7 days in Peru: Lima, Islas Ballestas, Huacachina, Cusco city tour, Sacred Valley, Machu Picchu & Rainbow Mountain. From $690/person. Book now.
Seven days. Peru’s greatest hits — and one surprise that most visitors don’t plan for.
This tour begins on Peru’s Pacific coast in Lima, moves south to the wildlife-rich Ballestas Islands and the desert oasis of Huacachina, then flies to Cusco — the ancient Inca capital — for a city tour of its most important archaeological sites. The Sacred Valley follows: Pisac, Ollantaytambo, and the train journey to Aguas Calientes for a full guided tour of Machu Picchu. The final day brings the surprise: Rainbow Mountain (Vinicunca), a 5,200m peak whose striated mineral colors — reds, purples, yellows, greens — have made it one of the most photographed landscapes in South America since the glacier that covered it retreated just over a decade ago.
Seven days, five destinations, one complete introduction to Peru.
Arrive at Lima’s Jorge Chávez International Airport and meet your private transfer to Miraflores — one of Lima’s most vibrant neighborhoods, perched along the Pacific clifftops.
Settle into your hotel, rest and acclimatize to Peru time before your adventure begins.
Overnight: Lima
Travel south of Lima for a full day combining wildlife, culture and desert landscapes.
Your first stop is the Ballestas Islands, accessible only by boat. The rocky islands are home to Humboldt penguins, sea lions, blue-footed boobies, pelicans and thousands of seabirds gathered on guano-covered outcrops.
Continue to a traditional Pisco vineyard for a tour and tasting of Peru’s national spirit.
In the afternoon, discover Huacachina, a genuine desert oasis surrounded by towering sand dunes near the city of Ica. Enjoy approximately 2 hours of dune buggy rides and sandboarding across dunes reaching around 100 meters.
One of Peru’s most unexpected landscapes.
Highlights: Ballestas Islands · Wildlife · Pisco tasting · Huacachina Oasis · Sandboarding · Dune buggy
Overnight: Lima
Meals: Included per itinerary
Morning transfer to Lima Airport and domestic flight to Cusco, approximately 1.5 hours.
At 3,400 meters above sea level, take the day slowly and allow yourself time to acclimatize. After check-in and lunch, explore the most important Inca sites around Cusco.
Qorikancha — Temple of the Sun
Once the most important temple in the Inca Empire, its walls were famously covered with gold. Today, the colonial church of Santo Domingo stands on its foundations — a striking symbol of Peru’s layered history.
Sacsayhuamán
Explore the massive ceremonial complex overlooking Cusco. Its enormous limestone blocks, some weighing many tonnes, were fitted together without mortar with remarkable precision.
Qenqo · Puca Pucara · Tambomachay
Visit three smaller Inca sites in the hills surrounding Cusco, each offering a different perspective on Inca spiritual traditions, water management and urban planning.
Highlights: Qorikancha · Sacsayhuamán · Qenqo · Puca Pucara · Tambomachay
Overnight: Cusco
Meals: Included per itinerary
Spend the day exploring the Sacred Valley of the Incas.
At Pisac, discover ancient agricultural terraces carved into the mountainside and explore its traditional artisan market.
Continue to Ollantaytambo, renowned for its impressive Inca fortress and remarkably preserved urban layout. The town still follows its original Inca street grid, making it one of the most fascinating living examples of Inca urban planning.
After lunch, board the PeruRail Expedition train to Aguas Calientes. The approximately 1.5-hour journey follows the Urubamba River as the valley narrows and the landscape gradually transforms from Andean scrubland into lush cloud forest.
Highlights: Pisac · Sacred Valley · Ollantaytambo · Urubamba River · Cloud Forest · PeruRail Expedition
Overnight: Aguas Calientes
Meals: Breakfast & lunch
Rise early for the 25-minute bus journey from Aguas Calientes to Machu Picchu.
Explore the legendary citadel on a fully guided tour with a professional licensed guide, visiting some of its most remarkable features:
After the guided tour, enjoy free time to take in the surrounding mountains and atmosphere of this extraordinary archaeological site.
In the afternoon, return by bus to Aguas Calientes and board the PeruRail Expedition train to Ollantaytambo, followed by a private transfer to your hotel in Cusco.
Highlights: Machu Picchu · Temple of the Sun · Intihuatana · Inca terraces · Guardian’s Hut
Overnight: Cusco
Meals: Breakfast
An early departure takes you from Cusco to Cusipata, approximately 3 hours away. Enjoy breakfast en route before beginning the trek.
The trail starts at approximately 4,600 meters and climbs toward the summit viewpoint at 5,200 meters, crossing high-altitude Andean grasslands and passing llamas, alpacas and remote farming communities.
Then comes Vinicunca — Rainbow Mountain.
Its distinctive striped landscape is shaped by mineral deposits and geological processes, creating dramatic shades of red, yellow, green and purple across the mountain slopes.
At the summit, take in the extraordinary panorama of the surrounding Andes before beginning the descent.
Lunch is included. Return to Cusco by evening.
Highlights: Vinicunca · High Andes · Llamas & alpacas · Mountain communities · 5,200 m viewpoint
Overnight: Cusco
Meals: Breakfast & lunch
After breakfast, transfer to Cusco Airport for your return flight to Lima and international connections.
Your journey through Peru comes to an end — with the Andes, the Sacred Valley and Machu Picchu behind you, and the possibility of another adventure ahead.
Meals: Breakfast
Yes — Machu Picchu has strict daily visitor limits and tickets regularly sell out weeks ahead during peak season (June–August). We handle all Machu Picchu ticket booking as part of this tour package. Contact us early to avoid disappointment.
Rainbow Mountain (Vinicunca) sits at 5,200m above sea level. The hike itself is not technically difficult — it is a steady walk up a well-marked trail. The challenge is the altitude. We strongly recommend spending at least 2 full days in Cusco before this excursion. Horse rides are available at the trailhead for those who prefer not to hike. The views from the summit are worth every step.
3-star hotels on this route are clean, centrally located, and reliable — a good choice for budget-conscious travelers. 4-star hotels add more comfort, better restaurants, and in Cusco particularly, some genuinely beautiful properties. 5-star options in Cusco and Lima are world-class. The experience of the destinations is identical regardless of hotel choice.
Yes — this is specifically designed as a first Peru tour. It covers the most important destinations in a logical sequence, with expert local guidance at every step.
Lima is genuinely one of South America’s great cities — and most travelers are surprised by it. The Miraflores neighborhood, the Pacific cliffs, and the food scene (Lima has more top-ranked restaurants per capita than almost anywhere in South America) make it worth at least one full day. This tour allocates Day 1 and the southern excursion on Day 2 to Lima before flying to Cusco.
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