Welcome to
PERU
An immersive & thoughtful view of the Sacred Valley & Cusco
At a glance
Duration:
9 days
Group size:
2-10 travelers
Season:
Year round
Location:
Cuzco, Ollantaytambo, Aguas Calientes, Machu Picchu, Pisac & more.
Cost:
Starting at $3,200 per person
Theme:
A well-rounded itinerary that blends culture, history, a bit of hiking, great food, incredible accommodations and our favorite ingredient - amazing locals who will share their perspective on what it’s like to call Peru home and make you feel oh-so welcomed!
Inclusions
Luxury boutique accommodations
Airport Meet & Greet with private transfers
Local, English-speaking trip leader
Most meals
Fully customizable
Entrance fees for all experiences and sites
All ground transportation, train & private car
Team of local guides
All taxes & gratuity
We accommodate all dietary preferences
Culture curious
Immersive travel creates opportunity to engage, learn and shift perspectives. With passionate guides sharing stories, the traditions of the past and today come to life. Visit sites to witness firsthand the magic and mysticism found in these scared places. Come with curiosity and leave with understanding and appreciation.
Aesthetic admirer
The carefully selected boutique properties included in this itinerary as not only locally owned and operated, but they are simple gorgeous! Each is a chance to admire the unique art, and beauty of its surrounding, and celebrates the culture through art, design, and beautifully crafted furnishings.
Local lovers
Every host, expert guide, weaver, caballero, chef, restauranter, farmer, and hotelier proudly call Peru home and welcome their guests with genuine hospitality! Together host & guest co-create a beautiful exchange. This is what a truly immersive experience looks like.
Nature seekers
Star gazing in the night sky all the way to Milky Way. From gentle hills to challenging treks, each of the walks, paths, trails and hikes in this aptly named valley will be ones you'll remember forever. The magic and mysticism of the land can be felt in every corner of the natural world here - go outside and breathe it in!
Travel Like It Matters
This trip includes at least 26 individual touchpoints that directly support small, independent, locally owned and operated businesses and entrepreneurs. We carefully create partnerships that provide direct benefit to the local community, and offer tips for travelers looking to make a positive impact. Ask our team for more information.
Highlights
Resting in quintessential New England charm, at a historic bed & breakfast
Daily opportunities to walk, and re-walk ancient scared sites
In home Peruvian cooking class
Soak in natural hot springs after a day of world class, unforgettable hiking
Local guides and tour leader
Visit the mysterious Saqsaywaman—complex whose precise stonemasonry shows the genius of early Incan architects.
Sustainable, impactful and ethical travel
Easy travel planning for a seamless trip, and access to the very best local ingredients!
Visit 500-year-old salt mines
Visit a local women's collective for a demonstration of traditional weaving and dyes
Visit the cobblestoned village of Pisac to visit to the world-renowned Mercado Artesana
First Class Expedition Train along the Urubamba River to Aguas Calientes
Guided tour with expert at the UNESCO Machu Picchu site, with ample time for meditation and appreciation
Memories to cherish for a lifetime!
"This trip was one of my favorites to date. The accommodations are great & the views are breathtaking. Thank you for planning such an amazing trip"
Melissa, on her trip to Peru
Day by Day
Day 1 - Arrive in Cusco
Peru is a trip of a lifetime kind of place.
Touch down in Cusco, grab your gear and meet your private driver, who will bring you to the gorgeous Hotel Pakaritampu! Once you’ve settled into your room, you’ll meet our local guide! She will be with you throughout the journey as your local guide, expert, and likely a new friend you'll never forget! After, we’ll all indulge in some Peruvian cuisine and peek at the stars that light up the sky in the Scared Valley!
Meals Included: Dinner
Day 2- Ollantaytambo
This morning you'll wake up in the quiet mystery of the Sacred Valley, and today is all about going where your spirit is called. Walk through the ruins just steps outside! A fortress among the village acted as a gateway to the Amazon region of the Incan Empire.
Next, it's Salineras de Mara. (Fun fact: these 500-year-old salt mines were formed by creating pans or terraces to collect the spring water that flows through salt deposits from prehistoric lakes within the mountain). This pink-hued salt is some of the best in the world! Once we’ve sampled some salt, we’ll head to another sacred spot after traditional (and hearty) lunch! Tonight, enjoy free time in Ollantaytambo.
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch
Day 3 - Ollantaytambo
Connect with locals at a rural women’s weaving collective, operating with support from a local non-profit. Visits like yours help women to keep their traditional art thriving, and the non-profit helps provide an avenue for non-tourism related income. You’ll witness a demonstration of the weaving process behind those intricate Alpaca ponchos you’ve been eyeing!
Tonight. be welcomed to their hearth and home of another group of women to whip up— and enjoying some authentic Peruvian staples for a tasty insight into the culture.
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
*CTC does not require commission on sales from the artisans we will visit (this is common practice in travel & tourism). We compensate the local artisans for their time, and for sharing their knowledge. If you feel inclined to make a purchase, we kindly ask that no haggling take place.
Day 4 - Sacred Valley
Today you’ll determine your own adventure! Perhaps take a horseback riding excursion* through the valley, join a half river rafting tour* or tackle a nearby hiking trail. Maybe you want to use the afternoon to relax in the splendor that is the Scared Valley! The choice is totally up to you.
*For those looking to hike the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu, this optional add-on departs bright and early from the rail station to hit the trail after sunrise. Your guide for the trail will bring you along the route for spectacular views, waterfalls, and ruins. Stop along the way to eat lunch. (Name a cooler place for a picnic than the Inca Trail?! We’ll wait…) Then it’s off to the Sun Gate and your first (breathtaking) look at Machu Picchu!
In the late afternoon, board the expedition train for a super scenic ride along the Urubamba River before arriving in Aguas Calientes— where the hot springs are pure post-hike bliss!
Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner
Day 5 - Machu Picchu
It’s an early wake-up call for our transport because there’s Machu Picchu, and then there’s Machu Picchu at dawn— and the sight is so powerful, it will make you understand why the Inca spent half a century building temples devoted to their sun god. After an entire morning at the site.... so don’t rush tearing yourself away from the view .... with a full heart, and wobbly knees, say goodbye to Machu Picchu and head back to Aguas Calientes for some lunch and relaxation time.
Later, catch the expedition train for another stunning panoramic ride, this time to Urubamba, and another opportunity for spectacular stargazing.
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Day 6 - Pisac & Cusco
Enjoy an easy morning in Urubamba, take a yoga class or head over to a local hike ending at a gorgeous waterfall! Later stop at a local Chicheria, something few tourists get to experience! Next up, the cobblestoned village of Pisac to visit to the world-renowned Mercado Artesanal.
Get lost in the colorful kaleidoscope of stalls displaying handwoven garments and chullos, and meticulously crafted pottery and dishware. Chat with the good-natured sellers and hear their stories— these are the people who bring the market to life!
Then it’s off to Cusco! The heart of the Inca Empire! Once you’ve checked in and freshened up, we’ll all meet up for dinner!
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 7 - Cusco
Rise and shine! Start the day with a visit to the mysterious Saqsaywaman— an ancient complex exhibiting the precise stonemasonry and genius of early Incan architects.
Next head into the center of Cusco for a tour, including the local market where sellers offer foods, and crafts from all over the region. If you are wanting to stock up on your favorite herbs or spices, this is a great spot for it! The afternoon is yours for some independent exploration— or relaxation! — before the evening’s festivities. Come golden hour, you’ll be sipping Pisco Sour or maybe a Cusqueña watching the sun set over the city from the best vistas. Spend the evening among the sights, sounds, and vibrant energy of barrio San Blas.
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch & Cocktails
Day 8 - Cusco
Today is your final day in Peru (this time at least)! Maybe you wanted to unwind at the spa or check back with your favorite market vendor with the pottery you can’t get out of your mind. Or perhaps you haven’t quite scratched your adventure itch and want to book an optional hike* to the famous Rainbow Mountain. Tonight celebrate friendships forged in mystical places, mountains climbed, and stories shared, and express our sincerest gratitude to our Peruvian hosts for sharing their homeland.
Meals included: Breakfast, Dinner
**additional cost applies
Day 9 - Cusco
It’s time to bid our friends and Peru farewell.
You’ll enjoy breakfast at the hotel, before meeting your private transport to the airport at Cusco.
Meals included: Breakfast