Peru: Lima, the Sacred Valley & the Inca Trail

Travel from Lima to Cusco and hike the Inca Trail in style on this active discovery of Peru. Explore the neighbourhoods of Miraflores and Barranco by bike in Lima and get your first taste of the delicious local cuisine. See ancient ruins and experience traditional cultures in the Sacred Valley before setting off on the four-day trek, with extra comforts like cots, mattresses and blankets for a better rest. Stay in less crowded campsites with portable toilets and a shower, giving you that extra pep in your step for when you finally walk through the Sun Gate to glimpse Machu Picchu for the very first time.

Day 1 Lima: Appetite for Adventure
Take in a lungful of ocean air on arrival to Lima and keep your eyes out for surfers riding the waves as you follow the coastal highway to your hotel. The district of Miraflores is bustling with trendy restaurants, bars and shops in all directions and there are great views of the ocean from the cliffside boardwalk, or malecón. We welcome you to Lima, and invite you to bring your appetite for incredible food and adventure that awaits you in Peru.

Day 2 Lima: Cycle Miraflores and Barranco
The neighbourhoods of Lima and Barranco may be right next to each other but they feel quite different. Fashionable Miraflores contrasts with the more bohemian Barranco in the most wonderful of ways as the bustling commercial area gives way to quaint cafés, art galleries and historic buildings. Both lie on the coast which offer amazing views over the Pacific Ocean and of Lima's sprawling coastline.

Day 3 Cusco: The Land of the Incas
Watch the ocean disappear in the horizon as you head high up in the sky towards the Andes where magic awaits in Cusco. Feel the energy and see the mix of Spanish colonial architecture with ancient Inca stonework all around you. Take it slow as you begin to explore in order to get the most out of the city and to acclimatize to the altitude.

Day 4 The Sacred Valley: Pisaq Ruins and Cultural Traditions
The Sacred Valley is aptly named for its importance to the people who have lived there and it is also stunningly beautiful with mountain scenery and colourful farmland along the Urubamba River. You'll see the massive ruins of Pisaq perched up above the town as you approach and you'll get to spend time with a local community on the way up to the site. Lunch is an experience unto itself at a community-run restaurant, using locally-grown ingredients for a delicious and traditional meal.

Day 5 The Sacred Valley: Your OMG Day
Sitting at a slightly lower altitude than Cusco, spending time in the Sacred Valley helps to get you used the altitude in these parts. Choose from a scenic acclimatization hike to a waterfall or get the adrenaline flowing by scaling a via ferrata network of rungs and ladders for lunch with a view. Back at the hotel, feast on a traditional pachamanca meal consisting of various types of meat, potatoes and vegetables cooked for hours in the ground under hot stones.

Day 6 Inca Trail day 1: Setting Off
The Inca Trail has become one of the most well-known treks in the world and with good reason. Hiking past ancient ruins through incredible mountain scenery and to finally arrive to Machu Picchu through the Sun Gate is a once-in-a-lifetime experience and a very satisfying accomplishment. Start the first day of the trek at a gentle pace to warm your legs up for the days to come, allowing yourself to take in the views of the valley and river below.

Day 7 Inca Trail day 2: Ascent
Awake at the mountain campsite and enjoy a cup of tea and a warm shower without any need to rush up the mountain. The morning mist and the joviality amongst the porters make for a homely atmosphere as you get ready for the day and prepare your things to walk.

Day 8 Inca Trail day 3: Dead Woman's Pass
Open your tent to the cool air and see some warm washing water and a cup of tea waiting for you. You'll get wafts of something delicious being cooked and the increasing murmur of the cooks and porters going about their morning. Savour the moment and be present to your surroundings. Dead Woman's Pass is nothing you can't handle today.

Day 9 Inca Trail Day 4: The Sun Gate and Machu Picchu
Wake up next to beautiful Inca ruins known as the "town above the clouds" and take the time to enjoy them without many others in the morning hours. Pack away some of the extra layers as you prepare to descend into cloud forest and with the anticipation of finally reaching the ultimate goal, Machu Picchu.

Day 10 Cusco: Discover Machu Picchu
Exploring the mountaintop Inca citadel of Machu Picchu is a magical experience, no matter how many pictures you may have seen of it. The history of the ancient Inca that you've heard in the days leading up to this moment seem to all come together as you wander the site's temples and terraces. Relive the memories and take in the views as you return by train on the way back to Cusco.

Day 11 Cusco
Your adventure comes to an end, and you can depart at any time.