Paracas – Ica – Nazca Program (10 Days/ 9 Nights)

On this day, you will arrive at Lima’s capital airport from your country and then continue your journey for 1 hour and 20 minutes until you reach the city of Cusco, which is located at an altitude of 3,399 meters above sea level.

Once you arrive at Cusco airport, we will be waiting outside with a sign indicating your name, and then we will take you to your respective hotel. As a welcome, we will have coca tea, which has many properties to alleviate altitude sickness, and then we will proceed to the rooms if they are ready (CHECK-IN at 11:00 AM).

We will have the day off to take a self-guided tour of the city of Cusco to visit places such as the Plaza de Armas of Cusco, the San Pedro market, the neighborhood of San Blas, etc.

• Tour start: 7:00 AM
• Tour end: 6:10 PM

Places to visit:

• Chincheros
• Moray
• Salineras
• Ollantaytambo

Sacred Valley and Machu Picchu Tour: During this tour, you will enjoy admirable and beautiful landscapes, picturesque villages, and the wonderful history that only the Sacred Valley of the Incas can offer. Your adventure will begin at the navel of the world, with unmissable stops at the most renowned archaeological sites in Cusco, as you enjoy the entire Sacred Valley of the Incas until you reach the marvelous Inca citadel of Machu Picchu. It is a journey that connects the most important valley of the Inca Empire.

On this day, we will pick you up from the hotel at 6:35 am to start our excursion. Our first stop will be CHINCHEROS, which still maintains its traditional textile and ceramic art. We will visit its colonial church, which stands out for its most important canvases from the 15th and 17th centuries. Then, we will head to MORAY, which was an agricultural research center where cultivation experiments at different altitudes were conducted. After that, we will visit the SALINERAS DE MARAS, which have over 3,000 salt pools of various sizes and dimensions. These pools are owned by local families who, during the dry season, extract and treat the salt for sale in the market. Continuing our journey, we will arrive at URUBAMBA, where we will enjoy a buffet lunch, and then visit the city of OLLANTAYTAMBO, dating back to the 15th century.

After our visit to Ollantaytambo, we will take the afternoon train, depending on the available schedules that we have booked (4:30 pm or 7:00 pm). The train journey to our destination takes approximately 2 hours. Upon arrival at the final station in Machu Picchu Pueblo, our hotel transfer will be waiting for us with a sign displaying our names (CHECK-IN). On this day, our guide will meet us at the hotel to coordinate the visit to Machu Picchu the following day.

• Tour start: 7:00 am
• Tour end: 7:00 pm

Places to visit:

• Machu Picchu citadel
• House of the Guardian
• Temple of the Sun
• Main Temple
• Temple of the Three Windows
• The Sacred Rock
• Temple of the Condor

On this day, we will make our dream of visiting the wonder of the world, Machu Picchu, come true. We will be picked up from the hotel at the specified time and take a bus that will drive us to the Inca Citadel of Machu Picchu in a 30-minute journey. At the control gate, we will present the original documents (passport or ID) and entrance tickets to begin the tour. We will pass by the main Inca structures, such as the Temple of the Sun, the Main Temple, the Temple of the Three Windows, The Sacred Rock, the Temple of the Condor, among others. We will also make a stop at the House of the Guardian to take the long-awaited photos with Machu Picchu in the background. In total, we will spend approximately two hours in Machu Picchu. At the end, all tourists must exit the archaeological site along with their tour guide.

For the return journey, we will take the bus to Machu Picchu Pueblo, where we will enjoy a delicious lunch including a starter and a main course. After the meal, we will have free time until the scheduled departure. Finally, we will take the train back at the specified time on our tickets (remember to be at the train station 30 minutes prior).

Upon arrival at the Ollantaytambo station, we will board a bus that will take us back to the city of Cusco. The bus journey will take approximately 2 hours and will drop us off 2 or 3 blocks from the Plaza de Armas in Cusco, where our tour will conclude.

• Tour start: 9:00 am
• Tour end: 14:00 pm

Places to visit:

• Qoricancha 
• Sacsayhuamán
• Qenqo
• Puca Pucara
• Tambomachay

In the afternoon, we will pick you up from the hotel at 8:45 AM to start the City Tour excursion, which offers visitors a rich historical and monumental legacy in a unique and spectacular way.

This circuit includes the following attractions:

Qoricancha: One of the most important religious centers of the Inca Empire. Its stone constructions exhibit even greater perfection than Machu Picchu.

Sacsayhuamán: A megalithic monument that showcases great artistic expression and serves as a clear example of the technological achievements of the Incas.

Qenqo: In Inca times, it was considered a huaca, a sacred place.

Puca Pucara: It was a control site for areas and also had different administrative spaces.

Tambomachay: A sacred space where water worship took place, as water was vital for human existence.

We will conclude the visit by returning to the city of Cusco, where the transportation will drop you off 2 or 3 blocks from the Plaza de Armas in Cusco.

• Tour start: 5:00 am
• Tour end: 5:30 pm

Places to visit:

• Rainbow Mountain (Vinicunca)

Our journey begins with hotel pickup between 4:25 and 4:35 am. Then, we will depart for the town of CUSIPATA, approximately a two-hour drive away, where we will enjoy a hearty breakfast. We will continue our journey through beautiful valleys, small canyons, and impressive pre-Inca terraces until we reach the community of CHILLIHUANI. Here, we will have a breathtaking view of Apu Ausangate. After an introduction by our guide, we will begin our gradual hike, which will last approximately 1 hour and 20 minutes. During the trek, we will observe a variety of South American camelids such as alpacas and llamas, birds, lagoons, valleys, streams, and snow-capped mountains until we reach Rainbow Mountain or Vinicunca. This place is unique and magical, as nature has shaped it whimsically. After enjoying a peaceful moment in contact with nature for 40 to 50 minutes, we will return to CHILLIHUANI, where our vehicle awaits.

We will then continue the journey to the town of CUSIPATA, where we will enjoy lunch. Finally, we will return to the city of Cusco, and our tour will conclude 2 or 3 blocks from the Plaza de Armas.

• Check-out: 10:00 am
• Arrival in Lima: around 3:30 pm

On this day, after enjoying your breakfast, you will have free time in the morning for shopping. In the afternoon, at the agreed time, we will pick you up from the hotel and transfer you to the Cusco airport. Remember to be at the airport 2 hours before your flight departure. Upon arrival at Lima airport, we will be waiting for you outside with a sign indicating your name, and then we will transfer you to your respective hotel. You will have the rest of the afternoon free to rest or visit the main square of Lima (optional).

• Tour start time: 5:20 am
• Tour end time: 6:00 pm

Places to visit and observe:

1. Ballestas Islands
2. Candelabra
3. Humboldt Penguins
4. Playful Sea Lions
5. Dolphins
6. Guanay
7. Cormorants
8. Peruvian Boobies
9. Huacachina

4:30 – 5:20 am: Departure from different pickup points (Los Olivos/Plaza Norte, San Miguel, San Isidro, Miraflores).

8:00 am: Boarding the boats, wearing life jackets, and starting the guided maritime tour to the Ballestas Islands to observe the Candelabra. An enriching approximately 2-hour tour of the whimsical natural rock formations that house important marine fauna, such as large colonies of guanay birds, Humboldt Penguins, playful Sea Lions, Dolphins, Guanay Cormorants, Peruvian Boobies, and more.

10:00 am: After the tour, you will have free time to stroll around Paracas Bay, where you can take photos, buy handicrafts, and explore.

11:00 am: Transfer in tourist transport to Ica. After approximately 1 hour, you will arrive in Ica and be transferred to your hotel. Check-in at the hotel will be at 1:00 pm.

3:30 – 4:00 pm: Pickup from your hotel for transfer to Huacachina.

4:00 pm: Start the adventure circuit in the sand dunes of Huacachina, where you will have an adrenaline-filled ride in dune buggies and also have the opportunity to go sandboarding. The circuit lasts approximately one hour. Then you will have free time to visit the Oasis, take boat rides, take photos, and buy handicrafts.

6:00 pm: Transfer from Huacachina to your hotel for overnight stay.

• Tour start time: 7:05 am
• Tour end time: 7:00 pm

Places to visit and observe:

1. The Whale
2. Trapezoids
3. Astronaut
4. Monkey
5. Dog
6. Condor
7. Spider
8. Hummingbird
9. Booby/Flamingo
10. Parrot
11. Hands
12. The Tree

After enjoying your breakfast at the hotel, we will depart for Nazca. Please note that this day you will check out of your hotel.

7:05 am: Departure from Ica to Nazca.

9:15 am: Transfer to the aerodrome. Nazca Lines overflight. You will be able to observe up to 12 of the most enigmatic Nazca figures for approximately 35 minutes: 1. The Whale, 2. Trapezoids, 3. Astronaut, 4. Monkey, 5. Dog, 6. Condor, 7. Spider, 8. Hummingbird, 9. Booby/Flamingo, 10. Parrot, 11. Hands, 12. The Tree. After the tour, we will transfer you to the city of Ica.

2:00 pm: Travel in tourist transport to Ica. After approximately 1 hour, you will arrive in Ica, where we will make a brief stop to visit some vineyards. Finally, we will depart for the city of Lima, where we will arrive at approximately 7:00 pm.

• Tour start time: 10:00 am
• Tour end time: 1:00 pm

Places to visit:

1. San Martin Square
2. Colon Theater
3. Bolivar Hotel
4. Traditional ‘Jirón De la Unión’ street
5. Church of Our Lady of Mercy
6. Archbishop’s Palace and The Cathedral
7. San Francisco Convent and its catacombs

8:30 am – 8:40 am: Pick up from Miraflores hotels. 9:20 am – 9:40 am: Pick up from downtown Lima hotels. 10:00 am: We start the visit at San Martin Square (exterior visit to Colon Theater and Bolivar Hotel). Then we walk along the traditional Jr. De la Unión and visit some important places located there, such as Casa O’Higgins, the Courret brothers’ photographic studio, and the Church of Our Lady of Mercy (exterior visits). We will arrive at the Main Square of Lima for an exterior explanation of the Municipal Palace, the Government Palace, the Archbishop’s Palace, and the Cathedral of Lima. Finally, we will arrive at the San Francisco Convent and its catacombs. 1:00 pm: Return to your hotels.

On this day, after enjoying your breakfast at the hotel, we will need to pack our bags to return to our destination (CHECK OUT 10:00 AM). The transfer will pick you up 4 hours before your flight departure to take you to Lima airport.

We believe that the best time to visit Machu Picchu is during the dry season, which runs from May to October. During this time, you can expect clear skies and minimal rain, making it ideal for exploring the archaeological site and taking stunning photos. However, this is also the peak tourist season, so be prepared for larger crowds. The wet season, from November to April, sees more rain and cloud cover, but it also comes with the advantage of fewer tourists. Regardless of when you choose to visit, Machu Picchu is a breathtaking destination all year round.