Masters of farming, engineering geniuses, and creators of a religion that combined features of animism and nature worship, the Incas are without a doubt one of the world’s most interesting and mysterious ancient civilizations. This Machu Picchu luxury tour allows you to learn about Incan accomplishments, from the triumphal constructions of Machu Picchu and the intricate stonework of the old Inca capital Cusco, to the ingenious agricultural terraces that dot the stunningly serene Sacred Valley. Discover what this fascinating civilization embodied during its glorious heyday with this customized tour centered on Peru’s Incan heritage.
Highlights
- Visit an ancient hacienda dedicated to agriculture surrounding giant Peruvian corn and delight in a one-of-a-kind culinary experience.
- Immerse yourself in local life with visits to remote Andean villages that are, for most travelers, uncharted territory.
- Embark on a private city tour of Cusco, whose fascinating streets feature a unique concoction of Inca ruins and colonial constructions.
- Scale the ancient stone stairway up Machu Picchu’s neighboring peak, Huayna Picchu.
- Relish a Machu Picchu luxury tour with your very own expert guide to explain the history, architecture, and theories surrounding the site.
- Discover the delights of Peruvian cuisine at the country’s finest dining establishments.
- Enjoy enriching experiences with local artists at their workshops.
- Relax in hand-picked luxury accommodations throughout your personalized trip of Peru.
Itinerary at a Glance
Days | Destinations | The Experience |
Day 1 | Arrival in Lima | Welcome to Peru! |
Day 2 | Lima to Cusco | Fly to Cusco to visit an ancient hacienda and indulge in a locally-prepared gourmet meal, then tour the vibrant Pisac market. |
Day 3 | Exploring the Sacred Valley | Hike through the Patacancha valley to Ollantaytambo, and marvel at the ruins clinging to the steep mountainside. Participate in a ceramics workshop in Urubamba in the afternoon! |
Day 4 | The Lost city of the Incas | Arrive to Aguas Calientes by train and spend the afternoon with your private guide visiting the World Wonder, Machu Picchu! |
Day 5 | Machu Picchu on your terms | Hike the legendary Huayna Picchu, and then enjoy a scenic train ride back to the Sacred Valley. |
Day 6 | Maras and Moray | Visiting the Agricultural Lab of the Incas in Maras and Moray and Our Friends in a Local Community! |
Day 7: | Cusco | Enjoy a tour of “The Navel of the Universe” and former capital of the Incan Empire with your private guide. |
Day 8: | Cusco to Lima and Home | Enjoy a morning of leisure in Cusco then fly to Lima to dine alongside the Huaca Pucllana ruins before your international flight home! |
DAY 1: Arrive at your hotel in Lima after your international flight to Peru!
Lima is a metropolitan city known for its colonial architecture and mouthwatering ceviche!
When your international flight arrives in Lima, look for your Kuoda host holding a sign with your name on it! We know you’ll most likely be a little tired after your long flight, so we’ll save you the stress of trying to navigate and bring you straight to your hotel adjacent to the airport where you can shake off that icky flight feeling with a shower and a sleep. Relax into the evening and enjoy a good night’s rest before your flight to Cusco in the morning!
Day 2: Fly to Cusco to tour an ancient local hacienda, the Pisac Market, and the Peruvian countryside.
The Sacred Valley, lower in altitude than Cusco, offers gorgeous landscapes and a serene atmosphere.
This morning we’ll escort you back to the airport for your morning flight to Cusco. Watch the windows as the desert coast rises into the snow-capped peaks of the Andes!
Just 15 minutes outside of Cusco, true Peruvian countryside will stretch away on either side of you, sheep grazing tranquilly road-side. Impossibly steep peaks rise in the distance. Your journey will take you to an ancient hacienda, nestled in the fertile valley next to the pueblo of Pisac. Step onto the family-owned hacienda grounds and step into centuries past while your hosts expound upon the growing process of Giant White Corn and its profound cultural significance in the Andes Mountains. This hacienda dates back generations, and you’ll immediately be immersed in local customs steeped in the spirits and mysticism of the Andes, and embraced by the warmth of local Peruvians.
Relish your time on the farm with a delicious multi-course lunch with sample dishes featuring none other than the “white gold” giant-kernelled corn, and make sure to visit the on-site stables housing the renowned Peruvian Paso horses. Watch the horses dance with their human counterparts in a “marinera” demonstration, and even go for a quick trot yourself if you feel up to the task!
From there, your exclusive tour of Peru will take you to another valley town – Pisac – where you’ll have the chance to rub shoulders with locals as you survey the artisan offerings of the market. Vegetables, textiles and silver jewelry are just some of the items that are sold here.
Later, return to the hotel of your choice.
Day 3: Hike to Ollantaytambo’s iconic ruins & Explore the Arts of the Sacred Valley
Ollantaytambo is a fascinating Incan town known for its original urban planning and awe-inspiring ruins.
Today’s journey through the Sacred Valley of the Incas will start with a drive through the breathtaking Patacancha Valley. At the ruins of Pumamarca we’ll begin our hike down a pre-Columbian trail, following irrigation canals that line terraced fields still in use today.
After approximately two hours of easy hiking, we’ll find ourselves in the Incan town of Ollantaytambo, where the centuries-old influence of the Incas is still very much visible: water from the mountains trickles down to the Inca-built street canals, while original Inca walls and trapezoidal doors are still found here.
With your guide by your side, ascend beyond the stepped, slope-side terraces to the ruins of a centuries-old fortress above town, where the Incas secured an important victory over the Spanish conquistadors. Inspect the intricately hewn stone constructions and have your guide show you the distant quarries from where the Incas sourced these huge stone blocks. This site also afford fabulous views of the valley and the Urubamba River that meanders through it.
Following a lunch featuring local flavors, hop back in the car. This time, we’ll take you to our favorite artist’s workshop, famous throughout Peru for handcrafted ceramics. Spend the afternoon laughing, learning, and creating hand-made souvenirs with a Peruvian flair to bring home with you!
Upon completion of your tour, we will bring you back to your hotel for an evening spent at leisure.
Day 4: Enjoy a morning train through the cloud forest and visit the Machu Picchu Citadel!
Machu Picchu will take your breath away with its enigmatic and historical atmosphere.
Prepare for a climactic day! In the morning, we will board the train in Ollantaytambo for our journey to Machu Picchu. Watch the cloud jungle pass by through the large glass windows! Upon arrival to Aguas Calientes, we’ll tuck in to an early lunch in order to refuel before ascending to Peru’s lost citadel.
After a bus ride to the gates of this wonder of the world, you will pass through the main gates with your private guide to finally emerge at the top of the world – Machu Picchu. The incredible Inca stone construction will be spread below, alternately hidden and revealed by clouds. Your expert guide will give you a private tour of the ancient city.
Upon conclusion of your tour, return for an evening in Aguas Calientes. Enjoy an excellent dinner on-site at your hotel and fall into bed, lulled to sleep by the sound of the cloud forest around you.
Day 5: Hike one of the coveted, limited-entry hikes, Huayna Picchu!
Huayna Picchu, a not to miss experience while exploring Machu Picchu!
Today you have the option to hike two different trails – Huayna Picchu or Machu Picchu Mountain, so it’s completely up to you on how you would like to culminate your Machu Picchu luxury tour. Feeling adventurous? Consider hiking the steep slope of neighboring Huayna Picchu, which offers unrivalled views over Machu Picchu. Please note that only a limited amount of hikers are allowed to climb Huayna Picchu each day and tickets will need to be purchased in advance along with your Machu Picchu entrance.
In the afternoon, reconvene in Aguas Calientes and board the return train to Ollantaytambo. Your Kuoda host will meet you at the station and bring you to your hotel for a well-deserved good night’s rest.
Day 6: Visit the Agricultural Lab of the Incas- Maras and Moray and Our Friends in a Local Community!
The Sacred Valley is known for its serene breathtaking snow-capped mountain views!
After breakfast, you’ll be taken to see the ancient agricultural site of Moray. Experts today believe these grassy amphitheaters served as a farming laboratory, with the varying temperatures and soils of the ascending terraces providing different growing environments. We’ll pass through the town of Maras – known for its beautiful colonial doorways – before arriving at the town’s still-in-use salt pans. The small white evaporation pools that cover the hillside are still harvested by locals in a traditional manner. We’ll pause for a delicious local lunch, where you’ll be able to sample some regional fare.
Post lunch you’ll have a chance to mingle with the locals during a visit to an off-the-beaten-track highland village on the shore of the icy blue Lake Piuray. This rural community subsists on agriculture and many of the women are master weavers, creating exquisite textiles using generations-old techniques. You will have the opportunity to communicate with the residents, visit their houses and fields, and experience what day-to-day life is like in the Andean highlands. You might also get to meet some of the local children who attend Kuoda’s after-school program (Monday to Friday) – they love sharing their art with visitors.
Later, you’ll return to your comfortable hotel of choice.
Day 7: Explore the hidden cobblestone streets of historical Cusco on a private city tour!
Tucked into the Andes Mountains, the city of Cusco lies at 11,150ft (3,300m) above sea level!
It’s time to get acquainted with Cusco, a gorgeous city that wins the heart of most every traveler that passes through it. Get to know the real Cusco during a private tour. After breakfast, meet your guide and wander among the archaeological remains of Sacsayhuaman, where the Incas staged a great battle against the conquistadors. Return to the city and roam the atmospheric streets of the bohemian neighborhood of San Blas, which is known for its free-spirited scene. Explore Qoricancha and the Santo Domingo monastery (a colonial structure built on top of the ancient Inca temple of the sun); see where the locals make their grocery runs at the open-air San Pedro market and pass the famous 12-angled stone, whose image appears on the bottle of the local Cusqueña beer.
At the end of the tour, your guide will suggest places to visit for lunch
Day 8: Dine at the pre-Columbian desert ruins of Huaca Pucllana and bid farewell to Peru!
Huaca Pucllana is a sacred site embedded in the lively Miraflores district!
Going home is the worst part of any private Peru vacation, but at Kuoda, we’ll do our best to make it as smooth and hassle-free as possible. First, we’ll bring you to Cusco airport for your return flight to Lima. In Lima, a Kuoda host will meet you and take you to the sacred site of Huaca Puccllana. Enjoy a first-class gourmet meal featuring world-renowned Peruvian flavors in the middle of Miraflores before returning to the airport for your journey home! Buen viaje!
Like the sound of this Machu Picchu Luxury private tour? Get in touch with Kuoda and we’ll start crafting your very own customized private travel experience to Peru!
Notes: There are many additional activities that can be added to the Machu Picchu Luxury private tour, as our tours are entirely customized to your interests, hobbies, and expectations!
- Take the reins of a Peruvian Paso for a trail ride through the Sacred Valley.
- Sit down with a shaman for a private meditation ceremony.
- Observe local weavers at work during private demonstrations.
- Hone your kitchen skills during Peruvian cooking classes with celebrated chefs.
- Join a local Peruvian family for a home-cooked meal in their residence.
- Admire views of the Andes from your luxury, vintage-style carriage on the Belmond Hiram Bingham Train.
- Take a day hike along part of the famed Inca Trail and arrive via the iconic Sun Gate for your Machu Picchu luxury tour.
- Revel in the gorgeous views as you tuck into lavish picnics that come complete with glassware, crockery, and even a professional waiter to serve you.
- Amp up the adrenaline with exhilarating adventure activities such as riding the fast-flowing rapids of the Vilcanota River, or zooming along zip lines among towering Andean peaks.
Built In
- Personalized itinerary planning: Work with a Kuoda Travel Designer to create the Machu Picchu luxury tour of your dreams.
- Kuoda hosts take the hassle out of traveling. They’ll be there to assist you – whether with luggage, check in, transport or translating – at every destination during your private tour of Peru.
- Got a question or query? Kuoda operate a 24-hour, seven day a week customer service operation and can provide updates and assistance whenever you need it.
- With Kuoda, you’ll never be bundled in with big groups; each visit, activity, tour and experience will be completely private and conducted by your very own expert, English-speaking guide.
- Our private tours of Peru are fully flexible, which means we can modify them to suit your travel mood. So if you want to cut an activity or add on a new one, just say the word!
- All necessary adventure and trekking equipment will be provided so all you need bring is yourself.
- Receive a customized Kuoda Travel kit upon arrival.
Recommended Accommodations
Our staff handpicks the best hotels in the country to ensure you get comfort and character.
Take a look to our recommendations and let us know if you’d like to incorporate one or a few in to your Machu Picchu luxury tour.
This example tour has costs beginning at US $ 7,683 per person, based on two sharing accommodations. If more will travel in your private party, it will benefit you as the cost “per person” will reduce.
Prices are based on final accommodation choices, travel dates and other details within your tour, which are flexible to your individual interests and desires.
Feel free to reach us via email at [email protected]
or by calling us directly at 1.800.986.4150