Treasures of the Incas

12 Days
From $10,542
Best Rate
Guarantee
Trip Type
Group Tour
Activity Level
Easy

Rating

Experience Overview

Set out on one of the largest South American tours as you discover Lima, the City of the Kings, explore the salt pans of the Sacred Valley and see the mysterious Machu Picchu up close, with an expert-led tour of the lost city. Cruise Lake Titicaca to the Uros Floating Islands, where locals collect reefs to create their floating homes and pause in the Casablanca Valley for a wine tasting at the boutique Kingston Family Winery. In Buenos Aires, take in the balcony made famous by the former First Lady of Argentina, Eva Peron, and adventure onwards to the thundering cascades of Iguassu Falls. Across the Brazilian border in Rio de Janeiro, relax with cocktails on Copacabana Beach and an authentic lunch at a local churrascaria, a traditional Brazilian steakhouse and quintessential Brazilian experience.

Highlights

Dining Summary

  • 7 Dinner (D)
  • 11 Breakfast (B)
  • 9 Lunch (L)

Choice Highlights

    Choose between two carefully selected activities
  • Lima: Take a guided visit of the Monastery and its catacombs.
  • Lima: Visit Casa Aliaga, one of the oldest houses in Lima which has been in the Aliaga family for 17 generations. This colonial house was built by Jerónimo de Aliaga Ramírez in 1535, the year Lima was established. The Aliaga family has lived within 40 rooms of the house ever since, rebuilding and remodelling it after earthquakes. Enter through the large wooden doors opening into a grand foyer with a staircase before touring the grand home.
  • Choose between two carefully selected activities
  • Machu Picchu: Visit a working tea plantation.
  • Machu Picchu: View the world's largest private collection of indigenous orchids around your hotel surrounded by the Cloud Forest.
  • Machu Picchu: Embark on a twilight nature walk where your guide will point out medicinal plants, sacred Pre-Inca pictographs, and an enchanting waterfall in the Cloud Forest.
  • Machu Picchu: Seize the opportunity to return to Machu Picchu a second time on this Personalise Your Day option. After exploring the ancient Inca citadel with your Local Expert earlier in the day, you can personalize your experience and create and savor your own moment at this enigmatic fortress.
  • Choose between two carefully selected activities
  • Cusco: Visit the ruins of Tambomachay and enjoy a picturesque walk as you pass the ruins of Puca Pucara and Qenqo.
  • Cusco: Return to Cusco by vehicle and visit San Blas church and the surroundings of this fascinating artsy neighborhood of Cusco. After San Blas, continue to San Pedro market for some local shopping and insight into Peruvian produce.

Additional Included Highlights

  • Enjoy seamless personal assistance throughout your journey. From securing exclusive reservations, to organising transportation, your Travel Concierge ensures every aspect of your travel is tailored to your tastes and preferences.
  • In select destinations, our network of Local Expert Guides will illuminate your journey on a deeper level.
  • Included at all hotels.
  • Hotel taxes, porterage and tips, as well as tips for included dining experiences, are included.
  • Enjoy breakfast every morning, and an array of incredible dining options throughout your journey, infused with discovery and adventure.
  • On days where a Relaxed Start (RS) is indicated, you can select to indulge in breakfast in bed.
  • Enjoy complimentary hotel Wi-Fi. And, on select coaches, onboard Wi-Fi may also be available.
  • Transfers are included on your journey start and end dates, and where additional accommodation has been booked in advance through Luxury Gold. Transfers to train stations or alternate hotels, in the same start or end city as the itinerary, may be requested.

Curated Experiences

  • Lima: Visit the home of local artist Victor Delfin, known for his monumental El Beso sculpture at his workshop in the city's trendy Barranco district.
  • Lake Titicaca: Join a MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience a you as you meet a local family on Amantani Island. Home to about 4,000 inhabitants, you'll discover how the traditions and language of the Inca culture are being kept alive on this remote location not commonly visited by tourists.

Exceptional Dining

  • Lima: You can relax before meeting your Travel Concierge at 18.00 for a Welcome Dinner where local flavors and contemporary culinary techniques highlight the pillars of Peruvian cuisine.
  • Lima: Stop for lunch at the cultural and gastronomic Casa Tambo. Established in the late 18th century, this iconic restaurant is also a celebrated cultural heritage site and museum. Casa Tambo isn't just a place to stay, it's a visual adventure! Dive into an artistic wonderland featuring jaw-dropping pieces, including the iconic works of master sculptor Víctor Delfín. Tuck into a selection of authentic Peruvian dishes that showcase the rich traditional flavors of the region, complemented by a contemporary cocktail menu featuring Peruvian distillates.
  • Sacred Valley: Experience a caja china lunch, a popular way to create a delicious meal in Peru, cooked in a wooden box.
  • Machu Picchu: Enjoy lunch at Café Inkaterra, located between the Machu Picchu train tracks and surrounded by lush forest.
  • Sacred Valley: Savor a Pachamanca feast in the Sacred valley. This traditional way to slow cook local vegetables and meats using hot stones and clay pots underground is a communal rite in the Sacred Valley that dates back to pre-historic times. It is a way to celebrate and show gratitude to Pachamama, "Mother Earth".
  • Cusco: Dine in the courtyard of the Museum of Pre-Colombian Art. Using exquisite local ingredients, MAP Cafe offers an innovated surprised-packed menu and outstanding service.
  • Lake Titicaca: Sit down with community members for a farm-to-table lunch featuring ingredients grown on the island before exploring the terraced hillsides and viewing the skilfully made crafts the inhabitants are known for.
  • Lima: Savor a creative array of seasonal dishes created by chef Arlette Eulert at Matria. This Peruvian restaurant boasts organic ingredients that change according to the season.

Magnificent Stays

  • Machu Picchu: This enchanting Andean village hotel is located within 12.3 acres of pristine cloud forest. The spectacular grounds are laced with paths that wind past waterfalls and trails, and organic gardens that wander through the misty forest. A place to relax, while exploring nature and encountering the wonders of the Incan civilization, experiencing authentic travel.
  • Cusco: Dating back nearly five centuries, the storied mansion of the Palacio del Inka stands in the historic center of Cusco. Directly across from the Qoricancha (Temple of the Sun), it is a five-minute walk from the main square and less than a mile from an array of museums, markets and restaurants. Uniting the past and present, Andes Spirit Spa presents indigenous treatments and an indoor therapy pool. Meanwhile, Inti Raymi Restaurant offers authentic Peruvian dishes.

MAKE TRAVEL MATTER

  • Sacred Valley: Join a MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience as you meet Nilda Callañaupa Alvarez, a Quechua scholar, director of the Center for Traditional Textiles of Cusco. Learn about her mission to preserve traditional weaving techniques.
  • Sacred Valley: Visit the village of Lamay for a MAKE TRAVEL MATTER ® Experience with the locals. First stop at the guinea pig sheds to learn more about the animals and how this traditional activity evolved into a business opportunity in Lamay. Your immersive visit is organized by “La Base Lamay,” an initiative that involves locals from the village and nearby communities in tourism activities to generate fair and higher income. At a traditional chichería bar frequented by locals, learn about making “chicha de jora” (a traditional corn beer) and taste a healthy snack, called “picante”.

Passport Moments

  • Sacred Valley: Learn from locals about the process of salt mining.The cascading salt terraces along this scenic canyon have been harvested using an evaporation technique since the times of the Incas and has been passed down by local families, who still harvest salt from it today to sell to the local market.
  • Sacred Valley: A local shaman will perform a welcoming ceremony to the Sacred Valley and the mystical Andes Mountains that surround it.
  • Ollantaytambo: Join a local expert and visit the ruins of Ollantaytambo. See the magnificent views of the ruins on the side of the cliffs above the Urubamba river.
  • Machu Picchu: Experience Machu Picchu with a Local Expert. You’ll learn about Machu Picchu’s history and the use of each section of including ceremonial, storage, agriculture, temples, astronomical, and observatory as well as the possible reasons why the Incas left Machu Picchu.
  • Sacred Valley: Travel back to the Sacred Valley by train, offering you great views with panoramic windows and an outdoor observation carriage.
  • Cusco: Join your Local Expert for a visit to the ruins of Sacsayhuamán, one of the most important Incan sites and a UNESCO Cultural Heritage Site. You'll also visit Koricancha, also known as the Temple of the Sun, and the beautiful colonial neighborhood of San Blas and the magnificent Cathedral at Plaza de Armas which took 100 years to complete.
  • Puno: Enjoy a picnic lunch on the shores of Lake Umayo before visiting the archeological site of Sillustani. Explore the stone burial towers 'chullpas' that have dotted the shores since pre-Inca times.
  • Lake Titicaca: Visit the Uros Floating Islands to learn about the lifestyle and customs of the local people and enjoy lunch with this community that bundles reeds from the lake to build floating platforms, houses and canoes.

Personalise your day

  • Lima: Take a guided visit of the Monastery and its catacombs.
  • Lima: Visit Casa Aliaga, one of the oldest houses in Lima which has been in the Aliaga family for 17 generations. This colonial house was built by Jerónimo de Aliaga Ramírez in 1535, the year Lima was established. The Aliaga family has lived within 40 rooms of the house ever since, rebuilding and remodelling it after earthquakes. Enter through the large wooden doors opening into a grand foyer with a staircase before touring the grand home.
  • Machu Picchu: Visit a working tea plantation.
  • Machu Picchu: View the world's largest private collection of indigenous orchids around your hotel surrounded by the Cloud Forest.
  • Machu Picchu: Embark on a twilight nature walk where your guide will point out medicinal plants, sacred Pre-Inca pictographs, and an enchanting waterfall in the Cloud Forest.
  • Machu Picchu: Seize the opportunity to return to Machu Picchu a second time on this Personalise Your Day option. After exploring the ancient Inca citadel with your Local Expert earlier in the day, you can personalize your experience and create and savor your own moment at this enigmatic fortress.
  • Cusco: Visit the ruins of Tambomachay and enjoy a picturesque walk as you pass the ruins of Puca Pucara and Qenqo.
  • Cusco: Return to Cusco by vehicle and visit San Blas church and the surroundings of this fascinating artsy neighborhood of Cusco. After San Blas, continue to San Pedro market for some local shopping and insight into Peruvian produce.

Trip Details

Product CodeProduct Code: 19734

Tour TypeTour Type: Group Tour

AccommodationAccommodation: Deluxe

TransportTransport: Private

Guide LanguageGuide Language: English

Travel StylesTravel Styles: Family, 55+, Luxury

Tour OperatorTour Operator: Luxury Gold (CA)

Supplier CodeSupplier Code: 173.239B

StartStarts: Lima, Peru

FinishFinishes: Lima, Peru

DurationDuration: 12 days

DeparturesDepartures: Guaranteed

Physical RatingPhysical Rating: Easy

Includes

Price

Price per person: (Double Occupancy) $10,542 ($878 /day)

Itinerary

1
Day 1: Arrive in Lima, Peru

Journey by private transfer to the JW Marriott Hotel Lima where your ocean view room waits. Tonight, savor the culinary art of chef Jaime Pesaque at SAPIENS to begin your Peru luxury tour.

Accommodation: JW Marriott Hotel, Lima (Ocean View Room).
Meals: Dinner

2
Day 2: Lima, City of the Kings

Discover Lima’s top sites including the Cathedral, Government Palace, Archbishop`s Palace and the City Hall. Enhance your tour and choose to visit the San Francisco Monastery and its catacombs or step inside the historic Casa Aliaga, one of the oldest houses in Lima and that has been in the Aliaga family for 17 generations. A journey into Peruvian cuisine and culture awaits with lunch at the iconic Casa Tambo restaurant and museum, before visiting Barranco, the bohemian heart of Lima where many of the country's artists, musicians, photographers and designers live and work. Pause at the Bridge of Sighs which has inspired poets and songwriters before you’re treated to an exclusive visit to the home and workshop of renowned Peruvian sculptor and painter, Victor Delfin.

Accommodation: JW Marriott Hotel, Lima (Ocean View Room).
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

3
Day 3: On to the Sacred Valley

A crafted-for-you experience awaits today in the heart of the Sacred Valley as Quechua scholar Nilda Callañaupa Alvarez shares the history and culture of traditional Peruvian Cusqueñan textile weavers at the Center for Traditional Textiles of Cusco. Learn about her mission to preserve traditional weaving techniques before feasting on lunch at her restaurant featuring traditional culinary delights of the region. Your next magnificent culinary encounter features ingredients grown on property.

Accommodation: Tambo del Inka, Sacred Valley.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

4
Day 4: Exploring the Sacred Valley Relaxed Start

A local salt miner shares ancient salt mining techniques, passed down through generations. Uncover more of Peru’s past dining on a caja china lunch before a local shaman welcomes you to the Sacred Valley at a traditional blessing ceremony.

Accommodation: Tambo del Inka, Sacred Valley.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

5
Day 5: Journey to Machu Picchu

Board the panoramic Vistadome train for your journey to Machu Picchu, pausing for lunch above the Vilcanota River followed by a guided walk through the lush and enchanting cloud forest. Learn the art of tea making at a working tea plantation or view the world’s largest private collection of indigenous orchids.

Accommodation: Inkaterra Machu Picchu Pueblo Hotel (Superior Deluxe Room).
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

6
Day 6: Mysterious Machu Picchu

Arriving at the enigmatic Machu Picchu, your Local Expert paints a picture of Incan history on the Temple of the Sun, Sacred Plaza and the Intihuatana. Feast on an Andean lunch, then soak in grand views of Machu Picchu or return to the Pueblo for a twilight nature walk showcasing sacred Pre-Inca pictographs.

Accommodation: Inkaterra Machu Picchu Pueblo Hotel (Superior Deluxe Room).
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

7
Day 7: Return to Cusco Relaxed Start

Travel back to the Sacred Valley by Train on your way to Cusco where the panoramic windows and observation outdoor carriage bring the stunning surroundings in. Then enjoy traditional Pachamanca feast of Peruvian cuisine cooked underground that will transport you back to pre-historic times. You’ll continue your trip to Cusco with a fascinating stop in the village of Lamay for a MAKE TRAVEL MATTER ® Experience.  Conclude your day as you check into your five-centuries-old mansion in Cusco.

Accommodation: Palacio del Inka, a Luxury Collection Hotel (Suite with oxygen).
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

8
Day 8: Historical Cusco Relaxed Start

Step into the past at Cusco’s ruins of Sacsayhuaman, one of the most important Incan sites of sacred towers, shrines and zigzagging walls of giant, interlocking stones. Feel like an archaeologist exploring among the ruins before curating your day. Return to Cusco and visit San Blas church and the surroundings of this fascinating arty neighborhood of Cusco. After San Blas, continue to San Pedro market for some local shopping and insight in Peruvian produce. Or, continue your exploration of various ruins just outside of Cusco on a picturesque hike. You will end up in the San Blas district. Conclude your day with a memorable dinner at MAP Restaurant, an intimate “glass box” in the Museum of Pre-Columbian Art.

Accommodation: Palacio del Inka, a Luxury Collection Hotel (Suite with oxygen).
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

9
Day 9: Lake Region of Peru

Take your time in the sacred burial grounds of Sillustani. Reach Puno, for your stay GHL Hotel Lago Titicaca on the private island of Esteves, where you are treated to a lakeside sunset.

Accommodation: GHL Hotel Lago Titicaca, Puno (Premium Sunrise Room).
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

10
Day 10: The Floating Islands of Lake Titicaca

A private cruise of Lake Titicaca with your Local Expert showcases the incredible man-made Uros Floating Islands made entirely of reeds. On Amantani Island, join a local family for a farm-to-table lunch and stroll among the ancient ruins and terraced hillsides offering views across the water.

Accommodation: GHL Hotel Lago Titicaca, Puno (Premium Sunrise Room).
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

11
Day 11: Puno, Back to Lima

Return to Lima for your stay at the JW Marriott Hotel Lima in the vibrant Miraflores District. Savor a sensational dinner at Matria, where chef Arlette Eulert Checa intrigues and delights with creative seasonal dishes.

Accommodation: JW Marriott Hotel, Lima (Ocean View Room).
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

12
Day 12: Depart Lima Departure Flight

Your Peruvian adventure draws to a close as you say goodbye before your private transfer to the Lima Airport.

Meals: Breakfast

Tour Operator

Luxury Gold (CA)

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