Inspiration for your own tailor-made trip
Peru - Lima - Cuzco - Machu Picchu - Lake Titicaca
100% customisable for you
This 11-day trip begins with a 13-hour flight to Lima. When you land, we’ll transfer you to your chic hotel in the city’s creative Barranco district. Relax and refresh in your comfortable room before heading to the restaurant to sample some excellent Peruvian cuisine.
So you can get to know Barranco a little better, we’ll arrange for you to take a private tour of this popular district. Artists, creators and gallery owners have made their mark here, yet the district has retained its nostalgic charm, helped by the regular passing of the old tram. Inside the shops, craftsmanship and design go hand-in-hand, while the beaches have retained the upscale atmosphere they had at the turn of the 20th century. Afterwards, you can continue exploring the city at your leisure and, if you like, we can arrange for you to take a private cooking class with a local chef.
This evening, we’ll reserve you a table at Central Restaurante, the flagship restaurant of prominent Michelin-starred chef Virgilio Martinez. The menu includes indigenous ingredients to connect guests to the culture and flavours of the region, and the restaurant has pushed Limenian gastronomy to the top of international rankings. All you have to worry about is leaving room for dessert, and we’ll arrange your transport to and from the restaurant.
You’ll be privately transferred to the airport today for your flight to Cusco. When you land, we’ll transfer you to the town of Urubamba in the Sacred Valley. You’ll spend three nights here in a bungalow set in a flower garden. In the restaurant, you can enjoy stunning Andean cuisine, while the spa and swimming pool are the perfect places to unwind and adjust to the altitude.
While you’re here, you’ll be equipped with a Boleto Turístico General (Cusco Tourist Ticket). This ten-day ticket grants you access to a huge range of museums and sites in Cusco and the Sacred Valley: the fortress of Sacsayhuaman, the Qenqo sanctuary, the Puka Pukara fortress, the sacred site of Tambomachay, the Inca agricultural terraces of Tipón, the town of Chinchero, the Regional Historical Museum and the Contemporary Art Museum. If you like, we can arrange for you to break up your visits with lunch on the terraces of Moray at Virgilio Martinez’s Mil Centro restaurant.
In a flurry of bold colours and red ponchos, local markets bring the community together. While you’re in the area, you’ll pay them a visit in the company of a private driver and guide, beginning in Pisac. Here, you’ll find fresh cheese, chicken, aromatic herbs, bread, vegetables and potatoes of all kinds, along with centuries-old agricultural terraces and an Inca citadel. At the other end of the valley, you’ll visit the fortified site of Ollantaytambo, a magnificently preserved example of Inca town planning.
You have the rest of your time in the Sacred Valley to explore and put your tourist ticket to use. If you need a break from all the adventuring, we can arrange for you to enjoy a day of relaxation at the spa.
Today, we’ll transfer you to Ollantaytambo station where you’ll take a scenic train journey to Aguas Calientes (Machu Picchu Pueblo). You’ll then board the shuttle to prepare yourself for the majesty of Machu Picchu. The beauty of the mountains, the scale of the design and the genius demonstrated to construct this Inca citadel are beyond belief. To answer some of your questions and give you the means to understand this feat of engineering and design, you’ll experience it in the company of a private guide.
When you can bear to tear yourself away, you’ll be transferred to the station to board the scenic train to Cusco Poroy. Your home for the next two nights is a beautiful hotel in a 16th-century building in Plaza de las Nazarenas. When you’re not busy enjoying your magnificent room or taking advantage of the massage service, head to the kitchen for some tasty traditional cuisine.
Cusco is the former capital of the Incan empire, which somewhat explains its beauty and magnificence. In the company of a private guide, you’ll explore some of its highlights today, including the Catedral Basílica de la Virgen de la Asunción (16th and 17th centuries) and the Temple of the Sun (Qoricancha), on the foundations of which the Convent of Santo Domingo has stood since the 16th century. You can also visit the sacred site of Q'enco, located just under four miles northeast of Cusco, along with Puka Pukara, the ‘red fortress’. In the distance, the snow-capped peaks of Ausangate watch over you. Finally, complete your visit with a trip to Tambomachay, an Inca system of aqueducts, canals and waterfalls, and the incredible UNESCO-listed Sacsayhuaman Fortress.
For the last leg of your trip, you’ll be privately transferred to the station where you’ll board the luxurious Titicaca train for an unforgettable journey across the Peruvian Andes. Outside your window, look out for vicuñas (similar to llamas) and flocks of pink flamingos on the long plains. You can also make use of the open-air observation car along with two dining cars. To the sounds of talented musicians playing traditional music, you’ll see the magical Urcos, La Raya (the trip’s highest point) and finally the city of Juliaca, before reaching Puno just after dinner time.
When you arrive, you’ll be privately transferred to a stylish waterside lodge where you’ll spend the next two nights. Your room opens out onto shimmering Lake Titicaca, so you can spend your downtime admiring this magnificent natural site. When you’re hungry, tuck into gourmet cuisine prepared by the house chef.
Your last day in Peru is yours to spend enjoying the lake and the many activities on offer here: kayaking, canoeing, naturalist hiking, mountain biking and trekking. There are also plenty of trips available, such as a visit to the weavers of Copamaya village, the pre-Inca tombs of Sillustani on Lake Umayo, or the Iglesia de San Pedro Mártir. You can also head to the man-made floating islands on the lake, created by the indigenous Uros people as protection against attacks from the Incas; some are still inhabited, and they can be visited by traditional totora (reed) canoes that transport tourists and residents. On the island of Taquile, men knit and women weave, and their textile art has been listed by UNESCO as Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.
Your trip to Peru sadly comes to an end today, so we’ll transfer you back to Juliaca airport for your return flight via Lima. You’ll arrive in the UK the following day.
Everything in this itinerary is entirely customisable, down to the smallest details. Here are some more suggestions of what could be included
Each of our trips is entirely tailor-made with originality, quality and cultural immersion in mind. Our team of destination specialists will craft itineraries based on your tastes, using their first-hand knowledge and the help of our in-country team of Concierges and guides. All trips are accompanied by a wide range of additional services, including a 24-hour helpline, the Original Travel app, fast-track airport services and much more.
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Our team of destination experts will get to know you and your unique requirements for your holiday
We work with you to build an ultra-personalised holiday itinerary with your choice of accommodation, experiences and activities
All of our holidays include little extras designed to make a big difference to your trip, from fast-tracking you through airport check-in and security to our network of local Concierges
