Luxury Food & Adventure Tour in Peru - 12 Days

Day 1: Arrive in Lima, Explore the Peruvian Capital

Welcome to Peru! Your flight lands in the capital city of Lima, a vibrant metropolis and one of Peru's largest cities. Located at the site of a pre-Columbian Indigenous settlement, it was conquered by the Inca Empire in the 15th century and later by the Spanish conquistadors. Today, you'll still find echoes of its fascinating history and diverse cultures, including Amerindian, European, Afro-Peruvian, and Asian influences. Your driver will collect you from the airport and transport you to your hotel. Settle in, then head out to explore. 

Lima's breezy location on the Pacific Ocean makes it a perfect city for exploring on foot. Head downtown to mingle with locals and grab a bite to eat in one of many award-winning restaurants. Or take in views over the ocean from the clifftop paths of El Malecón de Miraflores. This is also home to the eclectic Parque del Amor (Love Park), which includes beautiful mosaic walls, and Huaca Pucllana, a large clay pyramid built around 500 CE with seven staggered levels. Make your way to the uppermost section for great views of the city.

If you need a break from the hustle and bustle, Parque Kennedy offers a relaxing and tranquil atmosphere. You can stroll through the park and admire the beautiful flowers and trees or sit and enjoy the sights and sounds of the central fountain. This is also a great place to shop for souvenirs, as local vendors set up daily to sell handmade crafts. 

Day 2: Lima City & Food Tour

Get out and explore Lima today on a guided tour. First, you'll head to the historic center, Plaza de Armas (main square), a UNESCO World Heritage Site packed with fascinating Spanish architecture. You'll visit impressive colonial landmarks, including the Convent of Santo Domingo. Built in the 16th century by the Dominican Order of Friars, it's located near the plaza and is famous for its magnificent Baroque architecture and the underground Catacombs. 

Next, head to the Museo Larco for a spellbinding introduction to Peru's ancient cultures, presented wonderfully and told through intriguing ceramics and gold artifacts. Then, it's time to explore Lima's culinary roots—it's known as the gastronomic capital of the Americas, after all. Peruvian food is justly famous for the quality of its ingredients, many of which you'll discover with your guide at a local mercado.

Next, sample coffee at an organic Peruvian coffee roastery. Stop for a seafood lunch of causa (avocado and seafood layered with mashed potatoes) or ceviche, and dine amid views of pre-Inca ruins. End the day in the bohemian district of Barranco—a popular oceanside neighborhood for artists, tourists, and locals alike—for a relaxed evening drinking pisco sours, eating ceviche, and sampling Peruvian desserts.

Day 3: Fly to Iquitos, Luxury Amazon River Cruise (Day 1)

Rise and shine because this morning, you're off to the Amazon! Your driver will pick you up early for the ride back to the airport, where you'll board a two-hour flight to the far north of Peru and Iquitos. This port city sits on the Amazon River, the longest river in the world by volume. It's the gateway to the natural wonders, exotic wildlife, and tribal villages that define this lush corner of South America. There's much to recommend Iquitos, including its cuisine, influenced by the rich biodiversity of the Amazon and featuring freshwater fish, exotic fruits, and native plants.

Over the next few days, you'll experience the wonders of the region on an adventurous river cruise. Upon arrival at the airport, representatives from Aqua Nera will pick you up and transfer you to the port where your luxury cruise ship awaits. Upon boarding the ship, you'll be shown to your cabin, which features deluxe suites with king beds and fine Peruvian linens. As for cuisine, expect 5-star service in the opulent dining room with wraparound windows looking out over the water.

After settling into your suite, you can head to the top deck to admire the river scenery as the ship pulls away from the port and your grand Amazon adventure commences. It's an excellent opportunity to enjoy a golden sunset over the water while keeping an eye on the trees to spot exotic animals like monkeys, macaws, toucans, and more. Each day you spend on the water will be filled with various tours and excursions, so rest up tonight—you're exploring the rainforest tomorrow!

In the afternoon, hop in a skiff and visit a river community. During a cultural exchange, you'll meet villagers who have lived on the Amazon for generations. One highlight is a visit to a local schoolhouse to meet local children, plus a stop at an arts and crafts market featuring handmade items produced by the community's women. The day culminates with a visit to the Union de los Ríos, a confluence of rivers known for its distinct colors. Enjoy a beautiful river sunset back on board, and watch the stars come out as you eat a luxurious dinner on deck.

Day 5: Luxury Amazon River Cruise (Day 3)

Sail down the Samiria River this morning, spotting spikey-haired hoatzin birds nesting above the water. Your guide will also be on the lookout for sloths and troops of brown capuchin and squirrel monkeys. Other wildlife highlights include colorful macaws, banana-beaked toucans, capybaras, and perhaps river dolphins. This is also an ideal spot for kayaking and swimming.

Stop for a walk in the rainforest, where your guide will teach you about medicinal plants used by locals. The Peruvian Amazon region is considered the largest pharmaceutical reserve in the world, with 965 species of wild plants and 59 cultivated plant species. 

Day 6: Luxury Amazon River Cruise (Day 4), Fly to Cusco

It's time to bid farewell to the natural beauty and untold wonders of the Amazon. In the morning, the ship will pull into port, and from there, it's about a 1.5-hour drive back to the airport in Iquitos. On the way, you'll stop at the Centro de Rescate Amazonico, an organization dedicated to the rescue and rehabilitating river mammals. During a tour, you'll meet baby manatees and learn about these wonderful and docile creatures and why they're on the endangered species list. 

At the airport, you'll board a plane for the three-hour flight into southern Peru and Cusco. Located in the Andes highlands, this area has been settled for thousands of years. However, it wasn't until 1200 CE that Cusco was officially founded as a center for Inca rule. It was the capital of the Inca Kingdom until the Spanish conquest in the 16th century. Today, the city features an incredible mix of Spanish-colonial architecture and ancient Inca archaeological sites. Once you land, enjoy a cup of coca tea on a balcony overlooking Cusco's plaza, which will help you adjust to the altitude.

Day 7: Cusco Market & Street Food Tour

Today, you'll meet your guide for a culinary tour of Cusco, starting in Mercado Central de San Pedro, Cusco's most famous municipal market. There's no better way to know the soul of this city than by browsing its kiosks and marveling at the abundance of fresh produce, which includes many of Peru's thousands of varieties of potatoes. Do as the Peruvians do and purchase a fresh fruit smoothie from one of the market's many food vendors. 

As you explore the lively market and the quaint surrounding streets, you'll also try key Peruvian specialties, including chocolate, coffee, tamales, and cherimoya (custard apple), which is particularly delicious in ice cream. After sampling nine different traditional snacks, drinks, and dishes, you'll have the rest of the day free to explore more of Cusco or to relax at your hotel.

Day 8: Pachamanca Lunch at El Albergue Farm in Ollantaytambo

After breakfast in Cusco, you'll transfer to the Sacred Valley, starting with the ancient Inca city of Ollantaytambo, one of the few remaining places in the area that has retained its original Inca urban planning. Walk through the streets with Inca-era canals and view the ancient houses still in use today. Climb the agricultural terraces, where you'll see some of the quarries from which the stone for Ollantaytambo was sourced. It's incredible how far these large stones were transported, especially considering the Incas didn't have pack animals strong enough to carry them.

Take a break to enjoy a pachamanca lunch at El Albergue Farm in Ollantaytambo. Pachamanca (earth oven) is a traditional Andean method of cooking using preheated stones in the ground. The lunch includes a tour of the hotel and organic farm as well as a visit to their cañazo (sugar cane liquor) distillery. Watch as Andean tubers like sweet potato, oca, and mashua, as well as beef, lamb, alpaca, or cuy (guinea pig), are placed in the dish and left to cook underground. Enjoy the traditional feast along with a sampling of chicha morada (a local purple corn beverage). Check into your hotel in Ollantaytambo for the night.

Day 9: Scenic Train to Aguas Calientes, Explore Machu Picchu, Train to Cusco

Wake up early to catch a scenic train departing Ollantaytambo for Aguas Calientes, the main starting point for the masterpiece of engineering that is Machu Picchu. The train ride takes you through a valley and into the narrow Río Urubamba Canyon. Your guide will welcome you at the train station, and you'll proceed to the shuttle bus, a 25-minute ride through cloud forest to the citadel.

The 15th-century, UNESCO-listed Inca complex, located at 7,970 feet (2,430 m), once served as a retreat for the Inca emperor. Machu Picchu, meaning "Old Mountain," was abandoned 100 years after construction and remained largely hidden from the outside world until the early 20th century.

Your guide will lead you around the site, explaining the complex's different buildings and hidden corners. Approximately one-third of the site has been reconstructed into its original structure, giving visitors a sense of the grandeur and artistry of the original citadel. After the guided tour, you'll also have time to explore the sanctuary independently. Next, return to Aguas Calientes for lunch in the picturesque town center. Then, catch your return train to Ollantaytambo to hop a transfer to Cusco, where you'll stay overnight. 

Day 10: Fly to Arequipa, Free Time

This morning, transfer to the Cusco airport and take a domestic one-hour flight to Arequipa. Arequipa is located at an altitude of 7,627 ft (2,325 m) in the stark mountains of the Andes. This beautiful city is almost entirely built out of sillar, a white volcanic stone, giving Arequipa the nickname the "White City." With its one million inhabitants, Arequipa is the second-biggest city in Peru, with over twice the population of Cusco.

Upon arrival, you'll be greeted, transferred to your hotel, and given time to settle in. The rest of the day is free to relax, settle into the hotel, and get acquainted with the city at your own pace. Late afternoon is a great time to head to the Plaza de Armas, one of South America's most beautiful central squares. Enjoy the view of the sun setting over the three volcanoes surrounding the city, grab a bite to eat, and rub shoulders with locals out on the town.

Day 11: Arequipa City Tour, Lunch at La Nueva Palomino

This morning, meet your guide for a tour of the "White City." Discover 16th-century landmarks like Monastery Santa Catalina and the Compañia Church, famous for its Baroque style. In Arequipa's Plaza de Armas, visit the Neo-renaissance Cathedral, then explore the traditional district of Yanahuara, with its pretty plaza and views of the volcanoes Misti, Chachani, and Pichu Pichu.