Accommodation at MGallery Manto in Lima, Sumaq Machu Picchu in Aguas Calientes, JW Marriott El Convento in Cusco, and Paracas, a Luxury Collection Resort.
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Special Experiences
Private flight over the Nazca Lines, visit to Ollantaytambo ruins, and a scenic cruise to the Ballestas Islands.
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Local Expert Guides
Local experts will guide you through various historical and cultural sites.
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Celebration Dinner
A memorable Celebration Dinner at Inka Grill in Cusco.
What's Not Included
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Personal Expenses
Any personal expenses such as souvenirs, additional meals, and beverages not mentioned in the inclusions.
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Optional Activities
Optional activities such as a visit to the ChocoMuseo, a hike to Rainbow Mountain, or additional visits to Machu Picchu.
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Travel Insurance
Travel insurance is not included and is recommended to be purchased separately.
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Medical Expenses
Any medical expenses or consultations with a doctor prior to travel due to high elevations.
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Gratuities
Gratuities for guides, drivers, and hotel staff are not included.
Mode of Transport
Travel in comfort with included economy air flights between Lima and Cusco, scenic train rides, and a private flight over the Nazca Lines.
Accommodation
Stay in luxurious accommodations including MGallery Manto in Lima, Sumaq Machu Picchu in Aguas Calientes, JW Marriott El Convento in Cusco, and Paracas, a Luxury Collection Resort.
Dining Summary
- 12 Breakfast (B)
- 6 Dinner with Wine (DW)
- 7 Lunch (L)
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 pre-existing medical conditions talk with a doctor prior to travel.
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.
Check out our Q&As
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What unique experiences are included in the tour?
The tour includes a private flight over the Nazca Lines, a scenic cruise to the Ballestas Islands, and a visit to a local traditional Quechua weaver in the Sacred Valley for a private textile presentation.
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What kind of dining experiences can I expect on this tour?
You will enjoy a variety of dining experiences including an immersive slow-cooked Cusquenian lunch at Pacha Papa, a memorable Celebration Dinner at Inka Grill, and a traditional Peruvian feast called Pachamanca at Laguna Piuray.
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Are there any guided tours included in the itinerary?
Yes, guided tours are included for key attractions such as the Cathedral of Lima, Government Palace, Archbishop’s Palace, City Hall, Casa Aliaga, Museo Larco, Machu Picchu, Sacsayhuaman, Puca Pucara, San Pedro Market, and Cusco's planetarium.
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What activities are available in Cusco?
In Cusco, you can join a guided hike of the Inca ruins at Puca Pucara, explore the San Pedro Market, visit the cathedral and the Qorikancha temple, and enjoy a private, after-hours tour of the city's planetarium.
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What is the accommodation like during the tour?
The tour includes stays in luxurious accommodations such as MGallery Manto in Lima, Sumaq Machu Picchu in Aguas Calientes, JW Marriott El Convento in Cusco, and Paracas, a Luxury Collection Resort.
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What transportation is provided during the tour?
Transportation includes economy air flights between Lima and Cusco, scenic train rides, and a private flight over the Nazca Lines.
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What wildlife can be seen on the tour?
During the scenic cruise to the Ballestas Islands, you can see a variety of wildlife including Peruvian boobies, Inca terns, pelicans, red-legged cormorants, and Humboldt penguins.
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Can I join the tour once it has departed?
We regret that no refunds can be made for absences from a tour, including experiences such as missed meals or sightseeing.
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How long has the tour company been trading?
Since 1978.
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What Ethical Travel credentials does the tour company have?
Insight Vacations is a founding member of the TreadRight Foundation, a joint initiative created by the brands within The Travel Corporation (TTC) almost 15 years ago to ensure our impact through tourism is positive. Our ethos to #MakeTravelMatter guides our decision-making at every level of our business.
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Will the accommodation included meet local health and safety regulations?
Yes
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Do you operate a “single share” option and how does it work?
You have two options as a solo traveller. Either choose to be matched with a same sex partner for a room share - at no extra cost. Or choose a room of your own with a reduced or even free private room upgrade on select tours.
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What policies are in place for Covid-19?
Please contact us for latest COVID-19 policies
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Low Deposit
Insight Vacations requires a minimum deposit of 350 USD per person or the full booking value, whichever is less, with the final balance not due until 90 days before departure.
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Cancellation Policy
We don't charge a cancellation fee, here is a summary of insight vacations charges.
Up to 91 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of deposit.
At 90 days before tour starts: Forfeit 50% of booking price.
At 29 days before tour starts: Forfeit 80% of booking price.
At 1 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of booking price.
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Terms and Conditions
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