10-Day Peru Holiday: Itinerary from Lima to Machu Picchu

The 10 day tour will start with a personal reception at Lima airport by your driver, who will accompany you in your private transport to your hotel in Lima. 

The rest of the day is yours to settle in and relax, before the tours begin the following day.

Start your day with a delicious breakfast at your hotel in Lima, preparing you for an exciting half-day city tour. You have two schedule options to choose from based on your travel itinerary:

• Morning Tour: 9:00 AM to 1:30 PM
• Afternoon Tour: 1:30 PM to 6:00 PM

Your city tour will begin with a pick-up from your hotel approximately 10 minutes before your selected start time.

First Half of the Tour: Historic Center of Lima

Explore the rich history and vibrant culture of Lima as you visit key landmarks in the historic center of the Peruvian capital, including:

• Plaza de Armas: The main square, bustling with local life.
• Government Palace: The official residence of the President of Peru.
• Cathedral of Lima: An architectural gem and a significant religious site.
• Archbishop’s Palace: A beautiful example of colonial architecture.
• Cordano Bar: Lima's oldest bar, known for its historical significance.
• San Francisco Museum: A fascinating site featuring intricate architecture and historical artifacts.

Second Half of the Tour: Larco Museum

After exploring the historic center, you'll head to the Pueblo Libre district to visit the renowned Larco Museum. This privately owned museum is set in an 18th-century mansion built on a pre-Columbian 7th-century pyramid. Here, you will marvel at:

• Over 45,000 pieces of original pottery: An extensive collection that showcases the artistic heritage of ancient Peru.
• Prestigious exhibits: The museum is known for its world-class displays of gold and silver artifacts.
• Unique erotic ceramics: The Larco Museum houses one of the most exclusive collections of pre-Columbian erotic ceramics, making it a must-see attraction in South America.

At the end of your enlightening tour, you will be transported back to your hotel in Lima, where you can relax and reflect on your day’s discoveries.

5:00am: Pick up from your hotel in Lima.

Travel 245km along Pan-American highway to Paracas, a tourist resort in the province of Pisco. Stop for breakfast in the city of Chincha on the way (optional). Arrive in Paracas 7:45am.

8:00am: Depart in boat to Ballestas Islands. Here you can appreciate the famous Candelabra, an immense petroglyph located in the Bay of Independence in Paracas. 30 minutes offshore you can observe the biodiversity of marine fauna and marine birds’ resident in the Ballestas Islands including Guaneras, Peruvian Piquero, Cormorant Guanay, Cormorant of Red Legs, Zarcillo, Peruvian Pelican, Humboldt Penguin, Sea lions and dolphins. After 2 hours, you will return to shore.

10:00am: 1-hour drive in private transport to the city of Ica.

11:00am: Visit the award winning Vitivinicola Winery ‘El Catador’. Here you’ll learn about artisanal wine and pisco making processes and have a taste of the liquors made in the winery.

1:00pm: Take lunch in Ica (optional), and drive to Huacachina.

2:30pm: Visit to the Oasis and Lagoon of Huacachina. A natural oasis located 5km west of Ica. It’s emerald green waters are surrounded by huge sand dunes and an abundance of palm trees and eucalyptus trees (introduced species). It is also home to the carob tree species known as Huarango, which is used for resting migratory birds that pass through this region. Here you will take a 90 minute tour in beach buggy (tubular). An activity perfect for people who like speed, adrenaline and wind in their face! And do not mind a sand bath from the buggy climbing up and down the massive dunes! At the end of the tour you will return to the Oasis of Huacachina to walk alongside the lagoon and take photos.

• 6:30pm: Depart Huacachina to begin journey in private transport back to Lima.
• 10:30pm: Drop off at your hotel in Lima where you will stay the night.

Start your day with a delightful breakfast at your hotel in Lima. Afterward, your private transport will pick you up and drive you to the airport for your mid-morning flight to Cusco.

Enjoy a scenic 90-minute flight, landing in Cusco, where you'll be warmly greeted by your guide and driver. They will escort you in your private transport to your hotel in the city.

Once you arrive at the hotel, take a moment to unwind with a soothing cup of coca-leaf tea. Feel free to explore local dining options for lunch (not included) before your afternoon adventure begins.

At 1:30 PM, regroup with your tour guide and hop back into your private transport to embark on a fascinating tour of the Inca capital. Over the next four hours, you will discover some of Cusco's most significant historical sites, including:

• Qoricancha (Temple of the Sun): Once the religious, geographical, and political heart of the Inca Empire, this site showcases incredible architectural mastery.
• Sacsayhuamán: This astounding Inca fortress boasts stonework so remarkable that it is said to endure for eternity.
• Q’enqo: A sacred pilgrimage site that served as both an astronomical observatory and mummification house.

Your personal tour guide will also take you through the vibrant San Pedro Market and the beautiful Plaza de Armas, rich with history and local culture.

You will return to your hotel by 6 PM, concluding a day filled with exploration and discovery in the enchanting city of Cusco.

Begin your day with a hearty breakfast at your hotel in Cusco. At 7:30 AM, your adventure kicks off as you're picked up from your hotel.

After a scenic 1-hour drive through the breathtaking Sacred Valley of the Incas, you will stop briefly at the Mirador de Taray, where you can capture stunning photos of the valley from one of its renowned viewpoints.

Continue for another 30 minutes to reach the archaeological park of Pisaq, home to the famous Intihuatana (sundial) and the first Inca fortress of your tour. This remarkable 15th-century Inca refuge served ceremonial, religious, and astronomical purposes, and it offers one of the most spectacular views of the Sacred Valley from above. Your guide will lead you through the expertly preserved stonework of this historic site.

Next, your guide and transport will take you back down the valley, where you'll explore the iconic Pisac Market, with its cobbled streets and vibrant plazas, filled with local crafts and delicious snacks.

In the afternoon, immerse yourself in the natural beauty of Urubamba, the largest town in the Sacred Valley, where you'll stop for lunch. With numerous restaurants available, you can indulge in local cuisine or opt for a buffet lunch starting from just $20 USD (optional extra cost).

After lunch, your transport will continue alongside the Urubamba River to the picturesque town of Ollantaytambo. Here, your guide will accompany you through bustling local markets and the impressive Inca fortress that looms above the town. The strategic location and architectural sophistication of Ollantaytambo offer some of the most breathtaking views of the Sacred Valley. As you explore, the exquisite stonework and rich history will take you on an incredible journey through Inca antiquity.

Your day's exploration concludes at the Ollantaytambo train station, where you’ll board the tourist train to Aguas Calientes (Machu Picchu town). This 1-hour 45-minute train ride will offer stunning vistas of snow-capped mountains, Inca farming terraces, and more remarkable Inca ruins.

Upon arrival, you'll be greeted by your tour guide, who will escort you to your hotel in Aguas Calientes, the gateway to Machu Picchu.

Day 6 will begin with breakfast in your hotel in Aguas Calientes.

At 6:30am your guide will escort you the bus station where you will board the tourist bus to Machu Picchu. The scenic route from Aguas Calientes takes you on a 30 minute bus ride up the mountainside to the entrance of the Inca citadel. Once inside, you will be taken on a 3-hour tour of Machu Picchu where you will make your way through the Inca city with your personal guide. Aswell as visiting the famous sites of the temple of the sun, the central plaza and the stepped terraces, you will have plenty opportunity to take the bucket list photos you came for atop the panoramic viewpoint of Machu Picchu. Before boarding the bus back down the mountain, your guide will also allow you time to explore the mysteries of the sanctuary alone.

Once you have regrouped with your guide and taken the bus back to Aguas Calientes, there will be time to take lunch in one of Machu Picchu towns’ many restaurants (optional extra), before boarding the train back to Ollantaytambo. There you’ll be greeted by your guide and private transportation who will take you on the 2-hour drive back to your hotel in Cusco. Arrival time in Cusco is approximately 6.30pm.

*There will also be time to climb Huayna Picchu mountain or Machu Picchu mountain in this tour after your guided tour of the Inca citadel. However please be aware, this will be an extra cost of $70 USD per person and will involve an extra 2-hours hiking. Return to Cusco will therefore be aboard a later train and arrival time in Cusco will be approx 8.30pm.*

The Rainbow Mountain and Red Valley tour starts with pick up at 5am from your hotel in Cusco.

Your private transportation will take you on a 2-hour drive through the picturesque towns and valleys of the Peruvian Andes until we reach the town of Cusipata. Here we will stop for a delicious breakfast in a local restaurant amidst the stunning backdrop of the surrounding mountain range.

After breakfast, your driver will transport you a further 90 minutes up the valley to the start of the hike. Accompanied by your guide, you will begin at elevation 4,650 m / 15,255 ft. If you do not wish to hike the 90 minute trail to the first viewpoint, our Rainbow Mountain tour offers you the option to hire the services of a horse to carry you for the first hour up the trail to viewpoint. Please bear in mind that if you wish to reach the highest viewpoint, you will need to hike the final 20 minutes on foot, to the summit at 5,040 m / 16,535 ft.

Once you have arrived at the viewpoint, you will be treated to the beautiful views of Vinicunca and its natural formation of mineral rich striking colours, including vibrant shades of red, orange, yellow, green, and blue. 

The mountains surrounding Vinicunca comprise the breathtaking hills of the Red Valley. The mountains get their name from the distinct presence of iron oxide in the rock, giving visitors a unique viewpoint of a deep red mountain range. Should you wish to view the valley from the Mirador del Valle Rojo, your guide will accompany you along the trail for an additional 30 minutes to enable you to get some even more astonishing photos. Thankfully, the red valley is much quieter than the trails of Rainbow Mountain, treating you to an exclusive experience amongst the Cordillera de los Andes.

Once you have taken in your surroundings and bagged as many photos as you can carry, you will descend back down the mountain with your guide. Your driver will be waiting for you to return at the end of the hike, ready to transport you back to the restaurant in Cusipata for a well-deserved rest and lunch.

The final leg of the tour will be the 2-hour drive back to Cusco. Arrival at your hotel is approximately 4pm.

Day 8 will begin with breakfast in your hotel in Cusco.

At 6:15am you will be collected in private transport from your hotel in Cusco and driven to the bus terminal ready for the 7am departure.

The Bus tour takes you on the scenic route from the Inca city of Cusco to Puno, a Peruvian city on the shores of Lake Titicaca. The 10-hour journey will take you through picturesque Andean towns and mountainous valleys, showcasing the beauty of the Cusco/Puno region.

The bus makes 5 stops along the way, treating you to 3 guided tours. These include the Sistine Chapel of America, the Temple of the god Wiracocha, and the Lithic Museum of the Pukará Culture. Aswell as a buffet lunch in the Andean town of Sicuani and an opportunity to take breathtaking photos atop the highest point of the route, the Abra La Raya Pass.

The tourist bus will be equipped with everything you’ll need for a comfortable journey to Puno. This includes; heating and air conditioning, toilets and sanitary facilities and refreshing drinks served on board such as tea, coffee, Coca Cola and water.

At 5pm, the bus will arrive in the city of Puno, where you will be met by your private transport and transferred to your hotel in Puno.

Day 9 of the tour begins with breakfast in your hotel in Puno.

Your private transport will then pick up from your hotel in Puno at 6:45am. You’ll then be driven to the nearby port of Puno where you will take the 7:15am boat to the floating islands of Uros, located 10 km (30 mins by boat) from the port.

The indigenous Uru people, construct their islands out of huge blocks of Totora Reed, an aquatic plant native to Lake Titicaca. The islands are covered with a fresh layer of reeds every 20 days, and are able to float due to porosity of the blocks that release gases produced by decomposition. These blocks are then joined together and anchored to the lake bed using eucalyptus sticks.

The Uru culture is one of the oldest ethnic groups on Lake Titicaca, who have inhabited its waters since the Incas began expanding their territories over the plateau hundreds of years ago. They dedicate themselves to fishing and bird hunting and are entirely dependent on the Totora reed with which they build their islands, houses, rafts and also serves as food and fuel for the people.

After saying goodbye to the Uru people, you’ll take the boat a further 1-hour to the island of Taquile. When you arrive, you’ll walk along a wide trail to the Plaza de Armas, all the while admiring the breathtaking deep blue shores of Lake Titicaca. Throughout your tour of the island, you will visit places where local artwork is made and take lunch at a local family home.

After lunch, you will return by boat to the port of Puno and be transported by car back to your hotel in the city for 5pm. The evening is then yours to rest and explore at your leisure.

At the appropriate time, you’ll collected by private transport and driven 45 mins to the Sillustani archaeological site on the shores of Lake Umayo. The complex is a pre-Inca cemetery consisting of tombs built above ground in in tower-like structures called Chullpas. These are the vestiges of the Qulla people, who are the Aymara people conquered by the Inca Empire in the 15th century.

After a guided tour, you’ll be driven a further 1-hour to the Inca Manco Capac airport in Juliaca in time to board your onward flight to Lima. Here your guide will bid you farewell and provide you with the necessary tickets and boarding passes to enable a smooth check in.

In-flight time from Juliaca to Lima : 90 minutes.