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| Day | Location |
|---|---|
| 1 | Arrive Lima. City tour if time allows. |
| 2 | Flight to Cuzco. City and ruins tour. |
| 3 | Machu Picchu tour, then free time at the site. |
| 4 | Morning train to Cuzco, afternoon flight to Lima. |
| 5-7 | Nazca overflight and south coast excursion, including the Ballestas Islands, an Ica winery and the oasis of Huacachina. |
| 8 | Departure Day. |
Nazca Express
8 days: US$2550 per person
Domestic flights included
(What’s Included)
This eight-day adventure in Peru takes us to Lima and Cuzco, to the Sacred City of Machu Picchu, down Peru’s exciting south coast and to the plains of Nazca, where we’ll fly over the mysterious Nazca Lines. And as on every Southern Crossings tour, you’re taken care of from beginning to end: airport transfers and domestic flights are included!
Depart any day and customize your tour at no extra charge!
NAZCA EXPRESS TRIP ITINERARY
| Day | Activity/Location |
|---|---|
| 1 | Arrive in Lima and transfer to your hotel. If arriving during the day, your hotel will be in the neighborhood of Miraflores, with good shopping and restaurants, and you’ll have an included city tour in the afternoon. If arriving late at night, you’ll be close to the airport for a bit more sleep before your next day’s flight, and you’ll have a tour of Lima upon your return. |
| 2 | A short flight this morning brings us to Cuzco, capital of the old Inca Empire. After an included city tour, we’ll have time to explore Cuzco’s markets or visit the ruins above town and the imposing Inca fortress of Sacsaywaman. |
| 3 | This morning we’re off on a beautiful morning train journey down the Urubamba Valley to Machu Picchu. Unlike most other companies’ trips, we actually spend a night at the village below Machu Picchu. So after a guided tour, take your time and enjoy this magnificent place. While most of the tourists are heading down to catch the afternoon train, we can stick around and have the place almost to ourselves in the afternoon. This allows us plenty of time at the ruins, as well as time for some day hiking in the surrounding mountains. We return to Cuzco by train on the afternoon of Day 4. If you wish to return to Cuzco on Day 3 for a free day there instead, you are welcome to. Just let us know in our booking form. Also, those wishing to add extra days in Cuzco after visiting Machu Picchu may do so. There is plenty to see, including Inca ruins, colonial churches, museums, and colorful local markets. There is also plenty to do, such as horseback riding, whitewater rafting, and mountain biking. Our Cuzco coordinator will assist you in planning your time there. Again, let us know when you fill out the booking form. |
| 4 | We’ll return to Cuzco this morning, have lunch and maybe do some last-minute shopping in the imperial city, and then head to Lima on an afternoon flight. |
| 5 | An early morning bus ride down Peru’s south coast brings us first to Ica, center of Peruvian winemaking. We’ll visit a local vineyard and distillery, check out mummies at the Ica Museum, and try out sandboarding at Huacachina Oasis. Overnight in Ica. |
| 6 | Travel to Nazca in the morning. Buckle up and get ready to be amazed as the splendor and magnificent art of the Nazca lines unfold beneath you. Hundreds of animals, trapezoids and ruler-straight lines lie across the rocky Nazca plateau, clearly seen only from the air. Some say it is an ancient calendar. Others suggest a beacon and runways for alien spacecraft. Still others believe it was just an ancient culture’s way of saying hello to their gods. Perhaps, while soaring over them, you’ll develop a theory of your own. After your flight, we’ll visit an ancient pre-Inca aqueduct as well as workshops for the making of pottery and the processing of gold. Return to Ica in the afternoon. |
| 7 | We’ll head to Paracas early this morning to go for a boat ride to the Ballestas Islands, Peru’s “mini-Galapagos”. Penguins and sea-lions are the highlight, as well as the massive and mysterious “candelaria” carved into an oceanfront hillside. Arrival into Lima in the evening. |
| 8 | Departure Day. A transfer to the airport is included in your tour. |
TRIP DETAILS
8 days: US$2550 per person
Domestic flights included
Depart any day! Discount for groups
Is this trip for me?
Nazca Express is an eight-day tour which includes a small-plane flight and some public transport. As always, a certain patience is required for the inconsistencies and occasional delays of developing-world travel.
Joining the tour
On all Southern Crossings tours, you are met at the airport by one of our representatives (holding a Southern Crossings placard), who will accompany you to our joining hotel. No bargaining or being ripped off by airport taxis!
- Airport pickup and transfer to hotel
- Southern Crossings bilingual guide in each location
- All other internal transport (excluding transport to optional restaurants, bars, sights and excursions)
- Domestic flights – Lima-Cuzco, Cuzco-Lima
- Seven nights of hotel accommodation
- Machu Picchu excursion - including private bilingual guide, round trip Vistadome or Executive train fare, transportation to/from ruins/Aguas Calientes, and day entrance to the Machu Picchu sanctuary
- Nazca Lines tour – including all transport, over flight of the Nazca Lines, and City tour of Ica with bilingual guide
- Ballestas Islands tour
- Cuzco Visitor’s Ticket – which gives entrance to the major ruins, churches and museums in and around Cuzco
- Private Cuzco city tour
- Private Lima city tour
- Southern Crossings T-shirt
What’s not included
International flight to/from Lima, airport taxes (approx. US$32), pre- & post- tour accommodation, visas, vaccinations, personal insurance, meals except where specified above, drinks, laundry, souvenirs, tips while on optional excursions and other items of a personal nature. Medical travel insurance is not included through Southern Crossings though we do require that you have a policy. We recommend www.travelguard.com although any travel medical coverage is acceptable.
Extra Accommodation
We will gladly arrange additional accommodation for you before or after your trip:
In Lima/Cuzco/Machu Picchu: $140 double/$130 single.
Single Person Supplement: $900
Please add this to your total payment if you will be travelling alone or wish to have private accommodation.
PRE-TRIP PLANNER
Required documents
All travelers to Peru are required to have a passport valid for at least six months from date of entry. Visas are not required for E.U., U.S., Canadian, Australian or New Zealand passport holders. For other nationalities, please consult the nearest Peruvian embassy or consulate. An onward ticket and proof of funds may also be required at entry and should be available to show to immigration. Traveler’s checks, currency, or a bank statement, from the bank or printed off the internet, are sufficient for proof of funds.
Required immunizations
No immunizations are required of travelers to these areas of Peru. Travelers may wish to receive hepatitis vaccinations and should be current on all other standard vaccinations. No areas visited on this trip are malarial or yellow fever zones. Please consult your physician or local health department for more information.
Things to bring
On our Nazca Lines tour, One should come well prepared for outdoor activity at temperatures ranging from 30 to 90 degrees Fahrenheit, and for extremes of sun and the possibility of rain. A list of things to bring would include:
- Passport and, if necessary, visa
- Traveler’s checks and/or cash card
- Airline ticket
- Photocopies of airline ticket and documents
- Wearable pouch for documents and money
- Large, sturdy backpack or suitcase
- Smaller, comfortable day pack
- Trekking/walking boots, comfortable and worn-in
- Sandals or flip-flops
- Rain poncho or jacket
- Waterproof pants
- Sun hat
- Hat for cold weather
- Good, warm clothing for cold weather (think layers!)
- Scarf and gloves
- T-shirts
- Socks (thin wool or biking socks are best), undergarments
- Towel and swimsuit for hot springs
- Camelback or Nalgene bottle (optional)
- Flashlight (head lamps are very handy)
- Sunscreen
- Insect repellent (15% DEET recommended)
- Lip balm
- Earplugs
- Alarm clock or watch
- Sanitizing hand wipes or gel
- Camera and film/digital memory cards
- Camera batteries
- Playing cards, games, reading material
- Prescription medications
- Toiletries
Note that common clothing, batteries, film, medications, and such toiletries as toothpaste, toothbrush, toilet paper, deodorant and feminine hygiene items are available in Peru.
It is best to bring from home such items as prescription meds, eyewear and care, extra large clothing, shoes, unusual film and camera batteries. Also note that most digital camera memory cards can be downloaded and burned onto a CD in internet cafes in any large city.
Climate
Rain is possible at any time of year, especially in high mountains and cloud forest, and one should always be prepared. The climate in sites we will visit is as follows:
Cuzco: days are warm if sunny, slightly chilly if cloudy. Nights are cold in Cuzco.
Lima: warm to hot days, cool evenings, almost never any rain. Often overcast.
Nazca: dry and warm desert climate which can be cold at night.
Machu Picchu: warmer and wetter than Cuzco. Pleasant evenings.
Money guide
The unit of currency in Peru is the nuevo sol. Automatic cash points are available in Lima, Nazca and Cuzco. Visa, MasterCard, Plus, and Cirrus are the most common usable types of cards. Traveler’s checks (American Express is best!) or a Visa or MasterCard for cash advances are also options. Do not bring MoneyGrams or International Money Orders, as they are extremely difficult to exchange. Banks and exchange houses are available in Lima and Cuzco. For currency, U.S. dollars are recommended and most easily exchanged. Please note that cash must be untorn. It can be older-looking, but even the slightest tear on an edge will make it un-changeable. Acceptable bills come out of the ATMs in country.
Expect to spend about US$3-10 on a meal, US$2 on a beer, water or soft drink in Peru. Shopping prices are usually lower than people expect. Alpaca sweaters, for example, run between $5 and $30. Currency Converter
I would recommend Southern Crossings to anyone seeking a well-organized trip with staff members who truly care about the travel experience of their clients. I’ve traveled to Latin America a number of times, but I have never had a better experience. Thank you for a trip I will remember forever!
- Beth Grunwald, USA – Nazca Express
I have already recommended Southern Crossings to my friends. I found the trip well planned and organized. For the number of events included I found the price extremely reasonable
-Steven Dubendorf, USA – Nazca Express
Peru is an amazing country, with a wonderful culture, friendly people, great food and an appreciation for tourists. Southern Crossings made the trip that much more enjoyable – everything was so well-organized and it was so nice of Doug to check in on us a couple of times to see how things were going. We enjoyed meeting Doug and Margo, as well as all the guides and drivers who helped make our trip memorable. Thanks!!!
- Mary Beth Rech, USA – Nazca Express