Riveting Time Capsule Trip of Peru’s Capital

Miraflores coast in Lima, Peru

What to expect on this itinerary

Throughout this 7-day exploration of Peru’s history and culture, uncover some of the country's most treasured historical gems. Discover the ancient wonders of the stunning region of Lima, and fall in love with the friendly people, charming shops, delicious restaurants, and spectacular views. Amble through Lima's downtown, immerse yourself in the ancient civilizations of Caral, and fly over the enigmatic Nazca Lines.

Countries Visited

Peru

Places Visited

Lima, Caral, Nazca Lines, Paracas

Suggested Duration

7 Days

Customizable Itinerary

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Day 1

Lima – Dinner on the Shoreline

As you touch down along the coastline of Peru's vivacious national capital, you will be greeted by your private transportation, who will transfer you to your luxurious accommodation in the heart of the city. Once you arrive at your opulent accommodation, you can settle in and catch a glimpse of the breathtaking ocean views from your private balcony. In the afternoon, you can venture into the city center for some self-guided exploration. You will have a chance to stroll through the pristine parks of Miraflores as the sun begins to set.

What's Included:

Transfer
Accommodation
Tour
Breakfast
Day 2

Lima – Ceviche Cooking Class

Day 3

Lima – Visit Ancient Ruins

Day 4

Caral – The Oldest Town in the New World

Day 5

Nazca Lines – Private Helicopter Ride

Day 6

Paracas – Luxury Cruise to Islas Ballestas

Day 7

Lima – Departure

Trip Highlights

  • Savor the diverse flavors of Lima's fresh seafood as you dine along the city's sparkling shoreline
  • Venture inside the gold-leafed interior of Lima's opulent cathedral and roll up your sleeves for a traditional ceviche cooking class
  • Stroll through romantic Parque del Amor and discover the metropolis' hidden Inca and pre-Inca ruins
  • Seek out the "Oldest Town in the World" in Caral and visit pre-Columbian ruins, which are known as the Norte Chico civilization
  • Fly over the Nazca Lines in a helicopter and explore the history of these ancient geoglyphs
  • Embark on a scenic cruise from Paracas to Islas Ballestas, which is teeming with fascinating marine life
  • Luxuriate in Lima's prestigious neighborhood of Miraflores and visit the neighborhood's charming lighthouse

Detailed Description

Lima is a hub of all things modern, international, and fast-paced. People from around Peru and the world travel to this nation's capital for exquisite fashion, mouth-watering cuisine, and shopping of all varieties. Still, the opulent skyscrapers of Miraflores mesh well with a calming serenity that can be found along Lima's Pacific coastline. Here, families gather to relax and unwind as they admire some of the best views that the city has to offer. Despite the city's push toward vibrant modernity, cobbled streets and charming plazas still adorn the town and are saturated with a rich history that spans hundreds of years. Ancient civilizations and Spanish colonists have left their mark around every corner.

You will begin your luxurious, 7-day immersion into Peru’s history and culture with a tour of the downtown area. During your tour, you will step inside famed edifices, including the Cathedral of Lima. You will even be provided with the exclusive opportunity to tour the ancient catacombs that are tucked beneath the city's basilica. After enjoying a tantalizing, oceanfront dinner the night before, you will roll up your sleeves with an expert chef and learn how to make Peru's internationally acclaimed ceviche. The following day, you will stroll through Lima's most meticulously coiffed public parks, including Parque del Amor, where you may be hypnotized by the calming ambiance of the water's edge. Finally, you will travel to a nearby archaeological site, where you will witness some of the region's most fascinating relics that were constructed by ancient civilizations.

During the second half of your journey, you will visit the oldest town in the world in Caral, where you will follow your expert guide to learn about the town’s fascinating construction process. Then, you will fly over the enigmatic Nazca Lines, which still baffle historians to this day. From overhead, you will come to understand the magnitude of these massive geoglyphs as you learn more about how they may have been formed and why. On your final day in Peru, you can relax along the sparkling shore of Paracas before embarking on a luxurious cruise to Islas Ballestas, where you will witness some of the region's most magnificent wildlife, including sea lions and, possibly, Humpback whales. Throughout your entire adventure, you will stay in luxurious accommodations and have private transportation arranged for all of your travel needs. This tour is customizable, so you can adjust nearly anything and everything to better suit your moods and interests once you are in Peru.

Starting Price

$2,600 per person (excluding international flights)

Your Zicasso trip is fully customizable, and this sample itinerary is a starting place for your travel plans. Actual costs are dynamic, and your selection of accommodations and activities, your season of travel, and other such variables will bring this budget guideline up or down. Throughout your planning experience with your Zicasso specialist, your itinerary is designed around your budget. You can book your trip when you are satisfied with every detail. Planning your trip with a Zicasso travel specialist is a free service.

What's Included

The starting price is based on travel during the low season for a minimum of two travelers staying in shared 3-star accommodations. Please inquire for a custom trip quote based on your travel preferences and travel dates.

4.9

Verified Traveler Reviews

Based on 75 reviews

Peru Vacation Review: Paracas, Sacred Valley, Machu Picchu, Huayna Picchu, Barranco, Cusco
"Our trip to Peru was truly magical! Our amazing travel agent talked with us and really worked hard to tailor the trip to our wishes."

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Peru Vacation Review: Amazon Rainforest, Cusco, Machu Picchu, Rainbow Mountain, Lake Titicaca, Lima, Huacachina, Sandboarding, 2 Weeks

We discovered our travel company through Zicasso and had an incredible experience planning and executing our trip to Peru. This was our first journey to South America and, since we don’t speak Spanish, we decided to work with a travel agent for this trip. Having planned all our travels around the world on our own, we were initially hesitant to entrust someone else with such an important task. However, our agent exceeded our expectations and made the entire process seamless and enjoyable.

From the very beginning – five months before our trip – our agent was a pleasure to work with. She was prompt, responsive, and attentive to our aspirations for the trip. After discussing the types of activities we wanted to include, she crafted a comprehensive itinerary filled with diverse and exciting options. Together, we refined the plans through a few iterations until we arrived at the perfect itinerary for our dream vacation.

Our two-week adventure in Peru was nothing short of amazing, taking us through the Amazon rainforest, the cultural heart of the Inca civilization in Cusco, the awe-inspiring Machu Picchu, the breathtaking Rainbow Mountain, the tranquil beauty of Lake Titicaca and the floating islands in Puno, and the vibrant coastlines of Lima and Huacachina, where we experienced sandboarding and a flight over the Nazca Lines.

Throughout the trip, our agent stayed in constant communication, providing detailed updates and guidance for each day’s activities. Every guide she arranged for us was a local expert with deep knowledge of the region’s history, architecture, and culture, which added immense value to our experience.

Even when we encountered a minor hiccup with one of the tours, our agent handled it promptly and professionally, resolving the issue without hesitation or resistance. Her dedication and attention to detail ensured our trip was smooth and stress-free.

Thanks to our agent and her incredible network of guides, we had a phenomenal experience in Peru. We highly recommend visiting this beautiful country and entrusting our tour company with your travel plans. Without a doubt, we would work with our agent for future adventures!

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Peru Trip Review: Lima, Machu Picchu, Cusco, Ollantaytambo, 1 Week

I loved our trip. The guides were fantastic. I have already told you how I felt about our guides, who were both great. We also loved our guide in Lima. His wealth of knowledge was impressive and really educated us on Lima, the Incas, and Peruvian history with a different perspective. We learned a lot from our guide in a short period of time. In addition, all the drivers we had were very good.

Overall, the trip was wonderful. The hotels, for the most part, were very good. My favorite restaurant was the restaurant in Lima. All the meals set up by Zicasso’s tour operator allowed us to experience Peruvian food, which we enjoyed very much. For the most part, I appreciated the quick contact and response time I was able to have with the guides, the tour operator, and our travel specialist.

If I was to give constructive feedback, there were two things I would have changed:

How long we had to wait around for our train in Aguas Calientes to go to Ollantaytambo. We had finished our hike and were back in Aguas Calientes by 12 to 12.30. I wasn't crazy about waiting around for four hours with nowhere to stay, especially with such a long travel day ahead of us to get back to Cusco. We did not arrive at the hotel in Cusco until 10pm. I think this scheduling could have been much tighter, allowing us to arrive much earlier and get a good night's sleep.

It would have been good to understand how far Miraflores was from the airport so we could have originally booked the hotel at the airport for our last night and not been charged for a second night at the hotel in Miraflores.

This constructive feedback is very small compared to our enjoyment for the rest of the trip. I would definitely use this tour operator again to explore other countries.

Thank you,

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Peru Travel Review: Lima, Barranco, Machu Picchu, Rainbow Mountain, Salt Mines, Museum, Food Tour, 8-Day Trip

We received personalized planning and detailed and timely notifications. We had incredible tour guides in Peru. They were highly knowledgeable and professional. The transportation by personal van was safe and comfortable.

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Peru Travel Review: Lima, Cusco, Misminay Village, Culture, 8-Day Trip

What a wonderful trip!! Zicasso’s travel specialist and the team did a fantastic job. From the moment we landed in Lima and left Cusco eight days later, there was a team member there to guide us. This trip was a gift for my wife’s 50th birthday and it was magnificent. Thanks to the team!!

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Peru Travel Review: Lima, Machu Picchu, Hiking, Local Cuisine 8-Day Trip

Our family recently spent the most fantastic eight days of exploration and experiences in Peru, arranged by Zicasso’s tour company. The communication, coordination, and expertise we received from the founder of the travel company were absolutely top-rated. If we could give 10 stars, we would. She supervised all details and the trip was absolutely flawless.

Our guide and driver were delights to spend time with and the kindest people in sharing their expertise with us. The smallest details were considered and delivered prior to our arrival in Peru and throughout our stay in Peru. I will recommend this travel company to absolutely everyone I speak with regarding a trip to Peru.

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Customizable Itinerary

This is a sample itinerary to inspire a personalized trip designed with your travel specialist.

31,000+ Verified Traveler Reviews