PERU
Extending from the Cordillera Blanca to the Amazon basin, Peru is a country of great beauty and diverse geography where stunning Inca and Colonial architecture remains largely unchanged. Peru’s most sought-after drawcard is its connection to the ancient Incan people. Follow in the spiritual footsteps of the ancestors on a luxury journey into the mesmerizing and awe-inspiring country of Peru. From the Andean range to Amazonian lowlands, fine cuisine to incredible culture, Peru has something to offer every avid traveler.
peru highlights
• Sample some of Peru’s culinary offerings on a tour of local markets in Lima. This is one of the best places in the world to eat ceviche.
• Renew and recharge in the gorgeous Sacred Valley. A few days here are recommended to prepare you for the coming altitude.
• Adventure in the Sacred Valley with adrenaline pumping activities such as biking, hiking or by native Paso Horse.
• Enjoy a ‘pachamanca’ local Peruvian dinner. For the Incas, this rustic yet highly symbolic dining ritual named for the Quechua words pacha “earth” and manka “pot” represented a celebration of the cycle of life. Digging an earthen oven and cooking food underground pays homage to Pachamama, the Incan fertility goddess.
• Indulge aboard the Hiram Bingham Train to Machu Picchu.
• Hike the incredible Inca trail and explore the Andes on a Multi-day trek. Should you prefer, you can also do the lodge to lodge trek as an alternative way of reaching the Incan Citadel.
• Delve deep into the rainforest on a luxury amazon expedition cruise.
• Search for pink river dolphins along the tributaries of the Amazon River.
Peru
when to GO
APRIL TO OCTOBER
languages
Spanish, Quechua, Aymara.
FLIGHTS
Lima (LIM)
CURRENCY
NUEVO SOL
time frame
1 to 2 weeks, and longer if you’re combining with Ecuador and the Galapagos Islands
CUSCO | SACRED VALLEY | MACHU PICCHU | lima | arequipa & Colca canyon amazon puno & Lake titicaca
CUSCO
Cuzco itself – the Inca capital – is a cobblestone city of 350,000 whose countless churches, museums, galleries, and shops are perfect for exploring on two feet. Inkaterra La Casona and the Belmond Hotel Monasterio offer ideal accommodations in the heart of the UNESCO World Heritage site.
SACRED VALLEY
Tucked in-between Cusco and Machu Picchu is the flourishing Sacred Valley, guardian of a number of prominent ancient sites, and a destintation that completes the Incan circuit. Our favourite hotel, the Sol y Luna boasts a stable of Paso horses for meandering alongside the Urubamba River. Or the Inkaterra Hacienda Urubamba is another great option for the Sacred Valley.
MACHU PICCHU
Then there is Macchu Pichu, the sacred site chosen by the great Inca ruler Pachacuti in 1450. Built at 8000 feet to be close to the Gods, it was ruined by the Spaniards in the 16th century, and rediscovered only 1911 by explorer Hiram Bingham. Our favourite hotel, Inkaterra Machu Picchu Pueblo is the perfect compliment to a visit to MP where local guides are on hand to lead thematic nature walks. Another option is to stay at the Belmond Sanctuary Lodge.
LIMA
The bustling city of Lima has become one of South America’s largest cities. Museums, ancient archaeological sites, beautiful beaches, nature reserves, vibrant nightlife and outstanding cuisine, give Peru’s capital an authentic and unique personality. Our favourite hotels include the Belmond Miraflores Park Hotel along with Hotel B. This sprawling metropolis promises travelers an unforgettable experience that is rich in culture.
AREQUIPA & COLCA CANYON
Arequipa, a city known for its volcanic white rock churches, monasteries, and mansions. It is also the gateway to Colca Canyon (twice the depth of the Grand Canyon), one of the deepest canyons in the world, and the river valley features some of the most magnificent natural scenery in Peru. Choose between two favourite hotels: the Belmond Las Casitas or Colca Lodge Spa and Hot Springs. Here you can observe herds of vicunas grazing in the valley and spot the Andean condor, the mighty symbol of the Andes, soaring up above…
PUNO & LAKE TITICACA
Lake Titicaca is the highest navigable lake in the world at over 3,800 meters above sea level! The city of Puno sits on the edge of Titicaca and is the gateway to launch a visit out to the famous Floating Reed Islands of the Uros people. Titilaka Lodge is a luxury 5star boutique hotel is off the beaten track on its own private peninsula, and offers spectacular culinary offers with opportunities to explore the beauty of Titicaca – a place “where the sky, the land and the waters all meet”.
AMAZON
Finally, there’s the option to explore Peru’s Amazon jungle at the Inkaterra Reserva Amazonica or aboard a the Aria Amazon, a luxury small ship that explores the remote region of Peru’s Amazon. Breathtaking scenery, luxuriant forests, natural life at its finest, and the endless expanses of the river come together with our first-rate service to create a magical environment, an experience never to forget.
hotels we love in peru
Nothing but the best. Browse the hotels that may feature in your bespoke Peru itinerary.
inkaterra Reserva Amazonica
inkaterra la casona, cusco
DESTINATION SPOTLIGHT
TITILAKA, LAKE TITICACA
titilaka, lake titicaca
Lake Titicaca, the world’s highest navigable lake, boasts dozens of inhabited islands and is home to an astonishing collection of indigenous customs, festivals and languages that are all rooted in the immediate environs of the lake. Titilaka was created to provide an alternative for visitors seeking an authentic and intimate encounter with the cultural nuances and natural splendor of Lake Titicaca. Located an hour east of Puno on a remote portion of the lake shore, Titilaka houses just 18 suites, offer radiant floor heating, extra large soaking tubs and oversized daybeds beneath panoramic windows overlooking the lake. It is the unique experiences that allow our clients to interact with the local indigenous populations in authentic ways that really sets Titilaka apart. A visit to the floating islands of Uros and to the charming Island of Taquile are of course offered, but the magic begins when exploring the neighboring communities and landscape around the hotel itself, which, due to the hotel’s location & local partnerships, are virtually exclusive experiences for our clients. Visit the hotel website.
What Our clients Are Saying
Don’t just take it from us, let our bespoke clients do the talking!
“It was great to be together with the family to experience Machu Picchu in such a special way. I think the hike was the favourite part of the trip vs. seeing the amazing site of Machu Picchu. The hike was just amazing, tough, but amazing. Experiencing sunrise at Winay Wayna or the site of Intipata were just fantastic. And the food along the hike, first class. We really liked that our guide in Cusco was also our guide on the Inca Hike. It was really nice keeping with the same person throughout the main portion of our trip. And the porters and cook were amazing and very kind. I agree with the saying, it is the journey that is the adventure than the destination. Machu Picchu is extremely special but I felt that it was the cherry on top of the whole adventure.”
“Thank you SO much for the amazing job you did planning our recent family trip to Machu Picchu, the Amazon and the Galapagos Islands. There were lots of things we wanted to see and do in a short amount of time, so couldn’t afford to miss a day, along the way. You listened to our wishlist, made great suggestions of other things we should see and do, and managed to fit everything in. Our trip to Peru and Ecuador ending up being one highlight after another.”
“Marie-France was great and was available 24/7 while we traveled in Peru, South America. She made our trip so easy and stress free. We didn’t have to worry about booking tour guides, transportation, or accommodations. She even gave us lots of restaurant recommendations. Our holiday was a breeze!”
