Explore Machu Picchu, Ollantaytambo Temple, Cuzco, and Lima's City Center

Known as the "lost city of the Incas," Machu Picchu was hidden in the mist-veiled mountains above Peru's Sacred Valley for some 400 years before explorer Hiram Bingham rediscovered it in 1911. Today, the long-unseen citadel is arguably one of South America's best known attractions—_Fodor's_ calls it "one of the world's must-see destinations." This tour of Peru includes:

• Round-trip flight from Los Angeles (LAX), New York (JFK), or Miami (MIA) on LAN Airlines; international flight includes fuel surcharges, taxes, and fees
• Round-trip flight from Lima to Cuzco
• 5 nights’ standard accommodations in first-class hotels (6 nights for JFK or LAX departures); customers may stay at hotels mentioned in copy or similar accommodations
• Round-trip Vistadome train to Machu Picchu
• Five breakfasts and one lunch
• Guided sightseeing tours and entrance fees
• English-speaking tour guides
• All ground transportation and hotel transfers

We've listed some trip highlights below, but you can click here to see the day-by-day itinerary.

Day 1: Flight to Peru

After arriving in Peru’s capital city, Lima, you’ll check in at Casa Andina Select Miraflores or a similar hotel.

Day 2: Lima, Cuzco, and Sacred Valley

After breakfast, enjoy a panoramic tour of Lima, with sites including the Monastery of San Francisco, the Cathedral of Lima, and the ornate Archbishop’s Palace, among others. As Peru's capital city, Lima is very much the country’s cultural core, packed with open-air markets, archaeological museums, and restaurants serving ceviche.

In the afternoon, you’ll board a brief flight to Cuzco, the ancient Incan capital. Frommer’s calls this ancient site “one of the undisputed highlights of South America.” In the evening, you’ll retire to Casa Andina Private Collection Sacred Valley or a similar hotel.

Day 3: Sacred Valley

Begin the day with a visit to the archeological sites of Maras & Moray. Maras is an impressive salt mine complex, with salt deposits that were once exchanged for goods from far parts of the Inca empire. After, check out Moray which showcases archeological sites that are composed of mysterious concentric circular terraces.

The highlight of this leg of the trip is a visit to Ollantaytambo temple, which historically protected the entrance to the Sacred Valley. Here, granite-hewn temples and fountains are perched atop hundreds of stone steppes carved into the mountainside. The Temple of the Sun is made up of six interlocking pink-granite slabs weighing in at 50 tons each.

Day 4: Machu Picchu

The next day, a Vistadome train ferries you through the Sacred Valley en route to Machu Picchu. This 12-acre UNESCO World Heritage site overlooks the Urubamba River and during the tour, you'll see stone sculptures, ornate palaces, and rock-carved terraces that were used for irrigation. Near Machu Picchu’s base, the eco-friendly El MaPi Hotel or a similar hotel will be your headquarters for the evening.

Day 5: Cuzco

The following morning, you can independently explore Machu Picchu for an additional $74 fee. After boarding the Vistadome train, you'll return to Cuzco and tour the city center, where you'll see the Plaza de Armas town square and visit the 16th-century Cuzco cathedral, which features Incan artwork, a silver altar, and the largest bell in South America.

In the evening, you’ll stay at Casa Andina Private Collection Cusco or similar accomodations.

Day 6: Cuzco and Lima

Enjoy the day strolling through the Andes Mountains, the main square, or wandering through charming side streets. Alternatively, you can take an optional tour of Chinchero, one of the most important cultural and agricultural centers of the Incan Empire ($89/person) in the morning. In the evening, transfer to the airport for your overnight flight back to the U.S. via Lima.

Day 7: Return to the U.S.

You'll board your flight home a little after midnight. Flights back to Miami take just under 6 hours, flights back to New York take about 7.5 hours, and flights back to Los Angeles take about 8.5 hours.

Optional Trip Extension

For an additional fee, you can stay in Peru a little longer and head to Arequipa, known as Peru’s white city for its stark, ivory-hued buildings. The tour then makes its way to Colca Canyon, one of the deepest canyons on earth.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much would it cost to fly from an airport not listed as part of this deal?
This deal is available only from the featured gateways: Miami, Los Angeles, and JFK.

Can we extend our trip before or after the promotional dates for the deal?
Late returns are possible at a cost of $100 per person, plus any difference in airfare, as long as the late return is on the date of the extension to our tour. Late returns that fall on dates other than the extension return date will be not be possible at the very special reduced airfare we have negotiated for this tour. To book a late return, just let Friendly Planet know and we’ll do our best to confirm you on the extension return date.

How do I find out if the dates I want to travel are available?
If your requested date is available for purchase on Groupon’s site, it should still be available.

What happens if I buy the Groupon and my travel dates are not available?
Technically, you should not be able to buy a Groupon for a sold out date or departure city.

Does my child need a Groupon, and can they stay in my room?
Every passenger traveling is required to have one. Triple rooms are not available in Peru, so your child may share a room with one other adult.

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