Once the largest empire in pre-Columbian America, the Incas vanished with barely a
trace. Peru has that effect on people; so don’t be surprised if, once you’ve found the
Lost City of Machu Picchu, or savored sublime ceviche in Lima, you lose yourself a
little, too. As you dive into Peru’s exquisite cuisine, you’ll quickly realize it’s a
world of its own. Eight-two microclimates yield a myriad of indigenous species and
foodstuffs from the depths of the cold Pacific Ocean to the fiery chilies of the
desert, the lush Amazon, and the Andean highlands. Regional cultures and traditions
infuse their own spices and techniques for a food culture that rivals China, Mexico or
France. You can’t help but be captivated by the deliciousness, beauty, and mystique of
this place. Unwinding with a pisco sour at dusk over the Pacific or on an Andean
mountain top? Transcendent.
Day 1
Arrive in Lima, Peru’s bustling capital and fittingly called the city of kings. Day is
yours to relax. Gather in the evening at one of the city’s cutting edge restaurants
with a top chef who uses native ingredients in clever concoctions. Lodging:
Miraflores Park (Orient Express)
Day 2
Ignite your senses with a trip to a local market with red rocoto peppers, orange
huancaína chilies, vibrant Green key limes (for those pisco sours), fruit the Amazon,
a potpurrí of native potatoes, coca leaves, buckets of quinoa, pulses, and colored
corn. Lunch at a restaurant specializing in northern Chiclayo cuisine. Lodging:
Miraflores Park (Orient Express)
Day 3
Rise and shine to the gigantic fish market; have a siesta and then dive into the Asian
influence in Lima. Explore Chinatown and chifa dishes, lunch at a ceviche maestro’s
speak-easy and in the evening, take a class in Nikkei cuisine, Japanese-Peruvian
fusion. Lodging: Miraflores Park (Orient Express)
Day 4
Fly away to the verdant Andean highlands of Cuzco. In the Sacred Valley, visit a
colorful indigenous market and learn the secrets of Incan cuisine. Retreat to your
colonial hacienda-come-luxury hotel encased by graceful mountains.
Magic. Lodging: Aranwa Sacred Valley
Day 5
Explore the Sacred Valley with native potato farmers, visit concentric terraces and
thousand-year-old salt ponds. Take in the mountain vistas from an unforgettable
outdoor lunch with a traditional pachamanca. Lodging: Aranwa Sacred
Valley
Day 6
Catch the morning train to Aguas Calientes, slicing through the valley and cloud
forest. Wind and turn up the (precarious) road to Machu Picchu, the lost city of the
Incas. Nestled high in the clouds and Andes, it will take your breath away. Magical.
Mystical. Back on earth, settle into your little bungalows amid the vibrant jungle.
Lodging: Inkaterra Machu Picchu Pueblo
Day 7
Enter Machu Picchu--again. Hike to the sun gate. Board your train back to Cuzco in the
afternoon to the imperial city with its attractive tiled roof and pristine colonial
architecture at over 11,000 feet. Ever slept in a monastery? You will tonight—with
oxygen pumped in. Lodging: Hotel Monasterio (Orient Express)
Day 8
Wander Cuzco’s crooked, charming streets, or up the adobe facades of San Blas. At
lunch, meet together for our farewell meal at the city’s chicest eatery making the
most of local, organic food. Jet back to Lima in the mid-afternoon and catch your
international departing flight. Adios!
Need more details? Get in touch with LCCWE for a detailed copy of this
itinerary, which includes a day-by-day breakdown, pricing, and other helpful
information. Contact us
