Ceviche, citadels and a luxury sailing adventure on the Amazon – uncovering the Inca history and natural treasures of Peru.
Unveil Peru’s Inca mysteries and conquistador history on this seriously stylish holiday that combines an exploration of the country’s cultural highlights with some quality time in the Amazon, weaving among the rainforest’s wildlife and tribes. We’ve handpicked some of Peru’s loveliest boutique properties for you and there are also plenty of opportunities to immerse yourself in Peru’s fabulous gastronomic scene along the way.
View over Plaza de Armas, Cusco
Skiff launch in the Amazon
Belmond Hiram Bingham, Machu Picchu
Begin in Lima, today a hugely exciting city that’s at the heart of Peru’s foodie revolution. As well as calling in on some of the city’s superb museums, we’d recommend letting us reserve a table for you at Central, Latin America’s finest restaurant, for an extraordinary 18-course culinary odyssey through the elevations and habitats of Peru. Tree barks and clay even grace the menu! Next, it’s up to the Sacred Valley and Belmond’s stylish Hotel Rio Sagrado. Here, encircled by the Andes, you’ll appreciate the legacy of the Incas through their markets, fortresses and craft traditions, and if you like to be active, we’ll arrange mountain bikes, horses and trekking guides to take you exploring off the beaten path.
Then sit back to enjoy one of the world’s great train journeys through the Sacred Valley to Machu Picchu. Tearing yourself away from the hummingbirds and cloudforest of your luxury accommodation – Inkaterra Machu Picchu Pueblo – you’ll enjoy a private guided tour of this iconic Inca citadel. Of course, we’ll also ensure you avoid the worst of the crowds.
After a second morning spent exploring Machu Picchu, return to Cusco for a taste of conquistador history, staying at Hotel Monasterio – a one-time monastery now converted luxuriously by Belmond into an impeccable hotel in the heart of the old city. Spend your time uncovering Cusco’s pre-Columbian and colonial past, meeting local artisans and trying regional dishes from anticuchos and alpaca to (if you dare) roast guinea pig.
Swapping the Andes for the Amazon, we’ll fly you north to the rainforest where you’ll board the Aria Amazon. This architect-designed river ship will see you explore the tributaries, creeks and hidden corners of this incredible wilderness in detail. You’ll head off on small skiffs with expert naturalist guides to showcase wildlife-rich reserves, watching out for pink river dolphins, macaws and squirrel monkeys. Meet indigenous jungle communities and compare their traditional lifestyle with your own, try paddling a dug-out canoe and turn your hand to producing regional specialities in an Amazonian cooking class. Indeed, you’ll be fully immersed in jungle life before letting yourself be lulled to sleep by the night-time sounds of the Amazon.