Faster paces with mix of 1–2-night stays in each location. Typically features 4+ miles of walking on some days and may involve steep hills and uneven surfaces, such as cobblestones.
The Capital of the New World extends a warm welcome on your epic voyage through the iconic and unexpected highlights of Peru. Meet your local host on arrival and transfer to your hotel in the upscale shopping district of Miraflores. This evening, you’ll join your Travel Director and fellow travelers for a Welcome Reception at 6 p.m.
Connect with the colonial heritage of Francisco Pizzaro’s 'City of Kings', admiring the colonial splendor of Lima’s UNESCO-listed Historic Center. Stand in the birthplace of this ancient, yet modern city, surrounded by the Baroque façades of Cathedral of Lima and Palace of the Union. See the Church of San Francisco and discover its hidden catacombs. Celebrate Lima’s status as the culinary capital of South America and Connect With Locals when you meet Ignacio Barrios, who has worked alongside many of Peru's most award-winning chefs. We visit a local market where Ignacio will explain how Peruvian fruits, vegetables, seafood and meats are the basis of Peruvian cooking. Then, continue to Chef Ignacio's cooking school where we’ll enjoy a demonstration on how to prepare some of Peru's most popular dishes and have an opportunity to sample some at a Be My Guest experience lunch before spending the rest of the day at leisure.
Board a morning flight to Cusco and the Sacred Valley. MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® when you visit Manos de la Comunidad, a Weaving Center where you’ll uncover the traditions of the Sacred Valley, called “lindaje.” Then continue to a former 18th century colonial-style monastery, our hotel for the night. MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® and learn more about the artisan traditions meeting Nilda Callañaupa Alvarez, a master Quechua weaver and the first person from her village to attend university. She has been an ambassador for Andean traditions since she began learning ancient pre-Columbian weaving techniques as a young girl in the 1960s. MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience as your visit helps to preserve and promote traditional pre-Columbian weaving techniques in the 21st century.
The mystical empire of the Incas takes center stage today. We visit the famous Sacred Valley stronghold of Ollantaytambo with a Local Specialist, before boarding the Vistadome train (light snack included) for our epic journey to Machu Picchu, one of the New Seven Wonders of the World. Delve into the mysteries of this once-great civilization, admiring the 15th century stone ruins of temples, palaces and terraces perched high amidst the clouds. Join your Local Specialist for an exploration of the iconic great Temple of the Sun, the House of the Priest, the Sacred Plaza and the Intihuatana, an intricately carved rock most likely used as a sundial centuries ago. We return to our hotel where we dine tonight.
The ancient ruins of Machu Picchu beckon again and we have an opportunity to re-connect with this ancient wonder. We board a train to the Sacred Valley, then head to the colonial city of Cusco, stopping en route at a local chicheria. Dive Into Culture and enjoy the sweet flavors of chicha as you learn how this Peruvian corn beer is brewed by the local women.
Embark on a sightseeing tour of the sacred city of Cusco this morning with your Local Specialist, admiring the 16th century Spanish colonial buildings that stand on the foundations of former Inca temples and palaces. See the baroque Cathedral on the Plaza de Armas and 17th century Church of Santo Domingo. Visit the ruins of the Sacsayhuaman fortress and see nearby warehouses where the Incas once stored their grain. The afternoon is free to explore on your terms.
A leisurely start to our day sees us return to Lima this afternoon. Meet a Local Specialist at the Larco Museum, which houses the largest private collection of pre-Columbian art in the world. This evening we join our travel companions for a Farewell Dinner in the museum's garden restaurant.
Our discovery of an ancient civilization has come to an end. We transfer to the airport for your onward flight or perhaps extend your stay at the Novotel Lima.
Optional Experiences are subject to change. Your Travel Director will supply you with a final list of Optional Experiences available on your trip. Optional Experiences cannot be booked online; they can be purchased during your trip through your Travel Director.
Experience The Magic Circuit Of The Water (Available on Day 2)The Magic Water Circuit is the world's largest fountain complex of beautiful interactive fountains featuring swaying water, colored lights and lasers dancing with the music. The first fountain to welcome you, known as the Magic Fountain, forces water to a height of more than 250 feet (80 meters). This optional experience is available Wednesday to Sunday.
Adult Price: $41 Child Price: $41 Moray and Maras (Available on Day 6)Explore ancient history and living traditions on a visit to the UNESCO World Heritage Maras Salt Mine. Discover how salt from this region where the Incas once harvested salt is now exported to the entire world. Unlock the secrets of how the Incas found a water stream with high salt content and learned - in Pre-Incan times - how to build terraces to extract salt. You’ll love learning how the same technique is still used today and getting to see the local families who own the different salt pans work on site. It’s an incredible way to connect with the community who then sells all things salt including salt cooking salt mixes, pure pink salt, chocolate with salt and bathing salts. Then head northwest of Cusco, visit the Moray Incan laboratory to unlock how the Incas determined the ideal altitude to grow crops in the Sacred Valley. You’ll love learning how this ancient culture learned how to build these round terraces on a high plateau and experimented with different kinds of soils and temperatures to grow their crops.
Adult Price: $78 Child Price: $78 Cusco After Dark (Available on Day 6)Experience Cusco like never before! During your walking tour through the streets of the ancient city, you will learn its darkest secrets. Stories only locals know about and are shared exclusively in this experience. Go beyond the usual city tour in Cusco, and learn something you can drop as an exclusive inside story at your next gathering with friends and family. To add to the experience, this tour is offered during sunset (5 am) or after dark (starting at 6 pm) only.
Adult Price: $36 Child Price: $36 Cusco - Off the Beaten Track (Available on Day 6)Start your visit with the oldest Cemetery of Cusco, Cementerio General de la Almudena. Your guide will not only explain burial rites, but also relate personal stories, and most of all, stories about the citizens of Cusco buried here. From funny stories to tragic ones, what is guaranteed is that you will learn a lot of stories to tell! After that, you will walk through Coripata neighborhood back to Plaza de Armas in Cusco. On the way, you will get a glimpse into Cusco and how it is rarely seen through the eyes of a tourist. You will see tiny stores that sell everything from tombstones to everyday goods, and hear stories about the neighborhood and how life in Cusco works for the Cuzqueños. You will also learn more about Cusco’s history, and how it evolved from the Capital of the Incas to what it is today.
Adult Price: $44 Child Price: $44 Visit and Workshop at Choco Museum (Available on Day 6)Visit the Choco Museum where you will learn the Peruvian chocolate making process from the cacao bean to the chocolate bar. You will participate in making the chocolate and experience the true feeling of a chocolate maker.
Adult Price: $46 Child Price: $46