Journeying Across Peru from the Amazon to Lake Titicaca

Barranco's fame is nothing new; in the 19th century, Lima's aristocracy frequented its beaches. Today, creatives from all walks of life have set up in buildings and 'casonas' (big houses). Gallery owners, restaurateurs and cafe owners followed. As a result, Lima's Museum of Contemporary Art is an absolute must. The historic centre of Lima, otherwise known as Cercado, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and offers splendid examples of Spanish colonial architecture, such as Torre-Tagle Palace (18th century) and the Basilica Cathedral of Lima (17th century), which is home to the tomb of Francisco Pizarro, the Spanish conquistador who led the Spanish conquest of Peru. Visit one of Lima's fascinating museums. For example, at Museo Larco, explore more than 5,000 years of ancient Peruvian history up to the colonial period.
Included in the itinerary - Table reserved at one of the best restaurants in the world, Maido. Nikkei cuisine, created by the Japanese people of Peru, has established itself as a style in its own right and enjoys worldwide acclaim. Maido is a prime example of this exotic fusion thanks to the delicious creations of chef Mitsuharu Tsumura. A table will be waiting for you, with a taxi to get you there and back.
Optional - Private tour of Barranco.

Transfer to the airport and flight to Jaen. Transfer and two-night stay just north of Cocachimba. This hotel is all about its prime location: from the balconies, to the terraces, and even the swimming pool, the spectacular Gocta waterfall can always be seen from this beautiful mountain setting. The rooms are sleek and well-equipped, enhanced by traditional embroidered fabrics. The restaurant offers family cuisine, where the Andes meet the Amazon and, weather permitting, you can dine outdoors.

Included in the itinerary - Locals call Gocta Waterfall, 'La Chorrera', meaning 'the Fall'. And what a waterfall it is... water plunges from a staggering height of 1,640ft. It's one of the highest and most spectacular waterfalls on Earth. The waterfall is just a few miles from the hotel and as you get closer, the sound of the falls becomes deafening. The forest on the outskirts is particularly impressive for nature lovers; it's home to numerous species of bird, including the vibrant orange Andean cock-of-the-rock. To the south-west of Cocachimba is Chachapoyas, home to the funeral site of Sarcophagi of Karajia, where coffins carved into stone resembling limbless torsos stand proudly on the cliff edge - an absolute must for history buffs.

Included in the itinerary - Transfer to Leymebamba, at the source of the Utcubamba River. On the way, visit Chachapoyas. The city retains many buildings from Peru's time as a Spanish viceroyalty, which began in 1542, including an exemplary Plaza de Armas - an impressive square with low houses and the two looming towers of St. John the Baptist Cathedral. Farther south, the fortress of Kuelap, dating back to the tenth century, gives a great insight into the military engineering talents of the Chachapoyas, the Cloud Warriors.
Overnight stay on the western edge of Leymebamba. Your colonial-style hotel features traditional wooden balconies overlooking the street below, and a wooden gallery overlooking the small garden. Your room has everything you need for a peaceful and restful night. Unpretentious local cuisine is served in a cosy dining room.

Included in the itinerary - The museum of Leymebamba exhibits fascinating quipus - Inca accounting records in the form of knotted strings - as well as 219 Chachapoyas mummies, recovered from the cliff tombs above Laguna de los Condores in 1997.
Transfer to Cajamarca. Two-night stay in Los Banos del Inca. The hotel sits in the middle of a green garden and takes advantage of two hot springs, which supply large communal swimming pools and private pools. The spa also uses this water for its treatments, along with mud, essential oils and cocoa. The private and communal areas are all beautifully rustic. A relaxed cafeteria and a more formal restaurant cater for the hungriest of appetites... perfect after an energetic afternoon of riding.

Included in the itinerary - In Cajamarca, the Ransom Room still stands (just). This small but symbolic building is considered to be the place where the Inca Empire came to a bloody end. The last Inca, Atahualpa, was held here and the room would have served as a gauge for the gold and silver paid to redeem his freedom... However, the Spaniards executed him on the spot on 29th August 1533. Say farewell to the Inca Empire. In the old town, Belen's architecture consists of a church with an impressive facade from the 17th century, the men's hospital and the women's hospital, both of which were still in use until the 1940s. The sculptural craftsmanship on the facade of St. Catherine Cathedral is some of the most beautiful Andean Baroque architecture you'll see, despite never actually being completed.

Transfer to the airport and flight to Arequipa via Lima. Transfer and a two-night stay just a few blocks from Plaza de Armas. The hotel is in an historic building that has been extended, the rooms are centred around a covered gallery courtyard and volcanic stone blocks add a minimalist but authentic touch. This hotel has fully-equipped rooms with modern bathrooms for a comfortable night's stay. The rooftop restaurant offers generous-sized portions of unpretentious, delicious cuisine on a beautiful terrace and the wines are exquisite.

The city is dominated by the seasonally snow-capped, symmetrical cone of the Misti Volcano. Spot the smoke rising from this 19,030ft-tall wonder of Arequipa. Wander to the Plaza de Armas and the famous Monastery of Santa Catalina, built in the 16th century in a beautiful Spanish-Moorish style. This amazing religious compound housed up to 450 people (of which a third were Dominican nuns, belonging to the best families in the country). The 20 or so nuns still present today occupy only a small part of the site that's now open for visits. The 17th century Jesuit Church, and the area surrounding has a mix of Baroque and Yanahuara buildings.
Optional - Tour of Arequipa and Santa Catalina Convent, with a private guide.

Tourist bus to Puno. Two-night stay in a hotel in the city centre. This hotel is simple but pristine, with pretty indigenous touches: walls are decorated with 'aguayo', traditional wool fabric from the Altiplano region, as well as figurines and watercolour paintings. The rooms and bathrooms are impeccable and comfortable. In the dining room, enjoy unpretentious Peruvian cuisine and a few international dishes, too.

Included in the itinerary - The floating reed islands of Uros Titinos and Taquile on Lake Titicaca. The artificial floating islands are made up of many overlapping layers of rushes – totora – a special subspecies of bulrush found in Titicaca. Some islands are still inhabited and traditional totora canoes come and go to transport residents. On Taquile, men knit and women weave - UNESCO added the island's textile art to their Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. The island owes its existence to nature and in order to maintain a balance between community life and tourism, the residents manage both aspects themselves. Tours are given by a private guide.

Transfer by bus to Cusco. Three-night stay three blocks from Cusco's main square, Plaza de Armas, in the old town. The hotel is a celebration of Peruvian folk art and Andean colours. The rooms are very well-designed and comfortable. Start the day off with a delicious breakfast to prepare you for a day of exploration and adventure.

At the centre of the world, the city was most likely built by the Killke people, a century before the arrival of the Incas, who then expanded it and made it the capital of their empire. The Spaniards partly destroyed it, but on its foundations built the noble city of Cusco. The capital of the Incan Empire is still, literally, the base of Cusco: most walls and foundations date back to the pre-Hispanic period and are found in many places (especially in the old colonial area of San Blas, where your hotel is located). The Cathedral Basilica of the Assumption of the Virgin and the Church of the Society of Jesus, with gold and paintings from the Cusco School of Art (16th-17th centuries), both stand proudly on Plaza de Armas. Make sure to also visit Sacsayhuaman, one of the most impressive Inca ruins, located just over one mile north of Cusco. Admire the three levels of walls laid out in a zig-zag formation to represent the shape of a puma's head.
Optional - Private tour of Cusco; Boleto Turistico General ticket.

Transfer to Poroy train station and train to Aguas Calientes.
Included in the itinerary - This scenic train's winding route is a truly breathtaking experience. Machu Picchu, the citadel created by the Inca Emperor Pachacutec, is one of the most iconic sites on the planet, and for good reason. The beauty of the mountains, the scale of the design, the logistics and engineering it took to build along with the strength, energy and creative genius shown by the Incas are all beyond comprehension. A private guide will help you go beyond the mere feeling of wonder and teach you about the awe-inspiring majesty of one of the most impressive places on Earth.
Overnight stay at the northern edge of Aguas Calientes. The contemporary building is beautifully decorated with dried branches of eucalyptus. The interior features a stylish black and white monochrome design and the rooms boast fresh Peruvian cotton sheets. The a la carte restaurant offers national and international cuisine with organic ingredients wherever possible. The spa, complete with organic spa products, is located on the upper floor, with big windows that open out onto the rainforest.

Included in the itinerary - In the morning, enjoy another tour of the ancient city suspended over the Urubamba River to get a deeper cut of all it has to offer. Then, climb Machu Picchu Mountain, a staggering 10,112ft above sea level. The climb is tough but the spectacular views make it worth every step.
Transfer to the train station and take a train to Ollantaytambo. Transfer to your hotel in Urubamba, in the heart of the Sacred Valley. Three-night stay in the north-western part of the town. The contemporary Andean architecture means this hotel enjoys beautiful natural light. The interior design features white wood furniture to create a light and stylish look. The rooms are pristine and minimalist with a laidback charm and stunning views of the surrounding scenery. The gardens are the perfect setting for relaxing during the day and gathering around the fire in the evening. and the Andean-style breakfast is served from 05:00 am for those who want to pack as much as possible into their days. perfect for those eager to get out and explore. The small spa, with its sauna, jacuzzi and wide selection of massages, provides valuable relaxation services after a long day exploring.

Included in the itinerary - Trip to the local markets, which are a riot of colour. Enjoy a tour in a private car with a driver. Start with Pisac: Enjoy the famous market with its endless produce including fresh cheese, chicken, herbs, bread, cabbages, guinea pigs, corn and potatoes, then explore the ancient agricultural terraces and Inca citadel, dating back thousands of years. At the other end of the valley, the fortified site of Ollantaytambo is a beautifully preserved example of Incan urban design.

Included in the itinerary - Travel by car and then, with a private guide, explore the impressive concentric terraces of the Incan agricultural site of Moray. The centre works towards the artificial creation of different climatic conditions to allow for the acclimatisation of allogeneic plants. Then, head downhill through picturesque farmland, dominated by the Vilcabamba mountain range, towards the salt mines of Maras, whose thousands of basins make up a strange, white, honeycomb landscape. This day in the countryside involves about three hours of walking.