September 5-11
Machu Picchu Itinerary
Expedition Overview
We’ve put together a comprehensive itinerary to help you get started planning your vacation. Below you’ll find a day-by-day outline of your trip, as well as a quoted price. We fit all the pieces together in just the right way and handle the logistics of your trip, so all you have to do is focus on enjoying your vacation
- Duration: 7 days
- Arrival: 5 September 2025
- Departure: 11 September 2025
- Destinations: Cusco, Sacred Valley & Machu Picchu
Day-by-Day Itinerary:
- Day 1: Arrival in Lima & Overnight at Lima Airport Hotel
- Day 2: Fly to Cusco
- Day 3: Cusco City Tour
- Day 4: Sacred Valley Tour
- Day 5: Machu Picchu Tour & Overnight
- Day 6: Huayna Picchu Hike and Return to Cusco
- Day 7: Departure from Cusco
September 5
Arrival in Lima & Overnight at Lima Airport Hotel
Welcome to Lima, the international gateway to Peru. These next few days are packed with adventure, but tonight, we’ll meet you upon arrival at the Lima airport and take you to your airport hotel for a good night’s rest after your flight. We initially have you staying at an airport hotel because most international flights arrive late in the evening, and tomorrow morning you will have a flight out. If your international flight does not arrive in the evening, we can switch you to a hotel in Miraflores, the tourist area of Lima where your free time will be more enjoyable. Please, let me know if this is the case!
Add an extra day! If you’d like to explore more of Lima, you can spend an additional day and include a city tour, museum tour, or culinary tour!
September 6
Fly to Cusco this morning and settle in for an afternoon of rest and easy exploration as you begin to adjust to the altitude.
Situated at 3,400 m (11,150 ft), Cusco is a beautiful city of whitewashed walls, red-tiled roofs, and soaring churches nestled in a fertile mountain basin.
Walk around the historic center to see gorgeous colonial architecture and the remnants of Inca walls. Be sure to head to the Plaza de Armas to experience the social heart of this bustling city.
September 7
Your tour today will introduce you to the remarkable history of Cusco as visible in its monumental architecture, richly ornamented churches, and present-day Andean cultural practices.
Meet your guide and begin in the UNESCO-recognized historic center. Visit the majestic Cusco Cathedral and the Qoricancha (Temple of the Sun). Then drive into the countryside to see the impressive archaeological site of Sacsayhuaman overlooking the city, as well as the ruins of Q’enko.
Cusco never fails to impress. Whether you crave outdoor adventure or simply want to learn more about the city’s pre-Colonial past, I’d be happy to share some ideas.
September 8
The Sacred Valley was the spiritual center of the Inca Empire, where all-powerful emperors built private estates, temples, fortifications, and thousands of agricultural terraces.
Join your guide for a journey through the Sacred Valley’s remarkable places. Explore the Pisac ruins and shop at the famous artisan market in the village plaza. Scale the heights of Ollantaytambo fortress and explore the stone-lined streets of the village where water still flows through Inca-built channels.
Overnight in the Sacred Valley
September 9
For 400 years, the “lost city of the Incas” remained hidden atop a mountain ridge until it was revealed to the world on the pages of National Geographic in 1911.
Your day begins with an early morning train, followed by a bus transfer up to the ruins. Your tour guide will lead you on an unforgettable walk through Machu Picchu’s stone-lined paths, along the terrace edges, to the base of structures that testify to the extraordinary skill of its builders.
After snapping some final photos, board the shuttle bus back to town and return to your Aguas Calientes hotel for a well-deserved evening of rest.
Overnight in Aguas Calientes.
Note: Visits to the ruins at Machu Picchu have scheduling restrictions. Please check with your Travel advisor for recommendations regarding your visit.
September 10
Take a morning bus back to Machu Picchu to begin your self-guided hike up the iconic Huayna Picchu peak. It’s a 1,158 ft (353 m) climb from Machu Picchu, requiring about 45 minutes each way, plus time to explore the Moon Temple if you wish. At the top, your jaw will drop at the sight of Machu Picchu far below.
Descend the mountain and board the shuttle bus back to Aguas Calientes.
Then take the train to Cusco from where you’ll be transferred to your hotel.
Note: Huayna Picchu permits are subject to availability at the time of booking your trip. I recommend booking your trip as soon as possible to avoid missing out.
September 11
Transfer to the airport for your flight to Lima and your journey home.
Alternatively, you can customize this itinerary to extend your stay in Cusco or visit another exciting destination in Peru.
1 Night
Costa del Sol Lima Airport
Conveniently located outside the international arrivals area at Lima’s Jorge Chavez International Airport, it is the ideal stopover point for those who are aiming to catch an early connecting flight for onward travel to Machu Picchu and Cusco during their Peru vacation.
Enjoy the delicious gastronomic options in the restaurant or enjoy the 24-hour spa and fitness center, with an indoor pool, Jacuzzi, sauna, steam room, and massages. The air-conditioned rooms and suites feature TV with cable, high-speed Wi-Fi, a spacious desk, a kettle, an iron, an ironing board, a dryer, a safe, a minibar, a bath tub, and a shower. Suites feature a separate living room and hot tub.
3 Nights
Cusco
Casa Andina Premium Cusco
Casa Andina Premium resides in an 18th-century colonial home in the center of Cusco, just a few blocks from the main square in the direction of Koricancha. Relax in the beautiful courtyard with its gurgling stone fountain, one of Cusco’s emblematic colonial sights, and get lost in the intriguing maze of corridors that lead you to the various patios. All heated rooms have private bathrooms, cable television, telephones, hairdryers, and in-room safes. The hotel has a gourmet restaurant, a bar, and three courtyards.
★★★★ Casa Andina Premium Cusco
1 Night
Sacred Valley
Luxury Boutique: Sol y Luna
Located outside of the town of Urubamba, Sol y Luna is a picturesque hotel oriented toward the traveler who is interested in nature and its conservation but who also thrives on the challenge of adventure sports and learning about other cultures. The on-site gourmet Killa Wasi restaurant serves local cuisine with a bit of fusion. Chicha Wasi Bar is a pleasant lounge bar. Every hotel guest has free access to the sauna and gym at the Yuca Wasi Spa. The hotel complex has several very comfortable bungalows fitted resplendently with rich textures, earthy and natural coloring, and a luxuriously adorned tiled bathroom, not to mention personalized touches such as flower arrangements, vibrantly colored Andean textiles, and bowls of fresh fruit.
1 Night
Casa del sol boutique
The boutique hotel Casa del Sol enjoys a stunning location on the banks of the Urubamba River, overlooking the rushing rapids and dramatic mountain scenery. The hotel’s full windows enhance the feeling of being immersed in the magnificent nature that nestles Peru’s most significant Inca ruins.
Well-appointed rooms decorated with Andean textiles provide all you need to rest and relax, including spacious bathrooms. Upgrade to a suite to enjoy a private terrace with Jacuzzi. Be sure to treat yourself to a massage at K’intu Spa.