7-day Essential Peru

Upon your arrival at Lima airport, we will transfer you to your hotel located in the heart of Lima city. You will have the rest of the day free. Overnight at the hotel.

In the morning, we will begin our Lima city tour at the magnificent Larco Museum, located in the traditional district of Pueblo Libre. Founded by Peruvian archaeologist Rafael Larco Hoyle in 1926, the museum is housed in an 18th-century mansion surrounded by extensive and beautiful gardens.

The Larco Museum is a marvel. It boasts a comprehensive collection of over 5,000 pre-Hispanic ceramic pieces, as well as gold and silver artifacts, and pre-Columbian erotic pottery. We will walk through its stunning galleries in chronological order, learning about the fascinating civilizations of ancient Peru.

Next, we will head to Lima`s historic center, a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1988. This area features beautiful squares, colonial mansions, and a rich history. We will visit the Aliaga House, a colonial mansion built in 1536, renowned for its exquisite spaces filled with invaluable art and history. Remarkably, descendants of Jerónimo de Aliaga, a Spanish conquistador and ally of Francisco Pizarro, still inhabit this architectural gem.

We will continue to the Plaza de Armas, the birthplace of Lima in 1535 and the site where Peru’s independence was declared in 1821. During the viceroyalty, it served as a marketplace and a place for public executions.

From the Plaza de Armas, we will admire historical buildings such as the Government Palace, the Archbishop`s Palace, the Municipal Palace, and other significant colonial structures. We will visit Lima`s Cathedral, a UNESCO Cultural Heritage Site, built during the Spanish conquest in the 16th century.

After the tour, you will be transferred back to your hotel. Overnight stay.

At the scheduled time, we will transfer you to Lima airport for your flight to Arequipa. Upon arrival, we will escort you to your hotel in the city center.

We will then begin the city tour with a visit to the Plaza de Armas, one of the most beautiful squares in the country, and the adjacent Arequipa Cathedral, built in the 17th century. We will explore the Cathedral and the Church of the Society of Jesus (1590), a classic example of local baroque architecture housing exceptional paintings and murals.

You will also visit the stunning Monastery of Santa Catalina, a genuine medieval cloister established in September 1579, still in use today. Spanning 20,000 square meters, this mysterious convent was built with sillar, the main material of local architecture.

The tour includes stops in the districts of Yanahuara and Carmen Alto, offering panoramic views of Arequipa`s countryside and the surrounding volcanoes: Misti, Chachani, and Pichu Pichu. You will have time for photos.

Finally, we will visit the main square of Cayma district and the Church of San Miguel Arcángel de Cayma. At the end of the tour, we will transfer you back to your hotel. Overnight stay.

At the agreed time, we will take you to Arequipa airport for your flight to Cusco. Upon arrival, we will transfer you to your hotel. The rest of the day is free. Overnight stay.

Today, we will tour the Sacred Valley of the Incas.

After traveling 30 km from Cusco, we will reach the small town of Pisac, a charming place with a fantastic traditional market and an archaeological site featuring stone temples and structures overlooking the valley and its terraces.

We will then continue to Urubamba, where we will enjoy a delicious buffet lunch at a traditional restaurant by the Urubamba River.

Next, we will visit the town of Ollantaytambo and its fortress, an impressive example of Inca architecture that served as a military, religious, and agricultural hub. It offers stunning valley views and features advanced irrigation systems.

We will end the day with a visit to Chinchero and its colorful market, offering a variety of Andean ceramics and textiles.

You will then board a train at Ollantaytambo station, heading towards Aguas Calientes. Upon arrival, our staff will assist you to your hotel. In the evening, we will have a briefing about the next day’s visit to Machu Picchu. Overnight stay.

You will take a bus ascending 30 minutes along a road with spectacular views of the Urubamba River and its canyon. Machu Picchu, meaning “Old Mountain,” will greet you with its incredible terraces, stairways, ceremonial sites, and urban areas, radiating a unique energy.

During a 2.5-hour guided tour, you will learn all about this extraordinary site. Afterward, you will have free time to continue exploring or, if adventurous, hike Huayna Picchu or Machu Picchu Mountain (optional).

Alternatively, you can return to Aguas Calientes for a delightful lunch (optional) at one of its excellent restaurants.

At the scheduled time, you will take the train back to Ollantaytambo, followed by a bus transfer to Cusco. Overnight stay.

At the agreed time, we will transfer you to Cusco airport for your onward flight.