Itinerary

Day 1 LIMA   View Luxury Peru Lima accommodations picture gallery  Evening arrival in Lima and transfer to the Marriott Hotel. A Southern Explorations guide will pick you up at the airport just outside of baggage claim and transfer you to the hotel in the beautiful Miraflores district.
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Day 2 LIMA - CUSCO View Luxury Peru Cusco accommodations picture gallery In the morning, your Peru tour takes you by plane to Cusco, colonial jewel and ancient capital of the Inca Empire. A Southern Explorations guide will pick you up, take you on a tour of the beautiful Plaza de Armas and get you to your hotel. You will be free for the rest of the day to relax and to become accustomed to the elevation (10,856 ft). Our guide is at your service to help with any other activities you might like, however we recommend a day of rest today, as it is important to acclimatize. Overnight at Libertador Hotel. Upgrades to the Monasterio Hotel can be arranged at an additional cost if space is available. Contact us for details. (B,L,D)

Day 3 CUSCO View Luxury Peru Cusco accommodations picture gallery Luxury Peru Today your Peru tour begins with a private guided walking tour through the interesting markets of Cusco, the colonial cathedral, and the Koricancha Temple of the Sun ruins. After a delicious lunch, your first-class Peru travels continue as you are escorted on an afternoon tour of Cusco's temples and visit several nearby important Inca sights including: the fortress of Sacsayhuamán, with its massive terraces; the Kenko stone surfaces and subterranean altars; Puka Pukara, the small fortress that protected Cusco from attacks; and the water temple, Tambo Machay. In the late afternoon, you'll return to the comfort of your hotel to relax or further explore the well-preserved architecture and culture of historic Cusco. Spend the night at the Libertador Hotel (or upgrade to the Monasterio Hotel at additional cost if space is available. Contact us for details). (B,L,D)

Day 4 CUSCO - SACRED VALLEY View Luxury Sacred Valley accommodations picture gallery Today, take a guided excursion through the Incas' legendary Sacred Valley, as majestic today as it was during their reign. Along the way, Inca agricultural terracing on the steep valley walls and the temple ruins of Pisac create stunning views of the jagged granite mountains in the background. No Peru travel is complete without stopping here. You'll then visit the town of Pisac, home to one of the most varied textile markets in the Andes, where you'll enjoy the local culture and have lunch. In the afternoon you'll reach Ollantaytambo (9,185 ft.), the ruins of an impressive Inca fortress, and the nearby small town where you'll spend the night at the Casa Andina Private Collection Sacred Valley Hotel. (B,L,D)

Day 5 SACRED VALLEY / MORAY AND MARAS View Luxury Sacred Valley accommodations picture gallery Next your Peru travel takes you past small farms above the beautiful Urubamba valley to Moray, the site of three circular terraces thought to have been used by the Incas as an open-air crop experimentation station. Continue down past the living village and pre-Inca settlement of Maras. Here a geo-thermally heated stream feeds hundreds of small salt terraces, forming a bizarre white-on-brown landscape that has been used for salt mining since well before the time of the Incas. Enjoy a delightful picnic lunch amidst Andean scenery and return to the Casa Andina Private Collection Sacred Valley Hotel in the late afternoon to relax. (B,L,D)

Day 6 SACRED VALLEY - MACHU PICCHU View Luxury Peru MachuPicchu accommodations picture gallery Luxury Peru The day begins with a short walk from the hotel to the train station to take the Hiram Bingham train through the picturesque valley of the Urubamba River to the tiny village of Aguas Calientes. Emerging from a magnificent cloud forest, you'll arrive at the station where a bus waits to take you to one of the highlights of this Peru tour: the sacred mountain citadel of Machu Picchu (7,875 ft.). Spend the whole day exploring the famous ruins, returning for a late afternoon soak in the Aguas Calientes hot springs and a dinner of local cuisine. Stay overnight at the renowned Machu Picchu Pueblo Hotel. (An upgrade to the famed Sanctuary Lodge can be arranged at an additional cost on a space-available basis. Contact us for details). (B,L,D)

Day 7 MACHU PICCHU - CUSCO View Luxury Peru Cusco accommodations picture gallery Early-risers will have the magical Peru experience of a Machu Picchu sunrise in the ancient city before the daily bustle begins. The remainder of the day holds various opportunities for your own exploration with our guide. Embark on a Peru ecotour as you climb to the sacred peak of Huayna Picchu or a walk through the lush cloud forest to the Temple of the Moon. When the afternoon train returns you to Cusco, you will be transferred to the Libertador Hotel (or upgrade to the Monasterio Hotel at additional cost if space is available. Contact us for details). (B,L,D)

Day 8 CUSCO - LIMA CITY TOUR - HOME Following breakfast, receive a morning transfer to the airport for the return flight to Lima. Our guide will pick you up at the airport in Lima for a comprehensive afternoon tour of the "City of Kings" that includes the fancy Miraflores district overlooking the Pacific, the modern residential suburb of San Isidro, stopping at the Government Palace, the Cathedral, the Archbishop's Palace and City Hall, and finally the magnificent 17th century church, designated a UNESCO World Heritage site. A visit to Lima's famed Gold Museum containing ancient precious metal artifacts can also be included upon request. Enjoy the rest of the evening in Lima dining and relaxing in the Miraflores district before returning to the Lima International Airport for your flight home, marking the end of Southern Exploration's services on your Peru tour. (B,L)

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