Tour Details
DEPARTURE INFORMATION
Starts any day. January to December
9 days from $5645.00Arrive Lima, Peru
Welcome to Lima, Perú. You are met upon arrival at the Lima airport and escorted to your luxury hotel in Perú’s capital city.
Lima is a large cosmopolitan city, known as “The City of Kings,” and renowned for its colonial architecture, historical sites, beautiful cathedrals, and fascinating high-quality.
The remainder of the day is at leisure to explore on your own or relax at your hotel in the sophisticated Miraflores or the bohemian Barranco district of the city.
Lima
This morning, meet your guide for a tour of Lima’s historical city center - a UNESCO World Heritage Site – known for its high concentration of colonial buildings. See the Plaza de Armas, with its Government Palace, is the Municiplidad de Lima, or Town Hall, and the baroque Lima Cathedral. Enjoy a tour of Casa de Aliaga, a private hacienda with an eclectic art collection containing over 1,500 native works of art.
Visit the Larco Herrera Museum, housed in an 18th century colonial mansion that holds the most extensive collection of pre-Columbian art in Perú, and a superb collection of ceramics, textiles, gold, silver and erotic pottery.
Enjoy the afternoon at leisure to explore more of this vibrant city on your own. (B)
Lima to Urubamba Valley
This morning you fly to Cusco, high in the Andes at more than 10,000 feet above sea level. You are met at the airport by your driver and private guide, and then escorted to a lower altitude in the lush Urubamba Valley, a narrow, winding valley with spectacular snow-capped peaks. It is here, in the “Sacred Valley of the Incas,” that you can see an impressive collection of Inca ruins simply perched on a mountainside.
As you drive through the valley stop at Awana Kancha, a breeding center for South American camelids. Learn about the superb llama, alpaca, vicuña, and guanaco fibers as well as the ancient Perúvian weaving techniques that are used to make their colorful textiles. Then stop for a visit to Pisac, once the Incas’ largest fortress-city complex. This town is best known for its market, friendly people and their colorful local crafts. The handicraft market is a delightful place to shop and mingle with the locals.
Arrive at your lodge set in the heart of the Sacred Valley – relax and allow your body to assimilate to the high altitude. (B)
Urubamba Valley
This morning visit the Inca fortress of Ollantaytambo, built on the foundations of an old Incan town and full of remarkable Incan ruins. Explore the ancient ruins and hear more of the legends and ways of the native people.
In the early afternoon, enjoy a traditional Perúvian lunch at Wayra Ranch, a lovely old hacienda. After you meal, watch a performance of their Perúvian Paso horses, accompanied by the rhythm of live Marinera music, performed by a group of local entertainers.
Isolated for over 400 years, the Perúvian Paso horse has evolved as one of the purest breeds in the world, with its trademark Paso special, inherited four-beat lateral gait called paso llano. The paso llano is said to be a broken gait. It consists of a permanent, harmonic, and rhythmic tapping in which the animal makes a gentle and pleasant alternating movement.
Arrive back your hotel and enjoy an afternoon at leisure. (B,L)
Urubamba Valley to Machu Picchu
Early this morning, transfer to the Ollantaytambo station to board the Vistadome train. Enjoy the scenic 1½ hour ride to Machu Picchu, “The Lost City of the Incas.”
Machu Picchu sits high above the Urubamba River in the middle of the cloud forest. The last bastion of the Inca Empire, Machu Picchu remarkably remained unknown to the Spanish conquerors. The site was swallowed-up by foliage until 1911, when American explorer Hiram Bingham re-discovered it.
You are met upon arrival at Machu Picchu, and transferred to your exclusive accommodations adjacent to Machu Picchu itself. Enjoy lunch at the Sanctuary Lodge before your afternoon exploration of the ruins.
Tour this mysterious and awe-inspiring site with an expert guide who shares facts and colorful local legends to bring the ruins to life. Machu Picchu has two major areas: the agricultural zone, made up of terracing and food storehouses; and the urban zone, featuring the Sacred Sector, with temples, squares, and royal tombs that were carved with an extraordinary degree of perfection. See the marvelous Citadel, Main Square, Temple of the Three Windows, Circular Towers, Sacred Sun Dial and the Burial Grounds.
Spending the night at the intimate Sanctuary Lodge, the only accommodations at Machu Picchu, gives you the privilege of seeing this mystifying site at the quiet times of dusk and dawn, when all the other tourists have left. (B,L,D)
Machu Picchu to Cusco
Arise early to witness the spectacular sunrise over the ruins, an once-in-a-lifetime sight. Enjoy the serene time at this sacred location before non-Sanctuary guests arrive. Spend the rest of morning relaxing, bird watching, searching for orchids, trekking among nature and Inca ruins. If ambitious, you can hike the steep stone-paved trail to the top of Huayna Picchu ("Young Mountain") around 10am. The views from the peak are impressive and look over the entire archeological complex and the high jungle valley.
This afternoon, board the elegant Hiram Bingham Belmond train bound for Cusco. While on board enjoy the views and a delectable multi-course dinner.
Upon arrival, you are met and transferred to your landmark hotel located in the heart of historic Cusco. (B,L,D)
Cusco
Founded in the 15th century by the Incas, then later conquered by the Spanish, Cusco is rich in history and culture. Today is yours to explore this historic city and its environs with your private guide and driver.
Begin with a drive into the countryside to see the remarkable Inca ruins at the National Archeological Site of Sacsayhuaman. This UNESCO World Heritage Site occupies approximately 7,500 acres, and features huge stonework walls. Visit the Temple and Amphitheater of Kenko with its huge stone block in the shape of a puma, passages, channels, and stairs with engravings representing various animal shapes. Also, visit the red fortress of Puca Pucara, the old administrative and military center.
Back in Cusco, take a guided walk through the impressive Plaza de Armas (or Huacaypata), the city’s beautiful Cathedral, and the artisan’s quarter of San Blas to watch artisans at work. Visit the Convent of Santo Domingo, built on top of the Temple of the Sun (or Korikancha). This is the most important temple devoted to worship of the sun, where the walls were plated with sheets of gold. (B)
Cusco to Lima
Enjoy a leisurely morning in Cusco before your flight to Lima.
You are met at the airport and escorted to your luxury hotel. The remainder of the day is at leisure to relax or further explore Lima. (B)
Depart Lima
Today you are at leisure until your transfer to the Lima airport for your departing flight home or on to your next destination. (B)
Belmond Miraflores Park Hotel, Lima
Located in Malecon de la Reserva, an exclusive residential area with a spectacular ocean view, Miraflores Park Hotel is a relaxing, comfortable oasis. The hotel combines personalized service, exceptional dining, and indulgent facilities. Colonial architecture, superb museums with Inca gold and Pre-Columbian antiquities, and glamorous shops, bars and restaurants are all just moments from the hotel. Hotel facilities and services include an incredible rooftop heated swimming pool, spa, and gym, as well as a business center, fine restaurant and lounge. Access to the Internet and personal computers are available upon request.
Hotel B, Lima
Originally built in the style of the Belle Époque, the mansion served as a seaside retreat during the presidency of Augusto Leguia in the 1920s. Its architectural features and flair capture the celebratory spirit of Peru’s centennial, which permeated life in the capital city throughout the era of its construction. Hotel B is a place for contemporary explorers of life seeking the intrigues and mysteries of Peruvian culture, geography and nature. Arts Boutique Hotel B caters to traditionalists looking for an authentic historic atmosphere and to shrewd urban explorers willing to immerse themselves in the city´s contemporary social and cultural scene.
Hotel Sol Y Luna, Urubamba Valley
Balancing natural beauty and indigenous culture, Hotel Sol Y Luna is located in the heart of the Sacred Valley of the Incas at an altitude of 8850 feet above sea level. An hour’s drive from Cusco City in the district of Urubamba, visitors are immediately enthralled by the stunning mountain views and vibrant hillsides. Hotel Sol Y Luna is the perfect combination of rustic beauty and first class accommodations with spacious bungalows decorated with authentic Peruvian folk art. Stroll the tanquil landscapes, visit the on-site spa or go hiking or horseback riding with a local expert on the region. Visitors can also explore ancient cultures of the Andres with tours dedicated to native art and music. Hotel Sol Y Luna is also renowned for its exceptional dining, as guests enjoy the aroma and flavors of local cuisine and restaurants that range from casual to exquisite. The hotel is only minutes away from important archaeological sites such as Moray, Pisac, Ollantaytambo, Chinchero and Machu Picchu.
Belmond Sanctuary Lodge, Machu Picchu
Belmond Sanctuary Lodge is the only hotel located adjacent to the ancient Inca citadel of Machu Picchu. It offers its guests exceptionally easy access from early morning to late afternoon, when most of the day visitors and buses have left. Sit out on a terrace and savour Peruvian cuisine based on produce grown on Belmond Sanctuary Lodge’s own plot: this delightful hideaway is the perfect place to relax and unwind in the shadow of the Lost City. The magnificent gardens boast stunning views across Machu Picchu. They are the perfect location in which to relax during your stay. Located behind the main building, here you can marvel at the near-countless variety of flowers and birds that populate the region. A day exploring the breathtaking Inca citadel can leave you needing some rest and relaxation.
Belmond Hotel Monasterio, Cusco
Originally constructed over 300 years ago as the San Antonio Seminary, the Belmond Hotel Monasterio is a museum hotel providing all the comforts and quality of a deluxe property. The guestrooms reflect their origins as the home for the Jesuit seminarians, decorated in a combination of modern and traditional Spanish colonial styles. Set in the center of town, the hotel is surrounded by convenient shops where you can find local handicrafts, textiles, and jewelry. The Belmond Hotel Monasterio also offers a business center and two excellent restaurants. The Illary Restaurant is adjacent to the main courtyard and is an ideal place for a light lunch or superb dinner. Enjoy breakfast in El Tupay, the original refectory of the monastery, or a refreshing beverage in the Lobby Bar. There is also 24-hour room service. All rooms are equipped with telephone, mini bar, in-room safe, cable TV, and hairdryer. Laundry service is available 24 hours a day. A 2015 Travel+Leisure World's Best Hotel