Tailor-made Holiday · Peru
Luxury Peru: Lima, Cusco & Machu Picchu with Belmond
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At a glance
Peru is one of the great travel destinations, and this journey covers it at the level it deserves. Lima is one of South America's finest food cities, with Central and Maido consistently ranking among the best restaurants in the world.
Cusco is the former capital of the Inca Empire, its colonial churches and palaces built directly onto Inca stone foundations that have outlasted everything placed on top of them.
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The Sacred Valley contains Inca sites at Pisac and Ollantaytambo that most travelers rush past on their way to the main event. And Machu Picchu needs no introduction. The 15th century Inca citadel sits at 2,430 meters above sea level in the cloud forest, its stone temples and agricultural terraces so precisely engineered that they have survived six centuries of Andean weather without mortar. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, one of the New Seven Wonders of the World, and one of the most visited archaeological sites on the planet.
What separates this itinerary is how you get there. The Belmond Hiram Bingham train from Ollantaytambo winds through the Andean cloud forest to Aguas Calientes in 1920s Pullman carriages, with a bar car and a kitchen turning out proper food for the journey.
Belmond Sanctuary Lodge sits at the entrance to Machu Picchu itself, the only hotel in that position, allowing you to visit the site after the day crowds have left and again at first light before they return.
Day by day
This is a sample plan, not a fixed departure. Days can be added, removed or reordered, and almost every client changes something. Prices are an entry-level guide; your quote will be exact.
Days 1-2: Lima
Most travelers arrive expecting a stopover and leave wishing they had stayed longer. Lima’s Miraflores and Barranco districts are home to some of the best restaurants in South America, with Central, chef Virgilio Martinez’s flagship, consistently ranked among the top ten restaurants in the world, and Maido bringing the same level of ambition to Nikkei cuisine.
The colonial historic center is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the clifftop Miraflores boardwalk looks out over the Pacific, and the Larco Museum houses one of the finest collections of pre-Columbian gold and ceramics anywhere in the Americas.
We recommend at least a full day here before moving on. The city rewards time, and arriving rested and oriented makes the transition into the mountains considerably smoother.
Days 3-4: Cusco
The flight from Lima to Cusco takes just over an hour and crosses the Andes at altitude, with views that set the tone for what follows. Cusco itself sits at 3,400 meters, and the itinerary is structured to allow proper acclimatization before ascending to Machu Picchu.
The Sacred Valley sits at around 2,800 meters and is where we spend the first days. The Inca sites at Pisac and Ollantaytambo are among the most significant in Peru, and the landscape of terraced hillsides and snow-capped peaks is unlike anywhere else in South America. Belmond Rio Sagrado sits on the valley floor with the Urubamba river running past it, and two nights here before the main event is time well spent.
Days 5-6: Machu Picchu
From Ollantaytambo, the Belmond Hiram Bingham train winds through the cloud forest to Aguas Calientes, arriving in time to transfer up to Belmond Sanctuary Lodge before the afternoon.
The site is a short walk from the hotel entrance, and the advantage of staying here is significant: an evening visit after the day crowds have cleared, and a first-light return the following morning before they return.
Both are a different experience from anything a day trip from Cusco can offer. A private guided visit with an archaeologist covers the site’s history, its engineering, and the questions that remain unanswered about what Machu Picchu was built for.
Days 7-8: Cusco
Returning to Cusco by train, the city itself deserves two proper days rather than being treated as a staging post. The historic center is one of the best preserved in the Americas, with Spanish baroque churches and palaces built directly onto the foundations of Inca temples in a layering of civilizations that is visible in the stonework on almost every street.
The Coricancha, the Inca Temple of the Sun, is the most striking example, its original curved granite walls forming the base of the Santo Domingo Church above. Cusco also has a serious restaurant scene and some of the finest boutique hotels in South America, with Belmond Palacio Nazarenas and Inkaterra La Casona among the best small hotels on the continent.
Day 9: Departure
A final morning in Cusco before transferring to the airport for the flight back to Lima and onward connections home.
Further information
The Belmond Experience
This itinerary is built around the full Belmond circuit in Peru, the most coherent luxury thread running through the country. Belmond Miraflores Park in Lima sets the standard on arrival. Belmond Rio Sagrado in the Sacred Valley positions you in the landscape before the altitude builds.
The Hiram Bingham train from Ollantaytambo is one of the great rail journeys in the Americas. And Belmond Sanctuary Lodge at the entrance to Machu Picchu is the only hotel that gives you the site before and after the crowds.
Belmond properties in Peru book out significantly ahead of peak season, particularly Sanctuary Lodge and the Hiram Bingham. We handle all reservations as part of the itinerary and know the lead times required to secure the right rooms on the right dates.
Our Experts
I love traveling in Peru because of the perfect balance of fascinating culture, stunning scenery and five-star luxury. It's one of my favourite destinations to plan vacations to.
Machu Picchu is somewhere that everyone should visit at some point. It's a true spectacle, and can easily be paired with fantastic luxury accommodation to create your dream Peruvian experience.
Stellar service. Stellar products. Stellar people and it gets so much better when you pick up the phone and call.
Anthony S.
Super client centred service. From first contact I have had warm, efficient, friendly and flexible service.
John
I’m confident in giving Out Of Office a 5-star review! They are one of the leaders in this space without a doubt.
Tiberiu
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Frequently asked questions
What does Out Of Office do?
Out Of Office is a luxury LGBTQ+ travel company specialising in tailor-made holidays and extraordinary journeys around the world. We create bespoke luxury holidays, LGBTQ+ honeymoons, safaris, cruises, beach escapes, private tours and group trips, with every itinerary designed around you. Our travel specialists combine global expertise, first-hand destination knowledge and trusted local partners to create seamless, highly personalised experiences.
Is Out Of Office a gay travel agency?
Out Of Office is an LGBTQ+ owned and run luxury travel specialist, with particular expertise in gay and LGBTQ+ travel. We understand the additional considerations that can come with travelling as an LGBTQ+ person or couple, from local laws and customs to finding genuinely welcoming hotels and experiences.
We welcome every traveller, including friends, families and allies. Many of our clients are not members of the LGBTQ+ community, but choose Out Of Office for our luxury travel expertise, personalised service and discretion.
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