Peru’s Hidden Gems - From Culinary Delights to Historical Wonders

Duration: 9 Days | 8 Nights
Destination: Lima - Cusco – Sacred Valley – Machu Picchu

Experience the best of Peru on this 9-day, 8-night journey from Lima to Cusco, exploring the Sacred Valley and iconic Machu Picchu. Enjoy private transfers, immersive culinary experiences, guided tours, and unique adventures including kayaking on Lake Huaypo, visiting Ollantaytambo Fortress, and hiking the Palccoyo Rainbow Mountain. Discover Peru's rich history, vibrant markets, and breathtaking landscapes for an unforgettable travel experience.

Day 1: Lima
Private Transfer from Lima Airport to Hotel. Accommodation at Selected hotel in Lima - 2 Nights

Day 2: Lima
Market visit and Masterclass Cebiche & Causa de Langostinos. Our local host will guide you to a favorite market or bio-fair, where you'll meet trusted 'caseros' and sample a variety of fresh, seasonal fruits, superfoods, and other authentic Peruvian ingredients. After the market visit, you'll head to a private workshop for an exciting cooking class. You'll learn to prepare three traditional Peruvian dishes and a Pisco-based drink, making for an unforgettable culinary experience.

Day 3: Lima / Cusco / Sacred Valley
Our team will welcome you at the Cusco airport, and from there, you'll be transferred to the Sacred Valley of the Incas. You will start by visiting Pisac, a charming little town famous for its artisanal market. On a nearby hill sits an archaeological complex under the same name, one of the most impressive examples of Inca engineering. From its strategic location, this ancient settlement ruled over the entrance to the Sacred Valley.

Then, we will take you to a charming colonial hacienda and farm for your first gastronomic experience in Cusco. You will meet Maria del Pilar and Yussef, third generation producers of giant white corn. They will welcome you into their home and let you come close to farm life in the valley by their side. You will learn firsthand about giant white corn, a crop native to the Sacred Valley (the only one in the world with
a certificate of origin!), its harvest, and life at the ranch. Your hosts will delight you with a 4-course meal prepared with corn and other local ingredients. After this experience, we will take you to your hotel to check in and rest.

Accommodation at Selected hotel in the Sacred Valley - 1 Night

Day 4: Sacred Valley / Machu Picchu
Kayak/Paddle Huaypo Deluxe experience with lunch
This experience takes place by the shores of Huaypo, a fascinating lake surrounded by snow-capped mountains and fields. Here, you will enjoy water activities such as rowing or kayaking, and savor the flavors of Andean culture with a picnic-style lunch, accompanied by chilled beers, wines, and "chilcanos" — the magical recipe for an unparalleled culinary, adventure, and relaxation experience.

Ollantaytambo Fortress and Town visit
A private tour guide will accompany you to visit Ollantaytambo where you will be able to appreciate this important archeological, religious and cultural site of the Inca Empire.

Sacred Valley
Vistadome train Ticket from Ollantaytambo to Aguas Calientes
Machu Picchu
Accommodation at Selected hotel in Machu Picchu - 1 Night

Day 5: Machu Picchu / Sacred Valley
Machu Picchu Excursion
After a hearty breakfast, you will start the long-awaited excursion to Machu Picchu. A half an hour ride by bus will lead you to the citadel for a guided tour that, on average, takes three hours. Your will take in the amazing views and learn about Andean life, traveling back in time. In the afternoon, you will return to the town of Aguas Calientes for lunch and then take the train back to Ollantaytambo. From there, your private transport will take you to your hotel in the Sacred Valley.

Vistadome train Ticket from Aguas Calientes to Ollantaytambo
Accommodation at Selected hotel in the Sacred Valley – 1 Night

Day 6: Sacred Valley
Maras, Moray visit, Oca Wine & Andean Potatoes’ Tasting with lunch
Moray and the Maras Salt Flats visit In the company of your private tour guide, visit the mind-boggling circular terraces of Moray, built for agricultural experimentation. This brilliant work of Inca engineering was designed to create a series of microclimates in reduced spaces. Afterward, you will head to the Maras salt flats, where hundreds of saltwater ponds will eventually evaporate to sift only the crystallized salt: a phenomenon that has taken place for over 500 years. To this day, local families continue to extract and sell this salt. It’s a breathtaking experience! In this gastronomic experience, you will learn about the work of a brilliant agricultural engineer born into a local farmer family who decided to turn tubers into the centerpiece of Peruvian gastronomy. It’s been 15 years since Manuel started working on the organic genetic improvement of Andean potatoes to turn them into tubers that are rich in antioxidant minerals, among other nutritional properties. He has also managed to turn oca (a tuber rich in antioxidants and natural sugar) into a wine-like alcoholic beverage that you are going to love. Share a homemade meal with Manuel himself to taste his wines and delicious potatoes.

Accommodation at Selected hotel in Cusco – 3 Nights

Day 7: Cusco
Palccoyo Rainbow Mountain & 4 Lakes Route with picnic lunch
After an early breakfast, our tour guide will pick you up from your hotel, to head towards the SouthnValley of Cusco, on a 3-hour approximate ride, in search of Palccoyo. From there, you will begin your walk to the viewpoints, to gaze upon the awe-inspiring multicolor mountains. It’s a 1,5-hour walk, across a 1.5 km trail. On this visit, you will also come upon the Red Valley, that looms against the color of the mountains, and make a stop at a stone forest, to get incredible panoramic views. You will walk back to the starting point, where your vehicle will pick you up to begin the return to Cusco. On your way back, you will make a stop at 4 beautiful lakes, to relish on the views, and take a picnic lunch. Be back at your hotel around 5:30 PM.

Day 8: Cusco
Walking City Tour, Sacsayhuaman, Cathedral, San Blas visit
In the company of your private guide, you will visit San Pedro Market—the heart of Cusco’s gastronomy —to delve into the wonder of Andean delicacies by tasting tamales, chicharrones, native fruits,cheese, and bread, among other flavors. Then, you’ll stroll through the city’s highlights: the Main Square, the Qorikancha Temple, and the artistic neighborhood of San Blas to access the secrets only available to locals. After this walk, you will have free time to recharge your energies with a delicious lunch. In the afternoon, your guide will meet you again to end the day by visiting the megalithic Inca ceremonial fortress of Sacsayhuamán.

Day 9: Cusco
Private Transfer from Hotel to Cusco Airport

Tour Price
• Price shown is for a person based on twin share accommodation, for the travel period indicated.
• All prices displayed are subject to availability and can be withdrawn or varied without notice.
• Prices are guaranteed once booking is confirmed by us and paid in full by the due date.
• Depending on your needs and group size (individual, couple, family, group, etc.) we will provide the final pricing for your tour.
• Itineraries are subject to change without prior notice due to weather conditions, emergencies on board or any unforeseen situation.

Inclusions:
• 2 hotel nights in Lima
• 2 hotel nights in the Sacred Valley
• 1 hotel night in the Machu Picchu
• 3 hotel nights in Cusco
• Daily breakfasts
• 6 lunches
• 1 dinner
• Private English-speaking guides
• Private transfers and transports
• Entrance fees
• Round trip train to Machu Picchu in
• Vistadome service
• Snacks
• All legal taxes

Exclusions:
• Domestic flights
• International flights
• Meals and beverages not mentioned
• Travel insurance
• Personal expenses
• Tips

Please note:
• Pricing may be subject to availability and seasonal variations.
• All our programs must be reserved at least 30 days in advance (subject to availability).
• Customers can request a re-quote if they want to add, remove or replace any of the proposed activities.
• Airfare, either domestic or international, is not included.
• Travel insurance is not included but is recommended.

Please refer to our Standard Booking Conditions for booking terms and conditions.