Day 1 - Welcome to Lima!

On arrival at the Lima International Airport, you are met and transferred to your hotel.

Meals today are under your own arrangements.

Lima, the Capital of Peru was founded on 18th January 1535, by Spanish Conquistador Francisco Pizarro, and quickly became known as the City of the Kings. Within 70 years it was the most important city in the Spanish-American Empire and was the focal point for European trade and cultural activity in the region. It is a city of rare fascination and unexpected pleasures. Lima has decaying colonial splendor and the teeming vitality of an oriental bazaar; melancholy cloudy winters and warm breezy summers; impoverished urban sprawl and quiet elegant corners among ancient buildings where the night air is scented with jasmine.

Overnight: Belmond Miraflores Park

Meal Plan:

Day 2 - Casa Aliaga and Gourmet Tour

Gourmet tour during the morning which is full of amazing views and great places where to stop, relax and chill to take some time to appreciate one of the most beautiful districts of Lima. The tour will also include the opportunity to discover different dishes and flavors from the locals: Choco Museo (chocolate tasting), Las Reyes (Peruvian homemade flavors), Geronimo (contemporary Mexican and Peruvian fusion) and Beso Frances (desserts) Start in Miraflores and continue through San Isidro to delight in local places with some of the main dishes from Peru (sweet and salty). Return along the “Malecon” where you will enjoy the spectacular view of the Bay of Lima,

Return to your hotel, to freshen up, with a new appreciation of why Peru’s food is amongst the best in the world.

During the afternoon take Colonial sightseeing and have the opportunity to visit the famous Casa Aliaga.

Begin this tour with a panoramic view of the historical center of Lima where you can appreciate more than 50 monumental and colonial edifications: Republican Promenade (Paseo de la República); San Martín Square; the Main Square; the Government Palace; the Archbishop’s Palace; the Cathedral Basilica, and the City Council Palace amongst others. Visit the “City of the Kings”, starting in Plaza Mayor or Main Square.

Continue with a journey into the past, enjoying a welcome cocktail in Casa Aliaga, Lima’s oldest colonial mansion. Built in 1535 by the illustrious Spanish conquistador Jeronimo de Aliaga, this incredible relic of colonial splendor has been home to 17 generations of his descendants ever since. You will be immediately struck by the grace of the wood and marble staircase leading up to a fine entrance patio. You will have the chance to see its beautiful rooms, the family chapel, the Golden Salon, with incredible golden mirrors, and a beautiful upper gallery, which is home to some important paintings from the Cusco School.

Return to hotel for dinner.

Overnight: Belmond Miraflores Park

Meal Plan: B,L,D

Day 3 - Sacred Valley of the Incas

Transfer from Hotel to Airport for your flight to Cusco.

Upon arrival in Cusco, you are met and transferred to Plaza de Armas, for a lunch stop at Calle del Medio. After lunch, you will be transferred to the Sacred Valley of the Incas. En route, you will visit Manos de la Comunidad, a center where South American Camelids (members of the camel family); Llamas, Alpacas, Guanacos, and Vicunas are all bred. You will learn about the renowned fibers created from their coats, as well as the ancient weaving techniques which are still used.

Afternoon on your own.

Set menu dinner at the hotel.

Overnight: Belmond Rio Sagrado

Meal Plan: B,L,D

Day 4 - Village of the Flowers

Arrive at a community in Chinchero, the Village of the Flowers, where you will meet and share with the locals and then hike to the Chinchero archaeological site (3,719 masl) 
This hike explores ancestral routes along the Andes in Cusco and includes a visit to the archaeological center of Chinchero, recognized as a cultural heritage site. 

We will start with an incredible view of a “mirror” effect: the reflection of the sky on the beautiful Piuray lagoon. Next, we follow our specialized guide along ancient trails surrounding the lagoon and are escorted by docile llamas and alpacas with multiple stops to take photos. 

During this experience you will capture impressive views of the mountains and the landscape of the Sacred Valley of the Incas, learning at the same time about the daily life of our farmers and shepherds. 

You will have the privilege of walking along paths used by our ancestors and, as a reward for your effort, we will treat you to a delicious outdoor lunch with a stunning background of mountains and glaciers. 

As a final touch, the last part of our activity will allow us to explore the quaint alleyways of the town in Chinchero, an important administrative center during the Inca and Colonial times. 

End of visit and transfer back to the hotel.

Overnight: Belmond Rio Sagrado

Meal Plan: B,L

Day 5 - Board the Deluxe Hiram Bingham Train

This morning you board the deluxe Hiram Bingham train bound for Machu Picchu, where a late morning arrival gives you time to begin your explorations of this breathtaking Incan citadel. Light lunch will be served on board.

Accompanied by your guide, explore the city’s ruins, and feel its pulse as you visualize the lives of the priests, craftsmen, and servants who inhabited this seemingly uninhabitable citadel. Excavations at the site have revealed skeletons, artifacts and woolen clothing, but no gold. The same precision of assembled stones exists here as in other Incan sites.

Tea-time at the Machu Picchu Sanctuary Lodge.

Overnight: Belmond Sanctuary Lodge

Meal Plan: B,L,D

Day 6 - Visit the Stunning Machu Picchu

This morning you will visit and wonder at the astonishing lost citadel of Machu Picchu. Walk around, take pictures, and get your imagination dreaming of how days went by here, in times when this place was an active part of the Inca Empire. Then, after having satisfied your thirst for Machu Picchu, it will be time to visit another wonder of this land.

Admire the massive fortress of Ollantaytambo. This formidable stone structure that climbs massive terraces reaching the top of a high peak, was the valley’s main defense against the Antis and was the site of the Incas’ greatest victory against the Spanish during the wars of conquest. Constructed of rose-colored granite, this huge installation was once a thriving complex of baths, temples, and military barracks. Below the fortress lies a complete Incan town, also called Ollantaytambo, still inhabited and with its original architecture and layout preserved.

Transfer to hotel in Cusco.

Overnight: Belmond Monasterio

Meal Plan: B,L

Day 7 - Visit Inkilltambo and Sacsayhuaman

This morning you visit the archaeological site of Inkilltambo, also known as Inkacárcel, which was probably built by Huiracocha (8th Inka King) and later restructured and remodeled by Pachacútec (9th Inka King). Inkilltambo is just 198 m (640 ft) higher than the city of Cusco, making it convenient for hiking since there is no dramatic gain in altitude.

A 15-minute drive from Cusco to the starting point, it’s an easy hike of 7.8 km (4.9 miles), through amazing landscapes and Inka locations where you’ll be challenged to find the sculptured monkeys. Monkeys in the Andes?’ Yes, and you’ll learn all about it!

Inkilltambo is made of a series of rectangular enclosures, agricultural terraces, and pre-Columbian canals. It is also home to an amazing ceremonial shrine built on a natural rock formation, with large carved alcoves connected by narrow passageways and an abundance of spiritual carvings. Another highlight of this experience is how peaceful it is since it never gets crowded and it’s one of those few off-the-beaten-track locations. We should also mention that Inkilltambo is beautifully maintained and preserved, particularly since the official restoration process in 2017.

As a bonus attraction to this trek, we also invite you to visit the National Archaeological Park of Sacsayhuaman, a UNESCO World Heritage site since 1983. This vast complex of massive dry -stone walls, built around the 15th century, represents the pinnacle of architectural and engineering excellence during the Inka Empire.

After lunch, enjoy a city tour which includes the Cathedral on Plaza de Armas and Santo Domingo, a Dominican church and convent built upon the foundations of Koricancha. Also known as the ‘place of gold’, this was the Incas’ main religious building, dedicated to the worship of the sun.

Overnight: Belmond Monasterio Hotel

Meal Plan: B,D

Day 8 - Enjoy the Reflective Beauty of Lake Titicaca

Transfer to Wanchaq Train Station

Depart from Cusco, across the Altiplano towards Puno and the reflective beauty of Lake Titicaca. Enjoy lunch on board before your visit to Raqchi. Then after tea, you can enjoy the sunset at la Raya, and then a cocktail and dinner on board before arriving at Titicaca Lake station.

Overnight: Andean Explorer, a Belmond Train

Meal Plan: B

Day 9 - Uros Island

Breakfast is followed by a visit to Uros Island on a typical boat. Stop off at Taquile Island and Collata Beach, where lunch will be served at a private location with typical dancers and handicrafts. Return to Titilaka Lake station for tea time, and then head back to Arequipa with a cocktail and dinner on board.

Overnight: Andean Explorer, a Belmond Train

Meal Plan: B

Day 10 - Colca Canyon

Morning at Saracocha, with a visit to Sumbay Caves, home to the rock art of the first-known inhabitants of the Peruvian highlands, and then the volcanic ‘White City’ of Arequipa. Return to the train for lunch and continue travelling to the wonderful Colca Canyon, the dramatic realm of the soaring condor. In Arequipa, you will be given a panoramic tour of the city, before going to the airport for your flight to Lima.

Overnight: Wyndham Costa de Sol Lima airport

Meal Plan: B,L

Day 11 - Departure

Transfer to the airport, for your outbound flight.

Overnight:

Meal Plan: B