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There are faster ways to get to Machu Picchu but they tend to feel rushed and can leave you feeling like you're missing out on the essential details. We have devised this itinerary to give you as much time as possible at all the key locations in seven days of action-packed adventure.

We start by exploring the stunning Sacred Valley to allow you enough time to adapt to the altitude. From here we head to Machu Picchu with two days to explore the magnificent site in full. Then we head to Cusco, the original capital of the Inca Empire, before departing via Lima.

Customise this trip

The following itinerary is provided for inspiration only: we can adjust the days, activities and hotels to suit your budget and preferences. Extend this trip with an overnight train journey to Lake Titicaca, visit the Peruvian Amazon, or even the Galapagos Islands. Get in touch now for expert, no obligation itinerary advice!

Good to know

  • 100% tailor-made itineraries
  • Best guides & hotels
  • Top rated reviews
Tour Type
Custom itinerary, Private guided tour
Physical Level
Mild
Season Season
January - December
Duration

7 days

Price

$3,390 pp

Loved working with Jackie and the outstanding crew at SA plus all the great guided on the ground in India. Yes, we saw Riddhi the tigress also!

Your specialist

Claudia

SA Expeditions

Tailor-made guided tours

Usually responds within 4 hours

Detailed itinerary

What you'll see and do

This is a customisable trip

Use the following itinerary for inspiration. Remember: all days, hotels and activities can be altered to suit your requirements. A SA Expeditions travel specialist will be happy to advise.

Welcome to Peru! Today is a transit day, and after a long flight you're probably looking forward to a nice meal and some relaxation. The Costa del Sol hotel is located right across the street from the airport and is the best choice for travelers connecting to Cusco. But if you arrive to Lima in the early afternoon, you’ll have the time to make your way to a hotel in the picturesque waterfront district of Miraflores. If you go for this option, one of our representatives will meet you at the airport and escort you to your hotel.

In the morning, you’ll board your flight to Cusco. Your guide will meet you at the airport, and take you on a journey through the spectacular scenery of the Sacred Valley, the agricultural strip that supplied food to the Incan Empire. On the way to your hotel, you will visit the town of Pisac and the Inca ruins perched on the hillside above the valley. When you arrive, you can relax in the peaceful garden surroundings of your country hotel as you settle in and acclimatize to the altitude.

Private Sacred Valley Tour

Your guide will take you into the Sacred Valley, a land lost in time amid the mountains, to visit Moray, a circular terraced agricultural site, and the Salinas salt pans. In the afternoon, you'll explore Ollantaytambo with its massive Inca ruins and charming town, before returning to your picturesque hotel.

Private Machu Picchu Tour

This morning we will bring you to the Ollantaytambo train station for your journey to Aguas Calientes. This is it! The moment you’ve been waiting for. A bus will carry you to the gates to Machu Picchu. You will then have the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to uncover the secrets of Machu Picchu with a guided tour of the Incan citadel. Your guide will take you to the most important parts of the city, and reveal all that’s known about how the city was created. After the tour, you’ll have time to explore the ruins on your own, or sit back and enjoy the magic and tranquillity of Machu Picchu and the breath-taking scenery that stretches away from it. Spend the evening at your exclusive hotel, enjoying with another opportunity to drink in the stunning views.

Revisit Machu Picchu

It’s no stone unturned today, as you return to Machu Picchu to explore its far reaches. Start with an early wake up to be the first one entering the ruins. After a day you’ll remember for the rest of your life, you’ll depart from Aguas Calientes by train for Ollantaytambo. Upon arrival at the train station you will be met and transferred to your Cusco hotel.

During your tour of Cusco, once the capital of the Incan Empire, you’ll visit Sacsayhuaman, an immense Incan complex with impressive stonework, Koricancha, one of the most important Incan temples (the walls were once actually coated in gold!), and Cusco’s Cathedral where you’ll learn about the Cusco school of art.

Departure from Lima

One of our representatives will collect you from your hotel and drive you to the Cusco airport for your flight to Lima. Depending on the time of your international flight, you can take the opportunity to squeeze in a private tour of Lima's key sites. You will visit the Larco Archaeological Museum, the San Francisco Monastery and its catacombs, Lima's historic colonial squares, and Miraflores, a picturesque waterfront district.

  • Lima

    Lima

    Peru's unfairly overlooked capital
    Many tourists arrive in Lima only to fly straight out to Cusco, Arequipa or other popular tourist destinations in Peru...
  • Sacred Valley

    Sacred Valley

    Peru's spiritual heartland
    The Urubamba River descends from Cusco, eventually connecting with tributaries of the mighty Amazon...
  • Sacred Valley

    Sacred Valley

    Peru's spiritual heartland
    The Urubamba River descends from Cusco, eventually connecting with tributaries of the mighty Amazon...
  • Machu Picchu

    Machu Picchu

    Peru's archaeological rock star
    Machu Picchu is the top attraction in Peru and, in 2007, was voted one of the New Seven Wonders of the World...
  • Machu Picchu

    Machu Picchu

    Peru's archaeological rock star
    Machu Picchu is the top attraction in Peru and, in 2007, was voted one of the New Seven Wonders of the World...
  • Cusco

    Cusco

    Capital of the Inca
    Once the capital of the mighty Inca Empire, Cusco is today the beating heart of Peru's tourism industry...
  • Lima

    Lima

    Peru's unfairly overlooked capital
    Many tourists arrive in Lima only to fly straight out to Cusco, Arequipa or other popular tourist destinations in Peru...
Claudia

Claudia

SA Expeditions · Americas

Usually responds within 4 hours

Ready to plan your trip? Speak to Claudia directly.

Enquire now Chat on WhatsApp

What's included

What you get for your money

Included Accommodation

Carefully-selected, quality assured hotels including unique, independently-owned boutiques. All hotels can be upgraded or changed on request.

Included Expert guiding

All trips and excursions accompanied by expert, bi-lingual guides to help you get an inside view.

Included Local transport

All airport collections and hotel transfers in private cars and comfortable minivans.

Included Selected meals

All breakfasts and some lunches included. Your guides will happily advise on local restaurants for evening meals.

Where to stay

Some of our sample accommodation

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Sanctuary Lodge
Deluxe

Sanctuary Lodge

This is the only hotel adjacent to the ruins of Machu Picchu, offering an unmatched location on the mountaintop and quick access to the ruins...

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Machu Picchu Pueblo
Deluxe

Machu Picchu Pueblo

Hidden in 12 acres of seclusion, the Pueblo Hotel provides a paradise of individual bungalows with stone paths leading you through the gardens and natural fountains...

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El Mercado Tunqui
Superior

El Mercado Tunqui

The hotel sits on the site of a former market just blocks from the main plaza in the historic heart of Cusco...

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La Casona
Deluxe

La Casona

One of the first Spanish colonial constructions in Cusco, built directly over an Incan settlement, La Casona offers the opportunity to relive history...

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Andina Luxury
Classic

Andina Luxury

Situated along the river near the Machu Picchu Town train station, this inviting hotel offers simple comforts to suit your needs...

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El Albergue
Classic

El Albergue

With expansive gardens and mountain views, and a prime location in Ollantaytambo near the train station, the hotel Albergue is the perfect jumping off point for an early morning trip to Machu Picchu...

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Sol y Luna
Deluxe

Sol y Luna

This genuine family-owned property is designed to provide a place of exquisite luxury while connecting you with the local culture and environment for a truly personalized and unique experience...

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Casa Republica
Classic

Casa Republica

Set in one of Lima’s most vibrant districts, Casa Republica is an elegant, 1920s mansion that has been fabricated to offer some of the best value of any hotel while maintaining the style of the glory days of Peru’s Republican era...

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Hotel B
Deluxe

Hotel B

Situated in the heart of the bohemian seaside district of Barranco, this property offers a unique style of luxury accommodation set in a decadent colonial home from the 20s with eclectic art, impeccable service and a swanky restaurant popular among local artists and fashonistas...

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Villa Barranco
Superior

Villa Barranco

Villa Barranco by Ananay Hotels is a boutique hotel nestled in the vibrant Barranco district of Lima, known for its artistic and bohemian atmosphere...

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Las Qolqas Eco-Resort
Superior

Las Qolqas Eco-Resort

Las Qolqas Eco-Resort is an eco-friendly retreat located in the Sacred Valley, designed to provide guests with a sustainable and immersive experience in nature...

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Casa San Blas
Classic

Casa San Blas

Right off the main pedestrian fare in the San Blas district and less than three blocks to the main square, Casa San Blas Boutique offers exceptional location and comfort...

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El MaPi
Superior

El MaPi

Located right off the square and the major pedestrian street in the town of Machu Picchu, the stylish new El Mapi is in the middle of the action...

How to book

This trip, booked according to the itinerary above, would cost from $3,390 per person. Final pricing can vary depending on seasonality and accommodation availability. Get in touch for a detailed quote and up-to-date availability.

All days, excursions and hotels can be adjusted to suit your preferences. Contact one of our South America travel experts now to discuss changes to this itinerary.

Reviews

What people are saying about SA Expeditions

Randy L
23/10/2024

Loved working with Jackie and the outstanding crew at SA plus all the great guided on the ground in India. Yes, we saw Riddhi the tigress also!

Read more
Charles P
09/10/2024

A fantastic adventure from beginning to end! The beauty and spectacle of the trail and ruins was only matched by the coordination and execution of the trip. Hats off to our guide Evert Quispe who was as accommodating as he was knowledgeable. Our team of porters: Ronal, Nemesio, Cayetano, Isidro, Celso, Noe, Mario, and the ever present and always excellent Claudio made our trip an unforgettable...

Read more
Sara H
08/10/2024

Words cannot express the deep gratitude we have towards SA Expeditions. From the moment we started working with Chelsey—adjusting and rearranging our plans—they made sure everything was tailored to give us the perfect trip. Thank you for always answering our questions and responding in a timely manner.

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Donald S
06/10/2024

Our Peruvian adventure far exceeded our expectations in every dimension. The trip was planned by Adam Laughter of SA Expeditions. Every detail of the trip was coordinated flawlessly.

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Melinda
09/09/2021

I went to Ecuador on the Galapagos trip. It was my first trip with SA Expeditions so I had no idea why to expect. They definitely impressed. Every detail was organized and planned for me. The hotels exceeded my expectations. The tours were exactly what they described. My guides were fun, knowledgeable and flexible to adjust to what I felt like doing. I travelled alone as a single woman and felt completely safe the entire time. I knew they were just a phone call away. I'll be booking the trip to the salt flats for December!

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Mendiola
28/08/2021

We had a great trip to Peru booked through SA Expeditions! Everything ran smoothly from start to finish. We had great accommodations and we especially liked our guide Silver! I was nervous at first about booking with a company I found on the web and had no experience with but Dan, who made all arrangements, was very patient with me and but me at ease. I would highly recommend SA Expeditions!

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Kevin
25/08/2021

My daughter and I went with SA Expeditions to coordinate our trip to Peru to Machu Picchu, Rainbow Mountain and Lake Titicaca. The accommodations that SA scheduled were fantastic. Beautiful settings, delicious food and friendly staff.

Our guides were extremely knowledgeable and accommodating. We had to make some last minute changes to our hike. Our guide Marco rolled with the changes and made it a memorable experience.

We enjoyed the knowledge that the guides had regarding Incan and pre-Incan societies. We left the vacation more knowledgeable that when we started.

Can't recommend enough.

Read more

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