【Lima + Cusco】8-Day Peru Tour from Lima: Nasca Lines, Ballestas Islands and Machu Picchu

A transportation service and a representative will pick you up from the airport at the scheduled time to transfer you to your hotel in Lima. 

The Peruvian capital is a modern metropolis full of history, currently undergoing an exciting process of cultural and economic changes.

Start with the Larco Museum, located in the traditional Pueblo Libre district, which is housed in a beautifully restored viceregal mansion built on a pre-Columbian pyramid. The museum boasts the world’s most complete pre-Hispanic collection of gold and silver objects, as well as pieces of erotic art. 

Then visit Casa Aliaga, a colonial mansion granted in 1535 by chief conquistador Francisco Pizarro to Jeronimo de Aliaga, one of his captains. This is the only house from that time that to this day has always been owned by the same family. Continue to a scenic tour in the colonial downtown, which originates and spreads out from the Main Square. Here you can appreciate the grandiose architecture of the Spanish Empire and be amazed by Lima's Cathedral. Erected in the 16th century, this building took more than 80 years to complete.

After the tour, you'll be transferred back to the hotel.

 

Once you have had your breakfast at your hotel, you will be collected by a representative and accompanied to the bus station to take the bus from Lima to Paracas. 

After four hours of travel, arrive at Pisco airport and enjoy a flight over the desert observing the mysterious Nasca lines. The small town of Nasca would go unnoticed on the map if it were not for the ancient geoglyphs etched into the sand that has given it worldwide fame. 

As you fly over the desert, lines take shape to form simple geometric designs, then some of the swirls and zigzags start to form more distinct shapes: a spider, a condor, a monkey, to name a few. If the weather conditions and the airspace allow, you will also fly over the recently discovered drawings in Palpa. Continue your flight over the mountains where marine fossils that date back millions of years were found and then fly back to Pisco to end your aerial experience.

Once again on land, you will be transferred to the hotel in Paracas, and have the afternoon at leisure.

 

Transport will take you to El Chaco pier to embark on a boat ride to the Ballestas Islands. The Ballestas are a collection of rocky islets with beautiful geographical formations, just a few kilometers off the western coast of Peru. The islands are the ideal habitat for various species of birds and an eclectic mix of wildlife like seals, boobies, pelicans, sea lions and the endangered Humboldt penguin. 

Cruise around the islands' dramatic cliffs and watch large herds of noisy sea lions relaxing on the rocks, birds stretching their wings and if you're lucky, dolphins near to your boat. While you will not disembark onto the islands, you will get startlingly close to this impressive array of wildlife. As you sail, you will also pass the Paracas Candelabra, a huge geoglyph that has been dated to around 200 BC, although the purpose and the creator of this three-pronged carving remain a mystery. 

At the end of your boat tour, you will be taken to the bus station for your transfer to Lima.

 

Go on a comfortable ride from your hotel to the airport of Lima to take a flight to Cusco. At arrival in the city you will be transferred to the selected hotel. In the afternoon, enjoy a guided tour of the former capital of the Inca Empire. The tour starts with a visit to Santo Domingo Convent, a large Renaissance-baroque complex, which was built over the Inca Coricancha temple. It was one of the most important temples dedicated to sun worshiping, and its foundations are still prominent at the base of the convent. Ancient chronicles say the temple was covered in gold leaf and filled with golden representations of nature. 

Then, visit the Cathedral, the most imposing monument of the Main Square. Head to the hills above Cusco to visit the remains of the fortress of Sacsayhuaman, whose impressive ramparts offer a stunning panoramic view of Cusco, and the ruins of the temple and amphitheater of Qenqo, where it is believed the Incas practiced agricultural rituals. Admire Qenqo and then finally visit Puka Pukara ('Red fortress' in Quechua) an Inca military complex located on a prominent hill. Its dwellings, squares, bathrooms, aqueducts, walls, and towers can still be appreciated. Afterwards, return to your hotel.

 

A transportation service will pick you up and transfer you to the Ollanta Station to board the train to Aguas Calientes, the nearest town to Machu Picchu. Take the train to Aguas Calientes, travel observing the Andean landscapes during a journey of one hour and a half. Our guide will be waiting for you and will accompany you until the departure point of the bus. Afterwards, take a bus for the 25-minute journey up to Machu Picchu, known as the "Lost city of the Incas".

It is believed that this archaeological site was built in 1450 by the Inca Pachacutec as his holiday home. However, a century later, the city was abandoned after the Spanish conquest, escaping the destruction that azotó other Incas settlements. Along with the guided tour, you will have the opportunity to learn about the origins of this impressive city and explore its most outstanding monuments.

After completing the tour, you will take the bus to Aguas Calientes, where you will enjoy lunch at your selected restaurant.

 

Today, you can optionally return to Machu Picchu. You may discover the views from Huayna Picchu, which is about 360 meters above Machu Picchu with an underground temple complex; and from Inti Punku, which offers even better views from about 390 meters above the citadel. 

Another option is the Inca Bridge, a secret military trail, which controls access to the citadel. In the afternoon, transfer to the Aguas Calientes station and take the train back to Ollantaytambo station. From here you will be transferred to your hotel in Cusco.

 

You will be transferred to the Cusco airport to take your departure flight.