Peru – Empires of the Inca
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April 6 - April 15, 2027
"Peru was amazing! Lima, Cusco fabulous, wonderful accommodations, conveniently located near all the points of interest. Machu Picchu was beyond my expectations! My fellow Photoflyers were great. I made friendships that I hope will continue long into the future. " - Paulette, Peru '24
Peru is an incredibly diverse and captivating destination, offering a unique blend of rich history, stunning landscapes, and vibrant culture. Whether you're interested in exploring ancient ruins, trekking through breathtaking mountains, or experiencing lively city life, Peru is full of excitement. Arguably the most famous attraction in Peru, Machu Picchu is a 15th-century Incan citadel set high in the Andes. It’s a UNESCO World Heritage site and one of the New Seven Wonders of the World. The journey to reach it is a memorable adventure aboard a scenic train ride from Cusco. Once the heart of the Inca Empire, Cusco is a charming city known for its mix of colonial Spanish architecture and Incan ruins.
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Peru - Empires of the Inca
"Peru may be inseparable from Machu Picchu and the legacy of the Inca Empire, but a scratch beneath the surface reveals a fascinating and dynamic country that preserves its Andean traditions." - Frommer's
Lima (2 Nights): City of Kings
"Founded in 1535, Lima was the Spanish crown’s “City of Kings,” the richest and most important city in the Americas and considered to be the most beautiful colonial settlement in the region. Fronting onto a rugged stretch of shoreline, Lima is often used as a stepping stone to reach bucket list sites such as Machu Picchu, but the capital of Peru has become a destination in its own right. This bustling city more than makes up for its chaotic traffic and humdrum weather with out-of-this-world cuisine, dramatic coastal views, and outstanding museums." - Frommer's & Lonely Planet
* Explore the Capital: See some of the major sites with a guide in this exciting metropolis. Stops include the Larco Museum, Cathedral of Lima, Basilica and Convent of Santo Domingo, and more.
- Ultimate Peruvian Food Tour (Optional): Explore the bohemian Barranco District with an insider guide and discover a variety of Peruvian food and drink. Partake in two interactive workshops that demonstrate the art of preparing pisco sours, ceviche, and lomo saltado.
Cusco (3 Nights):
"The undisputed archaeological capital of the Americas, Cuzco is the continent’s oldest continuously inhabited city and the 
gateway to Machu Picchu. Cosmopolitan Cuzco (also Cusco, or Qosq’o in Quechua) thrives with a measure of contradiction. Ornate cathedrals squat over Inca temples, massage hawkers ply the narrow cobblestone passages, a rural Andean woman feeds bottled water to her pet llama while the finest boutiques sell pricey alpaca knits." - Lonely Planet
* Experience Cusco: Guided walking tour of the beautiful city in the sky. Highlights here include Cusco Cathedral, Convent of Santo Domingo, the vibrant neighborhood of San Blas, and Qorikancha Temple.
*Free Time to Explore: This tourist friendly town is great for wandering on your own and things to keep you busy include museums, galleries, cafes, viewpoints, shopping opportunities, and market visits. There are also great optional activities to choose from including:
- Cusco Home Cooking Class: Explore San Pedro Market and learn about the typical ingredients locals have used in their dishes for centuries. Continue with a hands-on cooking lesson at a colonial-style home where we partake in the preparation of a 3-course meal before enjoying our very own handy work.
- Planetarium Visit: In a small house, resembling any typical Andean house (made of adobe and Spanish red tiles), discover a place to approach the mysteries of the Universe through the eyes of the Inca ancestors. Tradition, research, technology, science, myths, and of course, lots of passion, are the ingredients to the Planetarium Cusco Experience.
- Hike a Rainbow Mountain at Palccoyo: Striped mountains stretch for miles in every direction as you hike these unique hills. The colors are mesmerizing and a light hike on a designated trail is a perfect way to take in all scenery. In the distance, you can see snow-capped mountains and walking through a stone forest en route to the windswept hills is a memorable experience.
The Sacred Valley (3 Nights):
"Tucked under the tawny skirts of formidable foothills, the beautiful Río Urubamba Valley, known as El Valle Sagrado (the Sacred Valley), is about 15km north of Cuzco as the condor flies, via a narrow road of hairpin turns. It's worth exploring this peaceful, fetching corner of the Andes with colonial towns and isolated weaving villages. Star attractions are the markets and the lofty Inca citadels of Pisac and Ollantaytambo, but it's also packed with other Inca sites." - Lonely Planet
* Pisac Ruins & Market: Encounter this Inca complex with its impressive architecture. The ruins highlight the incredible workmanship that went into building such structures long before the invention of modern equipment. Then peruse the streets of the picturesque town and local market for great pictures and don't forget to check out the myriad of colorful, handcrafted wares.
* Ollantaytambo & the Temple of the Sun: Built using massive stones approximately 12 feet tall, this temple was used as a fortress during the time of the Incan Civil War. Fantastic panoramic images with stunning views of the valley welcome us at the top.
* Maras Salt Pans & Mines: Discover one of the largest salt extraction centers of pre-Hispanic origin. Over 3,000 ponds, locally owned by 600 families, make up the picturesque Maras that are all connected through an impressive underground network of canals that fill these pools with salt water.
* Moray Terraces: Visit this small community famous for its embedded amphitheater, formed by circular terraces which seem to disappear into the ground! Archeologists believe Moray played an important role in the agricultural research conducted by the Incas.
Machu Picchu (1 Night):
"Shrouded by mist and surrounded by lush vegetation and steep escarpments, the sprawling Inca citadel of Machu Picchu lives up to every expectation. In a spectacular location, it’s the most famous archaeological site on the continent, a must for all visitors to Peru. Like the Mona Lisa or the pyramids, it has been seared into our collective consciousness, though nothing can diminish the thrill of being here. This awe-inspiring ancient city was never revealed to the Spanish colonizers and was virtually forgotten until the early part of the 20th century." - Lonely Planet
Voyager Train journey to Machu Picchu: Begin the journey in comfortable seats with panoramic windows and excellent onboard service. Delight in the incredible landscape along the route to Machu Picchu, including imposing mountains, snow-capped peaks, the winding river, and the gradual change of vegetation until the entry point to the magical rainforest home to the Inca citadel.
Discover the Citadel: Privately guided exploration of the great Inca wonder. Photo ops are everywhere as we learn about this sacred place which served as a place of worship, a site for star-gazing, and a private
hacienda of the family of the Sapa Inca (chieftain). Surprisingly, this 15th century masterpiece was never revealed to the conquistadors and was hidden to the outside for hundreds of years. Today, it's one of the world's most studied ancient sites!
*Optional Additional Visit: Purchase another permit to take more time exploring this archeological treasure. There are multiple circuits offered and on a return visit, you'll be seeing the ruins from a route different from what is included. No matter which route is taken by visitors, there are endless stories, facts, and tales of Incan legends to be shared.
*Optional Huayna Picchu Hike: Trek to the top of the iconic pinnacle at the southern end of the site. Machu Picchu means old mountain or old peak in the local dialect, while Huayna Picchu is new or young peak. This is the mountain across the valley from Machu Picchu made famous by thousands of images and postcards seen around the world. The trek to the top is a once-in-a-lifetime experience & the summit affords a unique, reverse view of the main site.
Price: $2,995.00
Single Supplement: $695.00
Cancellation Policy & Refunds
There is a $300 administrative fee for all cancellations. Cancellations made 120 days (December 7th, 2026) or more prior to trip departure date are fully refundable except for the $300 fee. Cancellations less than 120 days (December 8th, 2026) prior to the trip departure date will receive no refund of the full amount due. No refunds on unused portions of the tour. Credit card fees and PayPal processing fees cannot be refunded. After airline tickets are issued, airline cancellations are per the airline’s policy and are usually non-refundable and changeable with a fee plus new ticket price. Travel insurance strongly encouraged (ask us about policy options). Hotels subject to change based on availability.
Roommate Pairing Policy: Please be advised that PhotoFly endeavors, but does not guarantee, to secure a suitable roommate for travelers electing to share accommodations. In the event a match cannot be arranged no less than forty-five (45) days prior to the scheduled departure date, the traveler shall be required to convert to a single occupancy room and shall be responsible for the associated single supplement fee. Should a roommate become available after said date, PhotoFly will facilitate the pairing and issue a refund for the previously paid single supplement.
Optional Activity Cancellation Policy: Travelers wishing to cancel any optional activity(s) have until the day before Day 1 on the official itinerary to receive a refund. Please note that this is subject to approval by the provider and PhotoFly will act in good faith to recoup the money. From Day 1 on, cancellations for personal reasons (changed mind, potential bad weather, etc.) are not entitled to any refunds and PhotoFly will directly ask the provider for money back. Machu Picchu permits are non-refundable.
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