Peru's Treasured Past: Fascinating 8-Day History Tour

Archaeological Park of Pisac in Cusco, Peru

What to expect on this itinerary

This customizable 8-day Peru tour offers a glimpse of one of the most fascinating cultures in the world. The mystic Andes Mountains conceal secrets of centuries past and riveting tales of the Inca Empire. Beauty exudes from every crevice of the whimsical Sacred Valley, and palaces, cathedrals, and open-aired markets dot the vivacious city streets of Cusco and Lima. Book your trip of a lifetime today.

Countries Visited

Peru

Places Visited

Lima, Cusco, Machu Picchu/Aguas Calientes, Pisco, Nazca, Paracas

Suggested Duration

8 Days

Customizable Itinerary

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Day 1

Lima – Touchdown in Lima

As soon as you touch down in Lima, you will be serenaded by the sweet melodies of authentic Peruvian music. Shortly after your private driver greets you, they will transfer you to your accommodation in the Miraflores neighborhood. You can enjoy a few leisurely hours to unwind in your room before venturing to the city center. You will truly get a feel for the local culture this evening by dining at the water's edge. You can top off the night with a traditional glass of Peru's national drink, pisco sour, as you look out at surfers and paragliders before settling in for the night.

What's Included:

Accommodation
Transfer
Day 2

Cusco – Ancient Inca Ruins

Day 3

Aguas Calientes – World Heritage Ruins of Machu Picchu

Day 4

Pisco – Pisco Sour Tasting Event

Day 5

Nazca – Helicopter Tour of Nazca Lines

Day 6

Paracas – Scenic Tour of Islas Ballestas

Day 7

Lima – Ceviche Cooking Class

Day 8

Lima – Departure

Trip Highlights

  • Fly in a helicopter over the ancient Nazca Lines and learn about Peru's pre-Inca civilizations
  • Journey to Pisco for an exciting pisco sour tasting event before enjoying self-exploration in the city's downtown
  • Touch down in Cusco for a chance to see the vivacious Plaza de Armas and tour ancient Inca ruins
  • Travel via a luxury train to the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Machu Picchu in Aguas Calientes
  • Embark on a luxury boat cruise from Paracas to Islas Ballestas, which is home to rare sea lion and sea birds species
  • Indulge in a cooking course in Lima alongside a world-renowned chef and learn to make Peru's authentic ceviche
  • Stroll through Lima's downtown and tour eye-catching government buildings and exquisite churches

Starting Price

$2,600 per person (excluding international flights)

Your Zicasso trip is fully customizable, and this sample itinerary is a starting place for your travel plans. Actual costs are dynamic, and your selection of accommodations and activities, your season of travel, and other such variables will bring this budget guideline up or down. Throughout your planning experience with your Zicasso specialist, your itinerary is designed around your budget. You can book your trip when you are satisfied with every detail. Planning your trip with a Zicasso travel specialist is a free service.

What's Included

  • Accommodations
  • In-country transportation
  • Some or all activities and tours
  • Expert trip planning
  • 24x7 support during your trip

Your final trip cost will vary based on your selected accommodations, activities, meals, and other trip elements that you opt to include.

4.9

Verified Traveler Reviews

Based on 89 reviews

Peru Tour Review: Cusco, Lima, Machu Picchu, Lares Trail, Sacsayhuaman, Huayna Picchu, Sacred Valley, Salt Mines, Hiking, Biking, Local Cuisine, 12 Nights

Zicasso's travel specialist was spectacular in every way. From the inception of communication and planning, through arranging for all of our tickets, hotels, transport, and amazing dining experiences, to the incredible support and guides we enjoyed along the way... they were outstanding and we received five-star service.

We were a demanding group of 13, ranging in ages from 17 to over 60, and we all had an absolute blast! We had an absolutely amazing trip. The Lares Trail and Machu Picchu (and our climb up Huayna Picchu) are by far some of the most memorable experiences we've ever had.

Our guide and driver were awesome... kind, professional, and accommodating, and our guide especially was very knowledgeable, with so much respect and love for the surrounding nature and culture.

Our travel specialist was timely, attentive, and responsive to all of our requests, and helped us collectively achieve one of the greatest vacations we have ever experienced.

They were 100% accurate in terms of how to prepare us for the altitude and allow us enough time to acclimatize in Cusco (and with a great, long, mountain bike ride at high elevation). Our specialist provided excellent recommendations for how to fill some additional time in Cusco while we acclimated. We loved touring Cusco itself, and seeing Sacsayhuaman, several spots in the Sacred Valley, and the Maras Salt Mines were all unforgettable experiences. We also loved the hotel she had us at in Cusco. It was a great spot to be able to explore the city on our own time.

After seeing all of the coordination, especially for the Lares Trail and Machu Picchu, we're so relieved we chose to go through Zicasso for this trip and were connected with our travel specialist and her company. Everything was well planned and thought out, and if anything was not right, they sought to immediately correct it. Our guide was on top of every detail and it was great knowing our agent was just a text or phone call away.

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Peru Travel Review: Sacred Valley, Machu Picchu, Cusco, Lima, Culture, Ruins, Local Cuisine, 10 Nights

We had excellent guides and hotels throughout our trip. Zicasso’s trip planner helped develop an itinerary that fit our interests perfectly. We enjoyed our time in the Sacred Valley, Machu Picchu, Cusco, and Lima.

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Peru Vacation Review: Amazon Rainforest, Cusco, Machu Picchu, Rainbow Mountain, Lake Titicaca, Lima, Huacachina, Sandboarding, 2 Weeks

We discovered our travel company through Zicasso and had an incredible experience planning and executing our trip to Peru. This was our first journey to South America and, since we don’t speak Spanish, we decided to work with a travel agent for this trip. Having planned all our travels around the world on our own, we were initially hesitant to entrust someone else with such an important task. However, our agent exceeded our expectations and made the entire process seamless and enjoyable.

From the very beginning – five months before our trip – our agent was a pleasure to work with. She was prompt, responsive, and attentive to our aspirations for the trip. After discussing the types of activities we wanted to include, she crafted a comprehensive itinerary filled with diverse and exciting options. Together, we refined the plans through a few iterations until we arrived at the perfect itinerary for our dream vacation.

Our two-week adventure in Peru was nothing short of amazing, taking us through the Amazon rainforest, the cultural heart of the Inca civilization in Cusco, the awe-inspiring Machu Picchu, the breathtaking Rainbow Mountain, the tranquil beauty of Lake Titicaca and the floating islands in Puno, and the vibrant coastlines of Lima and Huacachina, where we experienced sandboarding and a flight over the Nazca Lines.

Throughout the trip, our agent stayed in constant communication, providing detailed updates and guidance for each day’s activities. Every guide she arranged for us was a local expert with deep knowledge of the region’s history, architecture, and culture, which added immense value to our experience.

Even when we encountered a minor hiccup with one of the tours, our agent handled it promptly and professionally, resolving the issue without hesitation or resistance. Her dedication and attention to detail ensured our trip was smooth and stress-free.

Thanks to our agent and her incredible network of guides, we had a phenomenal experience in Peru. We highly recommend visiting this beautiful country and entrusting our tour company with your travel plans. Without a doubt, we would work with our agent for future adventures!

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Peru Tour Review: Lima, Cusco, Machu Picchu, Amazon Rainforest, Salt Flats, Ruins, Village Visit, Walking Tour, Thermal Baths, 9 Nights

My adult daughter and I had the most wonderful trip planned by Zicasso's travel company. Their team was exceptional; educational, on time, and just a pleasure to be with. Our itinerary was just what we were looking for. From Lima to the Amazon Rainforest, Cusco, and ending with Machu Picchu, it was well planned and well executed. We have memories that will last us forever.

Our travel specialist was a pleasure to work with. She listened to our thoughts and improved our experience with her great knowledge of the country, cities, and historical sites we wanted to visit. The travel company exceeded our expectations on every level. Thank you to our specialist and the team she assembled. We now have fantastic memories that will last us forever!

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Peru Vacation Review: Paracas, Sacred Valley, Machu Picchu, Huayna Picchu, Barranco, Cusco
"Our trip to Peru was truly magical! Our amazing travel agent talked with us and really worked hard to tailor the trip to our wishes."

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Peru, Ecuador Tour Review: Wildlife, Hiking, Mountains, Snorkeling, Machu Picchu, 11 Nights

We (me and my husband) took our seven-year-old to visit Machu Picchu and the Galápagos for two weeks. The trip was initially booked through Zicasso, who then referred us to our travel agent, who fine-tuned our itinerary to make all three of us happy, and it was great. We had nothing to worry about. Once we landed in Lima, the rest was like autopilot. Our drivers were ready, the hotels were amazing, and the food was awesome. They even helped us check in bags at the airports and printed our boarding passes for us since we didn’t speak much Spanish. 

My son had a blast in the Galápagos. His eyes got so big, once he got to officially snorkel, after seeing all those beautiful animals underwater. He loves nature and he got to go hiking and see all kinds of animals every day. Altitude sickness was real in Machu Picchu, but a little water and a little rest fixed it.

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Customizable Itinerary

This is a sample itinerary to inspire a personalized trip designed with your travel specialist.

28,000+ Verified Traveler Reviews