Highlights
- Discover the most accomplished weaver in the Cusco region, Nilda Callañaupa – whose work is devoted to the preservation of indigenous weav
- Witness some of the most authentic textile techniques during a demonstration by local weavers high in the Andes.
- Alight a Vistadome train to Machu Picchu: an ancient wonder of the world.
- Meet the Sulca family at their privately-owned museum of textiles and discover their knowledge of pre-Columbian textile art.
- Discover Cusco's culture, art, and architecture by exploring intimate museums, convents, and archaeological sites away from the crowds.
- Explore Lima's fashion scene by visiting the ateliers, studios, and hidden boutiques of the country's leading designers.
- Dine at Central Restaurant, ranked No.1 in the World's Best 50 Restaurants for 2023.
Peru is the country with the longest tradition of textile production, stretching back more than 10,000 years. During our bespoke itinerary, A Woven History: Peru Textile Tour, you’ll trace this rich history from the coastal capital of Lima to the Andean mountains and back again; uncovering how textiles became an integral part of Peru’s rich cultural heritage.
Your first taste of Peruvian textiles will happen in the remote region of Huayoccari, high in the Sacred Valley. It’s here that you’ll witness one of the oldest practices of textile weaving in the world, as local weavers demonstrate the tradition that has been carried down through countless generations. At the Sulca Textile House Museum too, you’ll uncover the history of a family deeply entwined with the preservation of ancient textile techniques. Hearing firsthand the family’s knowledge of pre-Columbian textile art, a legacy of the great Wari cultural empire.
Since no luxury travel to Peru would be complete without a visit to the ancient citadel of Machu Picchu, and the city of Cusco – once the capital of the Inca Empire – your private tour will deviate slightly away from textiles for two days as you spend time explore these world-famous landmarks. Reaching Machu Picchu via Vistadome train and staying close by to the ruins for one night – and exploring the hidden gems of Cusco – away from the tourist crowds with a private guide.
Back in Lima for the final two days of your Peruvian textile tour and the focus turns to more modern interpretations of tradition. At the private workshops of ESCVDO and Susan Wagner – both forward-facing fashion designers showcased on Aracari Shop – you’ll witness how Peruvian textiles are being translated into today’s world of sustainable and conscious fashion. As well as spending time at the studio of Maximo Laura an award-winning fifth-generation weaver, internationally recognized as one of South America´s preeminent and most unique textile artists,
Finally, your 7-day Peruvian adventure will conclude with dinner at Central Restaurant – ranked No.1 in the World’s Best 50 Restaurants for 2023. Central delivers ambitious and worldly fusion from chef Virgilio Martínez Veliz, who has crafted a series of modern, molecular dishes using ingredients native to Peru.
As ever, this private itinerary can be adapted entirely to suit personal travel tastes and interests. Aracari can curate the most appropriate experience for you; be it a family vacation, a honeymoon, or a trip with friends, as well as shorter or longer vacations, or combining many other destinations across South America.
Daily Summary 7 Days / 6 Nights
- Day 1
LimaView on map
An Aracari representative will welcome you to Peru, should you wish - greeting you on the runway tarmac as you alight from your plane.
To begin your Peru textile tour, you’ll be presented with your welcome pack, before being whisked off to your hotel, where we will assist with all check-in procedures.
Depending on your arrival time, we recommend beginning your private Peru tour with a reservation at one of Lima's top restaurants, such as Maido or Astrid y Gaston. Aracari will make all the arrangements for you, as you enjoy an evening that serves as the perfect introduction to Peru, the ultimate food mecca of South America.
Accommodation options
- Day 2
Lima - Cusco - Sacred ValleyView on map
Discover the work of the most accomplished weaver in the Cusco region, Nilda Callañaupa – Director of the ‘Center for Traditional Textiles of Cusco’, an NGO devoted to the preservation of indigenous weaving techniques.
Today you’ll have your first taste of the rich history of textiles in Peru as you leave Lima behind, flying to Cusco and then onwards to the remote region of Huayoccari in the Sacred Valley via private transfer. It’s here that you’ll have the chance to see the master weavers of Huayoccari in action during an authentic textile demonstration.
You’ll learn how in the Andes, weaving is a language, and that fine weavings were as precious as gold during the time of the Inca Empire. And how more than twenty-five years ago, Nilda Callañaupa, a local from Chinchero, recognized that precious history was being lost. The traditional techniques in both weaving and the natural dying of fibers were beginning to disappear.
Back then, many of the weavings sold to visitors were inauthentic and dyed with artificial colors, rather than with natural dyes, as is the traditional method. In a bid to prevent this from happening, Nilda, a master weaver herself, founded CTTC (Center for Traditional Textiles of Cusco).
Since then, CTTC has done extraordinary work in the region related to Peruvian textiles. During your own Peru Textile Tour in Huayoccari, you’ll witness some of the most authentic textile techniques in all of Peru. Depending on availability, even meeting with Nilda herself – who is the most accomplished weaver in Cusco – as well as her team of local weavers creating some of the country’s finest textile work.
During the demonstration around ten of Huayoccari’s female weavers will show you traditional Andean weaving, from the spinning of the fibers to fixing the dye, to the backstrap loom – where the weft is passed across the warp to create intricate and beautiful designs. This spectacular experience is unique, a chance to see true Andean artistry in action.
Once the experience has finished, you’ll have the chance to purchase textiles from Nilda and her team of traditional weavers. This is an incredibly rare opportunity and one you are unlikely to find anywhere else – the chance to purchase such authentic Peruvian textiles and knits made by methods invented by the Incas.
For this evening’s overnight stay, you’ll be transferred to Los Qolqas. Burrowed in the heart of the Sacred this eco-retreat is found nearby to the town of Ollantaytambo. As part of this private South America tour, Aracari guests will spend the afternoon and night here, immersed in the natural beauty of the magnificent mountainous surroundings and marveling at relics left behind by lost civilizations.
Accommodation options
- Day 3
Sacred Valley - Machu PicchuView on map
Alight a Vistadome train to Machu Picchu: an ancient wonder of the world.
Today you’ll board a Vistadome train to Machu Picchu, featuring spectacular panoramic windows offering impressive views of the surrounding Valley. The journey takes approximately 1.5 hours to Aguas Calientes, the town closest to the ruins. Alternatively, you can upgrade to the Hiram Bingham luxury train to Machu Picchu – and of course, we can also arrange private charter train services.
Spend the afternoon exploring the iconic ruins of Machu Picchu, one of the world's most important archaeological sites. Set among mist-shrouded mountains, this man-made marvel has become a symbol of the ingenuity and prosperity of one of the most expansive empires in Latin American history: the Incas. Your expert guide will explain the history and purpose of this awe-inspiring site during a 2-3 hour guided visit.
Accommodation options
- Day 4
Machu Picchu - CuscoView on map
Take in the sublime beauty of Machu Picchu before a visit to the Sulca textile house museum on route to Cusco.
Return to Machu Picchu with your guide early in the morning, hiking to Huayna Picchu. Offering spectacular panoramic views, Huayna Picchu rises 260 meters (850 ft) higher than Machu Picchu. The Incas built a trail up the side of the mountain and on its top, temples, and terraces. Afterward, take the bus back to the town of Aguas Calientes to catch the Vistadome train to Ollantaytambo for your private transfer to Cusco, which takes approximately 2 hours.
On route, your Peru Textile Tour will stop at the fascinating Sulca textile museum. Sulca is a Castilian surname, which comes from the Quechua term SULLK'A or SULLCA. It means '' younger brother '' or "Last descendant in the Wari culture". The Sulca family is originally from the Ayacucho region, city of Huamanga, currently heir to the knowledge of pre-Columbian textile art, a legacy of the great Wari cultural empire, descendants of several generations of families who dedicated themselves to this trade.
Don Benigno Sulca Son of Don Pedro Sulca and Doña Cirila Sauñe together with his wife Doña Teresa Leon as part of the family legacy had a vision, to reassess and make known the cultural legacy of the family over time. Between the 80s and 90s in Peru, political and social problems arose that seriously affected the Ayacucho region, for which several families had to migrate from the countryside to the city, but Benigno Sulca's family decided to stay and work with their young children in textile art.
Walter Sulca, the third son of Don Benigno Sulca, grew up learning the techniques and knowledge of pre-Columbian textile art, years later motivated to undertake a project that involves the Andean community of textile artisans and that preserves its cultural heritage, he moved to the City from Cusco where he created the Sulca Textile House Museum. During your private visit, you’ll hear all about this history as you explore the fascinating textiles found at Sulca Textile House Museum.
Afterward, you’ll continue to the city of Cusco, where you’ll check into charming Inkaterra La Casona – a hotel with Peruvian textiles at the heart of its interior.
Accommodation options
- Day 5
CuscoView on map
Explore the culture, art, and architecture of Cusco – peeking into some of the city’s intimate museums, convents, and archaeological sites tucked away from the crowds.
As in every city, there are famous sights and there are those hidden gems only known to connoisseurs or astute visitors who have more time and want to cover the less obvious. Today, you’ll visit exactly those kinds of sites – accompanied by one of Aracari’s subject Specialists. These people aren’t simply guides, but rather leading researchers and professors in their subject area.
Spanning from the Museo De Arte Precolombino (MAP) to the Museo De Arte Religioso (Religious Art Museum) to the Casa Concha (Machu Picchu Museum), to the Museo de Santa Catalina (Museum of Monastic Life), this intimate museum is housed in a lovely colonial building and inside – should you choose to enter – an interesting model of Machu Picchu and some of the original artifacts first collected by Hiram Bingham upon his discovery of the site, which have been returned to Cusco by Yale University.
At the end of the visit, and right in front of the Palace of Tupac Yupanqui Palace, there also lies an enclosure called Kusikancha. This enclosure is within the boundaries of the National Institute of culture, which means it's not an actual tourist attraction although visitable during their office hours. Here you can see the Inca layout of the city and its "kanchas" or courtyards, and how everything else has been built on top. It is considered to be the birthplace of Pachacutec, the great Inca emperor.
For your final evening in the mountains, you’ll dine at the atmospheric Cicciolina. A Cusco institution for almost 20 years, this tapas restaurant and wine bar can be found in a magical setting overlooking the terracotta tiles of the city. Expect a menu of European dishes made with local Andean ingredients, making for delicious fusion and a wonderful way to spend the final night of your luxury Peru vacation.
Accommodation options- Day 6
Cusco - LimaView on map
Discover the fashion scene of Lima, visiting the ateliers, studios, and hidden boutiques of some of the country’s most forward-facing designers, with an evening dinner at Central Restaurant.
You’ll leave Cusco behind you today as you fly back to the coastal capital of Lima. Upon arrival, you’ll be whisked off to a more modern Peruvian textile experience as you explore art galleries, photography studios, ateliers, and tucked-away boutiques.
Led by our friend in the city – a Lima local well-versed in the fashion and creative industries of Lima, you’ll begin at the AMANO Pre-Columbian Textile Museum, which highlights a 5,000-year history of Peruvian textiles. You’ll learn about the creative and beautiful ways Peruvian textiles have been constructed and used by communities throughout the centuries. Because the conditions of the Peruvian desert happen to lend themselves to excellent preservation, you’ll see fabrics and colors that have magnificently withstood the test of time.
At AYNI Atelier, you’ll enjoy a hands-on fashion experience and knitting demonstration. Run by Adriana and Laerke, who are Peruvian and Danish respectively, AYNI blends high-quality Peruvian textiles with Danish minimalism for a one-of-a-kind look. The two designers launched their first collection in 2009 in Paris, and the rest is history. Their Lima atelier and showroom highlight their talent for sourcing the highest quality materials, like baby alpaca and Pima cotton. AYNI has a strong focus on giving back to the community: everything is made and designed in Peru, and AYNI offers a certificate project to recognize the artisan skills of local Peruvian women. On your visit, you’ll have a behind-the-scenes peek into the brand and the way its materials are sourced. Enjoy a warm cup of tea while Mrs Teresa, AYNI’s on-site knitter, guides you through a sample knitting class and teaches a lesson on the difference between fabrics.
Afterward, you’ll make a stop to enjoy a delicious lunch at one of Lima’s most fashionable and tasty establishments. Possible restaurants for the stop include Kjolle, Mérito, Sibaris, Siete, Isolina, or La 73, all of which are fantastic.
Continue for a tour of ESCVDO, an atelier, and workshop founded by Chiara and Giuliana Macchiavello, whose work is showcased on Aracari Shop. Here, you’ll zoon over fashion pieces that feature traditional Andean weaving craftsmanship, modern design influence, and fabrics sourced from Huancavelica in central Peru. You can watch the designers and tailors at work, and if you’d like, you can even buy a one-of-a-kind piece for yourself.
In fact, ESCVDO isn’t the only brand showcased on Aracari Shop. We can also make arrangements to meet with designer Susan Wagner – another trailblazing Peruvian designer whose innovation with natural fibers is helping to reinvent the way we think about natural fabric.
Back at your hotel, you’ll have time to relax and refresh before your final evening in Peru. Where better to conclude your luxury Peru vacation than at Central Restaurant – ranked No.1 in the World’s Best 50 Restaurants for 2023? Central delivers ambitious and worldly fusion from chef Virgilio Martínez Véliz, who has crafted a series of modern, molecular dishes using ingredients native to Peru.
Accommodation options- Day 7
LimaView on map
xSpend the final morning of your luxury Peru travel experience at the workshop of textile artist Maximo Laura, before departing for your international flight home.
Internationally recognized as one of South America´s pre-eminent and most unique textile artists, Maximo Laura is an award-winning fifth-generation weaver, who originally learned the craft from his father. His striking tapestries intertwine ancestral Peruvian techniques with contemporary creative flair, drawing on motifs and symbols from local myths and traditions alongside inspiration from personal experiences, to produce his bold, colorful creations.
You will be driven to Maximo’s home and workshop on the outskirts of Lima, where Maximo will personally show you around his home and workshop while sharing his artistic vision. Maximo will explain the processes involved in creating his art, from its inception as hand-drawn sketches that become digitalized, to his ‘color laboratory’ where a rainbow of threads is combined to produce the trademark ‘paint’ effect of his masterpieces, to the traditional looms that are used to weave – sometimes taking months – his artwork. You will see many pieces on display, from his living room to gallery, with many for sale.
Depending on your flight time, you’ll then be transferred to Lima International Airport, where we will assist you with everything you need for your international departure.
Aracari specializes in tailormade travel. Here are just some of our further trip suggestions. Contact us for more bespoke ideas to inspire your travels.
Featured Destinations
Journey pricing as of 2024
Basic Pricing - US$7,200 per person
- Based on four people travelling together in double or twin occupancy for this 7-day itinerary
- Based on Hotel Selection: Villa Barranco Hotel, Las Qolqas Ecolodge, Inkaterra Machu Picchu Pueblo Hotel and Inkaterra La Casona
What's Included?
- 6 nights in a hand-picked and personally tested selection of Peru’s best accommodation options in the region
What's not Included?
- Domestic flights (quoted separately).
- Alcoholic beverages.
- Tips.
- Travel Insurance.
- International Flights and airport taxes.
- Neither personal expenses nor any other service not specified in the itinerary.
Peru Textile TourUnravel the rich tradition of textiles in Peru. - Day 2
