8-Day Machu Picchu & The Nazca Lines

Welcome to Peru! Upon landing at Cusco airport, you will be welcomed and driven to the Sacred Valley of the Incas. Because of its lower elevation and its peaceful atmosphere, this valley is the perfect place to enjoy your first days in Cusco. Depending on how you are feeling, en route, you can stop at Pisac village. This is a delightful little Andean town that has a very interesting street market. It is a great place to get an initial feeling of local culture. You don't want to do too much on your first day in the area, it is best to acclimatize first. Meals included: None Hotel: Tierra Viva Valle Sagrado - subject to availability Type of service: Private

This morning, you will set off on tour to visit some of the Sacred Valley's most impressive sites. First, you will reach Moray, one of the most unusual Inca sites consisting of circular terraces built upon a natural depression. It seems to have been an agricultural experimental station used to adapt crops to different temperatures. Second stop, you will visit Maras, an impressive salt-extraction complex consisting of thousands of small terraces. Locals have been collecting and selling the salt at the markets of the region since before the Inca times. Afterwards, you will continue driving along the Vilcanota river till reaching Paraqay, one of our favorite restaurants in the valley not only because of the delicious meals but also part of a beautiful project that gives young people in the Sacred Valley the opportunity to enroll in the Arariwa cooking school in Urubamba. Finally, you continue to your hotel in the heart of the Sacred Valley. Meals included: Breakfast & Lunch Hotel: Tierra Viva Valle Sagrado - subject to availability Type of service: Private

Today, after breakfast, you will visit the Ollantaytambo archaeological site, an impressive Inca complex that protected this area of incursions from the Amazon Basin. You will walk along its cobblestone streets while looking around the village. Next, you will experience a traditional culinary experience called Pachamanca, which in Quechua means Earth Pot. This is a traditional cooking technique where the food is prepared underground using preheated stones and leaves to separate the food from the soil. The main ingredients are Andean tubers such as potato, sweet potato, oca, mashua, as well as beef, chicken, or lamb along with Andean aromatic herbs to give it a distinctive flavor. In the afternoon, you will head to the Ollantaytambo train station to board the train to Aguas Calientes (Machu Picchu Town). Upon arriving in Aguas Calientes, reception and assistance to your hotel. Meals included: Breakfast Hotel: Casa Andina Machu Picchu - subject to availability Type of service: Private

Today is the big day! Early in the morning, we'll take a 20-minutes bus up the steep zigzagging road to Machu Picchu Citadel, located on an impressive mountain setting. We'll have a 3-hour guided excursion so we can have a better understanding of Machu Picchu and the Incas culture. Our guide will be happy to answer all the questions you may have. Afterwards, you'll return to Aguas Calientes, where you will have free time to enjoy lunch before boarding your return train back to Ollantaytambo. Upon arriving, our private transport will be waiting to take you to your hotel in Cusco. Notes:

• Be sure to be at the train station 30minutes before your train departure
• Please don't forget to bring your passport with you, since it will be required when entering Machu Picchu

Meals  included: Breakfast Hotel: Casa Andina Premium Cusco - subject to availability Type of service: Private

Today, we'll embark on a four-hour walking city tour which will take us not only through the most touristic sites in Cusco such as the Main Square, Cathedral and Koricancha (Temple of the Sun); but also along ancient streets, local markets, and old neighborhoods to discover the magic of Cusco. The rest of the day is free for you to wander around by yourself. We'll be more than happy to give you our best recommendations for restaurants, shops, and additional activities in the city. Meals  included: Breakfast Hotel: Casa Andina Premium Cusco - subject to availability Type of service: Private

Today, you will have some free time to take a last walk around Cusco's shops and markets. Then, at the coordinated time, you will head back to Cusco's airport to board your flight to Lima. You will be welcomed in Lima and taken by private shuttle to your hotel located in the heart of Miraflores. The afternoon will be free so you can enjoy this pretty seaside district on your own. You can stroll along the parks overlooking the ocean or try some ceviche in one of Lima's top restaurants. If you wish, you can head to Barranco to admire examples of Lima's old architecture and visit interesting local galleries such as las Pallas and Dedalo. If you are interested in culture and history, we recommend the Amano Museum and prehispanic pyramids of Huaca Pucllana, both within walking distance in Miraflores. Of course, we will provide you with maps and plenty of tips for you to make the most of your time in Lima. Meals included: Breakfast Hotel: InnSide Miraflores - subject to availability Type of service: Private

Today, you leave Lima early in the morning, towards Paracas, located 3 hours south of Lima. You will first drive to Pisco airfield and board a modern Cessna Caravan aircraft to fly over the enigmatic Nazca Lines and the new discoveries of Palpa Lines. During the flight, you will observe the mysterious figures of animals, humanoids, and geometric shapes perfectly crafted in the desert. Afterward, you will make a short drive to your hotel located at the shores of the Paracas Bay. The rest of the afternoon is free, so you can join a nautical activity, relax at the oceanfront pool, taste a delicious Pisco cocktail, pamper yourself at the Spa or walk along the Bay. Meals included: Breakfast Hotel: Hacienda Paracas - subject to availability Type of service: Private / Shared overflight to the Nazca Lines

Today at 8:00, you'll go to the hotel's pier and board the fully equipped speedboats towards the Ballestas Islands, also known as the little Galapagos because of their great variety of wildlife. You'll be sailing around the islands to try and spot the sea lions, penguins and various other bird species that live here. On route, we will observe The Chandelier, an enigmatic figure that we can only see from the sea. Afterward, we'll drive to the nearby Paracas National Reserve, one of Peru's most important reserves. Here, we can visit the park's visitor center or drive along the Reserve to the cliff-top lookouts from where we can admire the vastness of the ocean and desert. We will have lunch (not included) in the tiny fishing village of Lagunillas before we get ready for our return drive to Lima. We should be arriving back at our hotel around 16:30 hrs.