Discover the very best of Peru, with a private journey through the physical, cultural, historical and culinary landscape of this incredible South American country.
– 2 nights at Belmond Miraflores Park Hotel, Presidential Pool Suite
– Guided cultural tour of Lima
– Lunch at Cafe del Museo restaurant
– Internal flight to Cusco
– Visit Llama & Alpaca Ranch
– Guided visit of Pisac market and ruins
– 2 nights at Sol y Luna
– Guided visit to Maras & Moray
– Luxury glamping in the Andes
– One day Inca trail
– Second day at Machu Picchu
– Hiram Bingham Train – Aguas Calientes to Poroy
– 2 nights at Belmond Palacio Nazarenas
– Guided tour of Cusco
– Chef’s Food Tour – half-day culinary experience
Arrive Lima International Arrival
Transfer to hotel
An English-speaking Lucibello representative will be expecting you from your international arrival. He will greet you with a welcome pack, brief you on your trip, and escort you to your hotel to assist you with check-in. Within the welcome pack, you will find a hard copy of your itinerary for your trip with local times, maps, recommended shopping and eating and background information of the sites you will visit. He will talk you through everything, giving additional information according to your interests, and will be happy to answer any questions that you may have at this point. All hotel reservations are confirmed before you arrive, so you will only need to present your passport at the time of check-in. Train tickets will be given to you the day of your train journey.
Impeccable service is the standard at Miraflores Park Hotel, considered by many to be Lima’s smartest hotel. This hotel features superb ocean views, elegant European style décor, and a variety of luxurious amenities while being conveniently located within minutes of historical museums, colonial architecture, and fashionable shops, bars and restaurants in the district of Miraflores.
Check-In time: 15:00 hrs / Check Out time: 12:00hrs
Includes: Breakfast
8-hour tour led by one of our specialist guides
One of the main fascinations of Lima is the concentration of ancient history in the area; not only do the origins of the city pre-date the Spanish foundation of the city by several millennia, its museums are full of the artistic treasures of magnificent pre-Columbian civilizations that flourished throughout the coastal deserts of Peru. Begin to unravel this multifaceted history and discover the complex past of this fascinating city with a visit to an ancient adobe pyramid right in the middle of the city. Huaca Huallamarca, which dates back to around 200 BC, served a variety of functions, including a religious temple and a cemetery, for the populations that inhabited the area.
Next, journey to the Larco Museum, where your knowledgeable guide will turn thousands of years of complex ancient history into an easy-to-understand story for kids and adults alike.
In the afternoon, you will enjoy lunch at Cafe del Museo restaurant. We have booked a table for you.
Afterwards, continue your journey to the colonial area of Lima featuring the Cathedral, the Convent of Santo Domingo, and the Main Square with its beautiful neo-colonial style buildings. You will also have a chance to visit Casa Aliaga, reportedly the oldest home on the Continent and still family-owned after 17 generations.
Dinner at Central Restaurant, one the World’s Top 50 Restaurants List, Central delivers ambitious and worldly fusion from chef Virgilio Martínez Véliz, who has crafted a series of modern, molecular dishes using ingredients
native to Peru. You will pay the restaurant directly for your meal and any other consumption.
An Aracari representative will assist you with checkout, and then escort you to the airport for your flight to Cusco. After you have checked in your luggage, he will accompany you until you pass through to the departure area. You will be met by your expert guide at the Cusco airport and be escorted by private vehicle to Pisac, one of the most important Inca sites in the Urubamba Valley.
Llama & Alpaca Ranch
Along the way to Pisac, stop for a short visit of Awanacancha, where you will have the opportunity to see the different camelids that live in the Andes such as llamas, alpacas, vicuñas and guanacos. Alpacas have thick wool commonly used for textiles while the vicuñas are smaller and have delicate fur that is considered the finest in the world.
Guided Visit of Pisac Market and Ruins
Following your visit to Awanacancha continue on to Pisac where you will experience the sights and sounds of the town’s famous market, with a variety of handcrafts and fresh produce. Afterwards, continue on to the Pisac ruins. With Inca masonry of superlative quality, the stunning terracing following the contours of the mountain and superior view of the valley will leave you in awe. Explore at your own pace in this marvellous setting.
We adore this stunning and environmentally-integrated hotel, one of our most highly recommended in all of Peru.
The standard bungalows all have comfortable beds and ample amenities and are well decorated and appointed. The sophisticated casitas are ideal for those looking for an extra grade of intelligent luxury, with meticulous attention to detail and ample amenities. The property boasts two exceptional restaurants, and the spacious grounds and inviting outdoor swimming offer lots of space to relax and enjoy the beautiful surroundings of the Sacred Valley. Aside from being a gorgeous luxury property, Sol y Luna funds the Sol y Luna Association – which generates sustainable funding for education projects, including running its own school for children from the local community.
By staying at this social enterprise you are directly helping support the education, cultural and social projects run by the hotel.
Today, you will visit Maras, the site of the remarkable and unusual Salinas, located in the heart of the Sacred Valley and not far from Urubamba. This site consists of a huge number of watered terraces that collect salt by evaporation from the saline waters that gush from an underground stream. Built in a similar way to agricultural terraces seen throughout the Andes, the Salinas have been in use since pre-Columbian times. Visually, the shining, salt-encrusted terraces are extraordinary. Nearby Maras lie the most enigmatic Inca terraces at the site of Moray. This unique site, probably used for agricultural experimentation, consists of several enormous terraced circular depressions. Following your visit, enjoy a private picnic lunch, as well as an authentic Andean Shaman ceremony, before transferring back to your hotel.
Gourmet Picnic Lunch
Enjoy a delicious Andean-style al fresco picnic lunch, with time to pause and enjoy the magnificent landscapes around you. Hot and cold home-made dishes using local ingredients are served by friendly waiting staff for a sit-down lunch, with perennial local favourites, salads and sweet treats, accompanied by cold drinks and a glass of wine. Our spacious picnic tents will protect you from the elements, where you can enjoy the fresh air in comfort.
Shaman Andean Offering
To mark your spiritual visit to the Urubamba Valley we can arrange for you to participate in an intimate, special ceremony to be undertaken by a shaman whom we trust. We are careful of who we use for these ceremonies as they can become very touristy and artificial. We try to preserve its authenticity by showing it only to very interested and well-informed guests, and small groups.
For the ultimate off-the-beaten-path luxury experience, go glamping in the Andes.
During the day, explore the incredible natural wonders of the Sacred Valley, and at night sleep beneath the stars in a spacious tented suite that combines the raw beauty of open-air camping with the sophistication and comfort of luxury accommodation.
In the morning, your expert guide and driver will pick you up from your hotel, and take you to the glamping site. Here you will drop your things, and settle into your luxury tent before your morning activity. There are 7 ways to discover the area, on foot, by bike or in the nearby lake you can choose to kayak, bird watch, or stand up paddle board to take advantage of your remote outdoor location. Then enjoy a gourmet picnic lunch. A bonfire and deluxe dinner will be awaiting you upon return, so you can relax in the peaceful outdoors before retiring for the night.
Your tent will be gorgeously appointed with hand-carved furnishings, traditional textiles and fresh flowers. The four post bed provides a comfortable nights rest between days of adventure, and the bathroom allows steaming hot showers and silver-basin vanities even in the heart of the outdoors. This is a truly 5-star, one-of-a-kind experience.
Return for a second night at Sol y Luna.
Vistadome Train – Ollantaytambo to KM104 (start point for 1-day Inca Trail)
As the name implies, the Vistadome train features spectacular panoramic windows to make the most of the incredible scenic views during the amazing journey. This service has a total of five cars and is PeruRail’s mid-range option, offering comfort and quality as well as snacks and refreshments. The focus of the Vistadome is engaging guests with the breathtaking and ever-changing surroundings while giving them the opportunity to take some spectacular photos of the journey. The ride from Ollantaytambo to Aguas Calientes is approximately 1.5 hours.
Grade: Moderate
Highlight: Archaeology, scenery
Distance Covered: 12km (7.5mi)
Approx. Hiking Time: 6-7 hours
Max. Altitude: 2,800m (9,186ft)
Important note: Hiking the Inca Trail requires a permit and must be booked well in advance as the excursion is popular and has limited entry. In addition, please bear in mind that distances and altitudes are subject to variation as the route undertaken may vary slightly. Trekking time may also vary for each hiker and any times detailed in the description below are averages.
For those wanting to arrive at Machu Picchu by foot and avoid the usual crowds that arrive by train and bus, the one day Inca Trail is the perfect option. You will disembark from the train half an hour before arriving at Aguas Calientes (the station that serves Machu Picchu) and cross a hanging bridge to the small but interesting Inca archaeological complex of Cachabamba. After a brief visit of this site, you will begin a three to four hour ascent to the ruins of Wiñay Wayna, a remarkable Inca site that is only approachable by foot. From here you will hike approximately 2 hours along the main Inca Trail to Inti Punku, or the Sun Gate, where you will catch your first glimpse of Machu Picchu below. Most of the trek is uphill with a fair number of precipices and views of the Vilcanota River. After a guided visit of Machu Picchu, walk a short distance to the Machu Picchu Sanctuary Lodge.
1 night at Belmond Sanctuary Lodge
The Belmond Sanctuary Lodge is the only accommodation located adjacent to the Machu Picchu archaeological site. The lodge offers guests a unique opportunity to access the ruins in the early morning when it first opens and later in the evening when it closes, avoiding the crowds of other visitors and viewing the magnificence of the area in a more intimate setting.
Accompanied by expert guide | This morning, head back early to Machu Picchu with your guide for an activity-filled day at the ruins. Depending on your interests, there are a variety of excursions available.
Operated by Belmond, the Hiram Bingham Train is a must for those seeking the utmost level of luxury. This train guarantees the highest quality of service and has a total of four cars with room for 84 passengers, including two dining cars, a bar and observation car and a kitchen. Aboard the train a team of dedicated wait staff will attend to guests’ needs and ensure that the journey is as comfortable and convenient as possible. Guests enjoy a gourmet dinner during their spectacular journey through the Sacred Valley, passing by lush landscapes and Andean villages. Enjoy views of the beautiful mountains and Urubamba River before arriving to the Poroy train station after approximately 3 hours and 15 minutes of travel.
Transfer from Poroy train station to Cusco
This gorgeous hotel, a colonial convent refurbished by Belmond, is a refined and fashionable property featuring 55 suites lavished with the most luxurious décor and amenities. Guests will enjoy the highest quality of personal attention, with private butlers, fresh flowers in the room and such personalized details as a pillow menu, an iPad preloaded with advice about Cusco and a selection of Oscar-winning movies at your disposal. Amongst the ample facilities in each suite are a minibar, tea and coffee makers, telephones, satellite TV with Bose sound system, daily newspapers, a DVD player, a safe deposit box, free Wi-Fi, oxygen-enriched air system, laundry service and housekeeping twice a day. Each private bathroom is fitted with a hairdryer, towel warmer, a spacious shower, bathrobes and slippers. There are also two restaurants and a gift shop on the property.
4-hour tour accompanied by one of our expert guides
Cusco (3,400m/11,155ft) is without a doubt the most beautiful town in Peru and arguably in South America. It was considered the navel of the earth and was the capital of ahuantinsuyo (the Inca Empire), an empire that, at its peak, stretched northwards to the south of Colombia, southwards to northern Chile and Argentina, and eastwards across the Andes to the Amazon basin. After being transported from your hotel, begin your visit in the Plaza de Armas in the city centre. Make your way around the city as you are filled in with all of the enriching history and important moments that took place in the streets and buildings before you. Visit the renaissance-style Cathedral, certainly one of the most imposing structures in the city, and admire the exquisite stonework of Koricancha, or the Inca “Sun Temple.” You’ll also get to walk around the bustling, open-air San Pedro market, where you will be mesmerized by the variety of unique fruits and potatoes, before sojourning to the outskirts of the city to view the important Inca ruins of Sacsayhuaman. Following this series of most informative visits, you will be escorted to the Palacio Manco Capac for a private BBQ Lunch.
Barbeque with a View
From atop an Inca wall, enjoy panoramic views of Cusco during a private BBQ with your own dedicated cook. Sample a variety of local meats – including alpaca – accompanied by fresh, leafy salads from the on-site vegetable garden for hearty, home-cooking at its best.
Dinner at Cicciolina Restaurant
This evening, you will enjoy dinner at Cicciolina restaurant. We have booked a table for you. You will pay the restaurant directly for your meal and any other consumption.
Peru boasts an almost unbelievable number of ingredients and rich culinary history, sitting firmly on the international food scene as a must-visit culinary destination. Cusco, the heart of the Inca Empire, is surrounded by the Andes which are recognized for its wide array of natural ingredients. Ancient superfoods like quinoa and kiwicha sit alongside the seemingly humble potato; nearby, the Sacred Valley lays claim to a special variety of corn, the giant choclo. Ingredients and their diversity from Cusco and beyond have helped inspire the country’s leading chefs to deliver internationally-acclaimed fare, consolidated Peru’s position as a gastronomic epicentre. On this food-focused morning, you’ll be led on foot by one of the city’s top professional chefs to discover more about Peruvian food.
In the neighbourhood of San Blas you’ll begin at a local bakery, Pantastico, which uses traditional Andean grains like quinoa, kiwicha and maca to create delicious wholesome loaves. At San Blas market, you’ll see these types of ingredients on display alongside a multitude of exotic fruits and vegetables. The chef will take you to his favourite vendors to showcase and teach you about different ingredients – where they come from and what they’re used for. Head to a popular juice stall to sample some of the new fruits discovered in the market while tucking into a local sandwich from the stall next door. Next you’ll walk to an ice cream shop to enjoy a sweet taste of Peru’s flavours.
Your chef will then take you to Pachapapa restaurant where you’ll have the opportunity to learn to make Pisco Sours at the bar. Head out to the courtyard patio for a private cooking lesson, where under expert guidance you’ll prepare trout ceviche before sitting down to enjoy your own creation. Your tour ends at Pachapapa in San Blas, from which you can make your own way back to your hotel or continue exploring.
To find out how we can create the perfect itinerary for you, please get in touch.
