Peru

Upon arrival in Lima, transfer to our hotel and enjoy the evening at leisure.

Today is devoted to an exploration of colonial and modern Lima. Highlights include the historical center, Plaza San Martín, Plaza Mayor, the Cathedral of Lima, and the Basilica and Convent of San Francisco. This afternoon, visit the Larco Herrera Museum, which features the best private collection of pre-Columbian art in all of Peru. Gather with fellow travelers this evening for a festive welcome dinner.

Transfer to the airport for our early morning flight to Cusco, followed by lunch. En route to the Urubamba Valley, visit the Pisac Archeological Park, a vast complex of Incan dwellings, temples, and terracing. Continue to Urubamba and check in to our hotel.

Today, visit internationally recognized Indigenous Quechua artist and master weaver Nilda Callañaupa for a discussion and demonstration of traditional weaving techniques. Then, marvel at the Moray terraces, believed to be an enormous agricultural testing station of the ancient Inca. While taking in views of the Andes Mountains, enjoy a special picnic lunch of rustic, country Andean fare made from locally sourced ingredients.

Spend the morning at the ruins of the massive Inca fortress of Ollantaytambo, the site of the Inca’s greatest victory over the Spanish in the 16th century. Today, the town still uses the terrace systems and irrigation systems, serving as Peru’s best surviving example of Inca town planning. Discuss the experience over an organic garden-to-table lunch. After lunch, visit the gardens and choose your own adventure: return to our hotel or visit Pablo Seminario’s ceramic workshop in Urubamba, where his work is inspired by pre-Hispanic cultures. Rejoin the group for a special dinner together this evening featuring a show of Peruvian Paso horses.

Embark on a scenic ride with lunch aboard Belmond's Hiram Bingham train to Aguas Calientes, the town located at the foot of Machu Picchu. Nestled in a cloud forest, Machu Picchu is arguably the most important archaeological site in the Americas. Surrounded by steep agricultural terraces, this masterfully planned site, built in the mid-1400s, was a center of worship and the private retreat of the Inca ruler Pachacútec. This “Lost City of the Incas” also included an astronomical observatory. Explore the stone temples, grassy plazas, palaces, and workshops with an expert guide before heading to our hotel for dinner.

Return to Machu Picchu this morning for a guided visit on a different circuit followed by lunch at a local restaurant. After lunch, travel to Cusco aboard the Vistadome Observatory train. Upon arrival, check in to our hotel, a 16th-century former monastery and protected national monument.

Begin the day with a walking tour of the old town, visiting the Plaza de Armas; the Cathedral of Cusco, which dates from Spanish Viceroyalty times; and the Church and Convent of Santo Domingo that was built upon the foundations of Koricancha, the Inca temple dedicated to worship the Sun God. The rest of the day is free for independent exploration. Alternatively, opt to visit the ruins of Sacsayhuamán, begun by the Killke people early in the 10th century and expanded by the Incas in the 13th century. The massive stones (one weighs 125 tons!) were cut and fitted together with incredible precision and without a single glob of mortar to hold them in place.

After breakfast at the hotel, board the Andean Explorer train for our rail journey to the fascinating 15th-century archaeological site of Raqch’i with its Temple of Wiracocha, the largest kallanka of the Inca Empire. This two-story structure stretches more than 300 feet in length. Continue to the La Raya mountain range to take in the stunning scenery and enjoy a reception in the piano bar prior to dinner on board.

Arrive early with a chance to see the sunrise over Lake Titicaca, then experience a full-day excursion to explore the highest navigable lake in the world. In the lake are many diverse islands, each with its own unique way of life. Have lunch on Taquille Island, notable for its stunning horticultural terraces, followed by a visit to the beach of Collata. Return for tea on the train as we journey to Saracocha for stargazing (weather-permitting).

After sunrise surrounded by the scenery of Lake Lagunillas, tour Sumbay Caves, home to cave paintings dated between 6,000 and 8,000 years old. The cave paintings depict human figures and various animals like camelids, pumas, and foxes and are a significant record of the early inhabitants of the Peruvian Highlands. Return to the train for lunch as we continue to Arequipa, where we transfer to the airport for our flight to Lima. Upon arrival, transfer to our hotel and enjoy the rest of the evening at leisure.

Transfer to the airport after breakfast for independent flights home.