With the help of our carefully vetted SELECT In-Country Partners, our travel advisors can customize in-depth tours in countries all around the globe. While these tours can range from an afternoon of sightseeing to a 10-day safari, they all come with the luxury and VIP treatment you have come to expect form the SELECT program. Here, we’ll dive into what could be your perfect week visiting Machu Picchu in Peru.
Fly into Lima and check in to the Belmond Miraflores Park, a SELECT property next to the ocean. As your body and mind adjust to the new location, use the 100 USD spa credit — which you received for booking this SELECT property through one of our advisors — at the hotel’s Zest Spa before marveling at the stunning ocean views while dining at The Observatory restaurant.
Spend the day exploring the capital city’s historical highlights and culinary scene. The city’s history, art and architecture will come alive as your personal guide takes you downtown to see the Cathedral, Convent of Santo Domingo and the Main Square. Afterward, see why Lima has exploded onto the culinary scene on a personalized foodie tour. Your guide will take you to local markets and traditional bodegas that showcase the country’s top flavors and dishes.
Today, hop on a short plane ride to Cusco, one of the most beautiful towns in all of Peru (and that’s saying something!). Spend a relaxing day strolling the charming cobbled city leading to the Plaza de Armas in the city’s center. With the day to yourself, you are free to sample fresh fruit and hot empanadas from San Pedro Market, learn about Inca astronomy at the Cusco Planetarium, shop the small boutiques and galleries around the artsy San Blas District and catch live local music at Ukukus, one of the town’s most popular nightclubs.
Even though you’re eager to see Machu Picchu, today you’ll learn to enjoy the journey to the famed site and not the destination yet. On your chauffeured drive to the Sacred Valley, you’ll stop at Awanacancha ranch to meet llamas, alpacas and vicuñas, before heading to Pisac ruins, where both the incredible masonry and valley views will amaze you. Since this journey is customized, you get to choose how to spend your afternoon: either visit Ollantaytambo, home of a legendary battle where the Incas bested the Spaniards; or to the watered terraces of the Maras salt pans.
Take a scenic morning ride on the luxurious Hiram Bingham train to Aguas Calientes, passing by lush landscapes and Andean villages. Once there, it’s a short bus ride to the entrance of Machu Picchu. Tour the awestriking ruins with a private guide, learning fascinating insights about the history and the culture of the Incas. Spend the afternoon on a hike to the Sun Gate, Huayna Picchu or Machu Picchu Mountain, each offering breathtaking and dramatic views of the surrounding mountain peaks. Sit down and soak it all in — it doesn’t get any better than this.
Machu Picchu is not the only Peruvian site to make your jaw drop, as you’ll discover today after a helicopter ride to Colca Canyon. Located near the city of Arequipa, this jagged fissure slices through the Andes mountains, carving out a space twice as deep as the Grand Canyon. Although there are many hiking trails to choose from, your guide takes you to the clifftop lookout at Cruz del Cóndor, the premier spot to see massive Andean condors glide on thermal uplifts that swell from the canyon floors below.
Fly back to Lima for a free afternoon before heading to the airport. Spend the day at Malecón de Miraflores, a cliffside boardwalk perfect for strolling and biking. Make your own mini chocolate bar at The Choco Museo. Take your selfie game to a new level at the wild sculpture garden at the Museum of Contemporary Art or check out Parque Kennedy, a festive park filled with friendly artists and friendlier cats.