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!
Sacred Valley Tour with extended Machu Picchu
The ideal, relaxed-pace Machu Picchu itinerary
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 tourPhysical Level
Mild
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!
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.
Day 1
Arrival to Lima
Lima
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.
Featured Accommodation
Day 2
Lima to the Sacred Valley
Sacred Valley
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.
Featured Accommodation
Day 3
Private Sacred Valley Tour
Sacred Valley
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.
Day 4
Private Machu Picchu Tour
Machu Picchu
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.
Featured Accommodation
Day 5
Revisit Machu Picchu
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.
Day 6
Private Half Day Cusco City Tour
Cusco
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.
Featured Accommodation
Day 7
Departure from Lima
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
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
Peru's spiritual heartland
The Urubamba River descends from Cusco, eventually connecting with tributaries of the mighty Amazon... -
Sacred Valley
Peru's spiritual heartland
The Urubamba River descends from Cusco, eventually connecting with tributaries of the mighty Amazon... -
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
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
Capital of the Inca
Once the capital of the mighty Inca Empire, Cusco is today the beating heart of Peru's tourism industry... -
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
SA Expeditions · Americas
Usually responds within 4 hoursWhat's included
What you get for your money
|
|
Accommodation |
Carefully-selected, quality assured hotels including unique, independently-owned boutiques. All hotels can be upgraded or changed on request. |
|
|
Expert guiding |
All trips and excursions accompanied by expert, bi-lingual guides to help you get an inside view. |
|
|
Local transport |
All airport collections and hotel transfers in private cars and comfortable minivans. |
|
|
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
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
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...
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.
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.
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!
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!
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.