Peru Explorer

On arrival, you’ll be escorted to the brand-new Intercontinental Hotel, with dramatic ocean views from your room.

Today you’ll join our engaging expert guide to explore the colorful neighborhoods, vibrant city life, and splendid Colonial-era landmarks of the capital. Just outside your hotel’s front door, the inviting district of Miraflores is popular with city residents who come here to enjoy the shops, restaurants and fine views over the Pacific. It’s the perfect place to begin your sightseeing with a guided walking tour. Then discover the handsome Colonial architecture of downtown Lima . Stand in Plaza Mayor and admire the Cathedral; built in the 18^th century, 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 sprawling complex with lovely courtyards and Baroque paintings.  
 
Next up is the highly regarded Larco Museum; renowned for its superb collection of pre-Columbian artifacts, this expertly guided visit is the perfect introduction to the many Inca sites you’ll explore in the coming days. Cap off your sightseeing with a guided stroll through Barranco, a charming city neighborhood that has attracted writers and artists since the early 20^th century. Today, it remains a vibrant cultural enclave with thriving studios, galleries and cafes.  This evening, enjoy a congenial welcome dinner with wine.  Meals B+D

After an early breakfast, you’ll be escorted to the airport for your included flight to Cuzco, the ancient capital of the once vast and mighty Inca Empire. On arrival in this high-mountain city, you’ll meet your trip leader, an Andean expert on the ancient Inca and contemporary Peruvian traditions.

Journey down into the Sacred Valley to visit the Museo Sulca Textil, a family-owned museum dedicated to safeguarding the ancestral knowledge of Andean weaving. During your visit, you’ll explore beautifully crafted textiles that combine ancient techniques with sophisticated designs, each piece reflecting the cosmology and daily life of the Andes. You’ll also have a chance to observe expert artisans at work and learn how they use natural fibers and dyes to create pieces of remarkable detail and meaning.

Then continue to Manos de la Comunidad, a local initiative that brings together artisans from nearby villages to sustain their traditional livelihoods. Here, you’ll engage with the weavers themselves and see firsthand how their crafts support rural communities. The site is also home to the region’s native camelids—alpacas, vicuñas, llamas, and guanacos—whose wool provides the foundation for their artistry. For lunch, enjoy a traditionally prepared pachamanca, cooked underground using hot stones, a culinary ritual that dates back to Inca times. Then continue to the enchanting Aranwa Sacred Valley Resort, beautifully situated on the riverside grounds of a 17th-century Colonial hacienda. Meals B+L

This morning, begin your exploration with a visit to the colorful Urubamba Market, where farmers and artisans from the surrounding highland villages gather to sell their produce and crafts.

Continue to Ensifera Camp, nestled in the heart of the Sacred Valley and renowned for its lush hummingbird gardens. Here, you’ll have the chance to observe these tiny, iridescent creatures flitting among the flowers, their wings beating in an almost invisible blur. As you watch, a local birding expert will share insights into their unique adaptations and vital role in the Andean ecosystem.

Then journey across the highlands to Moray, one of the most intriguing and enigmatic sites of the Inca Empire. Its series of concentric circular terraces create distinct microclimates, leading many to believe this was once an agricultural laboratory where the Incas studied how altitude and temperature affected their crops. Your exploration continues to Maras, where thousands of salt pools cascade down a terraced mountainside — a dazzling landscape that has been worked by the same families for generations. The sight of these gleaming white pools, fed by natural mineral springs, offers one of the most striking scenes in the Sacred Valley.

Conclude your day with lunch at Las Manos Restaurant, where you’ll enjoy regional specialties prepared with fresh, locally sourced ingredients, a fitting finale to your day of discovery. Meals B+L

Early this morning, head to Ollantaytambo, an Inca-built town nestled in a narrow valley framed by majestic Andean mountains. From the lower terraces, take in panoramic views of the imposing fortress — one of the few places where the Inca successfully resisted Spanish forces in 1537. In the shadow of these ancient walls, the town itself remains a living example of Inca urban design. Its cobblestone streets, stone canals, and centuries-old homes offer a vivid glimpse into daily life that has changed little in over 600 years.

Enjoy lunch at El Albergue, a charming restaurant located beside the historic train station. Here, traditional Andean dishes are prepared with fresh ingredients sourced from their own organic farm, creating a delightful and authentic culinary experience surrounded by mountain views.

Afterward, board the Vistadome Observatory Train, a scenic rail journey that winds through the magnificent Urubamba River Valley. Along the way, admire breathtaking vistas of terraced hillsides, traditional farming communities, and the lush cloud forest that heralds your approach to Machu Picchu.

Upon arrival in the town of Aguas Calientes, continue to your hotel — the enchanting Inkaterra Pueblo Hotel. Nestled within a riverside cloud forest at the foot of the mountains, this serene retreat offers stone pathways, tropical gardens, and the soothing sound of the nearby river. There’s time to settle in, explore the property’s tranquil surroundings, and enjoy dinner at the hotel’s restaurant. Meals B+L+D

After breakfast, board a coach for the winding ride up the mountain road to the entrance of Machu Picchu. The fabled Lost City of the Inca is undoubtedly Peru’s most celebrated landmark – and perhaps all of South America’s as well. Words can scarcely capture the breathtaking grandeur of its setting, perched high among mist-shrouded peaks, nor the mysterious power that seems to emanate from its ancient stones. As you explore this remarkable citadel with your expert guide, the ingenuity of Inca engineering and the spiritual significance of this mountaintop sanctuary come vividly to life. From its precisely cut stone walls to the terraces that cling to the mountainside, Machu Picchu continues to inspire awe as one of the world’s most extraordinary archaeological sites.

Return to Aguas Calientes for lunch at Café Inkaterra, a charming riverside restaurant featuring regional specialties and fresh local ingredients.

The afternoon is yours to enjoy at leisure. You might browse the town’s inviting galleries and markets, relax in a local café, or simply unwind amid the lush gardens and forest trails surrounding your hotel. Meals B+L+D

This morning, we’ve included your transportation and entry ticket so you can ascend to Machu Picchu and explore the Lost City at your own pace. At this early hour, before the day-trippers arrive, the site feels serene and almost timeless. Soft morning light illuminates the terraces and temples, and the quieter atmosphere makes this an unforgettable opportunity to fully absorb the magic and grandeur of this iconic Inca citadel.

After your visit, we’ve included a seat on the Vistadome Observatory Train for the scenic journey back to Ollantaytambo. Lunch today is included at Wayra Ranch, where a lively demonstration features Peruvian Paso horses. Dressed in the traditional garb of the Qoriilazos (Peruvian cowboys), these skilled riders display extraordinary discipline, training, and passion — a true celebration of Peru’s equestrian heritage.

Following lunch, we’ve included private vehicle transportation through the highlands back to Cusco, arriving in the late afternoon at the elegant Aranwa Boutique Hotel, a beautifully restored colonial mansion that blends historic charm with modern luxury. Your specially oxygenated room is designed to ease the effects of the city’s high altitude, ensuring a more comfortable stay as you adjust to the elevation. Dinner is included at the hotel’s restaurant, completing a memorable day of discovery and travel in the Sacred Valley. Meals B+L+D

Join your expert guide today and ascend into the mountain peaks outside of town. Perched here above the terra cotta roofs of Cuzco are 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.
 
Back in town, you’ll visit the Temple of the Sun and Convent of Santo Domingo, 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! End your touring with the Cathedral and the other handsome Colonial-era landmarks that line the Plaza de Armas. Then we’ll take you to one of our favorite local eateries, Quinta Eulalia.  Meals B+L

This morning, you’ll venture across the Andean highlands to Oropesa, a handsome Colonial-era town rarely visited by other travelers. With its fine architecture and beautiful mountain setting, Oropesa is celebrated all across the country for its generations-old bread-making traditions. Locally known as pan chuta, these round loaves are made from traditionally-grown local wheat with a hint of sweetness and other spice flavors including cinnamon and anise. Baked in traditional ovens, special woods and eucalyptus leaves are burned to impart more flavors and a delicate texture to the crust. Your arrival and tour of Oropesa will be accompanied by the aroma of these freshly baked breads. Before leaving, of course, we’ll introduce you to local bakers who will be thrilled to offer you a sample of their celebrated bread!
 
Your cultural foray into the Andes continues in the remote mountain village of Cuyuni where you’ll be able to mingle and stroll with the residents. With your expert guide there to offer cultural and historical context, and translating as needed, you’ll join villagers in their fields and homes – learning about their traditions and a way of life that has changed little over the centuries!
 
Back in Cuzco, you’ll dine this evening at one of our favorite restaurants in town.  Meals B+L+D

After breakfast, you’ll be escorted to the airport for your included flight to Lima. Upon arrival, we will assist you to your connecting flight.  Meals B