Peru Essentials

Breakfast at the hotel before leaving Miraflores behind and heading through some of Lima's best-known districts, including San Isidro, where El Olivar Park provides a quieter contrast to the city's busier neighbourhoods. Continue into the historic centre, where colonial architecture, grand plazas, and civic landmarks reflect Lima's importance during the Spanish colonial period. Around Plaza San Martín and Plaza de Armas, you'll see some of the capital's most recognisable sights, including the Cathedral and Government Palace, before visiting the San Francisco Monastery and its catacombs beneath the city streets. The tour concludes at the MALI Museum, where collections range from pre-Columbian artefacts and colonial-era works to pieces by modern Peruvian artists, before returning to Miraflores.

After breakfast, transfer to the airport for your flight to Cusco. Rather than staying in the city, continue directly into the Sacred Valley, where the altitude is lower and the pace noticeably different. The first stop is Chinchero, a village long associated with traditional weaving and home to the remains of the royal estate of Tupac Inca Yupanqui. In the centre of the village, a colonial church stands on Inca foundations, a reminder of how different periods of Peruvian history often overlap in the same place.

Later, visit the community of Tambococha, where local traditions remain part of everyday life. You'll be welcomed with traditional music before sampling coca tea and a simple Cusco favourite of fresh corn and cheese. By late afternoon, continue through the valley to your hotel for the evening.

Sonesta Hotel Posadas del Inca Yucay

Set within a restored 18th-century monastery, Sonesta Hotel Posadas del Inca Yucay feels more like a historic estate than a conventional hotel. Stone archways, colonial courtyards, and extensive gardens reflect the character of the Sacred Valley, while Yucay's quieter setting offers a welcome contrast to the busier towns nearby. Guests can dine at Inkafé Restaurant, enjoy a coffee at La Placita del Café, or unwind with a drink at Wayra Wasi Bar. The property also provides easy access to Ollantaytambo, Chinchero, and other highlights of the Sacred Valley, making it a convenient base between Cusco and Machu Picchu.

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After breakfast, spend the morning exploring Ollantaytambo, one of the most complete surviving examples of an Inca town. The original layout remains largely unchanged, with narrow stone streets, water channels, and centuries-old walls still forming part of daily life. Above the settlement, vast terraces climb the hillside towards the remains of the fortress, with original stone stairways cutting through the terraces and connecting different levels of the site. Near Hanan Huacaypata, rows of houses continue to stand on carved Inca stone foundations, offering a glimpse into how the town was once organised.

The visit also includes time with a local family, where daily life still unfolds against a backdrop of Inca-built streets and walls. Lunch is served at a local restaurant before returning to your hotel.

Breakfast at the hotel before transferring to Ollantaytambo station. The train journey to Aguas Calientes gradually leaves behind the wider landscapes of the Sacred Valley, following the Urubamba River into steeper, more heavily forested surroundings. On arrival, continue by bus up the mountainside to Machu Picchu.

Few places in South America have been studied as extensively, yet Machu Picchu still leaves plenty of unanswered questions. During a guided visit of approximately two hours, explore the terraces, temples, and stone structures that have survived high in the Andes since the 15th century. Afterwards, return to Ollantaytambo by bus and train before the onward journey to Cusco, where centuries-old Inca stonework still forms part of the city's streets and buildings today.

Hotel Cusco La Paccha Affiliated by Meliá

Hotel Cusco La Paccha occupies a convenient position along Avenida El Sol, one of Cusco's main thoroughfares, placing you within walking distance of Plaza de Armas, San Pedro Market, and the city's largest craft market. The property features landscaped gardens, a spa inspired by local traditions, and a restaurant serving Peruvian cuisine. Rooms are contemporary in style, while the location makes it easy to explore both the historic centre and the surrounding neighbourhoods on foot.

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Breakfast at the hotel before exploring Cusco, where Inca and Spanish influences remain closely intertwined. Begin at San Pedro Market, a busy hub filled with stalls selling fruit, spices, and local produce. Continue to Plaza de Armas and the Cathedral before following narrow streets lined with original Inca stonework to Koricancha. Once dedicated to Inti, the Inca sun god, the temple was partially dismantled after the Spanish conquest, with the Church of Santo Domingo later built on its foundations.

The tour also includes San Blas, known for its galleries, workshops, and steep cobbled streets, as well as Siete Borreguitos and a viewpoint overlooking the city. The afternoon is free at leisure.

Breakfast at the hotel. Today is free to spend as you wish, whether that means exploring more of Cusco at your own pace, revisiting favourite spots from the city tour, or simply taking time to relax. Optional excursions can be arranged locally, subject to availability.

Breakfast at the hotel before transferring to the airport for your flight to Lima. Upon arrival, you will be met and transferred to your hotel. The remainder of the day is free at leisure, giving you time to relax after the journey or enjoy the surroundings at your own pace.

Following breakfast, transfer to the airport for your onward flight, concluding a Peru holiday spent exploring Lima, the Sacred Valley, Machu Picchu, and Cusco.