Machu Picchu, Cusco, Trujillo, Chiclayo Tour

Arrival at Lima Airport. Welcome and English-speaking assistance. Transfer to your hotel.

Your day begins with a morning pick-up from your hotel by your private driver and English-speaking guide for a half-day exploration of Lima’s rich colonial heritage. The tour starts in the historic center, where you'll stroll through the elegant Plaza San Martín and admire the iconic Hotel Bolívar. From there, continue to the Plaza Mayor, where the Cathedral of Lima stands as a stunning example of colonial baroque architecture. Nearby, the Convent of San Francisco offers another glimpse into Lima's storied past with its ornate interiors and impressive colonial design.

The morning continues with a visit to the Larco Herrera Museum in the district of Pueblo Libre. Housed in an 18th-century colonial mansion, the museum hosts the world’s largest private collection of pre-Columbian art. Inside, you’ll discover intricate gold and silver artifacts from ancient Peru and a unique collection of erotic ceramics from the Mochica culture. The visit also includes access to the museum’s remarkable storage area, showcasing over 45,000 classified archaeological objects.

Following your cultural immersion in Lima, you will be transferred to the airport for your domestic flight to Trujillo (1 hour 10 min). Assistance will be provided during your check-in to ensure a smooth departure.

Welcome and transfer to your hotel for installation.

Discover the charm of Trujillo, Peru's vibrant "City of Eternal Spring." Stroll through its colonial streets adorned with colorful mansions and ornate balconies. Marvel at the grandeur of the Plaza de Arma and visit the stunning Cathedral.

Overnight at your hotel in Trujillo.

Begin your day with a visit to the Huacas del Sol y de la Luna. The Huaca de la Luna is particularly striking, with its richly decorated walls, colorful friezes, and intricate iconography revealing Moche ceremonial life. Explore the on-site Museum of the Huacas, which houses artifacts uncovered from the complex and provides context on the Moche civilization's rituals and governance.

Follow by the magnificent citadel of Chan Chan, the largest adobe city in the world and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Once home to over 100,000 people during the Chimu civilization, the citadel features nine palace complexes. You’ll visit the well-preserved Tschudi Palace, known for its elaborate walls, ceremonial courtyards, and intricate carvings.

End your tour in Huanchaco, a charming coastal town famed for its traditional reed boats ("caballitos de totora") and delicious ceviche, said to have originated with the Moche people here. Once an important port during Moche and Chimu times, Huanchaco is now a relaxed seaside destination perfect for enjoying a sunset over the Pacific.

Free evening and overnight in Trujillo.

Depart Trujillo en route to Chiclayo (4 hours), making a short panoramic stop at the Huaca de San José de Moro, a significant ceremonial site used for elite Moche burials, known for its funerary chambers and intricate offerings.

Continue to the El Brujo Archaeological Complex, one of the most remarkable Moche sites located along the northern coast. Marvel at its massive adobe pyramids, vivid murals, and above all, the discovery of the Lady of Cao — a tattooed female mummy who is believed to have held great political and spiritual power. Her tomb reshaped our understanding of the role of women in ancient Peruvian societies.

The journey concludes with your arrival in Chiclayo by the late afternoon, where you can rest and prepare for the next day’s explorations in northern Peru.

Free evening and overnight in Chiclayo.

Begin the day with a journey southeast to Huaca Rajada – Sipán, the legendary archaeological site where the tomb of the Lord of Sipán was discovered. Visit the excavation area and learn about this major Moche ruler, whose burial was one of the richest and most important in the Americas.

Continue the route north to the province of Lambayeque, stopping en route for lunch (not included), where you can enjoy local specialties.

Visit the spectacular Royal Tombs of Sipán Museum (closed on Mondays), which houses the extraordinary gold, silver, and copper treasures found in the tomb of the Lord of Sipán. The museum is designed to resemble an ancient pyramid and offers an immersive look into Moche culture.

Then, head to the Brüning Museum, which displays a broader collection of pre-Columbian artifacts, including textiles, ceremonial items, and jewelry from various northern coastal civilizations such as the Lambayeque and Chimú.

After the museum visits, return to Chiclayo, where the tour concludes.

Overnight stay in Chiclayo. Rest and recharge in the city after a full and enriching day exploring the cultural treasures of northern Peru.

Transfer to Chiclayo airport for your flight to Cusco via Lima (3 to 4 hours). 

Arrival in Cusco where you will be greeted by your local guide.

Transfer to the Urubamba Valley also known as the Sacred Valley of the Incas (1 hour 30 min). The Sacred Valley is famous for its numerous archaeological sites, various activities and hiking trails. 

End of the afternoon at leisure to rest and enjoy the beautiful gardens of your hotel. 

Overnight at your hotel in the Sacred Valley.

In the morning, drive from your hotel to the village of Pisac (1 hour) famous for its Sunday market where many indigenous Quechua communities meet to sell and trade their goods. 

The rest of the week, the whole place is bustling with a large handicraft and souvenir market. You will have time to search for jewellery, ponchos, hats, traditional music instruments, ceramics, alpaca products and many other typical Andean crafts  (1 hour 30 min). 

Visit Pisaqa, Intihuatana, Q’allaqasa, and Kinchiracay. (1 hour 30 min). All 4 places are part of an Inca site on the nearby hill at an altitude of 10,980 feet (3345 m). 

The hill was shaped during Inca times by carving ingenious terraces that are still used for agriculture to this day. With military, religious, and agricultural structures, the site was an important and busy place for the Inca empire. 

In the afternoon, transfer to Ollantaytambo, a fortified city built during the reign of Pachacutec, the most powerful Inca emperor. 

Explore this quaint settlement with an interesting orthogonal layout (30 min). 

Climb the Temple Hill known as the fortress to learn about the purpose of those inca constructions (1 hour 30 min). 

Transfer to your hotel in the Sacred Valley (45 min). 

Free evening. 

Overnight at your hotel in the Sacred Valley. 

Transfer to the site of Maras (90 min).

Walk between the hundreds of salt ponds used to dry the salt according to a method inherited from pre-inca times.

The many colors of the polygonal ponds can go from light reddish to brownish to white according to the season. This contrasts with the surrounding landscape and gives the site a most-unusual aspect.

Free time to shop pink salt collected by the local community workers.

Transfer to Moray archeological site (30 min).

Walk around and down those impressive circular agricultural terraces that were used to conduct scientific experiments in Inca times (30 min).

Finish your tour with a visit to the small town of Chinchero, where the original upper village is an open-air museum. The small cobbled alleyways are lined with craft shops that seem to have been frozen in time. Follow the path that leads to an esplanade where a beautiful white church stands out against the background of the tall Andean mountains.

Overnight at your hotel in the Sacred Valley.

Your passport is required to enter the Machu Picchu site. You have the option to get a 'Machu Picchu' stamp in your passport if you wish.

Today might be THE day you have been expecting since you landed on Peruvian soil as you will finally discover the ancient citadel of Machu Picchu.

Transfer to Ollantaytambo train station (30 min).

Board the comfortable train that will take you to Aguas Calientes, the nearest town to Machu Picchu (1 hour 30 min).

In Aguas Calientes, walk from the train to the bus station (5 min) and hop on a bus to the entrance of the archaeological site.

Enjoy the impressive 20-minute drive up the hill to the Machu Picchu site at 7,972 feet (2430 m). Rediscovered in 1911 by the American archaeologist Hiram Bingham, Macchu Picchu is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site.

Learn about every secret this ancient Inca citadel holds and grab every opportunity to take photographs (3 to 4 hours).

Take the bus back to Aguas Calientes (20 min) and board the train back to Ollantaytambo (1 hour 30 min).

Transfer to your hotel in Cusco (1 hour 30 min).

Overnight at your hotel in Cusco.

In the morning, you will meet your guide for a city tour of Cusco, including visits to the Plaza Mayor, the Cathedral, and the Korikancha, the original Temple of the Sun.

Then, drive to the hills above Cusco to explore the nearby archaeological sites, including Sacsayhuaman, Qenqo, Puka Pukara, and Tambomachay, each offering unique insights into Inca architecture and ceremonial practices.

After the tour, transfer back to your hotel or to the city centre (20 min).

Afternoon at leisure to explore the Spanish colonial city known to the Inca as the 'belly button of the world'.

Stroll around numerous plazas, shops selling incredible art and crafts or visit the great Pre-Columbian Museum MAP (not included).

Overnight at your hotel in Cusco.

In the morning, transfer to Cusco's airport for your flight back to Lima (1 hour 30 min).

Assistance in Lima for your international

After breakfast, transfer from your hotel in Cusco to the airport with assistance for baggage and check-in. Take your domestic flight to Lima (1 hour 20 min), where you’ll be welcomed at Jorge Chávez International Airport by our local English-speaking staff. A private transfer will bring you to your hotel, with full assistance during check-in to ensure a smooth arrival. Shortly after, set out for a guided gastronomic tour in the vibrant Barranco district.

Enjoy a flavorful introduction to Lima with a walking food tour through Barranco, known for its bohemian charm and artistic flair. Over the course of four hours, sample more than 14 traditional Peruvian dishes and drinks, while learning about the cultural history behind each one. Participate in hands-on demonstrations to prepare classic ceviche and the iconic pisco sour. 

flight.

The tour also includes a visit to Barranco’s main attractions and supports a social impact initiative that helps combat child malnutrition in Ayacucho through Action Against Hunger Peru.

Free evening and overnight at your hotel in Lima.

At the indicated time, transfer to Lima airport (30 min to 1 hour). Check-in assistance for your international flight back home.