Peru with Machu Picchu & the Nazca Lines a Women-Only Tour
Peru with Machu Picchu & the Nazca Lines a Women-Only Tour
Peru with Machu Picchu & the Nazca Lines a Women-Only Tour
13 Days Starting and ending in Lima
Visiting: Lima, Cusco, Sacred Valley, Machu Picchu, Paracas, Nazca, Ballestas Islands
Tour operator:
Tour code:
XZPERPN20
Specialist Group:
Women Only
Guide Type:
Fully Guided
Group size:
20 - 40
Age range:
5-99
Special diets catered:
Vegetarians
Tour operated in:
EnglishTrip Styles:
Tour Overview
On this tour, created by women, for women, feast on Peruvian delicacies in Lima, tour the ancient Qorikancha temple in Cusco and adventure through the Ollantaytambo ruins and Machu Picchu. In Cusco, embark on a private planetarium tour uncovering the influence of astronomy on Andean culture and visit Mantay store which supports mothers and their children. In Lima, visit Casa Aliaga, an impressive mansion the Aliaga family has called home for 17 generations, and tour and dine in Museo Larco guided by an archaeologist who shares her insights. Join a Local Expert in Machu Picchu for a guided tour through the ancient ruins. Visit the salt pans of Maras in the Sacred Valley where the Incas harvested minerals, and visit a local Quechua Weaver for a MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience to learn about their ancient weaving techniques in a private presentation.
Highlights
Itinerary
Day 1: Welcome To Lima
Location: Lima
Accommodation: MGallery Manto Lima
Accommodation Name: MGallery Manto, Lima
Arrive in Lima for the first day of your journey. Dubbed “City of the Kings,” the historic center of Lima was founded by Spanish conqueror Francisco Pizarro in January 1535 and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. After you’re met at the airport and transferred to your hotel, unwind before celebrating your first night with your Travel Director and fellow travelers this evening over dinner and drinks.
Day 2: Explore Lima Relaxed Start
Location: Lima
Accommodation: MGallery Manto Lima
Accommodation Name: MGallery Manto, Lima
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch
Explore the coastal, colorful capital of Peru with your Local Expert and fellow female travelers. 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 generations, for a tour with Wilma Ehni de Aliaga. Art lovers will enjoy experience at the Museo Larco where an archaeologist will share her knowledge of the museum as you indulge in lunch against a backdrop of an 18th-century garden. After lunch, meet a Local Expert who will show you Museo Larco, highlighting women’s impact and the museum’s private collection. End your day by delving into Peruvian culture and ancient history.
Day 3: Lima To Sacred Valley
Location: Lima, Cusco, Sacred Valley
Accommodation: Aranwa Sacred Valley Hotel & Wellness
Accommodation Name: Aranwa Sacred Valley Hotel & Wellness, Urubamba
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch
This morning, 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. Indulge your curiosity learning how its lower elevation and fertile land for growing crops, including corn, potatoes and quinoa, made it a revered location for the Incas. After a few stunning photo stops, enjoy lunch at Altar Inca, perched above a valley surrounded by some of the most impressive views of the region. Enjoy a leisurely trip to your hotel for the next couple of nights, the luxurious Aranwa Sacred Valley Hotel, where the evening is yours to do as you please. We recommend that you rest to adjust to the altitude comfortably.
Day 4: Explore Sacred Valley Relaxed Start
Location: Sacred Valley
Accommodation: Aranwa Sacred Valley Hotel & Wellness
Accommodation Name: Aranwa Sacred Valley Hotel & Wellness, Urubamba
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch
With curiosity and confidence, visit the Maras salt pans where the Incas harvested their salt. Learn how today the salt from Maras is exported to the entire world. Then move on to an Incan laboratory in Moray, an archaeological site close to Cusco, to find out more about the ideal altitude to grow crops in the Sacred Valley. Join a MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience visiting a local traditional Quechua weaver in the Sacred Valley to 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 lunch. In the evening, transfer to Hacienda Huayoccari to discover this gem of the Sacred Valley while exploring its grounds and small museum. Conclude the day by sitting down to a Farm-to-Table Peruvian dinner.
Day 5: Explore Machu Picchu
Location: Sacred Valley, Machu Picchu
Accommodation: Inkaterra Forest, Machu Picchu
Accommodation Name: Inkaterra Forest, Machu Picchu
Meals Included: Breakfast
Embark on a grand adventure beginning with an IncaRail train ride. Sit back and relax as you enjoy the scenic journey to Machu Picchu Pueblo, the gateway village to Machu Picchu. On the way, visit the Ollantaytambo ruins – a town and archaeological site that was both a fortress and a temple – followed by a stop at a local house in the village’s cobblestoned old town and a visit with a local family. In the afternoon, visit Machu Picchu where you’ll meet your Local Experts for a guided visit in small groups with like-minded travelers. Explore the iconic ruins as you learn about their historical and archaeological significance as well as the importance of their location. Set high in the Andes Mountains, the ruins offer 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
Location: Machu Picchu
Accommodation Name: Inkaterra Forest, Machu Picchu
Meals Included: Breakfast
Your in-depth journey of Peru continues as you take in the breathtaking landscapes discovering Machu Picchu on your own. Spend the 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. Named for the hot springs north of the town, Aguas Calientes is also home to a handicraft market and the Allcamayo waterfall surrounded by exotic trees, butterflies and orchids. Spend the evening as you please before sitting down to dinner with your fellow travelers.
Day 7: On To Cusco
Location: Machu Picchu, Cusco
Accommodation: JW Marriott El Convento Cusco
Accommodation Name: JW Marriott El Convento, Cusco
Meals Included: Breakfast
More sights and insights await returning 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. Join a walking tour with a Local Expert to see its cathedral and the Qorikancha temple, the most important temple in the Inca Empire. Enhance your day by visiting the hand-picked Mantay store, one of four stores in Cusco that support the Mantay project of underaged, often abused, mothers and their young children by providing a home and education. With an evening free to explore, consider asking your Travel Director for recommendations to discover more about this ancient city.
Day 8: Exploring Cusco
Location: Cusco
Accommodation: JW Marriott El Convento Cusco
Accommodation Name: JW Marriott El Convento, Cusco
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch
Peru’s Incan history and archaeology will inspire the mind of any curious traveler. Start your day with a walking tour of Sacsayhuaman, a citadel built during the reign of Pachacuti Inca Yupanqui, the ninth Sapa Inca of the Kingdom of Cusco. Deepen your discoveries with Insight Choice. Opt to join a Local Expert on a guided hike of the Inca ruins at Puca Pucara. Alternatively, explore the artisan bohemian neighborhood of San Blas and visit the prestigious art galleries. After lunch at Pachapapa, visit San Blas Church and the surrounding streets before making your way to San Pedro Market to delight your senses with an array of local produce. At the city’s planetarium, discover the insights of astronomy, cosmology and its influence on Andean culture on a private, after-hours tour. Conclude a memorable day delighting your taste buds as you try local delicacies paired with hot wine.
Day 9: Leisure Time In Cusco Relaxed Start
Location: Cusco
Accommodation Name: JW Marriott El Convento, Cusco
Meals Included: Breakfast
No visit to Peru is complete without sampling local chocolate. Join an optional visit to the ChocoMuseo where you’ll learn more about the chocolate-making process and the cacao bean, the seed of the cacao tree used to make chocolate. Or, perhaps relax and enjoy the facilities at your hotel. Set in a beautiful 16th-century building, make the most of this boutique hotel’s signature spa and Andean-inspired healing treatments, massages, facials and custom spa packages. In the evening, join your fellow female travelers for a memorable dinner at the Inka Grill restaurant where you will toast to your adventures and lifelong friendships formed.
Day 10: From The Andes To The Coast
Location: Cusco, Lima, Paracas
Accommodation: Hotel Paracas, a Luxury Collection Resort
Accommodation Name: Paracas, a Luxury Collection Resort
Meals Included: Breakfast
Embark on the next leg of your journey with a flight from Cusco to Lima. Arriving in Peru’s capital city, head out on a leisurely coastal drive to town of Paracas. This beach town where the desert meets the Pacific Ocean is the ideal jumping off point for the Ballestas Islands as well as Paracas National Reserve. Indulge your curiosity learning how this protected desert peninsula is known for its abundant wildlife and as an important archaeological area once home to a prehistoric civilization from 800 BCE and 200 BCE.
Day 11: Paracas & The Nazca Lines
Location: Paracas, Nazca, Paracas
Accommodation Name: Paracas, a Luxury Collection Resort
Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner
Peru’s Incan history and beautiful landscapes will inspire the mind of any curious traveler. Uncover insights into Paracas’ local culture meeting fishermen and women who share their daily lives and routines in this charming coastal town. Deepen your discovery of the area and treat yourself to incredible views with a flight over the mysterious Nazca Lines. This UNESCO World Heritage Site is a collection of giant geoglyphs drawn in the desert sand by the Nazca people. Look out from your aircraft for representations of plants and animals including a spider, hummingbird, cactus plant, monkey, whale, llama, duck, flower and tree measuring up to 1,200 feet (370 meters) long. Conclude another grand day over a sea-to-table meal at your luxurious resort by the bay.
Day 12: Ballestas Islands And Peruvian Wildlife
Location: Paracas, Ballestas Islands
Accommodation Name: Hotel Paracas, a Luxury Collection Resort
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch
Home to blue footed boobies, Humboldt penguins, Peruvian pelicans, fur seals and sea lions, the Ballestas Islands are famous for their abundant marine life as well as striking rock formations. Soak it all in on this morning’s scenic cruise with your Local Expert. Experience another side of the area in the nearby city of Chinca at a pisco distillery for a tasting. Sip and savor the national drink in Peru in this region known for growing grapes and producing the best pisco. Enhance your cultural discoveries at one of Peru’s finest small museums housing mummies, skulls, fossils, ceramics, textiles and artifacts from the Inca and other significant civilizations of the region.
Day 13: Chincha And Return To Lima
Location: Paracas, Lima
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch
Lands so rich with history they will leave you spellbound. Embark on your return to Lima, stopping at Hacienda San José in Chincha. On your insightful tour, learn how this former slave plantation portrays a dark chapter of Peruvian history. Tour the original building and baroque chapel, viewing frescoes, agricultural equipment, a web of catacombs and underground tunnels which were used to bring the slaves from the coast to the Hacienda. After immersing yourself in Peru’s history, your tour concludes with a drop-off at the Lima airport.
What's Included
-
Meals
Includes 11 Breakfasts (B), 5 Lunches (L), 2 Dinners (D), 3 Dinners with Wine (DW), and 1 Highlight Lunch of Pachamanca.
-
Accommodations
Stay in luxury accommodations including MGallery Manto Lima, Aranwa Sacred Valley Hotel & Wellness, Inkaterra Forest, Machu Picchu, JW Marriott El Convento Cusco, and Hotel Paracas, a Luxury Collection Resort.
-
Transportation
Includes economy air and air-related charges for flights between Lima - Cusco and transfers to Machu Picchu pueblo via IncaRail train with panoramic views.
-
Guided Tours
Enjoy guided visits and tours with Local Experts, including Machu Picchu, Cusco, Sacred Valley, Lima, and the Nazca Lines.
-
Cultural Experiences
Participate in unique cultural experiences such as a traditional Peruvian feast, a visit to a local traditional Quechua weaver, and a tour of the Maras Salt Mine.
-
Special Activities
Choose between two carefully selected activities in Cusco, visit Cusco's planetarium, and take a private flight over the Nazca Lines.
What's Not Included
-
Travel Insurance
Travel insurance is not included and is recommended for all travelers.
-
Some Meals
Not all meals are covered.
Some dinners and lunches are to be purchased separately, allowing for personal exploration of local cuisine. -
Personal Expenses
Personal expenses such as laundry, telephone calls, minibar, and room service are not included.
-
Optional Activities
Any optional tours or activities that are not listed in the tour highlights are not included and may incur an additional cost.
-
Tips and Gratuities
Tips and gratuities for tour guides, drivers, and hotel staff are not included.
-
Airport Transfers
Airport transfers outside of the tour itinerary, including those for early arrivals or late departures, are not included.
Mode of Transport
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.
Accommodation
MGallery Manto Lima, Aranwa Sacred Valley Hotel & Wellness, Inkaterra Forest, Machu Picchu, JW Marriott El Convento Cusco, Hotel Paracas, a Luxury Collection Resort
Dining Summary
- 12 Breakfast (B)
- 6 Lunch (L)
- 5 Dinner with Wine (DW)
- 1 Dinner (D)
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 preexisting 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.
Women-Only
- Lima: Unwind at your luxury abode in Lima before meeting your Travel Director and fellow travelers in the evening for a dinner that elegantly captures typical flavors of the Peruvian capital.
- Lima: Visit Casa Aliaga that the Aliaga family has called home for 17 generations. Meet Wilma Ehni de Aliaga, who’ll show you around her family's impressive mansion and share personal stories. Learn how the colonial home dates to the founding of Lima in 1535 and is the oldest dwelling in the Americas that has been in the same family for generations. Discover how the home was rebuilt and reshaped after earthquakes and architectural trends and represents both the Colonial and Republican history of Lima.
- : Join archaeologist Samantha Encalada Rafael from Museo Larco to indulge in lunch in its 18th-century garden setting. You’ll love this opportunity to learn insights into the museum’s history and the archaeologist's experience working there.
- : Visit Museo Larco in Lima’s Pueblo Libre District, the highest-rated museum in South America housing the largest collection of Pre-Columbian art. Meet a local specialized guide who will lead you through the museum and share its private collection with you. You’ll also delve into Peruvian culture, its ancient history and religious beliefs and learn about the role of women in ancient Peru.
- : Founded more than 20 years ago with the aim of sheltering and helping teenage mothers and their children, Mantay store not only offers a safe place, but also provides women with health services, education and job training. The women at Mantay apprentice at a leather workshop as part of their vocational training, learning how to make beautiful hand-sewn leather goods. Once the women reach the age of 18, they transition out of the home with their children but can continue to work full-time in the workshop, providing them with the opportunity for long-term stabilised income. To commemorate your visit, you’ll receive a small present supporting the Mantay project.
Check out our Q&As
-
What countries does the tour visit?
The tour visits Peru.
-
What are the highlights of the tour?
Highlights of the tour include 11 Breakfasts, 2 Dinners, 5 Lunches, 3 Dinners with Wine, a choice between two activities, exploration of Cusco's San Blas neighborhood, a trek of Inca ruins in Puca Pucara, a visit to Lima's luxury abode, lunch at Museo Larco's 18th-century garden, a slow-cooked Cusquenian lunch at Pacha Papa, a traditional Peruvian feast in Sacred Valley, a guided visit to Machu Picchu, learning about the Incas' interpretation of the stars at Cusco's planetarium, a flight over the Nazca Lines, a visit to a traditional Quechua weaver, exploration of the Cathedral of Lima, a visit to Casa Aliaga, learning about salt extraction at Maras Salt Mine, a visit to Museo Larco, learning about crop growth at Moray Incan laboratory, a train ride to Machu Picchu with panoramic views, a visit to Ollantaytambo ruins, an option to return to Machu Picchu or enjoy Aguas Calientes, a walking tour of Cusco, a visit to Mantay store, viewing wildlife at Ballestas Islands, learning about Pisco at Hacienda La Caravedo, and 4 Dinners with Wine.
-
What meals are included?
The tour includes 11 Breakfasts (B), 2 Dinners (D), 5 Lunches (L), and 3 Dinners with Wine (DW).
-
Are there any activities included?
Yes, the tour includes a choice between two carefully selected activities, exploration of various cultural and historical sites, a guided visit to Machu Picchu, a flight over the Nazca Lines, and more.
-
What type of accommodations are provided?
Accommodations include MGallery Manto Lima, Aranwa Sacred Valley Hotel & Wellness, Inkaterra Forest, Machu Picchu, JW Marriott El Convento Cusco, and Hotel Paracas, a Luxury Collection Resort.
-
Is transportation included?
Yes, transportation includes economy air and air-related charges for flights between Lima - Cusco, transfers to the station for the IncaRail train ride to Machu Picchu pueblo, and various other transfers as part of the tour.
-
What is the starting location of the tour?
The tour starts in Lima.
-
What is the ending location of the tour?
The tour ends in Lima.
-
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.
-
How long has the tour company been trading?
Since 1978.
-
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.
-
Will the accommodation included meet local health and safety regulations?
Yes
-
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.
-
What policies are in place for Covid-19?
Please contact us for latest COVID-19 policies
Reviews of this operator
1 Select your preferred date
Saturday - Thursday
Mar 29, 2025 - Apr 10, 2025Saturday - Thursday
Jun 07, 2025 - Jun 19, 2025Saturday - Thursday
Nov 08, 2025 - Nov 20, 2025Saturday - Thursday
Mar 28, 2026 - Apr 09, 2026Saturday - Thursday
Jun 06, 2026 - Jun 18, 2026Saturday - Thursday
Nov 07, 2026 - Nov 19, 2026Book with Confidence
-
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.
-
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.
-
Terms and Conditions