Machu Picchu is a magical destination. Very few places in the world combine superbly the work of man and the dramatic beauty of nature. Those sites which have achieved this synthesis are acknowledged as places of a global pilgrimage. Every year people from all parts of the modern world travel to such heritage sites. They are all drawn to travel vast distances by the air of scenic grandeur and cultural wealth that surrounds this location. For you to be able to explore this magical place we have created a top luxury Peru tour that highlights the most interesting sites of the country, this itinerary takes you to explore the magical kingdom of the Incas in a luxury fashion, a well designed travel program that has considered every detail posible from luxury hotels in their best suites to having passionate tour Guides who will share their love and knowledge for their culture, a treat for your senses when you escalate spiritually with the Incas influence.
You will start visiting Lima, a great cosmopolitan city and capital of Peru. Our city tour includes visits to museums and the colonial part of the city, you will have the opportunity to discover the amazing gastronomy of one of the most recognized cuisines in the world in the many amazing restaurants. Continuing with a flight to Cusco, your personal Guides will then take you to Sacred Valley for your first nights in a luxury hotel. The Sacred Valley was a sacred place for the Incas and there are many ruins to explore and beautiful scenery of the Andes to discover. You will take the luxury train Hiram Bingham that will take you to Aguas Calientes also called Machu Picchu pueblo and then onto Machu Picchu, Inca citadel of amazing splendor, history, culture and Inca engineering, a magical spiritual place that will blow your senses. Cusco was the capital of the Incas and as such, it holds beautiful architecture that blends with the colonial constructions that were brought with the Spanish influence, you will spend your last nights in Peru in a beautiful hotel that offers luxury accommodation and luxury service.
Upon your arrival in Lima, you will be met by your transfer-man who will assist you with your luggage and check-in procedures at your hotel. You will receive a contact information sheet with all the hotel’s information as well as our office's contact information for each city and the 24-hour emergency numbers for any further assistance you may require. Two nights in Lima at any of our proposed hotels. Two nights in Lima at any of our proposed hotels.
Today you will take a guided sightseeing tour to the most attractive and important sites in Lima, the "City of Kings". The tour includes Lima's Historical Centre, passing by Plaza San Martin, Plaza Mayor, the Government Palace, the City Hall, the Cathedral and its Religious Art Museum. its construction began on the city's foundation, on January 18, 1535. We will visit the Convent and Church of San Francisco, considered by some as the greatest architectural complex of Colonial Art in America and Cultural Heritage of Humanity. The underground galleries or Catacombs that during the Viceroyalty served as a cemetery for the city.
Lunch is included at any of the local and traditional restaurants, with a complete selection of the famous Peruvian cuisine.
You will continue with a visit of the Larco Herrera Museum, founded in 1926, which showcases remarkable chronological galleries providing an excellent overview on 3000 years of development of Peruvian pre-Columbian history. The museum, located in a unique vice-royal mansion of the 18th century built over a 7th century pre-Columbian pyramid, has many fine examples of textile works, one example of which has a record breaking 398 threads per inch; materials and tools used by ancient Peruvians to produce their work in ceramics and metal, it also features the finest gold and silver collection from Ancient Peru.
Overnight at the Belmond Miraflores Park.
At the appropriate time, you will be met by your transfer-man who will assist you with your flight to Cusco. When you arrive to Cusco, the Imperial City, you will be met by your transfer-man and private driver who will assist you with your luggage and will drive you to your hotel located in the Sacred Valley of the Incas.
On the way, visit Awanacancha textile center to observe traditional Andean weaving and to see the four types of camel-related Andean animals – llamas, guanacos, alpacas and vicuñas. Alpacas have thick wool and is the most commonly used while the vicuñas are small and delicate with fur considered the finest. Awanacancha is a weaving center with the goal to keep alive the traditional textile arts.
Here you can meet these four types of camelids, learn about the harvesting of the different wools, the natural dying techniques and have a chance to see native weavers from different areas showing their different weaving secrets and lifestyle.
Two nights at the Tambo del Inca luxury hotel in Sacred Valley. in any of the beautiful hotels located in this area; including breakfast, hotel tax and service charge.
Your first visit is the town of Pisac, where the Incas built an observatory to study astronomy as well as an impressive network of cultivated terrace. After this, you will have the opportunity to bargain with vendors at the local handicraft market in Pisac. Lunch will take place at a great restaurant accompanied by a Paso Horse Demonstration.
Peruvian Paso Horses, with their elegance and noble spirit, symbolize a centuries-old tradition of cultural fusion and folklore that defines and enriches Peru.
In this presentation, Paso horses from our stables demonstrate their flowing gait and graceful motion to the rhythm of 'la marinera,' the national dance of Peru. Lunch is enjoyed in the Wayra Gardens among the native plants, served in a modern environment.
We are enveloped by the aroma of freshly baked bread coming out of the wood-burning ovens, tasty empanadas with different fillings and an amazing assortment of native potatoes from remote communities that have preserved them along with their stories.
After lunch, continue to the Inca fortress of Ollantaytambo. The site was built just as the Spaniards arrived to these territories and evidence of how it was built is still visible. After seeing the magnificent past of the spot stroll through the quaint streets of the present town before returning to your hotel.
Your private guide will meet you at your hotel early this morning and will take you to the train station to board your train for a dramatic train ride to Machu Picchu (6180 feet), the great mountain-top city abandoned by the Inca Empire, reclaimed by the jungle and lost to humanity until its rediscovery in 1911.
Located on a mountain site of extraordinary beauty in the middle of a tropical mountain forest, Machu Picchu was probably the most amazing urban creation of the Inca Empire at its height, with its giant walls, terraces and ramps, which appear as though they have been cut naturally in the continuous rock escarpments.
Upon arrival to the ruins, a guided tour of the lost citadel will be performed by your Guide who will explain everything you need to know about such a unique place. Lunch will be served at the Sanctuary Lodge Hotel (Tinkuy Restaurant) next to the ruins.
Overnight at the Belmond Sanctuary Lodge hotel right outside of Machu Picchu.
After Check Out from your hotel, you will have this morning on your own to explore these incredible ruins. You can get up early and enjoy a beautiful sunrise, then, you will have time to perform some of the following activities on your own:
Visit the Citadel of Machu Picchu for the second time.
For the most adventurous people, we suggest to go up the Huayna Picchu (if it is not raining) from where you can appreciate the immensity of Machu Picchu, even more,amazing being high and distant. Arriving at the top takes about two and a half hours and it must be before 13:00 hours. It is necessary to register in an office at the beginning of the trail.
Take a hike to Puerta del Sol which is part of the Inca Trail.
In the afternoon, you will take your train back to Urubamba station and then your guide will take you to Cusco, Capital of the Incas.
Two nights at the luxury Monasterio hotel.
Inca rulers once called Cusco the "Navel of the World". Cusco remains today a city that blends colonial Spanish charm with older, more austere remains of pre-Columbian glory. One can see the foundations of Inca structures on many of its city streets today.
Today you will go on a guided visit of the Imperial City of Cusco. In this Cusco city tour, you will visit the Main Plaza, which has been the scene of great historical events in the Capital of the Incas, the main Cathedral church, built of great slabs of red granite in renaissance style and thus contrasting with the baroque style silverwork which decorates its interior.
You will then continue on to the Santo Domingo church, built upon the foundations of the Inca temple Koricancha, which was dedicated to Sun worship.
Later, you will head to the City’s nearby ruins; the fortress of Sacsayhuaman, a magnificent example of Incan military power; Qenqo, a ritualistic site with subterranean galleries that form an underground maze; Puca Pucara, the red fortress and finally Tambomachay, also known as the Incan Baths. After this amazing educative Cusco city tour, you will be driven back to your hotel.
After breakfast, your Guide will take you to the Cusco airport in time for your flight to Lima. Upon arrival in Lima, you will be assisted at the airport for your international flight departure.
On board, the Stella Maris has a profesional and experienced crew who work hard and with high enthusiasm to make our clients travel experience the best. At the office, our sales and reservations staff answers our clients questions in a timely fashion with efficiency and personal service.