Two-Week Peru Tour: Captivating History & Cultural Insights

Ruins of the great Inca city of Machu Picchu, Peru.

What to expect on this itinerary

Close your tattered history books and dive into the storied past of Peru's ancient Inca Empire. As you make your way from the pristine beaches of Lima to the luscious jungles of Tambopata, from the serene mountain tops of the Andes to the swift river waters of the Sacred Valley, uncover the tales that make each of these places true gems. Observe the captivating mix of prehistoric traditions and post-colonial aesthetics of when the Spanish dropped anchor in the New World. Meanwhile, witness mystical remnants of the Inca Empire and admire proud customs of Andean heritage that are still practiced today.

Countries Visited

Peru

Places Visited

Lima, Nazca, Cusco, Sacred Valley, Machu Picchu, Tambopata, Puno, Ica, Paracas, Lake Titicaca

Suggested Duration

14 Days

Customizable Itinerary

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Day 1

Lima - Touchdown and Attend a Ceviche Sampler Event

As your plane descends on the iridescent coastlines of Peru's capital city, you can look out on the picturesque beaches and elegant white skyscrapers. After customs, you will meet your private transport which will accompany you to your hotel in the prestigious neighborhood of Miraflores. You can unwind atop your private balcony or seaside with a refreshing and frothy pisco sour. Paragliders may soar across the horizon while children skip in grassy, public parks and fly kites in the sky. Couples will stroll along the botanical gardens of Parque del Amor before relaxing on beautiful mosaic-tiled benches, and seagulls will coo in the distance while taxis honk their horns along busy city avenues.

In the afternoon, you will join your guide at a nearby restaurant where you will sample perhaps the most emblematic of all Peruvian dishes: ceviche. You will sit in on a cooking demonstration that is led by an expert chef before sampling varieties from Lima's world-renowned restaurants. As you bite into the crunchy layers of pepper, onion, and seafood, tangy lemon-lime juices will overwhelm your taste buds. Later, you will enjoy a peaceful evening walk on the elegant trails above the crashing Pacific Ocean waves. The fresh smell of sea salt in the air is sure to soothe your senses and lull you to sleep as you return to the hotel to prepare for tomorrow’s urban exploration.

What's Included:

Transfer
Accommodation
Tour
Day 2

Lima - Tour of the City Highlights & National Museum of Archaeology, Anthropology, and History of Peru

Day 3

Ica - Islas Ballestas and Huacachina Desert Oasis

Day 4

Ica - UNESCO Nazca Lines and Scenic Wine Tasting

Day 5

Puno - Lake Titicaca's Uros Floating Islands and Uros Culture Class

Day 6

Cusco - Market Bartering, Plaza de Armas, and Qorikancha

Day 7

Cusco - Saqsaywaman and Tambomachay

Day 8

Sacred Valley - Chinchero, Moray, Maras, and Horseback Riding

Day 9

Aguas Calientes - Ollantaytambo and Panoramic Train Ride

Day 10

Aguas Calientes - Expert Tour of Machu Picchu Ruins and Natural Hot Springs

Day 11

Aguas Calientes - Expert Tour of Machu Picchu and Climb to Huayna Picchu

Day 12

Tambopata - Animal Sightseeing, Hiking, and Birdwatching

Day 13

Tambopata - Conservation Center, Ziplining, and Culture Class

Day 14

Lima - International Departure

Trip Highlights

  • Venture on a tour of the prestigious, post-colonial architecture of Lima and sample citrusy ceviche from world-renowned chefs
  • Whiz down the sand dunes of Huacachina and sip on sweet red wines from beautiful vineyards in the Ica province
  • Barter your way through the markets of Cusco and visit the famed Inca Empire ruins of Qorikancha, Tambomachay, and Saqsaywaman
  • Drift along Lake Titicaca and discover the fascinating origins of the floating Uros Islands
  • Jet past the stunning Nazca Lines and spot humpback whales on your luxury cruise to the Islas Ballestas
  • Trek through the Amazon Jungle as you birdwatch and learn about inconspicuous and indigenous cultures of the rainforest region
  • Summit to Machu Picchu and bathe in the soothing hot springs of Aguas Calientes, which is said to possess medicinal powers

Starting Price

$4,600 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 1235 reviews

Darrin G.
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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Kasha H.
Peru Anniversary Tour Review: Sacred Valley, Machu Picchu, Inca Trail, Sun Gate, Hiking, Scenery, 11-Day Trip

Zicasso's travel agent is a phenomenal trip planner and advisor, and he helped make my husband's and my 20th wedding anniversary trip exactly what we were hoping for. He listened to what we were interested in exploring, provided multiple options for tours and activities, and was incredibly responsive, even after we booked the trip. He patiently answered all of our questions and provided excellent recommendations for restaurants.

Furthermore, he paired us with an outstanding tour guide for our time at the Sacred Valley and Machu Picchu. He even left us a surprise at our hotel on the final leg of our journey! When we go back to visit South America, we will definitely reach out to him!

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Gary W.
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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Jody H.
Peru Tour Review: Lima, Machu Picchu, 8 Nights

I wish I could give more than five stars. My husband and I took our two children, ages 16 and 11, on this amazing trip. Zicasso's travel experts made great suggestions to help make the trip one for everybody to remember. They and their vendors were amazingly supportive, beyond what we expected during the trip in-country as well.

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Claude H.
Peru Travel Review: Incan Culture, Hiking, 6 Nights

Zicasso's travel expert made my travel seamless and stress-free. The guide was knowledgeable and enthusiastic. I learned a great deal about the Incan culture. The driver was always on time and I felt safe traveling by car throughout the region.

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Ronald R.
Peru Trip Review: Machu Picchu, 3 Nights

Our Zicasso travel specialist's communication was great and he did a wonderful job organizing our trip. All went very smoothly.

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Customizable Itinerary

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

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