Active and Immersive 7-Day Peru Trip

Experience Lima like a local on a comprehensive walking tour that includes visits to the Surquillo market and historic center. Using Lima’s public transportation, the tour offers an authentic peek into daily life. Sample exotic fruits, such as chirimoya and lúcuma, at Surquillo market and indulge on handmade ice cream as you explore San Martin square, Jirón de la Unión, Plaza de Armas, and the San Francisco church. For lunch, your guide can recommend a nice place near your hotel.

In the afternoon, let us take you on an unforgettable journey of the senses through the diverse Peruvian landscape with stops at the jungle, highlands, and coast. Our first stop will introduce you to the products of each region. We’ll then venture on to the jungle with an opportunity to taste some of the most unknown yet delightful cuisines. Following the jungle, we’ll head to the magical Andean region, indulging in its famous grains and tubers. Then, it’s on to the coast where we’ll savor the freshest and delectable seafood available. Finally, satisfy your sweet tooth with traditional mouth-watering desserts. Yes, we are staying in Lima 😉

Overnight stay in the same hotel.

In the morning, you will be driven to the airport to travel to your next destination, Cusco! Upon arrival in Cusco, you will initially receive a short briefing from one of our colleagues at the airport. Then, the journey will continue to the Sacred Valley, with a stop at Moray: an impressive Inca site with rounded terraces built downwards into the hills. Most likely, this was a place where the Incas adjusted crops to the temperatures of the different altitudes. You can walk around with your guide and take pictures.

Lunch at Tiobamba. Finally, the itinerary includes a visit to the salt mines of Maras, which have been in use since the Inca era up to the present day. Afterward, you will arrive at the most beautiful town in the Sacred Valley – Ollantaytambo – where you will spend the night.

In the afternoon you will have a briefing on the logistics of the Inca Trail.

This one-day hike is a great option for those looking to get a small taste of hiking the Andes while also visiting the most beautiful ruins of Wiñay Wayna on the way to Machu Picchu.

Starting from the railroad at km 104, you will begin the trek with the group and ascend on an authentic Inca Trail, offering tremendous views of Machu Picchu and surrounding Inca sites. After three hours of hiking, you will reach the most beautiful Inca site on the trail, Wiñay Wayna, to learn about the history of the Incas with their elaborate water fountain, temples, and agricultural terraces.

After continuing the hike to the Sun Gate for picturesque views of Machu Picchu, you will descend to the lost city of the Incas when most travelers have left, for an exclusive experience. Dinner at Indio Feliz restaurant is included before retiring early to be one of the first to enter Machu Picchu the next day.

Tour Type: Hiking, adventure, history, culture
Good For:  Moderate physical fitness
Difficulty:  Moderate (15 km / 8 miles)

Early in the morning, you will take the bus from Aguas Calientes to Machu Picchu (exact time to be communicated by your guide). Known as “The Lost City of the Incas,” Machu Picchu is a world-renowned site located at 2,430 meters above the Urubamba River. Built in AD 1430 as an estate for Inca Emperor Pachacuti, the site is strategically tucked away between deep canyons and towering mountains, also known as Apus, which served as a fortress.

You will enjoy a two-hour guided tour with an English-speaking guide, with those holding tickets for Huayna Picchu or Machu Picchu Mountain given adequate time to climb before the tour. The climb up to Huayna Picchu takes an hour and a half round-trip, while the Machu Picchu Mountain climb takes approximately three hours round-trip.

Following your visit, you will take the train back to the Sacred Valley the same afternoon.

Join us for an unforgettable day in a high Andean community, where you’ll experience daily life and contribute to the sustainable development of the community. After breakfast, we’ll head to Lamay to coordinate our visit and then make our way to the community. Upon arrival, you’ll be warmly welcomed by the families who will share their customs with you.

You’ll have the opportunity to participate in a spontaneous agricultural task, where you’ll learn about the different varieties of native plants and crops, as well as the traditional tools and techniques used. After the activity, enjoy a typical lunch based on the products that the community produces.

In the afternoon, the women of the community will share with you the whole process of textile art – an integral part of their family dynamics. You’ll have the chance to learn about their customs and their role in the field. If we have enough time and energy, we’ll also stop at the archaeological complex of Pisac before continuing on to Cusco for a free night.

For your stay in Cusco, we recommend the Niños Hotel as our standard option. This non-profit hotel supports its own projects with street children and was designed by the Dutch owner, Jolanda. It’s a cozy hotel, complete with a restaurant, so you don’t have to venture out if you prefer not to.

Join our Walking Tour for a beautiful introduction to the city and a relaxing downhill walk. Our driver will take you to the archaeological site of Qenqo, followed by a visit to the impressive ruins of Sacsayhuamán with a great view of the city. Next up is the San Blas neighborhood, where you can explore the narrow streets and shops and take a break at one of our recommended cafes (not included). Finally, you’ll visit the famous Sun Temple before the tour ends with lunch tips from your guide.

After the tour (lunch not included), our driver will pick you up from the city center or hotel and take you to the airport, picking up your luggage at the hotel if needed, so you can catch your flight to Lima.

So, you can book this tour as it is, or choose the superior option with improved hotels: please enquire our travel designers fot that version. The Superior option also includes a private Inca Trail, instead of the group tour in case of the standard trip option. You can find all the information of what the trip does and does not include here. 

If you want to make any changes to this trip, please feel free to enquire via the enquiry form on the top of this page, and let us know which changes you’d like to make. Some changes (like room types for groups of three, or families) can make the trip cheaper; other changes might make it more expensive. Our travel designers would be happy to help making changes to this trip or designing a completely different one, bespoke, only for you. 

As for any trip that ends in Cusco, adding the jungle would be a great idea! If you have time to spare and you would like to have a more authentic jungle adventure, definitely consider the Manu National Park. We have very unique trips in Manu including visits to native communities. Having five or six days is recommended. Shorter jungle adventures can be found in Tambopata; a beautiful and easy accessible jungle area around Puerto Maldonado. 

We also have an eleven-day version of this trip, which adds Lake Titicaca to the list!

If you love hiking and spectacular high mountain landscapes, definitely consider adding at least five days to visit the area around Huaraz: authentic mountain communities and trekkings of all sorts are awaiting you! Northern Peru holds more treasures though, like the archaeological sites around Trujillo and Chiclayo and the absolutely stunning Chachapoyas region that just seems to have it all. 

Of course anything else is also possible, let us know what you like. The Galapagos Islands or Bolivia? Central Peru? A yoga retreat? A beach destination? We’d love to help you finish your Peru trip in the best fitting way whilst always keeping sustainability in mind. 

We’re thrilled that you’re planning a trip to Peru with your kids! We understand that traveling with children can be challenging, so we’re here to help make it as smooth and enjoyable as possible.

It’s important to note that due to the nature of Peru as a travel destination, we don’t recommend it for children under 8 years old. With the changes in altitude and long distances involved, it can be quite intense – but don’t worry, this particular trip has shorter distances.

Our child discounts are a bit complex, so to make sure you get the best deal possible, we’ll need to calculate them specifically for your family. You can book the trip and include your children as adults, and before you pay, we’ll send you the updated price that takes your children’s ages into account.

If you’re looking for budget-friendly options, we also offer family rooms that can save you quite a bit. We’re here to help you plan the perfect family trip to Peru, so please don’t hesitate to reach out with any questions or concerns.

Absolutely! At our core, we specialize in custom itineraries, and have been doing so for over a decade! So, making changes to your trip or extending it is definitely possible.

Contact our travel designers and let us know what changes you’d like to make. You have two options to get in touch with us:

1. Simply send us an email and mention the trip you’re interested in from our platform. You’ll find our contact details here.

2. If you have more elaborate ideas about your trip and would like to start from scratch, you can fill in this form and we’ll get to work on your customized itinerary right away.

We’re here to help you create the trip of your dreams!

We understand your concern that a 7-day trip might not be sufficient to explore the beauty and diversity of Peru. However, we also know that not everyone has the luxury of extended holidays. That’s why we’ve put together an itinerary that allows you to experience the best of Peru in a shorter timeframe without feeling rushed.

At Impactful Travel, we firmly believe that a trip should offer more than just a checklist of must-see destinations. It should be a transformative experience that allows you to immerse yourself in a destination, learn about its history and culture, and connect with its people. We’re confident that our 7-day itinerary strikes the perfect balance between exploring the highlights of Peru and allowing for a more meaningful experience.

Of course, we’re happy to tailor the itinerary to your unique preferences. Whether you’re looking for more time in a particular destination or want to participate in a specific activity, our travel designers are here to help you create your dream trip. We want your trip to Peru to be as unforgettable as possible!

Yes, unfortunately the Superior option can not yet be booked directly on the platform, due to technical limitations. However, our team is happy to send you the PDF version of this trip with the prices for the Superior hotels and private Inca Trail. So just fill in the enquiry form at the top of this page, or contact us by email. Thank you very much!

If you want to see the price for your situation, please select the desired package (Standard or Superior option) and an amount of travelers in the booking form on the right side of the website (or the top on the mobile version). You will then see that total price for your party right above it.  

Currently, showing prices for the Super Option isn’t working. We apologize, please just fill in the Enquiry Form and we’ll get back to you with the price list for the Superior Option. 

Please refer to our article What to Pack for your Trip to Peru for all your questions about packing for your Peru trip. Whether you’re going to the jungle or the mountains, you’ll find the answers you need. You can also download a full Packing List for free. 

Just moderately: the Inca Trail is a few hours of uphill hiking. However, due to the altitudes, it’s advised to come in good shape and have a strong heart and lungs. In case of doubts, read our article on How to Stay Healthy in Peru or contact us. 

The city of Cusco is situated on 3.400 meters (11,000 ft) altitude, which is why we have it included only towards the end of the itinerary. It will be the highest point where you will stay overnight. 

Apart from that, the itinerary includes a few higher mountain passes of around 4.000 meters (13,000ft) altitude, but just for brief moments. So it’s quite a good itinerary in that regard (of course: we find it very important that you adapt well to the altitude and enjoy your Peru trip to the fullest!)

After a short programme on the coast, the rest of the trip takes place in the Andes. It tends to rain a lot between December and April, and it tends to be colder at night between May and August. Find more info about climates in Peru in our blog “Best Time to Travel to Peru“. 

This is not a group trip: most transfers and excursions are fully private. On some excursions, you will meet other travelers, of course! You can find more details in the separate PDF we can send you once you enquire.