14 day Journey Through Peru
CULTURE • HISTORY • ADVENTURE
Peru captivated me in an extraordinary way; a harmonious blend of history, culture, and nature that creates a magic uniquely its own. From the vibrant city life of Lima, the tranquil beauty of the Sacred Valley, to the awe-inspiring Inca ruins of Machu Picchu, each experience was rich and immersive. I felt a connection to a past so alive in Cusco's vibrant energy and colonial architecture, while the serene Lake Titicaca and majestic flight of condors over Colca Canyon instilled a deep sense of tranquility.
Every flavor, sight, and experience was a tribute to the country's rich heritage and I was continually enchanted by the surprises of this beautiful country. And, it was the warmth of its people, their traditions and respect for the earth that etched Peru permanently in my heart.
Day 1: Arrive in Lima
The journey begins with an exciting travel day, making your way to Lima, Peru. You’ll be picked up from the airport and after settling into the luxurious Belmond Miraflores Park, start the evening off with a culinary adventure at one of the world’s best restaurants - like Maido, renowned for its exceptional Nikkei cuisine. Cap off the night with a lively Pisco Sour Crawl,I’ve done the research to introduce you to Peru's quintessential cocktail.
Day 1: Experience Lima's history
Discover Lima's historical richness and modern allure. After breakfast, explore the charming district of Miraflores on a guided walking tour. After, you will venture into Lima's Historic Center, a UNESCO World Heritage site that beautifully blends Spanish and Peruvian styles. Savor an exclusive tour and lunch at the Larco Museum, housing pre-Columbian art. The evening culminates in another gourmet dining experience at Tragaluz.
Where to Stay: Belmond Miraflores Park
• SIZE: 89 ROOMS • ROOMS STYLE: CONTEMPORARY • VIBE: HIP
Not many city hotels can cite a string of palm trees as their closest neighbour. But not many hotels are like Miraflores Park, a Belmond Hotel in Lima. Set in its own landscaped gardens, this all-suite urban sanctuary perches on a cliff overlooking the Pacific Ocean. It takes its name from the well-heeled neighbourhood of Miraflores. As well as glorious ocean views, the locale boasts a six-mile coastal boardwalk, irresistible shops and enticing cultural attractions.
Views enhance every aspect of the hotel. From the panoramic rooftop pool and airy Observatory Restaurant guests may spot surfers and paragliders enjoying the coast. Each of the refined suites affords vistas of shimmering sea, vibrant city or its own flower-filled terrace. The Presidential Pool Suites offer sea-view plunge pools alongside butler service and personal saunas.
Dining choices are among the most sought-after in Lima. In Tragaluz, arresting art-filled interiors set the scene for imaginative Asian-Peruvian cuisine. The terrace and beautiful gardens are the perfect setting for aperitifs. Belo Bar is prized among city trendsetters for its innovative cocktails and delicious light bites.
✧ TIP: Join a pisco sour masterclass with one of their award winning bartenders
Day 3-4: Sacred Valley
Bid farewell to Lima as you transfer to the serene Sacred Valley. Journey into Peru's past with a tour of Maras and Moray's archaeological wonders, followed by a gourmet lunch in Maras at a restored monestary. Retreat to the comfort of the Belmond Hotel Rio Sagrado, set in the heart of the valley, before indulging in a dinner at El Huerto.
Delve into Incan history, starting with breakfast at El Jardin and a tour of the ancient town of Ollantaytambo. Enjoy a scenic picnic lunch, followed by a relaxing massage at Mayu Willka Spa. The day concludes with a memorable dinner under the stars and roasting s'mores.
Where to Stay: Belmond Rio Sagrado
• SIZE: 23 ROOMS • ROOMS STYLE: INDIGENOUS • VIBE: ZEN
Deep in Peru’s Sacred Valley, Rio Sagrado, a Belmond Hotel, offers an unparalleled connection with nature. Set on the banks of the Urubamba River, the retreat is crafted from natural materials using ancient techniques. Encircling it are lush gardens threaded with streams and waterfalls, where tiny hummingbirds hover over jewel-like blooms. Rio Sagrado offers the perfect place to acclimatise to your Andean adventure.
Rooms are set on raised terraces with expansive windows overlooking the river. Bright, airy spaces, they radiate Andean charm with vibrant textiles and soft alpaca wools. Relaxing hours can be spent in the heated pool or reclining in a hammock. Fine Peruvian-fusion cuisine is served at El Huerto, where specialities include local trout, Andean grains and vegetables from the valley.
✧ TIP: Be sure to schedule some time to feed the baby alpacas.
If you don’t - they may invade the hotel’s organic garden and eat your dinner.
Day 5-6: Machu Picchu
Rise early for the panoramic train journey to Machu Picchu Pueblo. Then continue on to explore the breathtaking ruins of Machu Picchu with your guide. Explore the Inca citadel, surrounded by stone structures gracefully tucked into the lush, green terraces, with soaring peaks and plunging valleys painting an ethereal backdrop — like walking within the very heart of a postcard. Your expert guide enhances the experience, weaving in fascinating tales about the Inca civilization, their belief systems and their intricate knowledge of nature, astronomy and architecture. As you navigate the ancient city, every turn unveils a new spectacle, be it the royal residences, temples or the cascading agricultural terraces.
Relish lunch at the Belmond Sanctuary Lodge and end the day with a gourmet dinner at Qunuq Restaurant. Overnight at checked in at the remarkable Inkaterra Hotel.
The next day reinvigorate yourself with a spiritual Pachamama Ceremony, then delve into Peruvian cuisine with a cooking class. In the afternoon you’ll board the panoramic train to Cusco, and after checking into the Belmond Hotel Nazarenas, experience the vibrant cocktail scene in Cusco.
Where to Stay: Inkaterra Machu Picchu Hotel
• SIZE: 83 ROOMS • ROOMS STYLE: INDIGENOUS • VIBE: ZEN
One of the hotels of the First Climate Positive HotelBrand in the world, this intimate Andean village with 83 casitas is tucked away in the Machu Picchu cloud forest, with stunning views of exquisite natural beauty. In-house à la carte excursions lead guests to explore the mega-biodiversity within hotel grounds, which includes 214 bird species, the world’s largest native orchid collection (372 species), a bear rescue center, and a tea plantation under the shade. The Unu Spa has a mystical Andean approach, and the first-class restaurants, which face the rumbling Vilcanota River, share the secrets of Peruvian cuisine with a contemporary twist.
✧ TIP: Take a tour of the hotel’s organic tea plantation and teahouse, where you can mix your own blend of tea.
Day 7-8: Cusco
Explore Cusco's history with a solo excursion, followed by a walking tour of the picturesque San Blas neighborhood. Marvel at the Incan ruins of Sacsayhuamán and later dine in style at El Tupay.
Where to Stay: Palacio Nazarenas
• SIZE: 55 ROOMS • ROOMS STYLE: CONTEMPORARY• VIBE: HIP
Set within a peaceful plaza just behind Cusco’s main square, Palacio Nazarenas, A Belmond Hotel, Cusco has been transformed from a 17th-century palace turned convent into a 55-suite, urban escape, it boasts a wealth of contemporary indulgences while retaining its timeless appeal. Inca stones, 16th-century frescoes and cloistered courtyards meet cutting-edge cuisine, a fabulous spa and the city’s first outdoor infinity-edge pool.
A short stroll from vibrant Plaza de Armas, this Peruvian retreat has just 55 oxygen-enriched suites, each brimming with character. Authentic touches include embroidered silk coverlets on four-poster beds, handpainted art and soap crafted from homegrown flowers. Some suites offer views of Cusco and the majestic mountains beyond from their balconies or terraces. A private bar, underfloor heating, Bose sound systems and 24-hour butler service mean comfort is assured.
In the main courtyard, an ancient stone fountain and Inca-style water channels create a relaxing space to while away the hours. In the spa, a glass floor reveals ancient Inca stonework below. Onsite activities include cooking classes, salsa dance lessons and art tours of the ornate, gilded chapel.
✧ TIP: The gardens and courtyards of Nazarenas are maze like. Enjoy Andean afternoon tea in a Secret Garden, where an exquisite spread is accompanied by the freshest herbal teas, but be sure to remember the route back to your room.
Day 9-12: Aboard the Andean Explore
Embark on the Belmond Andean Explorer, a luxurious train journey through the Raya Mountain Range, culminating in an elegant on-board dinner and an overnight stay by the captivating Lake Titicaca.
Awake early for a serene sunrise over Lake Titicaca, followed by a full day exploring the lake, including a traditional boat ride to the floating islands of Uros. Enjoy an elegant dinner at Saracocha before another restful night on board the train.
Witness another stunning sunrise over Lake Lagunillas, then head to the ancient Sumbay caves. Disembark at Canahuas and retreat to Belmond Las Casitas for relaxation and a sumptuous dinner at Curina.
After breakfast, marvel at the expansive Colca Canyon from the Tapay viewing point. Enjoy a horseback ride to Condor Cross, followed by a visit to Cabanaconde Town and its colonial churches.
Return to Arequipa and catch a flight to Lima, where you'll check into Hotel B and dine at Central.
Where to Stay: Andean Explorer
• SIZE: 35 CABINS • ROOMS STYLE: CLASSIC • VIBE: LIVELY
Take your time to explore the breathtaking diversity of Peru’s natural wonders aboard South America’s first luxury train. From traditional textile patterns to kaleidoscopic sunsets, watch as our surroundings burst into color from your luxury private cabin or the open-air observation car. From peaceful Lake Titicaca to the famous floating island of Uros, marvel at the memorable destinations while sampling cutting edge Peruvian cuisine using Andean ingredients. Between unique curated tours and serene spa rituals, the Andean Explorer is the most luxurious way to experience Peru in motion..
✧ TIP:
Day 13-14: Lima
Immerse yourself in Lima's vibrant Barranco district with a walking food tour. Spend the afternoon shopping for souvenirs before a free evening, perhaps filled with more Pisco Sours.
Say goodbye to Peru as you embark on your journey home, bringing unforgettable memories and a deeper understanding of this unique culture.
Where to Stay: Hotel B
• SIZE: 20 ROOMS • ROOMS STYLE: CONTEMPORARY CLASSIC • VIBE: LIVELY
Occupying a prominent corner near the sea in the up-and-coming Barranco neighborhood of Lima, the stately white mansion is a jaw-dropping symbol of the Belle Époque. It was designed in 1914 by noted French architect Claude Sahut; for much of the 1920s, the mansion served as the summer getaway of then-president Augusto Leguia. Past the regal façade is a glamorous interior with soaring ceilings, Italian marble fixtures, a grand living room illuminated by antique candelabras — you get the idea.
Guest rooms, spread between the historic mansion and the three-story annex added during restorations, fall into three categories. ‘Atelier’ rooms, with dramatic dark-wood fixtures, claw-foot tubs and private terraces looking out over the courtyard, are at the top of the heap. But even standard rooms feel romantic, even slightly decadent; filled with charming twenties-era furnishings, eye-catching artwork, a vintage suitcase here, a weathered map in a glass frame there, these accommodations call to mind a more glamorous era of travel.
✧ TIP: Take a tour of the hotel with the in-house art curator (with a glass of Cava or Pisco Sour in hand).
Day 19: Departure
Return to Cape Town International Airport for your departure flight. As you leave, take with you the unforgettable memories of this unique journey, knowing that you've experienced the best of South Africa and Zimbabwe's wildlife, culture, and wine country.
ACERA BENEFITS EXCLUSIVELY FOR YOU
No matter where you stay, you’ll enjoy these exclusive amenities. Our ‘preferred partner’ status with our travel partners gives you access to complimentary benefits and unadvertised experiences, at some of the finest hotels across the globe, and we're also a member of Virtuoso®, the world’s leading luxury travel network, giving our team access to the most renowned and unique properties.
✧ Buffet breakfast daily, for two guests per bedroom
✧ A $100 per couple
✧ Early check-in/late check-out, subject to availability
✧ Complimentary Wi-Fi