Grandeur of Peru

On arrival, you’ll be warmly greeted and escorted to the exclusive Hotel B. Our luxury hotel is the only Relais & Châteaux property in Lima, located in the trendy arts district of Barranco.

After breakfast, a full day of exploration with our resident guide begins in Barranco, a charming city district that has attracted writers and artists since the early 20th century. Today, it’s still a vibrant cultural enclave with thriving studios, galleries and cafes. At the Larco Museum, you’ll peruse a renowned collection of Pre-Columbian artifacts – the perfect introduction to the ancient sites you’ll explore in the days ahead. After lunch at the stylish Café del Museo, you’ll explore the centuries-old landmarks in the Colonial heart of Lima . Stand in the historic Plaza Mayor, still a popular gathering place, and tour the Cathedral; built in the 1700’s on the site of an earlier 16th-century church, this handsome landmark is the oldest on the Square. Right next door, the Archbishop’s Palace is easily recognized by its grand wooden balcony. You’ll also tour the Church and Convent of Santo Domingo, a vast complex with lovely courtyards and Baroque paintings. This evening, learn how to make a classic Pisco Sour before sitting down to dinner in a private room at the luxury Hotel B, a distinguished member of Relais & Châteaux.  Meals B+L+D

This morning, you’ll be escorted to the airport for your included flight to Cuzco, the ancient capital of the Inca Empire, and meet Carlos Seminario, our resident expert on Inca history and contemporary Peruvian traditions.
Head to Manos de la Comunidad, where you’ll witness native weavers from different communities preserving centuries-old textile techniques. Explore their workshops and meet the alpacas, vicuñas, llamas, and guanacos whose wool is used to create these beautiful garments and blankets.

For lunch, enjoy a farm-to-table meal at Hacienda Huayoccari, a 17th-century garden estate that has been home to the Orihuela family for over 100 years. Savor fresh Andean dishes prepared with local ingredients, then take time to explore the estate’s private collection of pre-Columbian, Inca, and Colonial artifacts, including a rare set of Qeros, traditional drinking vessels crafted from wood, ceramic, or gold.

Next, visit the hummingbird gardens at Ensifera Camp, one of the most enchanting spots in the Sacred Valley to observe these tiny, mesmerizing birds. An expert birder will guide you through their habits, unique characteristics, and the vibrant ecosystem they inhabit.

Finally, travel deeper into the Sacred Valley and check in at Tambo del Inka, a luxurious hotel set amidst verdant fields and soaring mountains, offering a seamless blend of modern comfort and traditional Andean charm.
Meals: B+L+D

This morning, visit the colorful local market in Urubamba. Then head to Maras to see the salt mines; worked for generations by the same families, these remarkable terraced pools cascade down the mountainside and across the valley. Nearby, you’ll spend time in the workshop of a famed Andean milliner – where his daughter carries on the family tradition. Then journey across the highlands to the circular terraces of Moray, perhaps one of Peru’s most fascinating and enigmatic sights. Scholars speculate that the ancient Inca may have used these terraces a type of agricultural testing station to study the effects of temperature and wind upon their crops. 

After exploring Maras and Moray, you’ll visit Manuel Choque’s ancestral potato fields, an intimate journey into Andean agricultural traditions. Manuel, known as the “Potato Whisperer,” has devoted his life to preserving over 4,000 heirloom potato varieties. Walk through the vibrant terraced fields, learn about ancient cultivation techniques, and hear the fascinating stories behind each unique variety. Your visit concludes with a lunch, enjoying fresh, local ingredients and gaining a deeper understanding of Peru’s millennia-old potato heritage.  Meals: B+L+D

Early this morning, head to Ollantaytambo, an Inca-built town with a strategic fortress that was successfully defended against the Spanish in 1537. This is one of the most significant Inca sites in Peru, and its location in a narrow mountain valley framed by rugged peaks is truly breathtaking. In the shadow of the ancient fortress, the community of Ollantaytambo provides a vivid illustration of Inca urban planning. Laid out in a simple grid with cobblestone streets, perfectly constructed stone walls, and canals, many of the buildings and residences date back 600 years or more.
Your two-day visit to Machu Picchu begins in style aboard the first-class train through the scenic Urubamba River Valley, enjoying a delicious lunch with wine on board as you travel through this timeless region of snow-capped Andean peaks, quiet villages, and terraced fields cultivated for centuries.

On arrival in the beguiling town of Aguas Calientes, you’ll board a coach for the 30-minute ride up the switchback mountain road to the entrance of Machu Picchu. The fabled Lost City is undoubtedly one of Peru’s greatest landmarks. With Carlos’ illuminating expertise, your visit will bring to life the ancient Inca civilization, revealing the breathtaking grandeur and enigmatic aura of this iconic citadel.

After sightseeing, return to Aguas Calientes for an overnight at the luxury Sumaq Machu Picchu Hotel, nestled in a riverside cloud forest below the Lost City.
Meals: B+L+D

This morning, we’ve included your transportation and entry ticket so you can ascend again with your guide to explore Machu Picchu. At this early hour, the day-visitors from Cuzco and the Sacred Valley have yet to arrive. With fewer people and the softer light of morning just breaking over the mountain peaks, an early-morning visit to Machu Picchu is one of the most memorable travel experiences you will ever have.

After sightseeing, return to Sumaq Hotel for a leisurely à la carte lunch and some free time to relax.
In the afternoon, board the Vista Dome Observatory train for your return journey through the Sacred Valley. Enjoy the scenic ride and the attentive onboard service as you make your way back to Cuzco. On arrival, check in at the luxurious Belmond Monasterio Hotel, where you’ll have dinner and the evening to unwind.
Meals: B+L+D

After breakfast, we head towards the outskirts of Cuzco and stop at the Pachacutec Lookout, an iconic monument overlooking the city. Next, you’ll explore the magnificent ruins of Sacsayhuaman. Built in the 1400’s by the Inca Emperor Pachacútec, the massive limestone blocks of this venerated complex were cut with such precision that they fit together without mortar like the interlocking pieces of a jigsaw puzzle! With some individual stones towering more than 10 feet tall and weighing several hundreds of tons, Sacsayhuaman is a monumental achievement of architecture and masonry. Here at this sacred and mysterious site, we’ve arranged for you to witness an Andean purification ritual. Then sit down to lunch at La Princesita and return to town where the rest of your afternoon and evening are at leisure. Your luxury hotel is in the heart of town making it easy step out and explore Cuzco’s inviting boutiques, galleries, cafes and restaurants. Meals B+L

This morning’s visit to the Almudena Cemetery offers both a fascinating contrast and complement to yesterday’s focus on Cuzco’s centuries-old Inca sites. Here at this seemingly commonplace setting, Carlos will offer thoughtful cultural perspectives and personal insights into how ancient traditions – some dating back to Inca times – still endure in the life of local residents. Continue your sightseeing with the Cathedral and the other Colonial-era landmarks that line the Plaza de Armas. At the Temple of the Sun and Convent of Santo Domingo, you’ll discover one of Peru’s most architecturally fascinating sites. It also demonstrates the rich layering of history here in Cuzco, where a sacred structure of one culture, the Convent, literally sits atop and practically encloses another, the Inca-built Temple of the Sun!
 
Your morning ends on the 11th floor of a Cuzco building where our stylish and gleaming rooftop kitchen awaits. Take in the views of the city and then join our skilled chef for a hands-on cooking class where you’ll learn to make both an appetizer and a luncheon entrée. Enjoy additional free time this afternoon to shop, relax and explore as you wish. This evening, you’ll dine at MAP Café, one of Cuzco’s finest restaurants.  Meals B+L+D

After breakfast, you’ll be escorted to the airport for your included flight to Puno, a bustling town along the northwestern shores of Lake Titicaca. Upon arrival, you’ll be warmly greeted and transferred to the GHL Hotel Lago Titicaca, set on the shore of a beautiful island overlooking Lake Titicaca, where A+R guests enjoy lakeview rooms. Meals B+L+D

Lake Titicaca is one of the highest lakes in the world and the largest in South America. Its beauty is breathtaking to behold and its sacred waters have been revered since pre-Inca times. Titicaca is perhaps best known for its amazing floating islands - made of Totora reeds and home to small but vibrant communities of the Uros people. This morning, you’ll set out with our expert guide to cross the waters and step ashore on these remarkable manmade structures. As you learn firsthand about their construction and maintenance, and the secrets behind their buoyancy, you’ll also gain insight into the history, traditions and daily of the Uros. You’ll also visit Taquile Island, famed for ancient agricultural terraces that climb the hillside from the lakeshore; its residents still speak the language of the Inca and weave beautiful textiles using techniques that have changed little over the centuries. Meals B+L+D