Explore Peru ~ Lima, Cusco, The Sacred Valley

Today we will walk along some of the most historically important streets of Lima, a UNESCO cultural heritage site, leading to the Plaza de Armas, where we will have some time to enjoy the amazing colonial architecture that surrounds the Plaza. Then we will visit the Casa de Aliaga: after the founding of Lima on January 18th, 1535, Captain Jerónimo de Aliaga y Ramírez received a colonial house in the elegant area near the house of Francisco Pizarro, the Spanish Conqueror, (today the Government Palace). Ever since then the Aliaga family and their descendants have lived in the house, thus making it the oldest dwelling in the Americas that has been home to the same family for 17 generations. Rebuilt and reshaped after the earthquakes, and some changes in architectural trends, the mansion has served for almost five centuries to Lima’s history.

Barranco is Lima's best kept secret. Known as the cultural and artistic district, it has a distinct bohemian feel that pervades the air. This tour will focus on lots of amazing street art, gorgeous neoclassical colonial and republican architecture, world class art galleries, as well as some sweeping ocean views along the boardwalk overlooking the Pacific Ocean. On this cultural experience we will get a sense on what is “being cooked” in Lima's cool design and art scene. After some exploration we will be introduced to Peru’s finest cacao with Amada, an anthropologist and certified cocoa and chocolate taster who will immerse us in this tasteful world in her shop, “El Cacaotal”.

Today we'll fly from Lima to the Cusco region. Upon arrival in Cusco you will be transferred to the beautiful Sacred Valley of the Incas. Since Cusco is at 11,000 ft, to minimize the effects of high altitude when arriving from sea level, we'll start our journey in the Sacred Valley (around 8,000 ft). This will gives us plenty of time to adjust to the altitude before visiting Cusco in a few days time.

On our way to the Sacred Valley, we will visit Chinchero, a picturesque village in the Sacred Valley of the Incas. There, we will head to the PARWA Center to enjoy a workshop on Peruvian textiles, learn about different weaving techniques, the importance of the iconography for the different communities and learn about natural dyes. Afterwards, we will enjoy a panoramic view of Chinchero's Church, which was built by the Spanish in 1607 and remains standing until today.

Lunch at Iskay Maras Home:

Located in the picturesque town of Maras, Jeremy and Tatiana, a cusqueño couple, receive visitors at their home, behind closed doors. This is not the typical restaurant where you can just walk in, this is an exclusive and unique experience. Tatiana is a well trained chef (she used to work in Astrid & Gaston) and Jeremy is an ornithologist and tourism guide. A few years ago, they decided to settle down in the area of Maras, where Tatiana’s family was originally from. They have agricultural land not far away and an orchard at their own house. The food they serve is almost entirely prepared using the ingredients that their own land provides them with… all organic. There is no set menu, you get to taste their daily creativity. The house itself is gorgeous, but the true value of the experience is having them as hosts, sharing their stories as locals. Cooking demonstrations can be arranged.

Our cultural immersion starts with a visit to the traditional Andean community of Misminay, located in a stunning mountain setting in the heart of the Sacred Valley of the Incas, and along the way enjoying magnificent panoramic views of the valley.

As we arrive at this colorful traditional community, the local people will offer us a warm welcome and a colorful first insight into Andean culture. We will then take part in a traditional daily activity and learn about the Andean lifestyle directly from our local hosts. Our activities here include a small hike to the community’s lookout point, to enjoy a superb view of the Moray ancient agro-archaeological site. Along the way, our local hosts will talk about their community and the local area and teach us about medicinal plants found along the trail.

Arriving here is a very special moment, and our local hosts will prepare an offering to Mother Earth and the surrounding Apus (Spirits of the Mountains) to welcome you into the Sacred Valley and start your immersion in Andean traditions. After a delicious lunch prepared with fresh local products, we'll say goodbye to our hosts.

Finally, we will end the day with a visit to the famous Maras Salt Mines.

We will start our day with a visit to the Ollantaytambo ruins. Here we’ll explore a truly impressive archaeological complex, one of the largest in Peru, which is strategically located on top of a mountain that once guarded the road to Machu Picchu. We continue with a visit to Pumamarka, about one hour from Ollantaytambo, where we’ll visit the Pumamarka Ruins, which are believed to have been part of the Wari/Inca empires, and are in one of the less visited areas of the Sacred Valley. From there we’ll visit the Choquechaka Conservation Area to learn about Andean Forests and their ecosystems. During our walk in the forest conservation area, if we are lucky, we’ll spot a rare Peruvian owl. These owls are monogamous and spend all their time together in pairs, feeding and hunting in the native forest. The Incas had many names for these owls, but to modern ornithologists they are Inca Hoots.

After exploring these sites and learning about their significance, we’ll enjoy a traditional Pachamanca lunch at the El Albergue Farm’s restaurant. There is the option to finish the tour with a visit to El Albergue’s distillery and coffee roaster before returning to your hotel in the Sacred Valley (extra cost).

The Coffee Roaster Experience: 45min/$60 per person
In the ‘Coffee Roaster Experience’ you’ll learn about the production, processing and roasting of coffee. After a detailed explanation by our local expert, you will get to prepare your own bag of customized roasted coffee. Following the process, you’ll select the best quality Peruvian beans, grown mainly in the Quillabamba area in the forest areas of Cusco. Then, attended by our expert roasters you’ll learn about and participate in the roasting process. Once you’ve finished roasting , you will seal and label your own 250 gr bag, and sign it with your name and the date, ready to take back home and enjoy with your friends and family.

The Distillery Experience: 45min/$80 per person
Craft your own “Andean Elixir” using the best sugar cane distillate in Peru, and selected botanical and aromatic herbs you’ve hand-picked from the orchard. You will prepare a 375ml bottle of your customized elixir, which you will then cork, seal and finish with a personalized label. Take the bottle back home with you and enjoy it after 6 months, it will definitely be the perfect reminder of the time you spent here in Peru.

This short version of the Inca Trail trek is the perfect alternative for those on a tight schedule or looking for a less arduous option. The hike may be shorter, but it still comes with all the excitement of following the footsteps of the Incas, on one of the most emblematic sections of the Qhapaq Ñan (Great Inca Trail). Starting out at what is arguably the most thrilling part of the route, we’ll walk the last 7.5 miles before arriving at Machu Picchu just as the Incas did, through the Inti Punku (Sun Gate).

This morning we will be picked up from Las Qolqas and transferred to the Ollantaytambo train station, where we’ll take the train to the Km 104 marker. There we’ll begin the first part of our trek, enjoying the outstanding landscapes of the Sacred Valley on our way to the ruins of Wiñay Wayna. When we arrive, we’ll be able to appreciate the beauty of this archaeological complex, with its impressive agricultural terraces. We will have time to rest and enjoy a re-energizing lunch, before returning to the trail, hiking through highland jungle scenery towards the Inti Punku or Sun Gate, which announces arrival at Machu Picchu. And from here we’ll be able to see the famous Inca sanctuary from a truly unique angle, a fitting reward at the end of the hike. We will then walk down to the complex itself and board the bus that will take us to the town of Aguas Calientes (the town at the foot of Machu Picchu), where we can make yourself comfortable at the El Mapi Hotel, have lunch, and rest for the afternoon.

Total walking distance: 7.5 miles
Minimum altitude: 7,200 feet
Maximum altitude: 8,800 feet
Total walking time: 6 hours
Level of difficulty: 3 on a scale of 5

Machu Picchu needs no explanation; it’s one of the world’s most famous historical sites, located in one of the most amazing locations of the equally amazing Andean mountains. Even if you’ve seen a million pictures, they won’t compare to the experience of actually standing in this remarkable Inca sanctuary. To call it a wondrous experience is no exaggeration.

After a healthy, energizing breakfast, we‘ll board a bus for the short journey up to Machu Picchu and the start of our guided tour. This is one the Seven Wonders of the World, a truly unforgettable sight, and once inside our guide will tell you about the history, organization and mysteries of this unique Inca complex. We’ll explore the area with its amazing ruins and terraces – an incredible example of Inca engineering skills – together with its photogenic alpacas, all of this against at the stunning backdrop of Huayna Picchu Mountain. From the area’s high point we’ll be able to take in Machu Picchu from above: quite a spectacle. Afterwards, we‘ll have free time to explore the ruins at our own pace.

After soaking up the magical energy, we’ll head back down to Aguas Calientes , then board the train to Ollantaytambo station and journey back to Cusco in our private vehicle.

This fascinating half day tour of Cusco, also known as the Imperial City of the Incas, will give us insights into the city’s history, the daily life of its people and its importance for the Andean region. We begin at the city’s iconic local market - for local people the city’s real, beating heart - where we‘ll have the chance to explore the colors, flavors and traditions of a modern and at the same time traditional Cusco. We’ll then continue to the Koricancha, also known as the golden temple, the most important temple in the Inca Empire and center of worship of Inti, the Sun God. Although the Spanish Dominican order built a church on top of the original temple, the Koricancha foundations and stonework are still visible. Leaving this Inca temple, we continue to the fortress of Sacsayhuaman. Built with massive blocks of stone, this imposing example of Inca military architecture is located on the outskirts of the city.

From here we’ll continue on foot along picturesque cobble-stoned streets, passing through beautiful and recently recovered colonial aqueduct of Sapantiana and then onto the famous artisan neighborhood of San Blas on our way down to the Plaza de Armas (main square), where we’ll visit the Cathedral, the city’s most important church.

You'll have the afternoon at leisure to explore at your own pace. Or sign-up for one the following optional activities:

OPTIONAL ACTIVITIES WITH ADDITIONAL COST:

HANDS ON HALF DAY COLONIAL GILDING WORKSHOP ($105/3 hours approx.):
Bring out the best of your creative self with this hands-on, fully immersive workshop. Guided by recognized local artists and artisans, you’ll explore traditional and modern techniques and craft a unique piece as a personal souvenir of your visit to Cusco. In the workshop you’ll work as a true artisan, learning and using a contemporary version of the Colonial Cusquenian Gilding process: using brass, aluminum, and acrylic paint. You’ll paint an iconic ‘Pucará torito’ (small bull), that is traditionally seen in pairs on the roofs of local houses and represent the guardians of the home.
You start with a short explanation about Cusqueño Art (a fusion of Andean and European cultures); getting to know the history behind the iconic Pucara Bulls, their importance in local traditions, and how the Art Collective Totemiq is preserving these traditions through their art. You’ll receive your own ceramic Pucara Bull to start the gilding proess by applying very thin coatings of different metals such us bronze, copper or aluminum. You’ll finish up with a fine Cusqueño piece of art created by yourself; one you can take back home together with all the blessing and mysticism of the sacred bulls.

A PERUVIAN COCKTAIL TOUR OF THE BEST RESTAURANTS IN CUSCO ($205/3 hours approx; restaurants may change, subject to availability.)
Enjoy delicious Peruvian cocktails on a tour that will take you to some of the best dining spots in Cusco. You’ll taste the traditional Pisco sour in one of its local variations, the coca sour, as well as other exotic cocktail preparations with ingredients such as ginger, lychee or passion fruit. A professional bartender will guide you on a journey through the nuances of Pisco, a white Peruvian Brandy made from Muscat grapes produced in the country’s wine making region. You’ll visit 3 typical Cusco restaurants, experiencing a different taste sensation in each one. Begin the journey in at the Pachapapa restaurant in the San Blas neighborhood. Here you’ll get an introduction to Pisco, its history and fermentation processes, and then a tasting of 3 essential types of Pisco, including the house cocktail Cholo Sour: a sour cocktail based on coca leaves. Your tour continues with a visit to the Kion Peruvian Chinese restaurant, where you’ll prepare Ten'Cantalá, a cocktail based on Pisco and ‘Kion’. Your final visit is a tasting experience in the Calle del Medio restaurant with a Pisco punch while enjoying a view of Cusco’s Main Square.

Today our journey through the Sacred Valley comes to an end. However, Dan Hopkins will be continuing the trip with a 5 day trek through the high Andes. For an a unique experience of these remote mountains and local cultures, you're invited to join us. Alternatively, if you're not up for this trek, we can arrange other extensions to the Amazon rain forest or to Lake Titicaca.

See "Optional Extensions" below for more details on these extensions and links to their itineraries.

If you won't be extending your trip, you will be transferred from our Cusco hotel to the airport (private service) for your flight to Lima and your departing flight home.

OPTIONAL EXTENSIONS:

TREKKING THE HIGH ANDES

Continue your Peru journey with a breathtaking 5-day trek near Ausangate Mountain (20,945 ft) in the Cordillera Vilcanota. Our private, guided trek is fully supported with llamas carrying our gear as we hike from lodge to lodge. Accommodation will be in unique, rustic “tambos” or Andean Lodges, owned by the local community. Daily meals will be prepared by experienced chefs who will introduce you to a great variety of delicious Peruvian dishes, and for your entertainment: authentic vernacular music, played by local inhabitants, will liven up some of your evenings at the "tambos." This trek is non-technical and you only need to carry your day pack. Each day is about 5-7 hours of hiking at high altitude (the highest pass is nearly 17,000 feet).

See the detailed itinerary here:  AUSANGATE TREK

THE TAMBOPATA RIVER & AMAZON LOWLANDS

This optional 3-day extension (we can add more days if requested) will take you from the high mountains of Cusco to the lush tropical forests of the Tambopata National Reserve, one of the true remaining jewels of the Amazon Rainforest.  The Reserve is over 1,000 square miles of diverse habitats, including lowland Amazon rainforest, riverine forest, and oxbow lakes. In fact, this reserve and surrounding region are one of the most biodiverse places on the planet.  Accommodation is at the Pasoda Amazonas, a jungle ecolodge offers a unique set of activities with ample opportunities to observe wildlife and discover ancient indigenous heritage.  Climb the 140 ft observation tower, paddle the nearby rivers, or hike the forest searching for the region’s birds and wildlife.

See the detailed itinerary here:  TAMBOPATA RIVER

LAKE TITICACA OR SOUTHERN PERU

Peru is a vast, fascinating country and we can organize additional extensions to some of the less visited places. Lake Titicaca, on the border of Bolivia and over 12,000 ft in elevation has beautiful scenery and interesting culture.  Here you can visit the famous floating islands constructed by the Uros people.  For a longer trip, visit the deep Colca Canyon, the colonial city of Arequipa, or the coastal sand dunes of Ica.

Contact us for details.