Peru Discovery 10 days / 09 nights

Upon your arrival in Lima, you will be transferred to the hotel of your choice. After checking in, you will have free time to rest and refresh after your flight.

In the afternoon, you can enjoy a relaxing stroll along the Miraflores boardwalk (Malecón) or simply unwind at the hotel. You may also opt to explore nearby cafes or restaurants and get your first taste of Peruvian cuisine

We will enjoy a tour exploring Lima in its three stages: Ancestral, Colonial, and Modern Lima. The tour begins with a panoramic view of the “Puccllana Pyramid”, an ancient ceremonial and archaeological center built in the 4th century A.D. and considered a Sacred Town of the Incas.

Next, we will head to the Historic Center of Lima, where we will see what was once the old “Cuadrada” Lima and admire more than fifty monuments and colonial buildings, including the Paseo de la República, San Martín Square, Main Square, Government Palace, Municipal Palace, Archbishop’s Palace, Basilica Cathedral, among others.

Continuing the tour, we will visit the Central Reserve Bank Museum, where we will see the Treasures of Peru Collection, which includes objects made of ceramics, gold, and textiles from various pre-Columbian cultures.

We will also visit the San Francisco Monumental Complex, which is the largest example of colonial religious art in the Americas. Its main attraction is the visit to its underground crypts, known as The Catacombs.

Finally, we will head to the Contemporary Area of Lima, where we will admire the main buildings and residential areas of Lima, including El Olivar in San Isidro, Miraflores, Larcomar, and the Park of Love.

Note: The Central Reserve Bank Museum is closed to the public on Saturdays and Sundays, and closed all day on Mondays.

• 4:30 to 5:00 AM: Pickup from your hotel, then transfer to Paracas.
• 9:30 AM: Arrival in Paracas. Head to the El Chaco pier to board modern speedboats for a tour of the Ballestas Islands, located in Paracas Bay. Enjoy the stunning natural beauty and diverse marine wildlife, including sea lions, Humboldt penguins, flamingos, parihuanas, and various seabirds. Sea lions may approach the boat, and penguins are often seen in the water. Thousands of seabirds fly between the islands, and their nests are visible on the rocks. We will also view the Candelabro, with the guide explaining various theories about its formation (approximately 1 hour and 40 minutes).
• 12:00 PM: Departure for Ica.
• 1:00 PM: Arrival in Ica. Lunch (Not included in the tour price).

Visitors will have the opportunity to sample the main products made at the winery, including wines, piscos, pisco creams, macerates, and mistelas, accompanied by lively phrases typical of Ica.

Visit to Noelia Chocolate Factory, where we will taste traditional chocotejas, alfajores, jams, artisanal cookies, filled mousse, and more.

• 3:00 PM: Excursion to the Huacachina Oasis, located just 5 km from the center of Ica. Enjoy the tranquility of the lagoon and take a walk around for great photo opportunities.
• 6:15 PM: Transfer to the bus station.
• 7:00 PM: Bus from Ica to Nazca with Cruz del Sur.
• 10:00 PM: Arrival in Nazca. Reception and transfer to your chosen hotel. Overnight accommodation in Nazca.

Important: The arrival time in Nasca may vary depending on how far in advance you made your tour reservation, as the bus company has a limited number of available seats.

Morning:

• 7:00 AM: Enjoy breakfast at your hotel.
• 8:00 AM: Transfer to the Nasca aerodrome for your overflight of the famous Nazca Lines.
• 8:30 AM: Begin your thrilling 30-minute overflight, where you’ll marvel at 12 of the most iconic geoglyphs, including the whale, compass, trapezoid, astronaut, monkey, dog, hummingbird, spider, condor, booby, parrot, hands, and tree. Your guide will provide insightful commentary on the history and mysteries behind these ancient figures.
  Late Morning:
• 10:00 AM: Return to your hotel for some leisure time to relax or explore the surroundings.

Lunch:

• 12:00 PM: Enjoy lunch at a local restaurant or explore Nasca on your own (Lunch not included in the tour price).
  Afternoon:
• 1:00 PM: Transfer to the Cruz del Sur bus terminal.
• 2:00 PM: Depart for Lima on the comfortable Crucero Evolution service, enjoying scenic views and onboard amenities during the journey.

Evening:

• 8:00 PM: Arrival in Lima. Transfer to your hotel or chosen drop-off point, concluding your memorable 2-day tour of Paracas, Ica, and Nasca.

We will pick you up from your hotel in Lima at the specified time and transfer you to the airport to take your flight to Cusco.

Upon your arrival in Cusco, our staff will welcome you at the airport and escort you to your hotel or hostel. After check-in, you will have time to rest and explore the central part of the city on your own, such as the Plaza de Armas de Cusco.

We will pick up you from your hotel in Cusco at 6:30 a.m. and travel for one hour by tourist van to Chinchero, a small village with beautiful views of the Sacred Valley. In this charming village, you will see adobe homes, narrow cobbled streets, and people in traditional Peruvian dress. Here, the villagers still practice many Incan traditions and crafts. If you wish, you will see a demonstration of how wool is washed and dyed using native plants and minerals Also the beautiful INKA ARCHAEOLOGICAL SIDE AND COLONIAL TEMPLE OF CHENCHERO.

We will then continue our journey to MORAY in order to see the fascinating site used by the Incas for agricultural experiments and cultivating seeds. There, you will learn how they cleverly designed a drainage system at the bottom of the terraces in order to avoid flooding during the rainy season.

After the tour of Moray, you will take a 20 minute bus ride to THE SALT MINES OF MARAS. At this amazing site, you can see the pans fed by saline spring water that were built on steep terraces along one side of a narrow valley. The water is sent throughout the pans by a network of channels where the water slowly evaporates leaving the salt behind. Salt has been collected from Maras since Pre-Incan times and it is thought that a collective of salt ‘miners’ has maintained the terraces and channels for hundreds of years. Then we will follow the beautiful route to Urubamba, the heart of the Sacred Valley, where we will stop for a BUFFET LUNCH.

We will continue our scenic journey to the amazing town of OLLANTAYTAMBO. Ollantaytambo is a classic Incan city which conserved the traditional Incan urban construction of narrow streets adjacent to flowing streams. As you walk through the stone streets, the gentle sound of flowing water will make it easy for you to imagine the city as it was in the time of the Incas. In the upper part of the town, there is an impressive ceremonial center that was used for water worship and also a mighty fortress that protected the access point to the lower part of the valley

Finally, you will board the 4:30 p.m train to Aguas Calientes, After an hour and forty minute journey through the Andes, you will arrive at the Aguas Calientes train station, where you will be greeted by our staff and escorted to your hotel and hostel. Here you can relax and rest before your day at Machu Picchu. At dinner, you will be briefed on the next day´s tour.

• Tour Start Time: Approximately 6:30 a.m to 7:00.a.m
• Arrival in Aguas Calientes: Approximately 6:15 pm or 9:00.p.m depending on train availability
• Difficulty: Light
• Weather : Warm and sunny, with cooler temperatures at night.

Visiting Machu Picchu
There are two ways to reach Machu Picchu from Aguas Calientes:

Hike: For a more active experience, you can hike from Aguas Calientes to Machu Picchu, which takes approximately 1.5 hours.

Bus: The fastest and easiest option. Buses take you directly to the entrance of the site. Each journey lasts 25 minutes, and the ticket is included in the tour package

New Entry Regulations
Your entry time will depend on how early you booked the tour and the circuit you’re assigned

Inside Machu Picchu
Once inside the Inca citadel, you’ll enjoy a guided tour lasting approximately two hours. You’ll explore the most important sectors of this ancient wonder, including temples, houses, terraces, and agricultural areas. The ingenuity of Inca engineering—far ahead of its time—continues to inspire awe and curiosity to this day.

After the Tour
Once your visit to Machu Picchu is over, you’ll take a bus back down to Aguas Calientes. In town, you’ll find plenty of great spots to relax and enjoy lunch. After your meal, make your way to the train station in time for your return departure

Can I Still Climb Huayna Picchu?
Yes, you may still have the chance to climb Huayna Picchu Mountain, but please note:

The climb is only allowed in the morning and is split into two entry groups:

Group 1: 7:00 AM – 8:00 AM
Group 2: 9:00 AM – 10:00 AM

You can choose to climb either before or after your scheduled visit to Machu Picchu, depending on availability and your ticket.

Note: Machu Picchu Inca site is different from Machu Picchu Mountain. When most people refer to Machu Picchu, they are referring to the archeological site. Machu Picchu Mountain requires a separate permit to climb. Please notify us if you are interested and we can book this for you. It must be done in advance and is a part of your entry into the site

Here’s just the list of some Instagrammable places in Cusco
1. Calle Siete Borreguitos
2. San Blas Neighborhood & Plaza San Blas
3. Mirador de San Blas
4. Plaza de Armas
5. Cusco Cathedral & Historical Centre
6. Hatun Rumiyoc (Piedra de los 12 ángulos)
8. Cristo Blanco Viewpoint

Your day will begin with an early pickup from your accommodation in Cusco, between 4:30 and 5:00 am. Our private transportation will take you from the south of Cusco to the town of Cusipata. The transfer lasts approximately 1 hour and 30 minutes. Upon arrival in Cusipata, we will have breakfast. After breakfast, we will continue our trip to the Rainbow Mountain for about 1 hour and 15 minutes. On the way to the mountain, you will have the chance to enjoy beautiful landscapes and to see the wildlife.

We will start our adventure with a walk uphill for about 1 hour and a half, appreciating in the background snowy mountains and wonderful landscapes. Then, we will finally reach the point to which we will be able to appreciate the colors of the Rainbow Mountain and the stunning view it offers.

After visiting and taking pictures, we will return the same way we came with a 1.5-hours hike, have lunch, and start the drive back to Cusco, arriving between 5:00 and 5:30 pm.

We will pick you up from your hotel and bring you to the airport for your flight to Lima

At Inka Trail Backpacker, we offer you the basic and essential version of the popular treks in the region. We are a 100% local company that wants to provide everything you will need at the real cost of operations—never unfair upcharging! That is why our slogan is “Fun, Not Fancy Trip.”

In Peru, all tour companies and travel agencies must be officially certified by the government to operate legally and safely. This ensures that the company is trustworthy, follows safety rules, and provides a high-quality experience.

Inka Trail Backpacker has been a Licensed Inca Trail Tour Operator since 2014. All companies managing the Inca Trail must be certified and have an Inca Trail operators license. This license is issued annually each December; Inka Trail Backpacker is licensed through the year of  2030.

Our license as an Official Travel Agency is under the name Inka Trail Backpacker E.I.R.L. Our License as an Inca Trail Operator is under the name of INKA TRAIL BACKPACKER E.I.R.L

We also have a registered travel agency in Peru (official RUC and local licensing), so all our services are fully legal and authorized.

Our Certifications

Registered Tour Operator
We are officially listed in the National Tourism Registry (RNT) by the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Tourism (MINCETUR). This guarantees that we are legally allowed to provide tourism services anywhere in Peru.

Certified Guides
All our tour guides are officially certified by MINCETUR, trained in safety, local culture, and languages, to give you the best experience.

Protected Areas & Special Activities
For tours in national parks, Machu Picchu, or adventure activities, we hold the necessary special permits to operate safely and legally.

Why it matters for you:
Booking with Inka Trail Backpacker ensures a safe, reliable, and high-quality experience. You can trust that all our tours are fully authorized and professionally managed.

As a traveller, you know that one of the most rewarding and memorable experiences of going to new places is meeting people along the way. When you book a tour with us, you can be confident that your group will be filled with similar travellers looking for adventure in the Peruvian Andes. Our groups provide a great opportunity to meet new people and bond with them in an exciting environment. You never know who you will meet!

We are really proud of the work we do for our community. This is a main focus for our company. We have worked with villages directly to help supply them with needs, buy all our food from local farmers and markets, and serve the freshest ingredients.

Our office is located close to Main Square at 392 Calle Triunfo (the street is also called Sunturwasi), inside the Centro Artesenal Arte Inka Building, which is on the corner across the street from the Museo Arzobispal and the Twelve-Angled Stone, by a small fountain. We are on the second floor, in Suite 209.

The best time to visit Peru depends on which regions you plan to explore, because Peru has very different climates in the coast, mountains, and jungle. Here’s a clear breakdown:

1. Andes / Cusco, Machu Picchu, Sacred Valley

Best time: May to September (dry season)
Skies are mostly clear, ideal for trekking and sightseeing.
Cooler temperatures, especially at night.
November to March (rainy season)

2. Lima & Peruvian Coast

Best time: December to April
Warm and sunny; perfect for beaches and coastal activities.
Avoid: June to September
Coastal fog and drizzle (locally called garúa).

3. Amazon / Jungle Regions

Best time: May to September (dry season)
Easier trekking, fewer mosquitoes, rivers lower but navigable.
Wet season: November to March
Rain can flood some areas and make jungle trails harder.

Special Notes

High season: June to August → most tourists, especially in Cusco and Machu Picchu. Book flights and tickets early.

Shoulder season: April, May, September → good weather and fewer crowds.

Pro tip: If your goal is trekking the Inca Trail, the dry season (May–September) is essential, because the trail closes in February for maintenance.

Most tourists from North America, Europe, Australia, and many countries in Latin America do not need a visa for stays up to 90 days. Check your country’s requirements before traveling.

The official currency is the Peruvian Sol (PEN). US dollars are widely accepted in tourist areas, but it’s recommended to have local currency for small purchases, markets, and transport.

Routine vaccines (tetanus, hepatitis A/B, typhoid) are recommended. Yellow fever vaccination is required only if visiting the Amazon. Always check with your doctor before traveling.

Yes, some destinations like Cusco (3,400 m), Puno (3,800 m), and Rainbow Mountain (5,200 m) are high-altitude areas. Drink plenty of water, avoid alcohol on arrival, eat light meals, and walk slowly. Medication like Diamox can help if recommended by a doctor.

Rest, stay hydrated, avoid strenuous activity, and descend if symptoms worsen. Always carry altitude sickness medicine if recommended.

Pack in layers: light clothing for coastal areas (Lima, Ica), warm layers for highlands (Cusco, Puno, Colca Canyon), waterproof jackets for rainy areas, and sun protection (hat, sunglasses, sunscreen).

Transfers are usually by:

• Tourist Van or buses: comfortable for Ica, Nazca, Arequipa, Puno, Cusco.

• Domestic flights: convenient for longer distances (Lima ↔ Cusco).

• Trains: used for Aguas Calientes (base town for Machu Picchu).

Yes. Peru has modern tourist buses with reclining seats, blankets, and snacks. Recommended for Nazca → Arequipa or Puno → Cusco.

Hotels are usually 3-4 star, centrally located, with private bathrooms and basic amenities. Some smaller towns may have cozy boutique hotels.

Typically, breakfast is included at hotels. Some tours include lunch, especially on day trips. Dinner is usually on your own.

Yes, popular dishes include ceviche, lomo saltado, alpaca steak, cuy (guinea pig), and Peruvian desserts. Drink bottled water and avoid street food if unsure.

At Inka Trail Backpacker, we are committed to providing your ideal experience in Peru. Therefore, if there are any adjustments you would like to make to reflect your fitness level, lifestyle, or personal interests, we are happy to help! Our itineraries are reasonably flexible and activities can be removed or substituted as necessary.

A tip is customary, but the amount is at your discretion and whatever you feel is appropriate based on the service you have received; please remember to always be courteous and respectful with our guides.

Most city tours, cultural sites, and boat trips are suitable. High-altitude hikes like Rainbow Mountain may not be recommended for very young children, elderly travelers, or those with health issues.

All of our guides are bilingual and speak both Spanish and English.