PERU, THROUGH LOCAL EYES
About this journey
Some of the most lasting impressions of Peru begin with a conversation: a weaver explaining a pattern, an artisan sharing their craft, a family welcoming you to their table. This private journey follows those connections from Lima to the shores of Lake Titicaca. Explore the Sacred Valley, Machu Picchu and Cusco, with time along the way for regional flavours, everyday rituals and the people whose stories give each place its character. Thoughtfully paced and guided by local knowledge, it is a chance to discover a more personal Peru.
Itinerary
Your first moments in Peru
Lima, stories & flavours
Lima reveals itself through grand historic façades, lively streets and a culinary culture shaped by many influences. Explore the historic centre with your guide before continuing to Miraflores and Barranco, where art, neighbourhood life and coastal light lend the city a different character. Lunch offers a first taste of Peru's rich pantry and the stories behind its flavours.
A gentler rhythm in the Sacred Valley
Fly from Lima to Cusco, where your guide welcomes you before continuing by private transport into the Sacred Valley. Along the way, mountain slopes give way to cultivated fields and villages beside the Urubamba River. Settle into your hotel and enjoy a quiet afternoon, with time to adjust to the altitude, rest and take in the landscape that will surround you for the next three nights.
Misminay, a connection to the land
Explore the circular terraces of Moray and the salt pans of Maras, two landscapes shaped by generations of knowledge and work. Continue to Misminay, where community hosts welcome you into their world. Through shared activities and conversation, you learn how daily life remains tied to the land and the changing seasons. A lunch prepared with local ingredients gathers everyone around the table, with time to exchange stories and see the valley through your hosts' eyes.
The stories held in a thread
Spend the morning in Chinchero, beginning at its archaeological complex, where Inca terraces and foundations rise above the Andean plateau. Visit the village's colonial church and wander its streets, where Andean heritage remains part of everyday life. Then meet the local weavers who carry their knowledge across generations. Follow wool through its transformation, from natural dyes to colour and pattern, and discover the stories held within each textile. With time to observe, ask questions and take part, the craft comes into closer view. After lunch in the valley, return to your hotel for a free afternoon of gardens, mountain views or simply the pleasure of being still.
Along the Urubamba, to Machu Picchu
Travel to Ollantaytambo to board your morning train to Machu Picchu Pueblo. Following the Urubamba River, the railway carries you between steep mountains as the landscape grows greener. On arrival, leave your overnight belongings at the hotel before continuing by bus to Machu Picchu. With your guide, discover the terraces, finely worked stone and architecture that give this mountain sanctuary its remarkable character. Afterwards, return to the village for an evening at leisure, close to everything.
Through the valley, towards Cusco
After breakfast, board your morning train back to Ollantaytambo, with another view of the river and mountains. Your private transport then continues through the Sacred Valley towards Cusco, with local snacks along the way. Pause at Awanakancha to meet Andean camelids and learn how their fibres connect to the region's textile traditions. Arrive in Cusco in time for a leisurely late lunch at a restaurant of your choice, then settle into your hotel. The rest of the afternoon is yours to rest or take a first stroll through the city.
Cusco, its heritage & its people
Today Cusco's history is present in its walls, while its character unfolds in the everyday life of its streets. With your guide, explore the city's Inca and colonial heritage. Begin at Sacsayhuamán, the monumental Inca citadel watching over the city, then descend to Qorikancha, the Inca Temple of the Sun, and the Cathedral on the Plaza de Armas. Then wander through San Blas and San Pedro Market, where produce, familiar flavours and daily exchanges show another side of the city. A meeting with a local artisan brings you closer to the patience, knowledge and individual expression behind their work.
Across the Andes, towards Titicaca
Journey from Cusco to Puno along the Ruta del Sol, through valleys that gradually open into the wide horizons of the altiplano. The painted interiors of Andahuaylillas and the Inca remains of Raqchi reveal different chapters of the region's history. Pause at La Raya to take in the mountain landscape, then continue towards Pukará and its ancient heritage. Lunch is enjoyed along the route before you arrive in Puno, your base on the shores of Lake Titicaca.
Amantaní, a welcome on the lake
Leave Puno behind and set out across Lake Titicaca, where wide skies meet the still blue of the highlands. Your first encounter is with a community on the floating islands of Uros, offering an insight into the ingenuity of life built on islands of totora reeds. Continue to Amantaní, where your host family welcomes you with a home-cooked lunch. In the afternoon, follow island paths past cultivated terraces and quiet homes, with time to take in the lake views and learn about daily life through conversation with your guide and hosts. Dinner brings you back around the family table before a peaceful night on the island.
Taquile, a language of textiles
Share breakfast with your hosts before saying farewell and sailing towards Taquile. Paths lead between stone walls and terraced fields, opening onto sweeping views of Lake Titicaca. With your guide, discover how the island's textile traditions express identity, belonging and skills passed between generations. Colours and patterns take on new meaning as you learn their place in community life. Enjoy lunch on the island before returning by boat to Puno, where the evening is yours to unwind.
Farewell to the Altiplano
Your journey ends with a transfer to Juliaca Airport for your departure, whether to return home or to begin the extension you choose. Optionally, and depending on your flight time, you can visit Sillustani on the way, where funerary towers rise above the shores of Lake Umayo, a final encounter with the history and landscape of the highlands. You leave carrying with you the places, conversations and small moments that have shaped your journey.
Included / not included
INCLUDED
- Handpicked stays in Lima, the Sacred Valley, Machu Picchu Pueblo, Cusco and Puno, with daily breakfast.
- Private transportation & transfers throughout the journey, including airport and train station transfers as required.
- Specialized local guides sharing the history, landscapes and living cultures of Peru.
- All entrance fees for the visits and protected areas included in your itinerary.
- Scenic train journey along the Urubamba River to Machu Picchu Pueblo, with a guided visit to Machu Picchu.
- Meaningful encounters with local weavers, community families and artisans in Chinchero, Misminay and Cusco.
- Scenic overland journey along the Ruta del Sol, from Cusco across the Altiplano towards Lake Titicaca.
- Lake Titicaca boat journey, including the Uros floating islands, Taquile and a night with a host family on Amantaní.
- Selected cultural and culinary experiences & meals as featured in the itinerary.
NOT INCLUDED
- International and domestic flights, unless otherwise specified in your proposal.
- Meals not featured in the itinerary.
- Optional experiences and extensions.
- Late check-out and additional hotel services.
- Gratuities.
- Travel insurance.
HAND PICKED HOTELS
Choose a stop on the journey to see the accommodation available. Warm hospitality, elegance and an unbeatable location; if you have a place in mind that you don’t see here, we’ll book it for you anywhere in Peru.
