Peru
To get our mini brochure for this holiday please click here, and we will email you a PDF copy.
Day One: Arrive and Acclimatise
Upon arrival at Cusco Airport, you will be collected and transferred to your hotel. Then it’s time to acclimatise to this seductive city, 3,399m above sea level. Packed with ancient temples, colonial mansions and grand cathedrals, the former Incan capital is the perfect place to start an adventure.
For hotel details, click on the hotel name below.
Overnight in Cusco at your premium hotel - El Mercado Hotel by Mountain Lodges
Meals included: None
Day Two: Welcome to Cusco
Time for a morning foray into Cusco’s fascinating history, on a guided walk that takes in its most famous monuments. You’ll wander the UNESCO World Heritage site of Cusco with your private guide. You’ll take in the Coricancha Temple, the Inca’s most important place of worship, before moving on to the grand, colonial Plaza de Armas. Finally, you’ll head for the Inca fortress of Sacsayhuaman, with its fantastic views over Cusco. Later, you’ll take in the city’s vast history and stunning setting, with snacks and sparkling wine at a secret viewpoint overlooking its photogenic sprawl. In the evening, there’s the option to join a culinary safari with renowned chef and Peruvian foodie, Marcelo Batata. Over the course of four hours, you’ll discover Peruvian produce, before learning how to make ceviche, Pisco Sours and Lomo Saltado (quick-fried spicy steak). Then you’ll settle down to a slap-up Peruvian meal (Please see the Extras tab for details on cost.)
Overnight in Cusco at your premium hotel - El Mercado Hotel by Mountain Lodges
Meals included: Breakfast
Day Three: Onto the Inca Trail
After breakfast, you’ll leave your hotel in a private car bound for San Pedro railway station. From here, you’ll board the Vistadome train to the start of the Kilometre 104 Inca Trail hike. The train has panoramic windows, affording you incredible views of the landscape as it wends its way past fast-flowing rivers, ancient ruins and remote villages. When you arrive, it’s time to join the Inca Trail. Within a few minutes, you’ll be among the eerie ruins of Chachabamba, surrounded by mist-hugged mountains. After a packed lunch, you’ll continue on to Inti Punku (the Sun Gate), where you’ll catch your first incredible glimpse of Machu Picchu, from 2,650 metres above sea level. From here, a bus will take you to the nearby town of Aguas Calientes, your home for the night. You may like to ease aching muscles with a soak in its steamy hot springs.
Overnight in Aguas Calientes at your premium hotel - Hotel El Mapi by Inkaterra
Meals included: Breakfast; packed lunch; dinner
Day Four: Magnificent Machu Picchu
After your first encounter with Machu Picchu, it’s time to explore in more detail with your private guide. You’ll spend the morning soaking up the mysterious atmosphere of its temples, tombs and trails, before returning to the train station to journey through lush countryside to the Sacred Valley town of Ollantaytambo, then onwards to Cusco by bus for the night.
Overnight in Cusco at your premium hotel - El Mercado Hotel by Mountain Lodges
Meals included: Breakfast; lunch
Day Five: Aboard the Belmond Explorer
After breakfast, you’ll be transferred to the train station, ready to board one of the world’s most luxurious trains, the Belmond Andean Explorer. Onboard, you’ll sleep in an en-suite bunk bed cabin complete with a vast window from which to watch Peru’s incredible scenery go by, and you’ll eat in one of two grand dining cars. Your journey from Cusco to Arequipa includes stops at some of the country’s must-see sights too. Today, you’ll disembark to see the 2,000-year-old Inca ruins at Raqchi, with their gigantic temple walls. Then you’ll return to the train for afternoon tea followed by a scarlet sunset over the mountains of La Raya, as the Belmond Express continues towards Lake Titicaca station at Puno, where you’ll spend the night.
Overnight on the Belmond Explorer
Meals included: Breakfast; lunch; afternoon tea; dinner
Day Six: Towards Lake Titicaca
Awaken to sunrise on Lake Titicaca: You’ll be leaving the train for a boat trip to the islands of Uros and Taquile, where you’ll watch dance and craft displays and have lunch. On these unique islands, life continues as it has done for hundreds of years and you’ll glean a fascinating insight into Peruvian customs and culture. You’ll return to the train for afternoon tea, and enjoy dinner onboard as you travel towards Arequipa.
Overnight on the Belmond Explorer
Meals included: Breakfast; lunch; afternoon tea; dinner
Day Seven: Onwards to Arequipa
During your third day aboard the Belmond Explorer, you’ll head towards Arequipa, the lively regional capital that’s surrounded by some equally lively volcanoes. You’ll break to see the entrancing cave paintings at Sumbay, believed to be between 6,000 and 8,000 years old. Then you’ll continue on your journey, arriving at the train station in the early afternoon for your transfer to your hotel.
You'll have the afternoon at leisure to settle in to your hotel, take in the scenery and relax.
Overnight in Colca Canyon at your premium hotel - Colca Lodge
Meals included: Breakfast; Lunch; Dinner
Days Eight & Nine: Relax in the Colca Canyon
The next two days will be at your leisure, with plenty of things to do – or not do – it’s completely your choice.
Colca Lodge in one of the Colca Canyon’s most relaxing hotels, with unique thermal pools in its grounds and an eco spa which uses local ingredients and techniques. Blending into a Colca Valley landscape of Pre-Inca agricultural terraces and hemmed by a twisting river, the hotel comes with rustic-chic rooms and an excellent restaurant. Explore the landscape on treks from the hotel, star-gaze under the unpolluted sky, or simply relax and enjoy sunset from the thermal pools.
Overnight in Colca Canyon at your premium hotel - Colca Lodge
Meals included: Breakfast; Lunch; Dinner
Day Ten: On to Arequipa
After a relaxed morning and lunch at the hotel, its time to drive to Arequipa for your final night in Peru (approx. 4 hours). You'll have the evening at leisure to explore and grab some dinner at one of the city's many picanterías, where you'll be served a selection of Arequipan specialties like Rocoto Relleno (hot red peppers stuffed with mincemeat), chicharrones (deep-fried pork) and queso helado (an ice cream flavoured with coconut, cinnamon and spices).
Overnight in Arequipa at your premium hotel - Hotel Katari
Meals included: Breakfast; Lunch
Day Eleven: Heading home
You’ll spend the morning discovering more about Arequipa with your private guide. Wandering through its barrios, you’ll see the vast convent complex of Santa Catalina, with its red walls and cobbled alleys, before heading to the districts of Carmen Alto and Yanahuara, which both have viewpoints offering dramatic vistas of the Misti, Chachani and Pichu Pichu volcanoes. Later in the day, you’ll be transferred to the airport to begin your journey home.
Meals included: Breakfast
Overall meals included: 10 Breakfasts; 8 lunches; 2 afternoon teas; 6 dinners
What's included:
- Private English-speaking guides unless stated otherwise
- Private transfers and train tickets, unless stated otherwise
- Meals as listed
- Mandatory taxes and service fees
- Entrance tickets and permits unless stated otherwise
- Hiking the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu
- Boat excursion on Lake Titicaca
What's not included:
- International flights to/from experience: call 0208 251 0425 for AX specially negotiated flight rates
- Optional extras listed
- Tips for guides, drivers, hotel and restaurant staff
- Any visa, customs, airport taxes or similar charges before or after the tour
- We cannot guarantee the included hotel breakfast for early departures
- Drinks during meals unless stated otherwise
- Personal expenses, such as laundry
- Visit to hot springs in Aguas Calientes
SUITABILITY FOR FAMILIES : Suitable for families with adult kids.
If you intend to travel solo, contact us on 0208 251 0425
GETTING THERE
Typical return Economy flights from London cost around £1000 per person and take 20 hours.
For this particular experience, we have found that the best option is to book a multi-stop flight from London - Cusco - Arequipa - London.
Experience start point: Cusco (CUZ). Arrive any time.
End point: Arequipa (AQP). Suggested departure time: after 4pm.
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