9 Days – Lima – Paracas – Huacachina – Cusco – Sacred Valley – Short Inca Trail to Machu Picchu

9 Days |

8 Nigths

General description

On the 9-day tour, you will explore the essential places of Lima, the City of Kings, the beautiful sites of Paracas and Huacachina, and Cusco, the marvelous Inca capital with its mysterious and magical buildings. You will have the opportunity to experience magical places such as Sacsayhuamán, Chinchero, Moray ruins, the Salt Mines, Pisac ruins, and Ollantaytambo in the Sacred Valley. Then, enjoy a 2-day hike connecting to the lost city of the Incas, Machu Picchu, which you will explore on a guided tour. Finally, to conclude your trip in Cusco, you will hike to the famous Rainbow Mountain.

Detailed Itinerary

Day 01: International Arrival in Lima

Upon arrival in Lima, our representative will be waiting for you with a sign clearly displaying your name. You will be greeted and transferred to your hotel in private transportation. The journey from the airport to the hotel will take approximately 1 hour. You will then have free time to rest and acclimate.

Lima Hotel: Tierra Viva Hotel or similar category
Meals provided: None

Day 02: Lima city tour- Colonial & Contemporary

At the appropriate time, the guide will pick you up at your hotel for a guided tour called The Essential Lima. You will visit “The City of Kings,” including the outstanding architectural sites of the main square, such as the Government Palace, City Hall, the Cathedral, the Archbishop’s Palace, and more.

The tour will continue with a visit to the San Francisco Convent, an architectural jewel dating back to the 16th century. On the way to the modern area of the city, we will pass through the exclusive district of San Isidro, the new financial center of Lima. The tour will conclude in Miraflores, where you will visit the Parque del Amor (Love Park), an excellent spot to enjoy the beautiful scenery and the fresh sea breeze. At the end of the tour, you will be driven back to your hotel.

Meals provided: Breakfast
Hotel in Lima: Tierra Viva Hotel or similar category

Day 03: Lima city – Paracas National reserve – Huacachina (shared service)

We will pick you up from your hotel in Lima at 6:00 am and drive to Paracas in private transportation. Upon arrival at the Chaco Wharf, we will take a boat to explore the Paracas National Reserve. During the excursion, we will stop to see the amazing Candelabra figure, a mysterious geoglyph on the hillside of Paracas whose origins are unknown. Some theories suggest it may have been drawn by pirates as an orientation point. Our guide will provide you with detailed information about this figure.

Next, we will visit the Ballestas Islands, where you will enjoy observing the local sea fauna. We will circle the islands, passing through large caves and natural rock formations that serve as homes for pelicans, Humboldt penguins, sea lions, and dolphins.

After the boat excursion, we will continue by private transportation to the Huacachina Lagoon, a natural oasis in the middle of the desert, surrounded by beautiful palm trees. Here, you can enjoy the stunning landscape, try sandboarding, and ride a dune buggy across the desert.

At the end of the tour, we will return to Lima.

Meals provided: Breakfast
Hotel in Lima: Tierra Viva Hotel or similar category

Day 04: Arrival to Cusco.

We will pick you up at Cusco Airport and transfer you to your hotel. You will have some time to settle in, and then we will return at 1:00 pm to begin the Cusco City Tour.

The tour will start at the most important temple of the Inca Empire, the Sun Temple (Qoricancha). Here, you can admire detailed and well-preserved Inca architecture. Within the temple, you will find smaller temples dedicated to the Moon, Rainbow, Stars, Lightning, and Thunder, among others. Today, the Santo Domingo Church stands on top of the original temple.

Next, we will visit Sacsayhuamán, an impressive site featuring massive stones. Although it was originally a religious site, the Spanish considered it a military fortress due to its strategic location and construction style.

From there, we will continue to Qenqo, a site built within a natural rock formation representing the Andean constellations and the concept of the Three Worlds. Each world is associated with sacred animals: the condor, puma, and snake.

After Qenqo, we will travel to Puka Pukara, which served as a shelter for travelers coming to Cusco from the Amazon. It was also a military center protecting the nearby Tambomachay Temple.

Our final stop is Tambomachay, also known as the Temple of Water, where the Incas performed religious rituals related to water to rejuvenate the land. This tradition is associated with the “Fountain of Eternal Youth.”

The tour will conclude with a transfer back to your hotel in Cusco at approximately 6:00 pm.

Hotel in Cusco: Tierra Viva or similar category

Day 05: Sacred Valley Tour.

We will pick you up from your hotel in Cusco at 7:30 am. In our private vehicle, we will head to one of the most important archaeological sites in the region, Pisac, to see Inca burial grounds, ancient irrigation systems, and astronomical centers. We will explore the ruins and terraces for about an hour. Afterwards, we will descend to the town of Pisac, located at the bottom of the valley.

In Pisac, we will first visit a local silver factory and watch a demonstration of how artisans process and craft beautiful jewelry. Then, we will walk through the cobblestone streets to the main plaza, where locals sell fresh produce and souvenirs. You will have some free time to browse and shop here.

After finishing our visit in Pisac, we will drive to the town of Urubamba for a buffet lunch featuring both Peruvian and Western cuisine. From there, we will continue to Ollantaytambo, where we will explore the ruins built on terraces with massive stones at the top. This site served as an important religious and astronomical center and was also used as a military fortress in one of the Incas’ major battles against the Spanish.

On our way back to Cusco, we will stop at the village of Chinchero, where you can see the remaining Inca buildings and terraces that were important for agricultural administration. We will then return to Cusco and drop you off at your hotel around 6:30 pm.

Meals provided: Breakfast
Hotel in Cusco: Tierra Viva or similar category

Day 06: Cusco – Chachabamba – Wiñaywayna – Machu Picchu – Aguas Calientes

We will pick you up from your Cusco hotel early in the morning (around 4:00 am) and drive to the train station in Ollantaytambo to take the train to Kilometer 104 (Km 104), which takes approximately three hours. Km 104 is an unscheduled train stop, giving you the unique feeling that the train is stopping just for you—an exciting start to an unforgettable adventure!

At Km 104, we will disembark and pass through the Inca Trail checkpoint to visit our first archaeological site, Chachabamba (2,170 m / 7,170 ft). These ruins served as one of the last shelters used by the Incas before reaching Machu Picchu. The site was also a religious and administrative center, featuring several buildings.

Next, we will gradually ascend for about three hours, climbing Inca stone steps while our guide points out the local flora and fauna along the trail. We will pass a tall waterfall before arriving at the archaeological site of Wiñaywayna (2,650 m / 8,700 ft), named after an orchid and meaning “Forever Young” in Quechua.

At Wiñaywayna, we will climb to the top of the ruins and enjoy lunch with an incredible view of the site and the Sacred Valley. This large site, perched on a mountainside, features experimental terraces that the Incas used to grow different crops. We will visit an important temple with seven windows dedicated to the rainbow and observe the impressive water channels that still function today.

After exploring Wiñaywayna, we will continue our hike for about 1.5 hours on a relatively flat part of the Inca Trail, with small ascents and descents along the way. Around 2:00 pm, we will reach the Sun Gate (Intipunku, 2,720 m / 8,920 ft), where we will enjoy our first breathtaking view of Machu Picchu. From here, we will descend to the ruins and take a bus down to Aguas Calientes, where you will check in to your hotel.

If time allows before dinner, you can relax in the natural hot springs in town—an unbeatable way to spend the late afternoon.

Meals: Box Lunch / Dinner
Accommodation: Hotel in Aguas Calientes – Terrazas del Inca or similar

Maximum altitude: 2,720 m / 8,920 ft
Minimum altitude: 2,040 m / 6,691 ft
Distance to walk: 12 km / 6.5 miles
Approximate walking time: 6 – 7 hours

Day 07: Machu Picchu – Cusco.

After an early breakfast, we will board the bus to Machu Picchu, the most mysterious city of the Incas. During the visit, our professional guide will share the fascinating history of this inspirational site. We will explore key landmarks, including the Sun Temple, Royal Palace, Main Temple, Temple of the Three Windows, and the Intihuatana sundial, ensuring an unforgettable experience. After the guided tour, you will have some free time to explore the site on your own.

If you have booked the Wayna Picchu hike, you will need to coordinate with our guide regarding your scheduled time for this additional trek. For those not hiking Wayna Picchu or Machu Picchu Mountain, there are optional activities available to enjoy on your own.

In the afternoon, we will return to Aguas Calientes to catch the train back to Ollantaytambo. Upon arrival at the train station, you will be transferred by car back to your hotel in Cusco.

Meals: Breakfast

Lowest Elevation: 2,040 m / 6,691 ft
Highest Elevation: 2,440 m / 8,052 ft

Day 08: Rainbow Mountain.

We will pick you up from your hotel in Cusco at approximately 4:00 am and drive about three hours south of Cusco. We will follow the highway and stop at a local restaurant for breakfast. Afterward, we will continue along a mountain road that passes through traditional villages and fertile valleys. On a clear day, you will be able to see the nearby snow-capped Ausangate Mountain, the tallest mountain in the Cusco region, standing at 6,384 meters (20,945 feet).

Hotel in Cusco: Tierra Viva Hotel or similar category
Meals included: Breakfast and Lunch

Day 09: Cusco – flight back to Lima.

At the scheduled time, we will pick you up from the hotel and transport you to the airport in Cusco for your flight back to Lima.

Included

Pick up from Lima airport and transfer to the selected hotel.
Lima Sightseeing Tour + entrance fees.
Private round-trip transportation from Lima to Paracas and Huacachina.
Ballestas Islands boat trip: 2-hour guided tour (shared group).
Paracas National Reserve tour.
Local guide for Huacachina tour.
Entrance fee to the sand dunes.
Transfer from the hotel to Lima airport.
Pick up from Cusco airport and transfer to your selected hotel in Cusco.
Guided tour to Chinchero.
Guided tour to Pisac ruins and Pisac Market.
Lunch in Urubamba.
Guided tour to Ollantaytambo site and town.
Expedition class train ticket to km 104 and back to Ollantaytambo.
Entrance fee to Machu Picchu.
Bus ticket down to Aguas Calientes and next day up to Machu Picchu and back down to Aguas Calientes.
Expert guide for Machu Picchu tour.
Transfer from the train station to Cusco hotel (Ollantaytambo – Cusco).
Guided tour to Sacsayhuamán and Cusco city + entrance fee.
Rainbow Mountain day trek (transport, entry fee, guide, breakfast, and lunch).
Hotel nights in Lima, Cusco, and Aguas Calientes (Standard class 3*** hotels).
Transfer from your hotel to Cusco airport.

Not Included

International airfares.
Domestic flights (Lima – Cusco – Lima).
Excess baggage charges and airport departure taxes.
Entrance fee to Huayna Picchu mountain.
Meals not described in the itinerary.
Cold drinks & sodas.
Tips for guides, drivers, and transfers.
Entrance fee to the hot springs in Aguas Calientes.

Optional Upgrades:

Upgrade to Vistadome class train: 80 USD per person round trip.
Huayna Picchu ticket: 70 USD per person (check availability).

Recommendations

Walking boots
Waterproof jacket, pants, or rain poncho
Warm jacket
Hat and gloves
T-shirts
Light clothing for sunny days
Comfortable trousers
Sun hat
Sunscreen
Insect repellent
Water bottle
Personal toiletries

Hotel Category Matrimonial room Standard Class Hotel 3***

Prices

Price:

2 persons 1600 USD per person
3 persons 1570 USD per person
4 persons 1540 USD per person
5 persons 1510 USD per person

Extra information:

Vistadome Train: This upgrade is only available for your return train from Aguas Calientes to Cusco, and not for the train from Ollantaytambo to Aguas Calientes.
Customized Itinerary: Although this is our suggested itinerary for this 5-Day Package, we can personalize it to better fit your preferences. For example, let us know if you will be spending more or less than 5 days in Cusco, if there are additional tours you are interested in, or any other services we can help organize for you.

Starting from

US$1600 USD

Duration

9 Days

Destination

Cusco, Lima

Type of activity

Packages in Peru

Our team is ready to help. Send us a message on WhatsApp or contact us online — we’ll get back to you right away.

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What Our Travelers Say

Authentic stories from travelers who explored Peru with us.

      EXCELLENT  
   Based on 135 reviews 
    
 
 
 
   
 
 
       Posted on Tripadvisor  
   
   lanahb304 
 
 
 
 Verified Machu Picchu and sacred valley
We had an absolutely wonderful experience with David from the very beginning of planning our trip. As three ladies traveling together we couldn’t have had any smoother and safer experience. He was there for us throughout the entire process, spending countless hours helping us plan full 5 days, answering all our questions, and responding to our WhatsApp messages within minutes. His communication was truly amazing, and we always felt that we were in great hands. We visited Pisac, Chinchero ruins, Maras and Moray, Ollantaytambo ruins, Machu Picchu, and Rainbow Mountain. When we arrived, David was waiting for us at the airport. He even arranged for someone to help us with our luggage at the Cusco airport, drove us around, and gave us invaluable tips on how to adjust to the high altitude. He was always attentive, alert to our needs, and making sure we were comfortable. David also took us to authentic local places where we could experience things like traditional alpaca weaving, which made the trip feel much more genuine and special. Everything went exactly as planned. He also brought a driver along, which made getting around much smoother and easier. Our Machu Picchu experience, including Circuits 3D and 1B, was unforgettable. There were three of us, and one of us was having difficulty with the mountain climbs. David stayed right behind her throughout the journey, making sure she was safe and supported every step of the way. His care and patience really stood out. And as if being our guide and driver wasn't enough, David also became our personal cameraman! 😊 He was constantly directing us and helping us get the best photos and memories from our trip. On our last day, he took us to Rainbow Mountain and was once again incredibly patient and accommodating to our needs. Throughout the entire trip, David went above and beyond to make sure we had a wonderful experience. We are so grateful for everything he did for us and would highly recommend David to anyone planning a trip to Peru. If you want someone who is knowledgeable, caring, responsive, organized, and genuinely invested in making your trip special, David is your person! Thank you, David, for helping make our trip so memorable!
  
 
      Posted on Tripadvisor  
   
   Ashley W 
 
 
 
 Verified Incredible Time with Frank!
Frank was a fantastic guide, we are so happy we had him with us! He understood the pace that was best for our fitness level, and he would take breaks at good moments to teach us about local people, plants, animals, history, and culture, which we felt was all really interesting. We learned so much about Machu Picchu, the Incas, and each archaeological site, and we genuinely enjoyed listening to him. It felt like traveling with a friend, he was so nice and had a great attitude, we were always laughing together. He also had great English, we were able to laugh together at our joke that a sitting chinchilla we saw was "chinchilling." We were also really happy to support Cachi Life which is a Peruvian owned company. We did the 2-day trek, and we appreciated the amount of care put into each step. The hotel that was included in our tour package was very quiet, the bed comfortable, the shower hot, with good breakfast choices as well. Frank also took great photos of us, with good framing and angles, and he never rushed us. He was so knowledgeable and friendly that we would love to return someday and trek with him and Cachi Life again!
  
 
      Posted on Tripadvisor  
   
   Charlene K 
 
 
 
 Verified An Exceptional Experience!
We had an absolutely wonderful experience with Cachi Life during our time in Peru, and we cannot recommend them highly enough! We had created our own bespoke itinerary for our trip but we wanted a knowledgeable guide to bring the history to life when visiting the incredible ruins around Cusco and during our two days in Machu Picchu. After reading so many wonderful reviews from other travellers, we decided to use Cachi Life and we are so glad we did. We also used them for transportation throughout the Sacred Valley including journeys from Cusco to Pisac and Ollantaytambo as well as visits to Maras and Moray. From the very beginning, everything was handled with such warmth, professionalism and care. David came to meet us at our Airbnb the day before our tour to personally brief us on the schedule for the coming days. This was such a thoughtful touch and gave us a great sense of confidence that everything was organised and that we were in very good hands. Over the following days, we had the pleasure of spending time with David exploring the remarkable archaeological sites around Cusco, including Sacsayhuamán, Q’enko, Tambomachay and Puka Pukara, as well as experiencing the incredible Machu Picchu. David was an exceptional guide. His knowledge of Peruvian and Inca history was impressive, but what really stood out was his passion and enthusiasm. It was very clear that this was far more than just a job for him. He genuinely loves the history, culture and heritage of Peru and that passion came through in every story and explanation. He had a wonderful ability to bring the ancient sites to life, helping us understand not just what we were looking at, but the people, culture and history behind them. We learnt so much from David and having him with us made the experience of visiting these extraordinary places even more meaningful and memorable. We also had the pleasure of having Frank (David’s brother) drive us from Cusco through the Sacred Valley to Pisac and Ollantaytambo. Although we had not booked a guide for this particular day, Frank was incredibly generous with his knowledge and shared lots of interesting information about the places we passed along the way. It was very much appreciated and added another wonderful dimension to our journey. Both David and Frank were friendly, reliable, thoughtful and genuinely lovely people to spend time with. Their warmth and hospitality really captured what we had hoped to experience in Peru. We never felt like just another tourist booking. They took a genuine interest in making sure we had a fantastic experience and were always happy to help. Thank you so much, David and Frank, for making our time in Cusco, the Sacred Valley and Machu Picchu so special. Your knowledge, enthusiasm, kindness and hospitality made a lasting impression on us, and we would wholeheartedly recommend Cachi Life to anyone planning a trip to Peru.
  
 
      Posted on Tripadvisor  
   
   Trail19335405803 
 
 
 
 Verified Rainbow Mountain private two days trip
We had an amazing experience with Cachi Life travel agency in Peru! 🇵🇪 From the very beginning, David, our guide helped us create a fantastic and personalised plan for Rainbow Mountain. They took the time to understand what we wanted and made sure everything was well organised and suited to our needs. The communication was excellent throughout the whole process. They were always helpful, responsive and happy to answer our questions or make adjustments whenever needed. We really appreciated the personal approach and attention to detail. The whole experience was very well organised, and thanks to their support, we could simply enjoy the incredible views and the experience without having to worry about the logistics. 🌈⛰️ I would definitely recommend this agency to anyone planning a trip to Peru. They genuinely care about their customers and go the extra mile to make the experience special. Thank you for helping us create such an unforgettable experience! ❤️🇵🇪
  
 
      Posted on Tripadvisor  
   
   Cesco_Food 
 
 
 
 Verified Unforgettable
Spending two days in the Sacred Valley with David of Cachi Life has incredibly turned into positive our vacation in Peru. In this country you are pretty much jumping from one operator to another and we didn’t have good experience until we find Cachi. David has a natural passion and a great knowledge of the story of this country and his people, plus is also very friendly and curious by nature. If we ever come back to Peru I would avoid passing through internet and I will get in touch directly with Cachi to organize all my trip. Thank you David for guiding us and sharing your passion and Thank you Oscar for demonstrating that driving is an important part of the trip. Unforgettable.
  
 
      Posted on Tripadvisor  
   
   Suman Maharjan 
 
 
 
 Verified Awesome Experience
We did full day tour to Pallay Punchu with David from Cachi Life. David was professional, knowledgeable, and caring. My wife has fear of heights, and he made sure we felt safe the whole time. Highly recommended this tour for anyone looking for a less crowded hike with stunning views and also Cachi Life. We would definitely lgo with them again.
  
 
      Posted on Tripadvisor  
   
   Rich C 
 
 
 
 Verified Fantastic experience!
We had an excellent experience with Cachi Life. David was Extremely helpful and professional. We did the 5 day Salkantay Trek and it was fantastic, Taking us from the high Andes to the cloud forest and coffee growing region and on to Machu Picchu, it was amazing. The food prepared by Juan, our guide was exceptional. I highly recommend Cachi Life when trekking to any of the Cusco treks.
  
 
      Posted on Tripadvisor  
   
   Mich 
 
 
 
 Verified Awesome Experience
David is such a great tour guide and owner. He was always very communicative, accommodating, helpful, and a pleasure to work with. He treated my family and me with the utmost respect and kindness. His knowledge of Machu Picchu is excellent and we learned so much from him. He took care of us the minute we set foot in the Cusco region, including having a driver pick us up and take us to and from the train station in Ollantaytambo. He met us with us at our vacation rental the evening prior to go over everything with us. He even stopped at the store to buy us tea and sugar. He took care of everything for us and all we had to do was pay and show up. You will not find better service to see Machu Picchu than Cachi Life Perú.
  
 
      Posted on Tripadvisor  
   
   Sara M 
 
 
 
 Verified Exceptional experience
I thank David Aragon Villagra for organizing a fantastic three-day tour for us in the Sacred Valley and Machu Picchu. We were accompanied by the guide Frank, who skillfully and enthusiastically immersed us in the Inca world. Thanks to the super driver Oscar, who was cautious and attentive. Unbeatable value for money. I highly recommend Cachi Life Peru — with Cachi Life Peru.
  
 
      Posted on Tripadvisor  
   
   Liz K 
 
 
 
 Verified Incredible trip, outstanding on every level
David (Cachi Life) was recommended by friends when I decided to take a solo trip to Peru. I'm a woman in my mid-60's, fairly physically fit, who wanted to experience Peru's scenery, history, culture, and people. David helped to customize my 11-day trip to include exactly what I wanted (Manu/Amazon rainforest, Inca Trail hike to Machu Piccu, various day tours out of Cusco, etc.) Lodging and transportation arrangements everywhere were clearly arranged and communicated efficiently. Upon arrival he met me at the airport and drove me back at the end of the trip. The entire time David was always quickly responsive and communication was outstanding. This trip was utterly incredible (also exhausting!) in every way. Truly stellar. I will carry the experience with me always. I highly recommend David/Cachi Life to anyone considering a trip to this magnificent country. You will be in very good hands.