Ancient Inca Explorer: Sacred Sites & Adventure in Peru
Your TourHero
This trip is looking for a TourHero! If you love to travel and love to organize, get your crew together and make this trip your own! When 5 or more people book this trip, you can travel for free. Chat with us below to get started!
Duration
5 days · 4 nights
Travel Date
Mar 19 – 23, 2022
Activity Level
Moderate
Group Size
6 – 20
Transportation
Van, train, bus
Tour Price
Your Fellow Explorers
Age range
22 – 30
Travel interest
Hiking, adventure, nature, off-the-beaten-path places, culture & history
Your Local Guide
With a passion for creating unique and customizable itineraries that highlight authentic experiences in Peru, the team at Peru InsideOut ensures that no two trips with them are ever the same. Their pioneering spirit takes visitors to dynamic and unforgettable places, offering insights into city life, history, wildlife and nature. With years of experience, local knowledge and training, every trip is a varied delight from start to finish. Let the knowledgeable guides from Peru InsideOut do all the hard work for you, so you can simply concentrate on the adventure of a lifetime.
Experience culture, mountains and adrenaline activities in stunning Peru! Starting off in Lima, the nation’s capital city, you’ll have an afternoon to unwind and take in the sights for yourself. Next up, it’s time to tread in the footsteps of the Inca people! Take an excursion through the Urubamba Valley — the Sacred Valley of the Incas — and see ancient monuments at altitude, visit hilltop ruins and see local craftsmen at work. Visit the famous Inca Citadel Machu Picchu, discover the secrets of the ancient Andean culture and have the option to climb Huayna Picchu or the Machu Picchu Mountain. Finally, travel back to the Sacred Valley for a zipline tour that’s not for the faint-hearted! Move onto a quad bike journey through Moray, see the Maras Salt Mines and Huaypo Lagoon. A glorious tour for culture, mountain and adrenaline junkies!
Cancellation policy
Refunds for deposits
If you cancel your trip after placing a deposit but before your card on file is charged for the full payment, you can request a full refund of your deposit up to 30 days before the tour departure.
Refunds for fully-paid trips
If you cancel your trip after making the full payment, you may change or cancel your trip up to 30 days before the tour departure for a refund.
Your TourHero
This trip is looking for a TourHero! If you love to travel and love to organize, get your crew together and make this trip your own! When 5 or more people book this trip, you can travel for free. Chat with us below to get started!
Duration
5 days · 4 nights
Travel Date
Mar 19 – 23, 2022
Activity Level
Moderate
Group Size
6 – 20
Transportation
Van, train, bus
Experience culture, mountains and adrenaline activities in stunning Peru! Starting off in Lima, the nation’s capital city, you’ll have an afternoon to unwind and take in the sights for yourself. Next up, it’s time to tread in the footsteps of the Inca people! Take an excursion through the Urubamba Valley — the Sacred Valley of the Incas — and see ancient monuments at altitude, visit hilltop ruins and see local craftsmen at work. Visit the famous Inca Citadel Machu Picchu, discover the secrets of the ancient Andean culture and have the option to climb Huayna Picchu or the Machu Picchu Mountain. Finally, travel back to the Sacred Valley for a zipline tour that’s not for the faint-hearted! Move onto a quad bike journey through Moray, see the Maras Salt Mines and Huaypo Lagoon. A glorious tour for culture, mountain and adrenaline junkies!
Timeline
- Day 1 · Lima
- Arrive in Lima
- Transfer to hotel
- Check-in at 1900 Hostel Lima (or similar according to availability)
- Relax, unwind and meet your tour guide
- Free evening
- Dinner (not included in price)
- Overnight stay in dorm rooms
- Day 2 · Urubamba Valley
- Breakfast (not included in price)
- Check-in at Super Tramp Hostel (or similar according to availability)
- Inca Ruins of Pisaq
- Pisaq Market
- Urubamba City
- Lunch
- Ollantaytambo Archaeological Site
- Return to Cusco
- Dinner (not included in price)
- Free evening
- Overnight stay in dorm rooms
- Day 3 · Machu Picchu
- Breakfast (not included in price)
- Train ride to Calientes
- Machu Picchu Inca Citadel Tour
- Lunch (not included in price)
- Machu Picchu or Huayna Mountain Climb (optional)
- Train ride to Cusco
- Dinner (not included in price)
- Overnight stay in dorm rooms
- Day 4 · Zipline & quad bikes
- Breakfast (not included in price)
- Transfer to Racchi Viewpoint
- Zipline tour
- Lunch (not included in price)
- Transfer to Maras
- Quad bike tour
- Visit Moray, Maras Salt Mines or Huaypo Lagoon (optional)
- Return to Cusco
- Dinner (not included in price)
- Overnight stay in dorm rooms
- Day 5 · Departure
- Breakfast (not included in price)
- Flight to Lima (not included in price)
- Journey ends
Details
Day 1
Welcome to Peru! Relax, unwind and explore Lima, the Peruvian capital
We’re delighted to welcome you to Lima, our capital city. One of our guides will meet you at the airport, with transfers arranged to your hotel. You’ll have the chance to rest or take in the beautiful vibe of the city, before meeting your tour leader for an in-depth brief, covering your adventures ahead. Take in Lima’s nightlife and culinary delights and enjoy an overnight stay before the tour begins in full on day two!
Day 2
Trek through the Sacred Valley of the Incas
Shake off your city head and prepare yourself for the mountains! Travel to Cusco, the starting point for all of your excursions, and take in your new world. You’ll begin with an excursion through the Urubamba Valley — the Sacred Valley of the Incas. Here you’ll visit the Inca Ruins of Pisaq, sitting on a mountaintop at the entrance to the valley itself. You’ll go on to visit the colorful Pisaq Market and see talented craftsmen at work, making rugs, scarves, hats and jewelry in the unique and eye-catching Andean style. Have fun bartering and be sure to snap up a souvenir or two! After lunch in Urubamba City, you’ll take the scenic route to Ollantaytambo, a fascinating archaeological Inca site set deep in the valley. Witness the amazing ruins of the Inca fortress and terraces built high into the hillsides. Return to Cusco and get your breath back — you’ll be back in the high mountains in the morning!
Day 3
Visit the amazing natural sanctuary of Machu Picchu
It’s time to get your mountain legs ready! After a short train ride to Calientes — the village at the base of the mountain — you’ll soon be at the Inca Citadel of Machu Picchu, built around 1450 AD. Named as one of the New Seven Wonders of the World in 2007, you’ll spend the morning on the platform at 2,430m and learn all about the secrets of ancient Andean culture. Marvel at a city built without mortar or the aid of modern tools. More daring adventurers will have the (optional) chance to scale the peaks of either Machu Picchu or Huayna Picchu Mountain, for a bird’s-eye view of the sanctuary. In the afternoon, catch the train back to Cusco and recharge your batteries for the big day ahead.
Day 4
Zipline and quad bike tour in the Urubamba Valley
Take a deep breath and strap on your head-for-heights! Adrenaline day begins with a journey to the Racchi viewpoint, high up in the Sacred Valley of the Incas. Here you’ll enjoy an amazing vista of the surrounding mountains and valleys for miles around before you learn how to fly. Following a full brief from your expert guides, jump on the zipline tour and take in the canyons and valleys just as the birds do! Recover your land-legs before visiting the town of Maras, a short journey away. Here you’ll enjoy a quad bike tour along mountain roads, set in one of the most beautiful landscapes on Earth. Later you’ll have the chance to visit further archeological sites in Moray, the Salt Mines of Maras and the Huaypo Lagoon. Phew! Finish up with a trip back to Cusco and prepare to put your feet up!
Day 5
Bid the Sacred Valley goodbye and remember us in your dreams!
Following an overnight stay in Cusco, board your flight to take you back to Lima. Once at Jorge Chavez Airport, you’ll be able to catch your international flight back home. Cherish your experiences in Peru’s magical mountains and get planning your next adventure with us!
Accommodation
1900 Hostel Lima (or similar according to availability)
Situated in Lima’s historic center, 1900 Hostel is a beautiful early 20th-century mansion, in walking distance to all of the city’s main attractions. The hostel has a bar with TV, pool table and table football, or why not enjoy the view from the balcony? There’s also a spacious kitchen, and supermarkets close by. The shared occupancy dorms have bunk beds, private lockers and WiFi is found throughout the building. Room type: Multiple occupancy.
Super Tramp Hostel Paracas (or similar according to availability)
With breathtaking views over Cusco and the surrounding mountains and waterfalls, Super Tramp Hostel is the perfect starting point for your adventure. The hostel has an on-site pizza and burger bar and is just a five minute ride from the train station. With large communal spaces and a heated terrace, the dorm rooms have bunk beds, private lockers, private bathrooms and 24-hour hot water. Free WiFi access. Room type: Multiple occupancy.
Included
- 1 night in 1900 Hostel Lima (or similar)
- 3 nights in Super Tramp Hostel Cusco (or similar)
- Shared occupancy in accommodation
- Bilingual guides during activities
- Transportation between activities and accommodation
- Train tickets (day 3)
- Sacred Valley tour
- Entrance ticket to Machu Picchu
- Zipline tour
- Quad bike tour
- 24/7 guest support
Not included
- Flights (both international and internal)
- Boleto Turistico BTC for entrance to Sacred Valley (USD 35)
- Entrance to Machu Picchu (USD 39)
- Entrance fee to climb Machu Picchu Mountain or Huayna Mountain (USD 35)
- Round trip bus ticket Calientes/Machu Picchu/Calientes (USD 24)
- Entry to Maras Salt Mines (optional)
- All food not mentioned in inclusions
- Optional add-ons
- Travel insurance
- Gratuities
Cancellation policy
Refunds for deposits
If you cancel your trip after placing a deposit but before your card on file is charged for the full payment, you can request a full refund of your deposit up to 30 days before the tour departure.
Refunds for fully-paid trips
If you cancel your trip after making the full payment, you may change or cancel your trip up to 30 days before the tour departure for a refund.
- During your time in the Sacred Valley, you will also have the chance to visit Moray, an incredible Inca site that consists of sprawling circular terraces built upon a natural depression. - Unsplash: Willian Justen de Vasconcellos
- Said to have been an agricultural experimental station used to adapt crops to different temperatures, Moray is a testament to the ingenuity of the Inca culture. - Unsplash: Pedro Lastra
- We will have the chance to explore the salt mines with a local guide. - Unsplash: Thomas Griggs
- The big day has arrived! After an early rise, it’s time to finally visit the grand historic sanctuary of Machu Picchu. - Pixabay: 19022634
- The majestic lost city of the Incas. - Agnieszka Mordaunt
- Practice your bartering skills at the local Pisac market. - Along Dusty Roads
- Vistas of lush emerald vegetation await you. - Serena's Lenses
- Llamas and alpacas live all around Machu Picchu. - Nathalie Marquis
- Be in awe of both Inca engineering and the grandeur of the Andes mountain range. - Adriana Aceves
- Lima and its wonderful coastline - Aarom Ore
- Visit the magnificent Government Palace in Lima. - Jhordy Rojas
- Downtown Lima shows the city's colonial past. - Eduardo Garcia
- Calientes Village lies at the base of Machu Picchu — it's all uphill from here! - Giancarlo Revolledo
- A heady mix of sun and altitude makes the grass here really tasty! - InstagramFOTOGRAFIN
- Urubamba is known as the Sacred Valley of the Incas — truly majestic scenery as far as the eye can see! - Paul Daly