10-Day Guided Tour of Peru with Stops at Machu Picchu, Cuzco, and Lima

When he discovered Machu Picchu in 1911, explorer Hiram Bingham wrote, "In the variety of its charms and the power of its spell, I know of no place in the world which can compare with it." The ancient Incan citadel is composed of impressively preserved granite temples and palaces tucked away in the Andes Mountains, some 8,000 feet above the Urubamba River. The former Incan capital of Cuzco is situated near Machu Picchu as well as some other pre-Columbian and colonial architecture, many of which you'll see on this guided tour of Peru from Gate 1 Travel.

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Day 1: Depart from Miami International Airport (MIA) en route to Lima (LIM) via LAN Airlines. All in-flight meals, drinks, and entertainment are included.

Day 2: Upon arrival in Lima, you'll settle into your hotel and enjoy breakfast before touring the city's historic district. Here, you'll see the 17th-century San Francisco Monastery, which is covered in yellow stucco, sculptures of religious figures and, often, lots of pigeons. Inside, elaborate frescoes cover the ceiling. The church also once served as a cemetery; deep in its catacombs, you can see bones and skulls arranged in haunting circular patterns. After the tour, you can spend the evening checking out Lima at your leisure.

Days 3–4: After flying to Cuzco early in the morning, you'll head to the Chinchero market in the Urubamba Sacred Valley, where you can browse colorful scarves and fresh produce. At the ancient citadel of Ollantaytambo, granite temples, towering monoliths, and stone terraces stand as relics of the Incan civilization. Be sure to get a snapshot of the Princess Bath, an age-old stone fountain that is still functional. The following day is open for you to explore the Sacred Valley.

Days 5–6: You'll take a train ride to Machu Picchu to tour this legendary UNESCO World Heritage site. On the following day, you'll have a chance to explore Cuzco and its ancient Incan sites at your own pace. Cuzco is the former capital of the Incan empire and is steeped in history. On the main square, you'll find Spanish colonial churches, including the Barrio de San Blas. This adobe building is known for its elaborate pulpit, which is carved entirely from the trunk of a single cedar tree.

Days 7–8: The tour heads to the city of Puno, which sits 12,000 feet up into the Andes along the shore of Lake Titicaca. Raqchi is the next stop. This is the site of the Incan Temple of Wiracocha, which spans the length of a football field and is girded by massive stone columns.

In the morning, you'll travel by boat to the Uros Islands, which are entirely manmade from indigenous tortora reeds.

Days 9–10: The tour wraps up with a flight to Lima, where you will have one more opportunity to tour the capital city and savor a traditional Peruvian dinner before your flight home in the morning.

Read the Fine Print for important info on travel dates and other restrictions.