Epic Peru

Looking for something a little different? Combine the mystical lost city of Machu Picchu with the adventure and wildlife of the Amazon Rainforest and squeeze in some sea, sand and surf! Visit some of Peru’s most famous landmarks, taste your way through it’s much-hyped cuisine and stay at seriously cool and unique properties along the way.

1. Fly to Lima

2. Days 1-3: Lima and the Desert Coast

   Upon arriving in Lima you’ll be whisked off to your hip little hotel in the city’s trendy Miraflores district. Enjoy a unique concept experience, with just nine guest rooms and a super relaxed but friendly atmosphere, it’s like staying at your well-to-do friend’s house whilst they are away! Freshen up in your modern funky room, fix yourself a drink at honesty bar and let the stylish concierge team  make suggestions and book a table for you at one of the city's award-winning restaurants, where exotic and unusual ingredients result in an innovative fusion of flavors. Another cool feature is the house Mini Cooper complete with your own chauffeur, perfect for dropping you off at one of the snazzy dining establishments!

   During your time in the capital you can explore some of the city’s highlights at your own leisure (bicycles are available to use), we suggest exploring the nearby bohemian neighborhood of Barranco with its cool pavement cafes and lively bars, colorful street art and quirky boutique shops. There’s a lovely coastal walkway along the top of the cliffs in Miraflores, where you can watch paragliders swooping across the sky and surfers fooling around in the waves below. This is also an ideal spot to enjoy your first Pisco Sour whilst the sun sets over the Pacific Ocean. 

   In recent years, Peru has undergone a gastronomic revolution and it is now regarded as the foodie capital of Latin America and Lima's restaurant scene is constantly evolving so there's always somewhere new and exciting. To give you an insight and better appreciation of Peru’s cuisine we have included a foodie tour that takes you around the backstreets, local eateries and markets, where you’ll meet with vendors and try an array of the exotic produce and tasty morsels. 
   

   Accommodation: Atemporal (2 nights)

3. Days 3-6: Peruvian Amazon

   The real adventure begins today when you board your morning flight to Puerto Maldonado in the heart of the Peruvian Amazon. Upon arrival, transfer by boat to your wooden lodge nestled deep within the jungle. Your wildlife encounters begin the moment you start traveling along the river, so keep your eyes peeled and camera ready, you might see a sloth hanging from the treetop! At the lodge you’ll be shown to your private cabaña, built on stilts with views out into the forest, it has everything you need to ensure a comfortable stay. There’s time to change into something more “appropriate” before a welcome lunch and your first excursion. 

   A variety of guided excursions to explore the jungle are included during your time at the lodge; from hiking a network of verdant jungle trails, boat trips to remote spots deeper within the forest and canoeing along narrow creeks whilst observing wildlife in complete silence. One of the most thrilling experiences is the night walk, armed with only a headtorch you embark through pitch black in search of nocturnal creatures identified by their brightly lit eyes and loud calls. See giant otters frolicking in the waters, playful monkeys swinging through the tree-tops and a plethora of neon-colored birds fluttering overhead. For a truly unique perspective, clamber to the top of the canopy tower to observe wildlife residing at different levels within the trees and enjoy a spectacular sunrise as you make your way along the hanging suspension bridge.

   Back at the lodge, relax in a hammock with a cold beer or enjoy a unique revitalising treatment at the holistic spa whilst taking in the sounds of the jungle. All meals are included during your stay.

   Accommodation: Inkaterra Hacienda Concepción (3 nights)

4. Days 6-9: Cusco, Sacred Valley and Machu Picchu

   Leave the Amazon behind as you take a short flight to Cusco, the city which once sat at the center of the Inca empire and is the gateway to Peru’s most famous landmark, Machu Picchu. You’ll have a chance to visit Cusco later in the trip, but today we will transfer you to the picturesque Sacred Valley, on the outskirts of the city. Surrounded by snow-capped mountains, traditional villages with colorful markets and fascinating Inca sites, it’s the perfect base for exploring this awesome part of the country. 

   Your home for the next three nights is the delightful Hotel Sol y Luna, a real favorite amongst guests and staff alike. This characterful property, made up of individual casitas packed full of real Peruvian flavor with modern flourishes, is set amidst gorgeous tropical gardens, teeming with birds and butterflies and a spectacular Andean backdrop. Part of the prestigious Relais & Chateaux portfolio, you can expect mouth-watering dishes at its two very different restaurants. The Wayra restaurant puts on a delicious barbecue spread whilst at Killa Wasi they serve Novo Andino cuisine, a distinctive blend of Andean, coastal and international flavors. There is also an exquisite cellar where private dining experiences and wine pairings can be curated by the chef. 

   To help you make the most of your stay, we have included a guided tour to some of the region’s most interesting sites. Visit the unique terraces of Moray, which most historians believe were designed by the Incas to experiment with farming methods at different altitudes, although there are those who believe they are evidence of otherworldly interactions. We will leave it up to you to make your own judgement! You’ll also stop at the nearby salt pans of Maras, with their bright white and glittering layers, it makes for some amazing photo opportunities! For the more active and adventurous amongst you, this area can be explored by mountain bike or as part of a hike.

   Of course, the main attraction here is Machu Picchu and deservedly so, it’s one of the seven modern wonders of the world. Most people have seen photographs of it, but nothing will prepare you for seeing it in its full glory. For hundreds of years it lay abandoned and it was only rediscovered in 1911 by an American archaeologist who happened to stumble across it. You’ll have a chance to walk around the huge site and get those all-important selfies, maybe even with a photobombing llama!

   After an action-packed day exploring the sites, grab your swimming costume and take a dip in the outdoor pool or book a treatment at the fabulous spa, with its extensive menu of traditional and alternative therapies and treatments. Yoga sessions are also available. Additional activities can be booked onsite, including horse-riding, quad-biking, rafting, kayaking, mountain-biking and paragliding. Originally built to fund local projects within the community; the European owners also run a school and children's home in the neighboring area, which you can visit upon request.

   Accommodation: Hotel Sol y Luna (3 nights)

5. Days 9-10: Sacred Valley

   Today is almost without doubt the most exciting day of the trip! Your accommodation for the night is a transparent pod suspended from a rock face, 400 meters high above the Urubamba Valley, and the only way to access it is via an adrenaline inducing climb! After donning your safety equipment, including a harness, accompany your guide up the via ferrata route of 170 metal steps and wire cables. A decent level of fitness and agility is required, and it takes about an hour and fifteen minutes to reach the top. Once your heartbeat has returned to normal, and you’ve settled down in your comfortable pod, sit back with a glass of wine and absorb the unparalleled views of the Sacred Valley. Your guide will return later to serve you dinner (and top up your glasses) and as the dark night draws in, you’ll drift off to sleep under the twinkling stars. 

   Accommodation: SkyLodge Adventure Suites (1 night)

6. Days 10-12: Cusco, Sacred Valley and Machu Picchu

   After breakfast, delivered again to you by your guide, it’s time to leave, and the only way to do so is by ziplining all the way down to the valley floor! Back on good old terra firma, you’ll hop onboard a train to Cusco where you’ll be pleased to know a proper hotel with four walls awaits. In fact, for the next two nights you’ll be staying at an exclusive boutique hotel, set in an exquisite 16th-century mansion in the heart of town, where lavish rooms and antique free-standing bathtubs are a far cry from the previous night’s accommodation.

   Cusco is a vibrant and enticing city, oozing with rich history and colonial architecture, you could easily lose yourself here for days, especially now with its ever-growing number of gourmet restaurants and lively nightlife spots. Included is a guided visit to Cusco’s bustling San Pedro market, where you’ll be introduced to some of the country’s most exotic and peculiar produce, as well as traditional remedies and ointments for all manner of ailments (which make for rather amusing gifts for friends back home!) The rest of your time in Cusco is at leisure, for you to explore the cobbled streets at your own pace.

   Accommodation: Inkaterra La Casona (2 nights)

7. Days 12-15: Northern Peru

   By this point you’ll be ready for some serious rest and relaxation! Swap your jackets and jumpers for swim shorts and bikinis and prepare for sun, sea and sand. You’ll need to fly up to Peru’s northern coast, to the charming beach town of Mancora, which enjoys year-round sunshine and a buzzing atmosphere. 

   We’ve picked an intimate boutique hotel, located on a gorgeous stretch of golden sand, which is close enough to town if you fancy a night out, but also far enough to ensure peace and exclusivity. With just a handful of rooms and suites, service at Kichic is highly personalized. The design is rustic yet luxurious and offers plenty of creature comforts and a highly Instagramable infinity pool looking out towards the ocean. 

   Mancora is well known for its great surf, so we’ve included a lesson, but how you spend the rest of the time is completely up to you. With a health and wellness focus, yoga lessons, delicious home-grown ingredients served at mealtimes, film screenings on the beach and that delicious sea breeze, a stay here will leave you feeling utterly relaxed and recharged.

   Accommodation: Kichic (3 nights)

8. Fly home via Lima

   Enjoy a leisurely breakfast whilst basking in the morning sun and perhaps a final swim in the ocean, before flying back to Lima where you will check in for your onward flight home.

Lima, Amazon, Sacred Valley, Cusco, Mancora