Peru Extraordinary Exploration

Upon arrival at Lima airport, you will be met and assisted before transferring to your chosen hotel. The remainder of the day is at your leisure to relax and acclimatise or to begin exploring Peru’s vibrant capital. Lima is a sprawling modern city with a rich history and a population of around 10 million, currently experiencing dynamic cultural and economic growth. You may choose to rest after your journey or take a stroll to get your first impression of the city. Alternatively, you can opt to join the Magic Water Circuit with Dinner – a shared evening excursion (not available Sundays and Mondays) starting at 17:30. This includes pick-up and drop-off, a bilingual guide, admission to the world’s largest fountain complex as certified by Guinness World Records, and a dinner at a local restaurant. The tour lasts approximately four hours. Overnight in Lima.

After breakfast, we explore Lima’s historic centre, a UNESCO World Heritage Site rich in colonial architecture. Our tour begins at the Main Square, where you can admire the impressive Spanish Empire-era buildings. We visit the cathedral and then Casa Aliaga, a colonial mansion granted in 1535 by Francisco Pizarro to Jerónimo de Aliaga; it remains in the same family to this day. Next, we head to the Larco Museum in the Pueblo Libre district, set in a restored viceregal mansion built atop a pre-Columbian pyramid dating back to the seventh century. The museum houses an extensive collection of pre-Hispanic gold and silver artefacts, including notable examples of erotic art. The afternoon is free for you to explore at your leisure. Overnight in Lima.

After breakfast, we transfer you from your hotel to Lima Airport for your flight to Cusco. Upon arrival, a representative will welcome you and escort you to your hotel. In the afternoon, we take you on a guided tour of Cusco, the former capital of the Inca Empire. The tour begins at the Santo Domingo Convent, a Renaissance-Baroque complex built atop the Inca Coricancha temple—once one of the most important sun worship sites, with foundations still visible beneath the convent. Next, visit the Cathedral, the most prominent building on the Main Square. We then head to the hills overlooking Cusco to explore the fortress of Sacsayhuaman, known for its impressive stone walls and panoramic views of the city. Nearby, discover the ruins of Qenqo, believed to have been used for agricultural rituals, and finally visit Puka Pukara, an Inca military complex featuring dwellings, aqueducts, and defensive structures. After the tour, we return you to your hotel. Please note your flight to Cusco is not included. Overnight in Cusco.

After breakfast, we collect you from your hotel in Cusco for a morning visit to Chinchero, a traditional Andean town perched high above the valley. The local community maintains their artisan heritage, visible in their clothing and customs. Here, you will also see archaeological remains and a seventeenth-century church, one of Peru’s earliest Catholic buildings. Next, we transfer you to the Living Museum of Yucay, where you can observe demonstrations of traditional Andean crafts such as textile weaving, adobe construction, pottery, and silverwork—practices preserved from Inca times. The museum is also home to llamas, sheep, and alpacas, which you are welcome to feed. Later, arrive in Ollantaytambo, a town continuously inhabited since Inca times. Explore the streets before climbing the iconic fortress set against the mountainside. Enjoy lunch at a local restaurant offering refined Andean cuisine that reflects the spirit of the Sacred Valley in a warm, inviting setting. On Sundays, the visit includes time at the local market. After lunch, we return you to your hotel in the Sacred Valley for your overnight stay.

After breakfast, we transfer you to Ollanta Station to board the train to Aguas Calientes, the gateway to Machu Picchu. The journey offers stunning views of the Andean landscape as you travel through dramatic mountain scenery. Upon arrival, we take a 25-minute coach ride up to Machu Picchu. This remarkable site, often called the ‘Lost City of the Incas’, was constructed in the 1450s by Emperor Pachacuti as a royal retreat. It was abandoned within a century after the Spanish conquest but remained hidden from the invaders, preserving its remarkable state. A guided tour reveals the history and significance of the citadel, highlighting its key structures. Afterwards, we return to Aguas Calientes for lunch at Café Inkaterra, a charming thatched-roof restaurant nestled between the railway and the mountain. In the afternoon, we travel back to Cusco for your overnight stay.

After breakfast at your hotel, we will transfer you to Cusco Airport for your onward journey.