The High Life In Peru

Fly to Lima on the Pacific Coast of South America, and stay at the Belmond Miraflores Park hotel. In the more exclusive part of Lima, this is an ideal base to relax and enjoy some ocean air while in the city.

Spend the day discovering Lima in the hands of an expert guide. The historic centre of the city dates back to the times of the Spanish conquistadores with churches and bright yellow mansions constructed over the old Inca city. Visit the San Francisco church and go into the catacombs for an informed history lesson of the early city.

Call into Casa Aliaga, a private home of an early conquistador which has remained in the family over the centuries, it’s one of the oldest buildings in South America. Continue to the Larco Museum, on the site of a sacred pre-Colombian site. It’s a collection of priceless ancient art, including a display of erotic art, the ancients weren’t always serious!  Lunch is included here in a great spot overlooking the museum gardens.

For dinner, we recommend Astrid and Gaston restaurant one of South America Travel Specialist favourite spots. This restaurant revolutionised Peruvian cuisine and was at the vanguard of spreading the word around the world.

San Francisco church in old Lima Peru

Fly to Arequipa in the southern highlands. Arequipa is known as the White City as so many of its old buildings are constructed of volcanic stone. It’s the gateway to the high Andes and its lively squares with an old Spanish atmosphere makes it a really inviting city to wander around. Why not indulge in a few bottles of cold local beer, called Arequipena in these parts.

Take a walking tour of Arequipa with your expert local guide and visit the Santa Catalina Monastery. This colourful and peaceful old Spanish monastery is still home to about 20 nuns and exploring the centuries-old cloisters and slave quarters is like stepping into history.

Stay at Cirqa Hotel, a wonderful romantic little hotel with rooms built into the white volcanic stone. It’s a pretty special hotel which matches the style of Arequipa and we certainly recommend dining here in a building dating back to the 16th Century.

Santa Catalina Monastery in Arequipa Peru

Today is the day you travel into the Andes mountains. The scenery on this drive is what you will have been imagining. At first, the drive ascends past the snow-capped volcanoes of Misti and Chachani, then into high grasslands which are home to herds of llama and vicuna. Seeing tiny settlements and journey up to the high plateau with views unchanged by time. Close by is the source of the mighty Amazon.

A private car is a bonus as you can take your time a little to get used to the altitude and there’s time to stop wherever you want for some photos. Stop to try some coca tea, which has been used by native people for millennia to help with the altitude.

Dropping into the valley, arrive at the village of Chivay for lunch before heading to your hotel. The Belmond Las Casitas Colca Canyon is a lovely place to indulge for a few days and enjoy the serenity of the valley.

The Colca Canyon and river with farm terraces and high mountains

Head out early this morning, the best time to get to Condor’s Cross on the lookout for the xxx sight of these huge birds circling in the thermals. They’re a symbol of South America. The views of the Colca Canyon from here are majestic, it’s one of the deepest canyons in the world, over three thousand metres deep. You can see farming terraces from Inca times on the steep sides of the valley, it’s staggering how they built these centuries ago.

Head back slowly to your hotel, stopping at the villages of Maca and Yanque, which feel like they’re straight out of a western movie set. Relax back at Las Casitas, stroll around the gardens with views of the canyon, relax by the pool and enjoy a cocktail made with fresh local fruits.

The Colca Canyon panorama from a high Andes Mountains viewpoint

It’s a pretty long journey today but well worth it, up to the high plateau of the Andes towards the legendary Lake Titicaca. The itinerary is designed to get to high altitude gradually so you can acclimatise.  On the way take your time and stop for views of small lakes where there may be Andean flamingoes.

When you arrive by the shores of Lake Titicaca you may immediately notice the vast bright blue waters contrasted against the baked land.  Get away from it all in a wondrous location at Titilaka lodge. Your room will overlook the lake and it’s the only hotel with overwater decks on the edge of Lake Titicaca. Combine exploration with plenty of high life living in more ways than one at 4,000 metres altitude.

Uros floating islands village on Lake Titicaca Peru

Titilaka lodge runs a selection of activities to discover the intriguing geography and history of Lake Titicaca. Today you can take a kayak or a paddleboard out on the lake, we bet you won’t have done it any higher.

Not to be missed is a trip out to the floating Uros Islands, where the community lives on reed islands built by hand. Travel out to Taquile Island, not only to see ancient villages where skilled weavers live but also it’s a terrific vantage point to appreciate the vast scale of the lake. On clear days you can see the mountains of Bolivia in the distance.

Enjoy dinner on the lakeshore under the night skies of the high plains.

Kayaking on Lake Titicaca near Puno Peru

In the morning enjoy a lazy breakfast on the shore of Lake Titicaca.

Then it’s off to the station for a great rail journey. Travel in style on the Belmond Andean Explorer train from Puno to Cusco and experience the spirit of the Andes. The train has wonderful en suite cabins, a refined dining car, first-class attentive service from an expert local crew and a bar and lounge with an observation deck. There’s even a spa onboard. It’s just like travelling on the Orient Express, probably even more luxurious, and high up here in the middle of the Andes.

Lunch is served on board as the train heads away from Lake Titicaca and into the wide plains on one of the highest train journeys in the world. The train stops at La Raya for a chance to walk in the high plains. As the afternoon wears on and the light softens on the mountains, relax with Peru’s classic cocktail, a Pisco sour in the lounge.

There’s something about train travel which allows you to slow down and switch off as you pass lonely villages and herds of llama. Dinner is served under big skies as they turn dark and starry.

The train heads lazily to Cusco this morning, the ancient capital of the Inca Empire. Check into the Belmond Palacio del Inca, a beautiful hotel set within one of Cusco’s historic buildings and full of history and style. 

This afternoon heads out on a walking tour of the Inca capital with your private guide. Take some water with you or grab an Inka Cola and see what you think of Peru’s unique fizzy drink! Walk up to Sacsayhuaman, an Inca ceremonial ground – it’s mind-blowing how they fit the massive stones together so perfectly.

Walk back into the city through the San Bas district with narrow streets and markets selling native textiles and art, as well as genuine Cusquena beer t-shirts.  See where the Spanish Conquistadors built churches atop Inca temples and learn about how this mountain capital changed over the centuries.

This evening for dinner, you can choose from high-end restaurants serving exquisite Peruvian Andean food. Alternatively, grab a pizza or head to the Irish bar, yes there’s one up here too!

Pisac market colourful textiles and local family Peru

It’s only in recent years that the colours of Three Rainbow Mountains have been revealed, and sadly that’s been due to glaciers melting. They have fast become a must-see while in Cusco. The journey out there and half hour trek to the viewpoint is also a great way to get to see some of the high mountain peaks and stretch your legs a little.

It’s not an easy trek up there, but pretty do-able and the views of the layers of colour of rocks are quite bizarre and very photogenic.

Later return to Cusco for an evening on your own. We’d recommend the MAP Cafe for dinner, located within Cusco’s Pre-Colombian Art Museum. It re-imagines Andean and Amazonian traditional food with contemporary twists in a beautiful setting.

Rainbow mountain and llama near Cusco Peru

This morning journey into the Sacred Valley of the Incas. Just over the hills from Cusco, this is where the Urubamba River winds through this beautiful valley which was the heartland of the Incas. It remains sprinkled with traditional villages, old temples on hillsides and fertile farmland.

Stop at one of the farms and experience age-old farming techniques. The Andes have given the world plenty of staple foods such the astounding varieties of potato which you can find up here,  as well as sweetcorn which is also made into an intriguing drink called Chica. Of course, not forgetting quinoa, be reminded of today next time you’re in the supermarket or whole food store.

At a picturesque farmhouse, take a short cooking class to prepare classic Peruvian mountain dishes and learn to make a pisco sour cocktail.

Head to the Belmond Rio Sagrado hotel and spend the night by the river in the quiet valley surrounded by nature. You might even want to switch off and spend longer here.

Explore the amazing remains of the Inca civilisation and find out the fascinating ways in which the people of the Andes lived over 500 years ago.  Some of these traditions continue to thrive today.

At Chinchero village, you can see little galleries displaying the Cusco school of art which is a mixture of Spanish and Inca styles, it’s also a dramatic position high in the hills. At Maras, see bizarre salt pans hidden in the mountains, developed thousands of years ago. Then at Moray see amazing circular farming terraces in a weird microclimate.

Travelling further into the valley, arrive at Ollantaytambo. This is a huge Inca fortress which was built up the steep slopes of the mountains and was the site of a large battle between Spanish conquistadors and the Incas.  You really appreciate why they had a fortress here protecting the valley and the skilful techniques of building it, it’s an atmospheric place and makes you imagine being in an epic movie.

Let’s not forget lunch, and today be taken for a sumptuous lunch of hearty mountain delicacies at Piray Lagoon. You can even try a bit of Peruvian wine.

Maras ancient salt pans in Sacred Valley of the Incas

In a trip full of amazing experiences, Machu Picchu deserves all the accolades. Not only that, but you can also travel there in style on the Hiram Bingham luxury train. Named after the American explorer who re-discovered and revealed Machu Picchu, the Lost City of the Incas, to the world over a hundred years ago. Take brunch on the train while travelling through an increasingly narrow valley next to the surging Urubamba River.

A guided tour of Machu Picchu is included in a small group with your fellow passengers. It’s certainly worthwhile having a guide explain just how this fortress high on a peak was built. Although so much remains a mystery, and the Spanish never found this place.

After lunch and time on your own to explore the ruins and take it all in. Later return to Cusco on the Hiram Bingham for an evening with fine dining, plenty of wine and not forgetting the pisco sours – a perfect ending to an unforgettable trip.

The Urubamba River Valley known as the Sacred Valley of the Incas in Peru

After a leisurely morning in Cusco, transfer to the airport for a flight to Lima to connect with your international flight. Otherwise if you have a bit more time you could head into the Amazon rainforest for a luxury cruise.

Arrive this morning back at sea level, with your heart lost in the mountains.