Machu Picchu
6 Nights Featuring Lima, Cusco, the Sacred Valley and Machu Picchu
This Journey has been curated specifically for private touring, combining the highlights of the region with enriching cultural experiences. Whether you are traveling solo, as a couple, or with a small group of friends, a private tour offers an intimate travel experience. Visit the legendary Inca ruins of Machu Picchu and experience the Spanish colonial cities of Lima and Cusco on this Enrichment Journey to Peru. Begin your Journey in the Sacred Valley, where you can immerse yourself in one of history’s famous ancient civilizations. Explore the historic fortresses of the Sacred Valley and take a scenic train ride to Machu Picchu, the legendary “Lost City of the Inca” and one of the New Seven Wonders of the World. Enjoy lunch on a ranch that is known for the Peruvian Paso horse, learn about local handicrafts and peruse the local street markets. You’ll also visit the former capital of the Incan Empire, Cusco, a beautiful city nestled in the Peruvian Andes featuring a unique mix of Incan and Spanish colonial architecture. End your adventure in Lima, once known as the “City of Kings”. This Journey is sure to leave you with fond memories and epic tales of one of South America’s most interesting destinations. Ask about pairing with your cruise!
Pricing Available Upon Request
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Journey Highlights
Memorable Experiences, Scenic Views, and Exciting Moments
At a Glance
Private Tour, At Your Own Pace
The driver and guide are dedicated to you, and can adjust the pace of the tour to match your preferences. Wish to shop a little longer at the market? No problem. Prefer to head back to the hotel early? Let’s go. Guests who wish to make alterations to the itinerary prior to booking may also do so for a nominal fee.
Discover the Lost City of the Inca
Explore the mystical ruins of Machu Picchu, one of the New 7 Wonders of the World, where ancient history meets breathtaking vistas.
Learn About Local Culture in the Andes Mountains
Sip on some muna (Andean mint) tea, pet an alpaca and a llama, learn about the local textile and agricultural industries, and taste Peru’s famous cuisine, such as ceviche, quinoa risotto, and locally-produced coffee and chocolate.
Spend Two Days in Cusco
Wander through the cobblestone streets of Cusco, the former capital of the vast Incan Empire.
Day 1 – Sacred Valley
Upon arrival at the airport, you will be transferred to your hotel in the Sacred Valley. After check-in, you’ll have time to get settled in, relax and have dinner on your own.
Day 2 – Sacred Valley
Start the day with a visit to Moray, an archaeological site which demonstrates Inca agricultural engineering. Continue to the Maras Salt Mines where thousands of individual salt pools dot the hillside. Lunch will be held at Wayra Ranch, where you will be delighted by a meal designed by the prominent Chefs Pedro Miguel Schiaffino and Nacho Solis. The ranch is also known for the Peruvian Paso horse, renowned for the smoothest gait in the world. Stunning equestrian demonstrations and marinera music will create a memorable afternoon.
We will then continue to Ollantaytambo, a typical example of the urban planning of the Inca, whose residents still live in accordance with the old traditions. You will find a huge archaeological complex which, although it bears the name of fortress, was actually a tambo, a leisure city used to accommodate the delegations that traveled long distances.
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Day 3 – Sacred Valley
Today is the highlight of our trip: a visit to the “Lost City of the Inca.” Believed to have been built in the fifteenth century, Machu Picchu laid undiscovered by outsiders until 1911. The name roughly translates to “Old Mountain,” and is a masterpiece of engineering and architecture that is thought to have served as a sanctuary and retreat for the Inca. Machu Picchu is recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the New Seven Wonders of the World.
After breakfast, you will be driven half an hour to the Ollantaytambo train station and embark for the two-hour train ride to Aguas Calientes. From there, you will board a local bus to ascent Machu Picchu, the most important archaeological site in Peru. After your visit, return to Aguas Calientes by bus and then enjoy a local lunch in the town. Return by train and have the evening at leisure at the hotel.
Please note: Be sure to bring your passport with you as local authorities check the name on the ticket against a picture ID. Also, luggage on the train is limited to a backpack.
Day 4 – Sacred Valley to Cusco
This morning you will check out of the hotel and transfer to the city of Cusco. En route, you will visit the fortress of Sacsayhuaman, one of the most emblematic buildings of the Incas, built by the Inca Pachacutec in the fifteenth century. This is a huge fortress built with large stones whose transportation still remains a mystery. Each year on June 24th, during the winter solstice, the feast of Inti Raymi is recreated here, where the sun is worshipped. Continue to Quenqo, an archaeological complex of mainly religious use where it is believed agricultural rituals were performed. Our final stop will be at Puka Pucara, located a few miles outside the city of Cusco. Puka Pucara, which means “Red Fortress”, was an architectural complex of alleged military use with multiple spaces, plazas, baths, aqueducts, walls and towers. Arrive in Cusco and check in to your hotel. Enjoy the evening at your leisure.
Day 5 – Cusco
Start your scenic tour of Cusco today at the Koricancha, also known as the “Temple of the Sun”, the construction of which was ordered by Inca Pachacútec (1438-1471) and was used as base for the construction of the Santo Domingo Convent upon the arrival of the Spaniards. This is when the Sun was worshipped during the Inca Empire and it was once filled with gold artifacts. You will then go to the Cathedral, the most important building on the Main Square and one of the most splendid Spanish colonial churches in America, which is shaped as a Latin Cross and houses about 400 colonial paintings from the Cusco art school, and impressive goldsmith, silversmith and precious stones works. Its construction lasted almost a century, it started in 1560 and ended in 1654. The Ecclesiastical Chapter was ordered to extract and transport hundreds of stones from the Sacsayhuamán fortress for this purpose. Enjoy the afternoon and evening at your leisure.
Day 6 – Cusco to Lima
Enjoy breakfast this morning before checking out of your hotel and transferring to the airport for your flight to Lima. Upon arrival, enjoy a city tour. You’ll start by visiting the Aliaga House, a colonial mansion with over five centuries of history, considered the oldest house in the Americas. Then, you’ll explore the Plaza Mayor, recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, where you can visit the imposing Lima Cathedral. Finally, you’ll visit the Larco Museum, located in the traditional district of Pueblo Libre. The museum boasts a comprehensive collection of pre-Hispanic gold and silver objects. Return to your hotel for the evening.
Day 7 – Lima
Check out of the hotel and say farewell to Peru. Transfer to the airport for your return flight home, or to the cruise port for your cruise.
Note: Guests who wish to customize this itinerary may do so for an additional charge. Please see the Extensions section for optional extension options.
For meals not included in your land programs, all hotels chosen include a restaurant on property where you may relax and enjoy a meal. In addition, your guide is available to make suggestions on nearby dining, shopping or sightseeing.
Hotel options will be included in your quote. Please indicate your preference for a 4-star or 5-star hotel. Please note that in most major cities, 5-star properties are typically a few hundred dollars more per night. Although we contract for hotels a year or more in advance, unforeseen circumstances do occasionally require a change of hotel. Should it be necessary to change a hotel, one of equal quality or value will be substituted and you will receive confirmed hotel information with your final itinerary.
This Journey
6-night land program in Peru
8 meals on tour (6 breakfasts and 2 lunches)
Airfare between Lima and Cusco, including transfers and baggage handling
Always Included
English-speaking Local Guide during land program
Guaranteed early hotel check-in on arrival day
Centrally located four- or five-star hotels (at guest's request)
Extend Your Journey
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Hotel or Custom Extension
Some clients prefer to spend one night in Lima before continuing to the Sacred Valley. With this optional hotel extension, you can add a hotel night in Lima to relax at the hotel and adjust to the new time zone before the tour starts. Lima hotel extensions are typically priced between $130–$155 per person, based on double occupancy at 4-star hotels, depending on the dates requested. Note: tours are not included. Please ask a Personal Vacation Manager about the option of customizing your tour to include additional destinations like Lake Titicaca, the Amazon and more.
More Information
What to Know Before You Go
This Private Journey to Machu Picchu is typically priced between $2,999–$3,399 per person, based on double occupancy at 4-star hotels, depending on the departure date. International airfare is not included in the land quote; however, all guests on Private Journeys receive complimentary access to our Air Department for assistance with their airfare.
For questions regarding this Private Journey to Machu Picchu or any of our Enrichment Journeys, please speak to a Personal Vacation Manager at 888-546-8617.
When you are ready to request a custom quote, Start Your Request Online, or speak to a Personal Vacation Manager. Requests for Private Journeys require a non-refundable deposit of $200, which will be applied toward the total cost of your land program. Guests who wish to make alterations to the itinerary may do so for an additional charge of $300. Once your request for a Private Journey has been accepted, a team member will contact you to review the next steps and to collect your deposit.
Each Private Journey will have its own deposit and cancellation terms, which will be specified in the quote. Quotes for Private Journeys are valid for 14 days. Final payment is typically 150 days prior to departure. Private Journeys will typically be fully refundable, minus the $200 non-refundable deposit and any additional charges for alterations, up until final payment; after final payment, the entire land package is non-refundable. Certain factors (such as the inclusion of airfare, local festivals or holidays, luxury properties, etc.) may necessitate a deviation from our standard policy and/or require a separate non-refundable deposit to be obtained at the time of booking.
All prices on our website and e-Journey Travel Guide are subject to change without notice. While we make every effort to provide you the most accurate and up-to-date information, occasionally, a trip or pricing category may be misprinted or unavailable at the time of booking. In the event of an incorrect price due to typographical, photographic, or technical error, or error in pricing information received from our suppliers, we retain the right to correct the price and to refuse or cancel any bookings placed at the incorrect price. In addition, all offers, prices, and conditions of sale may be subject to change without notice including tours, included features, highlights, minimum or maximum stays, itinerary, times in port, and/or other conditions/restrictions.
This Journey should be considered active and includes a considerable amount of walking. Please note that this itinerary includes locations at a significant altitude above sea level; shortness of breath and fatigue may occur. Please see below for elevation levels during the tour. As a comparison, Denver, Colorado has an elevation of 5,280 feet and some towns in the Colorado Rockies have elevations over 10,000 feet. Guests unfamiliar with the effects of high altitude should consult their personal physician.
Machu Picchu has an elevation of 7,972 feet, and you will spend several hours in this location. Cusco has an elevation of 11,152 feet, and you will overnight in this location.
Enrichment Journeys will do everything in our power to ensure comfort through our third-party providers, including air-conditioned buses and comfortable accommodations where applicable. However, some areas cannot be accessed by coach, so our drivers will get you as close to sites as is legally allowed. Sensible, rubber-soled walking shoes are strongly recommended. Historical sites often do not have elevators, escalators, or ramps due to the age of the building/structure. Steps can be steep and uneven. Based on crowds and traffic, order of visits may be changed. You may have to walk a moderate distance to transfer to coach stations and airport terminals. Time spent on the road and traveling can be long, so you will need to be prepared for stretches of down time in between destinations.
Wheelchair access at many sites is limited. A fold-up wheelchair may be able to be stored on the bus but requires prior arrangements. Guests must be able to transfer from their chair to the transportation. Guides/drivers are not allowed to lift or push wheelchairs, so guests requiring physical assistance must travel with a companion who can assist. Motorized wheelchairs and scooters cannot be accommodated on this group program.
International airfare is not included in the land quote. If you would like a separate quote for international airfare, please indicate that in your request.
Enrichment Journeys is committed to providing remarkable experiences at extraordinary value. As a result, airlines and routes are selected to maximize that value and may involve multiple stops and extended layovers versus non-stop or direct flights. Passengers wishing to utilize specific carriers, direct/non-stop flights, Business Class upgrades, or to extend their time in any of our beginning or ending destination cities may do so by contacting Enrichment Journeys and inquiring about the Custom Airfare Program. There is a $100 per person charge for this service, however this charge will be applied toward any flights or upgrades you choose to purchase. The $100 charge must be paid prior to receiving a custom air quote.
To travel internationally, you must have a passport in good condition, and it must be valid for at least 6 months after the last day of your trip. Visa requirements change frequently and for various reasons. As a result, our Personal Vacation Managers are not always able to provide visa information. The best way to obtain up-to-date information regarding visa requirements is to visit the official US government website for Americans traveling abroad, Travel.State.Gov (Canadian citizens should visit https://travel.gc.ca/, for all other countries please visit your government website or local embassy), which details specific information on the countries you would like to visit, including visa requirements. You may also use a third-party visa service, such as Expedited Travel. These services require an additional service fee but make the process of applying for a visa much simpler.
Guests who wish to make alterations to the itinerary may do so for a nominal fee.
To extend a hotel stay at the beginning or end of your Journey, please speak to a Personal Vacation Manager for assistance in making those arrangements.
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