Peru – Private Machu Picchu & Peruvian Gastronomy Tour

Upon arrival at Lima, our local guide will meet you at the airport for a private transfer to your hotel. The day is yours to relax and explore as you like, depending on your arrival time. Tonight, we’ve taken care of the dinner details with a fabulous culinary dining experience! Learn about the country’s gastronomy, thus setting you up for the best experience throughout your tour. Our local expert will take you to one of our long-time favorite restaurants specializing in traditional Peruvian cuisine. The chef will prepare three dishes representative of Peruvian cuisine, with a comprehensive explanation of the ingredients and step-by-step preparation of each dishes. Finally, the dishes will be carefully plated for you to enjoy!

Meals: dinner
Highlights: gastronomic dining experience
Overnight: Lima, elevation 5,090′

Our day starts with a transfer to the airport for your flight to Cusco! Upon arrival, our local guide will greet you and take you to your hotel. Cusco sits at a higher elevation, so today is meant to be fun yet low-key. Peru produces some of the best cacao i nth world, so there’s no better place to take a chocolate-making class than here! During our class, you will get to prepare a wide range of chocolates with a choice of up to 15 local flavors, such as Andean mint and chilli. Learn about the entire process, starting with the harvesting and roasting of the beans to the refining of the chocolate into a paste. Finally, you will end your experience with the finest cup of hot chocolate you have ever had, a treat that is popular in Peru – especially during the holiday season! The rest of the day is yours to relax or explore on your own.

Meals: breakfast & chocolate
Highlights: artisan Peruvian chocolate-making experience
Overnight: Cusco, elevation 11,152′

Today we visit the Sacred Valley’s Maras & Moray. Our mountain biking day is suitable for all types of riders of any age, with a series of fairly easy sections that take us through our day. Starting in Chinchero (elevation 12,343 ft,) we’ll slowly descend in elevation, passing by small villages with wonderful sweeping views of the high Andean plains and surrounding mountains. Highlights include the Inca ruin of Moray, known for it’s concentric circular terraces; the town of Maras, known for its plentiful blue doors; visits with local artisans and chicha, the local drink made from fermented corn; the picturesque UNESCO-designated salt flats of Maras; and lastly, Tarabamba Bridge, the last Inca suspended bridge in the world! A transfer returns you back to your hotel for a relaxing evening.

Those not wanting to bike can opt for a half-day (~5 hrs) ATV visit. Please inquire for details.

Meals: breakfast & box lunch
Distance: 35 km / 22 mi, ~6 hrs
Highlights: Maras & Moray ruins & salt flats
Overnight: Cusco, elevation 11,150′

This morning starts with a meet and greet with the chef that will be hosting you for today’s private culinary experience. Then, you will visit the colorful and bustling market in San Pedro, Cusco. This is one of the best markets in Cusco, with the widest variety of fruits & vegetables, meats, and handicrafts. Learn about the different ingredients and uses, while strategizing the day’s menu. The next stop is the restaurant, where you will learn to cook and prepare a local, seasonal, traditional Andean dish. Lastly, you will get to eat this delicious meal that you prepared! The remainder of the afternoon is free for you to rest or explore Cusco’s historic city center on your own.

Meals: breakfast & lunch
Cooking Class Duration: 4-5 hrs
Highlights: interactive market & cooking experience
Overnight: Cusco, elevation 11,150′

This morning we set off towards the Sacred Valley and its cute and colorful traditional villages and famous Inca archaeological sites. As we descend to the valley floor, you will be alongside the sacred Urubamba River and the village of Pisac. In Pisac, we will make a quick stop at an artisan’s market, before heading up to visit the ruins. Here, you will have a privately guided tour of the ruins, learning about the various temples, carvings, and altars, and the purposes they once served.

Next, we will head towards Urubamba and stop at the archaeological site of Ollantaytambo. This site, home to a royal Inca emperor, has magnificent ruins, including the Temple of the Sun and its expertly carved stonework. You will also see impressive examples of the agriculture and irrigation systems that the Inca had in place. The next stop is colorful Chinchero, where we’ll pay a short visit to its famous church and the massive Inca stone wall in the main plaza. Surrounded by snowcapped mountains, this town is quite idyllic!

Meals: breakfast
Highlights: visits to Sacred Valley archaeological sites & colorful villages
Overnight: Sacred Valley, 9,420′

This morning we leave bright and early! We will take you to the train station to board the train for your 2 hour journey to Aguas Calientes (on your own.) The trip is incredibly scenic and a highlight of the trip as you pass by beautiful landscapes of rivers, rolling hills, and canyons. Upon arrival, you’ll be met by our local representative, and then take a bus that zig-zags its way up the road to Machu Picchu for your privately guided visit of this extensive archaeological complex. The guided visit lasts about 2 hours and includes key locations such as House of the Guardian, Intihuatana, Temple of the Sun, Sacred Plaza, and more! Once we have finished our incredible experience at Machu Picchu, we will take the bus back down to Aguas Calientes for some relaxation tie. Aguas Calientes is surrounded by thermal hot springs, so if you like, you can take some time to visit the steaming spring and take a dip! (~ $8.) Or, visit the town and its colorful markets, full of handmade Peruvian artisan goods.

Meals: breakfast
Highlights: Machu Picchu & Aguas Caliente
Overnight: Aguas Calientes (AKA Machu Picchu Pueblo), elevation 6,693′

This morning is a free day and you have 3 options:

1.) Take the day to relax and enjoy the hot springs of Agua Calientes.
2.) Pre-book an early morning visit to Machu Picchu to enjoy sunrise over the mountains and citadel.
3.) Return to the complex to hike Huayna Picchu, a scenic trail that is a bucket list trail for many! This hiking trail takes you to the top of Huayna Picchu (the iconic mountain behind Machu Picchu), and at the summit you get to see original Inca buildings and epic panoramic views. This is one of the best photo-opps of Machu Picchu! Nicknamed the “Machu Picchu Stairs of Death,” this 2 hour self-guided hike is actually quite safe.

Cost:
– Local Hot springs: ~$10 per person
– Entrance & permit for entrance to Machu Picchu: ~$100 per person (Entrance Fee & Bus Tickets)
– Entrance & permit for Huayna Picchu: $120 per person (Entrance Fee & Bus Tickets)

This afternoon, you will again board the Vistadome train back to Cusco, where the night is yours to relax and reflect on the incredible sights you have seen!

Meals: breakfast
Overnight: Cusco, elevation 11,150′

After breakfast, you will have a private transfer (~25 min) to Cusco Airport for your flight back to Lima. From there, continue your travels or return home.

Meals: breakfast