Peru: Machu Picchu and the Sacred Valley

We’ll depart our home airports on overnight flights south towards Peru.

Night: In the air

When you exit the customs hall, look for your transfer guide, who will be holding a sign with your name on it. They’ll then take you to the check-in desk for your onward flight. At the desk, present your passport, e-ticket, and luggage. After receiving your boarding pass, head upstairs to the departures area. The transfer guide is there to assist you through this process. Be sure to find the gate in plenty of time, since flights are not announced and gate allocations may not follow those written on your boarding pass.

The flight from Lima to Arequipa follows the coast before heading past volcanoes when landing. The journey takes just over an hour. You’ll meet your local guide on arrival in the “White City” of Arequipa. This is a beautiful city to explore, and the ideal place to start acclimatizing to the rarefied air of the Andes. Arequipa boasts the magnificent marble Plaza de Armas, quaint old town streets, the picturesque Santa Catalina Monastery (included in your tour), and the Juanita the Ice Maiden museum (optional). Alpaca wool is Arequipa’s finest export, and there are plenty of opportunities for treating oneself to some stunning textiles here.

Night: Hotel Casa Andina Select Plaza De Armas Arequipa

Meals: D

Driving out of Arequipa, we’ll enjoy spectacular views of the mountains surrounding the city before climbing high into the Andes and descending into the amazing Colca Canyon. One of the world’s deepest canyons, at approximately 11,150 feet deep, it’s home to Andean Condors and a fascinating local culture, different from any other location we’ll visit on this trip. We’ll spend the night at the charming Colca Lodge. Soaking in the world-class hot springs is the prime activity here, closely followed by enjoying one of their spa services overlooking the river. For dinner, to sample Peru’s finest, choose from the à la carte menu.

Night: Colca Lodge

Meals: BLD

An early morning drive to Cruz del Condor is recommended in search of one of the world’s largest birds, the Andean Condor, which nests on the cliffs. From here, we’ll return to the lodge while making several stops to visit local towns and make the most of the many beautiful photo opportunities along the way. After lunch, we can either hike to the nearby pre-Inca ruins, explore the Yanque Museum, or have a tour of the unique native culture and weavings in the area. You could also take advantage of the many activities available at the lodge and make the most of the fantastic spa facilities. The hot rock massage is highly recommended.

Night: Colca Lodge

Meals: BLD

On a spectacular drive through the high Andes, passing beautiful lakes, Vicuña herds, and huge vistas, we travel to Juliaca and on to our destination of Puno. En route, we can visit the Silustani Ruins, whose fascinating circular burial chambers predate the Incas. The amazing stonework of this early civilization was clearly a strong influence on the famous Inca stone masons. In Puno, we’ll check into our hotel and have time to explore this interesting town. Don’t miss the chance to barter for locally hand-knitted woolen goods! The birdwatching from the hotel is superb, so bring your binoculars and identification books.

Night: Hotel Casa Andina Premium Puno

Meals: BLD

Lake Titicaca is a photographer’s dream: its clear sapphire water and the astounding blue skies are mesmerizing. A full day’s boat trip ensures that you see all the sights in safety and style. The famous floating reed islands of Uros and the ancient traditions and weavings of Taquille Island are explained and viewed at your leisure. We’ll hike to the top of the island (optional), rewarded by spectacular views of Lake Titicaca. Lunch is at a typical restaurant before returning to Puno and back to the hotel for dinner.

Night: Hotel Casa Andina Premium Puno

Meals: BLD

A transfer from the hotel will take us to the nearby Puno train station, where we’ll board the train and travel across the high plains to Cusco. This classic Orient Express train journey, repeatedly voted “one of the top-ten railway journeys of the world,” cuts across the formidable Peruvian Altiplano, whose high plains are rich with llama herds, glimpses of the rare wild vicuña, and mountain villages where the resilient locals keep their communities with pride and good humor despite the harsh environment.

Night: Antigua Casona San Blas

Meals: BLD

Today, we’ll have an expert guide at our disposal to show us some of the highlights of this beautiful city. The day can be customized to whatever the group would like to see. A suggested itinerary is: First, visit the impressive site of Sacsayhuaman. Here, huge stone ramparts surround a beautiful grass amphitheater. Once the scene of fierce battles, it now hosts the recreation of traditional Inca ceremonies such as Inti Raymi and Warachikuy. Next is the Inca water temple of Tambo Machay, lying at 12,000 feet above sea level. With its intricately carved water channels, this location is thought to have been used both for ritual cleansing and for the worship of water. From here, we’ll carry on down to Cusco, stopping along the way at other historical sites such as the Temple of the Moon. Once down in the town, we may choose to visit the Plaza de Armas and its impressive cathedral. Qoricancha Temple, once home to life-sized statues of solid gold, is another popular option. If time permits, we can visit one of the bustling markets, full of tropical fruits fresh from the Amazon, or visit the San Blas artisan district.

Night: Antigua Casona San Blas

Meals: BLD

Departing early in the morning, our first stop is the picturesque Andean village of Pisac, famous for its daily handicraft market. We’ll have the option to visit a traditional bakery to try freshly baked empanadas. Afterwards, we’ll head along the Urubamba River towards Ollantaytambo, stopping for lunch in one of the many local restaurants. In Ollantaytambo, we can climb the steps of its impressive fortress for a fantastic view over the Sacred Valley. The building remains half finished, as it was here that the Incas were defeated in their last great battle with the Spanish before they fled to the jungle of Vilcabamba. In the late afternoon, we’ll take the train for 1.5 hours to Machu Picchu Pueblo.

Night: Hotel Inkaterra Machu Picchu Pueblo

Meals: BLD

In the early morning, we’ll set off to the fabled “Lost City of the Incas,” Machu Picchu. A short bus ride (or hike) takes us directly to the ruins, where we’ll have an extensive walking tour that explains the fascinating history of the Incas. If time permits, travelers may wish to explore farther to the Inca Bridge, walk back up the Inca Trail to the Sun Gate, or try the strenuous climb to the top of Huayna Picchu for an awe-inspiring condor’s eye view of Machu Picchu. This two-hour round trip is up steep, exposed steps and not for the faint of heart. (Because of permit restrictions, please let us know when booking if you want to climb Huayna Picchu or Machu Picchu Mountain). After lunch, there will be free time to explore. Some may prefer to just relax and take in the marvelous location. When the group is ready, the bus will take everyone back down to the town of Machu Picchu.

Night: Hotel Inkaterra Machu Picchu Pueblo

Meals: BLD

Today we’ll have a free day in Machu Picchu Pueblo. This interesting town boasts hot spring pools, an extensive artisan market, an interesting museum, orchid gardens, massage services, and a range of restaurants and bars. It’s a great place to hang out and watch the international tourists go by. There’s also an optional 6-mile hike to Mandor Waterfall. This was the site of Hiram Bingham’s base camp and boasts an orchid garden and sightings of exotic cloud forest birds. In the afternoon, we’ll catch a train to Cusco and on to the hotel for a Celebration Dinner.

Night: Antigua Casona San Blas

Meals: BLD

In the morning, the group will transfer to Cusco airport in time for our flights home.

Meals: B

We’ll arrive back home in the early morning, full of great memories from one of the most famous archaeological sites on the planet!