Nine days in Peru takes you from the culinary capital of Lima through the ancient Inca capital of Cusco and the Sacred Valley with its markets and fortress ruins, up on the Vistadome train to Aguas Calientes, and finally through the Sun Gate to your first view of Machu Picchu rising out of the cloud forest. Add Rainbow Mountain and the experience is complete.
Nine days in Peru takes you from the culinary capital of Lima through the ancient Inca capital of Cusco and the Sacred Valley with its markets and fortress ruins, up on the Vistadome train to Aguas Calientes, and finally through the Sun Gate to your first view of Machu Picchu rising out of the cloud forest. Add Rainbow Mountain and the experience is complete.
Arrive at Jorge Chavez International Airport and transfer to Miraflores, Lima's upscale clifftop district above the Pacific Ocean. Visit Huaca Pucllana, a giant adobe pyramid rising from the middle of the city dating to 400 AD. Afternoon at the Larco Museum with its extraordinary collection of pre-Columbian gold, ceramics, and textiles. Dinner at a Lima ceviche restaurant - Peru is consistently ranked among the world's top culinary destinations. Overnight Lima.
Morning flight to Cusco at 3400 metres. Check in and rest for acclimatization - altitude sickness is common and the day must be taken slowly. Gentle afternoon walk to Plaza de Armas, the stunning main square surrounded by colonial cathedrals built on Inca foundations. Browse San Pedro Market for coca leaves, chicha morada, and local produce. Early night. Overnight Cusco.
Full day Cusco exploration after acclimatization. Morning at Qorikancha, the Inca Temple of the Sun with original golden stonework covered by a Spanish convent. Walk to Sacsayhuaman, the enormous fortress above Cusco built with stones weighing up to 120 tonnes fit together without mortar. Afternoon walk through the San Blas neighbourhood of artists and artisan workshops. Overnight Cusco.
Full day in the Sacred Valley below Cusco. Morning at the Pisac Sunday market, the most authentic Andean market in Peru with local Quechua women selling textiles, ceramics, and food in traditional dress. Afternoon at Ollantaytambo, the only Inca town still inhabited since Inca times, with its massive terraced fortress above the town. Overnight Sacred Valley or Ollantaytambo.
Board the Vistadome panoramic train from Ollantaytambo through cloud forest along the Urubamba River to Aguas Calientes, the town below Machu Picchu. Afternoon at leisure in the town - hot springs, local restaurants, and the Machu Picchu Museum. Early night ahead of the 4 AM alarm tomorrow. Overnight Aguas Calientes.
Take the first bus at 5:30 AM up to Machu Picchu before the crowds arrive. Watch the mist lift off the citadel at sunrise as the full scale of this Inca city built in the 15th century above the cloud forest becomes clear. Hike to the Sun Gate for the classic postcard view of Machu Picchu from above. Spend 3 to 4 hours exploring the terraces, temples, and agricultural sectors with your guide. Return to Cusco by train and bus. Overnight Cusco.
Early 4 AM departure for the 2-hour drive to the base of Rainbow Mountain at 5200 metres. The 2-hour hike to the summit reveals Vinicunca, a mountain of extraordinary stripes in red, yellow, green, and purple caused by mineral deposits in the soil - genuinely unlike anything you have seen before. Return to Cusco exhausted and stunned. Overnight Cusco.
Final day in Cusco at leisure for last shopping in the San Blas artisan district for alpaca wool, silver jewellery, and hand-woven textiles. Optional pisco sour masterclass at a local bar learning to make Peru's national cocktail. Evening farewell dinner at a Cusco restaurant with live Andean music. Overnight Cusco.
Morning flight from Cusco to Lima. Depending on your connection, time for a final ceviche or lomo saltado at a Lima restaurant near the airport. Transfer to Jorge Chavez International Airport for your return flight. End of tour.
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