The Sacred Valley and Machu Picchu
Trip Type: Custom-Made Travel
Territory: South America
Region: Peru
Trip Price: $5,440
Duration: 9 days/8 nights
Trip Begins/Ends: Lima, Peru / Lima, Peru
National Parklands:
All custom travel is tailored to the desires and interests of our traveling clients (see How Custom Travel Works tab). Trip pricing detailed is an estimate of the per person pricing for the sample itinerary detailed and includes all of the lodging, activities, and guided experiences described. Actual pricing for the trip designed expressly for you and others traveling with you will depend on the features and elements developed during the trip planning process. Travel with Off the Beaten Path requires agreement to our standard Terms & Conditions.
No Sweat - 1-2 miles of walking or hiking per day, plus easy activities
Nice & Active – 3-6 miles of hiking or walking per day, plus physically active exploration
High Five! – 5-10 miles of hiking per day, plus possible peak bagging or other action-oriented fun
The Energy Index detailed above relates to the level of exertion associated with the sample trip detailed. This would be modified to fit the style and ability of your group as a part of the custom trip planning process
We’ve been tailoring custom journeys for clients since our very inception in the mid-1980s! The process is all about connecting the interests of the travelers with the best that a given destination has to offer. To achieve this, we rely upon good ol’ fashioned conversation! Our geographically focused travel designer love to meet new people and learn about their interests for travel. Understanding your goals informs the process immensely and serves as the foundation for the development of a bespoke travel experience for you and yours.
The trip detailed on this web page is a sample of something we’ve done for other clients over the years. In order to start the process of designing your own custom travel experience, just call us at (800) 445-2995 and ask to speak with one of our Travel Advisors. After a bit of time on the phone, you will then have the opportunity to connect with one of our travel designers.
The entire planning process is very personalized and works in an iterative fashion until a final, perfect trip has been created. We then secure all of the lodging, activities, and guided experiences associated with your trip and send along abundant trip materials capturing these details – and much more about your travels!
Arrive into Lima, City of Kings, and the cultural, financial, and political capital of Peru. With most flights arriving in the evening, and a morning flight to Cusco tomorrow, retreat to a hotel near the airport.
Catch a morning flight to Cusco, gateway to the world of the Inca! From Cusco, travel to Sacred Valley, with fascinating stops en route – a weaving cooperative, markets, and ruins. With a central base at fabulous Sol y Luna Lodge, daily outings take you out and about in Sacred Valley with ease. Saddle up on Peruvian Paso Fino horses for a ride to the Maras salt works and unique Inca ruins of Moray. Visit the Andean community of Willoq to observe the complex processes used to make wool clothing and blankets. Hike to see the striking terraces, water canals, and traditional Inca stone architecture of Pumamarca ruins. Evenings are spent enjoying meals at the lodge and the onsite swimming pool, tennis court, spa, and courtyard.
Immerse even deeper into Sacred Valley on a whitewater rafting trip on the Urubamba River, featuring mountain views, archaeological ruins, small villages, and farms. After lunch in a small village, head to the one-and-only Sky Lodge. Sky Lodge Adventure Suites is a transparent “luxury capsule” hanging from a mountaintop, overlooking the Sacred Valley. By way of “Via Ferrata” (metal ladders), arrive at the lodge, crafted from aerospace aluminum and polycarbonate. Each pod has a private bath, dining area, and 360-degree Sacred Valley views. After a delicious dinner, keep an eye out for condors, take in the sunset, and sleep well!
An extraordinary day awaits! After coffee, harness up and zipline down, down, down, to the town of Ollantaytambo. Back on terra firma, a train trip to Aguas Calientes puts you at the foot of Machu Picchu. Upon arrival in town, settle into your pretty, whitewashed guest cottage at the Machu Picchu Pueblo Hotel, and enjoy a leisurely evening.
Rise early to visit the other-worldly ruins at Machu Picchu. Mid-morning, hike to the top of Huayna for an alternative view from high above the “lost city.” Take much of the day to explore, then return by train to Ollantaytambo, and continue down to Cusco. Spend the night in a colonial manor house near Cusco’s main square.
This morning, enjoy a thorough exploration of the city of Cusco on foot, including many fascinating sites built by the Inca, the Spanish, and some that pre-date both empires! After a farewell lunch in one of Cusco's best restaurants, spend the afternoon exploring on your own – ruins, markets, museums, and more.
Fly from Cusco to Lima, spend time exploring Lima, then catch an evening flight home.
The Wyndham Costa del Sol at Jorge Chavez Lima International Airport is a comfortable 130-room property located inside the airport, offering an extremely convenient place for a quick overnight. Each guestroom features complimentary wireless internet access, TV with cable, marble bathroom with tub and shower, individual climate control, mini-bar, in-room safe and hairdryer. Breakfast is included in your stay.
Located on lush grounds in the valley with Andean mountains and eucalyptus trees as a backdrop, the Sol y Luna keeps its guest numbers at a minimum to maintain a friendly, intimate atmosphere. The beautiful bungalows are constructed of adobe, wood, stone and clay, and there is an activity center on site. The lodge owners welcome the opportunity to introduce you to their many community service projects.
Located in the village of Ollantaytambo just two minutes' walk from the Sacred Valley train station, this convenient and cozy lodge makes for a very comfortable stay. Rooms are clean, cozy, and simple, and the staff is friendly and helpful. Near the lobby, guests will find a TV room, library, warm fireplace, and outdoor space perfect for relaxing after a day of exploring.
Located in the Sacred Valley of Cuzco, Peru, the exclusive Skylodge Adventure Suites offers you the chance to sleep within a completely transparent hanging bedroom, that allows you to appreciate the impressive view of this magic and mystic valley. To sleep at Skylodge, people must climb 400 mt. of Via Ferrata or hike an intrepid trail through ziplines. One night at this place will make your dreams come true.
This hotel is located in the town just below Machu Picchu and blends in quite seamlessly to its surroundings. It consists of cozy, whitewashed guest cottages, all built with local materials and connected by stone pathways - making you feel as if you yourself are in an ancient Inca village. Recently rated by Travel & Leisure to be one of the top 500 hotels in the world, in addition to providing guests with the #1 value in Latin America, the Machu Picchu Pueblo Hotel is a stunningly unique and beautiful accommodation set high in the cloud forests of the Peruvian Andes. Orchid and cloud forest interpretive hikes are available around the hotel or you can choose to spend a solitary moment on the hotel’s miles of trails that wind through forests and past waterfalls. Stroll the lodge’s gardens, host to 372 native orchid species (the largest endemic collection open to the public in the world!) 172 bird species, and 111 species of butterflies.
Inkaterra La Casona is a colonial manor house —perhaps the first Spanish construction in Cusco— centrally located on an Incan settlement near Cusco’s present-day main square, later occupied by the conquistadores of Peru and their descendants. Eleven suites surround a sumptuous courtyard, where the patina of time is tastefully preserved. Contemporary amenities create the ambience of comfort and exclusivity enjoyed by residents in centuries past. This boutique hotel is certainly one of the very best in Cusco, and indeed in all of Peru!
This is our choice option in Lima, combining all the elements we seek in a great property: perfect location, exceptional service, luxury accommodations with stunning views, and excellent dining options. Set in the heart of the upscale Miraflores district, this five star hotel is the perfect base from which to spend days exploring colonial architecture, fascinating museums, and great shops, bars, and restaurants - or even to spend just one luxurious night! The hotel features Junior Suite, Deluxe Junior Suite, and Presidential Pool Suite room options, all three of which are superb. With multiple dining options, a luxurious spa, rooftop pool, gym and business center, this hotel really does offer the complete package!
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