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INCAN VIBE, PERUVIAN SPIRIT
13 DAYS STARTING FROM £3895 PER PERSON
Peru – the past, the present and the perfect holiday
It’s said that travel is the one thing you buy that makes you richer and, without doubt, this holiday to Peru will do just that, reconnecting you to the past and the natural beauty of our planet and reminding you that the future is bright – as bright as the woven textiles in an Andean street market.
On this trip, you’ll experience the cosmopolitan vibrancy of Lima, the colonial grandeur of Cusco and a trek to the dramatic Inca ruins at Machu Picchu which is sure to stir your soul. Add to that, horse-riding and lake kayaking in The Sacred Valley of the Incas and you’ll understand why we say that a visit here should be firmly placed at the very top of your list of life-enhancing things to do before the sands of time trickle away.
WHY GO ON THIS TRIP?
DAYS 1, 2, 3, 4: ACCLIMATISE IN LIMA & CUSCO
Met from the airport, you’ll soon be revelling in the ornate Italian marble façade of the Hotel B, your luxurious home for the next two nights, located in the heart of the bohemian Barranco neighbourhood of Lima.
Lima is a city of contrasts and, on a guided walking tour, you’ll be able to appreciate its fine architecture – a blend of colonial mansions, Moorish balconies, modernist buildings, beautiful churches and the cathedral. The historic centre dates back to the 16th century and is a UNESCO-listed World Heritage Site. Exploring the mysteries of the catacombs of St. Francis, visiting art galleries and museums will satisfy any culture vulture and don’t forget your camera for those stunning views of the ocean from Parque del Amour in Miraflores.
After your flight from Lima to Cusco, relax in the beautifully-restored 16th-century manor house, Inkaterra La Casona, where you’ll be staying for the next two nights, then enjoy a wander round the quaint cobblestoned streets of the city, breathing in the clear mountain air.
Over 3000m above sea level, Cusco’s name translates as navel and it’s certainly right at the centre of Andean culture, once the sacred capital of the Inca Empire. You’ll visit the Temple of the Sun, the wonderful cathedral filled with works or art, the 15th century Sacsayhuamán fortress, the archaeological sites of nearby Qenqo and the ruins of the red fortress at Puka Pukara.
DAYS 5, 6, 7, 8, 9: GET YOUR BOOTS ON!
For most people, this is the part of the trip most eagerly anticipated – a trek to Machu Picchu along the Lares Trail, quieter than the much-travelled Inca Trail but no less splendid – and don’t worry, porters will carry your luggage between the luxury lodges where you’ll rest your head each night!
You’ll visit highland Andean communities unchanged for centuries, meeting colourfully-dressed villagers and seeing guinea pigs scuttling through their thatched stone houses; you’ll encounter herds of roving alpaca and llama against a stunning backdrop of snow-capped peaks, waterfalls and glacial lakes; you’ll marvel at the remains of Inca culture including the fortress of Pisac and the town of Ollantaytambo in the Sacred Valley.
Spending the last two nights of four at the Inkaterra Machu Picchu Pueblo Hotel, located in the Machi Pichu Historical Reserve, will give you easy access to one of the new seven wonders of the world – Machu Picchu – where you’ll watch the sunrise filtering through the Sacred City; spend time both with a guide and on your own absorbing all the sights and sounds of this ancient site that still imbues a real sense of wonder.
DAYS 10, 11, 12, 13: TIME TO RELAX
Make your way down the valley by Vistadome train and Stay at the Sol y Luna hotel for three nights. In the heart of the Sacred Valley of the Incas, surrounded by the rugged peaks of the Andes and often a scintillating profusion of wild flowers, your last few days in Peru will be as memorable as the first. You’ll spend a day horse-riding across the dramatic terrain of the valley, a perfect way to get close to nature. Finally, a relaxing time kayaking and picnicking by the sparkling blue waters of the Huaypo Lake, allows you to unwind before your journey home.
