Discover one of the world’s most intriguing wonders on this small group, action-packed journey to Machu Picchu. Join our expert guides as they introduce you to the majesty of the towering Andes, the roiling rapids of the Urubamba River, and the fascinating folklore enshrouding this mysterious culture. Hike ancient terraces, explore the sacred ruins of the Inca, and mountain bike misty valleys through enchanting grasslands as you make your way to the marvelous Inca citadel of Machu Picchu. This all-inclusive, custom Peru vacation package features best-in-class travel and Austin’s signature touch of inspired, thoughtful service, while you enjoy the finest in regional accommodations and gourmet cuisine from cozy lodges to cosmopolitan eateries. A captivating mix of adventure, nature, and history beckons – what are you waiting for?
Machu Picchu: the mere name evokes a sense of mystery, wonder, and adventure for the most curious of travelers. This nine-day, the exclusive itinerary takes you on an unforgettable journey from the bustling streets of Lima to the markets of Cusco and onto the awe-inspiring, world-renowned Inca Trail for a fascinating trip of a lifetime that’s sure to send you home revived and inspired by the enigmatic fortitude of the Inca civilization.
Stroll the cobblestone plazas of Cusco, the Inca Empire’s capital and one of the oldest, continuously-inhabited cities in the Western Hemisphere
Hike the Inca Trail, a mystical mix of ruins, mountain scenery, lush cloud forest, and rich subtropical jungle
Watch an incredible sunrise as day breaks over the Incan ruins of Machu Picchu
Raft Class II & III rapids of the Urubamba River through the Sacred Valley
Shop vibrant Inca markets for hand-woven tapestries and blankets
Savor a plate of fine Peruvian cuisine and unwind in the comfort of a cozy mountain chalet
A few more reasons why you've gotta go:
01
The mystery: anywhere you go, there's a sense that the Inca culture still permeates every hilltop, village and valley.
02
The Sun Gate: nothing prepares you for the feeling of awe as you step through Intipunku and gaze upon the ruins of Machu Picchu for the very first time.
03
The local Indian market in Pisac: this colorful market offers the region's most impressive display of handmade textiles and crafts.
Arrive in Lima, the “City of Kings,” and the cultural hub of Peru. You’ll be met at the airport and transferred (one hour) to Hotel B.
About the Hotel B
Hotel B sits in Lima’s most vibrant district: Barranco. Now home to many of Peru’s best-known artists, musicians, designers, and photographers, you’ll find the intrigues and mysteries of Peruvian culture, geography, and nature just a short walk from your hotel. The spacious rooms of the mansion feature charming views of the outside street or inner courtyard, plush sitting areas for relaxing after a day spent exploring Lima, and comfortable, luxurious beds. Surrounded by galleries and artists’ studios, Hotel B houses a unique art collection of its own and is linked directly to the Lucia de la Puente Gallery.
Morning tour of the historic center of Lima declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1988. Visit the Paseo de la República, San Martín Square, the Main Square, Government Palace, Basilica Cathedral, the Archbishop’s Palace, City Hall Palace, and stroll streets lined with colonial mansions and Moorish-style balconies. After lunch at Mangos de Larcomar, check out a collection of preColombian artifacts on a visit to the Larco Herrera Museum. Dinner perched over the Pacific at la Rosa Nautica, an unforgettable restaurant located on Pier 4 of the Lima Beach Circuit.
Morning flight to Cusco, the Inca Empire’s capital and oldest continuously inhabited city in the Western Hemisphere. Transfer to the Sacred Valley. Visit Awanacancha, the llama project, where we will see different South American camelids. Shuttle to Pisac for a hike to the region’s mysterious mountainside ruins. Shop an impressive display of handmade textiles and crafts at a local Indian market. Today’s lunch at the Cuchara de Palo restaurant will allow you to discover delicious Peruvian Cuisine. Check into your tranquil accommodation, your home for the next three nights, and enjoy a traditional Peruvian meal.
About Casa Andina Premium Valle
The Casa Andina Premium Valle is located in the heart of the Sacred Valley. This mountain chalet-style retreat has panoramic views of the Andes from every room and every angle. On more than eight landscaped acres, it breathes an air of tranquility and relaxation. Unique among Sacred Valley hotels – most of which remain isolated in the valley, offering precious little for guests to do – it contains an extraordinary, full-service “Sacred-Spa”, a domed Planetarium-&-Observatory for stargazing in the massive Southern-Hemisphere sky, and gourmet restaurant and bar.
After a hardy breakfast, we shuttle to Cruzpata to visit a local school. Here, we’ll get to know the kids and their teachers and deliver materials, including books, pencils, and crayons. After this noble activity, we bike off-road to the Inca site of Moray. Enjoy a gourmet picnic lunch • Shuttle to Maras and bike to the ancient salt pools and mines known as the “Salinas de Maras”. Dinner at Wayra Restaurant, a unique space where nature, art, gastronomy, adventure, and good living blend together.
Upon reaching our private river put-in and listening to a safety orientation, raft the Class II & III whitewater rapids of the Urubamba River, conquering the adrenaline-inducing “train station” and “slider” rapids. Savor a traditional pachamanca lunch at a local restaurant. This afternoon, explore the fascinating ruins of Ollantaytambo with your guide. Dinner in the colorful Huacatay Restaurant.
Travel 1.5 hours by train to Kilometer 104 where we meet the Inca Trail and embark on a cloud forest and subtropical jungle hike to Machu Picchu. Visit the sites of Chachabamba and Wiñay Wayna and enjoy lunch at a waterfall before reaching Intipunku, the “Sun Gate” overlooking Machu Picchu. We’ll have time for a short visit before transferring to the upscale Machu Picchu Pueblo Hotel for lodging and dinner.
About Machu Picchu Pueblo Hotel
The Pueblo Hotel’s private 12-acre cloud forest inside the Machu Picchu Sanctuary offers a scattering of cottages, streams, gushing waterfalls, gardens, and wild forest. Discover a working tea plantation, and the world’s largest private collection of indigenous orchids, open to the public. What could be more enchanting than the vibrant Waqnaki, and the legend of a lovesick Inca princess whose sadness was transformed into colorful teardrop petals?
Full morning to explore Machu Picchu’s mountaintop ruins with a private guide. You will have the option to hike up Huaynapicchu Mountain at 10:00 am if you desire. Lunch in Machu Picchu. The afternoon train rides back to Ollantaytambo and car transfer back to Cusco. Dinner at your hotel.
About Palacio del Inka
A storied mansion dating back nearly five centuries, Palacio del Inka stands in the historic center of Cusco. Directly across from the Koricancha, it is a five-minute walk from the main square and less than a mile from an array of museums, markets, and restaurants. The rooms blend a rich Peruvian personality with the city’s enchanting history, all while providing the luxuries that a modern-day traveler expects. The state-of-the-art amenities guarantee an enriching and memorable stay in Cusco.
Morning tour of Cusco’s nearby famous archeological ruins: Sacsayhuaman, Qenqo, Puca Pucara, and Tambomachay. Lunch in the city. Take a guided walking tour of the main square of Cusco, the Cathedral, and the “Korikancha” temple of the sun. Farewell dinner at Map Café followed by some lively music.
Return flight to Lima. With guide assistance, connect with your international flight home.
**Trip itineraries are subject to change without notice due to road, weather, and other factors outside of our control, for the safety and enjoyment of our guests, as deemed necessary and appropriate by Austin Adventures and Apumayo Expediciones.
An Austin Adventures / Apumayo representative will meet you upon arrival at the Lima airport. Upon clearing customs, transportation to Hotel B in Lima’s Barranco District (1-hour transfer) will be provided. On Day 9 you will be transferred from the Palacio del Inka to the Cusco airport according to your morning or afternoon flight schedule. You will be met upon your arrival in Lima and assistance will be provided to the international departures terminal of the Lima airport. Please confirm with your airline provider if the Peruvian airport departure and tourist tax are included in your ticket. If not, this departure tax must be paid in U.S. dollars or Peruvian Nuevos Soles, as credit cards are not accepted.
Activities
Hiking: 1 to 2-mile city walks and ruins tours; 5-mile challenging hike on the Inca Trail (elevation gain of 2,000 feet). Mountain Biking: 15 miles on dirt, moderately difficult. Whitewater rafting: Class II and III rapids, no experience necessary.
Your guides will take the time to explain the details of each activity, answer any questions and demonstrate the use of all equipment. Each activity has been carefully planned to include options for all levels. Most importantly, your guides will help you select the distance that’s right for you.
Cultural Discoveries
Crowned by the towering Andes and tucked between the Amazon and the Pacific, Peru offers a captivating mix of adventure, nature, and history. Embedded in every active traveler’s Top Ten List is the great city of the clouds, Machu Picchu. Our route takes us there from bustling Lima to the cobblestone streets of Cusco, from ruin to ruin across the Sacred Valley, and by train and breathtaking footpath over the Inca Trail. Catch a glimpse of the Andean Condor, a vulture with the largest wingspan of any land bird – 10.5 feet! Discover the colorful street markets, friendly people, and strong local culture of Cusco, the historic capital of the Inca empire. Photograph the myriad of salt pans in Maras as the sun reflects off the water’s surface, slowly evaporating and leaving salt in its wake. Delight in the traditional Peruvian dish of Pachamanca: lamb, mutton, pork, chicken, or guinea pig, marinated in spices and baked with the aid of hot stones in an earthen oven known as a huatia. Did you know that Machu Picchu is called “The Lost City” because when it was “rediscovered” by Yale explorer Hiram Bingham III in 1911, the jungle had literally swallowed the complex ruins? Even a knife blade can’t be inserted between the precise mortarless joints of the stones used in the building of Machu Picchu, and many of these stones weighed more than 50 tons! Come explore Peru with the experts in adventure travel!
Meals
The hallmark of an Austin Adventures vacation is our exceptional dining. All meals: breakfasts, lunches, snacks, dinners, refreshments, and receptions – except one dinner on your own – are included as indicated by the itinerary. (B = Breakfast, L = Lunch, D = Dinner). Alcoholic beverages and related gratuities are not included in the trip price.
Pre-departure Information
After receiving your reservation and deposit, we’ll send you a pre-trip planner with general information about the area you’ll be visiting, a packing list, exercise guidelines, a guest information questionnaire, and a liability release agreement for you to sign and return within 10 days.
What's Included
Included in the Trip Price
Double occupancy rooms with private baths.
All meals from breakfast on Day 2 until breakfast on Day 9.
Fully trained, bilingual professional guides and knowledgeable local partners.
Bikes, helmets, and other necessary equipment – all safe and well maintained.
Vehicle support and land transportation during the trip.
Austin Adventures T-shirt & luggage tags.
Pre-departure and packing information.
Materials for a school visit.
Incidental expenses such as taxes, dining and housekeeping gratuities, & local partner & expert gratuities.
Entrance fees to attractions in Lima, Cusco, Sacred Valley, Inca Trail, Machu Picchu & Huaynapicchu.
Not Included in the Trip Price
Flights from Lima – Cusco – Lima (approximately $500 per person, depending on availability).
Guide gratuities.
Alcoholic beverages and related gratuities.
Dinner on Night 1 during the trip.
Pre-and post-trip accommodations and associated expenses.
Air and land transportation to/from host cities.
All types of personal insurance.
Personal expenses.
View the "Wow Factor" Included in Each Austin Adventure
Activity levels are subjective depending on your general level of fitness and your experience; however, all of our trips are self-paced.
1Easy (1)
Activity levels are subjective depending on your general level of fitness and your experience; however, all of our trips are self-paced.
2Moderately Easy (2)
Activity levels are subjective depending on your general level of fitness and your experience; however, all of our trips are self-paced.
3Moderate (3)
Activity levels are subjective depending on your general level of fitness and your experience; however, all of our trips are self-paced.
4Moderate to Challenging (4)
Activity levels are subjective depending on your general level of fitness and your experience; however, all of our trips are self-paced.
5Challenging (5)
Peru Expert
Carol Austin
Want to know how to fully experience the depth of beauty and culture in a place? Ask Carol Austin. A Montana native who treasures the land and people in her own backyard—be it Yellowstone, the Beartooths, or the family around her dinner table—Carol knows how to embrace any destination she explores, a feat at 40+ countries and counting. And with more than 20 years in the travel industry, she’s really good at helping guests plan—and fully enjoy—their adventure vacation, too. She co-founded Austin Adventures with her husband, Dan Austin.
