Discover one of the true humanmade wonders of the world, Machu Picchu, on these incredible tours from Lima, Peru.
(Photo: Tourradar.com)
One of the great wonders of the world, Machu Picchu was constructed in the 1400s for Inca emperor Pachacuti. During the Spanish Conquest it was abandoned and lay unknown to the outside world until 1911 when American historian Hiram Bingham came across it. Not surprisingly, it features on the wish list of many travellers. Being remote and at an altitude of 2,430 meters, tours are an increasingly popular way to get there, especially from Peru’s capital city Lima.
Machu Picchu Adventure
Perhaps unsurprisingly, the distance from Lima to Machu Picchu and the difficulty of reaching the revered site in the first place mean that longer tours are more common. Adding-in the time required to acclimatize to the Andean altitude and to visit some of the other landmarks in the region, you’ll see your money stretch so much further, the longer the tour you take. This eight-day trip is top value and a highly competitive itinerary, which includes time to explore Cusco, the Sacred Valley, and Machu Picchu. From $1,500 per person.
Explore Machu Picchu
Another popular iteration of the eight-day tour from Lima to Machu Picchu involves taking the train from Ollantaytambo to Agua Calientes (the main stop for people attempting to reach Machu Picchu). The train is a great way to explore the Andean landscape, and a perfect introduction of what is to come. Beyond the tour to Machu Picchu, you will also be able to visit the Inca salt pans at Urubamba, and many other Inca ruins, such as the temples and plazas of Pisac. From $1,935 per person.
(Photo: Intrepidtravel.com)
Inca Trail & Amazon Adventure
Explore the worlds of Incas and Amazons on a 12-day tour with Intrepid, where real emphasis is put on experiencing Machu Picchu in the most genuine way possible. For most people, this means hiking the Inca Trail, a challenging but fascinating three-day trek through the Andes, slowly gaining altitude as you go. This also means seeing the ruins at sunrise, before the main tourism buses, which drive up from Aguas Calientes, start to dilute the experience. This is a round-trip tour from Lima. From $2,085 per person.
Peruvian Highlights
Start out by crossing the Andes by plane to Puerto Maldonado, gateway to Peru’s Amazon Rainforest on this eight-day tour of the country. You’ll spend a few days in a jungle lodge amid the monkeys, birds and other wildlife before stepping back into an Andean land steeped in traditional South American history. From Cusco to Machu Picchu, you will see the finest examples of Inca architecture and pieces of their civilization left behind. This tour ends in Cusco. From $2,179 per person.
(Photo: Tourradar.com)
Sacred Land of the Incas
This final tour from Lima sees guests embark on an immersive, 15-day cultural tour of the so-called Sacred Land of the Incas. During the trip you’ll visit some incredible destinations, including the Peruvian side of Lake Titicaca, and trek to Machu Picchu on the Inca Trail. You’ll also take an exhilarating walk through the Amazon rainforest at night, and a tour of a cocoa museum in Cusco. As with all tours on this list, all hotel accommodation, plus an expert guide, most meals and transport are included. From $3,230 per person.