Cusco: Wealth of the Andes

You will arrive in Lima and settle in your hotel.

Today you will explore the artsy side of Callao, the seaport town: a place where various cultures merge. You will find colonial forts, European-style squares, urban art, and excellent seafood. Then, you will try traditional Peruvian dishes through an innovative tasting menu, and end the day with a luxurious Nikkei dinner.

Explore the frontiers of the Lima ceviche, on a tour across its varieties, compelling history, and evolution. Ranging from the most traditional approaches to more experimental execution. Whether they are prepared on the fly at a local market or a huarique, or plated and garnished at an award-winning restaurant, you’ll come to realize that every ceviche has an allure of its own.

We will pick you up to take our flight to Cusco early in the morning. Upon arrival, our team will welcome you at the Cusco airport, and from there, you'll be transferred to the Sacred Valley of the Incas. You will start by visiting Pisac, a charming little town famous for its artisanal market. Then, we will take you to a charming colonial hacienda and farm for your first gastronomic experience in Cusco. You will meet Maria del Pilar and Yussef, third-generation producers of giant white corn. Finally, you will arrive at your hotel for some well-deserved rest.

A long-awaited day: it’s time to visit Machu Picchu! You will enjoy amazing views and learn about Andean life, traveling back in time.

After breakfast, you will participate in an adventurous and fun alternative to visit the impressive salt mines of Maras and the terraces of Moray.  Later, you will have a unique gastronomic experience: you will learn about the work of a brilliant agricultural engineer born into a local farmer family who decided to turn tubers into the centerpiece of Peruvian gastronomy.  You will share the afternoon and evening with a local farming community, before spending the night in a comfortable glamping tent.

Enjoy a meal prepared with the ancient technique of pachamanca, an underground stone oven.

This morning, you will explore Ollantaytambo, an important Inca archaeological center, on a privately guided tour. Afterward, you will head to Yanahuara to visit a traditional Cusco home, where you will learn how some Andean vegetables are grown and will be able to participate in the daily tasks of a family-owned small farm. You will also share a delicious lunch with organic ingredients harvested directly from the farm. Before returning to the hotel, you will stop at a traditional “chichería” to taste the Chicha de Jora (maize beer) and learn about its importance in the Andean culture and the preparation techniques.

This entertaining class begins with a visit to the most important market in Cusco city, in the company of a local chef. Then, head to the kitchen atelier to prepare some hearty and healthy dishes by using the most representative ingredients in the region as you sip on Cusco-style pisco sour. Later, visit the highlights of the City of Cusco, strolling across the Main Square, visiting the opulent Qorikancha, and wandering around the San Blas neighborhood to access the secrets only available to locals.

At the appropriate time, we will take you to the airport for your flight back to Lima.