Peru Tour 8 days: Cusco, Machu Picchu and Quelccaya Glacier
8 days
Private and Group
Included
Year-round
Experience the highlights of Peru in 8 days filled with history, dramatic landscapes, and unforgettable experiences. The journey begins in Lima, where its historic center and cultural scene welcome you to one of the most diverse countries on the continent. From there, you will travel to the southern coast to discover Ica: first sailing among sea lions and penguins in the Ballestas Islands, and then exploring the immense dunes that surround the Huacachina Oasis. The next part of the journey takes you by air to Cusco, the ancient city that was once the heart of the Inca Empire. From there, you will explore the Sacred Valley and ascend to the citadel of Machu Picchu, nestled among peaks and mist at more than 7,870 feet above sea level. The trip concludes with two high-altitude destinations that few itineraries include: Rainbow Mountain by ATV and the Quelccaya Glacier, one of the largest tropical glaciers on the planet. This route is designed for travelers seeking the coast, Andean history, and the mountains all in one journey.
Short Itinerary: 8-Day Peru Tour: Cusco, Machu Picchu and Quelccaya Glacier (domestic flights)
- Day 1: Arrival in Lima. Transfer to the hotel. Lima City Tour in the afternoon.
- Day 2: Lima – Full-Day Ballestas Islands and Huacachina Tour (Ica).
- Day 3: Lima – Cusco flight, transfer to your hotel, and acclimatization.
- Day 4: Cusco – Super Sacred Valley of the Incas – Connection to Aguas Calientes.
- Day 5: Aguas Calientes – Machu Picchu – Return to Cusco.
- Day 6: Cusco – Rainbow Mountain by ATV – Cusco.
- Day 7: Cusco – Quelccaya Glacier – Cusco.
- Day 8: Cusco – Lima flight. End of services.
Detailed Itinerary
Day 1: Welcome to Lima - Afternoon City Tour
Upon landing at Jorge Chávez International Airport, a representative from our team will be waiting to take you directly to your accommodation. Once settled in, you will have time to rest and prepare calmly before beginning the day’s program.
In the late afternoon, we will head to the Historic Center of Lima, also known as the “City of Kings,” to explore the places that define its colonial and republican identity. The Main Square will be the central point of the tour, where you will admire the façade of the Government Palace, the Lima Cathedral, and other buildings that reflect centuries of history. Later, the tour continues to Miraflores, the city’s modern district, where the boardwalk offers an open view of the Pacific Ocean, providing the perfect way to end the day.
Accommodation in Lima.
Day 2: Lima - Ballestas Islands - Huacachina - Lima
The second day begins before dawn with pick-up from your hotel to start the journey along the Pacific coast toward the Paracas dock. There, you will board a boat to sail to the Ballestas Islands, a natural sanctuary where colonies of sea lions, Humboldt penguins, guano birds, and rock formations shaped by the waves over centuries coexist. Back on land, the journey continues by road toward Ica.
Once in Ica, you will stop at a traditional winery to learn firsthand how the region’s wines and piscos are produced, with a tasting included and lunch at the location. The afternoon holds the most exciting moment of the day at the Huacachina Oasis: a body of water surrounded by dunes that rise over 330 feet high, where a buggy ride along the sand ridges and a sandboarding descent await, putting any traveler’s nerves to the test. At nightfall, you will begin the return trip to Lima.
Accommodation in Lima.
Day 3: Flight Lima – Cusco - TRANSFER TO YOUR HOTEL AND ACCLIMATIZATION DAY
After breakfast at your hotel, we will pick you up and take you to Lima Airport so you can enjoy your first views of the Peruvian Andes from the air during the approximately 1 hour and 35 minute flight. Upon arrival in Cusco in the morning, our staff will be waiting for you at the airport to comfortably transfer you to your hotel, where you will have time to acclimate to Cusco’s altitude (3,290 meters above sea level).
Hotel overnight in Cusco.
Day 4: Cusco - Super Sacred Valley - Aguas Calientes (Machu Picchu Town)
The morning begins with pickup from your hotel to start the tour through the Sacred Valley of the Incas. The first stop is Chinchero, a high-altitude Andean town where you will get an up-close look at the work of local weavers and explore its ancient Inca ruins.
The route continues to Moray, with its concentric circular terraces designed by the Incas to experiment with different climate zones. Right after, the Maras Salt Mines impress visitors with thousands of evaporation ponds that have been active since pre-Columbian times, carved directly into the mountainside.
After lunch in Urubamba, the group heads to Ollantaytambo. This Inca fortress is also a living town: its stone streets are still inhabited, and its monumental walls show the construction power reached by the Tahuantinsuyo at its peak.
In the late afternoon, you will board the train to Aguas Calientes, where our team will welcome you at the station and accompany you to your hotel for the night.
Hotel overnight in Aguas Calientes.
Day 5: Aguas Calientes - Machu Picchu - Cusco
Day 6: Cusco - Rainbow Mountain - Cusco
Very early in the morning, transportation departs from the hotel heading south of Cusco. The first stop is Cusipata, where the group takes a break to enjoy an Andean-style breakfast before continuing to Pitumarca, the starting point for the ATV adventure.
From there, the ascent begins through high Andean landscapes until reaching the Rainbow Mountain viewpoint, with free time to explore the area and take photos.
Afterward, you will descend by ATV back to the base, then return to Cusipata to enjoy a buffet lunch before heading back to the city, with arrival expected in the afternoon.
Hotel overnight in Cusco.
Day 7: Cusco - Qelccaya Glacier - Cusco
Departure is at dawn, at 3:00 a.m., with pickup from your hotel to begin the long journey toward the Vilcanota Mountain Range, southeast of Cusco. The approximately five-hour drive crosses Andean villages, open valleys, and highland landscapes that, on their own, make the early wake-up call worthwhile.
The first stop is Phinaya, a small village located at 4,700 m.a.s.l. that serves as the gateway to the glacier. There, the group will enjoy an Andean-style breakfast before continuing by transport to the foothills of Qelccaya, the largest tropical ice cap in the world, covering nearly 44 km² and dating back more than 6,000 years. Its Quechua name, Qoyllur Puñuna, means “where the stars rest.”
From the arrival point, a short 20- to 30-minute hike begins toward the glacier front, located at more than 5,100 m.a.s.l. The trail passes by crystal-clear lagoons, small glacial streams, and highland plains where vicuñas and alpacas graze peacefully. Upon reaching the ice walls, you will have free time to photograph the formations and listen to your guide explain the impact of climate change on this ecosystem: Qelccaya currently loses about 14 meters per year and has reduced its mass by more than 40% since 1970.
Back in Phinaya, local families prepare lunch using regional products. Before starting the return trip to Cusco, the transport makes a stop at Sibinacocha Lagoon, one of the largest lakes in the entire Vilcanota Mountain Range, with turquoise waters framed by snow-capped peaks and the frequent presence of Andean flamingos. Arrival in Cusco is estimated at around 9:00 p.m.
Hotel overnight in Cusco.
Day 8: Cusco – Return Flight to Lima
After breakfast at the hotel, our team will pick you up and transfer you to the Cusco airport with enough time to complete the boarding procedures for your flight to Lima.
With this transfer, our services come to an end, and we would like to sincerely thank you for choosing us to accompany you on this experience through Peru.
WHAT THE TOUR INCLUDES
Includes
Flights included LIMA – CUSCO – LIMA
Lima
- Airport pickup and transfer to your hotel in Lima.
- Reception and transfer from Lima airport to the hotel.
- Lima City Tour (transportation and guide).
- 2 nights at hotel in Lima.
Paracas / Ica (Excursion from Lima)
- Transportation Lima – Paracas – Ica – Lima.
- Ballestas Islands excursion (boat and guide).
- Visit to vineyards in Ica with basic tasting.
- Visit to the Huacachina oasis with buggy ride, sandboards, and entrance tickets.
Cusco (City)
- ✈︎ Flight Lima – Cusco.
- ✈︎ Flight Cusco – Lima with baggage allowance of up to 12 kg.
- Pickup and transfer from Cusco airport to the hotel.
- Cusco City Tour excursion (transportation, guide, and entrance tickets).
Cusco (Mountain Excursions)
- Qelccaya Glacier excursion (tourist transportation, guide, breakfast, and lunch).
- Rainbow Mountain (Vinicunca) excursion (tourist transportation, guide, breakfast, and lunch).
- Transfer from the hotel to Cusco airport.
- 4 nights at hotel in Cusco.
Sacred Valley / Aguas Calientes
- Sacred Valley of the Incas excursion (tourist transportation, guide, and tourist ticket).
- One-way train Ollantaytambo – Aguas Calientes.
- 1 night at hotel in Aguas Calientes.
Machu Picchu
- Entrance ticket to Machu Picchu.
- Consettur shuttle bus up and down to Machu Picchu.
- Professional guide at Machu Picchu.
- Return train ticket Aguas Calientes – Ollantaytambo.
- Return transportation Ollantaytambo – Cusco.
Not Included
- International flights (check with seller)
- Lunches and dinners not mentioned.
- Entrance to the hot springs (S/ 10 soles)
- Entrance to Huayna Picchu (USD 70 – optional and subject to availability).
- Optional horse for the Humantay Lake hike, USD 30.
- Travel insurance.
Recommendations
- Original passport or government-issued photo ID.
- Comfortable layered clothing and a windbreaker jacket (Cusco, Rainbow Mountain, Qelccaya Glacier).
- Trekking shoes for hikes (Machu Picchu, Sacred Valley, Rainbow Mountain, Huacachina).
- Sunscreen, hat/cap, and sunglasses.
- Small backpack, bottled water, and snacks for the tours.
- Personal medication and, if needed, altitude sickness pills (check with your doctor).
- Cash (Peruvian soles).
Important Program Information
- Tickets to Machu Picchu sell out 2–3 months in advance and are subject to official circuits depending on the date.
- Rainbow Mountain and Humantay Lake require good physical condition (high altitude).
- Paracas and Ica are operated as a shared service from Lima.
- Entrance tickets included according to the confirmed itinerary.
- Bring cash for optional and personal expenses.
- The order of the program may vary due to weather or operational reasons.
- Punctuality is mandatory for all services.
TRIP PRICES
ECONOMY
$850
PER PERSON- 2⭐ HOTEL
- Domestic flights
- Entrance fees included
- Group services
- Expedition or Voyager Train
- Book with 30%
TOURIST
$960
PER PERSON- 3⭐ HOTEL
- Domestic flights
- Entrance fees included
- Group services
- Expedition or Voyager Train
- Book with 30%
SUPERIOR
$1490
PER PERSON- 4⭐ HOTEL
- Domestic flights
- Entrance fees included
- Transfers and guided tours in a small group
- Private Guided Tour in Machu Picchu
- Vistadome or 360° Train
- Book with 50%
How to book?
To begin the reservation process, please send us the following information:
Full name:
Passport number:
Nationality:
Date of birth:
Gender:
Phone number:
It is very important that you also provide us with your hotel information in the city of Cusco, so we can pick you up at the start of the tour.
PAYMENT METHODS
We offer the following options to complete your reservation payment:
1. WeTravel
You can make your payment through WeTravel, with a 4.5% service fee.
Important: to book with WeTravel, prior coordination with the agency is required in order to send you your 30% payment link, which includes the mentioned fee.
2. PayPal
You can make your payment via PayPal, with a 7.5% service fee.
The payment request will be sent by the agency.
PayPal account:
peru-sites@hotmail.com
PERU SITES TRAVEL AGENCY
3. Izipay
You can make your payment through Izipay, with a 5.2% service fee.
Important: to book with Izipay, prior coordination with the agency is required in order to send you your 30% payment link, which includes the mentioned fee.
4. Western Union
You can make your payment via Western Union, with no fee.
In this case, the sending information and beneficiary details will be provided by the agency. After sending the payment, you must share the MTCN code of the transfer to confirm your reservation.
- Book your Machu Picchu entrance ticket 3 to 4 months in advance, as well as your hotel.
- Ask about discounts for groups of 5 or more passengers.
- Ask about discounts for tourists from Andean Community (CAN) member countries.