Machu Picchu & The Sacred Valley, 8 Days Lima Return with A&K

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Prepare to be enchanted on this epic journey to the heart of the ancient Inca Empire. See why Machu Picchu features on every traveller’s bucket list and explore it away from the crowds. Soak up the dazzling colours of Peru’s textiles and handicrafts and savour the fresh and flavoursome cuisine which has become one of the world’s most fashionable. Contrast 4,000 years of pre-Columbian history at the impressive Larco Museum with the vestiges of Spanish colonial rule in Lima’s grand squares and Cusco’s cathedrals and see how the conquistadors lived with private access to a grand 16th century residence. Visit an inspiring project giving hope to impoverished, at-risk children in the Sacred Valley and admire the breathtaking countryside as you travel to Machu Picchu by luxury rail.Belmond Miraflores Park Hotel

 

Highlights

  • Travel by PeruRail Sacred Valley, an elegant new train with 1920s-era styling, and stay at the only hotel on site at Machu Picchu, enjoying extra time to explore the colossal “Lost City of the Incas”
  • Enjoy a private lecture on Machu Picchu with a renowned scholar in Incan history before discovering the magnificent ruins for yourself in the company of a local expert guide
  • Mingle with the farmers and children of the Sacred Valley, and gain an intimate understanding of their centuries-old customs during a private village visit
  • Visit historic sites in colourful Cusco during your stay at a luxurious hotel that was once a 16th century monastery
  • Sample Peruvian cuisine at a Chef’s Table experience to better understand its cultural impact on Peru and the world
  • Discover Peru’s rich musical traditions during a captivating private performance by an expert in Andean music
  • Choose from year-round departures on this popular journey, enjoying insider-access opportunities made possible by A&K’s small group size and long time local presence
 

Itinerary

Day One

Arrive Lima, Peru

Arrive in Lima this evening and transfer to your hotel, located in the city’s exclusive residential district of Miraflores. Founded in 1535 by Spanish conquistador Francisco Pizzaro, this “City of Kings” is a mélange of colonial structures, pre-Columbian sites and modern conveniences.
Accommodation: Belmond Miraflores Park

 

Day Two

Lima | Colonial Splendor & Inspiring Artifacts

After a welcome briefing, enjoy an interactive Chef’s Table culinary experience, as your chef deftly demonstrates and you assist in the preparation of various Peruvian dishes. After lunch, discover Peru’s capital, visiting the Plaza Mayor, birthplace of the city, and the beautiful Cathedral, built in the 16th century. Next, tour Casa Aliaga, Lima’s oldest colonial mansion. Built in 1535 by a conquistador, it has been home to 17 generations of his descendants ever since. Note the graceful wood and marble staircase, the family chapel and the Golden Salon with its incredible golden mirrors and view the upper gallery, home to some important paintings from the Cusco School. Afterward, visit the Larco Museum, with its impressive array of pre-Columbian artefacts, and enjoy a welcome dinner at the on-site restaurant.
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Accommodation: Belmond Miraflores Park

 

Day Three

Sacred Valley | Cusco & Camelids

This morning, fly to Cusco, located more than 3,352 metres above sea level. Stop for lunch in the central square before proceeding to the Sacred Valley of the Incas. En route, visit Awana Kancha, a center where South American camelids, such as llamas and alpacas, are bred. Learn about the valuable fibers created from their coats and perhaps take the opportunity to feed these iconic animals. Continue to your relaxing accommodation — a charming Andean-style casita set amid gardens of flowers. Enjoy time at leisure before dining at your hotel restaurant.
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Accommodation: Sol y Luna

 

Day Four

Sacred Valley | Like a Journey Back in Time

When school is in session, visit the Kuychi Centre to meet the underprivileged children at Niños del Arco Iris (Children of the Rainbow), a project supported by A&K Philanthropy. This local school provides education, nutrition, medical care and hope to underprivileged children in the Sacred Valley. Later, visit a remote village seemingly frozen in time. Experience complete cultural immersion as you delve into agricultural methods that locals have used for centuries to support themselves in this challenging Andean mountain environment. Eat lunch locally before returning to your hotel. Spend your afternoon at leisure, perhaps taking advantage of the superb amenities of your accommodations. Dine tonight at the restaurant on site.
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Accommodation: Sol y Luna

 

Day Five

Machu Picchu | Bingham’s Stunning Discovery

Prepare for your visit to Machu Picchu with a private, interactive lecture from a renowned scholar and certified expert on the Incan ruins. Next, explore Ollantaytambo, a fortress of massive stone terraces that hug the mountain slopes and the site of the Incas’ greatest victory over the invading Spanish. Then, journey deep into the Andes toward Machu Picchu on board the PeruRail Sacred Valley, a train inspired by the elegance of the 1920s, gazing out at the spectacular Peruvian countryside. Arrive to begin an overnight stay at the only hotel located on site at Machu Picchu. Overlooking the Urubamba River and discovered in 1911 by American historian Hiram Bingham, Machu Picchu forever holds the secret of its passing — its Incan inhabitants left no written records of its purpose. Built in the 15th century at the height of the Inca empire, it was most likely the estate of an emperor. Walk the ruins alongside your expert guide, and then continue on your own. You may view the Temple of the Sun or Intihuatana, a ritual stone that may have been an astronomical calendar. As you wander amid the age-old stone walls, picture life as it might have been in this majestic citadel, set some 2,438 metres above sea level.
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Accommodation: Belmond Sanctuary Lodge

 

Day Six

Machu Picchu & Cusco | Walking the Spectacular Ruins

Rise with the sun to walk through Machu Picchu in the early morning mist before the crowds arrive, an experience some consider the spiritual highlight of the journey. You may also opt for a hike to Inti Punku (the Sun Gate), entry point to the ruins from the Inca Trail, or a trek up to Huayna Picchu, the high mountain that forms the backbone of the ruins and boasts spectacular views. After your explorations, bid adieu to this “Lost City of the Incas” and board the Vistadome train back to Ollantaytambo. Continue to Cusco where you check in to your hotel, once a 16th-century monastery. The Belmond Hotel Monasterio is a national monument that offers a delightful retreat from the bustle of Cusco, while set just off the city square. You may wish to view the art hung in its gilded chapel or sit beneath the 300-year-old cedar in its courtyard.
Meals Included: Breakfast & Lunch
Accommodation: Belmond Hotel Monasterio

 

Day Seven

Cusco | Design Your Day

Discover Cusco on a city tour this morning that includes the Cathedral on the Plaza de Armas and the Santo Domingo Temple, a Dominican church built on the foundations of the Koricancha, the Incas’ principal religious building. Listen as a local expert explains how the historic clashes between the Incas and the Spanish played a role in forming today’s Peruvian culture. Later, visit the well-preserved ruins of Sacsayhuaman, a testament to Incan architectural skill. Compiled of colossal stones, the largest of which may weigh as much as 200 tons, the walls were cut and placed together with incredible precision and without a single drop of mortar to hold them in place. This imposing fortress, which witnessed the greatest battle between the Spanish and the Incas, overlooks the red-tiled roofs of Cusco. This afternoon, enjoy one of these Design Your Day activities.

  • Visit the San Blas Neighbourhood, an art district where styles are handed down through generations of artisans.
  • Stroll San Pedro Market, tasting the local flavours of Cusco at this vibrant open-air venue.
  • Join a Photographer in Cusco, who helps you capture authentic images of the city’s architecture and people.

 

Tonight, enjoy an Andean music presentation by a regional expert on the subject, and learn the history and stories of his handmade instruments. Afterward, gather for a farewell dinner at the elegant MAP Café, where the chef gathers local ingredients for use in innovative recipes that remain true to Peru’s culinary traditions.
Meals Included: Breakfast & Dinner
Accommodation: Belmond Hotel Monasterio

 

Day Eight

Depart Lima

Spend a morning at your leisure, sleeping in, visiting shops or simply relaxing, before flying back to Lima, where you are assisted with your international flight and depart.
Meals Included: Breakfast
Accommodation: Wyndham Airport Lima Hotel (dayroom)

 


Journey Details:

  • This journey contains some active elements.
  • Minimum age is 10 years.
  • First group event: welcome briefing at 9:30 a.m. on Day 2.
  • Last group event: airport assistance in Lima upon return from Cusco on Day 8.
  • Departures are guaranteed to operate with a minimum of 2 guests.
 

 

Ask one of our Travel Specialists about Packaging Flights with your Tour and Save

Additional dates and rates may be available, please speak to one of our Travel Specialists for more information. 

Single Supplement rates are available on request.

*Rates are subject to availability and seasonality and may change without notice. Rates are based on two adults sharing. For solo travellers or single person occupancy rates or further information on terms and conditions, please contact our Travel Specialists at time of booking.

Belmond Miraflores Park Hotel

Renowned for its beautiful garden location beside the Pacific Ocean, the Miraflores Park enjoys breath-taking views out to sea. In typical Belmond style, it combines personalised service, exceptional dining and indulgent facilities to create the perfect base from which to explore – colonial architecture, superb museums and glamorous shops, bars and restaurants are all just moments from the hotel.

The suites are very well appointed and have huge windows to let the light, and the views, flood in. Tastefully decorated in neutral tones, they are brought to life by colonial style furniture and details like freshly cut flowers. As you’d expect, every detail, from the fine cotton linen on the beds to the size of the showerheads in marbled bathrooms has been designed with the utmost care, to create comfortable and stylish accommodation.

 

Sol y Luna, Machu Picchu

This charming property is our favourite property within the Sacred Valley of the Incas. Set within an exclusive 25 acre estate teeming with birdlife, indigenous and exotic flora, the Casitas blend seamlessly into the landscape. Inside the Casitas, the Peruvian theme continues with fine, handmade local furniture, exquisite bed linen, local tapestries and beautiful frescoed murals by acclaimed artist, Federico Bauer.

Facilities include temperature controlled heating, private marble-tiled bathrooms and 24-hour FREE wireless internet. Deluxe & Premium Deluxe Casitas also feature flat-screen satellite TV, under floor heating, and wood burning fireplaces while the Premium Deluxe Casitas also encompass a private terrace with an outdoor heated Jacuzzi offering amazing views to the Andes. The hotel offers a heated swimming pool, a rejuvenating Spa, equestrian stables and outdoor centre at Wayra, the nearby hacienda.

Two outstanding restaurants serve up Modern Andean cuisine, a distinctive fusion and blend of local Andean authenticity with European flavours and finesse. There is The Terrace serving more casual cuisine, whilst a couple of lounges and Pisco Bars offer places for relaxation. An exclusive wine cellar is also available for private gastronomical experiences of food and wine pairing.

Sol y Luna’s unique attraction is their outdoor centre and hacienda Wayra, located right next door to the main hotel. Adventure activities from Wayra include horseback riding on Peruvian ‘Paso’ horses, mountain biking, hiking, paragliding, quad biking, canoeing on Lake Huaypo and rafting on the Urubamba River. Cultural activities include cooking workshops and demonstrations, traditional weaving and pottery workshops, theatrical presentations, music and dance shows, and Paso Horse demonstrations.

 

Belmond Sanctuary Lodge

This Belmond hotel stands amidst a place rich in ancient heritage, renowned spirituality and incredible natural beauty. It is the ideal base from which to explore the archaeological wonders, spot rare species of birds and flowers (especially orchids of which there are an estimated 300 species in the area) or unwind and enjoy breath-taking scenery from the lodge’s garden.

An intimate hotel, it has fewer than 30 rooms and only two suites, so we recommend requesting this hotel well in advance. All are simply, yet stylishly furnished, with large comfortable beds dressed with warm duvets.

Pleasant as they are, however, the rooms (and everything else) play second fiddle to the location. No other hotel stands as close to the Inca citadel or offers such jaw-dropping views.

 

Belmond Hotel Monasterio

One of the most unique hotels in Cusco, the Belmond Hotel Monasterio combines centuries-old charm with professional service. A national monument, you can experience a touch of Peruvian history without even leaving your room, each one remaining largely unchanged. All rooms are unique, varying in design and size. Most offer pleasant views across the courtyard of the cobbled streets of Cusco.

With a 300-year old cedar tree as its centrepiece and a chapel complete with an art collection, this elegant hotel is rooted within the local culture. The Belmond’s team will be happy to arrange guided cultural tours, traditional crafts classes or even a hands-on cooking class. In the evenings, sit back and relax at the elegant lobby bar with a pisco sour in hand whilst listening to the finest jazz musicians.

 

Wyndham Costa Del Sol Lima Airport

Linked directly to Jorge Chavéz International Airport and offering upscale amenities for discerning travelers, this non-smoking hotel offers the ultimate in convenience and comfort, whether you’re exploring Peru’s capital or just passing through.

Experience legendary Peruvian hospitality as soon as you arrive, with a handy walkway that leads from the terminal to the hotel’s front door, and a free welcome drink upon check in. Savor the breakfast buffet daily and an onsite restaurant and lounge.

Connected to the airport, but quiet enough that you’ll forget. Enjoy the serenity of your guest room, or relax the spa and 24-hour fitness facilities, with an indoor pool, Jacuzzi, sauna and steam room, and massage.

 
 

Call a Luxury Tour Specialist on 1300 308 081 and Quote #25409

(During Business Hours)