9 days: £826
Holiday Itinerary
Day 1: Arriving in Lima, you will be driven to your small, quaint hotel, the Castellana, in the modern residential district of Miraflores. Restaurants, boutiques, and the Pacific coast are within walking distance (or a short taxi ride).
Day 2: At leisure in Lima. You can pre-book a city tour or explore yourselves the atmospheric colonial centre, with monumental architectural masterpieces such as the cathedral and Presidential Palace, and narrow streets lined with mansions featuring ornate wooden balconies. The Gold, National and Archaeological Museums are world famous. Breakfast included.
Day 3: Fly to Cusco (1 hr) where your hotel is the centrally-located San Agustin Internacional, another cosy place with a mix of Inca colonial and contemporary inspiration. Breakfast included.
Day 4: A full-day guided trip out into the gorgeous countryside surrounding the city. The Sacred Valley is peppered with the vestiges of the Inca culture, with the temple-fortress at Ollantaytambo possibly the most impressive. You’ll also visit the celebrated indigenous market at Pisac, a little town dating back to the time of the Spanish domination of the country. Breakfast and lunch included.
Day 5: It is easy for you to explore the treasure trove which is Cusco on your own, as all the major sites are close to your hotel; or guided tours are available. The Inca heritage breathes through its precision masonry and temples, alongside colonial churches and cathedrals - both austere and ornate, and you can enjoy the bustle of modern-day markets. Breakfast included.
Day 6: The big highlight - a full-day excursion by train to Machu Picchu, the ruined citadel which sits astride a mountain swathed in sub-tropical forest on the way down to the Amazon jungle. Voted one of the 'modern' world’s seven wonders, this extraordinary spectacle never disappoints. Overnight at the Inti Inn in the village of Aguas Calientes nearby. Breakfast and lunch included.
Day 7: Return by train to Cusco through the Urubamba gorge, with views of vertical cliffs and the tumbling river. Transfer from the railway station to your hotel. Breakfast included.
Day 8: A further day at leisure to explore and enjoy the many excellent cafés, bars and innovative restaurants. You can walk up to the giant temple fortress of Sacsayhuamán or book a tour that includes 3 other Inca sites around the city.Venture further afield - book an excursion to the colonial village of M\aras and Inca site at Moray on the high plains, Breakfast included.
Day 9: Fly to Lima airport. Breakfast included. |