Welcome to the food capital of South America – Lima! Upon arrival you will be escorted to the first arts-boutique hotel in Lima, Hotel B. Situated right in the heart of Lima´s artistic quarter, Hotel B provides an authentic atmosphere allowing you to immerse yourself in the city´s contemporary social and cultural scene. The hotel features a signature restaurant by Oscar Velarde and has an intricate bar with contemporary artwork.

Explore Lima from a different perspective - on foot! Your transport will drop you off at the Plaza San Martin featuring the legendary Hotel Bolivar, the Club Nacional and the Colon Theater. You then wander along Jr. de la Union featuring the ‘Casa Courret’, Lima’s oldest photography studio in an eclectic Art Nouveau style and also ‘Casa Welch’, once considered the Limenian Harrods of the 20th century. Continue your journey as you make your way to Casa de Aliaga, one of Lima’s most historic houses. It has been owned by the family Aliaga and their descendants since Francisco Pizarro granted this ancient temple to one of his followers Jerónimo de Aliaga in 1535. It features a series of salons that represent life in Lima in the 16th, 17th, and 18th centuries.

In the afternoon explore Lima’s bohemian neighborhood of Barranco and Miraflores in a half-day tour. Start off with Barranco featuring the ‘Bridge of Sighs', the nearby 19th-century chapel and a lookout point for a view of the Pacific Ocean. Once in Miraflores stop at Kennedy Park and the Park of Love with the sculpture ‘The Kiss’ and a stunning view over the bay of Lima. Do you know that Peru is the leading producer of organic coffee worldwide? To end off your tour, you will head over to ‘Felicia & Domingo’ Café and learn more about the different methods of coffee preparation. Enjoy your freshly prepared cup of a coffee enthusiasts favorite brew!

Today’s schedule allows you to enjoy a leisure breakfast before taking the plane to Cusco. In order to better acclimatize to the higher altitude, you will be picked up from the airport and taken directly through to the Sacred Valley.

After check enjoy a delightful picnic lunch by the river at the Belmond Rio Sagrado Hotel.

Set amid lush gardens beside the rushing Urubamba River, Rio Sagrado is built to resemble a Peruvian village and features charming and luxurious rooms with terraces overlooking the Sacred Valley. The property has its own private train station from where you can easily board the train to Machu Picchu, making it the perfect starting and ending point for a visit to the lost city. The hotel has fantastic facilities to relax at the end of the day including a riverside restaurant, an outdoor pool and its own Mayu Wilka Spa.

Explore the attractions of the Sacred Valley in a full-day tour. You start with the salt ponds of Maras, where salt was extracted since Inca times. Renowned Peruvian chefs have put Maras on the map a few years ago when they started to use its salt for their dishes. You head then to Moray featuring circular terraces hidden among the hills, similar to a Greek amphitheater.

The train schedule today allows for a relaxed exploration of Machu Picchu. The ‘Sacred Valley Train’ service, includes a 3-course lunch on board and will arrive at Machu Picchu at a time where most tourists take a break for lunch. Enjoy the beautiful landscape along the journey while you sip your welcome drink and enjoy some snacks in the Observation Bar Car. After about 3 hours you reach Aguas Calientes and start your Machu Picchu exploration.

Upon arrival, a small coach takes you up the steep roads to the entrance of the citadel. For centuries Machu Picchu remained undiscovered by the Spaniards and has only been found in 1911 by the American explorer Hiram Bingham. During a guided tour you will experience the uniqueness of the location and the genius that went into its construction, making this Inca site one of the Seven New Wonders of the World.

In the evening, return to Aguas Calientes with the ‘Sacred Valley Train’ service and enjoy a delicious 3-course dinner along the way.

At a proper time, you will be transferred from the Sacred Valley to your hotel in Cusco. In the afternoon you walk through the major sites of interest in Cusco. You visit the famous cathedral with its magnificently carved woodwork, ornate altar and many hundreds of canvases from the 17th-century Cusco Painting School. You continue exploring the cultural wealth of Cusco at the Temple of the Sun where we witness the incredible masonry of the Incas, an engineering feat that remains an enigma. Afterwards wander along Hatunrumiyoc Street named after the 12-angled stone clearly visible in the remaining walls of what used to be Inca Roca’s Palace. You make a last stop in San Blas artisan quarter. Its steeped cobblestone alleys not only offer spectacular views of the city but are lined with workshops and galleries, a great way to soak in Cusco's artistic atmosphere

We handpicked La Casona Inkaterra for your stay in Cusco. This is in our view the best option for those seeking a luxury yet truly boutique property in the former capital of the Inca Empire. The 16th colonial manor house has only 11 suites. All retain Incan and colonial influences and are furnished with locally sourced antiques. The property offers guests all modern comforts combined with the sense of privacy in an unbeatable location a short walk from many of the city's most important sites.

At proper time you will be escorted to the train station in Cusco.

Prepare yourself for a memorable 3-day train ride aboard South America's first luxury sleeper train, the Andean Explorer. This is the longest trip offered by the Andean Explorer and departs from Cusco to cross the Altiplano towards Puno before ending in Arequipa. At 11:00 you climb aboard at Cusco’s train station. Up to 48 guests can be accommodated in the Belmond Andean Explorer which offers tasteful, en-suite cabins designed by Inge Moore of The Gallery HBA.
Your first stop is scheduled at the archaeological site of Raqchi. Here you can see the remains of Viracocha Temple featuring large clay walls resting on stone Inca foundations, but also storage buildings and aqueducts. Back on board enjoy excellent views of the Altiplano from the observation car’s open-air deck. Local, fresh, colorful and seasonal ingredients will feature heavily in a menu created by the chefs at Belmond Hotel Monasterio. Lunch, teatime and dinner are included in today’s itinerary and will be served in the train’s two dining cars. When the sun sets the train will reach La Raya Pass. At 4,319 m (14,170 ft) this pass is the highest point of the rail journey and offers magnificent Andes scenery with snow-capped mountains. When night falls, the Lounge Car is the place to get some refreshing drinks as you sit back and contemplate the day. Overnight at Titicaca Station (Puno).

For visitors to Lake Titicaca, a boat trip to the floating islands, a unique tourist destination, is a must. Your 3-day itinerary doesn’t miss the lake’s most popular attraction. These islands, only a 20-minute boat ride from Puno, are made from layers ‘totora’ reeds which provide homes, sustenance and transportation for their residents. After a short ride in one of the traditional reed boats, you head to Taquile, the weavers' island. Across the centuries, ‘Taquilenos’ have preserved traditions, such as a communitarian life where everything is shared. Men always seem to be walking around the island knitting the woolen caps they wear. Unlike the traditional tourist circuit, you are treated to a lunch in a secluded spot in Collata - a private beach in Taquile. After a performance of a typical dance and a weaving demonstration you head back to Puno station. After a teatime in the station, you head back to the train for dinner as it continues to Arequipa. Overnight at Saracocha Station.

Breakfast on board and continuation of the journey to Arequipa. Enjoy the view on the lagoon of Lagunillas (4,450 m/14,600 ft) - an extraordinary setting. Enjoy the spectacular views of a series of small lagoons. Depending on the season, you may spot Andean Flamingos from the distance. A visit to Sumbay Caves, where the Peruvian highlands’ first humans created their rock art is also included in today’s schedule. Those travelers heading to Colca Canyon will disembark before lunch. For those returning to Arequipa, a farewell lunch will be served on board before reaching the city. Transfer to your hotel in Arequipa.

For your stay in Arequipa we picked the brand-new boutique hotel ‘Cirqa’ for you. Its location only one block from the main square in Arequipa makes it a perfect base for exploring the white city. With only 11 rooms, which are centered around two courtyards, Cirqa offers exclusivity coupled with Arequipenan authenticity. Enjoy extraordinary views of the city in the rooftop restaurant.

Your hands-on cooking class begins at 'La Victoria Picanteria' in Arequipa's historic center with an insight into the 500-year-old gastronomic legacy of 'picanterias' in Arequipa. You will then take a short stroll (about 8 min) to the San Camilo market, where you will visit 5 varieties of local food stands: breads, fruits, vegetables, potatoes and sweets. Here you can learn about and sample the local produce as well as get some expert knowledge from your guide. You will then make your way back to the stoves at ‘La Victoria’. With the guidance of chef Roger you will prepare your own local dish. Following preparation, take a seat and enjoy your handmade meal.

IMPORTANT
Duration: 3.5 hours (starts at 09:00)
Minimum: A minimum of 2 people (max.10)
Schedule: Classes offered daily (except SUN) in English and Spanish

In good time you will be transferred to the airport for your flight home.