Peru Luxury Adventure
Seasonal Information
Peru is a country filled with colourful culture, an interesting history, culinary delights, and ancient ruins. The adventure draws many travellers to the area, with this trip highlighting some of the best experiences to be had. Spend your days exploring the ancient ruins, and ancient citadels, as well as adrenaline-filled activities such as ziplining, horse riding, and biking. Travel to Machu Picchu as well as Lima and the Sacred Valley. Create memories which will last a lifetime on this unique adventure trip.
- Lima
- Pachacámac Valley
- Sacred Valley
- Ollantaytambo Ruins
- Cusco
- Machu Pichu
- Aguas Calientes
- Paracas
- Ballestas Islands
Lima
Starting your journey in Lima, you will explore the city’s surrounding areas and sites. After a tour of the area on the first day, the next day will be a bike tour in Pachacámac valley. The tour sees you explore the pre-Inca archaeological site, and bike on some incredible trails, depending on your cycling level. On the final day in Lima, you will explore the city one last time. The highlight of this tour is the Larco Museum, a wonderful museum showcasing some of the nation’s greatest treasures.
Lima, the capital of Peru, is situated on a plateau overlooking the Pacific Coast. It is a sprawling metropolitan city with over 10 million Peruvian inhabitants and is a naturally perfect location for sampling the famed national cuisine with its vast base of ingredients and spices. Furthermore, the city offers relaxing tours to churches, convents, historical plazas and centres, as well as beautiful gardens, bars and nightspots. Meanwhile, an ancient tradition is very much alive at Huaca Pucllana temple, just steps away from the central Miraflores district, and the impressive Pyramids of Pachacamac are just a 40km drive south.
Next on the trip is a visit to Cusco, the perfect place to stay before ascending into the Andes. On your first day in Sacred Valley, you will take part in a zipline via Ferrata tour which sees you ascend 400 metres and zipline back down through incredible scenery. Start the next day by horseback riding through the beauty of the Sacred Valley. Then, spend the afternoon visiting Ollantaytambo Ruins.
Cusco
Cusco was originally the historic capital of the Inca Empire, and is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site. With an elevation of over 11,000 visitors can acclimatise before setting off on long treks towards Machu Picchu, on legendary routes used by the Incas. Cusco is pleasant to explore with wonderful and ancient stonework, narrow streets and important Inca temple remains, complemented by Spanish colonial buildings. Numerous museums showcase Inca and pre-Columbian culture, as well as textiles and sacred plants. Being a rich agricultural region, many fusion and neo-Andean restaurants offer unique Peruvian gastronomy. Meanwhile, day trips to nearby lagoons can be connected with visits to Inca ruins such as Pisac, Tambomachay, Kenqo, Sacsayhuaman and Ollantaytambo.
The next adventure that awaits you is a short 2-day Inca trail walk. The journey starts early in the morning as you hike and visit unique archaeological sites along the route. The second day gives you a taste of Machu Picchu, and provides a wealth of information about its history and importance. The day ends with a beautiful journey on the Hiram Bingham Train, a journey unlike any other with beautiful scenery and top-class facilities.
Sacred Valley
The Sacred Valley of the Incas is the eternal home of abundance for the indigenous and locals who continue to call this area home. It is also home to Machu Picchu, built in the 15th century for the Inca emperor, Pachacuti. From Cusco, the former Inca capital, visitors can decide on trekking an ‘Inca trail’ for multiple days, or taking the train to visit the world wonder of Machu Picchu. All routes wind around dramatic peaks, rivers and archaeological sites, with regular rest stops at scenic points, and camping for up to three nights (depending on trail length).
The region was known by many civilisations for its agricultural potential, and towns such as Ollantaytambo were once country retreats for Inca royalty. The remaining days of this adventure are spent in the wonderful area of Paracas. While staying here, you can visit Ballestas Island, with the possibility of spotting sea lions and other wildlife. Or enjoy biking in the Paracas National Reserve and enjoy the beautiful nature.
South Coast
Peru’s south coast offers a wealth of natural and cultural beauty, most notably the 1,000-year-old Nazca Lines – hundreds of immense arid geoglyphs depicting animals and supernatural beings. These are best observed on a light aircraft tour. Meanwhile, the Paracas National Reserve is a bird-watching paradise, and the area is inhabited by sea lions and turtles, with many archaeological sites. The Ballestas Islands are two hours away by boat and are home to flamingos, pelicans, cormorants and penguins. The Ica Valley is the centre of Peruvian wine production, where the beautiful oasis village of Huacachina is nestled between high desert dunes. All along the southern coast are picturesque, windswept beaches to unwind in the company of seabirds and pristine nature.
After arriving in Lima, you will be met at the airport by a representative. You will be introduced to the city of Lima through a walking tour, a guide will take you on a walk to introduce you to the surrounding area of your hotel so that you can get your bearings. This short introduction (up to one hour) will help with your orientation so that you can feel confident to explore on your own afterwards if you wish. You will stay the night in Lima.
The following day gives you a taste of the adventure you will experience on the rest of this trip. Half the day is spent on a bike tour in Pachacámac valley. Depending on the level of the cyclist and the season, the trails will vary in terrain. There are basic dirt track routes to choose from, or various routes that vary in difficulty, ascent, and length to choose from. After this activity, you can enjoy the delight of lunch in the sky. ‘Dinner In The Sky Peru’ is a unique and exciting way to experience a birds-eye perspective of the surroundings while dining 45 metres in the air. You will spend another night in Lima.
For your last day in Lima before transferring, you will take in the culture of the city. Experience the capital of Peru through a diverse tour including the old centre of Lima with the beautiful decorated squares surrounded by architecture from the colonial age. As Peru is one of the oldest civilisations in the world, the visit to the museum will deepen your appreciation of the Andean and pre-Columbian art.
You will also visit the Larco Museum. It features the finest gold and silver collection from ancient Peru and the famous erotic archaeological collection, one of the most visited Peruvian tourist attractions. You will have a private transport to Lima airport and subsequently, upon arrival to Cusco, you will have a private transport from the airport to your selected hotel in Cusco. The flights in this transfer are not included in the price.
Exploring Sacred Valley is an incredible adventure. On the first day you will take part in a mountain experience. The Zipline and Via Ferrata tour has been made to offer an amazing mountain activity for people without any climbing experience necessary. It is a combination of two activities, you will climb 400 metres via Ferrata and descend the mountain using 6 zip wires. After spending the night in Sacred Valley, you will have another day to explore the beauty of the area.
You will enjoy Horseback Riding in Sacred Valley. After beginning your ride at ‘Hacienda del Chalán’, you cross the Vilcanota river over a traditional suspended bridge. The next part of the path goes along the side of the river crossing through an area of native forest where it is possible to see one of the biggest Inka cemeteries along the side of the path. You will pass through the heart of the village of Yanahuara, cross through many cornfields, and ride until you reach the other side of the river and once again cross the suspended bridge of Paucarbamba and return to Hacienda del Chalán. The tour includes an English-speaking tour guide, helmet, and a well-groomed Peruvian Paso horse.
In the afternoon, you will visit the Ollantaytambo Ruins. One of the best-preserved sites in this area is known as Hanan Huacaypata and is north of the main square. This ruin exists out of elegantly crafted stone walks. You will spend another night in Sacred Valley.
This begins the first day of a two-day Inca Trail. Day 1 sees the journey begin early in the morning. After arrival at 104km by train, the Royal Inca Trail begins with a hike to Chachabamba (2270m/7448f), where a guide will inform you about the previous function of this archaeological site.
Thereafter, you will reach Wiñayhuayna (2650m/8694f), the most important archeological site besides Machu Picchu. After that, the trail continues towards the Sun Gate ‘Inti Punku’, a stunning viewpoint from which you can enjoy sunset over Machu Picchu (2400m/7874f). Since you have to continue the walk to your hotel in Aguas Calientes, you will only spend a little time in the sanctuary of Machu Picchu on the first day.
Please note the Inca Trail does not operate in February due to the rainy season.
Day 2 of the Inca Trail begins with leaving your hotel and heading towards Machu Picchu by bus, following breakfast at around 5:30am. The early time allows guests to enjoy a greater experience due to fewer crowds. After arrival at the citadel around 6:00 am, the guide will give detailed information about Machu Picchu and the history and culture of the Incas. Thereafter, you will have enough free time to enjoy and explore the site on your own. For example, you can go to the Inca Bridge and explore the variety of buildings at the site.
At the end of the afternoon, a bus takes you down to Aguas Calientes and you will take the train back to Cusco. Upon returning, you will then finish your day aboard the Hiram Bingham Train from Machu Picchu to Poroy. Board the train at 17:50. This luxurious train provides an incredibly scenic and entertaining journey, after which you will arrive in Poroy and then take a private transfer from the train to Cusco to stay the night.
You will have a free morning to explore Cusco at your leisure. Following this, you will have a private transfer from your selected hotel in Cusco to the airport. The flight is not included. After arrival in Lima, you will be transported from the airport to your hotel.
Start the day with transport from Lima to Paracas. The desert and the sea blend together in spectacular landscapes in Paracas, in the department of Ica, just a few hours south of Lima. The cliffs that fringe the beaches are teeming with wildlife, and the millions of birds that live here year-round, as well as thousands of others that fly from the northern hemisphere and from further south, ranging from guano birds to Humboldt penguins. After arriving in Paracas, you will stay the night and then explore the area further in the morning.
The next day will see you take part in two activities, a Ballestas Island Tour and biking in the Paracas National Reserve. Discover the Ballestas Islands, home to peculiar and diverse coastal fauna. This two-hour journey takes you around several small islands while hearing cries from sea lions, spotting Humboldt penguins and a wide variety of guano birds. On the way to the islands, you will be able to appreciate the magnificence of the ‘Candelabro’ (the Candlestick), an enormous and mysterious geoglyph carved on the desert soil, making this a morning of archaeological and natural history discovery. E-bikes are the perfect transport while you explore the Paracas National Reserve. With no pollution and no noise, they are a versatile and fun vehicle, with an engine to assist the trickier ascents.
You will have a free morning to enjoy in Paracas National Reserve. The afternoon will see you take a private transfer from Paracas to Lima. Upon arrival, you will stay at the hotel located within International Lima Airport.
Day 12 will be your final day. Your guide will be waiting for you at the hotel to assist you with anything you need for your flight.
Dates are flexible so please make an enquiry and tell us a range of dates you are considering so we can check availability.
Prices can vary if there are new biosecurity protocols in the capacity of vehicles or number of persons per guide as well as other regulations the government may consider as mandatory to implement.
- Accommodation based on double room including breakfast (except day 1)
- Transfers, excursions, meals, entrances as mentioned
- Amenities per day (bottle of water, snacks, others)
- VIP Room at airport
- Free pass at airport, gift or souvenir (last day)
- Branding in transportation
- Excursions and meals not mentioned in the program
- Travel Insurance
- Drinks, tips and personal expenses
- International flights
- Domestic flights
Hikes to Machu Picchu, as well as ziplining, biking and horse riding are suitable for travellers of a moderate fitness level.
Suitable for ages 5 to 80