The window to the heart of the Andes

Peru: Luxury 8 Day Journey
by luxury hiram bingham train

From Peru’s capital and most populous city we travel into the heart of the Andes Mountains to the magnificent city of Cusco, with its Inca and colonial past, and on to Machu Picchu, hidden for centuries in dense cloud forest.

Lima – Sacred Valley of the Incas (Urubamba) – Machupicchu – Cusco – Lima

Day 1: Arrival in Lima

On arrival from your international flight, you will be met by our representative at the airport in Lima and transferred to the Miraflores Park Hotel, located in the Miraflores district, which is one of the most elegant middle class and commercial districts of Peru’s capital.

Day 2: Lima city tour

Today will be dedicated to a full-day guided tour of Lima, Peru’s capital and home to about one third of all Peruvians. Our vehicle will take you through the districts of Miraflores and San Isidro, which are the most modern and prosperous areas of the city. From there we will continue to the historical center of the city, visiting the Main Square, which is surrounded by a number of historic buildings, including the government palace and the cathedral. We will then visit the church and convent of San Francisco, before going for lunch at La Rosa Nautica, an excellent restaurant situated on an old pier with a spectacular view of the ocean. In the afternoon we will make a guided visit to the Larco Herrera Museum, which possesses the largest collection of pre-Columbian art in Peru.

(Overnight at the Miraflores Park Hotel)

Day 3: Sacred Valley of the Incas – Urubamba

In the morning you will be taken to the airport for the one hour flight to Cusco, where you will be met at the airport by our tour guide and transferred to the Hotel Sol y Luna in the Sacred Valley of the Incas. On the way you will be able to enjoy the countryside with its fertile valleys and high mountains, small farming communities and colonial-style villages. We will visit the colonial town of Pisaq, with its colorful market. This is one of the most traditional markets in the Cusco region, and you will have a chance to shop and bargain here. Part of Pisaq market remains a traditional place for locals to trade goods, while the other section of the market is dedicated to offering handcrafts for sale to visitors. We will have lunch at the beautiful Casa Hacienda Orihuela, where we will have time to enjoy the family’s fine collection of colonial and Inca art and artifacts.

You will have the rest of the afternoon free to relax and get used to the altitude.

(Overnight at Sol y Luna Hotel in Urubamba)

Day 4: Sacred Valley of the Incas – Chinchero – Moray – Maras

Today we will explore the Sacred Valley of the Incas. We will begin by driving to the village of Chinchero, where we will visit a charming Spanish church built in the 17th century, Inca ruins which include fine examples of agricultural terraces, and the village itself. We will also attend a weaving exhibition, watching as local weavers demonstrate their ancient techniques for weaving, spinning and dyeing. If the weather is clear we will have fine views as we drive down into the valley of the patchwork of fields and the snow-capped peaks that overlook them.

We will continue the tour with a visit to Moray – a series of circular agricultural terraces which were used by the Incas as a kind of agricultural research station. Picnic lunch. Afternoon visit to Maras salt pans.

(Overnight at Sol y Luna Hotel in Urubamba)

Day 5: Machupicchu

In the early morning, to take advantage of the better light conditions for photography, we will visit the Inca archaeological site of Ollantaytambo, an impressive Inca temple and fortress overlooking the village of Ollantaytambo and the Urubamba river valley. We will then board the luxury Hiram Bingham train to Machu Picchu. A three course meal will be served onboard during the journey. Upon arrival at Aguas Calientes train station we will make the 25 minute bus journey to the Sanctuary Lodge Hotel. By the time we have checked in most of the other tourists will have probably left the ruins for the return train journey, which means we will visit the ruins of Machu Picchu when they are much less crowded.

Day 6: Machupicchu – Cusco

We will give you an early wake-up call so you will have the chance to enjoy the sunrise over Machu Picchu. Remember that our hotel is located just a few minutes from the entrance to Machu Picchu, so all you need to do is get up, grab your camera and walk a few steps to the ruins.

After breakfast and in the company of your guide, you can choose to walk the trails to the mountain known as Huayna Picchu, which is the peak seen in the classic photographs taken of Machu Picchu. The views from the top are spectacular. Other recommended activities include the 30-minute walk to the Inca drawbridge or the hike along the Inca Trail to the Sun Gate that overlooks Machu Picchu.

(Lunch at the Sanctuary Lodge Hotel)

In the evening you will take the Hiram Bingham train back to Cusco. During the journey a four-course a la carte meal will be served onboard. On arrival at Poroy station you will be transferred by private vehicle to the Hotel Monasterio in Cusco.

Day 7: Exploring the city of Cusco

Today you will have the opportunity to experience the historic center of Cusco on a sightseeing tour in the company of an expert guide. The tour includes a visit to the Temple of the Sun (Qorikancha), which boasts some of the finest stonework left to us by the Incas. We will also visit the cathedral, which houses more than 300 paintings from the 17th century Cusco School of Painting. Leaving the city center, we will go up into the hills around Cusco to explore the Sacsayhuaman Archaeological Park. Saqsayhuaman is the largest Inca site in the Andes, and its enormous walls built in three tiers contain blocks weighing more than 100 tons each. We will also visit Qenqo, a temple once dedicated to Inca fertility rites which is carved out of the living rock. Back in town, we will see the city’s San Pedro market, with its local products from throughout the Cusco region. This will be a good opportunity to enjoy contact with local people and observe their way of life.

(Overnight at the Hotel Monasterio in Cusco)

Day 8: Cusco – Lima

Morning free.

In the afternoon we will drive you to the airport for your flight to Lima, where you will be met by our representative and driven to your hotel, where a day room will be made available for you. You will have the afternoon free, followed by a farewell meal before your international flight in the evening.