Riveting Time Capsule Trip of Peru’s Capital

What to expect on this itinerary
Throughout this 7-day exploration of Peru’s history and culture, uncover some of the country's most treasured historical gems. Discover the ancient wonders of the stunning region of Lima, and fall in love with the friendly people, charming shops, delicious restaurants, and spectacular views. Amble through Lima's downtown, immerse yourself in the ancient civilizations of Caral, and fly over the enigmatic Nazca Lines.
Customizable Itinerary
Lima – Dinner on the Shoreline
As you touch down along the coastline of Peru's vivacious national capital, you will be greeted by your private transportation, who will transfer you to your luxurious accommodation in the heart of the city. Once you arrive at your opulent accommodation, you can settle in and catch a glimpse of the breathtaking ocean views from your private balcony. In the afternoon, you can venture into the city center for some self-guided exploration. You will have a chance to stroll through the pristine parks of Miraflores as the sun begins to set.
What's Included:
Lima – Ceviche Cooking Class
Lima – Visit Ancient Ruins
Caral – The Oldest Town in the New World
Nazca Lines – Private Helicopter Ride
Paracas – Luxury Cruise to Islas Ballestas
Lima – Departure
Trip Highlights
- Savor the diverse flavors of Lima's fresh seafood as you dine along the city's sparkling shoreline
- Venture inside the gold-leafed interior of Lima's opulent cathedral and roll up your sleeves for a traditional ceviche cooking class
- Stroll through romantic Parque del Amor and discover the metropolis' hidden Inca and pre-Inca ruins
- Seek out the "Oldest Town in the World" in Caral and visit pre-Columbian ruins, which are known as the Norte Chico civilization
- Fly over the Nazca Lines in a helicopter and explore the history of these ancient geoglyphs
- Embark on a scenic cruise from Paracas to Islas Ballestas, which is teeming with fascinating marine life
- Luxuriate in Lima's prestigious neighborhood of Miraflores and visit the neighborhood's charming lighthouse
Detailed Description
Lima is a hub of all things modern, international, and fast-paced. People from around Peru and the world travel to this nation's capital for exquisite fashion, mouth-watering cuisine, and shopping of all varieties. Still, the opulent skyscrapers of Miraflores mesh well with a calming serenity that can be found along Lima's Pacific coastline. Here, families gather to relax and unwind as they admire some of the best views that the city has to offer. Despite the city's push toward vibrant modernity, cobbled streets and charming plazas still adorn the town and are saturated with a rich history that spans hundreds of years. Ancient civilizations and Spanish colonists have left their mark around every corner.
You will begin your luxurious, 7-day immersion into Peru’s history and culture with a tour of the downtown area. During your tour, you will step inside famed edifices, including the Cathedral of Lima. You will even be provided with the exclusive opportunity to tour the ancient catacombs that are tucked beneath the city's basilica. After enjoying a tantalizing, oceanfront dinner the night before, you will roll up your sleeves with an expert chef and learn how to make Peru's internationally acclaimed ceviche. The following day, you will stroll through Lima's most meticulously coiffed public parks, including Parque del Amor, where you may be hypnotized by the calming ambiance of the water's edge. Finally, you will travel to a nearby archaeological site, where you will witness some of the region's most fascinating relics that were constructed by ancient civilizations.
During the second half of your journey, you will visit the oldest town in the world in Caral, where you will follow your expert guide to learn about the town’s fascinating construction process. Then, you will fly over the enigmatic Nazca Lines, which still baffle historians to this day. From overhead, you will come to understand the magnitude of these massive geoglyphs as you learn more about how they may have been formed and why. On your final day in Peru, you can relax along the sparkling shore of Paracas before embarking on a luxurious cruise to Islas Ballestas, where you will witness some of the region's most magnificent wildlife, including sea lions and, possibly, Humpback whales. Throughout your entire adventure, you will stay in luxurious accommodations and have private transportation arranged for all of your travel needs. This tour is customizable, so you can adjust nearly anything and everything to better suit your moods and interests once you are in Peru.
Starting Price
$2,100 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
The starting price is based on travel during the low season for a minimum of two travelers staying in shared 3-star accommodations. Please inquire for a custom trip quote based on your travel preferences and travel dates.
Verified Traveler Reviews
Based on 142 reviews
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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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The trip was beautifully organized and went off like clockwork. The only problem we encountered was the cancelation by the airline of our flight to see the Nazca Lines, but Zicasso's travel agent jumped in and immediately made arrangements for us to drive to Nazca and fly from there. We had wonderful guides and the outings were enjoyable and educational.
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We loved Peru and everything went very smoothly. We couldn’t have done half as much without the Zicasso drivers and the guides, and we learned a lot as well.
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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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Raj and I had an unforgettable trip of a lifetime in Peru! The planning and execution of the itinerary were excellent. Everyone, from our drivers to our guides at every destination, was simply amazing! They were very friendly and accommodating to our needs. They made the whole experience so pleasant. Our hotel accommodations were superb as well.
Thank you all again. We would highly recommend this tour company to our friends and family!
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