ABOUT THE ITINERARY
In this two-week itinerary you will stay at five of Belmond’s luxury hotels in Peru and also experience two of their beautiful trains, the Hiram Bingham train to Machu Picchu and the overnight Andean Explorer train from Cusco to the Colca Canyon.
Your itinerary includes a number of handcrafted activities, with our expert private guides as well as Belmond guides on the Andean Explorer train. Each night is spent at a beautiful Belmond property and the itinerary has been designed to allow guests to acclimatise and also have enough time to enjoy the different areas, as well as experience the comforts of their hotel.
DESIGNED BY SPECIALISTS
Bear in mind, these are just a starting point as all holidays are customised to the specific requirements of our guests. Whether you prefer a different style of accommodation, a greater focus on a particular interest or to go to a different destination all together, every itinerary is created individually around your preferences.
LIMA
Arrive into Lima in the evening and transfer to your hotel, in the upmarket neighbourhood of Miraflores.
Your hotel is one of the most luxurious in the Peruvian capital and overlooks the Pacific Ocean. It is a great base for exploring the city, which is one of the oldest in the Americas and is known as the ‘City of Kings’.
DAY 2 IN LIMA
On day 2 your local guide will take you on a private tour of the city, including a visit to the historic centre, where the San Francisco monastery is found and also the catacombs. You will also visit one of the South America’s most impressive museums, the Larco Herrera Museum, which is home to a huge collection of pre-Columbian art.
Lima is famous for its gastronomic scene and evenings can be spent dining in one of the capital’s world-renowned restaurants, which include Astrid y Gaston, Central and Maido.
Stay: Two nights at the Belmond Miraflores Park – bed & breakfast
SACRED VALLEY
After breakfast on day 3 you will be driven back to Lima airport, for the short direct flight to Cusco. On arrival in Cusco you will be met and driven into the beautiful surroundings of the Sacred Valley, which is at lower altitude to Cusco and an easier place to acclimatise.
The Belmond Rio Sagrado has a privileged position, on the banks of the Urubamba River and surrounded by lush gardens. It is an ideal spot to relax and also discover some of the historic Inca remains found in the surrounding countryside. For those not wanting to venture too far from the hotel, there is also a lovely outdoor heated swimming pool and spa.
Stay: Three nights at the Belmond Rio Sagrado – bed & breakfast
TOURING THE SACRED VALLEY
On days 4 and 5 your local guide will take you to some of the Sacred Valley’s most famous attractions, including the Salt Pans at Maras and the perfectly preserved Inca terraces at Moray. You will also have a private guided tour of the market towns of Chinchero, Pisac and Ollantaytambo, where you will explore an impressive Inca fortress, see the beautifully coloured textiles at the local markets and visit traditional homes which have been almost unchanged since the time of the Incas.
MACHU PICCHU
Today you will hike the one-day ‘Royal’ Inca Trail to Machu Picchu.
After an early breakfast you will board the train towards Machu Picchu, alighting early at km104 where the 12km hike to the ruins begins. Following an ancient Inca trail, you ascend through tropical cloud forest and climb high above the roaring Urubamba River.
MACHU PICCHU CONTINUED
An initially challenging ascent is replaced by satisfaction as you reach Wiñay Wayna, a beautiful Inca ruin full of swallows and orchids. Here you enjoy a picnic lunch and, time-permitting, visit these impressive ruins before joining what is generally considered to be the most spectacular part of the Inca Trail. The contour path through the fascinating cloud forest leads to Inti Punku, ‘the gateway of the Sun’ and your first glimpse of Machu Picchu.
With your guide you will explore the vast ruins before taking the evening train to Cusco and your hotel.
Stay: Three nights at Inkaterra La Casona – bed & breakfast
CUSCO
After a fairly exhausting day walking the Inca Trail, your first morning in Cusco is kept free for you to rest, recharge and enjoy the charming setting of your hotel (which dates back to the 16th Century and has had illustrious guests including ‘Libertador’ Simón Bolívar stay).
In the afternoon your guide will take you to a specialist art workshop, where with the help of a local artist, you will decorate your own Pucara Bull. The colourful, miniature ceramic bulls are traditional in Andean homes and are said to bring happiness, protection and prosperity. After making and painting your own Pucara Bull and learning about the art of the Inca and Andean people, you can explore some of Cusco’s other famous attractions, including the chocolate museum!
LAST DAY IN CUSCO
Your final day in Cusco is set to be wet and wild, as you embark on a full day rafting adventure in the beautiful Apurimac canyon. After a full safety briefing you will embark on the mighty Apurimac river, navigating through a 3,000m deep canyon which forms part of the Amazon’s source. Passing alongside the canyon’s walls and navigating the rapids, you will arrive at a deserted beach, which is where lunch is served. After a cold drink and a delicious Peruvian lunch, you will have chance to explore some of the side canyons which make the area so spectacular, before jumping back in the vehicles and returning to Cusco. No rafting experience is required, just a sense of adventure and fun!
ANDEAN EXPLORER (CUSCO TO COLCA CANYON)
On day 9 you will board South America’s only luxury overnight sleeper train, the Belmond Andean Explorer. Over the next two days you will travel from Cusco to the Colca Canyon, stopping for a full day visit to the floating reed islands of Uros and Taquile at Lake Titicaca.
Whilst on the train you will be looked after by a highly skilled and exceptionally talented team of staff, including a specialist Belmond guide who will accompany you on daily activities.
ANDEAN EXPLORER (CUSCO TO COLCA CANYON) CONTINUED
Your cabin is beautifully decorated and comes with its own en suite and large window to enjoy the passing scenery. All meals are served on board and are beautifully prepared by Belmond’s wonderfully trained chefs. There is an open-bar, live music, an open-air viewing carriage and also a spa carriage too.
The two-day journey takes you through the Andes and into the Altiplano, passing mountains, local villages and Inca ruins en route. It really is a spectacular way to see this part of Peru.
Two nights on the Belmond Andean Explorer – all-inclusive
COLCA CANYON
On day 11 you will disembark the Belmond Andean Explorer and be driven into the vast and remote Colca Canyon. The second deepest canyon in the world, the green valley has the beautiful Colca river running through it and is a popular destination for walking and is home to many Inca terraces.
Belmond Las Casitas is a luxury hideaway amongst the Inca terraces, with wonderful views of the surrounding valley. Your home for the next two nights is one of the hotel’s beautiful casitas, which come with their own private terrace and fire place. The hotel has an outdoor heated pool and is the perfect base for hiking or riding in the canyon. One morning your guide will also take you to a lookout spot, where you’re almost guaranteed to see the majestic Andean Condor, which glide on the warm air from the canyon.
Stay: Two nights at Belmond Las Casitas – half-board
LIMA
Today you will be driven to the colonial town of Arequipa and board a direct flight to Lima for your final night in Peru.
Stay: One night at the Belmond Miraflores Park – bed & breakfast
FLY HOME
PRICE INCLUDES
- Domestic flights and transfers
- Bed & breakfast throughout
- Half-board at the Belmond Sanctuary Lodge and Belmond Las Casitas
- Full board on the Belmond Andean Explorer train
- Private guided activities, except on the Andean Explorer where activities are in groups
- Machu Picchu entrance fee
PRICE EXCLUDES
- International flights
PLAN YOUR TRIP
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