Skip to content
Galápagos Cruises
Ecuador & Peru Tours
Mindo Cloud ForestTravel GuidesAbout usContactPlan my tripWhatsApp +593 93 956 5819

Peru · Private tour · 7 days

Peru in 7 days: Lima, Cusco and Machu Picchu

A private 7-day program with 4-star hotels, English-speaking guides and private transfers: the historic center of Lima, Cusco and its Inca sites, the salt ponds of Maras and the terraces of Moray, and a night at the foot of Machu Picchu, so you can return to the citadel at sunrise.

The Inca citadel of Machu Picchu with Huayna Picchu behind it (photo: Diego Delso, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons)

Your trip at a glance

Lima, Cusco and Machu Picchu

We run this program with our trusted partner in Peru: every tour and transfer is private, so you travel at your own pace with your own guide.

Beyond the unforgettable memories, the package also includes

  • Accommodation in 4-star hotels
  • English-speaking guides
  • Exclusive private transportation
  • All meals described in the itinerary
  • All excursions described in the itinerary
  • Entrance fees described in the itinerary

Other information

Travel styleLuxury / first class
HighlightsMachu Picchu, Cusco and Lima, Maras and Moray
Fitness levelFair condition
PriceFrom US$1,600 per person (lower group price)

Day by day

Detailed itinerary

  1. The cliffs and coastline of Lima, Peru

    Day 1

    Lima International Airport – Lima

    Upon your arrival at Jorge Chávez International Airport in Lima, our transportation service and a representative take you to your hotel.

    Accommodation: 4-star hotel · check-in 15:00, check-out 12:00Meals: Not included

  2. The fountain and yellow colonial buildings of the Plaza Mayor in Lima (photo: PA, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons)

    Day 2

    Lima: Aliaga House, Cathedral and Larco Museum

    Private half-day tour

    Our guide picks you up from your hotel to begin your tour of the Historic Center of Lima. You start at the Aliaga House, a colonial mansion with over five centuries of history, considered the oldest house in the Americas. Then you explore the Plaza Mayor, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, where you visit the imposing Lima Cathedral.

    Finally, you visit the Larco Museum in the traditional district of Pueblo Libre. The museum holds a comprehensive collection of pre-Hispanic gold and silver objects and a selection of erotic art pieces.

    Accommodation: 4-star hotelMeals: Breakfast

  3. The Cathedral of Cusco on the Plaza de Armas (photo: Diego Delso, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons)

    Day 3

    Lima – Cusco: Coricancha, Cathedral and the Inca sites

    Private half-day tour

    Our transportation service with an English-speaking driver picks you up from your hotel and takes you to Jorge Chávez International Airport in Lima for your domestic flight to Cusco (not included in the price, but we can quote and add it). On arrival at Alejandro Velasco Astete International Airport in Cusco, our transportation service and a representative escort you to your hotel.

    Explore the enchanting and historic city of Cusco, once the capital of the Inca Empire. Begin with a visit to the Santo Domingo Convent, built on the foundations of the Coricancha temple. Next, discover the Cathedral Basilica of the Virgin of the Assumption, the main church in town, with a rich collection of colonial art: golden altarpieces, paintings from the renowned Cusco School and religious sculptures.

    Explore the ancient hills of Cusco, including the Sacsayhuaman Fortress, the Qenqo archaeological complex and the Puca Pucara military complex. Conclude with a visit to Tambomachay, known as the Inca spa, and return to your hotel.

    The Cusco Tourist Ticket (BTC), included in the itinerary, is a personal and non-transferable document that gives access to 16 important attractions in Cusco and its surroundings, such as Sacsayhuaman, Qenqo, Puca Pucara and Tambomachay. It also allows entry to sites of the Sacred Valley circuit, including Ollantaytambo, Pisac, Moray and Chinchero.

    Accommodation: 4-star hotel · check-in 15:00, check-out 12:00Meals: Breakfast

  4. The Maras salt ponds in the Sacred Valley (photo: Diego Delso, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons)

    Day 4

    Cusco – Maras and Moray

    Private half-day tour

    Today you are picked up from your hotel in Cusco to visit the archaeological sites of Maras and Moray. In Moray you explore the enigmatic concentric circular terraces, built with different microclimates. Maras stands out for its salt mines: these pre-Columbian salt ponds are still worked today and create a dazzling scene.

    Accommodation: 4-star hotelMeals: Breakfast

  5. Machu Picchu, the Inca citadel in the Andes of Peru

    Day 5

    Machu Picchu

    TrainGuided visit

    Our transportation service and a representative take you from your hotel in Cusco to Ollantaytambo station.

    Board the Inca Rail Voyager train from Ollantaytambo station to Aguas Calientes station (Machu Picchu Town), where you receive assistance on arrival. Your return to Ollantaytambo is on board the 360° train. Each journey takes about an hour and a half, and schedules are subject to availability.

    Aguas Calientes, on the slopes of Machu Picchu, has a lively craft market, restaurants and lodging options. Just a 25-minute bus ride away is Machu Picchu, an architectural and engineering marvel believed to have been a sanctuary and retreat of the Inca Pachacutec. A UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the New Seven Wonders of the World, Machu Picchu means “Old Mountain” and enchants visitors with its history and natural beauty. After the guided visit, return by bus to Aguas Calientes.

    Confirm your reservation as soon as possible so we can buy your tickets in advance: the citadel has limited capacity. The circuit and the time of your visit are selected according to availability when the reservation is confirmed.

    Enjoy a set lunch menu at Café Inkaterra, with views of the Vilcanota River. The restaurant is known for its blend of Andean cuisine and contemporary trends.

    Accommodation: 4-star hotel in Aguas Calientes · check-in 13:00, check-out 10:00Meals: Breakfast, lunch

  6. Aguas Calientes, the town at the foot of Machu Picchu

    Day 6

    Machu Picchu – Cusco

    Free morning

    Enjoy a free morning in Aguas Calientes. Optionally, you can return to Machu Picchu to visit more of the citadel: we suggest waking up early to watch the sunrise over the mountain, an unforgettable experience. In the afternoon, begin the journey back to Cusco.

    Our transportation service and a representative pick you up at Ollantaytambo station and take you to your hotel in Cusco.

    Accommodation: 4-star hotel · check-in 15:00, check-out 12:00Meals: Breakfast

  7. Colonial balconies in the historic center of Lima

    Day 7

    Cusco – Lima

    Our transportation service and a representative pick you up from your hotel and take you to Alejandro Velasco Astete International Airport in Cusco for your domestic flight to Lima and your international flight home.

    Meals: Breakfast

A note on the order of the itinerary: the itinerary may change with local conditions. It can be adapted to your interests and to what your guide considers feasible within the framework of your trip; your guide has the final decision on what can and cannot be done beyond this itinerary, in light of any changing circumstances on the ground.

What is included

Included and not included

Accommodation

  • 2 nights in Lima
  • 2 nights in Cusco
  • 1 night in Machu Picchu (Aguas Calientes)
  • 1 night in Cusco

Not included

  • Alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks during meals
  • Meals not mentioned in the itinerary
  • International and domestic flights
  • Personal expenses (laundry, telephone calls, etc.)
  • Early check-in and late check-out
  • Tips for guides and drivers
  • Travel insurance

Transfers and tours

  • Private transfer from Lima airport to your hotel with a representative
  • Private half-day tour in Lima: Aliaga House, Cathedral and Larco Museum
  • Private transfer from your hotel to Lima airport with an English-speaking driver
  • Private transfer from Cusco airport to your hotel with a representative
  • Private half-day tour in Cusco: Coricancha, Cathedral, Sacsayhuaman, Qenqo, Puca Pucara and Tambomachay
  • Cusco Full Tourist Ticket (full BTC)
  • Private half-day tour to Maras and Moray from Cusco
  • Private transfer from your hotel in Cusco to Ollantaytambo station with a representative
  • Voyager (one way) and 360° (return) train tickets from and to Ollantaytambo station
  • Private 2-day / 1-night Machu Picchu tour with a site guide: guided visit, entrance to Machu Picchu and the bus up and down
  • Set lunch menu at Café Inkaterra
  • Private transfer from Ollantaytambo station to your hotel in Cusco with a representative
  • Private transfer from your hotel to Cusco airport with a representative

Price

Price of the 7-day Peru tour

7 days / 6 nightsFrom US$1,600 per person (lower group price)
Domestic flightsWe can quote them and add them to your trip.

Domestic flights Lima–Cusco–Lima are not included in the price; we can quote them and add them to your trip. Prices are per person, for foreign travelers, and depend on the size of your group and the hotels available on your dates. We send you the exact quote within 24 hours.

Before you travel

Good to know

Terms and conditions

  • All rates are per person and apply to foreign travelers only.
  • Prices are subject to change without notice and can only be guaranteed after booking.
  • Rates do not apply to residents staying longer than 60 days or to corporate travelers (4 nights or more in Lima).
  • Reservations must include each traveler’s full name, nationality, passport number, age and date of birth.
  • If the suggested hotels are not available at the time of confirmation, we offer alternatives with revised prices.
  • Arriving early on day 1 does not guarantee that your room is ready: standard check-in times apply unless you book an extra night.
  • Hotel rates include breakfast, usually served between 06:00 and 10:00. If a transfer or tour leaves before breakfast time, it cannot be compensated; room service or a box breakfast has an extra cost.
  • Train seats to Machu Picchu are assigned according to availability and can only be arranged after the ticket is issued.
  • Machu Picchu tickets are bought as soon as we have your details; once issued, 100% of the ticket is charged in case of cancellation.
  • Inca Trail packages, Machu Picchu, Machu Picchu Mountain and Huayna Picchu entrances, trains and other special services are subject to the cancellation charges we confirm when you book.

Entering Peru

Check with your embassy whether you need a visa to enter Peru (or any other country on your itinerary); we are not responsible if a traveler does not have the documents required to enter the country. Your passport must be valid for at least six months when you enter Peru.

What to wear

Comfortable, light clothing for the coast of Peru and warm clothes for the high Andes. Avoid sleeveless shirts, shorts, short skirts or other short clothing when visiting churches or official buildings. Sunscreen, sunglasses, a hat and mosquito repellent are very useful.

Traveling responsibly

  • Do not feed or buy wild animals; always keep your distance.
  • Avoid buying endemic plants and products made from endangered species.
  • Save water and energy: turn off taps, lights and air conditioning, and unplug chargers.
  • Reduce plastic: carry a refillable water bottle and recycle disposable bottles.
  • Avoid sprays, including repellents and sunscreens in spray form.
  • Ask permission before taking someone’s picture, and do not photograph minors.
  • Respect local beliefs and traditions, and the rules that protect historic sites.

Machu Picchu: entrance and guide

The first entrance to the citadel requires a guide; the guided tour lasts about 2 hours 30 minutes. The route and the time of your visit are subject to availability. To buy the tickets we need each traveler’s full name, date of birth, nationality and passport number, exactly as in the passport you will travel with. Entrance tickets are non-refundable once purchased.

Luggage on the train

On all trains to Machu Picchu you may carry only hand luggage (a backpack, bag or briefcase) of up to 5 kg / 11 lb and 157 cm / 62 linear inches (height + length + width). If you stay in the Sacred Valley, we take your main luggage to your hotel in Cusco; if you stay in Cusco, it waits in the hotel storage. Carry the same passport you sent us: train and Machu Picchu tickets are issued with it.

Photos

Peru in pictures

The snow-capped Andes seen from Chinchero (photo: Olivier Issaly from Paris, France, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons)The circular Inca terraces of Moray (photo: Philipp Weigell, CC BY 3.0, Wikimedia Commons)The Maras salt ponds in the Sacred Valley (photo: Diego Delso, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons)The Inca fortress of Ollantaytambo (photo: Dmitry Brant, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons)The Sacred Valley of the Incas near Urubamba (photo: Diego Delso, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons)The Cathedral of Cusco on the Plaza de Armas (photo: Diego Delso, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons)

Photos: Diego Delso (CC BY-SA 4.0), Philipp Weigell (CC BY 3.0), Dmitry Brant (CC BY-SA 4.0), PA (CC BY-SA 4.0), Olivier Issaly from Paris, France (CC BY-SA 2.0), via Wikimedia Commons; and our partner in Peru.

Questions

Peru tour: questions

How much does this Peru tour cost?

From US$1,600 per person (lower group price), with 4-star hotels, private tours and transfers, the train and the entrance to Machu Picchu. Domestic flights Lima–Cusco–Lima are not included in the price; we can quote them and add them to your trip.

Is the tour private?

Yes: all tours and transfers are private, with an English-speaking guide or a representative, as described in the itinerary.

When should I book Machu Picchu?

As soon as possible: the citadel has limited daily capacity, and the circuit and time of your visit are assigned when we buy the tickets. Tickets are non-refundable once issued.

Can I change the itinerary?

The program follows a set route, but we can add nights, hotels or the domestic flights, and your guide can adapt the order to local conditions. Tell us what you have in mind.

Can I combine Peru with the Galápagos?

Yes. There are flights between Lima and Quito or Guayaquil, so Peru fits before or after your Galápagos cruise, with nights in Mindo Cloud Forest in between.

Do you have a 9-day version?

Yes: see our 9-day Peru tour, with two nights in the Sacred Valley (Chinchero, Yucay and Ollantaytambo).

We are the owners of Las Terrazas de Dana

Book your land tour with us and add Mindo Cloud Forest

Las Terrazas de Dana Boutique Lodge & Spa is one of the top-rated lodges in Mindo on Tripadvisor and Booking.com, only two hours from Quito airport, with first-class service. Accommodation, all meals and transfers are included in our programs. Visit the lodge website.

When we quote your trip

  • We include a complimentary stay at Las Terrazas de Dana Boutique Lodge & Spa in Mindo Cloud Forest
  • The nights and services depend on your trip: we confirm them in your quote
  • Private transfers between Quito and Mindo can be added

Compare Galápagos cruises

That’s why you choose Dana Tours

Direct, personal and on the ground in Ecuador

More land tours

Other trips we recommend

Book your Peru tour with Dana Tours

Tell us your dates and how many people are traveling. We confirm the hotels, the Machu Picchu tickets and the final price, and can add the flights and your Galápagos cruise.

Or write to us at [email protected]

Ask about Peru