In the Footsteps of the Incas
In the Footsteps of the Incas
In the Footsteps of the Incas
11 Days Starting and ending in Lima, Peru
Visiting: Lima, Sacred Valley, Machu Picchu, Cusco, Lake Titicaca
Tour operator:
Tour code:
LLILM19
Guide Type:
Fully Guided
Tour operated in:
EnglishInterests:
Activities:
Tour Overview
Embark on an unforgettable journey through Peru with the "In the Footsteps of the Incas" tour. This cultural exploration begins in Lima, where you'll dive into the city's rich history and vibrant culture. Travel to the Sacred Valley, where you'll connect with locals and experience traditional farming and dance. Discover the mystical ruins of Machu Picchu, journeying aboard the scenic Vistadome train. In Cusco, explore ancient Incan sites and support local social projects. Cruise the serene waters of Lake Titicaca, visiting the floating islands of the Uros people and the textile-rich Taquile Island. Throughout the tour, enjoy expertly guided experiences, luxurious accommodations, and authentic Peruvian cuisine, including a farewell dinner at the renowned Larco Museum. This immersive adventure promises a deep connection with Peru's history, culture, and breathtaking landscapes.
Highlights
Itinerary
Day 1: Arrive Lima
Location: Lima
Accommodation: Iberostar Hotel Lima
Accommodation Name: Iberostar Hotel Lima
The Capital of the New World extends a warm welcome on your epic voyage through the iconic and unexpected highlights of Peru. Meet your local host on arrival and transfer to your hotel in the upscale shopping district of Miraflores. This evening, you’ll join your Travel Director and fellow travellers for a Welcome Reception at 6 p.m.
Day 2: Lima Sightseeing
Location: Lima
Accommodation: Iberostar Hotel Lima
Accommodation Name: Iberostar Hotel Lima
Meals Included: Breakfast
Start your city tour taking in the highlights of Lima. Visit Casona San Marcos, where you'll enjoy a snack from a local vendor and learn more about the fascinating history of this ancient building from Local Specialists. During a short workshop, learn to play the “cajón” percussion instrument and get an introduction to the basic steps of “musica negra”, a dance that originated in Chincha (near Paracas). Continue to the Main Square of Lima for more views and history. Choose to join a walking tour of Miraflores with a local expert highlighting the popular Larcomar shopping centre. End at Kennedy Park for additional exploration on your own or walk back to your hotel.
Day 3: Lima – Cusco – Sacred Valley (2 Nights) Dive Into Culture Stays With Stories
Location: Sacred Valley
Accommodation: Aranwa Sacred Valley Hotel & Wellness
Accommodation Name: Aranwa Sacred Valley Hotel & Wellness
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch
We board a morning flight to Cusco, the gateway to Peru's treasured Sacred Valley, where you'll enjoy a Peruvian lunch with sweeping views of the Sacred Valley. Then we'll Dive Into Culture and meet a Shaman who will perform a special ceremony welcoming you to Peru. Tonight, you'll Check in at your Stays With Stories along the banks of the Vilcanota River, on the grounds of an old 17th-century colonial hacienda. It is great for morning birders and afternoon walks in the gardens.
Day 4: Sacred Valley Connect With Locals
Location: Sacred Valley
Accommodation: Aranwa Sacred Valley Hotel & Wellness
Accommodation Name: Aranwa Sacred Valley Hotel & Wellness
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch
Connect With Locals over a Be My Guest experience, learn about the culture surrounding the production of Giant White Corn. Our hosts will demonstrate the differences between traditional farming techniques and the newer technologies used today. Revel in the romance of the local Marinera dance. The marinera is the best-known couple dance on the coast of Peru. It is characterized by the use of handkerchiefs, steps of great elegance and rhythmic music similar to the Aragonese jota, the zamacueca and the Chilean cueca, but with its own Peruvian identity that flaunts the Hispano-indigenous-African miscegenation. For the same reason, over the years Andean and highland versions have emerged. This evening, meet Local Specialist, Peter Frost, a writer, photographer and independent scholar who has explored the Andes and Amazon for 47 years, locating and investigating the previously unknown Inca and pre-Inca site of Qoriwayrachina. He currently resides in Peru and works as an accompanying expert for National Geographic Expeditions.
Day 5: Sacred Valley – Machu Picchu Connect With Locals
Location: Machu Picchu
Accommodation: SUMAQ Machu Picchu Hotel
Accommodation Name: SUMAQ Machu Picchu Hotel
Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner
Visit the mystical Incan stronghold of Ollantaytambo with a Local Specialist, en route to Machu Picchu, a village in the Sacred Valley, set on the Urubamba River amid majestic mountains. It's known for the Ollantaytambo ruins, a massive Inca fortress with large stone terraces on a hillside. Then, ascend to the Lost City in the Clouds aboard the Vistadome train (light snack included), travel by where the Inca Trail starts, where you can view hikers and porters along the way. Here you will delve into the mysteries of this once-great civilisation, joining your Local Specialist for an exploration of the temples, palaces and terraces whose construction defy imagination. Visit the iconic great Temple of the Sun, the House of the Priest, the Sacred Plaza and the intricately carved Intihuatana, most likely used as a sundial centuries ago. After returning to our hotel we will Connect With Locals and learn how to prepare an authentic Ceviche and pour the perfect Pisco sour.
Day 6: Machu Picchu – Cusco Dive Into Culture
Location: Cusco
Accommodation: Hotel Novotel Cusco
Accommodation Name: Novotel Cusco
Meals Included: Breakfast
The ruins of Machu Picchu beckon yet again and we enjoy one final opportunity to reconnect with its story, spending some time on our own to explore the hill-top fortress. Next, we’ll journey back to the Sacred Valley by train, stopping en route to Cusco to MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® and learn about the natural dyeing techniques used by native weavers. Visit the Pisac handicraft market followed by sampling the sweet flavours of chicha, savouring the favourite drink of the Andes. Then a Stays With Stories tonight, in what was once an old, colonial Hacienda located in the historic centre of Cusco.
Day 7: Cusco Sightseeing
Location: Cusco
Accommodation: Hotel Novotel Cusco
Accommodation Name: Novotel Cusco
Meals Included: Breakfast
Begin your day at the ruins of the UNESCO-listed Incan Sacsayhuaman fortress overlooking Cusco. Admire the massive, sacred stonework before your Local Specialist guides you through Cusco’s colonial centre. During your city tour, visit the shop of the social project Mantay, a housing and education project for underage mothers to live here and learn a craft or trade. Later, you’ll join another Local Specialist who will reveal insights into the nearby 13th-century Incan settlement of Qoriwayrachina. The afternoon is free to join an optional experience including a visit to the Chocolate Museum, Cusco off the beaten track or the greenhouse and salt wells of Maras and Moray.
Day 8: Cusco – Juliaca – Lake Titicaca
Location: Lake Titicaca
Accommodation: GHL Hotel Lago Titicaca
Accommodation Name: GHL Hotel Lago Titicaca
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch
Fly to Juliaca and meet a Local Specialist to learn about daily life on the Peruvian altiplano. After an included al fresco lunch, visit Sillustani, a pre-Incan burial ground on the shores of Lake Umayo where striking chullpas (stone tombs) are scattered across the landscape, inviting you to step back in time. Then travel via Puno along the shores to Lake Titicaca, the birthplace of the sun. Here you’ll Dive Into Culture visiting the home of Víctor Coila, his wife Mariluz, and their two daughters for a meal of quinoa bread, potatoes with cheese and authentic chaco sauce.
Day 9: Lake Titicaca Excursion Connect With Locals Dive Into Culture
Location: Lake Titicaca
Accommodation: GHL Hotel Lago Titicaca
Accommodation Name: GHL Hotel Lago Titicaca
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch
Connect With Locals as you cruise the deep blue waters of Lake Titicaca, passing floating islands constructed by the Uros people. Next, in the midst of South America’s largest lake lies Taquile Island, where we’ll MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® and embark on a private tour to gain insights into the tradition of knitting and weaving for which the local villagers - men and women - are renowned. Masterpieces of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity" by UNESCO. This experience aligns with UN's Global goal 10, reduced inequalities. Enjoy a lunch here and learn more about the islanders’ unique way of life upon islets make of totora reeds, which grow in the lake, and are attached to sticks driven into the bottom of the lake. Tonight, we indulge in a Regional Dinner at our favourite local restaurant in Puno.
Day 10: Lake Titicaca – Juliaca – Lima Dive Into Culture
Location: Lima
Accommodation: Iberostar Hotel Lima
Accommodation Name: Iberostar Hotel Lima
Meals Included: Breakfast
This morning we return to Lima, enjoying an afternoon at leisure after our flight. Enjoy time on your own to explore the capital of Peru, settled on the country's arid Pacific coast. We’ll join a Local Specialist this evening, visiting one of Lima's most renowned museums after dark - the Larco Museum. Admire the pre-Columbian artefacts that reveal insights into the cultures of ancient Peru. Then, sit down to a gourmet Farewell Dinner filled with Peruvian flavours as you overlook the museum's beautiful gardens.
Day 11: Depart Lima
Location: Lima
Meals Included: Breakfast
For now it’s time to say a fond hasta luego to Lima and transfer to the airport for your flight home, or consider extending your stay in Lima.
What's Included
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An expert Travel Director and professional Driver
The tour includes the services of an expert Travel Director and a professional Driver.
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Cherry-picked hotels, all tried and trusted
Accommodation is provided in carefully selected hotels that are tried and trusted.
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All porterage and restaurant gratuities
Porterage and gratuities at restaurants are included in the tour package.
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All hotel tips, charges and local taxes
Hotel tips, charges, and local taxes are covered in the tour cost.
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Breakfast daily and up to half of your evening meals
Daily breakfast and up to half of the evening meals are included.
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Must-see sightseeing and surprise extras
The tour includes must-see sightseeing experiences and surprise extras.
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Audio headsets for flexible sightseeing
Audio headsets are provided for flexible sightseeing experiences.
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Luxury air-conditioned coach with Wi-Fi in most countries or alternative transportation (such as rail journeys)
Transportation is provided in a luxury air-conditioned coach with Wi-Fi in most countries, or alternative transportation such as rail journeys.
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Tickets for a ride aboard the Vistadome train to Machu Picchu
Tickets for a ride aboard the Vistadome train to Machu Picchu are included.
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A Trafalgar bonus all Intra-Air Flights: Lima to Cusco, Cusco to Juliaca and Juliaca to Lima, including porter service at all airports.
All intra-air flights from Lima to Cusco, Cusco to Juliaca, and Juliaca to Lima are included, along with porter service at all airports.
What's Not Included
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Personal expenses
Personal expenses such as souvenirs, additional meals, and drinks are not included.
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Travel insurance
Travel insurance is not included and is recommended to be purchased separately.
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Optional activities not listed in the itinerary
Optional activities that are not listed in the itinerary are not included in the tour price.
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International flights to and from Peru
International flights to and from Peru are not included in the tour package.
Mode of Transport
Travel in style with luxury air-conditioned coaches, enjoy scenic train rides aboard the Vistadome to Machu Picchu, and benefit from all intra-air flights between Lima, Cusco, and Juliaca, ensuring a seamless and comfortable journey through Peru's breathtaking landscapes.
Accommodation
Experience comfort and luxury at the Iberostar Hotel Lima, Aranwa Sacred Valley Hotel & Wellness, SUMAQ Machu Picchu Hotel, Novotel Cusco, and GHL Hotel Lago Titicaca, each offering unique settings from colonial haciendas to lakeside retreats, ensuring a memorable stay throughout your Peruvian adventure.
Check out our Q&As
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What unique cultural experiences are included in the tour?
The tour includes a variety of unique cultural experiences such as learning to play the 'cajón' percussion instrument and trying the 'musica negra' dance in Lima, participating in a ceremony with a Quechua Shaman in the Sacred Valley, and learning about traditional weaving techniques on Taquile Island. Additionally, you will have the opportunity to learn how to prepare authentic Ceviche and pour the perfect Pisco sour.
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Will there be opportunities to interact with local communities during the tour?
Yes, the tour offers several opportunities to interact with local communities. You will visit the home of a local family near Lake Titicaca to try traditional foods, and on Taquile Island, you will learn about the local tradition of knitting and weaving. In the Sacred Valley, you will connect with locals over a Be My Guest experience to learn about the production of Giant White Corn.
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What are some of the historical sites visited on this tour?
The tour visits several historical sites including the ancient Incan stronghold of Ollantaytambo, the UNESCO-listed Sacsayhuamán fortress, and the iconic ruins of Machu Picchu. In Lima, you will explore the UNESCO-listed Historic Center and the Larco Museum, which houses a large collection of pre-Columbian Peruvian art.
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What kind of transportation is used during the tour?
The tour includes a luxury air-conditioned coach with Wi-Fi for most of the journey, and a scenic train ride aboard the Vistadome train to Machu Picchu. Intra-air flights are also included for travel between Lima, Cusco, and Juliaca.
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Are there any special dining experiences included in the tour?
Yes, the tour includes several special dining experiences such as a Welcome Reception, a Regional Dinner, and a Farewell Dinner. You will also enjoy a Be My Guest lunch in the Sacred Valley and an alfresco lunch next to Lake Umayo.
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Who will be my travelling companions on the tour?
The beauty of taking a guided holiday with us is that you’ll have the opportunity to meet and travel with people from all over the globe.
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What policies are in place for Covid-19?
Vaccination against Covid-19 is not mandatory to travel with Trafalgar. However, we strongly recommend that guests are vaccinated before travelling. Please note that airlines and/or other authorities may have different requirements. It is the guest's responsibility to comply with these requirements at all times.
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How long has the tour company been trading?
Since 1947
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What Ethical Travel credentials does the tour company have?
Trafalgar is a founding partner of the TreadRight Foundation, a not-for-profit organisation established in 2008. So far, the charity has donated more than US$2 million to help underprivileged communities and support sustainable tourism around the world.
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Will the accommodation included meet local health and safety regulations?
Yes
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Transfer as credit to Future Tours
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Trafalgar requires a minimum deposit of 200 GBP per person or the full booking value, whichever is less, with the final balance not due until 90 days before departure.
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Cancellation Policy
We don't charge a cancellation fee, here is a summary of trafalgar charges.
Up to 60 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of deposit.
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