Tours From Lima To Cusco and Machu Picchu
James Bustamante is Native to New York but born to Peruvian parents. He has been traveling throughout Latin America since early 2003 and finally made his home in Peru. James has made his way by eating and traveling through almost every country in Central and South America.
Last Updated on January 18, 2023 by James Bustamante
The route that includes tours from Lima to Cusco and Machu Picchu earns the travelers’ choice award when traveling in Peru. This route shows most of what they want to see in the country for most visitors. It is also one of the most popular routes because it includes destinations, landmarks, and historical sights in Lima, Cusco, and the Sacred Valley before going on the Machu Picchu hike, ending the tours.
Let’s go over the popular touring route of Lima to Machu Picchu by listing some of the landmarks you’ll see on the way.
Starting the Tour in Lima, Peru
So we have arrived at the marvelous city of Lima, Peru. The usual procedure for the Lima section of the seven-day tour is to take a full-day Lima city tour.
The tour of Lima will typically begin at 8:30 am when a guide picks you up at your hotel. There are also afternoon city tours starting at 2:30 pm for travelers preferring to sleep in or, for anyone, get to Lima in the morning and look for an after-lunch activity.
The Lima tour starts with the transport heading to the center of Lima, where we’ll see the colonial architecture that characterizes the city. We will also see some of America’s oldest cathedrals and churches, visit traditional restaurants, the government palace, congress, and the famous central square or “Plaza de Armas.”
After going around the center of Lima, the tour continues to the surrounding districts of Barranco and Miraflores. These destinations are near the ocean and are an excellent opportunity to take pictures. At lunchtime, we’ll head to a local restaurant to try some authentic Peruvian cuisine and the local cocktail known as “Pisco Sour.“
We can spend an entire day or up to four in Lima. In addition, we have some other places to visit outside of Lima like Ica and Huacachina oasis, The Paracas nature reserve, and the mysterious Nazca lines.
Going from Lima to Cusco and then starting to the Machu Picchu tour can have several stops along the way. If we take a more direct route, we’ll continue the following day with a short flight to Cusco.
Arriving In Cusco and Touring the City
Our next stop on our travel bucket list is the highland city of Cusco, The former capital of the Incan empire is a mix of Andean culture and colonial-style buildings. The hotels in the city are something to behold. Due to local rules, the structures need to remain the same; however, once you enter many hotels, their interiors are of a modern design.
We can continue our trip with a tour of the city or head to the Sacred Valley. The Cusco city tour will not only go through the main square, museums, and galleries. We also get to visit Incan fortresses like Sacsayhuaman.
The following morning we can choose from several activities like the rainbow mountain, the Sacred Valley tour, or even a Machu Picchu day trip.
I prefer to start our relatively slow when it comes to hiking in high elevations, so the Sacred Valley tour is usually a good activity for day two in the highlands. The valley is at a lower height than Cusco, so it provides some room for your body to adjust while you remain active.
The Sacred Valley of the Incas has some exciting landmarks like the ruins in Ollantaytambo, Pisac, and Chincheros. The views are also just jaw-dropping, in particular for any photography buffs. The tour includes a lunch buffet in a restaurant facing the Urubamba River.
Now Let’s Head To Aguas Calientes
The following day, we should leave Cusco on the earlier side to drive almost two hours before reaching the train station. The ride to Aguas Calientes town takes about two and a half hours through one of the most beautiful train routes in the world. Next, we head past the Andes and onto a lower elevation cloud forest where we’ll find Aguas Calientes.
Upon arrival, you have two options. You can either stay for a full day and head to Machu Picchu the following morning or go straight to Machu Picchu for a one-day Machu Picchu Express Tour.
With this itinerary featuring tours from Lima to Cusco and Machu Picchu, we’ll stay for one night to fully explore this small mysterious town which also goes by “Machu Picchu Pueblo” or Machu Picchu town.
Once we check in at the hotel, we are free to go off and explore the streets and shops situated in Aguas Calientes. One of the most popular attractions is the hot springs located at the edge of Aguas Calientes. The name “Aguas Calientes” translates to hot water, which references the natural hot springs that originate from seismic activity. You can find the thermal waters no more than a ten-minute walk from your hotel.
In the evening why not visit one of the local restaurants. You can find local dishes and hamburgers, pizza, and vegetarian restaurants.
Machu Picchu Tour in The Morning
Early the following day, we begin our ascend towards Machu Picchu. Take advantage of the early breakfast at your hotel before leaving since food is not allowed in the Sanctuary.
Make sure to pack sunblock, sunglasses, a hat, and a rain poncho. The weather in this part of the world can be very unpredictable, so it is best to be well prepared.
Once we are all packed up for the Machu Picchu tour, we head toward the bus station to board the shuttle. The twenty-minute ride is a tour all on its own, thanks to the beautiful surroundings and the steep precipice. Once we arrive at the main entrance, we are ready to start the tour in the Inca Sanctuary.
The guided tour will take two and a half hours to complete. The guide will go through each section of Machu Pichu in great detail and wait for questions afterward. Some notable landmarks are the following:
- Temple of The Condor
- Temple of The Three Windows
- Temple of The Sun
- The Machu Picchu Water Mirrors
Once we finish the tour, we head back down to Aguas Calientes and wait for our train ride back to Cusco. The typical boarding time on a tour like this one is usually 3:30 pm on either the Expedition or Vistadome train. We will arrive in Cusco by 6:30 pm.
Alternatively, we can spend a few extra hours in Machu Picchu to visit the Wayna Picchu or Mount Machu Picchu peaks. The two highest mountain tops face the Inca citadel.
Day Tours From Cusco
You can take several tours that only require a day to complete. Some full-day tours can be just as physically demanding as multiday tours due to the high elevation of the terrain. The rainbow mountain day hike, for example, will take you to the beautifully colored mountains at over 16,500 feet above sea level (5,000 meters) Some of the most notable day hikes you can schedule throughout your trip are the following:
List Of Day Hikes From Cusco
- The Rainbow Mountain Tour
- The Maras and Moray Tour
- The Sacred Valley of The Inca Tour
- The Humantay Lake Tour
The majority of these tours have daily departures and are usually scheduled to begin between 4:00 am to 8:00 am and end back in Cusco by 7:00 pm.
Departure From Cusco
On the final day of our 5-7 day itinerary, our driver will pick you up at your hotel and take you to the Velasco Astete airport in Cusco. If your flight is set for later in the day, you can take the morning to get the last few photographs of Cusco or buy souvenirs to take back home.
Alternatively, you can extend your stay and join additional activities like ab ATV tour through the salt ponds in Moray. You can also visit other parts of Peru, such as:
- Lake Titicaca
- The Amazon Rainforest
- Colca Canyon
- Kuelap Fortress
- The City of Caral
- Trujillo
- Mancora and The Northern Beaches
- Huaraz
Conclusion
Peru is a country full of fantastic destinations for you to explore. Tours from Lima to Cusco and Machu Picchu will take around 5-10 days if you want to see just about everything these regions have to offer. You can also extend your trip to visit many more sites, tours, and landmarks as well.
Cover Photo by Sebastian Tapia Huerta
