Day 1 – Lima, Peru

Arrive in Lima, and transfer to your hotel in the beachfront Miraflores district. After time to get settled, gather with your trip leader and fellow travelers for a welcome briefing and dinner. (D)

Day 2 – Lima

Pay a visit to the Larco Museum, a lovely colonial mansion that harbors a world-renowned collection of pre-Columbian ceramics and art. Learn how to prepare Peru’s national dish during a ceviche-making demonstration at the museum's garden restaurant, then join a museum curator for a private tour of its impressive exhibitions, and hear the stories behind notable artifacts. During free time this afternoon, relax at the hotel or join your trip leader for a walk along the Malecón de Miraflores to Love Park and to La Marina Lighthouse overlooking the Pacific Ocean.  In the evening, head to the hotel’s rooftop terrace for a pisco sour happy hour before dinner on your own. (B,L)

Walking: 2-3 hours, museum tour and afternoon walking tour, mostly flat.

Day 3 – Cusco / Sacred Valley

Rise early for your flight to Cusco, the oldest continuously inhabited city in South America, set high in the Andes mountains. Descend into the Sacred Valley and stop for a picnic lunch next to a lagoon, taking in stunning views of lush mountains in every direction. Continue to the village of Chinchero, a hub of traditional weaving that is home to extensive Inca terraces and ruins. Explore them with a local guide this afternoon. Arrive at your hotel on the valley floor this afternoon and settle into your room. During a traditional welcome ceremony conducted by a shaman, learn about the sacred rituals of the indigenous people of the Andes.  Gather for a group dinner tonight. (B,L,D)

Fly to Cusco with time to acclimatize to higher elevations in the region (10,000-12,000 feet).  Short afternoon walking tour in Chinchero. 

Day 4 – Sacred Valley

Spend a full day discovering the incomparable Sacred Valley, a which follows the Urubamba River between steep, verdant slopes. Attracted in part by its fertile land, the Inca made their base here, establishing Cusco as their capital and building villages, agricultural centers, and fortresses all along the 62-mile valley. Begin the day on the slopes above Pisac, a vibrant market town at the eastern end of the valley. Walk the trails through ruins, terraces, and ancient stairways constructed by the Inca, then head down to explore the markets below. In Pisac’s Plaza de Armas, meander among market stalls where textiles, handicrafts, and local produce are colorfully displayed.

A short drive down the road brings you to a community-run restaurant for a typical Peruvian lunch. Then enjoy a scenic drive to Ollantaytambo at the western end of the valley. Explore the dramatic ruins of a temple-fortress that climb the slopes on either side of town, and see evidence of the Incas’ remarkable city planning.  Back at the hotel this evening, gaze at the night sky at the on-site planetarium before a traditional pachamanca meal, cooked in an earthen pit beneath hot stones. (B,L,D)

Hiking: Pisac Ruins, 1-2 miles ,rocky, montainous trail; 100 feet of elevation gain.

Walking: Ollantaytambo ruins, 1-2 miles, stone walkways with many steps.

Day 5 – Aguas Calientes / Machu Picchu

Return to Ollantaytambo to catch the morning train toward Machu Picchu. Here you have a choice: continue by train to the village of Aguas Calientes, nestled in the cloud forest, and enjoy lunch before taking the bus up the mountain for your first visit to Machu Picchu. Explore various sections of the citadel with your guide, then return to Aguas Calientes and opt to visit local hot springs (at additional cost).

Alternatively, disembark the train at the Kilometer 104 marker and hike the remainder of the journey on the historic Inca Trail. The full-day hike climbs steadily into the mountains, passing lesser-known Inca sites such as of Wiñaywayna and offering gorgeous vistas at every turn. Arrive at the Sun Gate, where you’ll catch a first glimpse of Machu Picchu before finishing the last leg of this legendary trail. Descend by bus to Aguas Calientes and meet the rest of the group for dinner. (B,D)

Option 1: Inca Trail Trekking: 5 miles, challenging mountain trail, 6 to 7 hours over stone steps and rocky trail with several ascents at altitude; 2,000 feet of elevation gain.   

Option 2: Machu Picchu visit by train: 1-2 miles, stone walkways with many steps.

Day 6 – Machu Picchu / Cusco

After breakfast, ride the bus back up the mountain for a second visit to Machu Picchu with your expert guide. During today’s visit, you’ll explore the sacred site more in depth, learning about the spiritual significance of the sites and getting a closer look at the Inca’s astonishing stone masonry. Enjoy unparalleled views of the citadel and monuments of Machu Picchu from different viewpoints. Following your visit, sit down to lunch at the Sanctuary Lodge, located next to the ruins. Return to Aguas Calientes by bus and board an afternoon train to Ollantaytambo. Continue through the Sacred Valley by coach, taking in the stunning views on the drive back to Cusco. Check in to your hotel and enjoy an evening at leisure. (B,L)

Walking: 1-2 miles, stone walkways with many steps

Day 7 – Cusco

Hit the trail or head to the kitchen on your choice of excursion this morning. Those who choose to hike will begin with a tour of Sacsayhuaman, a 15th-century Inca fortress overlooking Cusco that boasts some of the best examples of the Inca’s stone building techniques. Continue uphill by vehicle to the Temple of the Moon, which affords incredible views of the city below. Then follow ancient Inca trails to hike back towards the city, passing Inca ruins and stopping for a picnic in a scenic spot. Or choose to delve into the bustling market of San Pedro to select fresh produce before taking a cooking class with a local chef. You’ll learn to prepare Peruvian favorites such as causa and lomo saltado. Then sit down to feast on the dishes you’ve created. The remainder of the afternoon is yours to explore Cusco as you wish. Tonight, meet up with the group for dinner at one of the city’s excellent restaurants. (B,L,D)

Hiking (optional): 4 miles, mostly downhill mountain trails; 1,200 feet of descent.

Day 8 – Cusco / Lima

Join an archaeologist for a morning tour of the Machu Picchu Museum, set with the colonial Casa Concha. Peruse the world’s largest collection of artifacts recovered during the various excavations of Machu Picchu—returned to Peru from Yale in 2011, a century after the site was rediscovered by explorer Hiram Bingham. Among the fascinating items on display are artifacts found during the restoration of Casa Concha. Transfer to the airport for your flight back to Lima, where you’ll have a free afternoon. In the evening, tour the Huaca Pucllana, a pre-Inca clay complex and pyramid that rises up in the middle of the Miraflores neighborhood. Then cap off your adventure in the land of the Inca with a farewell dinner next to the site. (B,D)

Walking:  2-3 hours, museum tour and evening ruins tour, mostly flat.

Day 9 – Return Home

After breakfast, transfer to the Lima airport for your flight home. (B)