Day By Day Itinerary
Day 1 | Arrival in Lima
The Pacific greets you first—that vast, grey-blue expanse that seems to stretch forever. A private transfer to Miraflores, Lima’s most elegant district. The day is yours to rest, to adjust, to feel the salt air. Tonight, dinner introduces you to Peru’s culinary genius—a first taste of what’s to come.
Stay: Belmond Miraflores Park (or similar: JW Marriott Lima, Country Club Lima Hotel)
Day 2 | Lima’s Cultural Layers
Your guide knows where the stories live—colonial architecture rising atop pre-Columbian foundations, the Plaza de Armas where Peru declared its independence, the catacombs of San Francisco Monastery that hold centuries of silence. The Larco Museum in the afternoon: the most complete pre-Hispanic collection of gold, silver, and art that makes you think differently about history.
Stay: Belmond Miraflores Park (or similar: JW Marriott Lima, Country Club Lima Hotel)
Day 3 | Lima to Paracas — The Desert Coast
The Panamericana Sur takes you south, the desert meeting the sea in a collision that feels ancient. Paracas National Reserve: dramatic, wild, the kind of landscape that makes you feel small in the best way. The afternoon is at leisure—perhaps the pool, perhaps the beach, perhaps simply watching the sunset over the Pacific.
Stay: Paracas Luxury Collection Resort (No alternative available)
Day 4 | The Ballestas Islands
A private boat excursion to the Ballestas Islands—sea lions, Humboldt penguins, Inca Terns, and the mysterious Candelabra geoglyph etched into the hillside. This is not a wildlife show; it’s a glimpse into a world that exists independently of ours. The afternoon remains open.
Stay: Paracas Luxury Collection Resort (No alternative available)
Day 5 | Nazca Lines Flight & Onward to Arequipa
A private flight over the Nazca Lines—the spider, the hummingbird, the monkey. These geoglyphs are among archaeology’s greatest enigmas, and from above, you understand why. Afternoon overland through the desert into the Andean foothills, arriving in Arequipa—the White City, built from volcanic sillar stone and framed by the perfect cone of El Misti.
Stay: CIRQA – Relais & Châteaux (The exclusive Arequipa option)
Day 6 | Arequipa’s Colonial Grandeur
Your private guide leads through Arequipa’s architectural treasures: the Plaza de Armas, the 16th-century Santa Catalina Monastery, the Iglesia de la Compañía. From the Mirador de Yanahuara, three volcanoes watch over the city. It’s the kind of view that stays with you.
Stay: CIRQA – Relais & Châteaux (The exclusive Arequipa option)
Day 7 | Arequipa to the Colca Canyon
The journey ascends into the high Andes, crossing the Pampa Cañahuas Reserve where vicuñas roam freely. Arrival in the Colca Valley, where a 17th-century estate offers hot springs and warm hospitality. The air is thin; the views are vast.
Stay: Belmond Las Casitas (or similar: Aranwa Pueblito Encantado del Colca)
Day 8 | The Majesty of the Colca Canyon
Pre-dawn departure to the Cruz del Cóndor. As the sun rises, the Andean condor rides the thermals, wings spanning up to ten feet. The canyon stretches before you—nearly twice the depth of the Grand Canyon, and infinitely less known. This is one of those moments that justifies the entire journey.
Stay: Belmond Las Casitas (or similar: Aranwa Pueblito Encantado del Colca)
Day 9 | Colca to Lake Titicaca
Across the altiplano, through the Salinas and Aguada Blanca National Reserve—flamingos gathering in high-altitude lagoons, herds of llamas grazing against the vast Andean sky. Arrival at the shores of Lake Titicaca, the world’s highest navigable lake. The blue is almost too vivid to believe.
Stay: Titilaka (The only Relais & Châteaux on the lake)
Day 10 | Lake Titicaca, Slowly
A private boat journey across the lake—shaped around your interests, not a script. Perhaps the floating islands of the Uros, where homes are built from totora reeds. Perhaps the textile traditions of Taquile. And time at Titilaka simply to experience the landscape. The hotel itself becomes part of the journey—18 lake-view suites, a private peninsula, the quiet that comes with being on the water.
Stay: Titilaka (The only Relais & Châteaux on the lake)
Day 11 | The Andean Explorer to Cusco
Morning transfer to the station for the Belmond Andean Explorer—South America’s first luxury sleeper train. As the train rolls across the high plains, the La Raya mountain range and the extraordinary Raqch’i archaeological site offer a moving introduction to the Inca world. Arrival in Cusco. This is travel as it used to be: slow, elegant, unforgettable.
The Belmond Andean Explorer operates on specific schedules; this itinerary is built around its actual operating days.
Stay: Palacio del Inka, a Luxury Collection Hotel (or similar: JW Marriott El Convento Cusco, Belmond Monasterio)
Day 12 | Cusco’s Ancient and Colonial Layers
A private Andean cultural specialist reveals Cusco’s layered history: Koricancha, the Temple of the Sun, where Inca stonework supports Spanish arches; Sacsayhuamán, the fortress whose megalithic masonry defies explanation; Q’enqo and Tambomachay, where the Incas read the stars. This is history that still breathes.
Stay: Palacio del Inka, a Luxury Collection Hotel (or similar: JW Marriott El Convento Cusco, Belmond Monasterio)
Day 13 | The Sacred Valley — Living Traditions
A day in the Sacred Valley, shaped around connection. In Chinchero, a private visit with a Quechua family—techniques, symbols, stories woven into textiles and cuisine. The afternoon remains open. Because the best discoveries are often the ones you make yourself.
Stay: Sol y Luna (or similar: Inkaterra Hacienda Urubamba, Tambo del Inka)
Day 14 | The Sanctuary of Machu Picchu
The Belmond Hiram Bingham train—1920s-style luxury, gourmet dining, live music—winds through the Urubamba Valley. An early entry to Machu Picchu, selected for the quieter morning hours. With a master guide, the sanctuary reveals its purpose: each stone, each terrace, each window aligned with the heavens. Time for silence on the terraces. This is the moment you came for.
Entry times are scheduled in advance; we’ll make sure yours is the right one.
Stay: Belmond Sanctuary Lodge (or similar: Sumaq Machu Picchu Hotel, Inkaterra Machu Picchu Pueblo Hotel)
Day 15 | Return to Cusco
Morning at leisure—perhaps a final walk to the citadel entrance, perhaps simply absorbing the view from the lodge. Return to Cusco by train. The afternoon is yours. Perhaps rest. Perhaps last-minute exploration. Perhaps simply sitting in the plaza, watching Cusco life unfold.
Stay: Palacio del Inka, a Luxury Collection Hotel (or similar: JW Marriott El Convento Cusco, Belmond Monasterio)
Day 16 | Departure from Cusco
A private transfer to the airport. But the journey continues in memory—the taste of valley corn, the quality of Andean light, the sound of Quechua words spoken with warmth. Peru has a way of staying with you.
Signature Moments
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Private Ballestas Islands Excursion: Sea lions, penguins, and the mysterious Candelabra
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Private Nazca Lines Flight: The ancient geoglyphs revealed from above
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Colca Canyon’s Condors at Dawn: The world’s largest flying bird at sunrise
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Lake Titicaca, Slowly: A private boat journey shaped around your interests
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The Belmond Andean Explorer: South America’s first luxury sleeper train
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Machu Picchu with a Master Guide: The sanctuary’s secrets revealed at your pace
What Makes This Journey Special
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Comprehensive: From the Pacific coast to the Andean highlands to the sacred lake
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Private, expert-guided access at every destination
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A narrative that moves from mystery to revelation, from wonder to understanding
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The Belmond Andean Explorer: South America’s first luxury sleeper train
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Sixteen days of immersion: Time to truly absorb Peru
Altitude Recovery & Wellness in Cusco
While staying in Cusco, you’ll have access to a full range of altitude recovery and wellness treatments:
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Spa & Hot Tubs: Thermal circuits and hydrotherapy for muscle recovery
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Decompression Boots: Compression therapy to enhance circulation
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IV Therapy: Physician-supervised hydration and nutrient infusion
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Oxygen Therapy: Supplemental oxygen sessions in the comfort of your room
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Hyperbaric Chamber: Advanced cellular recovery and altitude adaptation
All treatments subject to physician assessment and availability.
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