Day 1: Arrival in Lima

Welcome to Lima. Founded in 1535 by the Spanish Conquistador Francisco Pizarro, this colonial city became the political and military capital of the New World until it was declared the capital of Peru in 1821. Walk to your airport located hotel and check-in.

Overnight at Costa del Sol Wyndham Lima Airport Hotel, Standard Room.

Day 2: Lima / Cusco / Sacred Valley: Chinchero and Moray with Weaving

Check out of the hotel after an early breakfast and walk to domestic departures. Board the flight to Cusco (airfare is extra). Arrive Cusco, at an elevation of 11,440 feet. To help manage and acclimate to the high altitude, we transfer down to the Sacred Valley at 8,200 feet of altitude. The Urubamba Valley is a laid-back valley with a very pleasant climate perfectly suited for farming. Ancient ruins, gentle mountain slopes and scattered farming towns define the valley. Our first stop is Chinchero, a small village in the Sacred Valley. There is a great display of Inca architecture, ruins and megalithic carved rocks. Chinchero is home to the famous Peruvian weaving and also has a colourful market. The Chinchero market is held on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Sundays. The market here is both traditional – you’ll see locals bartering over produce and shopping for clothes – and tourist-centered. As you stroll through the stalls, you’ll encounter a good range of handicrafts, especially weavings. This area is famous for weaving, and you may be able to see talented weavers demonstrating the process at a local workshop. The technique is complex and well worth seeing.

We continue to the Inca agricultural experimental center of Moray where circular agricultural terraces, or “muyus” were excavated from the earth to create different microclimates, as part of what is said to have been an Inca agricultural research station, enabled the Incas to grow more than 250 plant species. Our lunch today is very special…a small town called Tiobamba. This is a special experience as the town consisted of a beautiful old church set out in the middle of nowhere, where 2 families live permanently. The food is amazing and the view stunning.

Overnight at Aranwa Sacred Valley, Deluxe Room. Included meals: Breakfast & Lunch.

Day 3: Sacred Valley: Maras Salt Pools and Ollantaytambo Fortress

Enjoy breakfast at the hotelthen today you will be transferred to Maras. This otherwise modest village is proud to offer the world an invaluable treasure, in the form of the famous Maras salt. These saltpans create an impressive spectacle: hundreds of pure white pools, around which it is possible to walk. And local people offer every imaginable product made from this precious salt, even chocolates!

Our tour continues to Ollantaytambo, an ancient fortress of temples and terrace that tower over the valley. Once a military, religious and agricultural center of the Incas, this place dazzles with its platforms and its perfect stone carvings. A site that is believed to have been a refuge area for the Inca royalty. When visiting Ollantaytambo, you are amazed at its imposing buildings of more than four meters high, so it is inevitable to wonder how the Incas managed to transport and lift huge rocks from areas not so close; a sample of the engineering masterpiece that characterized this civilization. After time for walking around, shopping and lunch on own.

Tonight, your dinner is served at Wayra Restaurant. Like its namesake, the Quechua word meaning ‘wind,’ Wayra offers seasonal dishes that cannot quite be contained by a single cooking style. Chef Nacho’s dishes honor the Andean ingredients grown by local farmers whom we know personally and highlight the rich, varied flavors of the Sacred Valley by cooking with traditional wood burning ovens. Entertainment is included in the form of a Peruvian paso horse display with the excellently groomed horses from the property itself.

Overnight at Aranwa Sacred Valley, Deluxe Room
Included meals: Breakfast & Dinner

Day 4: Sacred Valley

Your day is at leisure to enjoy the facilities of the hotel or partake in a soft adventure tour such as horseback riding or riding an ATV’s. This evening our dinner is at Hacienda Huayoccari – Enjoy traditional homemade Peruvian food in an authentic estate, surrounded by art and with a breathtaking view of the Sacred Valley of the Incas. For a hundred years the Lambarri Orihuela family has lived at Hacienda Huayoccari. The house, built on a mountainside – as was the custom of the Incas – has an unparalleled view over the Sacred Valley, thanks to the expansive geography bestowed by the Huayllabamba-Urquillos valley. After being welcomed by a member of the family and a visit to the family collection, with artworks created in the Peruvian South from pre-Columbian to colonial times, enjoy traditional Peruvian homemade food, surrounded by art. An authentic experience in a magical place, on top of the world.

Overnight at Aranwa Sacred Valley, Deluxe Room
Included meals: Breakfast & Dinner

Day 5: Sacred Valley / Machu Picchu

Trekkers: Baby Inca Trail to Machu Picchu
Check out of the hotel early this morning and you are transferred to the train station to board the Vistadome Train to KM 104. At this point and after we check in at the ranges control, we will start trekking for approximately 3 hours, up to the well-preserved remains of Wiñay Wayna (9512 ft). On the way, we will see beautiful waterfalls. After enjoying a packed lunch, we will continue walking until we reach the Inti Punku, which is very well known as the sun gate. From the sun gate, we get our first sight of Machu Picchu. We finally cross the ridge that leads to our destination, and the full sight of the greatest archaeological discovery of modern times is revealed.

We descend by bus to Machu Picchu Pueblo town then walk to our hotel to meet the rest of the group. Tonight, you join your traveler companions to enjoy a private dinner at the terrace of the hotel to take part in an exquisite culinary experience: From the Andes to your table…The tasting menu, flavors of the Andes: Apucc Mikhuna, revels in an exquisite and rich list of native ingredients that have originality and history. It is a high-level gastronomic trip in which more than 35 ingredients coming from sustainable communities located within 50 kilometers surrounding our hotel merge together.

Non-trekkers: Train to Machu Picchu
Check out of the hotel after breakfast. Later this morning you will be transferred to the train station to board the Vistadome Train traveling through the Urubamba Valley to Machu Picchu often dubbed the “Lost City” of the Incas. Perched 8,200 feet above the valley, this significant archaeological find is situated along remote mountains, amid a semi-tropical jungle and therefore was hidden for 400 years until discovered in 1911 by Hiram Bingham of Yale University.

At the train station, hotel porters are waiting to assist carry your overnight bag and walk you to the hotel.

After checking in at the hotel, you will relax in the warm waters of the natural pools in Aguas Calientes, surrounded by lush vegetation at the base of the Machu Picchu Mountain. These pools, which give the town of Aguas Calientes its name, were formed due to the volcanic activity of the region. Soak in the comfortable waters, with temperatures that range from 100°F to 114°F. But don’t worry about the water’s slight yellow tinge—it’s caused by sulfur, iron, and other minerals that are naturally present. There are changing rooms, showers, and lockers available.

Rest of the day is at leisure to enjoy the hotel facilities or to walk around the town, while waiting for the arrival of the trekkers.

Tonight, enjoy a private dinner at the terrace of the hotel to take part in an exquisite culinary experience: From the Andes to your table…The tasting menu, flavors of the Andes: Apucc Mikhuna, revels in an exquisite and rich list of native ingredients that have originality and history. It is a high-level gastronomic trip in which more than 35 ingredients coming from sustainable communities located within 50 kilometers surrounding our hotel merge together.

Overnight at Sumaq Machu Picchu Hotel, Deluxe Garden View Room
Included meals: Breakfast & Dinner

IN PREPARATION OF YOUR MACHU PICCHU TRIP TOMORROW

You can take small bags into the ruins, but anything larger must be left at your hotel. As Machu Picchu is located in the oriental mountains, near to the forest, there is strong sunshine during the day, and at night the temperature drops, and it can be cold. You should take a backpack containing a sweater or sweatshirt, bottled water, insect repellent, sunblock, and a rain jacket.

There are also no toilets inside the ruins, but some are available at the entry gate, and you need to pay 1 Sol for each use (take your own bathroom paper).

Day 6: Machu Picchu / Cusco

Check out of the hotel after breakfast and store your luggage.

Meet your guide in the hotel lobby at 7:00 AM, then walk to the bus station to board a 25-minute bus from Machu Picchu Pueblo town up to the entrance of the Machu Picchu ruins.

Enter the gates and start your guided tour of the ruins. The Incas hid Machu Picchu so high in the clouds that it escaped destruction by the empire-raiding Spaniards, who never found it. It is no longer lost, of course, but Machu Picchu retains its perhaps unequaled aura of mystery and magic. Although no longer overgrown with brush, as it was when it was rediscovered in 1911, from below it is still totally hidden from view. The majestic setting the Incas chose for it remains unchanged.

After the tour walk to the Belmond Sanctuary Lodge located next to the entrance gate and enjoy a buffet lunch.

After lunch board the bus back to Machu Picchu Pueblo Town then walk to your hotel and pick up your overnight bag.

Travel on the exclusive and luxurious Hiram Bingham train and enjoy the elegant dining car and the bar car. The return trip includes a fine dining experience at dinner. You can accompany your meals with beverages (non-premium) and an excellent wine selection. To the beat of the Peruvian cajón and tambourines, live traditional Peruvian and international music will set the tone throughout the trip for an unforgettable journey to the Machu Picchu citadel.

Overnight at Casa Andina Premium Cusco, Superior Room
Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Cusco is at an elevation of 11,440 feet, which is at an elevation where some people may experience symptoms of altitude sickness. The main factor behind altitude sickness is dehydration – this is what causes headaches. You get dehydrated at high altitudes because of the dryness of the air, and you literally lose more water exhaling than you gain by inhaling, meaning you dehydrate yourself just by breathing. You’ll definitely notice yourself being more thirsty than normal at this elevation! The key here, obviously, is water and to avoid diuretics like caffeine and coffee.

Day 7: Cusco: City Tour and Nearby Ruins of Cusco

After breakfast we shall depart the hotel at 9:00am for our visit of Cusco City Tour and its Nearby Ruins

Cusco, Birthplace of the World

Your tour has been designed to introduce you to the important landmarks such as:

Cusco’s Cathedral: Construction occurred in two phases: first, the Chapel of Triumph was built on what had been the ancient temple of Suntur Wasi (House of God); afterwards, the cathedral was erected on the palace of the Inca Wiracocha. The Renaissance style dominates the façade and the interior, which features particularly exquisite carvings in cedar and alder. The choir and the pulpit are both remarkable for their beauty. It houses an important collection of paintings and silver-embossed objects.

Plaza de Armas: In Inca times, it was called “Huacaypata,” a Quechua word meaning a place of meeting or of weeping. It was an important ceremonial site, where the Inti Raymi or Festival of the Sun was celebrated each year. It was also the site where Francisco Pizarro proclaimed the conquest of Cusco. With the arrival of the Spanish, the plaza was transformed. They built stone arches and erected the buildings that still surround it to this day.

Koricancha “The Temple of the Sun”: This is the most impressive example of how Inca and Hispanic cultures fused together. The remains of the ancient Peruvians’ Sun Temple were used as foundations on which the Santo Domingo church and convent were built. The temple is a symbol of Western dominance. The site is a living example of the co-existence of Peru’s past with European architecture. The temple was built with finely carved stones. Inside the temple, the walls in the many chambers are covered by gold and silver leaf. The incredible size of the stones in the Inca walls, three of which have over 30 angles, are sure to capture all the attention. Also outstanding is a block that has 24 angles and 6 sides. The great Inca turret dominates the site and highlights one of the ceremonial niches with holes in low relief, which was related to the winter solstice. In the lower part of the temple, there are fountains and gardens where conquered tribes arrived to deliver their offerings. The inner sanctum of the temple was reserved for the highest authorities of the epoch and attracted people from communities all over the Empire who wanted to worship and pay tribute to the Tahuantinsuyo gods.

Tambo Machay: The building would probably have had an important religious role linked to water and the regeneration of the earth. The site stretches over approximately half a hectare, and the material used for its construction was polygon-shaped limestone.

Qenko or “labyrinth” is considered a sacred place in which ceremonies were performed in honor of the Sun, the Moon, and the stars.

Puka Pukara Archaeological Complex: The complex holds numerous halls, inner plazas, aqueducts, watchtowers, and paths. Its role would have been a “tambo” or a place of rest and lodging. According to legend, each time the Inca visited Tambomachay, he was accompanied by a large retinue that stayed in Puka Pukara. Its fortified appearance led to it being called a fortress.

Return to the hotel for the rest of the day at leisure

Overnight at Casa Andina Premium Cusco, Superior Room
Included meals: Breakfast

Day 8: Cusco: Handicraft Market and San Blas Neighborhood

This time, we will talk about the amazing traditional, typical Andean products you can buy and take home. Without a doubt, there is no way you’ll be visiting Cusco and not see our typical Andean, Inca souvenirs; so next we will tell you places where you can find lots of typical products. Check with us about the best handicraft markets in Cusco City.

Continue to the neighborhood of San Blas, filled with narrow typical streets, charming small homes, galleries, and craft workshops, where you see local artisans at work.

San Blas is an area in Cusco City famous because there are bars, restaurants, coffee shops, and similar, some of them with a spectacular panoramic view of town. Don’t miss the San Blas Gazer, a cozy place from where you’ll have a priceless view of Cusco City and a quite relaxing time.

Tonight, you will be transferred to Tunupa Restaurant for the greatest variety of novo-Andean dishes and the best panoramic view of Cusco’s Town Square. Dinner is followed by a folkloric show with whirling Peruvian dancers performing a variety of regional entertaining dances.

Overnight at Casa Andina Premium Cusco, Superior Room
Included meals: Breakfast & Dinner

Day 9: Cusco / Lima: Culture, History, and Food

Check out of the hotel after breakfast. Transfer to Cusco airport to board the flight to Lima. On arrival at Lima airport, you will be met by our representative, then transferred to the hotel for check-in.

After check-in, we begin our tour with a visit to the colonial area of the city to explore the most important historical sites and monuments. First, we head to the Plaza de Armas where you will see the Government Palace and the Cathedral, which was built on the site where the first major church in Lima once stood. We then continue to the 17th-century church and cloister of San Francisco, a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage site. The church and monastery hold many treasures, including religious art that is unique to Peru. We also visit the catacombs, a winding underground tomb filled with bones.

Next, we visit the Larco Archaeological Museum, located in a unique 18th-century vice-royal mansion built over a 7th-century pre-Columbian pyramid. The museum houses the world’s largest private collection of pre-Columbian art, featuring an astonishing array of gold, silver, and semi-precious stones. Founded in 1926, the Larco Museum showcases remarkable chronological galleries that provide an excellent overview of 3000 years of Peruvian pre-Columbian history. Its masterpieces are considered worldwide icons of Pre-Columbian art and have been exhibited in leading museums around the world.

Later, we drive to the Park of Love located in Miraflores, the modern section of Lima. Miraflores is home to Lima’s best restaurants, hotels, bars, clubs, and shops, all with a view of the Pacific Ocean. We then continue to the modern residential suburb of San Isidro, known for its good shopping with numerous large shopping centers.

In the evening, you will enjoy a gastronomy experience. During this Lima walking food tour, you will sample more than 15 Peruvian foods and drinks in one of Lima’s nicest neighborhoods – artsy and bohemian Barranco. You will even have the opportunity to interact with our local hosts to learn how to prepare the famous ceviche and pisco sour. You will learn about all the historical and cultural details behind each dish that you will have the chance to taste during this 4-hour Lima walking food tour.

Overnight at Pullman Miraflores Hotel, Superior Room
Included meals: Breakfast & Dinner

Day 10: Cusco / Lima: Culture, History, and Food

Enjoy breakfast at the hotel and then spend the day at leisure.

This evening, you will be transferred to the Magic Water Park, where you will observe a unique show of lights and music. This park has been included in the Guinness Book of Records as the largest fountain complex in the world. You will walk around with your guide who will explain the history behind this park, which was named Parque de la Reserva in honor of the troops participating in the War of the Pacific in the late 19th century. The park is a big complex and was built in a beautiful neoclassical style.

Dinner at Huaca Pucllana Restaurant – Enjoy delicious refined Peruvian cuisine right next to the Huaca Pucllana archaeological complex. The restaurant’s décor is elegant, adorned with pre-Columbian pieces. This classic destination on the Lima gourmet circuit offers a wide selection of excellent Peruvian ingredients, including meat, fish, shellfish, and countless vegetables. The dishes are prepared in accordance with our gastronomic tradition, with contributions from international cuisine.

Chef Marilú Madueño reinterprets the Peruvian recipe book and gives each dish a contemporary touch using flavors, aromas, textures, and colors from today and yesterday. The stupendous pisco sour is a favorite of regulars and occasional visitors alike. (The Huaca is a pyramid built of mud bricks from pre-Inca times, most likely from the 4th century or earlier.)

Overnight at Pullman Miraflores Hotel, Superior Room
Included meals: Breakfast & Dinner

Day 11: Depart Lima

Check out of the hotel after breakfast and you will be transferred to the airport to board your flight back home. Today marks the end of this wondrous experience, which is sure to be etched in your memory forever. Farewell and safe travels!