Peru: The Sacred Valley and Machu Picchu

The Sacred Valley is home to several sleepy Andean villages, agricultural terraces that climb the steep valley walls, rushing rivers and ancient Inca ruins. 

On the way from Cusco airport to the Sol y Luna hotel, visit Sacsayhuaman, the largest of the four sites on the fringes of the city. The site was a key Inca military base and the site of a brutal battle with the Spaniards in 1536. Have lunch at a local hacienda (farm), where you will learn how the Incas developed their unique corn variety and how many of their agricultural techniques are still used in Peru today. 

You will stay at the Sol y Luna hotel, our favourite lodge in the Sacred Valley. The 43 cottages are set within lovingly tended gardens filled with flowers and hummingbirds. The outdoor pool gazes over the mountains beyond, and the two restaurants serve organic farm-to-table dishes inspired by Peru’s culinary traditions. There is also an excellent spa with an extensive wellness menu and no end to the adventures we can plan in the Sacred Valley. 

We will include a full day with a private guide to explore some of the most significant historical sites in the valley. Start at Moray, once an Inca agricultural research laboratory. Here the Incas studied temperature variation from one terrace to the next to develop crop varieties. Then continue to the town of Maras, which grew in importance during the 17th Century salt trade. Cross the extensive Maras Pampas where cattle and sheep feed on these verdant pastures with the snow-capped Urubamba mountains presiding in the distance.

Machu Picchu means ‘Old Mountain’ – you cannot fail to be moved by a visit to Machu Picchu and changed in some way. 

Travel on the vistadome train passing stunning views of the Urubamba Valley. Arriving at Aguas Calientes, you will climb up the hillside to experience your first steps into Machu Picchu. Spend half a day exploring for as long as you wish with a guide to help you understand the meaning of the temples and hidden corners. Lunch will be included at a good restaurant within walking distance to give you plenty of time to enjoy the experience of Machu Picchu. 

Spend the night at the charming Inkaterra Machu Picchu Pueblo hotel at the foot of the mountain. The lodge was inspired by an Andean village with tropical gardens frequented by colourful birds.

For those with good fitness, there are a handful of wonderful trails that will take you into the gates of Machu Picchu via a less-travelled route and with spectacular mountain views.

After a hearty Peruvian breakfast, return to Machu Picchu via a mountain trail that winds through the valley (we will discuss the best route according to how challenging you would like the morning to be). This will give you extraordinary views of Machu Picchu from another angle.

In the late afternoon, board the Vistadome train to Cusco, where your car will be waiting to take you to your hotel, Inkaterra La Casona. This charming hotel has not lost touch with its heritage. This 16th Century manor house stands on the training grounds for an elite army of Incas and counts the Spanish Conquistador Diego de Almagro and Simón Bolívar among those who have spent time in these grand rooms. 

During your time in Cusco, you will have a morning private guide to explore the cobblestone streets and get your bearings. Walk to the vibrant San Pedro food market, where locals gather to buy and sell a wide variety of fresh produce, from cheese to chocolate. Also worth a visit is the Koricancha temple. The walls were once plated in sheets of gold and devoted to the Sun God. Finally, end the morning in the bohemian neighbourhood of San Blas, where many of the town’s most prevalent artists live and work.