Peru: Machu Picchu and the Sacred Valley

Arrive in Lima this evening and transfer to your hotel. Founded in 1533, the “City of Kings” is a mélange of colonial structures, pre-Columbian sites and modern conveniences.

Explore Peru’s capital, visiting the Plaza Mayor and Cathedral. Visit Casa Aliaga, Lima’s oldest colonial mansion, built in 1535. Spend time exploring the Larco Herrera Museum, one of the city’s best museums for pre-Columbian artifacts, with the curator. This evening, visit the impressive Huaca Pucllana archaeological site before a welcome dinner of contemporary Peruvian cuisine at the on-site restaurant.

After breakfast, fly to Cusco, an Andean city located at over 11,000 feet above sea level. Upon arrival, transfer to the Sacred Valley of the Incas, the vast green valley that sprawls out far below Machu Picchu, and where an ancient way of life lives on. En route, visit Awana Kancha, a center where South American camelids are bred. Learn about the renowned fibers created from their coats, as well as the ancient weaving techniques still used today. Spend the balance of the day acclimatizing to the altitude.

Start your exploration of the Sacred Valley of the Incas with a visit to the imposing fortress of Ollantaytambo, a formidable stone structure of massive terraces that hug the mountain slopes. A traditional lifestyle continues in the charming nearby town of Chinchero. Afterward, delve deeper into the rich local culture when you visit expert Andean weaver Nilda Callañaupa Alvarez, who leads a women’s weaving collective where you learn firsthand about ancient techniques and about their role in contemporary Andean culture. Enjoy a barbecue lunch in the gardens and then return to your hotel.

Journey deep into the Andes toward Machu Picchu on board the glass-topped Vistadome train, passing through the spectacular Peruvian countryside along the way. Arrive with plenty of time to begin exploring the breathtaking Incan city. Overlooking the Urubamba River and discovered in a hidden tangle of trees atop the mountain, Machu Picchu forever holds the secret of its passing — its Incan inhabitants left no written records of its purpose or its flawless construction. After a tour of the ruins with your expert guide, there is time to explore on your own.

Rise with the sun to walk through Machu Picchu in the early morning mist before the crowds arrive. Later, join an expert for an exclusive insight into the history and mysterious demise, as well as the current work and research begin conducted at the site. You may opt for a hike to Inti Punku (Sun Gate), the entry point to the ruins from the Inca Trail, or trek up to Huayna Picchu, the high mountain that forms the backbone of the ruins. After your explorations, journey back to Cusco aboard the Vistadome train, savoring incomparable views of the mountain scenery that surrounds you.

Discover Cusco on a city tour 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. Later, explore the well-preserved ruins of Sacsayhuaman, a testament to Incan architectural skill. Compiled of massive stones, the walls were cut and placed together with incredible precision and without a single drop of mortar to hold them in place. This evening, enjoy an Andean music presentation by a regional expert, followed by a farewell dinner at the elegant MAP Café.

Return to Lima for an evening at leisure. Perhaps get in some last- minute shopping in a local crafts market or sample some of Peru’s culinary offerings

Board your homebound flight.