Itinerary Expand all Lima to Lima Day 1 Arrive Lima Fly independently to Lima and transfer to Costa del Sol Wyndham for the night, a comfortable hotel located within the vicinty of the airport (Meals Aloft) Accommodation: Costa del Sol Wyndham (or similar) Day 2 Lima / Cusco / Urubamba Valley Start off our journey with a short briefing before we fly to Cusco — the heart of the Inca Empire and the oldest continuously inhabited city in the Western Hemisphere. Descend immediately into the historic Urubamba Valley. Along the way, we stop in Chinchero to visit a community program specializing in teaching traditional Andean art and textile making techniques, with the opportunity to browse the range of handicrafts on sale. Enjoy lunch in the Urubamba Valley, and spend tonight at the Aranwa Hotel. Accommodation: Aranwa Hotel (or similar) Meals included: Breakfast Lunch Dinner Day 3 Machu Picchu Take a short ride to the Ollantaytambo train station, where we board the train to Machu Picchu. Tour the ruins with our knowledgeable guide, who points out the significance of the stone structures, temples and plazas. This impressive ruin, hidden for 400 years by semi-tropical jungle, lies in a saddle with the peaks of Machu Picchu, "Old Mountain," and Huayna Picchu, "Young Mountain" rising dramatically on either side. Our home for the next two nights is the Inkaterra Machu Picchu Pueblo Hotel, an intimate luxury hotel nestled on 12 secluded acres of tropical cloud forest. Accommodation: Machu Picchu Pueblo Hotel (or similar) Meals included: Breakfast Lunch Dinner Day 4 Machu Picchu Today is yours to enjoy a private Machu Picchu tour or simply relax! You may wake up early and hike to the Sun Gate if you wish to return to the citadel. Alternatively, enjoy some early morning birding in the abundant gardens surrounding our hotel. This afternoon, treat yourself to the spa or visit the extensive orchid garden, currently considered the biggest in-habitat garden on the planet. The grounds of the Machu Picchu Pueblo are home to exquisite birds including 16 species of hummingbirds and the Andean cock-of-the-rock, the national bird of Peru. Tonight, enjoy an enriching lecture on the history and mysticism surrounding the ruins, along with a detailed discussion of Inca culture. Accommodation: Machu Picchu Pueblo Hotel (or similar) Meals included: Breakfast Lunch Dinner Day 5 Machu Picchu / Ollantaytambo / Sacsayhuamán / Cusco Catch the morning train back to the Sacred Valley and discover the fortress of Ollantaytambo. The expertly fashioned walkways, canals and pools are a testament to the builders' unrivalled skills. Enjoy a traditional lunch before a show by Peruvian Paso Fino horses at Wayra Ranch. Continuing across the valley toward Cusco, tour Sacsayhuamán — a huge fortress of massive stones which zigzags across the side of the mountain. Arrive in Cusco this evening before dinner and spend tonight at the Palacio del Inka. Accommodation: Palacio del Inka (or similar) Meals included: Breakfast Lunch Dinner Day 6 Cusco Spend the morning strolling the streets on a Cusco tour, exploring the Koricancha — also known as Santo Domingo, Santa Catalina Convent and the Cathedral. The Church and Convent of Santo Domingo are beautiful examples of Spanish architecture superimposed on Inca construction — the complex was built over the Koricancha, a temple dedicated to the sun, the Inca's most important god. The walls were covered in sheets of gold studded with emeralds and turquoise. After lunch, the afternoon is free to explore on your own before a farewell dinner featuring Andean delicacies. Accommodation: Palacio del Inka (or similar) Meals included: Breakfast Lunch Dinner Day 7 Cusco / Lima / Depart Fly back across the Andes to Lima, and transfer to the airport this evening to connect with your independently organised flights home. Meals included: Breakfast Lunch
Amazon Rainforest Cruise Platinum Voyage into the world's largest river basin and explore the Peruvian Amazon Culture Suitable for: Age 16+ Activity level: Leisurely / Moderate Guided (Excl. Flights) View More Details
Peru Visas are not required by UK citizens, Western European nationals, Americans, Canadians, Australians, New Zealanders, South Africans and most other nationalities. If you are in any doubt please contact the nearest Peruvian Embassy.
Peru There are no mandatory vaccination requirements. Recommended vaccinations are: Polio, Tetanus, Typhoid, Hepatitis A. Zika fever is a mosquito‐borne viral disease and a known risk in places visited on this trip. There is currently no vaccine or prophylaxis available, we therefore strongly recommend you take the usual precautions to avoid mosquito bites. If you are travelling to the Tambopata reserve in the Amazon rainforest, the risk of malaria is slight, but you may wish to consult your GP or travel health clinic for further advice. We also strongly recommend that you obtain a Yellow Fever vaccination. Dengue fever and/or Chikungunya are known risks in the Amazon region. Both are tropical viral diseases spread by daytime biting mosquitoes. There is currently no vaccine or prophylaxis available for either, and therefore the best form of prevention is to avoid being bitten. We recommend you take the usual precautions to avoid mosquito bites: always apply insect repellent and wear long-sleeved shirts and trousers while in the rainforest to avoid being bitten.
Lima, Machu Picchu & Cusco Hotels Costa Del Sol Wyndham Located within Jorge Chavez International Airport, the Costa del Sol Wyndham offers you a chance to save time during your stay and optimize your rest. The hotel offers the Spa Express, a complete spa facility ideal after a long journey or before catching your next flight. Inkaterra Machu Picchu Pueblo Hotel The famed Machu Picchu Pueblo Hotel is nestled in an area of natural beauty spreading over 12 acres of streams, gushing waterfalls, plantations and wild forest interspersed by stone pathways, the hotel is composed 83 guest houses nestled in one or two-storey whitewash cottages. Each room features California long beds with alpaca bedspreads, hand-woven pima cotton sheets, private bathrooms, heaters, aromatherapy products and nightly turndown service. The bar, boutique and reception building are each decorated with Andean artifacts and fabrics. Charming attractions include a library, a display wall of pre-Columbian artifacts in the Mikhuna Wasi dining room, and the lounge's cozy fireplaces, as well as the Andean sauna: an igloo made of indigenous bamboo and fresh eucalyptus leaves. Aranwa Sacred Valley Hotel & Wellness Built on the riverside lands of an ancient 18th century hacienda, wake up each morning at the Aranwa Hotel amidst mesmerizing views. Rooms at this newly built hotel in the Sacred Valley feature wireless internet access, climate controls, flat-screen TV, 24-hour room service and a host of other amenities. Palacio del Inka A storied mansion dating back nearly five centuries, Palacio del Inka stands in the historic center of Cusco. Directly across from the Koricancha, it is a five-minute walk from the main square and less than a mile from an array of museums, markets and restaurants. Amenities in the spacious rooms include an iPod docking station with alarm clock and a 32-inch LED television. Paired with a beverage from the mini bar or coffee and tea maker, both technologies invite guests to relax after a long day, while a two-guest dining table offers an additional seating option. Exclusive aromatic Gilchrist & Soames bath amenities and plush bathrobes and slippers enhance the relaxing experience.
December 16, 2020 Most Wanted Trips of a Lifetime in 2021 Travel may have been put on hold for 2020, but that didn’t stop many of you planning your next bucket-list adventure
September 17, 2020 5 Unique Travel Experiences to add to your 2021 Wish List If you’re looking for travel experiences that shift perspectives; adventures that take you firmly out of your comfort
May 7, 2020 Our favourite travel shows we’re watching during lockdown While we love the thrill of getting lost in a truly gripping travel bo
April 23, 2020 7 Once-in-a-Lifetime Travel Experiences When it comes to travel, everyone has a different mindset.
Amazon Rainforest Cruise Platinum Voyage into the world's largest river basin and explore the Peruvian Amazon Culture Suitable for: Age 16+ Activity level: Leisurely / Moderate Guided (Excl. Flights) View More Details
Galapagos - Darwins Enchanted Isles Platinum No need to sacrifice comfort and world-class service to discover the Galapagos Small Ship Cruises Suitable for: Age 16+ Activity level: Leisurely Guided (Excl. Flights) View More Details
Galapagos - Remote Northern and Central Islands Platinum Spectacular landscapes and distinct endemic wildlife that so intrigued Darwin Small Ship Cruises Suitable for: Age 16+ Activity level: Leisurely Guided (Excl. Flights) View More Details