On arrival in Lima, assistance at the airport and transport to your hotel.
Breakfast in the Hote.
Depart Lima this morning by flight to Cusco in the Peruvian Andes. This ancient capital of the Inca Empire is the oldest continuously inhabited city in the western hemisphere, designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Upon arrival, transport to your hotel.
Spend the rest of the day acclimating to the altitude.
Or attend the optional Half Day Cusco Ruins tour which explores some of Cusco’s most unique Inca Ruins.
OPTIONAL: Cusco City Tour
See this magical city, capital of the Inca Empire (15th Century) on a tour that includes the Main Square, the cathedral, Santo Domingo monastery, the legendary Korikancha temple and a stop at San Cristobal for a panoramic view of the city. Then, in the outskirts you will see the Inca ruins at Sacsayhuaman, an impressively designed fortress built of huge stone blocks, Qenqo ceremonial and ritual center, the amphitheater where sacrifices were held and Tambomachay a temple dedicated to a water cult.
Return to Cuzco and a brief stop at Plaza Regocijo and the Main Square to visit the cathedral, the principal church of the Diocese of Cusco.
At the end of the visit, transport to your hotel.
Breakfast at the hotel. Early in the morning our guided tour to the Sacred Valley will take place.
We will start the tour departing through the fertile countryside, arriving to the colonial town of Pisac, where a colorful market will welcome us, continuing our route through the valley, passing by typical town, till getting to the archaeological province of Urubamba to try a delicious lunch buffet.
After we will visit an ancient but enigmatic Ollantaytambo Fortress located in a typical Inca town, composed by numerous temples and terraces. This archaeological complex is one of the biggest monumental exposures that the Inca have ever done.
Overnight at the Sacred Valley
On the fourth day, you will visit the Santuario Histórico de Machupicchu (Historic Sanctuary of Machupicchu). Aboard a comfortable train, you will depart for the Aguas Calientes Station, enjoying a spectacular view along the way. Upon arrival you will board a bus that will take you to the entrance gate of the citadel of Machupicchu. Rediscovered by Hiram Bingham more than a century ago, Machupicchu is considered one of the Seven Wonders of the World. Its architectural beauty, spectacular natural landscapes and the energy held in its enigmatic structures will take your breath away. You will follow in the footsteps of the ancient Incas as you explore this magical citadel along with your guide.
After the tour, you will stop at a local restaurant for lunch. Time permitting you will be able to head back to the site for a second visit.
At the scheduled time, you will be return to your hotel.
Accommodation in Aguas Calientes.
Breakfast in the Hotel.
Excellent opportunity to wake up early and enjoy a beautiful sunrise as well as a morning stroll alongside the Town of Aguas Calientes. Then you will have time to perform some of the following activities: (not included in the overall tour price):
Visit the Thermal Hot Springs or visit the Citadel of Machupicchu for the second time.
For the most adventurous people we suggest you go up the Huayna Picchu (if it is not raining) from where you can appreciate the immensity of Machupicchu, which is breathtaking from this very high vantage point. Arriving at the top takes about two hours and a half and it must be done before 1:30 p.m. It is necessary to register in an office at the beginning of the trail. An exciting adventure for the travelers who want to see, from the top, the nature and the carved stone emerging from the ground as a geological miracle.
Return to Cusco by train.
Transport to your hotel.
Catch the flight from Cusco to Foz do Iguazu,
Welcome at the airport and transfer to your hotel.
Note: LAN Airlines offers one non-stop flight from Lima to Foz do Iguazu on Sunday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday.
Walking the trail on the Brazilian side of Iguazu Falls is easy. There is the main trail, it is approximately 1,600 meters (5249 feet or almost one mile) long, which leads the visitors along the river with its many smaller falls to the base of the biggest waterfall where a catwalk extends out over the brink of the series of falls which makes up Devil’s Throat. This side provides a good general view of the falls. After walking the catwalk, there is a tower with an elevator/lift to get people to the top of the falls from where one can have a spectacular panoramic view. From the top of the tower there is a trail on the right side that leads to the end of the trail.
At the end of the trails and roads one can find a souvenir shop and a food court. At the Porto Canoas one can have lunch in view of the falls and also the Iguassu River.
After breakfast at the hotel, you will start with the Iguazu Falls exploration – this time to the Argentine side. Explore its Iguazu National Park, which has an ecological train ride, and multiple catwalks and observation decks where you can view the waterfalls from multiple angles. Butterflies, plants, and animals are in abundance in this region, the lush subtropics of the Misiones Forest.
In the late afternoon, return to your hotel and rest.
Finish your Iguazu Falls and Machupicchu tour with a visit to Brazil’s “Marvelous City,” Rio de Janeiro. With its golden beaches, lush Atlantic Rainforests, friendly Cariocas (locals), and samba music. Rio de Janeiro is a unique and vibrant city. Visit the Christ the Redeemer statue, who keeps an eye on Rio from an elevation of 710 m (2340 ft). Board the trenzinho (cogwheel railway) up to the top of Corcovado Mountain for a bird’s eye view of the center of the city from your vantage point. The 38-meter statue is the image of the faith and friendliness of Cariocas. The monument was inaugurated on the day of Our Lady of Aparecida, 12 October 1931 by then President Getúlio Vargas and Cardinal Dom Sebastião Leme.
The rest of the day is free for you to explore the city and its beaches.
The panoramic view from the top of the Sugar Loaf Mountain, at 1,296 ft (395 m) above sea-level, is breathtaking. Two sets of cable cars take you to the top of Sugar Loaf Mountain. The first brings you to the top of Urca Mountain, and the second one brings to the summit with its spectacular 360º view. You will see golden beaches, green forests and a thriving metropolis that has earned Rio de Janeiro the title of the world’s most beautiful city.
Sightseeing continues with a tour of Rio’s historical past. Learn how Portugal’s prince scandalously broke all family ties and declared himself Emperor of Brazil, and how Brazil had its civil revolution to be the republic it is today.
After the tour free time.