Peru, Sacred Valley & Machu Picchu

Lima · Cusco · Machu Picchu · 9 nights

Nine nights from Lima to Machu Picchu, paced around the days that matter.

The Journey

Nine nights across three stops: Lima for three nights, Cusco for three and Machu Picchu for three. Every transfer between them is private and timed around the day's plan.

The days are built around Historic Centre and the Catacombs; Inca and Colonial Cusco; The Citadel; and Miraflores, Barranco and Peruvian Food. Each one is set out below with what you will see, how you get there and which meals are included.

The defining moment of this route: hiram Bingham luxury train to the citadel. Your travel specialist can add a night, swap a day or change the order before you book.

Signature Highlights

Hiram Bingham luxury train to the citadel
Historic Centre and the Catacombs, Lima
Miraflores, Barranco and Peruvian Food, Lima
Inca and Colonial Cusco
The Sacred Valley, Cusco
The Citadel, Machu Picchu

Day by day

Your Itinerary

10 days

01
Day 1 · Lima
Arrival in Lima
Arrive at Jorge Chávez International, 30-60 minutes by road to Miraflores and transfer privately to your base. Time today to walk the Malecón clifftop above the Pacific at sunset.
- Private transfer via Jorge Chávez International
- Walk the Malecón clifftop above the Pacific at sunset
- Time to settle in before dinner
Meals:
D
02
Day 2 · Lima
Historic Centre and the Catacombs
The UNESCO-listed colonial core: the Plaza Mayor, the San Francisco monastery's bone-lined catacombs, and the Larco Museum's pre-Columbian collection.
- Plaza Mayor and cathedral
- San Francisco catacombs
- Larco Museum
Meals:
BL
03
Day 3 · Lima
Miraflores, Barranco and Peruvian Food
The clifftop parks of Miraflores, the Huaca Pucllana adobe pyramid in the middle of the city, bohemian Barranco, and a ceviche and pisco tasting.
- Huaca Pucllana
- Barranco and the Bridge of Sighs
- Ceviche and pisco tasting
Meals:
BL
04
Day 4 · Cusco
Lima to Cusco
Fly up from Lima to Cusco, allowing time to acclimatise. On arrival, take the first day gently: Cusco sits at 3,400 metres and altitude is real.
- Fly up from Lima to Cusco, allowing time to acclimatise
- Take the first day gently: Cusco sits at 3,400 metres and altitude is real
- Timings reconfirmed locally the day before
Meals:
B
05
Day 5 · Cusco
Inca and Colonial Cusco
The Qorikancha sun temple with a Spanish convent built on top of it, the cathedral, San Blas's artisan lanes, and the cyclopean stonework at Sacsayhuamán above the city.
- Qorikancha
- Sacsayhuamán
- San Blas quarter and the Twelve-Angled Stone
Meals:
BL
06
Day 6 · Cusco
The Sacred Valley
Pisac's terraces and market, the Ollantaytambo fortress still lived in as an Inca town, and a weaving cooperative at Chinchero. Lower altitude here helps acclimatisation.
- Pisac ruins and market
- Ollantaytambo fortress
- Chinchero weaving cooperative
Meals:
BL
07
Day 7 · Machu Picchu
Cusco to Machu Picchu
Take the Vistadome or Hiram Bingham train down the Urubamba valley. On arrival, arrive in Aguas Calientes the night before for an early entry slot.
- Take the Vistadome or Hiram Bingham train down the Urubamba valley
- Arrive in Aguas Calientes the night before for an early entry slot
- Timings reconfirmed locally the day before
Meals:
B
08
Day 8 · Machu Picchu
The Citadel
Entry is by timed ticket on a fixed one-way circuit with a licensed guide, and numbers are capped daily. The Intihuatana, the Temple of the Sun and the terraces on the standard circuits.
- Timed-entry guided circuit
- Temple of the Sun and Intihuatana
- Classic terrace viewpoint
Meals:
BL
09
Day 9 · Machu Picchu
Huayna Picchu, Museum and the Valley
The Huayna Picchu or Machu Picchu Mountain climb, both separately ticketed and sold out months ahead, plus the site museum and the hot springs in the town.
- Huayna Picchu climb (separate ticket, book months ahead)
- Manuel Chávez Ballón museum
- Aguas Calientes hot springs
Meals:
B
10
Day 10 · Machu Picchu
Departure from Machu Picchu
The train back down the valley after the morning at the site. Private transfer to Cusco airport, by train from Aguas Calientes to Ollantaytambo and then by road, in good time for your onward flight.
- The train back down the valley after the morning at the site
- Late check-out arranged where the hotel allows it
- Private departure transfer
Meals:
B

Inclusions

Handpicked luxury accommodations across the journey
Daily breakfast; select lunches and dinners as noted
Private airport transfers and inter-city ground movement
Curated experiences and reserved access as listed
24×7 on-trip concierge from our India desk

Not included

International airfare unless explicitly mentioned
Visa fees, travel insurance and personal expenses
Meals and experiences not listed in the itinerary
Gratuities for guides, drivers and hotel staff
Anything of a personal nature (spa, minibar, laundry)

Transfers

Private arrival and departure transfers with a named driver
Moves between stops by private car, rail, ferry or domestic flight, as shown day by day
Timings reconfirmed with you the evening before each transfer

Visa & Documentation

Visa guidance provided by our documentation desk
Recommended to hold passport valid for 6+ months
Digital pre-arrival forms handled on your behalf where possible

Common Questions

Will the altitude affect us?+

Cusco sits at about 3,400 metres. The plan starts with the lower Sacred Valley so you acclimatise gradually; drink water, go slowly on the first day and ask your doctor about medication.

Do we need to book Machu Picchu tickets in advance?+

Yes. Entry is by timed ticket on a set circuit, and Huayna Picchu has very limited daily places. We book them with the train as soon as you confirm.

When is the dry season?+

May to September is dry with clear mornings. February is the wettest month, and the Inca Trail closes for maintenance then; the train to Machu Picchu runs all year.

How far in advance should we book?+

Three to four months ahead gives the widest choice of rooms and guided days, and more for school holidays, festivals and peak season. Shorter notice is often possible; ask and we will check live availability.

Can the itinerary be customised?+

Yes. Every journey is a starting point: add or remove nights, swap a day's plan, change hotels or reorder the route, and your travel specialist re-plans the whole trip around it.

What is the payment schedule?+

Your quote sets out the deposit that confirms the booking and the date the balance is due. Both depend on the hotels, airlines and guides involved, so they are agreed with you before you pay anything.