Peru Tour Echoes of the Inca: Peru Culinary & Cultural Tour with Machu Picchu

Welcome to Peru and Lima! Upon arrival, our team will be waiting for you at Lima Airport, holding a sign with your name. Once we meet, we’ll drive you to your hotel and assist you during the check-in process.
During the drive, we’ll be happy to answer any last-minute questions you may have. Depending on your arrival time, we’ll also suggest the best ways to make the most of your first day in the city.
 

Overnight: Casa Republica or similar
Meal Plan: None

After breakfast, we will pick you up at the hotel for a Food Walking Tour in the historic heart of Lima, where you'll embark on an adventure to uncover the city's vibrant history and culinary delights. Your guide will regale you with tales from Lima's past as you stroll through the old streets of this colonial gem. At a little restaurant or huarique, you'll enjoy your first bites, often showcasing fresh local seafood with a touch of Amazonian flair.
As you wander through Lima, your guide will highlight the architecture and share tales about the buildings you encounter. This leads you to the Plaza de Armas, the very spot where Lima was founded in 1535. Here, you'll dive into Peru's national spirit, pisco, paired with local street food blending Spanish techniques with Andean ingredients.
Your adventure ends at a local spot famous for traditional Peruvian desserts and pastries, where you'll treat yourself to classic sweets.
Afterward, you'll head to Barranco, Lima's bohemian district, to taste some of the finest cacao and coffee Peru has to offer. With production now among the best in the world, you'll see why Peruvian coffee and chocolate have earned their place on the global stage as you explore the lively streets of this colorful neighborhood. Finally, your private transport will return you to your hotel.
Note: Please note that food stops and specific dishes may vary depending on seasonality and availability at restaurants, ensuring an authentic and fresh experience each time.
 

Overnight: Lima - Casa Republica or similar
Meal Plan: Breakfast & Dinner

Today you'll be taking a morning flight into the Andes. Upon arriving at Cusco Airport, our team will be waiting to greet you and drive you to the Sacred Valley of the Incas. The perfect place to begin your exploration of Cusco while you acclimatize to the altitude of the Andes.
On our way to your hotel, there will be some unique stops installed for you. First, as you cross the mountains, you'll enjoy some inspiring views of the valley from Taray viewpoint. You'll then stop shortly to explore the picturesque town of Pisac before heading off-beat towards Cuyo Chico.
Here, you'll meet Vicente Rayo from Sonidos del Ande, a unique project dedicated to reviving the use of prehispanic instruments and understanding their purposes. In prehispanic Peru, music was much more than a leisurely activity. Instruments were used for ceremonies, communication purposes and to replicate nature too. We'll join Vicente and his wife for a short walk to a secluded location close to a stream, just below old terraces that belong to Pisac Archaeological site. Here we'll participate in a sound ceremony that, guided by Vicente and his instruments, will take you back to Inca times.
After this fantastic experience, we'll head to Pisac Village, a cozy, colorful village which offers several cafes and small restaurants where you can enjoy a bit of lunch if you wish. You can then explore a little bit more of the village until we are ready we head to the hotel.
 

Overnight: Sacred Valley – Sierra or similar
Meal Plan: Breakfast

In the morning, we will visit the Sacred Valley. Our first stop will be the Maras salt extraction complex, where you will be able to enjoy the site at your own pace and, if you wish, take beautiful photos of the views from the terraces.
At Maras, you'll discover the ancient salt extraction process, practised since pre-Inca times. Over 3,000 pools carved into the mountainside are still harvested by local families using traditional methods passed down through generations. From the viewpoint, you’ll admire the striking geometric patterns of the terraces cascading down the hillside.
After Maras, continue to the Misminay community, a traditional Andean village where local hosts will share their way of life. Learn centuries-old weaving techniques as they transform alpaca and sheep wool into colourful textiles with natural dyes. Then, join a hands-on cooking class, preparing a traditional meal in earth ovens and clay pots before enjoying lunch with your hosts, exchanging stories about daily life in this high-altitude community.
After lunch, take a 20-minute walk through Misminay to a viewpoint overlooking the Moray terraces. From here, you can admire the circular agricultural platforms once used by the Incas to test crops at different altitudes and microclimates. This short hike offers a unique perspective of this remarkable site.
Return to Misminay community before making your way back to your hotel in the Sacred Valley, carrying with you the personal connections made and traditional knowledge shared throughout the day.
 

Overnight: Sacred Valley – Sierra or similar
Meal Plan: Breakfast & Lunch

In the morning, we will visit the hummingbird sanctuary near Urubamba. Nestled in the hills of Yanahuara and surrounded by a forest of Qeñua trees, the gardens attract a variety of colourful hummingbirds. Here you will observe these delicate creatures up close and learn from your guide about their behaviours and characteristics.
Afterwards, continue to Ollantaytambo, a highland village that has preserved much of its original Inca character. Explore the impressive archaeological site, with its large terraces and finely crafted stonework that reflect the engineering brilliance of the Incas. Then, enjoy a stroll through the village, where the streets and houses remain much as they were in Inca times, offering a glimpse of daily life in this continuously inhabited settlement.
For lunch, experience a traditional Andean Pachamanca at a local farm. Using pre-heated stones and leaves to cook underground, this feast of tubers, meat and herbs is both a meal and a cultural tradition passed down through generations.
In the afternoon, take the train from Ollantaytambo to Aguas Calientes, at the foot of Machu Picchu. The 1.5-hour journey along the Urubamba River reveals changing landscapes, from the Sacred Valley to the cloud forests. On arrival, check into your hotel to rest and prepare for the visit to Machu Picchu the next day.
 

Overnight: Machu Picchu - Hatun Inti Boutique or similar
Meal Plan: Breakfast & Lunch

Start your day early in Aguas Calientes, making your way to the bus station for the 25-minute ride up the mountain slope to Machu Picchu. After passing through ticket control, you'll begin your exploration of this 15th-century Inca citadel with your guide. As you walk through the site, you’ll uncover the fascinating history, ingenious engineering and remarkable architecture that make Machu Picchu one of the world’s greatest archaeological treasures.
After your visit, take the bus back down to Aguas Calientes, where you’ll have free time to enjoy lunch and stroll through the village. In the afternoon, board your train back to Ollantaytambo, where private transport will be waiting to take you to your hotel. The rest of the afternoon is yours to relax and enjoy at leisure.
 

Overnight: Cusco - Quinta San Blas or similar
Meal Plan: Breakfast

Start your last day in Cusco with a food experience alongside Seledonia, one of Cusco's most charming local chefs. Your morning begins at San Pedro, a busy market where locals and travelers mix while exploring an endless variety of local produce. The market corridors burst with colors and aromas from fruits and vegetables that come from throughout the Andean and Amazonian regions of Cusco.
Seledonia will guide you through the stalls where you'll have the chance to taste a variety of local products - from unusual fruits such as lucuma, chirimoya, or granadilla to local breads and maybe some cheeses too. She'll share her knowledge about the ingredients and explain how different products are used in traditional Cusco cooking. Together, you'll select fresh ingredients and make some purchases before heading to her restaurant. 
At Seledonia's restaurant, the real tasting begins. She will prepare many small samples of different classic local dishes from Cusco specifically for your group to try. Chef Seledonia masters both traditional local dishes and more refined preparations. The tasting lunch will allow you to experience a wide range of flavours and culinary techniques that reflect the region’s rich gastronomic culture.
In the afternoon, at your own pace, your guide will accompany you to explore the city of Cusco and visit some of its main points of interest.
 

Overnight: Cusco - Quinta San Blas or similar
Meal Plan: Breakfast & Lunch

Make the most of your last day walking around Cusco's plazas and markets and soaking in the city's unique style. After, at the designated time, your private transfer will take you to Cusco's airport, where you will board your flight to Lima and then connect to your journey home. 

 

Overnight: None
Meal Plan: Breakfast