Treasures of the Incas

Set out on one of the largest South American tours as you discover Lima, the City of the Kings, explore the salt pans of the Sacred Valley and see the mysterious Machu Picchu up close, with an expert-led tour of the lost city. Cruise Lake Titicaca to the Uros Floating Islands, where locals collect reefs to create their floating homes and pause in the Casablanca Valley for a wine tasting at the boutique Kingston Family Winery. In Buenos Aires, take in the balcony made famous by the former First Lady of Argentina, Eva Peron, and adventure onwards to the thundering cascades of Iguassu Falls. Across the Brazilian border in Rio de Janeiro, relax with cocktails on Copacabana Beach and an authentic lunch at a local churrascaria, a traditional Brazilian steakhouse and quintessential Brazilian experience.

Dining Summary

7 Dinner (D), 11 Breakfast (B), 9 Lunch (L)

Choice Highlights

Choose between two carefully selected activities, Lima: Take a guided visit of the Monastery and its catacombs., Lima: Visit Casa Aliaga, one of the oldest houses in Lima which has been in the Aliaga family for 17 generations. This colonial house was built by Jer��nimo de Aliaga Ramírez in 1535, the year Lima was established. The Aliaga family has lived within 40 rooms of the house ever since, rebuilding and remodelling it after earthquakes. Enter through the large wooden doors opening into a grand foyer with a staircase before touring the grand home., Choose between two carefully selected activities, Machu Picchu: Visit a working tea plantation., Machu Picchu: View the world's largest private collection of indigenous orchids around your hotel surrounded by the Cloud Forest., Machu Picchu: Embark on a twilight nature walk where your guide will point out medicinal plants, sacred Pre-Inca pictographs, and an enchanting waterfall in the Cloud Forest., Machu Picchu: Seize the opportunity to return to Machu Picchu a second time on this Personalise Your Day option. After exploring the ancient Inca citadel with your Local Expert earlier in the day, you can personalize your experience and create and savour your own moment at this enigmatic fortress., Choose between two carefully selected activities, Cusco: Visit the ruins of Tambomachay and enjoy a picturesque walk as you pass the ruins of Puca Pucara and Qenqo., Cusco: Return to Cusco by vehicle and visit San Blas church and the surroundings of this fascinating artsy neighbourhood of Cusco. After San Blas, continue to San Pedro market for some local shopping and insight into Peruvian produce.

Additional Included Highlights

Enjoy seamless personal assistance throughout your journey. From securing exclusive reservations, to organising transportation, your Travel Concierge ensures every aspect of your travel is tailored to your tastes and preferences., In select destinations, our network of Local Expert Guides will illuminate your journey on a deeper level., Included at all hotels., Hotel taxes, porterage and tips, as well as tips for included dining experiences, are included., Enjoy breakfast every morning, and an array of incredible dining options throughout your journey, infused with discovery and adventure., On days where a Relaxed Start (RS) is indicated, you can select to indulge in breakfast in bed., Enjoy complimentary hotel Wi-Fi. And, on select coaches, onboard Wi-Fi may also be available., Transfers are included on your journey start and end dates, and where additional accommodation has been booked in advance through Luxury Gold. Transfers to train stations or alternate hotels, in the same start or end city as the itinerary, may be requested.

Curated Experiences

Lima: Visit the home of local artist Victor Delfin, known for his monumental El Beso sculpture at his workshop in the city's trendy Barranco district., Lake Titicaca: Join a MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience a you as you meet a local family on Amantani Island. Home to about 4,000 inhabitants, you'll discover how the traditions and language of the Inca culture are being kept alive on this remote location not commonly visited by tourists.

Exceptional Dining

Lima: You can relax before meeting your Travel Concierge at 18.00 for a Welcome Dinner where local flavours and contemporary culinary techniques highlight the pillars of Peruvian cuisine., Lima: Stop for lunch at the cultural and gastronomic Casa Tambo. Established in the late 18th century, this iconic restaurant is also a celebrated cultural heritage site and museum. Casa Tambo isn't just a place to stay, it's a visual adventure! Dive into an artistic wonderland featuring jaw-dropping pieces, including the iconic works of master sculptor Víctor Delfín. Tuck into a selection of authentic Peruvian dishes that showcase the rich traditional flavours of the region, complemented by a contemporary cocktail menu featuring Peruvian distillates., Sacred Valley: Experience a caja china lunch, a popular way to create a delicious meal in Peru, cooked in a wooden box., Machu Picchu: Enjoy lunch at Café Inkaterra, located between the Machu Picchu train tracks and surrounded by lush forest., Cusco: Savour a Pachamanca feast in the Sacred valley. This traditional way to slow cook local vegetables and meats using hot stones and clay pots underground is a communal rite in the Sacred Valley that dates back to pre-historic times. It is a way to celebrate and show gratitude to Pachamama, "Mother Earth"., Cusco: Dine at MAP restaurant, one of the city's most prominent restaurants, situated on the lively, modern patio of the Museum of Pre-Colombian Art., Lake Titicaca: Sit down with community members for a farm-to-table lunch featuring ingredients grown on the island before exploring the terraced hillsides and viewing the skillfully made crafts the inhabitants are known for., Lima: Savour a creative array of seasonal dishes created by chef Arlette Eulert at Matria. This Peruvian restaurant boasts organic ingredients that change according to the season.

Magnificent Stays

Machu Picchu: This enchanting Andean village hotel is located within 12.3 acres of pristine cloud forest. The spectacular grounds are laced with paths that wind past waterfalls and trails, and organic gardens that wander through the misty forest. A place to relax, while exploring nature and encountering the wonders of the Incan civilization, experiencing authentic travel., : Dating back nearly five centuries, the storied mansion of the Palacio del Inka stands in the historic center of Cusco. Directly across from the Qoricancha (Temple of the Sun), it is a five-minute walk from the main square and less than a mile from an array of museums, markets and restaurants. Uniting the past and present, Andes Spirit Spa presents indigenous treatments and an indoor therapy pool. Meanwhile, Inti Raymi Restaurant offers authentic Peruvian dishes.

MAKE TRAVEL MATTER

Cusco: Join a MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience as you meet Nilda Callañaupa Alvarez, a Quechua scholar, director of the Center for Traditional Textiles of Cusco. Learn about her mission to preserve traditional weaving techniques., : Visit the village of Lamay for a MAKE TRAVEL MATTER ® Experience with the locals. First stop at the guinea pig sheds to learn more about the animals and how this traditional activity evolved into a business opportunity in Lamay. Your immersive visit is organized by “La Base Lamay,” an initiative that involves locals from the village and nearby communities in tourism activities to generate fair and higher income. At a traditional chichería bar frequented by locals, learn about making “chicha de jora” (a traditional corn beer) and taste a healthy snack, called “picante”.

Passport Moments

Sacred Valley: Learn from locals about the process of salt mining.The cascading salt terraces along this scenic canyon have been harvested using an evaporation technique since the times of the Incas and has been passed down by local families, who still harvest salt from it today to sell to the local market., Sacred Valley: A local shaman will perform a welcoming ceremony to the Sacred Valley and the mystical Andes Mountains that surround it., Ollantaytambo: Join a local expert and visit the ruins of Ollantaytambo. See the magnificent views of the ruins on the side of the cliffs above the Urubamba river., Machu Picchu: Experience Machu Picchu with a Local Expert. You’ll learn about Machu Picchu’s history and the use of each section of including ceremonial, storage, agriculture, temples, astronomical, and observatory as well as the possible reasons why the Incas left Machu Picchu., Sacred Valley: Travel back to the Sacred Valley by train, offering you great views with panoramic windows and an outdoor observation carriage., Cusco: Join your Local Expert for a visit to the ruins of Sacsayhuamán, one of the most important Incan sites and a UNESCO Cultural Heritage Site. You'll also visit Koricancha, also known as the Temple of the Sun, and the beautiful colonial neighbourhood of San Blas and the magnificent Cathedral at Plaza de Armas which took 100 years to complete., Puno: Enjoy a picnic lunch on the shores of Lake Umayo before visiting the archeological site of Sillustani. Explore the stone burial towers 'chullpas' that have dotted the shores since pre-Inca times., Lake Titicaca: Visit the Uros Floating Islands to learn about the lifestyle and customs of the local people and enjoy lunch with this community that bundles reeds from the lake to build floating platforms, houses and canoes.

Personalise your day

Lima: Take a guided visit of the Monastery and its catacombs., Lima: Visit Casa Aliaga, one of the oldest houses in Lima which has been in the Aliaga family for 17 generations. This colonial house was built by Jerónimo de Aliaga Ramírez in 1535, the year Lima was established. The Aliaga family has lived within 40 rooms of the house ever since, rebuilding and remodelling it after earthquakes. Enter through the large wooden doors opening into a grand foyer with a staircase before touring the grand home., Machu Picchu: Visit a working tea plantation., Machu Picchu: View the world's largest private collection of indigenous orchids around your hotel surrounded by the Cloud Forest., Machu Picchu: Embark on a twilight nature walk where your guide will point out medicinal plants, sacred Pre-Inca pictographs, and an enchanting waterfall in the Cloud Forest., Machu Picchu: Seize the opportunity to return to Machu Picchu a second time on this Personalise Your Day option. After exploring the ancient Inca citadel with your Local Expert earlier in the day, you can personalize your experience and create and savour your own moment at this enigmatic fortress., Cusco: Visit the ruins of Tambomachay and enjoy a picturesque walk as you pass the ruins of Puca Pucara and Qenqo., Cusco: Return to Cusco by vehicle and visit San Blas church and the surroundings of this fascinating artsy neighbourhood of Cusco. After San Blas, continue to San Pedro market for some local shopping and insight into Peruvian produce.