Compare Signature Peru & Beyond by Kuoda Travel vs Peru with Machu Picchu 2023 Classic Group by Insight Vacations

Day 1: Welcome to Peru!

Accommodation: Belmond Miraflores Park, 01 City View Jr. Suite

International Arrival in Lima

You will find us waiting for you when your international flight arrives in Lima. Look for the Kuoda sign with your name and the smile. We will escort you to your hotel in the Miraflores district, check you in, and help you get settled. You’ll then be able to rinse away the feeling of a long flight and enjoy a good night’s rest!

Day 2: Introduction to the City of Kings

Meals: Breakfast and Lunch

Accommodation: Belmond Miraflores Park, 01 City View Jr. Suite

Afternoon Visit to the Larco Herrera Museum and the Historic City Center

Wake up refreshed and enjoy breakfast in your hotel this morning. You have the morning to spend at your leisure, either enjoying the comforts of your hotel or exploring vibrant Miraflores!

At the appropriate time mid-day, we’ll collect you and bring you to the Pueblo Libre neighborhood, home to the Larco Herrera Museum. Housing the country’s largest collection of pre-Columbian artifacts (including extensive gold and silver collections, as well as the infamous erotic archaeological collection) and providing rare open access to their exquisitely catalogued storage area, this museum is the perfect introduction to Peru’s multi-faceted cultural history. First, you’ll begin your visit with a delicious lunch enjoyed on the vine-covered terrace of the Museum’s café, and then you’ll have time to explore the exhibits. Next we’ll delve into the heart of Peru’s “City of Kings,” where you’ll visit the Plaza Mayor, featuring the current President’s palace, the Convent of San Francisco (including subterranean catacombs!) and the Casa Aliaga, which is the western hemisphere’s oldest mansion and still owned and inhabited by the 17^th generation of the Aliaga family. Upon completion of your tour, we will bring you back to your hotel where your guide will be happy to suggest some great places to see and dine within walking distance of Miraflores.

Day 3: Over the Andes to the Sacred Valley

Meals: Breakfast and Lunch

Accommodation: Belmond Rio Sagrado, 01 Deluxe Terrace Room

Flight from Lima to Cusco, Private Car to the Sacred Valley

You will wake up refreshed and enjoy a complimentary breakfast in your hotel before we escort you back to the airport for your morning flight to Cusco. Watch the windows as the desert coast rises into the snow-capped peaks of the Andes!

We will be waiting for you when touch down at our Andean airport and will bring you to the historic city center of Cusco for a delicious lunch. Then, before you can feel the altitude, we’ll whisk you into the Sacred Valley. Just 15 minutes outside of Cusco, true Peruvian countryside will stretch away on either side of you, cows and sheep grazing tranquilly road-side. Impossibly steep peaks rise in the distance. Your journey will take you first to the Incan fortress at Sacsayhuaman. Next, you’ll stop at the vibrant market in the pueblo of Pisac, where locals come from miles around to sell their wares. Upon conclusion of your market visit we’ll bring you to your hotel in the heart of the Sacred Valley. Remember, your Kuoda guide and driver are at your disposal today – please feel free to stop for photos, stretch your legs and breathe in the clear mountain air!

Day 4: Uncovering Ollantaytambo’s Secrets

Meals: Breakfast and Lunch

Accommodation: Belmond Monasterio, 01 Superior Room

Hike through Patacancha, Visit Ollantaytambo’s Iconic Ruins, and Enjoy a Peruvian Feast!

Today’s journey through the Sacred Valley of the Incas will start with a drive through the breathtaking Patacancha Valley. At the ruins of Pumamarca we’ll begin our hike down a pre-Columbian trail, following irrigation canals that line terraced fields still in use today.

After approximately two hours of hiking, we’ll find ourselves in the Incan town of Ollantaytambo, one of the few remaining places in Peru that retains its original Incan urban planning. You’ll note still-functioning street canals, multi-family houses with secret interior courtyards and iconic Incan trapezoidal doors! Here we’ll visit the Incan fortress perched on the mountainside overlooking the sleepy pueblo, and learn about nearby stone quarries and the pivotal Incan battle fought here. We hope you worked up an appetite while hiking, because next on the schedule is a true Peruvian feast: the traditional Pachamanca! The centuries-old Pachamanca tradition involves marinating lamb, pork, chicken, and potatoes in a variety of Andean ingredients and cooking them to perfection in an underground oven. You’ll witness each step of the process: how the oven is prepared, how white-hot stones are layered, and how the feast materializes before your eyes! While waiting for your feast to roast, make sure to wander through the grounds’ organic garden, smell the fresh-roasted coffee produced by the farm’s head roaster, and sample some of the varieties of cañazo (a local Andean spirit) that are produced on-site at the one-of-a-kind distillery. Upon completion of your tour, we will bring you back to your hotel for an evening spent at leisure.

Day 5: The Lost City of the Incas – Machu Picchu

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Accommodation: Belmond Sanctuary Lodge, 01 Deluxe Terrace Room

Morning luxury Hiram Bingham Train, Private Tour of Machu Picchu

Prepare for a climactic day! In the morning, we will board the luxury Belmond Hiram Bingham train for our journey to Machu Picchu. Watch the cloud jungle pass by through the large glass windows and enjoy a gourmet lunch on board, followed by a visit to the open-air observatory car! After a bus ride to the gates of this wonder of the world, you will then ascend stone steps, through heavy tree cover to finally emerge at the top of the world – Machu Picchu. The incredible Inca stone construction will be spread below, alternately hidden and revealed by clouds. Your expert guide will give you a private tour of the ancient city. Afterwards, feel free to continue exploring, or retire to your on-site hotel to relax and refresh. Upon completion of your tour, your guide will give you advice and answer questions about how you might use your following free day. Enjoy an excellent dinner on-site at your luxury hotel and fall into bed, relishing in your exclusive proximity to Peru’s lost citadel!

Day 6: Machu Picchu on Your Terms

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Accommodation: Belmond Monasterio, 01 Superior Room

A Free Day to Explore the Ancient City at Your Own Pace

This is your day to relax and enjoy Machu Picchu. The adventurous can hike the steep Huayna Picchu sugarloaf peak for the postcard view of the city, or those wishing to go at a calmer pace can continue to explore the far reaches of the citadel, perhaps visiting the Inca Bridge. Your guide from the previous day will have left you with plenty of suggestions for how best to make the most out of your day exploring Peru’s world wonder.

Machu Picchu entrances, Huayna Picchu entrances, and return bus tickets are included today. In the afternoon, you will descend to Aguas Calientes for your return luxury Hiram Bingham train. Delight in a live show and gourmet dinner in thie 1920’s Pullman-style luxury train! We will be waiting in the station for you and will bring you to your hotel for a relaxing evening at leisure.

Day 7: The Past, Present, and Future of the Sacred Valley

Accommodation: Belmond Monasterio, 01 Superior Room

Meals: Breakfast and Lunch

A Free Day to Explore the Ancient City at Your Own Pace

Today you will weave through the Sacred Valley’s most fertile agricultural lands and experience an unforgettable blend of the past, present, and future.

Your first stop of the day will be revisiting centuries past at the ancient Inca ruins at Moray. Some experts still believe these concentric circles served as an agricultural laboratory, though nobody has yet been able to confirm their true purpose. Form your own hypothesis as you peer deep into these beautiful feats of engineering and stonemasonry. We will then transport ourselves to the present and continue through the small town of Maras before arriving at iconic salt pans carved into the mountainside. In use to this day, each of thousands of flat white pools terracing the hillside has been passed down through generations since pre-Incan times, providing sustenance and income. The intricate network of waterways and white evaporation pools seem like a work of modern art. We will then pause for a locally-prepared lunch enjoyed with panoramic views.

After lunch, we will take you to visit our friends in a small village and glimpse the promising future that awaits the rural Sacred Valley. Surrounded by towering mountains and hugging the shore of the breathtakingly blue Lake Piuray, agriculture dominates life in this close-knit place. The women of the village are weaving masters that use Incan techniques, materials, and patterns, and have formed a weaving association providing community development through sales and teachings. You will also meet some of the local children who attend Kuoda’s after-school program, which provides a much needed haven of extra school supplies, homework help, and perhaps most importantly, encouragement to stay in school. The kids love to show off their drawings and computer skills! This town is far off the beaten-track, so you won’t see other travellers here. You will get to meet some of the friendliest people in Peru and witness how a more traditional way of life is adapting to the passage of time. Finally, after experiencing first-hand the past, present, and future of the Sacred Valley, we will bring you to your hotel in Cusco for a leisurely evening.

Day 8: Walking Through the Centuries in the Imperial City

Meals: Breakfast

Accommodation: Belmond Monasterio, 01 Superior Room

Private Walking Tour of Cusco’s Historic City Center, Afternoon Tasting Tour

This morning you will experience the lay of the land as only true world travelers know how: on foot traversing hidden al leyways, historic plazas, and local treasures. After breakfast on your own, your private guide will proceed to illuminate Cusco’s rich tapestry woven by its inviting cobblestone streets, charming neighborhoods, and astounding landmarks.

Your first stop of the day will be to the Santo Domingo monastery, perched atop the most sacred of Incan sites, the Qoricancha temple of the sun. Once bathed in 24-karat gold long-since pilfered by Spanish conquistadors, this temple is now an astounding blend of Incan stonemasonry and colonial architecture. From there you’ll stop in at the colonial Cathedral in the Plaza de Armas, and the Pre-Colombian Art Museum, housing an unparalleled collection of Incan artifacts in pristine condition. Next, climb up to the bohemian neighborhood of San Blas, known for its whitewashed adobe buildings and quaint blue balconies. Top off your tour with a visit to a local indigenous market brimming with a rainbow of local fruits and traditional remedies, and make sure to pause at the 12-angled stone nestled in a wall that has withstood the test of time (as well as a couple of earth-shattering earthquakes!). Upon conclusion of your tour your guide will leave you with suggestions as to where you can find a light local lunch, but make sure to save some room for the snacks that await this afternoon! First make your way to the Coffee Museum, just a ten minute walk from your hotel, where a stimulating aroma will welcome you in. After a workshop detailing coffee’s history as well as how it is grown, sorted, and roasted, you will be whisked away to the Chocolate Museum. Did you know that Peru is the birthplace of chocolate? Here you will learn about its spectacular history and the unique process that chocolate undergoes from plant to plate. Best of all, make your own chocolate truffles to bring home with you! Lastly, you will find yourself in the Republica del Pisco to taste an assortment of the Peruvian spirit-of-choice paired with Peruvian fusion appetizers. This is the perfect way to know which Pisco variety you’ll want to take home with you!

Day 9: Bidding Farewell to Peru

Meals: Breakfast

Fly From Cusco to Lima. Explore Barranco and Enjoy Dinner. Fly Home.

At the appropriate time late this morning, we will escort you to the Cusco airport for your return flight to Lima. Watch the windows as the snow-capped peaks of the Andes become coastal desert!

Your Kuoda Lima host will meet you upon arrival and bring you to the bohemian Barranco neighborhood, one of Lima’s up-and-coming artsy areas. You’ll start off on foot and visit such highlights as the Barran- co boardwalk and the famous “Puente de los Suspiros”, which has been a meeting point for young lovers for decades and has inspired many famous Peruvian poets and singers. You’ll also wander past local art galleries, window shopping or ducking inside for a better look at their treasures, and visit the picturesque main plaza in Barranco. Be prepared for some delicious snacks and maybe even a taste of locally- brewed Peruvian craft beer!

Upon completion of your walking tour in Barranco, your private vehicle will bring you to a restaurant of your choosing, where we will have secured reservations for you. Savor the flavors of an award-winning national cuisine and reflect upon your journey over the last twelve days discovering Southern Peru. At the appropriate time, we will bring you to the airport for your journey home. We will help you check in for your international flight and wish you buen viaje!

Day 1: Welcome to Lima

Arrive in Lima for the first day of your journey. In the evening meet your Travel Director and fellow travelers at the hotel bar for a welcome dinner and drinks.

Day 2: Explore Lima Relaxed Start

Explore the colourful capital of Peru this morning with your Local Expert. Delve into its colonial past and see key attractions, including the Cathedral of Lima, the Government Palace, the Archbishop’s Palace and City Hall. Visit the San Francisco Monastery and its underground cemetery. One for those with an appreciation for art, head to Museo Larco, a private museum located in Lima’s Pueblo Libre District. It is the highest-rated museum in South America and houses the largest collection of Pre-Columbian art. Indulge in a Highlight Lunch with an 18th-century garden as your backdrop. After lunch, meet a local guide who will take you around the Museo Larco and share the museum’s private collection with you. Delve into Peruvian culture, its ancient history and the country's religious beliefs. Return to your hotel and enjoy an evening at leisure.

Day 3: Lima to Sacred Valley

Take a transfer to the airport in the morning, where you'll catch your flight to the ancient capital of Cusco. Begin your tour of the Sacred Valley, while taking in impressive views on your scenic drive along the way. After a few stunning photo stops, enjoy lunch at Altar Inca, surrounded by some of the most impressive views of the region. Enjoy a leisurely trip to your hotel for the next couple of nights, where the evening is yours to do as you please. We recommend that you rest in order to adjust to the altitude comfortably.

Day 4: Explore Sacred Valley Relaxed Start

Start the morning off with a visit to the Maras salt pans, where the Incas harvested their salt. Today, the salt from Maras is exported to the entire world. Move on to an Incan laboratory in Moray, an archaeological site close to Cusco. Find out more about the ideal altitude to grow crops in the Sacred Valley. Join a MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® experience as you visit a local traditional Quechua weaver in the Sacred Valley and learn about the importance these textiles have in shaping personal and regional identities. Afterward, make your way to Laguna Piuray, where you’ll enjoy a Pachamanca, a traditional Peruvian feast, for your Highlight Lunch. In the evening, transfer to Hacienda Huayoccari, where you'll discover this gem of the Sacred Valley while exploring its grounds and small museum. Sit down for a special Peruvian dinner before heading back to your hotel, the luxurious Aranwa Sacred Valley Hotel.

Day 5: Explore Machu Picchu

Transfer to the station for your IncaRail train ride. Enjoy lunch on your way to Machu Picchu pueblo, the gateway village to Machu Picchu. On the way, visit the Ollantaytambo ruins, followed by a stop at a local house in the village’s cobblestoned old town and visit with the family living there. In the afternoon, visit Machu Picchu, where you’ll meet your Local Experts for a guided visit in small groups. They will take you through the ruins and explain their historical and archaeological significance, as well as the importance of their location. Set high in the Andes Mountains, it offers spectacular scenery and history, dating back to the 15th century. End your day with a relaxing dinner and drinks at your hotel.

Day 6: Machu Picchu at Leisure

Take in the breathtaking landscapes of Machu Picchu for a second time. Spend your morning exploring at your own pace, with your Travel Director on hand to answer any queries you may have. The afternoon is yours at leisure. Relax back at your hotel or perhaps explore the town of Aguas Calientes on your own. Spend the evening as you please before sitting down to a Highlight Dinner with your fellow travelers.

Day 7: On to Cusco

After breakfast, return by train to Ollantaytambo, where you will transfer to the ancient city of Cusco. Once the capital of the Inca Empire, Cusco showcases a mix of Spanish colonial architecture, ancient remains and a lively cosmopolitan scene for modern inhabitants. On arrival in Cusco, head out on a walking tour with a Local Expert. Visit its cathedral and the Korikancha temple, the most important temple in the Inca Empire. The evening is yours at leisure. Ask your Travel Director for local restaurant and bar recommendations.

Day 8: Exploring Cusco

Start your day with a walking tour of Sacsayhuaman, a citadel built in the reign of Pachacuti Inca Yupanqui, the ninth Sapa Inca of the Kingdom of Cusco. Afterward, choose to join a local expert on a guided hike of the Inca ruins at Puca Pucara. Alternatively you can explore the artisan bohemian neighborhood of San Blas and visit the prestigious art galleries. After lunch at Pachapapa, visit San Blas Church and the surrounding streets, before making your way to San Pedro Market, where you will find local produce. Later, make your way to the city’s planetarium, for a private, after-hours tour. Learn about astronomy, cosmology, and its influence on Andean culture. While here, try some local delicacies paired with hot wine.

Day 9: Leisure time in Cusco Relaxed Start

Choose between an optional visit to Rainbow Mountain, the ChocoMuseo, where you’ll learn more about the chocolate making process, or perhaps relax and simply enjoy the facilities at your hotel? Set in a beautiful 16th century building, make the most of this boutique hotel’s signature spa and Andean-inspired healing treatments, massages, facials and custom spa packages. In the evening, join your fellow travelers for a memorable Celebration Dinner at Calle del Medio, where you will toast to your adventures and end of your trip.

Day 10: Depart Cusco

It’s time to say goodbye to your fellow travelers as your trip comes to an end. Take a private transfer to Alejandro Velasco Astete International Airport.