Lima

Enjoy a morning at leisure in Lima.

Meet your private guide to begin your Lima city tour including the Larco Museum. You will start by visiting the Plaza Mayor, which has been declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. Continue on to the cathedral, with its splendid carved stalls and gold-plated altars, the Government Palace, City Hall and the Archbishop’s Palace. Next, you’ll explore the San Francisco Monastery, which houses the largest exhibition of colonial religious art in America. From the historic center, travel through modern Lima to visit the fascinating Larco Museum, located in a unique 18th-century mansion. Among the many treasures, admire the collection of ancient Peruvian gold and silver and the renowned display of erotic ceramics.

Overnight at Miraflores Park, A Belmond Hotel

Lima / Cusco / Sacred Valley

Meet your private guide in the lobby for your private transfer to Lima Airport for your scheduled flight from Lima to Cusco.

On arrival in Cusco, after collecting your luggage you will be met by your private guide and escorted to your hotel in the Sacred Valley. En route, enjoy a scenic drive through breathtaking landscapes.

Stop on the way to visit Awanakancha Center, where weavers from more than 12 communities of Southern Peru demonstrate the spinning, dyeing and weaving techniques used in making traditional Andean costumes. Learn about the four groups of South American camelids whose fleeces are used in the stunning handcrafted pieces.

Continue to the town of Pisac, renowned for its bustling market where you can buy handicrafts ranging from ceramic beaded necklaces and earrings to ponchos, hats and textiles.

Arrive at your hotel. Afternoon at leisure.

Overnight at Rio Sagrado

Sacred Valley

Meet your private guide in the hotel lobby for your next tour. Today you will visit Ollantaytambo. On the way you will drive through a patchwork of fields that blend into the snow-capped peaks of the Urubamba and Vilcabamba mountain ranges. The village of Ollantaytambo is home to one of the area’s most impressive Inca fortresses, while the town is one of the oldest continuously occupied settlements in the Americas. Marvel at the 16 massive terraces spread before you, testament to the precision and longevity of Inca masonry. Climb the steep stone steps (around 260!) to the imposing fortress at the top of the mountain. From here, the view down the valley is unparalleled, as is the sight of the soaring Sun Temple.

Enjoy a special lunch at a local restaurant.

In the afternoon, visit Moray, an intriguing Inca site where terraces are arrayed in concentric circles. Apparently, it was used as an agricultural laboratory, testing growing conditions for different crops.

You will also explore Maras. The colonial village of Maras is known for its nearby salt pans, which have been harvested since pre-Columbian times. Today locals are collecting the salt in much the same way as their ancestors would have done 400 years ago.

Overnight at Rio Sagrado

Sacred Valley / Machu Picchu

Meet your private guide in the hotel lobby for your private transfer to Ollantaytambo train station. From here you will travel to Machu Picchu aboard the luxurious Hiram Bingham train. Departure: 10.53hs. / Arrival: 12.24hs.

Hiram Bingham, A Belmond Train is the most luxurious way to journey between Cusco and Machu Picchu. Its sumptuous 1920s-style carriages ensure a magical journey never to be forgotten. With two Dining Cars, a Bar Car, open-deck Observation Car and Kitchen Car, the train can carry up to 84 passengers. On the journey to Machu Picchu, a gourmet brunch is served as you gaze through your window at the stunning Urubamba Valley.

Upon arrival in Aguas Calientes train station, take the bus up to Machu Picchu and check in at Sanctuary Lodge, A Belmond Hotel.

Enjoy a half-day private guided tour of the Inca citadel and its surrounding complexes. Machu Picchu stands 2,430m above sea level, in the middle of a tropical mountain forest. It was probably the Inca Empire’s most amazing urban creation; its giant walls, terraces and ramps seem as if they have been carved out of the rocky escarpments. The extraordinarily beautiful setting, on the eastern slopes of the Andes, encompasses the Upper Amazon basin with its rich diversity of flora and fauna. Entrance to the citadel is included.

In line with the latest directives to help preserve the Historic Sanctuary, the local authorities have announced that the following key sites may only be visited during these times:

Intihuatana Pyramid – 7:00hs. -10:00hs. Temple of the Condor – 10:00hs. -13:00hs. Temple of the Sun – 13:00hs. -16:00hs.

Your schedule only enables you to visit the Temple of the Sun, but as the other two sites are just a small part of the entire citadel, your overall experience will not be compromised.

After your tour, retreat to Sanctuary Lodge for afternoon tea and a peaceful night.

Overnight at Sanctuary Lodge

Machu Picchu / Cusco

This morning you will have the opportunity to choose one of two guided hikes.

The first hiking option is to Inti Punku, or the famous Sun Gate, which is the entry point to Machu Picchu on the Inca Trail and offers excellent views of the ruin (approx. 2 hours). The second is a trek up Huayna Picchu (two time slots subject to availability**), which soars 260 meters above Machu Picchu. From here you gain breathtaking views of the surrounding area and the magical lost city (approx. 2.5 hours).

** (Huayna Picchu 7:00hs. time slot / entry to citadel from 6:00hs.) (Huayna Picchu 10.00hs. time slot / entry to citadel from 8:00hs.)

Please note, your program includes entrance to the Machu Picchu citadel at the following set times:

−  8:00hs. with Huayna Picchu at 10:00hs.

−  13:00hs. – citadel only, If you wish to enter the citadel at another time, kindly let us know so that we can include additional entrance tickets. If you prefer not to embark on a hike, relax and continue exploring the magnificent citadel. In the late afternoon, you will board the bus to Aguas Calientes, where you will take the Hiram Bingham train to Cusco.  An elegant dinner is served on board (including soft drinks, Peruvian wine and pisco), while lively musicians entertain you. Upon arrival at Poroy train station, meet your private guide for a private transfer to your hotel in Cusco.

Overnight at Monasterio, A Belmond Hotel

Cusco

Enjoy a half-day tour of Cusco, which includes a visit to the cathedral on the Plaza de Armas and the Santo Domingo Temple, a Dominican church and convent built on the foundations of the Koricancha, an important Inca temple devoted to worship of the sun. Your tour also includes a visit to the impressive fortress of Sacsayhuaman, which overlooks the city of Cusco. You will be impressed by the beauty and monumental scale of this important Inca construction. Continue to Qenqo, one of the finest examples of artfully carved rock showing complex patterns of steps, seats, geometric reliefs and a puma design.

Afternoon at leisure in Cusco.

Overnight at Monasterio

Cusco / Puno

Private transfer to Wanchaq train station, where you will board the Andean Explorer, A Belmond Train to Puno and Arequipa.

Depart on the Andean Explorer train to Puno.

Your journey today leaves from Cusco, ancient capital of the Inca Empire, and courses along the highest plains of the Andes to reach the reflective beauty of Lake Titicaca.

Lunch is served on board.

Afternoon stop in Raqchi, also known as the Temple of Wiracocha. Visit the Inca site, which is believed to have been a control point on the main road system that originated in Cusco and expanded as the Empire grew.

Enjoy afternoon tea on board.

Late afternoon stop at La Raya, which marks the border between the regions of Cusco and Puno. Admire the typical Puna landscape, with feathery grassland called ichu, and alpacas, llamas and vicunas grazing on the slopes.

Enjoy pre-dinner cocktails then an elegant dinner.

Arrival in Puno – Lake Titicaca train station.

Overnight stay at Lake Titicaca station onboard the Andean Explorer

Sunrise at Lake Titicaca. Breakfast on board the train.

Depart by boat to the Uros floating Islands. The indigenous Uru people belong to a small ethnic group that once co-existed on Lake Titicaca with the Incas, Aymaras and possibly even older civilizations.

Continue to Taquile Island and its beautiful beach. Taquileños are known for their handwoven textiles and clothing, regarded among the highest-quality handicrafts in Peru. Knitting is exclusively performed by males, who start at the age of eight.

Enjoy a set menu lunch at a local restaurant, with demonstrations of local dances and artisan work.

Arrive back at Lake Titicaca station and enjoy afternoon tea at the station.

Depart for Arequipa

Pre-dinner cocktails and dinner on board

Overnight on board the Andean Explorer at Saracocha.

Arequipa, Colca Canyon

Breakfast on board and time to enjoy the magnificent lake, a perfect site for spotting and learning about the region’s fauna, especially birds.

Depart for Arequipa.

Mid-morning stop to visit the remarkable Sumbay Caves, featuring more than 500 ancient paintings and engravings of local wildlife, including herds of guanaco, a relative of the llama that still lives in Peru’s high sierra.

On alighting from the train at Km 93, please meet your private guide for a private transfer to Las Casitas, A Belmond Hotel.

Enjoy the spectacular natural beauty of Colca Canyon. Relax on the property and indulge in a spa treatment

Overnight at Las Casitas, A Belmond Hotel

Colca Canyon / Arequipa / Lima

Early this morning depart for the famous natural lookout point known as the Cruz del Condor, or Condor Cross. Here you can appreciate the staggering depth of the canyon and see magnificent condors gliding around the mountain peaks.

At your pre-arranged time, you travel back to Arequipa. Fly from Arequipa to Lima.

Assistance with your international flight connection is provided on arrival at Lima Airport.