Meet the farmers and taste the healthy fare at Lima’s weekly organic market. Learn about the growing organic movement in Lima while being introduced to the producers who are making organic fare in Peru a cultural phenomenon.

Discover one of Peru’s acclaimed culinary treasures during our ceviche seminar. Visit the city’s fresh fish market then enter the kitchen for a delicious demonstration of the art of ceviche by one  of the city’s outstanding chefs.

After lunch, we will visit the home and private gallery of one of Peru’s pre-eminent folk art experts at her restored colonial villa in the Barranco neighborhood. Hear stories and share insights from over 40 years of collecting. She shares stories and insights on the deep-rooted folk art traditions of Peru as well as a glimpse of her private collection.

Enjoy an early evening visit to Huaca Pucllana, a 1,500 year-old construction of the original inhabitants of Lima. Dinner at the fabulous on-site restaurant is one of Lima’s nicest dining surprises. (Meals: B, L, D)

Transfer for a morning flight to Cusco. Be met upon arrival by our Sacred Valley driver. Visit the non-profit Center for Traditional Textiles of Cusco and meet our friend Nilda Callanaupa, director of the CTTC. Nilda has been an invited expert at National Geographic and over a dozen prestigious museums and universities around the world speaking on the 2,000 year weaving traditions of Peru.

After a coca leaf tea and a light lunch to help acclimatize to the altitude of 11,000 feet, drive to Chinchero (45 minutes) to meet its master weavers, experience one of the Sacred Valley’s most vibrant indigenous markets as well as some of its best views. After time to explore Chinchero, continue to Urubamba, nestled in the heart of the Sacred Valley. The climate is marvelous with scenery to match. (Meals: B, L)

Lodging for two nights in the Sacred Valley will be at Casa Andina Private Collection or
similarly charming hotel.

Today, Pio, the owner and chef of El Huacatay leads a private gastronomic workshop focused on fresh Andean herbs and regional, seasonal produce.

After a delicious meal that you’ve helped prepare, explore two of the Sacred Valley’s most intriguing places. First visit Moray, home to a series of cascading Incan agricultural terraces, each forming its own micro-climate. After, walk along thousands of crystalline salt pans at Maras and witness salt being collected by hand under the potent sun, much in the same way it has been done for hundreds of years. (Meals: B, L)

Visit the rural Andean hamlet of Chosecani, located around 2 ? hours from Urubamba. Meet Cupertino, Chosecani’s tireless school headmaster. Enjoy a warm welcome from the community and a school-hosted lunch.

Actively engage with teachers and students as you assist in the maintenance and care of an organic vegetable and Andean tuber garden which helps provide Chosecani’s 60 plus elementary students with nutritious, daily meals. Return to Cusco in the early evening. (Meals: B, L)

Lodging for three nights in Cusco is at the Picoaga, a lovingly restored historic property just two blocks from the central Plaza de Armas, or similar. For a preview visit: www.picoagahotel.com

Cusco is typically crowded with tourists from all over the world, and for good reason. It is one of the most beautiful cities of the Americas. Today is dedicated to exploring the city on foot. Delve into the city’s boisterous, fragrant open market to see and taste some of Peru’s exotic fruits and produce. Continue your urban explorations with historical visits including: Santo Domingo, built directly on the Inca stone base of the Koricancha temple (the Temple of the Sun), the Plaza de Armas, the Cathedral, the artists’ neighborhood of San Blas and the monumental ruins of Saqsayhuaman, with stunning views over Cusco. (Meals: B, L)

Early evening: optional visit to a local chichería. These local pubs are extremely rustic, serving chicha, a fermented drink made from corn, along with small plates of food. However, we’re not here to eat, but rather to enjoy a fun game of sapito with the pub’s regulars. Sapito is a game involving heavy metal coins, a wooden box with slots and a shiny metal toad!

Our friend Gabriel Velasquez, a professor of culinary arts in Cusco, takes us on morning visit through Cusco’s open-air market to learn about Peru’s endemic produce and meats, including the protein-rich, endemic grain quinoa. After the market visit, Gabriel leads a participatory cooking workshop at his cozy Cusco home focused on fresh preparations of these traditional Andean grains.

Free Afternoon in Cusco Celebrate together tonight with dinner at one of Cusco’s finest restaurants. (Meals: B, L, D)

Those of us who are extremely fit and interested in a physical challenge board the early morning train from Cusco with Fredy Conde, our Inca Trail and Machu Picchu specialist. We hop off at kilometer #104 for a 6 hour hike along the Inca Trail. Our hiking is rewarded by some incredible Inca ruins, culminating in the descent to Machu Picchu from the Sun Gate in the late afternoon.

The rest of us enjoy a less physically demanding exploration, taking a later train to Aguas Calientes. We have the afternoon to enjoy the splendid natural surroundings of our expansive eco-lodge, the Machu Picchu Pueblo. After lunch in Aguas Calientes, options on the hotel grounds include a tour of the largest orchid garden in South America and the early evening ‘Twilight Walk’, accompanied by a local naturalist interpreter (Meals: B, L, D)

Lodging for one night at the Inkaterra Machu Picchu Hotel, one of South America’s most
stunning lodges, for a preview, see: www.inkaterra.com

We have an early morning, catching the bus to ride up the zigzagging road to Machu Picchu to be amongst the first to arrive at the ruins shortly after sunrise, around 7am. Fredy Conde explains the history of this magical complex and unveils the nature of its most important structures. After, enjoy a few hours on your own to explore secret corners of the site or just meditate and feel the energy of this special place before heading back to Cusco via late afternoon train. (Meals: B, L)

Lodging for one night in Cusco is at the Picoaga, a lovingly restored historic property just two blocks from the central Plaza de Armas, or similar. For a preview visit: www.picoagahotel.com

Transfer to the airport for the one-hour flight to Lima. Enjoy lunch at one of Lima’s best-located restaurants with unmatched views of the Pacific Ocean from its Costa Verde location. This afternoon visit one of Lima’s fine museums or relax in the dayroom reserved for your use.

Transfer this evening to the Lima airport for your overnight flights home. (Meals: B, L)

Amazon Xplorers
Optional Post-Trip Extension

Transfer to the Cusco airport for your morning flight to Puerto Maldonado. Reserva Amazonica will be your base for three days and two nights of immersion in the Peruvian Amazon. You are met by the staff of the eco-lodge upon arrival at the Puerto Maldonado airport and driven to the river port for a 45-minute boat ride to Reserva Amazonica. After a late lunch, it’s time to explore the nearby trail system in the company of the resident naturalist guides. Optional twilight boat ride to observe the changes in the environment as twilight gives way to darkness in the Amazon. (Meals: B, L, D)

Lodging for two nights in double cabañas at the upscale eco-lodge, Reserva Amazonica, for a preview visit: www.inkaterra.com

After an early breakfast, take a short boat trip (6 am) to experience one of the most impressive jungle canopy walks in the world. View endemic flora and fauna with terrific bird watching opportunities, while suspended 150 feet above the forest floor.

After lunch and a forty minute boat ride upriver, you arrive to the Tambopata National Reserve. Walk the 2-mile trail through the wildlife-rich reserve to arrive at the breathtaking Lake Sandoval. Switch to a private paddleboat to observe life in this protected micro-climate.

Amongst the highlights are viewings of capuchin and squirrel monkeys, playful river otters and caymans. Enjoy dinner back at the lodge. (Meals: B, L, D)

Enjoy a last opportunity to reflect upon the scale and natural spectacle of life in the Amazon basin as you return by boat to Puerto Maldonado. Transfer for your flight to Lima.

As you have a few hours to spare before your international flight check-in, we arrange for you to relax and re-charge at the spa of the Costa del Sol hotel adjoining the airport, with towels & robes provided. Relaxed and refreshed, check-in for your overnight flight (Meals: B)

Arequipa
Optional Post-Trip Extension

Transfer to the Cusco airport for a morning flight to Arequipa. Our hotel is not only ideally situated, just three blocks from the central Plaza de Armas; it also holds an important place in the town’s history, housed in the gloriously restored former Casa de la Moneda. Explore Arequipa’s grandiose Plaza de Armas and the labyrinthine Santa Catalina Monastery, considered one of Peru’s most important religious structures.

This afternoon, learn about the high altitude archaeology pioneered by Johan Reinhard at the Museo de Santuarios Andinos and come face-to-face with the famous Ice Maiden of Ampato, whose discovery provided archaeologists with tremendous insights into the diet, textiles and sacrificial rites of the Inca culture. (Meals: B, L)

Lodging for one night in Arequipa is at the elegant, understated Casa Andina Private Collection, housed in a restored national historic monument. For a preview visit www.casa-andina.com

The drive from Arequipa to Colca Canyon is in itself an adventure, especially while climbing to the National Reserve of Aguada Blanca where you may see groups of wild vicuña roaming the pampas.

Detour for an hour or so to see the 8000 year old rock paintings at Sumbay, representing shamans, deer, puma, llama and vicuña. Stop at the region highest pass at 4800 meters (nearly16,000 feet!) before descending through Chivay, passing sculpted pre-Inca agricultural terraces en route. Our destination is the rustic, charming Colca Lodge, which boasts wonderful food and heavenly thermal springs. . (Meals: B, L, D)

Lodging for two nights near Colca Canyon is at the spectacularly situated, Colca Lodge. For a preview visit: www.colca-lodge.com

Rise early for the 90-minute trip to the Cruz del Condor observation point. Marvel at the
majestic grace of these enormous creatures, which soar for hours using the valley’s thermal air currents. Back at the lodge, enjoy one of several optional afternoon activities:

Option A: Take a guided hike along ancient Inca pathways, passing cactus forests and
ravines and en route to the ruins of Uyu Uyu and the village of Yanque.

Option B: Mount-up for a horseback ride taking a similar route as the hikers above.

Option C: Arrange for a professional, therapeutic message at the lodge
Regardless of your afternoon activity of choice, make sure to take time for a relaxing soak in the lodge’s bubbling thermal springs, amongst Peru’s finest. (Meals: B, L, D)

Admire the drama of the Andes on the drive back to Arequipa this morning. Transfer to the Arequipa airport for your afternoon flight to Lima and homeward bound international connection later this evening. (Meals: B, L)

As you will have a few hours before your overnight flights home, we have arranged for you to have use of the spa facilities at the Costa del Sol hotel located on-site at the Lima airport. Towels and robes will be provided. Relax with a wet or dry sauna, Jacuzzi, Spanish shower (high pressure cold water showers for use after the sauna) &/or a dip in their small pool. Refreshed and relaxed,check-in for your international flights home this evening.