Lima, Cusco & Machu Picchu: Inca Sites, Sacred Valley, Local Food

Summary

From Lima’s ocean cliffs to the stonework of Machu Picchu, this journey weaves ancient temples, bustling markets and quiet mountain mornings into one story

You’ll taste pisco in Lima’s old taverns, wander ancient plazas where saints once walked, climb Inca terraces above Cusco’s rooftops, and finally stand in silent awe at Machu Picchu as clouds drift past stone shrines. With all entries covered and local guides leading each step—you’ll feel both welcomed and wonderfully small.

What’s the experience like?

The first thing I remember is the color—Lima’s Pacific sky just before sunset, soft blue fading into gold as we stood above the ocean at Love Park. Our guide, Rosa, pointed out couples carved into the mosaic benches. She smiled when I tried to pronounce “Miraflores” properly (I didn’t). Later that day, walking through the Main Square with its colonial facades and kids chasing pigeons, I caught a whiff of something sweet from a street vendor—maybe caramelized nuts? The old cathedral felt cool and echoey inside. By the time we reached Santo Domingo Convent, my legs were tired but I didn’t really care; there was this hush in the corridors that made me slow down anyway.

The next morning started early with Pachacamac—a name that still gets stuck on my tongue. The ruins looked out over dry hills and the sea, all sun-bleached adobe walls. Rosa explained how pilgrims used to come here long before the Incas. At Larco Museum I got lost among shelves of pottery faces (some grinning, some frowning), then later we ended up in an old tavern where someone handed me a glass of pisco sour and a tiny sandwich filled with what tasted like spiced chicken. Not sure if it was the drink or just being there with everyone laughing together, but it felt like we’d already been friends for days.

Cusco hit different—literally. The altitude made me dizzy at first (Rosa warned us: go slow), so our walk through San Pedro Market was more like a shuffle. There were piles of fruit I couldn’t name and women in bright skirts selling coca leaves for altitude sickness. The stones along Hatun Rumiyoc street were cold under my hand; someone pointed out the famous twelve-angled stone but honestly I was more interested in watching two boys race past with a soccer ball. In Sacsayhuaman fortress you can see all of Cusco below—tiny red roofs and distant mountains—and the wind up there whistles so sharply you have to shout to be heard.

By the time we reached Ollantaytambo and then took that train to Aguas Calientes, everything started to blur together: salt pools at Maras shining white against green hills, alpacas chewing quietly near Pisac market stalls (one tried to nibble my sleeve), lunch at Inkariy Museum where someone spilled soup but nobody minded. Then Machu Picchu itself—clouds drifting across terraces, our guide Miguel tracing lines in the air as he talked about lost cities and sacred stones. It’s hard to describe how quiet it feels up there even with other people around; maybe that’s why I keep thinking back on it now.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Lima city tour and arrival

• Arrive in Lima and transfer to hotel
• Tour Love Park in Miraflores
• Visit Huaca Pucllana archaeological site
• Explore Main Square and Government Palace
• Visit Cathedral and Santo Domingo Convent

Day 2 — Pachacamac, Larco Museum and fountains

• Visit Pachacamac archaeological sanctuary
• Tour In-site Museum at Pachacamac
• Visit Larco Museum
• See Magic Water Circuit fountains
• Taste Peruvian sandwiches and pisco drink

Day 3 — Cusco city tour and arrival

• Fly to Cusco and transfer to hotel
• Visit San Cristobal Plaza viewpoint
• Explore San Pedro Market
• Visit Korikancha temple and Santo Domingo Church
• Walk San Blas to Hatun Rumiyoc street
• See Inca Roca Palace and Twelve Angle Stone
• Visit Cusco Main Square and Cathedral

Day 4 — Sacsayhuaman and nearby ruins

• Visit Sacsayhuaman fortress
• Explore Qenqo Inca Shrine
• See Puca Pucara viewpoint
• Visit Tambomachay archaeological site
• Free afternoon in Cusco

Day 5 — Sacred Valley: Pisac and Inkariy Museum

• Visit Awanacancha camelid complex
• Tour Inca and Colonial Pisac town
• Shop at Pisac handicraft market
• Visit Inkariy Museum
• Enjoy lunch at Inkariy Museum

Day 6 — Sacred Valley: Moray, Maras and Ollantaytambo

• Visit Moray Inca terraces
• Explore Maras salt mines
• Buffet lunch in Sacred Valley
• Visit Ollantaytambo archaeological site
• Train to Machu Picchu and hotel check-in

Day 7 — Machu Picchu guided tour

• Breakfast and bus to Machu Picchu
• Guided tour of Machu Picchu citadel
• Lunch near Machu Picchu
• Return to Cusco and transfer to hotel

Day 8 — Departure from Cusco

• Transfer to Cusco airport
• Assistance with Lima connection flight

Top questions

How many days is this tour from Lima to Machu Picchu?

This tour lasts 8 days from arrival in Lima until departure from Cusco.

Is airport transfer included for both Lima & Cusco?

Yes, transfers between airports and hotels are included at both ends.

Are entrance fees for Machu Picchu & other sites included?

All entry fees for attractions listed in the itinerary are included.

Does this tour include meals or lunches?

Several lunches are included during museum visits or excursions; breakfast is provided by hotels each day.

Is this tour suitable for people who get altitude sickness?

Cusco is high altitude; bring medicine or consult your doctor beforehand if you’re concerned about altitude sickness.

Are flights between Lima & Cusco included?

No, airfare is not included; you must book your own flights as per itinerary timing instructions.

Can I cancel or change my booking?

You can get a 90% refund if you cancel at least 15 days before departure; Machu Picchu tickets are non-refundable.

What languages do guides speak on this tour?

Tours are conducted by local guides who speak English; Spanish is also commonly spoken throughout Peru.

What’s included

Your week includes airport transfers on arrival and departure in both Lima and Cusco, entry fees for every site on the itinerary—from Pachacamac Temple to Machu Picchu—and guided tours led by locals who know every shortcut through busy markets or quiet ruins. Seven nights’ accommodation are arranged ahead of time, plus breakfasts daily and several lunches along the way (like that lunch after exploring Inkariy Museum). All ground transport between cities and sites is handled too—so you can just show up with your bag (and maybe some altitude tablets).