7 Day Peru Premium Small Group Tour
This tour is fully escorted by a dedicated tour leader who will accompany you throughout the tour. If your trip includes multiple countries, you will be met by a new tour leader in each country and any internal flights included will be unescorted.
This tour is conducted at a medium-fast pace. Some long travel days may be required to complete this itinerary and you will typically spend two nights at each destination, with some one night stays required. This trip includes a mix of sightseeing and free time to explore at your own pace. You will be required to move about unassisted, including getting on and off vehicles, walking up and down stairs and some activities will be conducted on uneven or steep terrain. You will be required to handle your own luggage.
These tours are our proudest creations. They have been crafted for Inspiring Vacations travellers exclusively, with personal and unique experiences in mind. Please see the Important Information on your selected tour for exact group size. Enjoy features such as hand-picked accommodation, a sampling of the region’s best culinary delights, and a range of optional activities to choose from to best suit your travel style.
✓ Small group tour, up to 20 guests only
✓ Incredible guided tours of Lima, the Sacred Valley, Machu Picchu and Cusco
✓Visit a local community in the Sacred Valley to learn about life and enjoy a delicious lunch
✓ See the best of Peru’s most iconic sites, including Machu Picchu by the iconic 360 train, Maras and Moray Incan sites, the Qoricancha temple, and Cusco Cathedral
✓ Breakfast daily and 1 lunch
✓ 6 nights in hand-picked 4-star accommodation throughout
✓ Fully escorted by an expert, English-speaking guide
✓ Lima-Cusco flight, 360 train to Machu Picchu, and dedicated coach transportation throughout
✓ In-depth sightseeing and entrance fees as per the itinerary
✈ Needing international airfares to accompany your Inspiring Vacation? You will be able to access our flight portal after securing your package to add international airfares to your booking.
Travel with the experts for a carefully curated, value-packed discovery of the world's most iconic destinations. Our tours are bursting with must-see sights, rich experiences and quality inclusions, all at an unbeatable price. Bucket list dreams are ticked off on these all-encompassing journeys.
Welcome to Lima, the "City of Kings"!
The rest of the day is at leisure to enjoy Peru's capital and discover it's historical centre.
Airport transfers are not included. Our transfer portal offers the option to book your airport transfers for an easier arrival experience (additional charges apply). Access to this portal will be available through your Traveller Hub once your booking is confirmed.
Enjoy breakfast before heading out for a half day morning tour of the fascinating city of Lima. You start your tour with a panoramic view of Huaca Pucllana, a magnificent clay platform pyramid located in the center of the city. This ceremonial and archeological centre was built in the 4th century A.D. and is considered a sacred village by the Incas.
Then, you’ll visit the colonial side of the city where you'll see attractions like the Cathedral, the Viceroyalty of Peru, the main places of Lima's Plaza Mayor (Main Square), the Government Palace, the City Hall, and other important monuments. Later, you’ll visit the Convent of San Francisco, a seventeenth-century architectural complex that includes a church, a convent and a square. The facade of the church, which has an image of the Immaculate Conception painted on it, was carved in stone, and is characterised by its Corinthian columns. You will also see the catacombs, a dark chamber found under the church. After visiting the centre of Lima you’ll head to the modern section of this great metropolis and will visit the district of Miraflores with its spectacular clifftop walking path overlooking the Pacific Ocean, the “Parque del amor” (Love Park).
Following your tour, return to your hotel where the rest of the day is at leisure.
In the morning, after breakfast, you will be transferred to the airport to take your flight to Cusco. Upon arrival you’ll be met by your local guide and transferred to your hotel in the Sacred Valley.
The remainder of the day is at leisure to allow you time to acclimatise to the altitude change in preparation for our visit to Maccu Picchu.
Today, we enjoy a full day exploration of the incredible Sacred Valley of the Incas including lunch.
Known as Wilcamayo to the Incas, the lush, fertile valley has long been the main source of food for the high Andes. Maize crops can be seen surrounding the river and covering the terraces carved high into the valley walls. You will head to a community in the Valley to learn about local lifestyle and activities and if our visit coincides with market day you can spend time browsing the stalls in search of hand-painted beads or warm ponchos and maybe practising some of the local language, Quechua.
Enjoy a regional lunch with the community and later continue the tour visiting the ancient salt ponds near the village of Maras, where salty springs emerge from the hillside and the Incas built terraces to capture the flows and harvest salt. Continue the excursion to Moray, where huge circular agricultural terraces were built by the Incas on limestone sinks served to plant various crops. It is said to have a cosmological significance, however, the Incas used the terraces as an agricultural laboratory to determine the optimum conditions for each species in varying altitudes.
Return to your hotel late this afternoon where the evening is at leisure.
After breakfast, we´ll drive for 20 mins to the train station in Ollantaytambo to board the train towards Aguas Calientes, also known as Machu Picchu Pueblo, a modern little town close to the Sanctuary of Machu Picchu.
Included is a ride aboard "The 360°" carriages from Ollantaytambo to Aguas Calientes. This incredible journey allows you to explore the Andean landscape in “sky dome” carriages offering wider panoramic windows and an observation outdoor carriage. The train is the only one in Peru with an on-board app that will allow you to learn more about the train ride and the Inca civilization.
After passing through the Sacred Valley of the Incas the train starts to descend gradually along the edge of the Urubamba River, till you finally reach the cloud forest. After arriving into Aguas Calientes we'll take a short bus ride up the steep, zigzagging road to the impressive Lost City of the Incas. This is one of those genuinely magical places, and your first glimpse of these ruins in the mist is something to remember. The site is perched high in the Andes, surrounded by verdant cloud forest, with the river Urubamba running through the gorge far below. Hidden away on a ridge, Machu Picchu is invisible from below, so it's no surprise it remained a secret until 1911.
Explore the upper terrace with your guide first, making sure to get that great portrait! You will then take a guided tour of the ruins, learning more about these 200 or so houses and temples. It's fascinating to be able to gaze down on the city from above and imagine how it would have looked during the height of the Inca empire.
Catch the bus back into town and enjoy some spare time to have lunch and a look around. In the afternoon, then take the tourist train in “The Voyager” carriage back to Ollantaytambo and make the rest of the journey to Cusco by vehicle. On arrival in Cusco, check into your hotel where the rest of the day is at leisure.
Note:
According to Machu Picchu visiting regulations, all visitors must follow a predetermined route within the site. This route must be followed in one direction only and once the guided visit commences, exiting and reentering the site is not permitted. Once the guided visit concludes, visitors must exit the site and personal exploration of Machu Picchu is not permitted.
In the morning, set out to discover some of Cusco's lesser-known sights on a guided walking tour. Visit the Cusco Cathedral and the Qoricancha temple, San Pedro market, the main square, 12 Angled Stone, Regocijo Square and San Blas Square.
Then, you will visit the ruins near the city of Cusco, beginning the visit to the archaeological remains of Sacsayhuaman, continuing to the Temple of Quenqo, and Puca Pucara and ending with the impressive temple of Tambomachay where you will be able to observe a series of water fountains, this place was dedicated to the worship of water.
Your tour concludes at the hotel after breakfast.
Airport transfers are not included. Our transfer portal offers the option to book your airport transfers for an easier arrival experience (additional charges apply). Access to this portal will be available through your Traveller Hub once your booking is confirmed.
This is a land only package.
This package does not include international airfares. If you would like to add airfares to your booking our flight portal will be available via your Traveller Hub. The flight portal will allow you to search for all available airfares to your destination. The function works like most general flight search engines allowing you to select your preferred airline, book different cabin classes (eg. Business class) and view flight durations and transit times to your destination.
The flight portal will be available via your Traveller Hub once the following criteria has been met:
Visit our Flight Hub for more information on terms and conditions, amending your flights and information on luggage allowances.
Some of our packages will include airport transfers in either one or both directions when arriving or departing from your destination. To know if transfers are included please view the ‘inclusions’ section of your selected package. If airport transfers are stated, transfers will be included as advised.
If transfers are not included, we also offer the option to book your airport transfers using our online portal. Access to this portal is available through your Traveller Hub once your booking is confirmed. Transfers are readily available and do not need to be booked until your final hotel list has been confirmed. Once you have made a transfer booking, please refer to your confirmation email for all transfer details including a local contact number for the transfer company.
If you book pre and/or post-tour accommodation on your own arrangement, and the tour includes transfers, note that these will be forfeited. The transfers are only provided in line with the tour dates and pre and/or post-tour accommodation purchased through Inspiring Vacations when available.
It is the traveller's responsibility to ensure they have a valid passport. The passport must be valid for a minimum of six months from the intended date of return. Visas may be required for your destination. For further visa information, click here.
Fitness Requirements
While the tour itinerary should give you some guidance and overview to the expected requirements, to determine if this tour is right for you we categorise each of our tours in terms of their intensity. These guidelines are to ensure that each tour group is conducted as expected and to ensure the overall satisfaction of all Inspiring Vacations customers.
As a general rule, porterage is not included, therefore at all times you are expected to handle your own luggage where help may not be available.
This particular tour is categorised as a ‘3’
3 – Moderate Tour: A good level of fitness and mobility is required, as this tour includes a moderate level of physical activity and is considered a medium-fast paced tour. You should be able to walk up and down stairs, get on and off the coach and able to walk reasonable distances of approximately 2 kilometres per day or more with ease. Any physical ailments you may have must be disclosed at the time of booking to determine your suitability. If you have any form of walking aids, other than a walking stick or hiking poles, then this tour is not suitable.
Travelling at altitude
Cusco sits at 3,399 metres above sea level where it’s common for travellers to experience some adverse health effects due to altitude – regardless of age, gender and fitness. It's important that you discuss this itinerary and your travel plans with your doctor beforehand. Prescription medication to prevent altitude sickness is available. If left untreated, altitude sickness can lead to serious health complications or even be fatal. While on tour, safety is paramount and it’s important that you discuss any altitude sickness symptoms with your local guide, so that appropriate medical attention can be provided. Follow this link for more helpful information on altitude sickness.
Tipping
A friendly reminder that tipping is not included in your package. Tipping is not compulsory on your trip, but they can make a big difference to locals employed in the tourism industry. If you feel that your guide and driver have done an impeccable job, you can choose to give a gratuity, but this is entirely your decision.
Accommodation
The accommodation listed is subject to change. Any changes will be of an equal or higher standard. Bedding configurations (double or twin) are requests only. All efforts will be made to meet your preferences, however, any changes are beyond our control.
Single Supplement
Single supplement is $788.00 per person, in addition to the twin-share price.
Triple Share
Not available.
Travel Insurance
Travel insurance is recommended to protect yourself against the unexpected. In addition to the support that a policy may provide, you may be asked to present a copy of your travel insurance documentation while traveling.
Group Size
Minimum: 4
Maximum: 20
Children
Children must be 5 years old or above and share a room with parents at all times. Children are charged the same price as adults.
Tour Style
To meet the needs of various types of travelers, we choose to operate various types of tours, and depending on your selected package will mean different services are provided throughout your trip. The following descriptions of each tour style we hope will ensure that each traveller has appropriate expectations before they start their travels:
All participants must be in good physical condition to fully engage in this journey. For the safety and welfare of yourself and fellow travellers, if you are feeling unwell prior to departure, we advise staying home and contacting us to arrange alternate plans.
Prior to selecting your trip, carefully review the itinerary to assess your ability to comfortably manage our travel style. Please be aware that if, based on evaluation by our leader or local representative, a participant is deemed unable to safely complete the itinerary, we retain the right to exclude them from all or part of the trip without reimbursement.
It is advisable to consult your physician for current medical travel advisories and any required vaccinations before embarking. We recommend carrying a first aid kit and any necessary medications in their original packaging, as they may not be readily available during travel. For those carrying medication, it's essential to check your government's foreign travel guidelines for local restrictions or regulations.
You can enhance your holiday by arriving or departing before or after the tour. On this tour you can choose from the following options:
Pre Tour Accommodation
Post Tour Accommodation
Please select the number of extra nights required in the 'Additional Nights Accommodation' field when making your purchase. The additional cost for these arrangements will be added to your final payment invoice and are subject to availability.
18 Sep 2020
Food, sights and ancient attractions await in this magnificent South American nation Peru is fast becoming one of South America’s hottest destinations. Adventurers and culture vultures are well catered for, thanks to the country’s astonishing array of attractions and rich Quechua history, while foodies will relish it...
16 Sep 2020
This winter solstice festival is a cultural highlight in Peru The history of Inti Raymi An important part of Peru’s cultural heritage, Inti Raymi is celebrated throughout the former Incan Empire on 24 June. Originally a nine-day tribute to Inti, the Incan sun god, and Pachamama, the mother earth goddess, it dates bac...
16 Sep 2020
From kitschy alpaca pens to hand-woven hats, souvenirs are serious business in Peru As the former capital of the Inca empire and a stronghold of Andean tradition, Peru is widely considered one of the world’s most culturally-rich nations. Visit the Sacred Valley to watch locals weave with technicolour thread or shop f...
