Peru in Luxury - Sacred Valley, Machu Picchu, Cusco & Lake Titicaca
12 days / 11 nights
Overview
This 12-day multi-sensory voyage blends ancient history, gastronomy and boundless unspoiled nature. The journey starts with a complete comprehensive tour of the historic center of Lima, a UNESCO World Heritage Site packed with fascinating Spanish colonial architecture. We include spectacular pre-Colombian art collections and a visit of the city food market. You will savor the exuberant and ever-changing food scene of Lima which says everything about Peru’s rich cultural and Andean heritage.
Then fly to Cusco and discover the wonders of the Sacred Valley and its sweeping landscapes en route to Machu Picchu. In Urubamba, stay at Tambo del Inca hotel which serves as the perfect base to explore the unparalleled scenery and to connect with the local culture visiting traditional Andean villages. After visiting the archeological sites of Moray, Maras and Ollantaytambo, trek to the magical Inca citadel of Machu Picchu, where you will enjoy both guided tours and free time to explore. You’ll then make your way to Cusco, with its fascinating mix of Spanish and Incan culture.
From Cusco, fly to Juliaca and stay at Titilaka Lodge which is tucked away in this unique landscape, totally off the beaten track on its own private peninsula. Daytime activities range from exploring Inca and pre-Inca ruins, to visiting the floating reed islands of the Uros people, to leisurely hiking or biking through stunning Andean scenery. Relax after days spent exploring Spanish colonial towns, Inca citadels and fortresses brimming with Andean history. Sunsets and the star-speckled night sky here are once-in-a-lifetime experiences.
Book the itinerary below, or contact us to help design the adventure of your dreams.
Memorable Moments
- Insider tour of Lima’s impressive historic district (a UNESCO World Heritage Site);
- Discover Peruvian Nikkei cuisine in one of Lima’s top restaurants run by renowned chef Mitsuhara Tsumura. (ranked 8th on the world’s best restaurant list);
- Join a local Chef in a ceviche-making class and tastings of local specialties.
- Taste the emblematic Peruvian cocktail "Pisco sour” and drink Chicha Morada and the famous Inca Kola;
- Visit Moray, a circular terraced agricultural site, the Salinas salt pans, and the massive ruins at Ollantaytambo;
- Feast your eyes on Mil, Virgilio Martínez’s Groundbreaking New Restaurant;
- Enjoy an amazing trek with llamas, through gorgeous natural landscapes and in company of friendly local hosts;
- Climb Machu Picchu Mountain to experience spectacular views of all of Machu Picchu, the valleys and mountains that surround it;
- Explore San Blas, an old bohemian district of Cusco, famous for its picturesque white walls, blue doors, and creative artisan community.
- Visit Sacsayhuaman, an immense Incan complex with impressive stonework;
- Learn about Koricancha, one of the most important Incan temples near Cusco;
- Enjoy a leisurely hiking and biking through stunning Andean scenery.
- Cruise around Titicaca lake on a private boat with stops at the Uros floating islands.
Itinerary at a glance
Day 1 – Lima – Arrival Day
Day 2 – Lima – Best of Lima – Larco Museum & Culinary experience
Day 3 – Cusco – Sacred Valley - Inkariy Museum
Day 4 – Sacred Valley – Moray & Maras Salt Mines
Day 5 – Sacred Valley – Ollantaytambo – Llamas Project
Day 6 – Sacred Valley – Urubamba – Chinchero – Urquillo Hike
Day 7 – Inka Trail – Short Trek to Machu Pichu
Day 8 – Machu Pichu – Full Day in the Inca Citadel
Day 9 – Cusco – San Pedro Food Market & Sacsayhuaman
Day 10 – Fly to Juliaca – Sillustani – Titikaka Lodge
Day 11 – Titilaka Lodge – Uros Islands
Day 12 – Titilaka Lodge – Fly back to Lima - Departure
Pictures of this itinerary
Full Itinerary
Arrival at Jorge Chavez International Airport where one of our representatives will meet you and escort you to your hotel. Check in at Country Club Lima Hotel located in the upscale district of San Isidro. Enjoy a delicious lunch in a local restaurant, before you have a free afternoon to explore Lima at your leisure. Head downtown to mingle with locals, stretch your legs, and grab a bite to eat in one of the many award-winning restaurants.
Meals Included: Lunch.
Accommodations: Country Club San Isidro Lima.
Early in the morning, enjoy a private transfer to Lima airport to board your flight to Cusco. Once in Cusco, start your tour to the lower elevation of the Sacred Valley of the Incas (Urubamba Valley), a fertile river valley with the high peaks of the Andes towering overhead. Stop at Inkariy Museum for a short visit and have lunch at a hidden gem, “Huayoccari Hacienda” for a hearty and traditional Andean meal. Check in at Tambo del Inka Hotel at around 4:00pm.
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch.
Accommodations: Tambo del Inka
This morning, your first destination will be Moray, a place that had probably served as an Inca agricultural research center, where crops experiments were carried out at different heights thanks to their platforms as concentric rings.
Enjoy a mind-blowing lunch at 11,500 feet above sea level and savor fish from high-altitude lakes, cacao, root vegetables and Andean grains like quinoa while taking in the breathtaking sight of the Moray, terraced Inca ruins.
In the afternoon, visit Urubamba farmers’ market where locals buy their groceries, the biggest of its kind in the Sacred Valley. Then, visit colonial Maras Salt mines, a myriad of salt crusted terraces precariously nestles against the steep mountain sides. These ponds have been in use since the times of the Incas and before. Transfer to your hotel.
Meals Included: Breakfast and Lunch at MIL by Chef Virgilio Martinez.
Accommodations: Tambo del Inka
Join an authentic and fun trek with Llamas, while learning about nature, culture and local ways of life. Enjoy an outdoor picnic while you relax and enjoy the panoramic views and the Valley’s fresh air. Head back with the llamas to the base camp where the visit ends, then we will drive to Ollantaytambo to visit this beautiful inca village! and with a visit to the imposing fortress of Ollantaytambo, a formidable stone structure of massive terraces that hug the mountain slopes.
Meals Included: Breakfast and Lunch.
Accommodations: Tambo del Inka
Early in the morning, depart towards the typical Andean village of Chinchero, which combines Inca ruins with colonial Spanish architecture, some spectacular mountain views and a colorful Sunday market. Following a light lunch, start a moderate hike down a spectacular stone-paved Inca trail to a wooded gully and onto the Sacred Valley. Breathtaking views of the Apu Sawasiray on the route. Return to Tambo del Inka Hotel.
Meals Included: Breakfast.
Accommodations: Tambo del Inka
This thrilling 2-day program covers a 8 miles Inca Trail, joining the classical 4-day route at the impressive archaeological site of Wiñaywayna, continuing through the famous Inti Punku or Sun Gate, and finally devoting the second day to a full day visit of the world-famous Inca citadel of Machupicchu.
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Accommodations: Inkaterra Hotel.
Early in the morning, join your guide and climb Machu Picchu Mountain to experience spectacular views of all of Machu Picchu, the valleys and mountains that surround it. Following lunch, begin a complete guided tour of the Inca citadel that will take approximately two hours. You will then have free time to walk around. 16hrs Tea Time. The bus down to the town of Machu Picchu leaves the citadel to Aguas Calientes train station. Train Vistadome to Cusco. Private transfer to your hotel.
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch.
Accommodations: Belmond Hotel Monasterio.
Start this unforgettable day with a guided tour to the San Pedro market, a sprawling, open-air market with everything from produce and meat to clothing and slabs of alpaca. Haggle for the best price on bars of pure cocoa, Andean cheeses and local handicrafts. Following lunch, you’ll visit Sacsayhuaman, an immense Incan complex with impressive stonework, Koricancha, one of the most important Incan temples (the walls were once actually coated in gold), and Cuzco’s Cathedral where you’ll learn about the Cuzco school of art.
Return to the hotel.
Meals Included:
Accommodations: Belmond Hotel Monasterio.
After breakfast, transfer to Cusco airport to take your flight to Juliaca (Puno airport).
Upon your arrival in Juliaca, start a private tour to the archaeological site of Sillustani, situated at an altitude of 3,840mts above sea level. This archeological complex of Sillustani provides evidence to the area’s rich past while offering visitors privileged views of Lake Umayo. Combining archeology, history, and unforgettable views, Sillustani is a must-see location.
Accommodation: Titilaka Lodge.
Full board: Buffet & a-la-carte breakfast- lunch and dinner with wine included, cocktails, tea time, mini bar room.
Hotel activities with exclusive guide.
Explore the Uros floating islands and the Island of Taquile on this full-day trip. The Islands of Lake Titicaca excursion brings our guests close to the islands’ Uro-Aymara communities, providing a unique opportunity to grow personally acquainted with the men –skilled reed raftsmen–, and women, – expert weavers famous for their craft–, as well as the ancestral techniques used to keep their islands afloat, among other aspects of their remarkable heritage. In Taquile, experience the Quechua imagination in the textile weavings unique to the area and recently included in UNESCO’s. Enjoy lunch outdoors as you treat yourself to the grandeur of Puno’s deep blue skies mirrored across Lake Titicaca with views of Bolivia’s Cordillera Real, or Royal Mountain Range, in the background.
Accommodation: Titilaka Lodge.
Full board: Buffet & a-la-carte breakfast- lunch and dinner with wine included, cocktails, tea time, mini bar room.
Hotel activities with exclusive guide.
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FAQ
Peru is a year-round travel destination. But the best time of the year to travel to Machu Picchu is during dry season ( May to October) with daytime temperatures of 18-25º C / 65-77º F. Rainy season runs from December to March, with daytime temperatures of 20-26º C / 68-79º F. The highest chance of rain is usually in late January and February.
A passport valid for six months is required to enter and depart Peru. Tourists must also provide evidence of return or onward travel. Citizens of Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, Uruguay, Ecuador, Colombia, Bolivia and Chile may enter the country with their national identity document. Check with your nearest Peru Consulate to determine entry requirements.
A current yellow fever vaccination is a must ( you will be required to show it to the Health Ministry representatives); CDC recommends anti-malarial vaccine when visiting Peru. All travelers should visit either a travel health clinic or their personal physician 4-8 weeks before departure.
You can never predict altitude sickness; you may not even get it. Physical fitness, age, and gender have no bearing on whether you will get altitude sickness. Symptoms usually develop within the first day at altitude (when reaching heights above 2,500 m/8,000 ft above sea level). Since Cusco is at an elevation of 3400m (11,154ft above sea level) we head to Urubamba first, because the lower altitude makes a huge difference to prevent altitude sickness and acclimate.
To prevent acute mountain sickness, we start our journey in the Sacred Valley, which, by nature, is lower in elevation than the surrounding mountains. This will help minimize the unpleasant effects of altitude sickness. On your first day in the Sacred Valley, we take things easy, drink plenty of fluids and we don’t plan any strenuous treks until you’ve acclimatized.
Lake Titicaca is the world’s highest navigable lake at 12,500 feet (3,810m) above sea level and covers some 3,200 square miles (8,300 square km) has a depth of 107 meters and is 50 miles (80 km) wide.
Tour rates do not include international flights. We find that it is usually less expensive for travelers to book these separately, and this also allows you the flexibility to choose the schedule and routing that is most convenient for you. Alternatively, we can help you arrange these flights.
Included meals are mentioned in the itinerary. In major cities where there is a wide variety of restaurants, we usually do not include meals, to allow our travelers the flexibility of choosing their own food preferences. Special diets should be requested on the Ideas South America booking form.
Given Peru’s diverse geography, you’re likely to experience different climates whatever time of year you travel. We strongly recommend brining layers which makes it easier to deal with changing temperatures, especially in the Andes. Once you book your trip with us, we provide detailed packing lists and updated useful information.
Phone and internet coverage is quite good in cities and even some rural areas, including Machu Picchu – though there is no phone coverage on the train ride to Machu Picchu. Most foreign smartphones work in the region if you have an international calling and data plan. If your phone is unlocked you can buy a local SIM card that will work for use while traveling.
Yes. You are required to have full travel insurance cover. We strongly recommend a comprehensive travel insurance policy that also includes trip cancellation and other travel mishaps (e.g. flight cancellations or delays, trip interruption, theft or loss of luggage and personal effects).
If you are planning to travel during high season (mid-December through end of February) we recommend to book your trip 12-15 months in advance. Most people book their December vacations a year in advance, and so should you. If you are planning to travel during mid-season you can start booking 8-6 months in advance.