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Trip Inspiration

Essential Peru

Peru's Sacred Valley & Machu Picchu

Peru is considered a country of vast experiences and boundless diversity, but most will agree that Machu Picchu and the surrounding Sacred Valley are two of the country's greatest treasures. Visiting the mystical ancient sites in this area will undoubtedly have you forming your own theories about how the Incans managed these incredible feats of perfect construction so many years ago. And while these mysteries fill your mind, the beautiful landscapes will fill your senses and feed your soul.

Trip Highlights

Locations

  • Two nights in Peru’s capital city of Lima at Belmond Miraflores Park
  • Two nights in Belmond Rio Sagrado Hotel in the Sacred Valley
  • One night at the base of the Machu Picchu citadel at the Belmond Sanctuary Lodge
  • Two night in Cusco at Belmond Monasterio Hotel

Activities

  • Private tours showcasing historic and cultural highlights of Lima and Cusco
  • A Lima food tour featuring unique culinary experiences in the city
  • Private guiding through some of the Sacred Valley’s most revered sites
  • Active exploration on bicycle, train and foot
  • Exploration of Machu Picchu
  • An optional challenging hike up Wayna Picchu Mountain
What does “Trip Inspiration” mean?

At Travel Beyond, we believe your trip should be designed just for you, not for the masses. Our travel consultants create a custom itinerary for each client, offering recommendations for places and experiences that best fit your style. The itinerary below was planned for a past client, but we’re sharing it for travel inspiration and as an example of what a trip to Peru might look like. Let us know when we can design a trip just for you!

Day 1

© PROMPERÚ

Arrive Lima, Peru

Welcome to Peru! Upon arrival in Lima, you will be met for your private transfer to the Belmond Miraflores Park Hotel.

Accommodations will be reserved for two nights, including breakfast daily.

Belmond Miraflores Park Meals: N/A

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Day 2

Lima

This morning after breakfast, you will be met for a private half-day city tour.

Get to know the most iconic sights of Peru’s capital city. Lima’s Plaza de Armas is located in the historic center of Lima and is surrounded by some of the city’s most important buildings. From here, you will visit the Government Palace, the Cathedral of Lima, and the Municipal Palace. The architecture here remains largely the same as when Lima was founded, complete with a beautiful fountain in the square. Continue on to Museo Larco, where you will learn more about the mesmerizing history of ancient Peru. Housed in an 18th-century mansion surrounded by beautiful gardens, the museum boasts an extensive and fascinating collection of pre-Columbian artifacts.

Later today, you will be met for your evening food tour.

Kick the night off by enjoying a Peru food tour that starts with a swanky beachfront cocktail at sunset accompanied by a fusion of flavors representing Lima’s traditions.  Head up the cliffs and into the past as you tuck into an array of delicious Peruvian dishes at the famous Huaca Pucllana restaurant surrounded by spectacular views of pre-Incan ruins. You’ll no doubt swoon just like past guests including celebrities and numerous heads of state and members of the royal family. Here you’ll try the best of top chef Marilú Madueño’s take on Peruvian recipes with a specially designed menu. We will then head to the bohemian neighborhood of Barranco for the last stop. In a house full of color and culture, we will lose ourselves in the culinary world with a creative and exclusive menu featuring the signature cuisine of a local chef. Finally, take a nighttime stroll with a quaint walking food tour in Lima, around the bohemian Barranco neighborhood, where you’ll finish with a delectable dessert. You’ll get much more than a feel for Peruvian culture on this 5-hour tour of Miraflores and Barranco!

Upon completion of your tour, you will be transferred to the hotel.

Belmond Miraflores Park Meals: Breakfast / Dinner

Day 3

Lima to the Sacred Valley

This morning you will be met for your private transfer to the Lima Airport for your commercial flight to Cusco.

Upon arrival in Cusco, you will be met by your guide for your private transfer to the Sacred Valley, with lunch en route. Your guide will accompany you on all of your scheduled excursions until you depart from Cusco on Day Eight.

You will travel through a spectacular panorama of patchwork fields en route to the ‘Sacred Valley of the Incas.’ The route includes picturesque Andean towns, agricultural terraces and archaeological sites. The mild climate and the varied and dramatic scenery of snow-capped mountains, flowering meadows, lush green hills and spectacular flora and fauna make the Sacred Valley a prime adventure destination in South America. At a lower elevation than Cusco, it is a warm and comfortable environment in which to begin your exploration of the region.

Visit Pisac and experience the sights and sounds of the town’s famous market, which boasts a variety of handicrafts and fresh produce. Afterward, continue to the Pisac ruins. Stop at Awanacancha for a chance to see the iconic llamas, alpacas, vicuñas and guanacos of the Andes, and learn how their wool is turned into beautiful and useful wares.

Following your tour, you will be transferred to the Belmond Rio Sagrado Hotel. Accommodations will be reserved for two nights, including breakfast daily. Enjoy the remainder of your day at leisure.

Belmond Rio Sagrado Hotel Meals: Breakfast / Lunch

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Day 4

Sacred Valley

This morning after breakfast, you will be met by your local guide for your half-day private Maras and Moray biking excursion, including lunch.

You will transfer to the village of Chinchero where you will start your ride. Passing the lagoon of Huaypo, you’ll arrive at the Archaeological Park of Moray, where you will take in the beauty of nature and archaeology. Continue to Maras, where a tasty picnic will be waiting for you. After lunch, go on riding to the terraces of salt below Maras and then again, downhill to the Sacred Valley villages of Pichingoto and Tarabamba where you end your magnificent bike tour.

Following your tour, you will be returned to your hotel. Enjoy the remainder of your day at leisure.

Belmond Rio Sagrado Meals: Breakfast / Lunch

Day 5

Sacred Valley to Machu Picchu

This morning after breakfast and checkout, you will begin your journey to Machu Picchu aboard the Sacred Valley train.

Your three-hour journey aboard the Sacred Valley train begins right outside of your hotel. Embark on an unforgettable ride, absorbing the majestic Andean landscapes while enjoying excellent service aboard PeruRail Sacred Valley. Accommodating just 33 passengers, the train exudes the elegance of the 1920s, reflected in the Dining Car and Observation Bar Car. The experience starts upon your arrival at the station, where you will be greeted with an Andean infusion to enjoy in the Observatory Bar Car while you delight yourself with the landscapes of the Sacred Valley. En route to Machu Picchu you are served a gourmet lunch in the Dining Car.

Upon your arrival in the village of Aguas Calientes, board the bus for a winding uphill journey to Machu Picchu. Here you will spend the afternoon with your guide, who will lead you through the mysterious maze of stone buildings at this magnificent site.

Machu Picchu, which means ‘Old Mountain,’ is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the seven new wonders of the world. Lose yourself in awe in the ‘lost city of the Incas’ as you admire the ruins. You’ll feel as though you’ve been transported into a work of art as you marvel at the landscape of this iconic Inca civilization. Brought to world attention by Hiram Bingham in 1911 and believed to have been built to control the economies of neighboring communities, these ancient ruins evoke a time of innovation, artistry and expansion of one of Latin America’s most notable historic empires. Thought by some historians to have been a sacred religious site due to its location, there is certainly a spiritual energy on this green mountaintop cloaked in clouds.

When you have finished your exploration, make your way to Belmond Sanctuary Lodge located at the park’s entrance. Accommodations will been reserved for one night, including dinner and breakfast. Enjoy the remainder of your day at leisure.

Belmond Sanctuary Lodge Meals: Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner

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Day 6

Machu Picchu to Cusco

This morning after breakfast, return to Machu Picchu for further exploration with your guide, with an optional permit included to climb Wayna Picchu Mountain.

Wayna Picchu is the tall mountain behind Machu Picchu, made famous in many iconic photographs of the citadel and surrounding area. There are fabulous views of Machu Picchu from the top, but the hike is strenuous and is only recommended for people who are not scared of heights and who have a good fitness level. Time: 2 ½ hours, round-trip. Grade: Rigorous

This afternoon, you will return to Poroy aboard the Hiram Bingham, traveling through the Peruvian Andes in opulent style. Named after the explorer who rediscovered the Inca citadel, and designed to emulate the Pullman cars of the 1920s, the train combines old-world class with modern day luxury. The train is equipped with four cars, including two dining cars, a bar and observation car, a kitchen, and a staff attentive to ensuring you receive the highest levels of comfort and personalized service. Sit back, relax and delight in the breath-taking scenery on your journey through the Sacred Valley and Andean villages aboard the train that is synonymous with luxury travel and truly is in a class of its own!

Upon arrival in Poroy, you will be transferred by private vehicle to Cusco, where you will check in to the Belmond Monasterio Hotel. Accommodations have been reserved for two nights, including breakfast daily. Enjoy the remainder of your day at leisure.

Belmond Monasterio Hotel Meals: Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner

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Day 7

Cusco

This morning after breakfast, you will be met by your Travel Beyond private guide for a half-day City Tour of Cusco.

Start with a visit to the main sites around the Plaza de Armas, including the Cathedral, the Inca walls, and the Sun Temple of Koricancha, located inside the Santo Domingo Church. Experience the nearby ruins of Sacsayhuaman, where you will view the impressive architecture of the Incans. You can form your own theories about how the Incans managed to move – and perfectly cut – the massive stones used in the fortress overlooking Cusco.

Photo Courtesy of PROMPERÚ

Visit Qenqo, a labyrinth with carved stone walls, believed to be used for Incan rituals and worship. Continue to Puca Pucara, believed to be a defense fortress and is made up of large walls, terraces, and staircases. End your visit at the Incan bath and water temple of Tambo Machay.

Your guide will also direct you to the best shops, museums, markets and restaurants, based on your personal interests.

© PROMPERÚ

Spend the remainder of the day shopping, dining and exploring!

Belmond Monasterio Hotel Meals: Breakfast

Day 8

Cusco

After breakfast, spend much of your day at leisure to explore the local area. This afternoon you will be met for your transfer to the Cusco Airport. Upon arrival, check-in for your commercial flight to Lima and your connecting international flights home.

Overnight Flight Meals: Breakfast

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