Individual Trip: Peru: on the trails of the Incas, 8 days

Day 1: Athens – Lima

Departure from Athens for Madrid and then to Lima, arriving on the same day. Transfer from the airport to the hotel and overnight stay. A modern metropolis full of history and also the political and economic center of the country.

Day 2: Lima – City Tour

Breakfast at the hotel, and then we will begin our tour of the streets of Lima’s old town, a UNESCO World Heritage site with fascinating historical buildings. We will start with the Larco Museum, located in the traditional Pueblo Libre district and housed in a beautifully renovated mansion built on a pre-Columbian pyramid. The museum features the most comprehensive collection of pre-Hispanic gold and silver artifacts in the world, as well as erotic art pieces. Next, we will visit Casa Aliaga, a colonial mansion granted in 1535 by the lead conquistador Francisco Pizarro to Jeronimo de Aliaga, one of his leaders. This is the only house from that era that has always belonged to the same family.
We will continue with a scenic tour of the colonial city center, which starts and extends from the main square. Here, we will admire the majestic architecture of the Spanish Empire and be impressed by the Cathedral of Lima, which was built in the 16th century and took more than 80 years to complete. Return to the hotel and free time.
In the afternoon, you can optionally watch the Magic Water Circuit spectacle, the world’s largest fountain complex, certified by the Guinness World Records.
A magnificent performance of water, light, music, and images, presented in the famous Parque de la Reserva, one of the most beautiful parks in Lima, completed with a “Creole” buffet dinner and a traditional performance.

Day 3: Lima – Cusco – City Tour and Archaeological Sites

After breakfast, transfer to Lima airport for our flight to Cusco. Arrival and transfer to the hotel. In the afternoon, we will enjoy a guided tour of the former capital of the Inca Empire. The tour begins with a visit to the Santo Domingo Convent, a large Renaissance-Baroque complex built over the Inca Coricancha temple. It was one of the most important temples dedicated to sun worship, and its foundations are still visible at the base of the monastery. Ancient tradition says the temple was covered in gold leaf and filled with golden representations of nature. Next, we will visit the Cathedral, the most imposing monument in the Main Square. Moving to the hills above Cusco, we will visit the ruins of the Sacsayhuaman fortress, whose impressive ramparts offer stunning panoramic views of Cusco, and the ruins of the Qenqo temple and amphitheater, where it is believed the Incas practiced religious agricultural ceremonies. Following this is a visit to the impressive red Inca fortress of Puka Pukara with its remarkable towers, roads, and squares. Return to the hotel and overnight stay.

Day 4: Cusco – Moray – Maras – Cusco

After breakfast, departure for the archaeological site of Moray, via the Sacred Valley. As with many Inca ruins, their exact function remains a mystery, although the design of increasingly wide concentric circular terraces means each level had a different microclimate. We continue to Maras, where the salt pools create a dazzling scene. Thousands of small pools provide work and help in the survival of many local families. In the time of the Incas, salt reserves were a significant source of income of great value to the imperial economy. Return to the hotel and free time.

Day 5: Cusco – Sacred Valley – Chinchero, Ollantaytambo, and the Living Museum of Yucay

After breakfast, departure from the hotel to visit the town of Chinchero, a traditional urban center of Cusco located at an elevated point with a beautiful view of the valley. The inhabitants of this area preserve the techniques, traditions, and hereditary knowledge of the Incas, reflecting them in their clothing and customs. In Chinchero, there are also archaeological ruins and a beautiful 17th-century church, one of the first Catholic buildings in Peru. Then, we will be transferred to the living museum of Yucay, a vibrant center of Andean traditions with demonstrations of textile production, pottery, and silversmithing, following techniques used by their ancestors. In the wider area of the museum, there are also llamas, sheep, and alpacas, which visitors can feed!
Next is a visit to the town of Ollantaytambo, which has been inhabited continuously since the Inca era. Lunch at a local restaurant featuring Andean cuisine, and then we will visit the iconic fortress, built against the mountain. Overnight at our hotel in the Sacred Valley.
(*) On Sundays, the local market is open, which we can visit.

Day 6: Sacred Valley – Machu Picchu – Aguas Calientes

After breakfast, transfer to the Ollantaytambo train station where we will board the train to Aguas Calientes, the town closest to Machu Picchu, arriving after a romantic journey through the impressive Andean landscapes. Upon arrival, we board a bus for a 25-minute ride to reach the lost city of the Incas, Machu Picchu. The city is believed to have been built in 1450 by the Inca emperor Pachacuti as a holiday retreat, but within a century, the city would be abandoned after the Spanish conquest. The Spanish never found it, so it escaped the destruction they brought to other Inca regions because the dense jungle vegetation slowly covered it, making it impossible to find. During the tour, we will learn about the origins of this impressive citadel and see the most notable monuments, including the Main Square, the Royal Quarters, the Temple of the Three Windows, the Circular Towers, and the Sacred Sun. Then, return to Aguas Calientes for lunch, followed by free time and an overnight stay.

Day 7: Aguas Calientes – Cusco

After breakfast at the hotel, we will have free time until the afternoon to explore the Machu Picchu area.
We recommend an early wake-up to have the opportunity to discover the secrets of the area. It will be a unique experience to enjoy the view from Huayna Picchu, which is located about 360 meters above Machu Picchu with an underground temple complex, or even better, from Inti Punku, which offers a panoramic view from an altitude of 390 meters above the Citadel. Another option is the Inca Bridge, a secret military path that controlled access to the Citadel. In the afternoon, we will be transferred to the Aguas Calientes station to return by train to Ollantaytambo station and from there to our hotel in Cusco.

Day 8: Cusco – Lima – Return Flight

After breakfast at the hotel, transfer to Cusco airport for the flight back to the country’s capital and connection with the international flight for the return trip, arriving in Greece the next day.

Travel Notes