Inspiration for your own tailor-made trip
Peru – Lima – Arequipa – Colca Canyon – Cusco – Machu Picchu – Sacred Valley
100% customisable for you
Early morning alarms don’t feel so bad when a trip to Peru’s on the horizon. Head to the airport, breeze through security and settle into the lounge for some fizz and nibbles before the long-haul.
Today’s journey is a two-parter, taking you first to a European or American hub, where you’ll have time for a quick leg stretch before your second flight to Lima. Queue up the films, fluff up the neck pillow and try to catch some Z’s – all in all, the journey should take between 16 and 19 hours, depending on connection times.
When you touch down in Lima, you’ll be met at the airport and whisked away to your hotel, where you’ll check in for two nights.
There’s only one thing for it after all that travelling: food. Enjoy your first taste of Peruvian cuisine at the hotel restaurant before crawling into bed. Tomorrow promises plenty more excitement...
Rise and shine early this morning to beat the jet lag and meet your local guide for a day of sightseeing in Lima. Wander through the UNESCO-listed Cercado district, soak up the creative energy and indulge in a little retail therapy in Miraflores, the city’s trendiest neighbourhood. This is very much a go-with-the-flow kind of experience, so follow whatever catches your eye.
Fancy yourself an art aficionado? You’re spoilt for choice. Browse masterpieces at the Museum of Contemporary Art or admire treasures at the Casa Osma Museum. All that explorin’ is bound to work up an appetite, so stop for some street food at La Feria de Barranco, enjoying fresh ceviche (citrus-cured fish) and anticuchos (beef skewers) soundtracked by live criolla and cumbia music.
If you’re keen to delve deeper into the city’s past, we can arrange a guided tour of Lima’s colonial centre.
Come evening, we’ve secured you a table at Maido, an award-winning Japanese-Peruvian fusion restaurant offering up a dazzling tasting menu, featuring delicious dishes and expertly crafted drinks. Pisco sour, anyone?
Bid the capital a warm adios this morning as you’re privately transferred back to the airport for your one-and-a-half-hour flight to Arequipa. Up in the clouds, nab a window seat for views of vast desert plains, jagged Andean peaks and sky-piercing volcanoes.
When you arrive, you’ll be taken to your guesthouse in Arequipa, your home for the night.
Later, meet your private guide and explore the extraordinary Santa Catalina Monastery, a convent founded in 1579. Built from white stone carved from the Chachani volcano and pink rock from Misti, this maze-like complex is a riot of colourful alleyways, peaceful courtyards and Baroque cloisters. As incense swirls through the air and church bells echo around the convent walls, your guide will bring centuries of religious devotion to life.
After a jam-packed day, leave dinner plans up to your Concierge – just tell them what you’re craving...
Meet your driver this morning and hit the road towards the Colca Canyon, deep in the heart of the Andes. The route skirts past the Misti volcano and through the wild landscapes of the nearby Las Vicunas National Reserve, where herds of vicunas (alpaca-like camels) blend almost perfectly into the golden plains.
Eventually, the scenery gives way to the jaw-dropping Colca Canyon, one of the deepest in the world. The Collaguas people carved the canyon’s steep slopes into intricate agricultural terraces back in the seventh century. Later, the Incas expanded the irrigation systems and built a network of granaries, many of which can still be spotted today.
Later, arrive at your cosy hotel on the banks of the Colca River and settle in for the evening. After a hearty dinner, step outside and look up at the stars: with barely any light pollution here, the night sky puts on quite the show. Who’ll be the first to spot Orion’s Belt?
Another day, another adventure. Rise at dawn and ascend to Condor Cross viewpoint, where a large stone crucifix perches on the canyon edge, dizzying views stretch for miles and majestic Andean condors circle high above in search of prey. Revered by the Incas as sacred messengers for their ability to soar so close to the sun, this is one of the best places in the world to witness these birds in the wild.
As you explore, stop off at sleepy villages in search of the perfect keepsake – perhaps a handcrafted condor necklace – before admiring the ancient agricultural terraces etched into the canyon slopes.
Later, enjoy the ride as you’re transferred all the way back to Arequipa (a three-hour drive), where you’ll check into your hotel for the night.
This evening, we’ve arranged for you to enjoy a tasty dinner at Zig Zag, where an array of traditional Peruvian meats, fish and vegetables are grilled on volcanic stone slabs.
This morning, sit back and soak up the scenery as you’re privately transferred 30 minutes to the airport for your one-hour flight to Cusco, Peru’s ancient Inca capital. When you touch down, you’ll be whisked away to your guesthouse in the heart of the city – your base for the next two nights.
After a few action-packed days, it’s time to slow the pace and ease yourself into Cusco’s high altitude. After a few hours of settling in, spend the rest of the afternoon café hopping, cracking open your book or simply enjoying some well-earned R&R back at the hotel.
Fancy keeping the fun going instead? We can arrange a private mixology class where you’ll shake, stir and sip your way through Peru’s famous cocktail: the pisco sour.
Cobblestone streets, ancient ruins and alpacas casually trotting past centuries-old churches: welcome to Cusco. This morning, meet your local guide and dive straight into the former capital of the Inca Empire, the mighty civilisation that ruled huge swathes of South America before the 16th-century Spanish conquest.
Start in bohemian San Blas and tick off some of the city’s headline acts. Gaze up at the grandeur of the Plaza de Armas, step inside the ornate cathedral and explore Qorikancha, one of the Inca Empire’s most sacred temples.
Beyond the city, visit the mighty fortress of Sacsayhuaman, whose enormous stone walls still leave archaeologists scratching their heads today, before stopping at the ceremonial site of Q’enqo, once used for rituals honouring Pachamama, the Inca Goddess of Earth.
Still raring to go? We can also arrange a trip to the famous Rainbow Mountain, where (you guessed it) vibrant rainbow slopes ripple across the Andes. It's an early start and a high-altitude climb, but the views are worth the huffing and puffing.
It’s all aboard to Machu Picchu this morning as you head to Ollantaytambo station to catch the train bound for Aguas Calientes. Park yourself by the window, stick some headphones on and tune into our destination-specific playlist as the train rattles past Andean peaks and lush cloud forest.
When you arrive, meet your private guide and head straight for the main event: Machu Picchu. Perched high above the Sacred Valley and often wrapped in swirling mist, this Inca citadel feels like something straight out of an adventure film – quite literally featured in Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull.
Your guide will bring it all to life, from the incredible feat of engineering required to build it to the mysteries historians are still trying to unravel today.
After all that bucket-list adventuring, take a private transfer back to Aguas Calientes, check in to your hotel for the night and toast to a day spent exploring one of the Seven Wonders of the World.
Still not over what you saw yesterday? This morning, we can arrange a second visit to the legendary citadel for a hike up Montana Machu Picchu, where you’ll be treated to panoramic views from almost 10,000ft above sea level.
Machu Picchu conquered, it’s onwards to the next chapter of the trip. Catch the train back to Ollantaytambo, where a private transfer will sweep you away to Urubamba, located in the heart of the Sacred Valley – your base for the next two nights.
In the Sacred Valley, it’s all about embracing the wonderfully wild nature. Spend the afternoon swinging in a hammock, dipping into the pool or simply kicking back with something chilled in hand as the sun sinks behind the valley, casting everything in that golden-hour glow.
Fuel up with some hearty fare this morning – you’ve got quite the adventure ahead. With a private driver on hand for the day, it’s time to hit the road and discover more of the Sacred Valley’s fascinating landscapes.
First up: Moray, an archaeological site where enormous circular terraces roll across the mountainside like a giant natural amphitheatre. Historians believe this was once an Inca agricultural laboratory, with each terrace creating its own microclimate for testing crops from across the empire – pretty clever stuff for the 13th century.
From here, bound through the valley before rounding off the day at the Maras salt flats, where thousands of salt pools spill down the hillside in shimmering patchwork patterns beneath the Vilcabamba mountains.
Craving a glimpse into local life? We can also arrange a visit to meet the indigenous communities that call the Sacred Valley home.
Tonight, let our Concierge work their magic with one last restaurant recommendation – your final night in Peru deserves something special.
Time flies when you’re having fun, and sadly, your adventure across Peru has come to an end. Tuck into one last high-altitude breakfast this morning before meeting your private driver for the hour-and-a-half transfer to Cusco Airport.
When you’re checked in, stock up on your favourite Peruvian snacks, grab any last-minute souvenirs and settle in for the first leg of the trip home, with a stop in an American or European hub along the way.
The total journey will likely take between 18 and 24 hours, with a night spent on board before arriving back on home turf the next day. Plenty of time to scroll through your camera roll, relive the highlights and start dreaming up your next big adventure...
Everything in this itinerary is entirely customisable, down to the smallest details. Here are some more suggestions of what could be included
Each of our trips is entirely tailor-made with originality, quality and cultural immersion in mind. Our team of destination specialists will craft itineraries based on your tastes, using their first-hand knowledge and the help of our in-country team of Concierges and guides. All trips are accompanied by a wide range of additional services, including a 24-hour helpline, the Original Travel app, fast-track airport services and much more.
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Our team of destination experts will get to know you and your unique requirements for your holiday
We work with you to build an ultra-personalised holiday itinerary with your choice of accommodation, experiences and activities
All of our holidays include little extras designed to make a big difference to your trip, from checking you in for your flights to our network of local Concierges
