Signature Peru with Lares Trail

On arrival in Lima, please proceed to the arrivals hall where our representative will be waiting for you to transfer you to your hotel. This service includes a driver and local English speaking guide, who will provide you with any useful information needed for your stay. He/she will be holding a sign with your name on it.

Should you not be able to locate them, please refer to the front of your itinerary for emergency contact details of our representative office.

Lima, the capital of Peru, sits on the country's arid Pacific coast. Founded in 1535, its colonial centre is well preserved, but today Lima is a bustling metropolis and one of South America’s largest cities. The city is home to the various museums including the Museo Larco that houses a collection of pre-Columbian art and the Museo de la Nación, tracing the history of Peru’s ancient civilizations. Lima is known as the “gastronomical capital of the Americas”, encompassing specialties from ceviche and traditional coastal cooking to refined global fare. It even boasts several of the top restaurants in the world.

If you have any free days during your stay, we recommend that you take a visit to the Larcomar shopping centre. Located on a cliff with spectacular views of the Pacific Ocean in the heart of Lima's Miraflores district, it is worth the visit. You can either walk from Barranco or have your hotel arrange a taxi for you.

Additionally, Huaccu Pucllana is a massive adobe and clay pyramid built between 200 and 700 AD. It served as an important ceremonial and administrative centre for the advancement of Lima culture, constructed from seven staggered platforms. Take a taxi to this amazing site in Miraflores (closed on Tuesday & Thursdays). You can take a tour upon arrival, or simply admire the structure while sipping a coffee or a pisco sour in the lovely Peruvian restaurant overlooking the site (opening hours are Mon-Sat 12:00pm - 10:00pm and Sun 12:00pm - 8:00pm).

Or if you are interested in history and archaeology, a visit to the one-of-a-kind private Museo Larco could be an unforgettable experience. Discover over 5000 years of ancient Peruvian civilisations and the intimate bond that existed between pre-Columbian societies and the natural world. Open daily, however it is a good idea to check if a guided tour in English is available prior to visiting.

Embark on a 4-hour walking food tour in Lima's Historic Centre. The tour starts with a pick-up from your hotel, and the first stop is the city's most famous 'Plaza San Martin.' After taking in one of Peru's most renowned plazas and capturing a photo opportunity at the Gran Hotel Bolivar, we will head to Lima's very own Chinatown and the city's largest market!

During this food tour, you will have the chance to taste popular on-the-go delicacies that locals savour. While enjoying these flavourful local treats, you’ll learn more about Peru's history and interesting facts surrounding the local informal economy and daily life in Peru.

In the historic centre of Lima, you will observe some of Lima's most emblematic architectural masterpieces of Spanish and Moorish heritage. It will also be a great opportunity for you to people-watch and immerse yourself in a truly joyful local experience – we designed this food tour so that you can feel like a real Peruvian!

Please note: This tour cannot cater to dietary requirements such as allergies, gluten free, vegan, or vegetarian requests. If you have any allergies or dietary requirements, please let your booking agent know and we can suggest another foodie tour or an alternative option.
Note: The preferred schedule for this tour is 11 am, however the tour can start anytime between 11 am and 4 pm and has a duration of 4 hours. If a different start time is preferred, please indicate your preference at the time of booking. The tour requires a minimum of 2 passengers to operate and is not available on Sundays.

You will be collected from your hotel at the appropriate time and transferred to the airport for your onward flight.

On arrival in Cusco, please proceed to the arrivals hall where our representative will be waiting to transfer you to your hotel in the Sacred Valley. He/she will be holding a sign with your name on it. Please note that this service includes a driver only.

Cusco, set at an altitude of 3,400 metres in the Peruvian Andes, was once the capital of the Inca Empire. It is known for its Spanish colonial architecture and Incan remains. Narrow, cobble-stoned streets lined by Inca walls stretch out from the main plaza in every direction. Many of the colonial buildings were built on top of Incan foundations and the stonework is unparalleled in its precision and beauty.

This evening you will be collected from your hotel and dropped off for a pre tour briefing, where you will learn about the plans for your upcoming trek in the Sacred Valley. The briefing is approx. 45 minutes and allows time for any questions you may have about the days ahead.

Begin your journey from the busy streets of Cusco to the Sacred Valley of the Incas, full of lush green fields surrounded by striking mountain peaks. Start your day with either an invigorating hike from the village of Amaru to the community of Viacha, or a visit to the Awanakancha textile centre followed by an exploration of the lively town and colourful artisan marketplace of Pisaq. Midday, both cultural explorers and hikers will reunite in the village of Viacha to learn about traditional Andean farming before a hike or drive to the Pisaq archaeological site for a guided tour.

The day begins with a visit to the small town of Lamay followed by a scenic drive into the heart of the Lares Valley. Your first stop will be Ancasmarca for a guided tour of this seldom-visited archaeological site. Afterwards, choose a visit with the expert textile weavers in the remote village of Choquecancha or a hike amidst turquoise blue lakes and towering peaks to the remote village of Huacahuasi, where both groups meet again to spend the night.

Begin the day with a scenic drive from Huacahuasi to the remote village of Huilloc. From there, choose a morning hike from Huilloc to Pumamarka, or explore the village and nearby sheepherding community of Marcacocha before regrouping for lunch and a midday exploration of the Pumamarka archaeological site.
After lunch, choose to hike from Pumamarka to Ollantaytambo or drive and spend the afternoon exploring Ollantaytambo’s maze-like alleys and passageways.
Note: Afternoon hikers will meet the rest of the group at the hotel upon arrival in the Sacred Valley.

Optional group activity this afternoon – You can visit a locally-sourced Sacred Valley craft brewery (subject to additional costs).

Begin your day with an optional early morning hike to the Inca storage houses high above the town for an impressive view of the Ollantaytambo fortress and ceremonial site. Afterwards, the entire group will meet at the entrance of the site for a guided tour before embarking on a scenic train ride to Aguas Calientes at the base of Machu Picchu. Alternately, opt for an all-day hike from train marker KM 104 to the Machu Picchu Sun Gate on the classic Inca Trail (subject to additional cost).

Your journey to Machu Picchu begins with a rollicking morning uphill bus ride, followed by a guided tour of the Machu Picchu citadel. After the tour you will have free time to explore on your own or hike up Huayna Picchu (additional expense) *, the iconic mountain that looms overhead. After the visit you will have lunch in Aguas Calientes before the return train ride to Ollantaytambo (approximately 1.5 hours) and vehicle transfer to your hotel in Cusco (approximately 1.5 hours).

*Note: Permits for Huayna Picchu are subject to availability and are an additional cost; please advise if you would like to include this experience when you confirm your reservation. In the event that Huayna Picchu permits are not available for your desired date, Machu Picchu Mountain (the second peak within the sanctuary) is an alternative option.

Today, explore the city’s fascinating history, from the Inca times to colonial rule to the present day. Wind through narrow cobble-stoned streets and visit the market of Cusco. Along the way, get the chance to see the colonial buildings. Visit the fascinating Koricancha Temple of the Sun and the Cathedral, built on the ruins of an Inca Palace. From here, head to Sacsayhuaman, a former Inca fortress perched atop the hill above Cusco, it presents a work of impeccable engineering (gigantic carved rocks that fit with absolute precision).

Partial BTG: Valid for 1 day. It grants you entry to Sacsayhuaman, Q’enko, Tambomachay and Puca Pucara OR Pisac, Ollantaytambo, Chinchero & Moray

You will be collected from your hotel at the appropriate time and transferred to the airport for your onward flight.