Peru Tour 9 Days / 8 Nights (Lima-Ica-Nazca-Cusco)

Description

Discover the essence of Peru on a 9-day, 8-night journey that will take you from vibrant Lima to the mystical lands of Cusco. Immerse yourself in the cultural richness of Lima with a fascinating City Tour, embark on a maritime adventure to the Ballestas Islands and the Oasis of Huacachina, explore the mysterious land of Nazca, delve into the majesty of Cusco, live the unique experience of the Sacred Valley, marvel at the grandeur of Machu Picchu, immerse yourself in the serenity of the Humantay Lagoon, conquer the imposing Seven Colors Mountain in Vinicunca, and say goodbye to Peru with a heart full of unforgettable memories.

DAY 1: CITY TOUR LIMA

Pick up from the airport. Accommodation at the hotel in Lima.

At 14:30 hrs we will start with the City tour, for which the pick up from the hotels starts at 14:00 hrs.

We will enjoy a tour knowing Lima in its three stages: Ancestral, Colonial and Modern Lima. We will start the tour with a panoramic view of the “Pucllana Pyramid”, ancient ceremonial and archaeological center built in the 4th century A.D. and considered the Sacred Town of the Incas.

Then we will go to the Historic Center of Lima where we will observe what was the old Lima Cuadrada, and appreciate more than fifty monuments and colonial buildings among which are the Paseo de la Republica, the Plaza San Martin, the Plaza Mayor, the Government Palace, the Municipal Palace, the Archbishop’s Palace, the Cathedral Basilica, among others. Continuing the tour we will visit the Museum of the Central Reserve Bank where we will appreciate the Collection of Treasures of Peru within which we will find ceramic objects, gold and textiles of various pre-Columbian cultures. We will also visit the Monumental Complex of San Francisco, which is the largest sample of colonial religious art in America where its main attraction are the subway crypts known as “Catacombs”. Finally we will go to the Contemporary Zone of Lima where we will see the main buildings and residential areas of Lima: El Olivar de San Isidro, Miraflores, Larcomar and Parque del Amor.

Our tour ends at 18:00 hrs. Overnight in Lima.

DAY 2: BALLESTAS ISLANDS AND HUACACHINA OASIS

At 04:00 a.m. you will be picked up from the hotel or coordinated place to go to the city of Paracas, we will arrive in Paracas at 8:00 a.m. approximately. Afterwards you will go to the dock “El Chaco” to board a boat that will take us to the Ballestas Islands.

The first stop of our boat will be in front of the enigmatic Candelabro, a huge geoglyph designed in the sandy summit that has the shape of a trident with more than 2500 years old. We will discover the different hypotheses about its origin, which could be linked to ancient pirates or even with the creators of the famous Nazca Lines.

Continuing our tour we will arrive at the Ballestas Islands. The Ballestas Islands are three small islands where we will discover the impressive maritime and ecological richness of Peru. We will be impressed by immense colonies of sea lions and Humboldt penguins, and by the countless guano birds that fly over the area.

Although it is forbidden to land on the islands so as not to alter the ecosystem or disturb the animals, we will get close enough to see them interacting in their natural habitat. We will skirt the three islands in a crossing of approximately one hour. Then, we will return to the Paracas dock.

Afterwards, we will continue our trip to Ica. We will visit an artisan winery where the Peruvian brandy known as Pisco is made. In this place our local guide will take us on a tour of the winery’s facilities and will explain the ancient method of elaboration of Pisco and wine. After the tour our clients will be able to taste the different varieties of Pisco and wine that this winery produces, and if they wish, they will also be able to purchase these products.

Afterwards, we will go to the Huacachina Oasis, a place located only 5 Km. from downtown. In this beautiful lagoon visitors can enjoy the tranquility of the place and walk around in search of good photos and / or restaurants (free time).

At 4:00 pm, or coordinated time, the sand buggy ride begins through the dunes surrounding the Huacachina Lagoon. Also, the huge dunes surrounding the lagoon allow visitors to practice one of the most fascinating sports in the area, popularly called Sandboarding, which consists of sliding on a board on the desert sand. Overnight in Huacachina.

DAY 3: NAZCA

At 7:00 am, you will go to the province of Nazca, place where you will have 3 activities:

TOUR ACUEDUCTOS DE CANTALLOC, This place is located 3 km east of the city of Nazca, these subway channels were built by the ancient Nazca approximately 500 years after Christ, thanks to these channels we have water all year round, because our rivers are always dry, the ancient Nazca were the best hydraulic engineers as they used materials that resisted for more than 1500 years, they controlled the speed of water and found the way to perform maintenance. This tour has a duration of 2 hours.

FLIGHT OVER THE NAZCA LINES, The flight to the Nazca Lines lasts approximately 30 minutes and is the best way to see these fascinating lines and drawings that have intrigued people for years. Here, you will be able to see the various figures drawn on the surface of the Nazca desert, representing stylized animals and plants, distributed in a huge maze of lines, trapezoids, triangles and spirals that have been preserved for almost 2000 years. At the end of this activity you will have enough time for lunch.

CEMENTERY OF CHAUCHILLA, The cemetery of Chauchilla is located about 30 km from the city of Nazca, is the only cemetery in Peru that allows to appreciate the mummies in their original tombs, many of these mummies are in good condition despite its age.

Complementarily, you will also visit the Maria Reich museum, and the pottery, goldsmith and weaving workshops. After the visit to the above mentioned places, you will go to the city of Ica, where you will board the bus that will take you back to the city of Lima. Overnight in Lima.

DAY 4: ARRIVAL TO CUSCO / CITY TOUR CUSCO

Arrival to the city of Cusco, reception at the Velasco Astete International Airport and transfer to the hotel.

13:00 hrs, start of the city tour. Our tour begins with a visit to the Temple of QORICANCHA, and then we will board our mobility to go to the archaeological centers as SAQSAYWAMAN which has a strategic location from where you can have a panoramic view of Cusco, this is very famous for the huge polished and molded stones. Then we will go to a mystical temple of the Incas known as QENQO where in Inca times religious sacrifices were made. Then, we will visit the control and military center of the Incas called PUKA PUKARA, finally we will visit the Temple of TAMBOMACHAY where the water fountains stand out. Return to the hotel around 18:30 hrs. Overnight in Cusco.

DAY 5: SUPER SACRED VALLEY

This tour starts at 06:30 am. First we will go to the town of CHINCHERO to visit the church and the archaeological park of the place, we will also have the opportunity to enter a textile production center where they still use ancient techniques of weaving and dyeing of wool. Later we will go to the archaeological park of MORAY famous for its circular terraces, then we will visit the SALINERAS de Maras which are about 5000 small ponds that are still exploited for human consumption.

Then, we will go to the city of Urubamba where you will enjoy a delicious buffet lunch. After lunch, you will go to the town of OLLANTAYTAMBO nominated as “living Inca city” for preserving the original urban design of the Inca era, in this town you will visit the archaeological park that awaits the temple of the sun composed of a megalithic construction, also highlights the temple of the 10 niches, sacred fountains, the face of the Andean god Tunupa, etc..

Later, you will go to the train station in Ollantaytambo to board the train that will take you to the town of Aguas Calientes, the train ride lasts 1 ½ hours, there you will be picked up by our staff that will take you to your assigned hotel. That same night you will be visited by our local tour guide to coordinate the next day’s tour. Overnight in Aguas Calientes.

DAY 6: MACHUPICCHU

At the coordinated time, you will board the bus for a 25 minute ride to the entrance point of the Inca citadel of Machupicchu. We will visit the Inca citadel for about 2 hours, during which time our guide will show and explain everything about this world wonder.
The work of our guide ends when you have completed the tour of the circuit inside the Inca citadel, then you will have the afternoon free so you can have lunch on your own, until the departure time of the train.

To return to Cusco it is necessary to be half an hour earlier at the train station, according to the schedule assigned on the ticket. Then you will board the train that will take you to the town of Ollantaytambo, where you will be picked up by our bus that will take you back to the city of Cusco. Overnight in Cusco.

DAY 7: HUMANTAY LAGOON

Our tour starts at 04:30 am. First we will pick you up at your hotel; Then we will start our journey on a paved road until we reach the town of Mollepata where you will have breakfast. After breakfast we will continue our journey through a dirt road until we reach the town of Soraypampa, from this point we will start the hike for an hour and a half until we reach the Humantay Lagoon (4,200 meters above sea level). At this point we will have enough time to enjoy the scenery and take pictures. The degree of difficulty of this tour is MEDIUM and the tour requires an acceptable physical condition.

After the visit to Humantay, we will descend to Soraypampa to take our vehicle that will take us to the town of Mollepata where we will have lunch for the day. Then we will continue with our return trip to Cusco city, we will arrive around 05:30 pm. Overnight in Cusco.

DAY 8: 7 COLORED MOUNTAIN VINICUNCA

At 04:30 a.m. we will pick you up at your hotel, and then we will start our trip following a paved road towards the town of Cusipata. Then, we will enter by a dirt road until we reach the town of Paucarpata, where we will enjoy our breakfast. After breakfast we will continue our journey to Qomer Qocha, there you will have enough time to get ready, also our tour guide will give you recommendations before the walk. The trek on foot has an average duration of 1 hour with an average degree of difficulty whose route requires an acceptable physical condition, since the arrival point of Vinicunca has an altitude of 5,200 meters above sea level.

Arriving at the mountain will have an ideal time to take pictures of the memory; then return to Qomer Qocha, there we will board our vehicle that will take us to the restaurant to have lunch for the day, and after a short rest we will return to the city of Cusco, this tour ends at 05:00 p.m. approximately. Overnight in Cusco.

DAY 9: CUSCO / DEPARTURE

At the coordinated time, departure transfer to Cusco airport. End of service.

Transfers Airport – Hotel – Airport (both in Lima and Cusco).
02 nights lodging in Lima.
01 night accommodation in Huacachina.
04 nights accommodation in Cusco.
01 night accommodation in Aguas Calientes.
01 Buffet lunch in the Sacred Valley tour.
01 breakfast and 01 lunch in the tour of the Mountain of Colors.
01 breakfast and 01 lunch in the tour of the Humantay Lagoon.
Tourist transportation in the tours.
Professional guide in the tours.
Tourist ticket in Lima.
BTG (General Tourist Ticket) in Cusco.
Entrance ticket to Qorikancha.
Entrance ticket to Machupicchu.
Bus ticket Aguas Calientes – Machupicchu – Aguas Calientes.
Tourist train ticket VOYAGER or EXPEDITION (route Ollantaytambo – Machupicchu and vice versa).
Tourist tickets for archaeological visits in Nazca.
Tax in Paracas (Ballestas Islands).
Tax in Huacachina.
Bus tickets (Ica – Lima).
Air ticket for the overflight in Nazca.
Buggie ride and Sandboarding (Ica).
Ride on the sliders (boat in Paracas).
First Aid Kit, Oxygen Balloon in the tour of the Mountain of Colors and Humantay Lagoon (Group Use).
Orientation and permanent monitoring to the passenger.

International air tickets
Internal air tickets Lima – Cusco – Lima.
Meals not mentioned.
Tax at the Nazca airfield (77 soles).
Entrance to the park of the mountain of colors (30 soles).
Entrance to the Humantay lagoon (20 soles).
Entrance to the Sal Maras mines (20 soles).
Consumption or personal expenses of the passengers.

Prepare your physical condition for the excursions.
Pack appropriate clothing for different climates.
Don’t forget sunscreen and sun accessories.
Stay hydrated throughout the day.
Consider getting travel insurance.
Respect local customs and traditions.
Be flexible and adaptable to different situations.

PRICES PER PERSON IN SHARED TOUR ACCORDING TO HOTEL CATEGORY

DESCRIPTION (Hotels and similar)	Prices in dollars
With Hotel ★★★	USD. 1,155
With Hotel ★★★★	USD. 1,345

Prices are based on double, matrimonial or triple rooms. Those who wish to occupy a single room will have to pay the corresponding difference, according to the category of the selected hotel.
Children from 3 to 17 years old enjoy discounts, please consult with our reservations department.
Children from 0 to 2 years old do not pay, as long as they share the services with their parents.
To enter the Waynapicchu circuit, reservations must be made 3 – 4 months in advance (the cost of the ticket is 210 soles).
This tour package is flexible, at the request of the client it is possible to modify both the itinerary and the hotel, for which it will have to be re-quoted. Also, you can request a quote in private tour service if you prefer.