Highlights
- Explore the delights of foodie Lima with an authentic cooking class and market visits plus dinner at Central Restaurant
- Visit the charming district of Barranco and enjoy privileged access to two of the best private collections of Peruvian art.
- Journey to the Amazon, where you’ll find yourself surrounded by 3.7 million acres of protected jungle in the Tambopata National Reserve.
- Meet rural communities in the mountainous region of Lamay, enjoying a unique insight into the traditional Andean way of life.
- Explore spellbinding Machu Picchu, one of the world's most important archaeological sites.
- Discover ancient and artistic Cusco as you explore the ancient city with our expert guide.
- Take the scenic Titicaca train to the shores of the mystical Lake Titicaca, staying for two days with the Luquina Chico people.
An immersive two-week adventure, this journey begins on the coastal cliffs of Lima. Here, your luxury private tour to Peru takes in the taste of Peruvian cuisine before crossing over to the Bohemian district of Barranco for exclusive access to two of the country’s most distinguished private Peruvian art collections – a privilege afforded only to our guests.
Leaving Peru’s capital behind, journey deep into the Amazon Rainforest for a three-night stay at the world-leading Tambopata Research Center, located in the remote Natural Reserve of Tambopata. Waiting for you here are guided excursions led by expert forest rangers and indigenous community members, wildlife sightings, and an unforgettable cruise down the Amazon at sunset when the sky is painted in hues of pink and orange.
On the cusp of week two, this luxury private tour in Peru zigzags to the Andes. In the mountainous region of Cusco, you’ll learn about life in the Sacred Valley, authentically interacting with remote communities to understand their traditions and culture. All the prelude to setting your sights on the enchanting Machu Picchu; spend a full day here exploring the man-made marvel with an expert guide.
After a day to explore the ancient and artistic side of Cusco – once the capital of the Inca Empire – you’ll board a train to Puno, found on the shores of Lake Titicaca. Arriving at the village of Luquina Chico by boat, you will be welcomed by the local people dressed in their colorful clothing, and as the sun sets, bear witness to traditional dance and music, before settling down for a night in authentic lakeside lodgings.
We know you care about the impact of your trip on the environment and the communities, you visit, and so do we. That’s why this journey comes with the assurance that Aracari actively seeks to maximize the positive – and minimize the negative – impacts of tourism in our region. Find out more in our Green Stays of 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 14 Days / 13 Nights
- Day 1
LimaView on map
Arrival in Peru
An Aracari representative will welcome you onto your luxury Peru private tour, should you wish - greeting you on the runway tarmac as you alight from your plane.
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 luxury private tour to Peru with a reservation at one of Lima's top restaurants, such as Central Restaurant, Peru – the foodie mecca ranked No.1 in the World’s 50 Best Restaurants List for 2023. Aracari will make all the arrangements for you, as you enjoy an evening that serves as the perfect introduction to your private Peru tour.
Accommodation options
- Day 2
LimaView on map
Discover the delights of Peruvian cuisine, before heading to the Bohemian district of Barranco to explore two very rarely visited private collections of Peruvian art.
On the first morning of your luxury private tour to Peru, you will be whisked away on our experience ‘Friendly Foodies: The Social Chefs of Lima’ – ideal for small groups due to its relaxed nature. Beginning at the many different stalls and vendors of one of Lima’s popular markets, your chef guide will explain more about the exotic fruits, vegetables, seeds, and street foods that laden the tables, stopping to purchase traditional fruits, which will later become part of your dessert.
Next, your luxury private Peru tour heads to a private, purpose-built kitchen in the heart of Miraflores, you’ll start your cooking class with a cocktail in hand. The menu will consist of a variety of seasonal, traditional Peruvian dishes with plenty of options to choose from. Sitting down to your lunch in this relaxed setting, your chef guide will tell you more about the social and cultural aspects of Peru's rich culinary history – and you can ask any questions that may have.
Now in the afternoon, you’ll journey to the charming district of Barranco to visit two rarely visited private collections of Peruvian art, displayed in the home, and former home, of the collectors themselves. It is worth noting that this experience is available exclusively to Aracari clients due to our connections to the art world in Lima.
The first stop will be the Pedro de Osma Museum, a beautiful early 20th-century mansion that was once the home of a Peruvian aristocrat and passionate collector of viceregal art, Pedro de Osma. Today, the house has been lovingly restored into a private museum, housing an invaluable collection of Peruvian art, spanning from the 5th to the 18th century.
This intimate, family-run museum is most famously known for its collection of viceregal art – with whole rooms dedicated to different features of the style, such as Madonna’s and archangels. As you navigate through the corridors and rooms of the mansion built by Pedro de Osma's father, our Specialist will point out the pieces belonging to Pedro de Osma's private collection. However, the museum also has an incredibly rare and exclusive display of antiquities that remains relatively undiscovered by the public. This collection of fascinating artifacts contains pottery, metalwork, and textiles from multiple Peruvian cultures, dating from as far back as 500 BC – such as the Quero ceramic vases of the Tiwanaku culture – making it one of the best art experiences possible during one of our luxury private tours to Peru.
Leaving Pedro de Osma Museum behind, you’ll walk with our specialist guide through the charming streets of Barranco to arrive at your next artistic adventure: Casa Liébana. It’s at the gates of the magnificent Liébana villa, that you’ll be received by Joaquin Liébana – a prominent artist in his own right, and one of the sons of the late Jaime Liébana, owner of this exquisite home and its fine collection of Peruvian art.
The Liébana family have been longtime friends of Aracari for many years, and so our guests are afforded the luxury of visiting this appointment-only art collection, accompanied by the unrivaled knowledge of Joaquin Liébana himself. Inside the family mansion, you’ll be guided around its many rooms – brimming with one-of-a-kind objects.
As well as his expansive collection of work from other artists, Jaime Liébana was himself an artist and master carpenter – receiving critical acclaim for his work, especially his wooden furniture designs. One of the first rooms you’ll visit inside Casa Liébana will be a space showcasing his pieces, some of which are available for sale. Alongside Jaime’s own pieces, you’ll also find a selection of contemporary artworks by his successful artist sons, Mateo and Joaquin, who followed in their father’s creative footsteps as a painter and sculptors respectively.
Once finished, you’ll return to your hotel – where you can prepare for an evening at another of Lima’s most acclaimed restaurants such as Maido with Head Chef Mitsuharu Tsumura or Astrid y Gaston with Head Chef Gaston Acurio.
Accommodation options- Day 3
Lima - Tambopata National ReserveView on map
Journey deep into the Amazon rainforest, arriving at the world-leading Tambopata Research Center.
Your luxury private tour to Peru leaves Lima today, flying to Puerto Maldonado, and heading for the Amazon Jungle in Peru. After a 1-hour car journey, followed by a 2-hour boat ride, you’ll arrive at Tambopata Research Center (TRC), finding yourself surrounded by 3.7 million acres of protected jungle in the Tambopata National Reserve.
The TRC has several ongoing scientific projects that you’ll be invited to learn more about, including Amazon Cam, movement-activated cameras to register local fauna, and Mapping Cats, a project that deploys constant monitoring of the jaguar population in the area.
Once settled and unpacked, your first afternoon will be spent completing a 3km to 5km hike, leading to magnificent views of the Tambopata, winding its way into the lowlands. It’s here you can spot both the Howler Monkey and Dusky Titi Monkey.
You’ll spend the night in one of the property’s boutique Rainforest Alliance Lodges, beautiful boltholes that comply with the most rigorous sustainability standards to ensure minimum damage to this delicate environment.
Accommodation options
- Day 4
Tambopata National ReserveView on map
Marvel at hundreds of brightly-colored macaws and parrots, a unique wildlife spectacle native to the region
On most clear mornings, guests can enjoy an incredible display of colored feathers, as hundreds of macaws and parrots descend on this part of the Amazon River. You’ll be led to the specific viewing point by your expert guide, who will accompany you on the short boat ride from Tambopata Research Center. It’s an early morning start to catch a glimpse of the birds, but one that’s certainly worth it.
Located fifty meters below the cliff edge, you’ll spectate as green, scarlet, blue, and gold-winged macaws, along with several species of parrot, arrive for their breakfast of clayey soil. The so-called clay licks are one of the most remarkable wildlife highlights in the entire region, making it an experience perfect for families on a luxury private tour to Peru.
After you visit the clay licks, you’ll walk along a five-kilometer trail through the lush rainforest, passing several sublime creeks and ponds. Amongst the figs, ceibas, and shihuahuacos trees your expert guide will point out squirrels, brown capuchins, spider monkeys, and peccaries.
The incredible wildlife watching will continue after a picnic lunch by the pondside. It’s here you’ll have the opportunity to spot waterfowl such as Muscovy ducks, sunbitterns, and hoatzins, as well as woodpeckers, flycatchers, and parakeets.
Back at Tambopata Research Center, you’ll enjoy a delicious and locally sourced evening meaning, before having the option of participating in a night hike. During the night it’s possible to view strange mammals and frogs, whose shapes and sounds are as bizarre as they are otherworldly.
Accommodation options- Day 5
Tambopata National ReserveView on map
Venture deeper into the Peruvian Amazon, winding through the rainforest master hike, before an unforgettable sunset cruise.
On your third and final day in the Tambopata National Reserve, you’ll head out onto the Rainforest Master Hike with your expert guide. It’s a challenging climb as you wind through the forest carefully stepping over the winding highways of peaceful leaf-cutter ants, but one that undoubtedly leaves you with a great sense of accomplishment.
Once at the top, enjoy views of toucans, parrots, and macaws flying across the horizon. As you cross the confluence with the Malinowski River, leaving the final traces of human civilization behind, sightings of capybara, caiman, geese, macaws, and other large species will become more frequent.
Back at the lodge, afternoon slips into evening, and you’ll be treated to a show of great natural beauty. Aboard the Sunset Cruise, you’ll float down the wide Amazon River, spending your final night in the rainforest set against the backdrop of one of the world’s most spectacular sunsets, as oranges and pinks reflect spectacularly off the water.
Accommodation options
- Day 6
Tambopata National Reserve - Sacred ValleyView on map
Bid farewell to the forest and fly to the ancient Inca city of Cusco, deep in the Sacred Valley, visiting Pisac Market and Kusi Kawsay non-profit school.
Following your final breakfast at Tambopata Research Center, you’ll bid farewell to the forest and board your skiff for your return journey to the river port. From here you’ll be transferred by land to Puerto Maldonado airport, flying to the high-altitude city of Cusco and driving deep into the Sacred Valley.
On route, you’ll stop at the famous Pisac market and ruins. The Inca masonry at Pisac is wonderfully preserved, and you’ll learn of its history as you take in views of the incredible mountain terraces. Before visiting the Kusi Kawsay School – meaning “happy life” in Quechua – found just a short stroll from Pisac Market. Kusi Kawsay is a non-profit school delivering an alternative education system for local children and youth, from kindergarten to 11th grade. The school is funded through grants and donations, and visitors are welcome to contribute to support their work.
Your luxury private tour Peru will then continue onto your lodgings for the evening, at the beautiful Inkaterra Hacienda Urubamba.
Accommodation options0
- Day 7
Sacred Valley - OllantaytamboView on map
Visit rural communities in the mountainous region of Lamay, enjoying a unique insight into a traditional way of life, one that has remained unchanged for many generations.
Today, your luxury private Peru tour will take you to a lovely spot in the sleepy village of Lamay (2914m / 9560ft) high in the Sacred Valley. Once you arrive in the village, you’ll be taken to La Base Lamay perfect spot to enjoy an early morning coffee, with a neighboring store to browse and purchase local arts and crafts.
From here, you will journey by vehicle into the mountains, where you’ll receive a warm welcome from the local community. The first activity of the day will see you participate in farming labor alongside the locals. Depending on the season and the agricultural calendar, you will farm a variety of plants and native crops (such as corn, potatoes, tarwi, and quinoas).
If you’re interested, there will be an opportunity to learn more about local gastronomy in the Andes. Your hosts will share their traditional recipes, and you’ll be invited to participate in the preparation of a nutritious and local lunch. Alternatively, if you’re more interested in learning about traditional textiles, after enjoying your delicious lunch prepared by your hosts, the local women will demonstrate the process of crafting their textile art.
If it's more conservation efforts that interest you, can opt instead for an unforgettable day journeying deep into the breathtaking landscapes of the Andes, spotting archeological relics along with modern conservation efforts, as you hike alongside Sagrado Verde, an organization dedicated to preserving the native forests of this majestic mountain range.
During this experience, you'll first reach Pumamarca; an awe-inspiring Pre-Inca and Inca archaeological site perched on a ridge overlooking the stunning Patakancha Valley. The main site dates to 1300 but the oldest buildings are over 2000 years old. The site requires a bit of climbing, but the panoramic views are well worth the effort. Then you'll take an easy to moderate climb to take in the beauty of a little-visited waterfall and a native forest of Qeuña, Unca, and its chachacomo trees. You’ll hear how these magnificent trees, once abundant in the Andes, have become increasingly rare due to deforestation resulting from habitation, intense agriculture, and slash-and-burn farming practices.
Since you’ll be accompanied by a representative from Valle Sagrado Verde – you’ll have the opportunity to directly participate in a native-tree reforestation project, helping to restore the natural balance of the environment. Valle Sagrado Verde will provide all the tools necessary for the activity, and you'll learn about the importance of preserving these trees and their unique ecosystems.
Whichever activity you choose for day seven of your private luxury tour to Peru, you'll end the afternoon settling into one of our most recommended properties in the Cusco region: El Albergue. Founders of the El Albergue, have been longtime friends of Aracari for more than two decades now and it’s the unique experiences offered here that make the hotel such a favorite.
Accommodation options
- Day 8
Sacred Valley - Machu PicchuView on map
Distill your own Andean liquor using native herbs and techniques, before catching a Vistadome train to the ancient wonder of the world: Machu Picchu. Overnight at Inkaterra Machu Picchu Pueblo.
This morning, you can opt to explore the ruins of Ollantaytambo – it was here that one of the greatest battles of the Conquest was fought - and one of the few instances in which the Incas defeated the Spaniards. Before taking part in one of the hotel’s most unique experiences: creating your own Andean liquor at the hotel’s distillery: Destilería Andina. Using traditional techniques and local ingredients to craft spirits that embody the surrounding Sacred Valley, Destilería Andina, is one of Peru’s most innovative and new distilleries.
You’ll be treated to a private guided tour of the distillery, understanding how the distilling, maceration, and blending processes work to create delicious alcoholic drinks, before being taught the particularities of distilling and making a medicinal ‘compuesto’ in the Peruvian Andes. Your guide will explain how in the Sacred Valley, families have grown and harvested their medicinal plants to make tinctures and celebratory elixirs for many generations. You’ll witness how the high altitude of your location gives a low boiling point, so the essences and oils of the plants can be extracted without burning them.
You will then have the chance to try these ancient techniques for yourself. Head to El Albergue’s organic garden to choose the botanicals for your liquor. The expert distillers will help you get the proportions of each ingredient right so that your drink is balanced and delicious.
Once you have selected and filled your 375ml bottle with your chosen botanicals and the distillery’s Andean sugar cane spirit, your bottle will be labeled, corked, and dated so that you can safely take it home. After the experience, you can enjoy a traditional pachamanca lunch, whereby the ingredients are baked in a clay pit underground with the aid of hot stones – an ancient technique used since the time of the Incas.
In the afternoon, you’ll board a Vistadome train headed for Machu Picchu, featuring spectacular panoramic windows offering impressive views of the surrounding Valley. The journey takes approximately 1.5 hours to Aguas Calientes, where you’ll then be taken by private transfer to your hotel – Machu Picchu Sanctuary Lodge. Alternatively, you can upgrade to the Hiram Bingham luxury train to Machu Picchu – and of course, we can also arrange private charter train services.
Accommodation options
- Day 9
Machu Picchu - CuscoView on map
Explore the ruins of Machu Picchu with an expert guide, before visiting the man putting Peruvian potatoes on the map and continuing onto Cusco.
This morning, you can choose to rise very early in the morning and arrive at the gates of Machu Picchu for sunrise, before the crowds arrive. Spend the day 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.
You can also opt to hike to Huayna Picchu. Offering spectacular panoramic views, Huayna Picchu rises 260 meters (850 ft) higher than Machu Picchu, and you’ll see how the Incas built a trail up the side of the mountain, and on its top, temples and terraces.
In the afternoon, you’ll make your way to Cusco via the Vistadome train to Ollantaytambo. On route, you’ll have the chance to witness an unmissable foodie experience high in the Andes, spending a few hours in the company of a man putting Peruvian potatoes on the map.
A fourth-generation farmer, he improves his 380 varieties of potatoes by imitating bees with manual cross-pollination. During one of the most unique experiences in Peru, you’ll learn how this delicate process involves removing the pollen from one potato flower and sprinkling it onto a flower of another variety.
This inventiveness achieves tubers with bright, intensified colors such as blue, purple, and red while enhancing the nutritional properties, textures, and flavors too. Such agricultural prowess caught the eye of Virgilio Martinez, the renowned Peruvian chef of Central fame – who sought out this unrivaled knowledge of potatoes and tubers.
During one of the most unique foodie experiences in Peru, you’ll sample the different types of freshly harvested potatoes cooked in a ‘huatia’, which is a traditional way of cooking in the Andes using the heat of the earth in an underground oven. Before discovering (and sampling!) the latest invention: a wine made from the ocas and mashuas tubers: including red, white, and sparkling wine which are all sold in Lima’s award-winning restaurants.
Accommodation options
- Day 10
CuscoView on map
Explore ancient and artistic Cusco, before dining at the atmospheric Cicciolina.
You’ll start your exploration of Cusco on foot, beginning at the Plaza de Armas, the Main Square. One of the most historic plazas on the continent, you’ll find exquisite Spanish Colonial architecture and ornamentation imposed by Spanish colonists to exert religious and political influence. The Inca relics remain in the city too, your expert guide will point out the original Inca solid stonework that lines the cobbled streets.
Next, visit Koricancha, the most fascinating ‘Sun Temple in the Inca Empire, along with the breathtaking Cathedral, a repository for Cusco’s colonial art, as well as many other important archaeological relics and artifacts. You will also stop by the colorful San Pedro market and pass through the charming neighborhood of San Blas.
In the afternoon, you’ll meet with our ‘friend in the city’ who will take you through some of Cusco’s most charming creative spaces and local food spots during our experience ‘Creative Footsteps and Nibbles’. Cusco’s rich history has inspired countless local visionaries to launch some of the best shops, galleries, and ateliers in Peru. On this 4-hour guided walking tour, you’ll experience the unique energy of these destinations up close, while stopping to sample local delicacies.
For your final evening in the mountains during your luxury private tour to Peru, 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 a delicious fusion.
Accommodation options- Day 11
Cusco - Lake TiticacaView on map
Take the scenic Titicaca train from Cusco to Puno on the shores of the mystical Lake Titicaca.
This luxury private Peru tour will depart Cusco in the early morning today as you board the Titicaca Train for a 10-and-a-half-hour journey to the town of Puno on Lake Titicaca. The train winds through the mountains and valleys surrounding Cusco, passing Andean villages along the way. Climbing higher into the Andes, the train offers spectacular views of the Huatanay River valleys, with picturesque scenes of grazing herds of vicuña and alpaca. Enjoy a gourmet meal with wine and tea later in the day, with live traditional Andean music and dance to entertain you along the way.
Accommodation options
- Day 12
Lake TiticacaView on map
Discover what village life on Lake Titicaca is like village visit as you enjoy an authentic homestay with the Luquina Chico community.
In the morning, you will be picked up from the pier at your Lake Titicaca hotel to visit the community of Luquina Chico. The village is relatively small and seldom visited, yet the rural population living here has maintained thousands of years of tradition, apparent in its festivals, clothing, and everyday rituals.
Arriving at the village by boat, you will be greeted by colorfully dressed members of the community and shown around the village. As the sun sets over the lake spectacularly, you will have the privileged opportunity to enjoy traditional dancing and music, before settling down to stay in the traditional housing of the villagers.
Accommodation options- Day 13
Lake Titicaca - LimaView on map
Spend the morning helping the Luquina Chico people with their daily activities, before heading back to Lima.
The penultimate day of this luxury, private Peru tour will be spent interacting with the people of Luquina Chico, gaining an insight into daily activities such as farming, fishing, sailing, and cookery.
An alternative to the Luquina Chico experience - if you have more time to spend on Lake Titicaca - is to visit Suasi Island. This is a privately owned island with a comfortable lodge, making it an ideal place to escape for a few days into pristine nature. The owner originally purchased Susai Island as a conservation project, reintroducing endemic species to the island aiming to create an ecological haven for flora and fauna.
In the late afternoon, you will journey back to Puno for your flight to Lima from Juliaca Airport. Upon arrival back in the coastal capital, you can choose how you wish to conclude your luxury private Peru tour. Be it with more foodie experiences, or a relaxing evening in your luxurious hotel.
Accommodation options- Day 14
Lima - International DepartureView on map
Enjoy time at leisure in Lima before your international departure.
Aracari can provide you with a shopping guide to the best boutiques and authentic artisan stores to buy gifts or souvenirs. One of our favorites is Las Pallas, dedicated to unique and authentic folk art. The shop is located in the home of the affable owner, Mari Solari, in the bohemian and walkable art district of Barranco.
Depending on your flight schedule, you then be taken via private transfer to Lima airport, where we will assist you with everything you need for a smooth onward journey home.
Aracari specializes in tailormade travel. Here are just some of our further trip suggestions. Contact us for more bespoke ideas to inspire your travels.
Some optional activities
- As an alternative option to a homestay on Lake Titicaca, stay on the eco-reserve of Suasi Island
Featured Destinations
Journey pricing as of 2024
Basic Pricing - US$10,300 per person
This is a sample journey and can be tailored to your interests and travel style.
- Based on two people travelling together in double or twin occupancy
- Price is per person for the full 14-day itinerary
- Based on Hotel Selection: Villa Barranco, Tambopata Research Center, Inkaterra Urubamba, Inkaterra Machu Picchu Pueblo Hotel, Casona San Blas Cusco, Titilaka Hotel
- Discounted children's rates on request
What's Included?
This journey is based on two people travelling together in double or twin occupancy, excluding flights (international and domestic).
- Includes all specified services in the journey description
- All transfers and entrance fees
- A welcome pack on arrival including: a pre-loaded cell phone to contact your travel consultant at any time, a printed booklet packed with insider tips alongside your detailed journey and up-to-date recommendations on dining and shopping
- Hand-selected English-speaking guides
- Specialist guides (where noted)
- 24-hour support from our locally based team
- 13 nights in a hand-picked selection of Peru’s finest accommodations - all personally tried and tested
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.
Connecting with PeruA 14-day luxury private tour to Peru. - Day 2
