Classic & Lima & Paracas & Nazca

Day-by-Day Itinerary

Day 1: Arrival to Lima

Once you arrive in Lima, one of our representatives will meet you at the airport, and take you to your hotel in Lima. * An extra day in Lima can be added upon request. Please let us know if you like us to add additional activities.

Day 2: Lima City Tour & Museum Visit (B, L)

Many tours tend to forget about Lima on the way to Cusco. In our opinion, the history and anthropology of Lima, with Cultures that pre-date the Incas by thousands of years, provides an excellent starting point to better understand and appreciate the Inca cultures you will see in Cusco. In the City Tour, we will see the Spanish city Square, get a snapshot of the most important city sites, and visit a world-class museum to learn about pre-Inca cultures. Sites to be visited: Main Square, The Cathedral, Government Palace, City Hall, San Francisco Monastery (including catacombs), old streets with colonial houses, and a great driving tour through beautiful San Isidro and Miraflores. You will have a delicious typical Peruvian lunch at one of the best restaurants in Lima. After lunch, you will visit the Museum of Anthropology, or Museum Larco, where we will share Peruvian culture from the many thousands of years of pre-Inca societies up to colonial Peru. * While in Lima, we highly recommend adding culinary activities such as cooking classes and tasting dinners in the best restaurants of Latin America, for more information check our Culinary site: taste-of-peru.com and ask our agents for more information. An extra day in Lima can be added upon request.

Day 3: Bus to Paracas for Ballestas Island Tour & Bus to Nazca (B, S)

You will need to be up early, as you will be picked up at your hotel in Lima, for your specially crafted, guided tour of the Ballestas Islands tour. The tour begins by taking a specialty bus from the Lima bus station that will take you to Paracas Port. Once you arrive at the Port in Paracas, you will begin you guided tour of the Ballestas Islands. As early morning turns into mid-morning, the motor boat excursion to Ballestas Islands, in Paracas National Reserve, will take you to observe sea lions, boobies, pelicans, penguins and other marine birds, among the many other species which converge there looking for shelter. On the boat trip over to the islands, the famous “Candelabro” can be seen; an enigmatic form that many people believe is related to the enigmatic Nazca lines. You will have plenty of time to take in the beautiful sites and marina, before continuing on to the second portion of your excursion: Nazca. In order to get to Nazca, you will embark on a 3-hour bus ride. Once you arrive in Nazca, will be met at the bus station by one of our representatives, who will then, accompany you and take you to your hotel in Nazca. Once you arrive at your hotel, you will be able to get some rest in order to prepare for your next day’s activities. * Extra activities can be added upon request in Paracas, Nazca or Ica. Please let us know.

Day 4: Over flight Nazca lines & Back to Lima (B, S)

After you finish breakfast at your hotel in Nazca, you will be picked up and taken to the Nazca airdome where you will then board your aircraft and have a chance to fly (roughly 30 minutes) over the mystical and enigmatic Nazca Lines. Although no theory can yet scientifically explain the meaning of the lines, they are thought to have formed a sort of gigantic astronomical calendar closely linked to the cult of water. The geoglyphs, which depict animals (several species of birds, a monkey, a spider, and fish, to name a few) and stylized plants, are set within an enormous labyrinth of straight lines, trapezoids, triangles, and spirals etched into the ground as shallow (20 cm deep) canals. At the conclusion of your flight, you will once again be taken back to your hotel in Nazca to prepare for your bus back to the city of Lima. This approximately 7 hour bus ride, will allow you time to rest and relax on a very eventful day. Once you arrive in Lima, you will be picked up and taken to your hotel in Lima to conclude your day. * Extra activities can be added upon request in Paracas, Nazca or Ica. Please let us know.

Day 5: Fly to Cusco & Afternoon City Tour (B)

After breakfast, you will depart towards the airport in Lima for the short, one hour flight to Cusco, the ancient capital of the Incas, located at 11,100 feet above sea level. You will be met upon arrival and transferred to your hotel of choice. You will have the remainder of the morning to rest and freshen up. It’s best to take it easy this morning to let your body adjust to the altitude. Some find enjoying a cup of hot coca tea a real help in adjusting to the high elevation and that is what the locals traditionally use coca for. Both lunch and dinner are on your own today as there are so many choices available at reasonable price either in or near your hotel. * Depending on which domestic flight you choose you will have more or less time to rest.

After lunch, you will set out on grand tour of Cusco, the former capital of the once vast Incan Empire. The city’s Spanish Colonial architecture both overlays and is interlaced with the earlier Incan architecture. We walk Cusco’s impressive Plaza de Armas and visit both the Spanish cathedral and Incan temple of the sun, Qoricancha. The Spanish conquistadores destroyed significant portions of the Inca civilization while leaving their mark on Cusco. Ornate cathedrals, adobe walls, carved balconies, hidden courtyards and cobblestone streets add to the historic richness of the ancient Incan capital.

Next we set out to visit the ruins above the city that were considered an essential part of the ancient capital. We start with one of the most impressive of them all, Sacsayhuaman. This is where Inti Raymi, the Festival of the Sun, is held during the Summer Solstice. Some of the stones used to build the site weigh up to 70 tons yet are fitted so precisely–without the use of mortar–that one cannot slide even the thinnest object between them. Some believe that the site forms the head of puma or jaguar and that the huge triangulated walls form its teeth, or symbolize lightening. Tambomachay, the Temple of the Sacred Waters, is another site we will visit and is a marvel of hydraulic engineering. Its waters still flow today. At Q´enqo we’ll see the remains of a ceremonial site used for fertility rites and for celebrations of the solstice and equinox. * An extra day in Cusco can be added upon request. Please let us know if you like us to add additional activities.

Day 6: Sacred Valley of the Incas (B, L)

After breakfast, we set out into the Urubamba Valley, also known as the Sacred Valley of the Incas. Our first stop will be a visit to the the Pisac market. The Pisac market has a wide variety of artisan arts & crafts and you will have the chance to see the many different products that the sacred valley produces. This is a great opportunity to for you to do some unique shopping, and to purchase souvenirs for your family and friends. After the market, we head deeper into the Sacred Valley and visit the Inca town of Ollantaytambo, still inhabited by the locals in much the same way as it was during the time of the Incas. The lodging area is formed by complex structures known as “canchas” or apartments. The Inca built a temple on a terraced site above the town. The impressive, standing stones they erected, conjure up images of Atlantis. This is the site where Manco Inca and his warriors staged a temporary victory over the Spanish Conquistadors, led by Francisco Pizarro. During this victory, the Inca warriors flooded the fields, while raining down spears and arrows from above, making it difficult for the Spanish horses to maneuver, ultimately forcing a rare retreat on the part of the Conquistadors. We then return to Urubamba, where you will have a chance to break for lunch and recover energies to continue with our tour.

After lunch, we head out to the bustling market-town of Chinchero, our final visit today. The town of Chinchero is the the Birthplace of the Rainbow, situated at over 11,500 feet. Its extensive agricultural terraces made it, in Incan times, the breadbasket of Cusco city. The main sight to see at this location is a catholic church, with fine paintings from the Cusquenian School. Modern Chinchero has a very active community of women weavers who create textiles on backstrap looms using only natural dyes. The weavers make fine, high quality mantas, table runners, pillows, bags, belts, and scarves in soft natural colors. At the end of the day you will go back to Cusco. All of our suggested hotels are well situated, so that you can relax and enjoy more of both ancient and contemporary life this evening. * An overnight at the sacred valley can be added upon request. Please let us know if you like us to add additional activities.

Day 7: Machu Picchu (B, S)

The day you have been waiting for! After breakfast we catch the train to the town of Aquas Calientes at the base of Machu Picchu. Continue by bus for the short ride up switch backs to the Machu Picchu citadel overhead. We enter the ruins for a breathtaking view of the city in the sky. You will enjoy a full tour of the lost city and have lunch on your own after the tour. In the afternoon we say farewell to Machu Picchu as we set out by train heading to the station at Poroy and then on to Cusco Hotel by car arriving at night. * An overnight in MachuPicchu can be added upon request. Also, we can add bus and entrance tickets for a second day at the citadel. Please let us know if you like us to add additional activities and meals.

Day 8: Return to Lima / Flights Home (B)

Your journey to Peru winds to a close as we provide transfer to the airport in Cusco for the flight back to the capital city of Lima. Flight time will depend on your flight time back home. * Please let us know if you like to add extra activities or a day hotel if your flight is late at night.

NOTE: Some people prefer to go directly to the Sacred Valley upon arrival to the Cusco Airport. Please let us know if you prefer that to send you an updated itinerary

Not exactly what you want?

Remember, that Magical focuses on providing the best available options, and can work with you in fully customizing your tour to better fit your interests and budget without compromising the quality of your tour. Just contact us with your questions and preferences, and we can modify this tour based on your expectations and requests.

Important Notes:

About MachuPicchu Entrance Tickets

As the popularity of MachuPicchu has increased in the last few years, and in order to preserve the ancient paths of MachuPicchu, the Peruvian Cultural Institute (INC) has restricted the number of people that could enter MachuPicchu to 2,500 people per day. This means that, once the 2,500 tickets are sold out, no further entrance tickets will available. Also, please note that to avoid a secondary market for these tickets, all tickets are issued with the name of the passenger, his/her passport number, nationality and date of birth. Therefore, tickets are non refundable and non transferable.

About Huaynapichu Tickets

Entrance tickets to Huaynapichu are not longer free, entrance tickets are now US$12.00 per person. There are two scheduled visits per day, with a limit of 200 people per visit (Total of 400 per day). If you are interested in hiking the Huaynapichu, we will need you to let us know at the same time you book your trip since the Huaynapichu tickets need to be purchased in conjunction to the MachuPicchu tickets.

Price

This tour (*) is available from:

USD$934.90 per person – Group with Private Transfers

For single supplement and prices in a private service, please contact us!

* Based on double occupancy, 4 people, Budget Accommodations

IMPORTANT: As price depends on each passenger choices, please contact us to send you an updated price based on your specific request. Please send us the following information and we will respond within 24 hours with your updated price.

• Number of people in your party
• Level of accommodation (3,4,5*). Please see options
• Choosing a Private or Group Tour?
• Train choice. Please see options
• Adding options: if you like to add day tours, extra days, meals, etc
• Need domestic or international flights?
• Have a special request (ie: special diet, wheelchair, children, senior, etc)

What’s Included?

• Round-trip Expedition train. Upgrade to other trains: Vistadome or Hiram Bingham upon request
• Bus to Machu Picchu roundtrip.
• Bus ticket from Lima/Paracas, Paracas/Nazca, Nazca/Lima.
• Expert leadership: guides & support personnel for all listed tours
• Accommodations: 3 nights in Lima, 1 night in Nazca, 3 nights in Cusco
• Meals as noted (B = Breakfast, L = Lunch, D = Dinner, S = Snack). We can add any meals upon request
• Land excursions as noted including entrance fees (Lima Cathedral, San Francisco Catacombs, Lima Museum, Ballestas Island boarding fee and tax to SERNANP, BTG, Cusco Cathedral Qoricancha, and Machu Picchu)
• Private transportation: Lima Airport/Lima Hotel, Lima Hotel/Lima Bus Station, Paracas Bus Station/Paracas Port, Paracas Port/Paracas Bus Station, Nazca Bus Station/Nazca Hotel, Nazca Hotel/Nazca Airdrome, Nazca Airdrome/Nazca Hotel, Nazca Hotel/Nazca Bus Station, Lima Bus Station/Lima Hotel, Lima Hotel/Lima Airport, Cusco Airport/Cusco Hotel, Cusco Hotel/Train Station, Train Station/Cusco Hotel, Cusco Hotel/Cusco Airport.

What’s Not Included?

• Airport taxes: Local ($5-6) and International ($31) departure tax of payable in local currency by each passenger at Lima International Airport upon departure (if applicable)
• Airdrome Tax in Nazca: US$9.00 approximately
• International and domestic airfares, usually quoted separately
• Insurance of any kind: mandatory evacuation insurance; suggested cancellation insurance, interruption, baggage loss, damage and delay
• Visas. Please be advised that some citizens other than Canadians and US may need visa to travel to Peru. Please advise us of your nationality to help you or check with the Peruvian Consulate
• Tipping & Gratuities (Guides $4 per person per day / Drivers $1 per person per day)
• Excess baggage charges
• Medical immunizations
• Items of a personal nature (clothing, sodas, liquor, snacks, laundry, etc.)

Domestic Tickets

Lima/Cusco/Lima: From US $190 per person. This is an example price. Prices depend on date and time of booking.