Inca Journey Exploration

Upon arrival at Lima Airport, our representative will meet you and transfer you to your hotel in the city. Lima, Peru’s capital, is a vibrant metropolis blending modern life with rich history and is currently experiencing significant cultural and economic growth. You may choose to rest and recover from your journey or explore the city at your leisure to get your first impression of this sprawling capital.

Alternatively, you can join our optional Magic Water Circuit with Dinner (shared service, not available Sundays and Mondays). This evening excursion begins at 17:30 and lasts around four hours, including pick-up and drop-off, a bilingual guide, admission to the world’s largest fountain complex as certified by Guinness World Records, and a dinner at a local restaurant. The Magic Water Circuit is a popular attraction featuring spectacular illuminated fountains and a unique water cruise experience.

After breakfast at the hotel, we explore Lima’s historic centre, a UNESCO World Heritage Site rich in colonial architecture. Begin with a guided tour of the colonial downtown, including the Main Square, where the impressive Spanish Empire-era buildings stand. Visit Lima Cathedral, dating back to the 16th century, and then the Casa Aliaga—a colonial mansion granted by Francisco Pizarro to Captain Jeronimo de Aliaga, still owned by the same family today.

Next, we head to the traditional district of Pueblo Libre to visit the Larco Museum, housed in a restored viceregal mansion built atop a 7th-century pre-Columbian pyramid. The museum displays an extensive collection of pre-Hispanic gold and silver artefacts, including notable examples of erotic art. The afternoon is free for you to relax or explore at your leisure.

After breakfast, we transfer you from your hotel to Lima Airport for your flight to Cusco, which must arrive by 10:30 to allow time for your afternoon activities. Upon arrival, a representative will meet you and escort you to your hotel in Cusco. In the afternoon, we take you on a guided tour of this historic city, once the capital of the Inca Empire. The tour begins at the Santo Domingo Convent, a Renaissance-baroque complex built atop the Inca temple Coricancha, once adorned with gold and dedicated to sun worship.

Next, visit Cusco’s Cathedral, the dominant structure on the Main Square. We then head to the hills overlooking the city to explore the fortress of Sacsayhuaman, known for its massive stone walls and panoramic views. Nearby are the ruins of Qenqo, an amphitheatre and temple believed to have been used for agricultural rituals. Finally, visit Puka Pukara, or ‘Red Fortress’, an Inca military complex featuring dwellings, baths, aqueducts, walls and towers. After the tour, we return you to your hotel.

Please note that the flight to Cusco is not included.

After breakfast, we set off along the Sacred Valley towards Moray, an intriguing archaeological site about an hour and a half from Cusco. Moray features a series of concentric circular terraces, each creating a distinct microclimate—though its precise purpose remains uncertain.

We then continue to Maras, where thousands of salt ponds form a striking landscape. These salt pans have supported local families for centuries and were a valuable resource during Inca times, playing an important role in the imperial economy. After the visit, we return to your hotel in Cusco for the evening.

After breakfast, we will transfer you to Ollanta Station to board the train to Aguas Calientes, the gateway to Machu Picchu. The journey offers stunning views of the Andean landscape as you travel through dramatic mountain scenery.

Upon arrival at Aguas Calientes, you will take a 25-minute coach ride up to Machu Picchu. This remarkable Inca citadel, believed to have been constructed in the 1450s by Emperor Pachacuti as a royal retreat, was abandoned within a century and remained hidden from the Spanish conquerors, preserving its remarkable state. A guided tour will reveal the history and significance of the site, highlighting its most notable structures.

After exploring Machu Picchu, we return to Aguas Calientes for lunch at the well-known Café Inkaterra, a charming thatched-roof restaurant nestled between the railway and the mountains.

After a leisurely breakfast, enjoy a free morning to relax or explore at your own pace.

We suggest returning independently to Machu Picchu to discover additional sites not covered on your first visit. A second entrance ticket and bus transfers between Aguas Calientes and Machu Picchu are subject to availability. For spectacular views, consider hiking Huayna Picchu, which rises about 360 metres above the citadel and features an underground temple complex, or Inti Punku (Sun Gate), located around 390 metres above Machu Picchu, offering panoramic vistas.

In the afternoon, transfer to Aguas Calientes station to board the train back to Ollanta. Upon arrival, we will transfer you to your hotel in Cusco for your overnight stay.

After breakfast, we transfer you from your hotel to the airport for your onward journey.