Cusco & Machu Picchu,Peru
$3,195 - ($900 deposit to reserve)
Join us on a journey to the ancient ruins of Machu Picchu, Sacred Valley and the markets of colonial Cusco.
Our amigos from the Andes mountains will bring you along for a special insider tour of the sacred Inca culture. Not only will we have personal tours and access to the incredible Machu Picchu and Sacred Valley but also to places where tour groups never get to experience. Our “amigos locales” will teach you of their home, traditions and culture.
We start the adventure in the cosmopolitan city by the sea, Lima, where we stay in the coolest neighborhood in the city. We’ll sample the best food and drinks that Lima has to offer and will peruse some super hip galleries, as well before heading to the heart of the Andes, Cusco. In Cusco we’ll spend a few days, become used to the altitude and soak up all of the amazing Inca energy before exploring the famous Sacred Valley, where we visit local markets, sample a locally cooked lunch cooked underground at a tiny farm in the mountains, check out the other worldly salt pools of Maras and end the day at our little boutique hotel to prepare for Machu Picchu. Early the next day we take the train to our trailhead or to the bus stop (depending on the time of year) and explore the wonder of the world, the great Machu Picchu before spending our last few days with our shaman amigos in Cusco.
Throughout our trip we will be exploring the Incan cities of Machu Picchu, the Sacred Valley and the incredible archeological sites of Saksaywaman and the Temple of the Moon. Our home base will be in the colonial town of Cusco where we will do some shopping at local markets (with our private chef to cook at our casa), check out the town with our local artist friends, eat at some incredible local restaurants, hike the Inca trail to Machu Picchu and hopefully see an alpaca or two!
Price Includes:
Six nights in our beautiful casa in the San Blas neighborhood of Cusco and one night in a hotel at the base of Machu Picchu
One night in Lima
One night in the Sacred Valley
Breakfast daily
Welcome dinner
Local, licensed guide to all of the ruins, Machu Picchu 1 day hike, Sacred Valley and a Shaman walk to Cusco temples
Tour of local food market followed by a cooking and cocktail class with our chef friend
Visit to a weaving collective
Shaman led walk
Local friends to show us around to the best art, crafts, food and nightlife
Personal translator
Price does not include:
Roundtrip air (booking flights not your thing? we can handle it for ya. We’re also licensed travel agents)
Most lunches and dinners or alcoholic beverages (usually meals cost $10-20 including drinks)
Baggage fees
Tips for our on the ground team
* All rooms are double occupancy unless single occupancy is requested at an additional fee
What we do!
Explore
Our “amigos locales” who are experts will be taking us all over the Incan world. We will be guided through the Sacred Valley, have a one day hike on the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu, and see the surrounding areas of Cusco and Saqsaywaman
Retail therapy
We will be shopping in many of the local artisanal shops and villages. The tradition of craft is very strong in Peru and we will get first hand sight into these beautiful products and how they are made by the talented women who have been making them for years.
Eat
We have teamed up with our chef friends to seek out the very best lomo saltado, ceviche and you can even try the local specialty of cuy (guinea pig)! We'll also visit local food markets and learn to make some local dishes and cocktails.
Meet locals
Wander the cobble-stoned streets and meet the locals. Yes, there will totally be plenty of llamas and alpacas to pet!
Stay
We'll be making a house into our beautiful Peruvian home in the charming central neighborhood of San Blas, Cusco's bohemian arts district. Right outside our doorstep are some of the best restaurants, bars and art in the city.
Got Questions? We Got the Answers!
1) What does the price include?
Almost everything! Not only do we take care of the not so fun stuff, like flights and on the ground transportation, but we always connect our travelers with beautiful, locally owned boutique hotels in Lima, Cusco and the Sacred Valley. Our “amigos locales” are the greatest trip hosts in the world, amazing cooking classes with views of the entire city of Cusco, guided tours of Machu Picchu, stunning Inca Trail hikes and a walk with our shaman friend to temples and holy sites where no one visits to meditate and connect with the area. We cover it all. You have to cover some meals and the amazing souvenirs you’re going to bring back!
3) What’s the weather like?
The weather in the Andes can change very rapidly. It is very high up, so it can be pretty chilly and can also be very warm when the sun comes out. Expect a little bit of both. Bring layers. It might rain on us a bit, but it keeps it all looking super green! Bring a hat/ sunblock, as you can get sunburned at high altitudes very easily. Once you sign up, we’ll send you a complete packing list to get you ready for the trip.
5) What are the hotels and rooms like?
All of our travelers stay in the cutest boutique hotels that Peru has to offer. From the modern chic hotel in the Miraflores neighborhood of Lima, to beautiful boutique hotels in Cusco and the Sacred Valley. We always carefully curate the hotel experience so that it’s clean, comfortable and oh so photogenic! All rooms are double occupancy offering two full beds and a private bathroom. Couples can request a single large bed or there are private room options (check question 8).
7) Should we tip?
Yes. At restaurants we encourage 15-20% tip. It’s over what is expected, but those extra few dollars are little to us and can make a huge difference in the lives of the locals. We also recommend tipping about $80-100 per guest that we distribute to all our on the ground staff.
2) So group travel, eh!?
We know what you’re thinking…am I going to like traveling with people I don’t know?? We have been doing this for the past 7 years now and the answer, every time, is YES! When else as an adult can you meet a group of people all with one very major thing in common, the love of travel?! We have introduced a ton of new best friends, romantic relationships, a couple who is applying for a fiancé visa and even an engagement. We forget in this technology filled day and age that people like being around people. Also, there is plenty of time for relaxing and solo time built into our itinerary in case you need to recharge! We’ve got all the angles covered.
4) Is there internet?
Totally! The internet works very well when you connect to WiFi hotspots and in our hotel. You probably won’t have it walking around (unless you purchase a roaming plan from your carrier), but it’s nice to unplug while traveling, right??
6) How bad is the altitude sickness?
Each person’s body reacts to it differently. It can range from not feeling anything at all to mildly spacey/dizzy to feeling sick for days.
We HIGHLY recommend going to your doctor before the trip and asking about the altitude sickness medicines dexamethasone and acetazolamide. Find out which your doctor recommends for you and take it so you’ll be sure you’re all good. You don’t want to be sick on this trip. There are too many great things to see!
8) Can I get my own room?
Yes! Need some extra solo space? No problem! When you pay your final trip balance (45 days pre-trip), select the “single supplement” in the dropdown to have your own room ($400 extra for the week).
You want more, huh?
We got you. Check out photos from our past trips:
