Welcome to Lima, the City of Kings. Your adventure begins at Jorge Chávez International Airport (LIM) where you will be met and transferred to your stylish accommodation with time to recharge before meeting the group to celebrate your first evening together.
Around 5pm, join your group to discover the beauty of Peru’s capital illuminated under the enchantment and tranquillity of nighttime on a guided tour. Explore the main attractions and history-rich monuments while admiring the exteriors of the Government Palace, the Cathedral of Lima, and the City Hall, all examples of Lima’s still-present colonial architectural opulence.
Afterward, you will be treated to a welcome dinner at Casa Tambo, set in an ornate historic building, over 100 years old. Sit down for an authentic meal and get to know your fellow travellers before returning to your hotel for the evening.
Arrival & Transfers:
Please book your flights to arrive at Jorge Chávez International Airport (LIM) by 2pm. Airport transfers are included on the first day of your tour. Your transfer will meet you on arrival and take you to your hotel. Check-in on Day 1 is at 2pm.
Prepare for a thrilling day packed with incredible sights, flavours and aromas. Start your culinary adventure with a visit to the market where you’ll meet local vendors and discover the amazing, colourful variety of seasonal and local produce. Peru is known for it’s heirloom vegetables like corn and potatoes, which grow in every shade of the imagination. Be sure to taste the variety of sweet tropical fruits, including orange granadillas, cherimoyas or ‘custard apples’, yellow cocona berries and caramely lucumas.
After sourcing the highest quality ingredients for your cooking class, learn to cook some of Lima’s most famous dishes. Discover essential techniques to perfect each recipe, and later, enjoy your gourmet feast for lunch before spending the rest of the day at your leisure.
Perhaps you may like to visit a local bar this evening to try the national cocktail – the pisco sour. Frothy and bright, the drinks is naturally South America’s answer to North America’s whiskey sour. While there’s much debate between Chile and Peru over who first invented pisco brandy, there’s no doubt that Peru’s aromatic interpretation of this white grape spirit is delicious.
Market visit and cooking class
After breakfast, transfer to the airport for your included flight to the imperial city of Cusco, situated in the Peruvian Andes. Upon arrival, make your way to the Sacred Valley of the Incas. Named for its deep connection to the Inca civilization, Sacred Valley is a breathtaking region of terraced farmlands, ancient ruins and the serene Urubamba River, along which fertile lands once nourished the heart of an empire.
Today you’ll have the chance to explore the quaint town of Pisac, famous for its artisan markets where you can find fine jewellery, ceramics and textile craftwork. Then, continue to Hacienda Huayoccari, an endearing estate surrounded by breathtaking views of the Sacred Valley. Explore the onsite museum before rejoining your group for a superb lunch prepared with fresh produce from the gardens.
Tonight, dinner is enjoyed at your hotel, where you can admire the 17th-century colonial architecture by the banks of the Vicanota River over a delicious local meal.
Travel time: Flight – approx. 1.5 hours / Driving – approx. 3.5 hours
Follow the fabled road through the Sacred Valley this morning, winding past the maize crops and terraces carved high into the valley walls. On the way, stop in Chinchero to walk its picturesque streets before heading toward the Salt Pans of Maras.
Located near the village of Maras, these salty springs emerge from the hillside – learn how terraces were built to capture the flows and harvest their salt. Then follow as your tour continues to the deep amphitheatre-like site of Moray, which was used as an agricultural testing ground by the Incas, before sitting down to a memorable meal.
Today’s gourmet experience is a one-of-a-kind exclusive outdoor gourmet tented lunch at Huaypo Lagoon, flanked by the majestic Andes as your backdrop. After lunch, return to the Sacred Valley to enjoy the rest of the day at leisure.
Travel time: Driving – approx. three hours
Following breakfast, pack a small overnight bag and check out from your Sacred Valley hotel.
Travel to one of the last remaining Incan towns, Ollantaytambo, which was once guarded by a massive fortress. Explore the archaeological complex of what used to serve as a wayside inn for royal delegations on long journeys before being whisked away for a farm experience nearby to learn about Andean coffee and Caña Alta, a local brand of ‘cañazo’, or Peruvian rum made with fresh sugar cane juice.
Following your organic farm tour, enjoy a traditional pachamanca meal cooked under hot stones, traditionally made using meat marinated in herbs and spices and served with vegetables. Then, visit Café Mayu, a working coffee roasting plant and Destilería Andina, one of the first distilleries in the valley, where you can perk up with an included cañazo tasting before embarking on your rail journey to Machu Picchu.
This afternoon, board the Expedition train and transfer to your hotel, perched high in the mountains and boasting impressive views beyond the clouds. Here, enjoy a traditional dinner at the onsite Qunuq Restaurant, serving up delicious Peruvian cuisine made from local ingredients.
Travel time: Driving – 30 minutes / Train – approx. 90 minutes
Sacred Valley farm visit and pachamanca feast
Perched high in the Andes, surrounded by verdant cloud forests and with the Urubamba River running through the gorge below, Machu Picchu is magical, and your first glimpse from your Vistadome train is something to remember. Today you will wake early for a sunrise visit to the famed ruins complex.
Your visit to this archaeological wonder begins with a convenient bus ride to the entrance of the citadel. Its architectural beauty, spectacular natural landscapes and the energy held in its enigmatic structures will take your breath away. Follow in the footsteps of the ancient Incas as you explore this magical citadel, listening to your tour guide unravel the hidden wisdom and stories held here.
Return to Aguas Calientes for a delightful Andean buffet lunch before reboarding the train to Ollantaytambo. Upon disembarking, travel onward to Cusco, where you’ll enjoy the rest of the evening at your leisure.
Travel time: Driving – approx. three hours / Train – approx. 90 minutes
Expedition train journey to Machu Picchu
Spend your morning at leisure and fuel up with breakfast at your hotel before visiting the San Pedro market. Get a taste for everyday life in the city as you pass by colourful stalls offering everything from fresh produce and traditional Andean spices to handmade crafts and street food stalls.
Stop for a cooking class and lunch, where you will learn more about Peruvian gastronomy as the chef teaches you specialist techniques to prepare traditional dishes such as the locally-revered ‘lomo de alpaca’, which requires a unique wok technique.
As the sun sets, enjoy a special farewell dinner at MAP Café, located in the yard of the beautiful Pre-Columbian Art Museum. You might even wish to arrive early to browse the preserved relics of Incan sculpture, ceramics and other handicrafts before the exhibits close for the evening.
Your tour ends after breakfast as you’re transferred to Alejandro Velasco Astete International Airport (CUZ) in time for your onward flight.
Departure & Transfers:
Checkout on your final day is at 10am. Please book your flights to depart from Alejandro Velasco Astete International Airport (CUZ) at any time. Airport transfers are included on the last day of your tour. Your transfer will meet you at your hotel and take you to the airport.
